Session 5 Summary
Upon returning to Shamsha Leonidas, the group and Prince Ramiel met up with Einar once more. Einar asked if anyone was hurt, yet Vita already knew that he knew they weren't. Einar revealed he had noticed suspicious behavior from the guards, explaining why he had asked them to find the drake eggs. Einar praised the group's handling of the situation but warned them to avoid confrontation in the future.
While Prince Ramiel tended to the drake eggs, the ladies were asked to join Einar in the large ballroom, where the group was expected to participate in a dance. The ladies asked how it would be decided who would be dancing together. At that moment, the roof of the Shamsha Leonidas opened up, revealing moonlight reflecting off a large crystal, creating different rays of light. It is said that Solaris, the idol of Concordia, takes pleasure in watching the performances, matching people to form connections. The dances began, with each participant changing partners as the lights shifted.
The dance became particularly notable when Einar was repeatedly chosen by the light beams to dance with the ladies, despite his obvious attempts to avoid participation. His touch was ice-cold during these dances, and he became defensive when questioned about his jewelry, calling it a Nullstone that seemed to emit an unsettling aura.
At some point, the rays of light selected Vita and Einar to dance together. She asked him about the strange vision she had experienced. Einar explained that she saw an alternative outcome—another way the situation could have unfolded if she hadn't involved herself and her friends. Vita asked if it could happen often, with Einar mentioning that he could experience 200 per day depending on circumstances.
The dances continued with various significant partnerships. The mysterious Lizardfolk Priestess, adorned in elaborate jewelry, revealed her enrollment at the academy was at the king's request. Ramarika Whispers, the headmaster's sister with eerily glowing green eyes, hinted at special opportunities for top-performing students. Vita also had an awkward dance with Louis Hershkowitz, a deerfolk council member. Thalga got an opportunity to dance with Prince Solaris II, who invited her for a visit to the palace to discuss the watering system of the royal gardens.
But then Einar started to feel uncomfortable, and at some point he said, "I can't do this—you remind me too much of her," and promptly left. Naomi decided to follow after Einar, and she found him outside the Shamsha Leonidas with a nosebleed. After helping him tend to it, she asked if he'd like to dance, and Einar agreed. Naomi started to hear a strange hissing noise while being near him, and the ice that surrounded Einar became stronger.
After a few minutes of dancing, Einar eventually let go and headed inside. Naomi felt paralyzed for a moment, and as she looked at the ice that surrounded her, she saw a strange snake-like pattern etched into the ice, which deeply unsettled her.
Meanwhile, Vita danced with Prince Ramiel, who, though stressed from the earlier events, showed genuine care during his dances. He took an interest in her and planned a visit to the Cursebreakers Academy to meet up later. Rose danced with Fisherman Beaufort, a palace attendant, who revealed he was once at the Cursebreakers Academy. They discussed a mysterious tablet now in the academy's custody, but Beaufort became nervous when dancing skills were mentioned and warned Rose to stay away from the tablet business.
The evening ended with Prince Ramiel presenting the recovered dragon eggs to King Anwar Orpaz, who thanked everyone who participated. The ladies were then returned to the Academy by Ahmidon.
The following days marked the beginning of the second year of classes at the Cursebreakers Academy. The students (re)met their teachers: Einar for Defense Against the Arcane, Anthea for alchemical studies, Thananthos for weapon mastery with his practical survival approach, Kalashar for Harmonic arts, and Lorelei for Divinity. The group learned they would be studying alongside four rival classmates.
During their free days, the party visited a mysterious fortune teller's shop named "The Oracle." Rose's reading took an unsettling turn when the orb turned purple and the fortune teller saw visions of a town disappearing into sand, connected to Rose's missing twin sister. A portrait in the shop mysteriously glowed, showing a draconic skull with a trapped figure, causing the fortune teller to become frightened and push them out of the shop.
A few days later, on another day off, Rose and Thalga planned a visit to the Royal Gardens to follow up on Prince Solaris II's invitation. Thalga and Rose discovered plants mysteriously turning black and crystals being drained of power. Prince Solaris II showed Thalga a storage room full of blackened crystals, giving her a sample to study.
