Day 57 (S38-40)

They wake up unscathed, except Blanke who had another nightmare.
"Why... rock.... and no muscles...?" he mumbled to himself all day.
"Oh no, don't tell me you had another nightmare today" said Rina.
"It's your fault" said Alice, "you should have just let him sleep with his head in the Tiny Hut!"
"I know..." Rina sighed, "If he had asked just one more time I would have said yes - I almost caved the first time."
"Maybe you should just be nice the first time, then" Alice snapped back.
"I know, you're right" Rina sighed again.
"We should see what we can do to get Blanke fixed up" said Alice "Maybe we go to The web first thing this morning?"
"Sure," answered Rina, "I want to snoop in packages again!"

As they all went downstairs, the Thundersteps were in the lobby bar. It appeared that their 5th member who was killed in the arena had already been replaced.
Rina approached them to talk, "I'm sorry about your fallen comrade. I was in the stands when it happened, It was... difficult to watch. I recently lost a party member myself, so I understand the pain."
The men spoke to each other in Bolgrothian, which Rina could not understand and she had not activated Comprehend Languages.
One man seemed to comment on something personal to her - maybe her looks or attitude.
Another seemed to be pushing to send her away or reject her.
The last - who seemed to be the leader - seemed to want to hear her out, or just allow her to speak. He then spoke in Common to her, "We will move past it."
She nodded, "I was hoping to fight you guys today. I was very interested in your fighting style."
One of the men scoffed, then spoke in Bolgrothian again - seeming to not take her seriously or tying to waive her off.
"How have things been in Bolgroth lately?" she asked, "It certainly is interesting that even the king of Pennislovica was more interested in helping you with trade than your own neighbor and cousin-nation, Asmery, isn't it?"
"We have no allies!" one of the yelled as he slammed his fist on the count, "No one is there for us! We became strong on our own!"
Rina continued, "Seems to me that Asmery has failed you for centuries. More than failed you, intentionally kept your down. Princess Asmery 'gifting' the wasteland half of Kay'Lend to Garrison Bolgroth's ancestor, making sure to keep the good lands all to herself. All the fertile soil, the rivers, the forests. And leaving nothing for you."
The men's eyes narrowed.
"What does it matter to you, elf?" one of the men spat.
"I intend to travel to The Kingdom of Bolgroth soon," she said, "and I'm a firm believer that no nation should starve for the freedom of another."
They spoke in Bolgrothian again, more mumbling than speaking to each other.
The leader spoke to her, "A lone Elf roaming Bolgroth would be... rumor worthy, indeed."
"I know your people are suffering," Rina started again, "...starving, and without homes because Asmery floods your trade routes like they have for centuries. It seems like if Asmery cared about her cousin, it wouldn't be holding you back from actually being the kingdom Bolgroth the Conqueror created."
"You think yourself a historian?" the leader asked, "You know nothing of Bolgroth."
"Oh?" Rina started, "And what have I gotten wrong?"
"We will tell you after the fight" he said as he began to get up and the 5 of them walked out.
Blanke approached Rina, "They don't seem to like you very much."
"No, they don't seem to like anyone" she replied.
"We can beat 'em!" Blanke said encouragingly.
"Of course we can" Rina said loud enough for the Thundersteps to hear, "they lose every other war they've fought for centuries, I'm not sure why they think they can win this."
They did not acknowledge her, but one of them paused in his walk out for a moment and slightly turned his head back before moving on again.

"Time to go to the web," Alice said, "we need to get Blanke back to 100%."
They went to the Web again, and Rina used her Ghostly Gaze to see around. For the first time, she decided to get a more detailed look at the office area in the center.
The masked figures were going in and out of it through the doors - opening them like any normal person would. They had nothing beneath their cloaks - they were simply floating masks with cloaks that floated in the air. These were likely magic-based beings, and not any normal creature.
The office in the center was entirely black, Rina could deduce that this was a simple Darkness spell.
She then glanced around at other packages that were being delivered to different people. The Web was now open to the public, so many people were going in and out picking up orders, etc.
One person held a few long, thing, leather wrappings - within them were weapons that all had the same markings as Alric Ravenwood's weapon, and the other Finger's Weapons. The person carrying them ran in the direction of the Church of Luminus.
"Alice" Rina said, "do you think we should go after that guy?"
"It's too risky" Alice said, "We need to fight today and we need to be in good shape."
"Speaking of which!" Blanke started, "Excuse me, floaty man?"
"How may I assist you today?" one of the cloaked masks asked.
"I need a scroll of Greater Restoration please" he asked politely.
"One scroll of greater restoration, that will be 5,000 gold."
"NO!" yelled both of the girls at once.
"That's way too expensive!" Alice said.
"That's basically highway robbery" said Neely.
"So, no restoration?" Blanke said.
"Sorry, guy" said Alice, "but we are really short on cash right now. We just can't afford it."
"Sorry, Blanke" said Rina.
Blanke shrugged then began to leave the web.
"We should get to the arena soon" Neely said, "It's close to the time we will find out who we are fighting."
"And I get to place bets!" Alice exclaimed.

