Quick Summary
The team looks into Sivé's disappearance and checks up on "Shar". Chicory makes progress on their project in leaps and bounds. Ellsee investigates the Kaliesh'erai Deck and realizes her connection to it may not have been so coincidental, and Solstice frees herself of Ivadiah's Infernal Aegis. The team decides to seek out Laetus before the "circlet", and Ellsee has a prophetic dream.
Session Recap
Session opened the day after the drop-off for The Vault, with Ellsee broaching the subject of Solstice's propensity for jumping to extreme measures and risk-taking in times of stress. Ellsee asked if Solstice noticed that about herself, and if it ever scares her. Solstice explained how it became a coping mechanism when her powers first developed, but also noted that she had been better lately. Ellsee agreed, saying that they were proud of Solstice. They asked when Solstice last felt at ease and safe; Solstice admitted that she could only think of little moments, and most of them involved Ellsee. Ellsee assured Solstice that she wasn't alone, and that nothing about how Solstice copes makes Ellsee loves her less. As they settled in for breakfast, the topic of Solstice's little sibling also came up, and Ellsee was relieved that Dahlia had told Solstice and that they didn't have to keep it under wraps.
The team took a couple of days to rest and recover, then opened the shop on Narquelie 22 and began to work down the list of to-dos. Ellsee attempted to contact Sivé with sending through their Astral Bracelet, but didn't get a response. Solstice wrote a message to Ennie, letting her know the team was back in the city and willing to help. Ellsee asked Rin for input, which he was eager to provide, and ultimately headed out with Chance to ask around and search for any clues (after being strictly instructed to not breach the terms of their apteryamen).
The team then went to visit P.I. Rexel Jones, who had indeed been hired by Ennie. Though Jones hadn't been able to find Sivé, they also didn't find reason to suspect foul play. Solstice told Rexel that Sivé is psionic—which was news to Ellsee—but held back her theory that the Named Ones had scooped him. Rexel assured them that they let the team know if they learned anything. Back at the shop, Ellsee wondered if Sivé's psionic powers had grown in strength, and considered having Chicory and Ellsee both use locate creature once they had a lead.
Chicory spent the majority of the day brainstorming discarnation cures. After taking a break to visit Jones and pick up some library materials, Chicory finally made progress when Solstice suggested that they approach it from the angle of natural magic, like that of Dahlia's druidic practice, and Ellsee provided support and a casting of enhance ability. They made a big leap and looked to Incantations for inspiration, even beginning to draft the beginnings of a ritual of their own creation.
The next morning, Ellsee cast sending to check in with Ishanii, and was devastated when Ishanii called herself Shar and didn't remember them. In the midst of the team's anger, Chicory recalled the message that Ishanii had passed on to Ellsee through The Hammer: "best friends forever", which had been spoken by Ishanii as she and Ellsee clasped hands, and could have formed a thread on the promise ring. When Ellsee cast detect magic, Chicory was proven correct, and the team learned that not only could they follow the thread to find her, but Ishanii's true self must be intact. The team agreed it was safest to leave Ishanii where she was until they had made more progress on Laetus and the circlet.
Chicory and Solstice went with Ellsee to the museum wing of Inglenomé's archive buildings, where she finally had the chance to inspect the Kaliesh'erai Deck under the Head Curator's supervision. Ellsee found that the cards were familiar, and though The Wheel of Fortune was missing she recalled seeing it tucked between the pages of a book in her childhood. While Ellsee searched their memories but could think only of their father, Solstice checked for any kind of hidden message, and Chicory took the opportunity to use their Gloves of Identification. They learned that the last owner was Elanor Poemme, and their identify also revealed Gracion Falcorte's maker's mark, which was only detectable in the presence of one of his family.
After performing a simple reading, asking the cards "What do I need to prepare for Atropus?" and drawing The High Priestess, Ellsee decided to leave the deck in the museum for now. Solstice then headed to meet with Laegiel, who inspected the Infernal Aegis with the help of the archive's new nimblewright. After Laegiel confirmed what Jupiter had gleaned, and also shared that the source of the Aegis' power was a powerful erinyes named Invadiah, Solstice decided to release the shield into the archive's care.
While Solstice and Laegiel worked on paperwork, Ellsee and Chicory took a walk through the museum. Ellsee checked in with Chicory, and said that she really admires Chicory for many reasons, including their determination to cure discarnation and their intelligence. When Ellsee asked if they ever feel scared, Chicory said yes, but that means they just have to "do it scared". Ellsee agreed, and said that they weren't just doing it for Arye and Elanor, but for everyone.
As they stopped in front of a quilt made by dozens of Solturans each contributing a square, Chicory said that they would cure discarnation if it was the last thing they did, and Ellsee countered that sacrifice didn't necessarily need to be involved. Everything came together in a eureka moment for Chicory—nothing the Genius of Secrets said indicated that the life force given to someone with discarnation had to be from one source, and they realised that if energy was transferred from multiple people at once, the process need not kill the donator.
As Chicory hurriedly wrote down their thoughts, Ellsee called them their smartest and coolest friend, and Chicory teased that she shouldn't let Rin hear her say that. Ellsee admitted that she didn't want to put more on Rin at this time, or mess up their friendship. When Solstice rejoined, she found Ellsee still blushing but didn't push the topic.
As they made their way back to the shop, Ellsee expressed their uncertainty about how to prepare for all the potentialities of how finding Laetus might go, which Solstice validated but reminded them that the only way to know how it will go is to do it. When the team got back to the shop, Arye kissed Chicory in celebration of their breakthrough.
On the night of Narquelie 23, Sun-and-Stars slept at Solstice's apartment, and Ellsee cast prophetic dream while focusing on Laetus. Ellsee dreamed of being pulled into a darkness, and finding themself in a strange, hazy environment in their adventuring gear. After the horror of throwing up a torrent of black resin, they found themself looking into a curved glass surface at a tormented and changed Laetus. Session ended with Ellsee waking unsettled by the dream and feeling the depths of Laetus' emotional turmoil, but only more determined to help him.