Meanwhile, Vita and Naomi gave Prince Ramiel a tour of the Cursebreakers Academy, showing him the temple and paying respects at Siegfried's statue. Prince Ramiel mentioned that the warehouse they had visited earlier was now empty with no trace of the thieves who had been there before. The three decided to do a bit of combat training. Naomi demonstrated her sword mastery while Vita cast spells.
Ramiel demonstrated his lightning breath. The group easily defeated the training dummies, which fought back with rays of frost and melee attacks. Ramiel's dragon companion, Sparky, took a liking to Vita, and Prince Ramiel once more invited the ladies to visit The Drake House if they'd like to meet his dragon and the other Drakes.
After their training, Prince Ramiel bid the ladies farewell. During a short visit to the cafeteria, Vita and Naomi met Kaedlin again. Vita shared some details of her chaotic art project, which Professor Kalashar had liked enough to keep. Kaedlin mentioned that she had dropped something off at Einar's office.
The next week concluded with mixed academic results. Naomi and Thalga excelled in weapon mastery, impressing their teacher Thananthos of the Sands. However, Vita struggled with controlling her magic, leading to a stern lecture from Einar about nearly scorching a bookcase.
Rose was called into Professor Lorelai's office, as Lorelai had noticed that she seemed distracted. Rose didn't really seem very keen on Lorelai, yet when Lorelai open-heartedly asked if there was anything she could do for her, Rose opened up.
Rose told Lorelai that she felt disconnected from Harmonia, and that her necklace had lost its bright color. Lorelai told her that this wasn't always a bad thing, but rather a sign that the path Rose was on might differ from Harmonia's true nature.
Rose told Lorelai that she wanted to find her twin sister, who had disappeared along with the other people of Kall-Carie. She talked about the reading earlier that month, which had shown her sister trapped in a Void, but the details were scarce after the Oracle had freaked out.
Lorelai wondered if what she had seen meant something—maybe it could mean that her sister was not dead. Lorelai suggested exploring further, though she warned this might be a dangerous road ahead and could possibly push her further from Harmoria's values.
Lorelai brought up Harmonia's most important value: Empathy. Holy symbols related to Harmonia darken when Empathy is neglected. Lorelai shared a bit of Harmonia's history. Harmonia herself had carried a heavy burden of loss, having sacrificed her counterpart Mortemus, which in some ways mirrored Rose's situation with her sister. But when Rose pointed out to Lorelai that Harmonia was eternal and had forever to achieve her goals while she did not, Lorelai brought up that eternity wasn't always a blessing, because it also meant an eternity of separation.
Rose left with renewed perspective and a new respect for Lorelai.
Key Information
The group returned to Shamsha Leonidas, reunited with Einar, and learned he’d sent them after the drake eggs due to suspicious guards.
A moonlit dance was held, with Solaris’ light selecting partners. Einar, despite trying to avoid it, was repeatedly chosen. His touch was cold; his Nullstone jewelry had a strange aura.
Vita asked Einar about her vision. He explained she saw an alternate outcome and mentioned he experiences up to 200 such visions daily.
Einar became emotional, left the dance, and Naomi followed. They danced outside, but strange ice and snake-like patterns appeared, unsettling Naomi.
Prince Ramiel gave the recovered drake eggs to King Anwar Orpaz; the ladies returned to the Academy with Ahmidon.
Second-year classes at Cursebreakers Academy begin.
Days Off:
Visit to The Oracle: Rose saw a vision of her missing twin sister and a draconic skull, alarming the fortune teller.
Rose & Thalga visited the Royal Gardens, found blackened plants and drained crystals. Prince Solaris II gave Thalga a sample to study.
Vita & Naomi toured the Academy with Prince Ramiel, trained together, and were invited to The Drake House.
Vita discussed her chaotic art with Kalashar. Kaedlin mentioned leaving something in Einar’s office.
Academic Updates:
Naomi & Thalga excelled in weaponmastery, Vita struggled; Einar scolded her for nearly setting a bookcase on fire.
Rose confided in Lorelai about her disconnection from Harmonia and her missing twin. Lorelai explained the path ahead may be dangerous, yet she encouraged empathy, sharing a bit of Harmonia’s own story.