Once they got to the arena, Alice went straight to the betting area where to talk to Pip. There is already a line for bets for the day.
Alejandro approaches the rest of the party, "I paid good money to fight you today, my friends" he started, "we may have been on each other's side til now, but today we crush you!"
"You can't crush us" said Blanke, "you're way too small for that."
Grunk interjects, "I am big enough."
Bex then begins playing on her violin and singing, "We will, we will, rock you."
Blanke and Neely then join with a song of their own, but they were too uncoordinated to capture the crowd. They all sing with Bex.

Simon then begins to announce the match-ups for the day.
"First fight will be: Knights of Light versus the Thundersteps! The second fight will be: the Tall Tails versus the Fearsome 5! The third fight will be: The Bound versus the Salt Slayers! And the final round will be: The Beasts of Claw and Tooth versus the WhatTheHecks! The first match starts in 3 hours."

Long Neck was the betting line before Alice, he was leaning down to listen to Pip. When he popped his head back up he said, "Wreehh - how incredulous! Incredulous I say!"
Rina decided to talk to him once he was out of the line, "Hi Long Neck! Good luck out there today."
"Wreehh - Hi Rina! Nice to see you again! Yes, I hope we can get our wish to get back our fallen friends."
Rina then paused and took a deep breath, "If it means anything to you... I know where CheepCheep and Softfeather's bodies are."
"Wreehh - This information would be quite valuable to me indeed."
"CheepCheep, last I saw, was in King Sullivan Frey's possession. Softfeather was with Marcus at the Vorovni Adventuring Guild last I knew."
"Wreehh - Thank you, Rina. This means a great deal."
She smiled and nodded, then rejoined her group.
Alice gets to the front of the line, "Ok, Pip, what's the scoop? What's the fun bet today?"
"Ehh, I bet something funny today" he said, "I bet someone will get pantsed and expose their lower regions to the entire arena."
"Incredulous indeed," replied Alice.

After eating and talking with their friends in the lounge, the match announcements start.
"Will the Knights of Light and the Thundersteps please enter the arena" Simon demanded, "Everyone else, please see your way to the observation boxes."

The floor of the arena was in pieces and was moving, the Thundersteps had a hard to getting into their typical formation.
The Knights of Light, however, did not. They all got in a line, one behind the other, and held onto to each other with one hand.
The one in the front then used the fly spell and began floating them all in the air.
They all pulled out their glowing swords - bright as the sun - and they cornered one of the Thundersteps. With one slashing motion in unison, they knocked him out.
They then moved to the next, then the next, then the next, until all of the Thundersteps were defeated.

The next match up was the Fearsome 5 against the Tall Tails. The arena had metal dragon's heads at each of the 5 corners, that blew fire in a burst all together. Gunther showed off by breathing fire himself to taunt the Tall Tails.
Rina waived at the Tall Tails with a little icy magic in her hands, Estella Parstelo smiled and waved back to her.
"I got 10 gold on the Lion guy's team" said Blanke.
Rina rolled her eyes, "Ok fine, I'll bet. 10 for me if the Tall Tails win."
The Fearsome 5 still had the same 2 random members, only they were not so random now. The one who was clearly more of a wizard looked a bit sad today, likely because the Cylinder of Liquid that was sacred to the Eyeless Cult was now in the hands of Luminus.
The other member - the suit of armor - looked up at Alice, and slightly showed off his sword. It flashed with the same light that it had before, and he nodded to her.
The fight starts and the Tall Tails move in. Many of them hiding before they could get attacked.
The Fearsome 5 moved in with their typical formation: Gunther in the middle and front, with Marie and Long Neck on either side of him. The wizard and suit of armor behind. A couple of the members of the Fearsome 5 went down, then three from the Tall Tails. Then another of the Fearsome 5, then another of the Tall tails.
Just when it seemed to be neck & neck, the suit of armor pulled out his sword, witch flashed brighter than the flames from the Dragon heads, and the last of the Tall Tails went down. Leaving the Fearsome 5 victorious.

