The Wandering Isles: Session 26
The group's latest adventure began with a narrow escape, barely managing to evade the powerful snow beasts that cornered them at the end of the previous session. This encounter was nothing short of cinematic: a blend of daring manoeuvres, quick thinking, and heroic moves that set the scene for the challenges still to come. With the snow still crunching underfoot and adrenaline still coursing through their veins, they regrouped and found a new camp in the frozen landscape.
Once settled, the group engaged in conversations both practical and profound. Dash and Lysa found themselves explaining the concept of hierarchy to Eos, a new idea for her, revealing the different ways each of them viewed power and structure. But their discussions didn’t stay light for long. In a slip, Dash nearly revealed Amaedrianna’s closely guarded secret about her lineage—her connection to Kael Bloodstone, The Archon. Taking first watch with her, Dash apologised and opened up about his dreams of dethroning Ramseth, The Sun King. This brought them both to an uncomfortable truth: removing one ruler might only create an opportunity for another, potentially pushing Bloodstone even further into power.
Elsewhere, Amaedrianna and Slate shared their hopes and fears about the future, a discussion that brought them closer and left them both with much to ponder. With a mischievous nudge from Amaedrianna, Slate disguised himself as Dash to wake Lysa in the middle of the night. Startled and unamused, Lysa slapped "Dash" awake, adding a touch of levity to an otherwise serious night.
In another corner of the camp, Eos and Hatsu delved into a conversation about the stars, their journey, and the deeper motivations that kept them moving forward. Eos shared with Hatsu the story of his scales from Minerva, expressing his belief in Hatsu’s goodness and balance. As if on cue, Hatsu’s new sai began to hum with an otherworldly vibration, ringing with an eerie harmony as though resonating with the snowy landscape around them. But their reflective night took a turn when another snow creature emerged from the shadows.
The creature, massive and imposing, seemed drawn to Amaedrianna, whose calm and respectful demeanor earned its trust. Narrowly avoiding a potentially deadly encounter, she led the group deeper into the cave as the creature guided them to a mysterious passage it clearly feared. Deeper into the unknown, they found an eerie effigy covered in intricate carvings and lined with delicate silk-like threads—an offering to The Unnamed One, a deity demanding both reverence and caution.
Further inside, the explorers stumbled upon a body shrouded in cobwebs, bearing a familiar symbol that matched the markings they’d seen on the researchers the previous week. Their discovery took a darker turn as they uncovered petrified figures frozen in aggressive stances, blocking a potential exit. While the group saw only the bodies of those turned to stone, Eos was granted a haunting vision of a man in dark robes, blood staining the walls, and a skeletal visage staring back at her—a chilling warning of the dangers ahead.
With eerie portents and deep-seated fears rising, the session ended on a dark and ominous note, leaving the group to wonder what lies ahead in this twisted path through the frozen depths.
