Quick Summary
Koratana and the team finalise their plans. Solstice and Chicory acquire the "circlet". Ellsee has their first and last conversation with their father. Chicory recognises their growth through grief and connects with Arye. The team shares what they know at the Assembly of the Pillars. Belladonna reveals their part to play, Ishanii stands up for her people, and Rin receives the Silver Star. An encounter with the Genius of Solturan Justice brings the team’s personal growth into light.
Session Recap
Session opened with Koratana, answering Solstice’s questions and explaining her original plan in more detail: To journey to the Court of Stars and brute force access to the Arxtuary Engine, then overload it with power and channel the explosive energy into a one-time shot. She couldn’t say what the side effects of this shot would be, but she suspected the Engine wouldn’t survive it and that it would certainly have some kind of effect on Ambar.
After deciding to follow the initial plan, the team decided on activating the Annulli, bringing The Callidae to Ambar, and then bringing the wish egg to the surface of Atropus. Once Atropus was dealt with, they could enter the Court of Stars through the outpost on Isiluna; and if worse came to worse and the team was unable to use the wish egg to end the threat, Koratana’s plan could be their last resort. As to the problem of how to reach Isiluna, Solstice suggested The Callidae and Ellsee tentatively ventured that Asphero could help. Arye assured her friends that she did not want her feelings about her papa to factor into what they needed to do to save the world. When Koratana pointed out that “wizard types” often have a lot to say regarding matters of the arcane and asked Chicory what they thought, Chicory replied that they weren’t that kind of wizard, which warmed Koratana to them.
Before the conversation concluded, Koratana confirmed that Durix had been a partner in the creation of the Annulli, and that his “maverick” workings and experiments regarding time attracted the attention of the Kaliesh’erai. Though she was interested in Ellsee’s description of the “time bubbler” and expressed regret about Durix’s fate, she admitted that he couldn’t be a priority for her, saying “What I’m doing, I’m doing for all of Ambar.” As Koratana left, Ellsee assured her that there would be a lot of people helping them, a whole world effort.
Solstice and Chicory found Laegiel sheltering at the Inglenomé library with other staff. Solstice convinced Laegiel that she was the one who stashed the circlet there, and with Chicory’s help was able to persuade her that it was key to saving Soltura and Ambar at large. Solstice signed her name in her blood as an avowal that the circlet was rightfully hers, and the correctional component for A1 was acquired.
Meanwhile, Ellsee had borrowed a raven from Cozy’s friend at the Witchcraft Academy and prepared the speak with departed ritual. With Solstice and Chicory providing emotional support, Ellsee had one last chance to speak with their father. He recognized them immediately and was overjoyed to meet them as an adult. He was relieved and happy to hear that Ellsee was loved and cared for, and assured her that he made the most of every moment and loved being a father to his children. When Ellsee admitted that she feared what Dyana had become and wondered why he had ever chosen her, he explained that he loved Dyana for her dreams and ambition, not in spite of those qualities, and that he believed in her dream of a better world. He apologised that he hadn’t been able to continue raising Ellsee, but told her how proud he was. She promised him that she would survive and overcome the trials ahead, and that she would live on and never be alone again, and that she would carry him with her always.
In preparation for the meeting the following morning, Chicory cast legend lore and learned of Atropus’ origins as an abandoned creation of the Tsucora Quori. They also realised that Atropus was infant-like, and that in connecting with Ellsee, it had absorbed their knowledge of heroic stories and was using that as a framework for how to behave and engage with Ambar as it took on the role of a great evil power.
Before bed, Chicory asked Arye about her encounter with Valera. Arye shared about how she and Valera’s souls had touched, and how Valera had recognized Arye’s love for Chicory and encouraged her to return to life and try again. Chicory admitted that Ellsee talking to her father made them realise that their feelings had changed; that they no longer wanted to trade places with Valera or do anything to talk to her one more time. They felt that they and Valera had said everything that needed to be said, and that they had found something else to live for. Arye expressed her love and gratitude to Chicory and affirmed their partnership in life, and asked Chicory to do everything they could to survive the coming danger. Chicory couldn’t make promises, but kissed her and said they would do their best to return to her.
At the meeting of the pillars, the team was entirely open and truthful. They learned more about Atropus’ effects they hadn’t seen firsthand from the others present, and Chicory shared their legend lore and insight on the planetoid’s undead nature. After a late and dramatic arrival from Belladonna, Solstice shared their knowledge about the Arxtuary Protocol, the Annullis Devices, Pentalimani, and the Callidae. Ellsee volunteered that they were the one who activated A5, and Solstice shared the existence of the Kaliesh’erai who might oppose the activation of the Annulli. Backed by the team, Ishanii spoke persuasively on behalf of her people, and Belladonna revealed that they had replaced their heart with the wish egg and would need to journey to Atropus with the team in order for them to use its magic, a sacrifice that would end them.
Finally, Solstice told the House of Justice representatives about the Four-in-One and shared her research notes with Arcane Specialty, and at the very end Lossëa kept the team back. With the Department of Investigation heads and Detective Nyota present, Lossëa commended Rin for his commitment to his apteyarmen, and presented him with the Gil’galad medal for his past service to Soltura.
Before leaving city hall, Solstice tracked down Mara Blackstaff to give her a vial of voidpoison, and asked if Mara had anything she could offer Solstice personally to help. Grudgingly admiring Solstice’s enterprising initiative, Mara agreed to stop by the shop with what she could spare and was open to the possibility of working together in the future.
As the team passed by the room where Solstice’s hearing had been held, Arye was drawn inside, and the team followed after her. There, they encountered the Genius of Solturan Justice once more. The Genius commended their efforts and affirmed the truth they had shared, and addressed them one by one to illuminate the ways in which they had grown as people and become more sure of their beliefs. Session ended with the team taking each other in and thinking back to what the Genius had said at their first meeting; when they were holding each other, they had what they needed to change fate.