"Your match is up next" Simon said to The Bound.
They all make it to the arena, the dragon heads had been replaced with long wires with large metal spheres at each corner. They lit up with electricity. Rina made sure to put on her Jarl mask and get Volvagia ready to go.
Neely cast Invisibility on Blanke.

The Salt Slayers were haughty and pandered to the crowd. Alejandro pulled out his flaming sword and pointed it at The Bound, "This is the end of your weird BDSM group in the competition."
Rina pulled out her Rod of the pact keeper, glowing with Icy Frost-Flame as bright as Alejandro's sword. "See you in hell, salt lickers."
And the match begins.

Rivo creates a circle of Darkness and jumps into it.
Alejandro has high stealth and we can't see him.
Grunk wants to pummel and heads toward Rina with all her movement.
Bex charms Lloyd, then she hides behind the pillar in the center of the arena.
"You... you are not my friends!" yelled Lloyd.
Rina decides to attack Bex to break her concentration on Lloyd, but Lloyd hit her with an opportunity attack.
"Hey asshole!" she yelled, "you want my blood in your pretty hair instead?!"
"Nooo!" Lloyd yelled back, "You are scary, Rina - I'm always said it!"
Rina made it within range of hitting Bex, and hit her with two eldritch blasts, breaking her concentration.
The arena then sparked with electricity and hit everyone - Rina had resistance with her Jarl mask.
Alice turned into a titanothere and rammed into the middle pillar, knocking it over and hitting Bex.
Grunk got to Rina and yelled "Now!" She began to hit Rina with everything she had, causing Rina to use her Tomb of Levistus reaction - at the same time, Alejandro comes out of hiding to stab Rina and hits the ice - breaking it. Rivo then jumps up out of her Darkness and hit Rina 3 times - taking her down. Rivo then disappeared back into darkness.
Lloyd ran up onto the pillar that Rivo's darkness circle was, he swings three times and hits her on the last one - breaking her concentration.
Blanke used his tree abilities to grab Alejandro and teleport him into Queen Loanna Staffon's booth. It looked like he tried to flirt with her, and she punched him so hard that he fell back down into the crowd.
Alice stomped on Bex, taking her down as well. "One for one!" she yelled.
Grunk set her sights on Neely, who then goes down.
"We have to find the 5th member!" yelled Blanke as they all realize that one of them is still hiding somewhere.

End session
S39

Soon after Alice stomped Bex, she realized Neely had gone down. So she charged in Neely’s direction, hitting Grunk in the process. She then healed Neely and got her up.

