> [!infobox|wikipedia] > # Recording > [](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIVscq3Fc8s) > # Basic Information > Attribute | Details | > ---|---| > Session # | 43 | > Play Date | 2025-12-13 | > Players | Deathmouse<br>JC<br>Kiwi<br>Lacer<br>Vael | > Party Level | 9 | > # Session Details > Attribute | Details | > ---|---| > Date | [[Campaigns/The Bloody Nails/Calendar/Year - 2507/03 - Water, 3rd.png\|7th Water, 3rd - 2507]] | > Location | [[Val Noren]] > Characters | [[King Marius Noren]]<br>[[Ayana Wynne]] | ## Summary As the storm finally breaks over [[Val Noren]], the party wakes to a city celebrating its liberation, though the shadows of the Empire have not fully receded. Between signing autographs for admiring soldiers and winning high-stakes card games, the group unlocks the secrets of a mysterious assassin’s note. By fuelling the parchment with blood, [[Ryo]] briefly contacts the someone on the other side - presumably connected to the [[Eye of the Empire|Eyes of the Empire]]. In the halls of the Keep, [[King Marius Noren]] rewards the heroes with platinum and rare [[Renite Steel]], but the true intrigue unfolds behind closed doors. The King’s advisor, [[Ayana Wynne]], isolates Ryo and shatters his reality by revealing they are both Elves—a race thought lost. She interrogates him about an "Emerald Ceremony," but upon realising he knows nothing of his heritage, she ruthlessly casts *Modify Memory*, wiping the encounter from his mind to protect her secret. Meanwhile, [[Berberis]] interrogates Imperial prisoners, confirming that the Red Priests serve a master darker than the Empress, and releases a captive with a warning message for the Empire to "clean its house." The session culminates in a test of spirit at [[St. Avelines]]. Seeking to purify the cursed armour of the Dread General, [[Kai]] is pulled into a perilous vision within the Astral Plane. Forced to battle a shadowy reflection of himself, he realises that violence only feeds the curse. Guided by the goddess Selune, Kai chooses redemption over destruction, healing his shadow self to break the corruption. He emerges from the trance with the metal purified, allowing Helda the smith at [[The Ashen Forge]] to craft a legendary, moon-touched shield in a divine fugue state. ## Details ### Morning in Val Noren * The party wakes to clear skies. [[Kai]] spends breakfast spreading tall tales about [[Dondar]]’s exploits ("The General Slayer") to the local soldiers. * Dondar signs a fan’s mug with his own blood, while [[Ryo]] attempts to hustle the group in a card game; Dondar eventually wins a pot of gold from [[Eryndor]]. * Ryo attempts to source thieves' tools from Eryndor, as they are unavailable in the war-torn city. * Dondar and Kai investigate the mysterious note found earlier. Through trial and error, they discover blood is the reagent required to activate the communication magic. * Ryo uses Eryndor's blood to interact with the note. The other side asks for a report. Ryo replies, "Objective complete, awaiting orders." * The response comes back: "Job must be completed before next steps." Ryo sends a final threatening message before the note is stowed away by Dondar. ### Audience with the King * The party is summoned to the keep to meet with [[King Marius Noren]] and his advisor, [[Ayana Wynne]]. * Marius thanks the party for restoring his family's rule and discusses plans to aid [[Val Miriel]] and negotiate with [[Governor Tarlis Evandron|Tarlis]]. * [[Berberis]] presents the drawing of the Red Priest’s dragon tattoo. Ayana claims not to recognize it, though [[Kai]] notices a subtle reaction from her. * Marius rewards the party with 20,000 gold (converted to platinum), three Greater Healing Potions, and a family heirloom: a [[Renite Steel]] Dagger (+1, critical hit on 19 or 20). * Marius provides Berberis with a letter of recommendation to take to [[Bjorn Aran]], the Governor of [[Val Aran]]. * Kai requests permission to train a religious force dedicated to [[Selûne]]. Marius, a devout follower of [[Torgar Earthshaker|Torgar]], is skeptical but allows Kai to meet with the local priest. ### Secrets and Shadows * [[Ayana Wynne|Ayana]] takes [[Ryo]] aside under the guise of collecting rewards. She magically reveals her pointed ears and forcibly reveals Ryo’s, exposing them both as Elves. * Ayana interrogates Ryo about his origins and the "[[Emerald Ceremony]]." When Ryo is confused, she realizes he is unaware of his heritage. * To protect this secret, Ayana casts *Modify Memory* on Ryo, wiping the conversation from his mind before returning him to the group. * Before the party leaves, Ayana teaches [[Dondar]] the *Teleportation Circle* spell, giving him the sigils for [[Val Noren]] and [[Glimmerforge]]. ### The Prisoners and the Refugees * [[Berberis]] interrogates the Imperial prisoners regarding the Red Priests. He learns the priests were a recent addition to the army and seemed to serve a different master than the standard Imperial command. * Berberis organizes the release of disloyal soldiers, sending them into exile with a message for the Empire's leadership: "Clean your house." * Refugees from [[Point Blackrock]] arrive in the city, having survived the crossing of the Frostway. ### The Test of Faith * [[Kai]] and [[Eryndor]] visit [[St. Avelines]] to meet Brother Callum and [[Alyn]]. * Kai displays the power of his Twilight Sanctuary. Despite Callum's devotion to [[Torgar Earthshaker]], he is convinced by the display and agrees to let Kai teach his rituals to the acolytes. * Kai attempts to purify the Dread General's cursed armour. Upon touching it, he enters a trance and is pulled into a vision of the Astral Plane. * Kai faces a shadow reflection of himself in combat, taking levels of exhaustion as physical attacks fail to destroy the entity. * Guided by the voice of Selune urging "Redemption," Kai stops fighting and casts *Cure Wounds* on the shadow. The entity dissolves into light, and Kai wakes up to find the black armour transformed into gleaming white and blue steel. ### The Moonlit Shield * Exhausted, [[Kai]] takes the purified metal to Helda at [[The Ashen Forge]]. * Helda enters a trance, her eyes glowing blue with channeled divine energy. She works the metal with superhuman speed and skill for hours. * She forges the **Moonlit Aegis** (+1 Shield). When [[Alyn]] provides a moonstone, it magnetically slots into the shield, unlocking a reaction ability to blind attackers. * Helda wakes from the trance with no memory of forging the item. Kai leaves 200 gold in payment. ## Art ### Kai's Test of Faith ![[Kai's Test of Faith.png]]