Session 20

The party convened in the navigation room to decide which was the best path to reach the high plateau. With their current map and its one glaring blank spot, it was difficult to tell if there even was a path up to the mysterious temple at the apex. Many ideas were thrown around, and Trance even suggested taking another look at the caves, as much as the thought terrified her.

Thankfully, Reed came in with more information and his own map, hastily drawn while the Sunchaser was scanning the coastline in days prior. This filled in the blind spot, but introduced more obstacles. There was a village and a pier on the northwest corner of the island, but it was currently being swept by a sandstorm. Thankfully, this storm did not seem as severe as the one that raged around the island and kept them trapped, so it seemed possible to make their way through it on foot. It was agreed that the ship would drop the party off at the pier and hastily turn about out of the storm. They would be on their own from there.

Umi and Trance went below to see about brewing some health potion, but needed Alarac's assistance to move the large soup cauldron off the heating element to make room for her small one. He hung around with them as Trance worked, grinding the ingredients and adding them to her bubbling pot. While the potion brewed, Umi spoke of her beloved grandmother, and how Umi would watch her making potions in a similar manner. She and Trance traded stories of their tribes and happy memories. Unfortunately, Trance became distracted, and she had to start the second batch over, luckily saving the herbal components.

Two minor healing potions crafted, the small group dispersed for various other recreation as they waited for the ship to arrive.

The winds tore at the ship, and it was with some difficulty that the party leapt from the ship to the pier. Alarac was almost lost to the sands, but Sylas and Helena helped pull him onto the old boards. There was no time for anyone to gain their bearings; immediately, piles of dusty old bones littered about the pier came rattling to life and attacked with rusty sabers. Buffeted by the sand, the party struggled to defend themselves. Umi exploded a couple with ice magic, and Trance, unable to use her bow in the storm, charged forth with her own saber held high. She obliterated four in half as many strikes, but was soon swarmed. Alarac barreled through to defend her. Sylas was able to cast a spell around them to keep the winds at bay for a few minutes. The party fell to, dodging bullets from skeletal riflemen and sending fleshless fighters clattering into dust.

Seeing Trance still surrounded, Sylas cast another spell to trade places with her. She continued battling a single foe on a nearby rowboat, then leapt back into the fray once she'd dispatched it.

Soon, the party stood panting among piles of disintegrated bone, licking their wounds, Trance with several that were self-inflicted. The bloody saber had demanded sacrifice once more in exchange for power and skill.

If any in the party noticed this or felt concern, they didn't voice it.

Stepping out of the spell bubble, the group could only barely see the surrounding village through the driving sand. Mischief managed to find a building intact enough to provide refuge, and the group huddled within. While everyone else set to bandaging themselves, Helena pulled a ring out of her pocket to examine it idly. It was the one they had looted off of the hag slaver captain two weeks prior. Without intending to, she activated it, causing spectral, glowing chains to emerge from the floor. Trance shrieked, leaping onto Alarac's shoulders in terror. The chains disappeared, and Helena pocketed the ring, apologizing. Trance climbed hesitantly down, but huddled on the floor, trembling. She remembered those chains, and how much they hurt. Helena offered that they just sell the ring at their earliest opportunity, but Trance didn't reply. Alarac bundled her into a hug, holding her until she stopped trembling.

In the corner, Helena and Sylas noticed glowing crystals forming, an indication that the Mirage was beginning to discorporate, and would soon fade out of this dimension. To be fair, it had lasted much longer than the usual Mirage, but their quest had just become more urgent.

Session 21

Trance huddled in a corner, self-medicating with her catnip pipe. She and Alarac had been passing it back and forth to ease their nerves while the rest of the group discussed their next move. Helena judged by the crystals that they had several hours, maybe even a whole day before the Mirage would fall apart.

Trance started giggling madly, stating, "We're all going to die!"

Helena took her pipe away, scolding her. (She gave it back before they left.)

Bracing against the sandstorm, the group followed Helena through the ruined village. Trance used Alarac as a wind shield, but Helena was sandblasted and took some damage. Ahead of them, shadows moved between buildings. It was agreed that they should be avoided. They made their way to a tall structure to the southwest. It turned out to be large smokestacks protruding from a sizable building. The group took refuge inside.

It was a massive foundry, and they stood on a network of broad catwalks over huge crucibles. The forge was out, and all the metal cool and solid. Sylas had to hold Mischief back from running hog wild. A thorough investigation of the building proved it to be safe and empty of enemies. There were workbenches, anvils, buckets of dull and rusting swords, and a large lever in the far corner.

Alarac and Trance hung back near the door, munching on dried meat (as they were both feeling peckish). Trance perked up, seeing the lever, and wanted to pull it it see what happened. Helena stopped her, saying they needed to learn more before doing anything of the sort. Once Mischeif had properly assessed the foundry, it was decided that the only way to make use of all this iron would be to smelt it. Mischief gave Trance the go-ahead to pull the lever, which she did gleefully. Great clanking and banging was heard all through the foundry, and the air slowly became hotter. Trance immediately retreated to the entryway, scooting close to Alarac. Her whiskers were on edge.

Rumbling came from one of the crucibles. Slowly, a hulking form emerged from a pile of loose metal. It was an iron golem. While it stood on the solid metal five feet below the catwalks, it still towered over Helena and Sylas. The party drew weapons, and the golem attacked.

Projectiles of all sorts were hurtled at the construct- ice, bullets, arrows, spells. Little by little, they chipped away at it. As the metal below it began to faintly glow, the golem took on a fiery quality, and transformed. The molten golem flung liquid metal about, drastically injuring Helena and Sylas. Sylas ordered Umi to cast a protective spell to save him from the elements, and he leapt down to the hot metal below. He ran along the surface, then leapt for the edge of the catwalk. He slipped, and fell back onto the hot metal, stunned on his back. Trance bolted to the side where he fell, unsure of what to do. The battle raged on over him, still protected by the spell. Umi was able to revert the golem back to its solid state with several blows of ice spheres. This allowed Trance and Alarac to get in some solid hits with arrows, and Mischeif even managed to knock it down briefly. It rose again, however, roaring back to flaming iron, and it reached down to grab Sylas. Raising him high, the golem burned away the protective spell, and incinerated Sylas to the horror of all who witnessed. His companions cried out in dismay and rage. Trance, though distraught, thought quickly, rushing rushing Helena's side. She was quite burned, but the tears pouring from her one good eye were not for herself. Trance did her best to quickly heal her, whilst Umi began to roar. Never before had the party heard her make such a guttural, feral noise. She raised her staff, and launched a truly mountainous ball of ice at the golem. It seeped into its chest, freezing it solid for the last time.

Sylas's charred corpse lay nearby, and Trance ran to it, kneeling and digging frantically through her medicine bag while sobbing.

"I can fix him, I can fix him. I have the Dalaa'baxi." She hastily applied salve to his blackened, cracked flesh, then held her hands against him and chanted fervently. When nothing happened, she swore, and tried again. Helena tried to pull her away, but she lashed out. Alarac removed his cloak to wrap the body, and Helena managed to pull Trance away so he could.

"We have to keep moving."

"You go. I will stay with him until he is better," Trance replied.

"No, Trance-"

"I can't leave him!"

Heavy silence, broken by intermittent sobs.

"We need you, Trance. Come on."

"Someone has to stay with him!"

"He'll be here when we come back."

Seeing that Trance wouldn't be swayed, Helena looked imploringly to Umi, who picked Trance up and held her like a child. Trance wept into Umi's robes.

The party prepared to return to the driving sands outside.