“Oh, that sucks!” Neely said, “There’s just no getting used to this!” Neely then gave everyone a bardic inspiration and moved far away from Grunk. 
Lloyd took down Rivo, then headed in the direction that he could see Alejandro running towards.
Finally, the 5th member came out of invisibility: flying through the air was an Imp with a knife, plummeting toward Lloyd, “You killed my master! You must die!” It damaged Lloyd, but didn’t hurt him too badly. The imp then flew too high up for Lloyd to hit it. 
Blanke used the bridges across the pillars to get closer to Grunk and jumped down to hit her hard. “Fight me one on one, small one!” Blanke yelled at her.
Grunk thought a moment, “I can’t. Plan is plan.”
Blanke then taunted her by flexing to the crowd and jumping into the air doing flips - she fell for it, “Fuck plan. We fight!” she said as she raised her sword to Blanke.
Alejandro finally made it out of the crowd and back into the arena, using haste to gain more movement.
Lloyd crossed paths with Alejandro, “You and me! Leader to leader!” Lloyd yelled at him.
“Huh… you are no leader,” Alejandro said to him as he kept on running. Lloyd tried to hit him, but it didn’t work. 
The arena sparked again, sending waves of electricity down on the parties. Everyone on the field was hurt.
Grunk then approached Alice, took out a rod, and shoved Alice to the ground with it. With a click of a button on the end of the rod, it stayed in place - Alice was pinned by the immovable rod. 
Alice still attempted to use her thorn whip on Grunk, but she failed. Alice then used Wildshape to become an eagle to get out from under the rod, and flew into the air to get to the imp - being just short of its range.
Neely gave Blanke and Lloyd some temp HP, and Lloyd went for Alejandro again. 
Blanke was one on one with Grunk, and hit her a few more times - hurting her shoulder quite a bit by pulling it from its socket. 
Alejandro went running towards Neely, but Blanke hit him with an opportunity attack and prevented him from getting to her. 
The imp then hit Alice, but she didn’t fall out of wildshape. As it was trying to escape, she clawed at it doing some damage.
The arena crackled again, more lightning rained down. Alice fell out of wildshape and hit the ground hard. This lightning took down Neely again, and Alice ran toward her.
As Alice got near Alejandro, she remembered the bet that Pip had made… “I bet someone will lose their pants in the next round…” Alice used dispel magic on Alejandro, and he immediately stopped mid-sprint. He was unable to move for an entire turn after this. 
Alice then used her bonus action to heal Neely.
Grunk hit Blanke hard, and Blanke went down. 
Lloyd then ran to hit Grunk doing great damage to her. 
The imp could see all the damage being done, and turned into a bird to try and fly away faster.
The arena crashed with lightning once again, everyone on the field was hurt and burned by it at this point. Neely went down yet again. 
Alice could see just one way out while also winning her bet with Pip.
She ran over and pulled down Alejandro’s pants, then immediately used Call Lightning to engage the arena once again. With a final zap to only her opponents, Alejandro, Grunk, and the Imp all fell to the ground. Their blue bubbled bursting. 
Alice and Lloyd were the only ones left standing. The crowd cheered, Lloyd picked Alice up and put her on his shoulders. “Lloyd’s Bois won once again! And I couldn’t have done it without my good friend, Alice!”

The paramedics then came out to gather those who had fallen and heal them. Rina and Bex were the first to be treated, and the others were treated in the order that they fell. 
After a few minutes, all from the arena were conscious again. Rina could hear the announcer saying “Now for the Beasts of Claw and Tooth versus the WhatTheHecks!” 
Rina sat up as well as she could to see the BoCaT walking by, they waved at her and she waved back - remembering that her son, Darrian, was likely in the crowd today. 
“Dammit…” she whispered to herself, “why couldn’t he have seen me fight last round when I looked like a badass.” 
Rina got up to talk to the Salt Slayers, and went to Rivo first. 
“Hey, remember me mentioning my son, Darrian? He’s here now if you want to meet him. I’m still looking for him, myself. But if you do want to befriend another half-elf, this may be the time.”
Rivo was seething with anger, “I don’t know if you can tell, Rina, but I’m still recovering from being slashed in the stomach by Lloyd over there.”
“Almost as bad as being hit in the face with your three arrows, then being stabbed by Alejandro - and you don’t see me complaining,” Rina responded. 
“Sorry not sorry!” Alejandro said from behind her, “We had a strategy, and it was to get you first, elf.” 
Rina walked over and smacked him, “Ow, what was that for?!” 
“Just for fun, if I’m being honest,” Rina giggled.
“Isn’t it bad enough that the whole world saw me naked?!” he whined.
“At least it’s good advertising,” Alice laughed. 
“No! No it’s not good advertising!” he protested.
“Oh, so you’re more of a shower than a grower?” Rina teased.
“Yeah, it should have been good advertising - unless there’s nothing to advertise,” said Alice.
“Maybe that’s why the queen didn’t want him to flirt with her, maybe she knows more than we do,” Rina laughed again.
“No! It… it was good advertising I mean… yes…” Alejandro walked back.

Everyone in the room was laughing and having a good time when a very well-dressed servant then appeared out of the Queen’s door. “The Bound, the high Queen Loanna Staffon wishes for the presence of your company.” 
“The queen is high?” Alice asked.
He looked at Alice blankly as she lit up her pipe to “match the Queen’s energy,”
“Not like that…” he answered. 
“I wonder if she wants to know our wish!” said Neely, “Oh, no… I don’t know what I’d want!” Neely began to almost have a panic attack at the thought. 
“I wish for a chicken sandwich…” said Blanke, “Do you think the queen has sandwiches?”
“Don’t worry, dear Neely!” said Lloyd, “The Queen is fair and beautiful! She is not to be feared! Well… at least not like that.”
“You saw her punch Alejandro, right?” said Rina, “She seemed pretty scary to me.”
They all continued to laugh until the servant interrupted them again, “The queen does not like to be kept waiting.”
“Wait, she wants to see us right now?” as Rina.
“She wishes for you to watch this fight in the box with her,” he answered. 
“Guess we’ll go,” said Alice as she took another huge puff. 
“Follow me,” the servant said, “oh, and mind your manners. Bow deeply.”
Rina then visibly composed herself, “Ok, Rina, composure… someone in this group needs to be taken seriously…” she said to herself.
“Yeah,” agreed Alice, “it is usually you.”

So, they followed him through the Queen’s door, through a very opulent hallway and stairs, and into a waiting room. 
“Please wait here a moment,” the servant said as he went through another door.
“What would we wish for?” asked Alice, “I know we’ve meant to talk about it, but we never really did.”
“I told you,” said Blanke, “I just want a sandwich.” 
“Blanke, I will make you a sandwich, or buy you one,” Rina said. 
“You wouldn’t really waste a wish on that, would you?” Neely asked. 
Blanke shrugged. 
“What about you, Lloyd?” Rina asked, “You’re the reason we’re in this competition, what do you want?
“Me? Why, I would wish for you all to become my best friends forever!”
“Yeah, you would definitely need magic to make that happen,” said Rina, “On the plus side, then you’d all go to Enoch.”
“What makes you say that?” Asked Alice.
“Well, forever implies the afterlife. My soul is going to Enoch, so if we’re all to be together in the afterlife, you’d all have to come with me.”
“You’d really need a wish spell just to get friends?” asked Alice, “Do you have no one back in Vorovni to be friends with?”
“I… I have friends…” Lloyd said with a tear forming in his eye.
“Lloyd,” Blanke started, “I’m already your forever friend!”
Lloyd sniffed, “Thank you, Blanke!”
Lloyd and Blanke hugged, and Rina turned to Neely, “What would you want, Neely?”
“Oh, me? Um… well… I didn’t even think about it because you’re the decision makers. I just work for you.” 
“You’re part of the group, too, we want your input," Alice said. 
“Well, I don’t really know…” Neely trailed off.
“What about you, Rina? Surely you’ve thought of something,” asked Alice.
“I guess if I were to wish for anything, it would be that the task required of me in my Warlock Contract be completed,” Rina answered. 
“Well, that’s lazy,” said Alice.
“It’s efficient,” Rina said, “I am on a time limit for this, and the sooner it gets done the better… and the more time I’ll have to spend with my son.” 
“I think I’d wish to know where the beginning medallion is,” Alice said, “I need that to balance myself so I don’t blow up.
Blanke looks confused, “Contract? Beginning Medallion? What’s happening?”
Rina sighed, “Look, I sold my soul to a devil for my magic - is that a simple enough explanation?”
“Uh huh,” Blanke nodded.
“And Alice had a medallion that destroys souls, and needs one that creates souls - otherwise big explosions happen.”
“How big?” Blanke asked.
“Really big, Blanke,” said Rina, “Like.. Grunk big. No, like Blanke big. Since Blanke is basically 5 Grunks, right?”
Blanke nodded quickly in understanding.
“Good, glad we’re all on the same page.” Rina said sarcastically as the servant opened the door again.
“The Queen will see you now.”

When they entered, Neely, Blanke, and Lloyd all bowed as deeply as possible. Alice almost forgot, but still bowed. Rina took the front and bowed last, but maintained eye contact with the King Consort, Edmond, who was facing them as they entered the room.
He turned to the queen, who was facing the arena and watching the fight, and tapped her on the shoulder, “My queen, The Bound is here.”
She then stood up and turned to them, “Welcome, The Bound. Come and sit,” she gestured to the wooden seats below her wooden throne.
Behind her was a tall man with a mask covering his face on one half, and a veil covering the other. He had a tall, white and gold hat, and robes of white and gold also.
The Grandmother Belladonna of the witches was also there, and waived at Alice and Rina when they walked in.
The queen was fixated on the battle, jumping a little in anticipation every time someone landed another hit. 
She then addressed them, “You, The Bound, are all very… popular. The people seem to like you. Do you represent… the covens?”
“No, we don’t represent them,” Rina said, remembering the time she misunderstood the same question at the Witch Trials.
“Good,” said the queen, “because I grow tired of their games. And the games of the Church - Right, Pontifex?” she said while gritting her teeth. 
The man did not move, but answered her, “God tries us all at times, it is not up to us to question it, my queen.”
“Without questioning, how are we to gain knowledge?” said Belladonna.
Rina realized this conversation could be valuable to Agronoch, so she opened her soul to him in the way he had done with her before where she could hear him speaking to others. 
“Yes… that’s what tires me,” she said. “These two can’t stop bickering - the Church and the Witches. I hear you intend to bring… yet another trial against the church, and have some… evidence against them?” She said as she looked at Rina. 
“Yes, I do. I have agreed to have my memories projected.”
“With magic… of course…” the queen said, seemingly exacerbated by the concept. “Listen, I need this to stop. It is wearing me down! I do not like being worn down! Right, husband!?” she yelled.
“Of course, my queen,” he answered shyly. 
“God works in mysterious ways,” said the Pontifex, “everyone interprets the works of god differently.”
“What work?” Rina said, “I bet if you ask your people, The Bound has done more work for them than god - or the church that’s supposed to represent them.”
The Pontifex didn’t answer, but he turned his eye to her slightly. “I was not speaking to you.”
“Well, I was speaking to you,” said Rina, “Your people tried to assassinate me in the streets. Is that the kind of behavior you represent?”
A negative energy began to pulsate from him as she spoke, “If it wasn’t true, it wouldn’t bother you so much.”
“Enough!” said the queen, “While it entertains me to see him so flustered, you will do well not to break decorum again.” 
There was a silence in the room, Neely and Lloyd cowered behind the rest of the group, Alice and Rina stood firm in the front. 
The queen then turned her attention to the fight again. Blanke, not liking the silence, broke it, “I got 10 gold on the witches.” 
“Ha!” the queen laughed, “I’ll take that bet.” She then turned to face them all again.
Have you at all thought about your wish should you win the competition?” She then looked at Alice directly, “Miss Alice, what do you plan to wish for?”
“I haven’t thought about it much,” Alice responded.
“And you?” she turned to Blanke.
“Right now I just wish for a sandwich,” he said.
“Ha! I like you. Yes, fetch sandwiches for everyone!” she said to a servant who promptly left. 
“And what about you, Rina?”
Rina smiled and glanced down at Alice, “I haven’t thought about it much, either.” 
“Well, then let me make you a proposal, The Bound,” the Queen began, “As I have mentioned, I tire greatly of the Church and the Witches having so much power. They bicker and fight, one always trying to outdo the other. It has gotten on my nerves! Both of them are keeping us in the past… One wishes we lean on the gods, the other wishes we lean on nature. Who needs them?!” she yelled. “I wish for us to move forward. Less… forests and churches - more power, more strength, more cities!”
The witch and the Pontifex both looked at each other worriedly.

The queen continued to eagerly watch the fight. One of the beasts went down, then one of the witches. 
The servant came back with a pile of sandwiches, everyone took one and began eating, except Rina. Rina summoned both familiars, Khoshekh and Volvagia, and had them eat hers. 
Rina scanned the crowd, looking for her son - who was meant to be there to watch. In a box on the other side of the arena, she saw those familiar cat ears sticking up above the head of another beast person. She knew it was him, but he did not see her, he was focused on the fight.

“Here is what I want from you… though I do not ask that you give me your wish spell, should you win, but I ask that you use it to help the people of Asmery. You are citizens of Asmery, are you not?”
“Alice and I are citizens of Pennislovica,” said Rina, “The others, however, are from Asmery.”
The queen shrugged, “Three of five is good enough for me. I would ask that you, with your wish, help those you seem to care about. The people of Asmery, the people of Greenwarf who you have already mentioned. Help them by reducing the power the church and the pyre have to that of… just one group each. Let them be out of my hair and let me move my country forward in strength.”
“We must be patient,” said the pontifex, “You are still getting used to the Wish’s effects.”
“We must listen to nature, your highness,” said Belladonna, “Without nature, there is no city. Without nature, there is nothing.”
“You always think you’re so wise, don’t you Grandmother?” said the Queen. She then turned to the pontifex and the mother witch, “Grandmother, Pontifex, I’ll make you a deal. If the witches win this year, I’ll dissolve the church entirely. If the church wins, the Great Pyre burns. Deal?”
“Wait,” said Blanke, “I thought we were told that the Knights of Light didn’t represent the church?” 
The pontifex narrowed his eyes, then turned to face the arena again.
“Ugh, the Church wins every year! I’m hoping you can fix that…” She said to the party, “And if you win, The Bound, you can decide the fate of both of them!” She began to grind her teeth a bit, then turned to watch the fight. 
The last witch had taken out the last of the BoCaTs - the queen scoffed, then gestured for a servant to give Blanke 10 gold.

“May I ask a question, your highness?” Rina asked.
The queen nodded.
“Are you a distant relative of Garrison Bolgroth?”
The queen thought for a moment, “Yes… yes I suppose I am a distant relative of his.”
“You seem to have the spirit of Bolgroth the Conqueror running in you with your ideas of strength and power being a driving force.”
“This is something we’re just taught in history class…” the queen said.
“This attitude has lost The Kingdom of Bolgroth every war they’re tried to fight for centuries since then…” Rina said, not breaking eye contact with the queen. 
“Leave us!” the queen yelled, all of the servants, the pontifex, and Belladonna left the room. Blanke went to leave, also, but Lloyd held him there. Neely dropped to her knees in a deep bow and did not move. Alice glared at Rina with a worried look, but Rina never stopped staring down the Queen. 
“Your crude concept of our history means nothing here, what matters is moving forward. Will you take my request into consideration, or not?”
Rina smiled, “Since the wish spell is a gift from your highness, I see no reason to not take you into consideration.” 
“Good. You should keep in mind that the last day of the competition usually has its own dangers prior to the fight itself... few teams arrive entirely intact for the final group fight. Now, see yourselves out,” she said as she threw a metal cup against the door, spilling wine everywhere, “There will be further instructions waiting for you over there.”
The door opened and a servant was on the other side with a silver platter and a single envelope on it. 
Rina walked out first - both familiars on her shoulders - and passed straight by the envelope without a pause. 
Blanke walked out and saw this large plate, then looked at his arms full of sandwiches, “Oh, thanks!” he said as he grabbed the entire plate to put his food on.

Rina walked back out to the lobby to see if the Beasts of Claw and Tooth were there, but they had just left. "Dammit... where's Darrian?" she whispered to herself again.
The rest of the party followed her, "Hey, Rina! Don't you want a sandwich? Blanke asked."
"You couldn't pay me enough," She answered.
"Rina, you almost got us majorly in trouble in there," said Alice.
Rina didn't look at her, she just kept the same serious face she'd had on the whole time they were speaking with the queen.
"I think we should stay in Rina's Tiny Hut for the next couple of days," said Blanke.
"Yeah, ALL of us," said Alice as she scowled at Rina again.
Rina, once again, didn't change her expression. She only answered, "If I get a chance to spend time with my kid, that is going to take priority."
"Then invite him into the tiny hut, but remember the queen said we need to be extra careful," Blane said, "She said it would be a big group fight, and I don't want to be sleepy for that one!"
Rina walked out of the arena lobby into the street, she looked around for the Beasts of Claw and Tooth and Darrian, but they were nowhere to be seen.
"Rina, we should let the people inside heal us more," said Neely, "I'm still really hurt..."
"I'll make sure you all get into a tiny hut tonight," Rina answered, "but I am begging you, please let me find my son. Please."
They all looked at her and Alice let out a big sigh, "Come on, then... Let's get back to Tower 4 and see if they're there. That's where their room is, after all."

They all got to Tower 4's lobby and glanced into the bar area. The Beasts of Claw and Tooth were there, all raising a glass to their fight.
"We may not have won, eee, but we did our best!" Prettyface Quietwing yelled as they clinked their glasses together.
One of the Knights of Light then shoulder checked Tony, the tiger man, as they were walking by, purposely bumping into him.
Tony growled, "Having some manners is the least you could do." He then stood face to face with them, still growling.
The Knights of Light turned back aggressively.
"Now, now. Let's not stoke any fires..." they heard from a voice at the bar.
A cat man with semi-long black fur approached the Knights of light with 10 beer glasses, 5 on each arm. "Surely we can all just drink to our fights and get along for a night, yes?" he said as he offered 5 beers to the Knights of Light.
After a pause, the Knights took the beers and cheered their glasses to the Beasts of Claw and Tooth.

Rina approached them, seeing this cat man for the first time in over 35 years. He turned as he saw her, too.
"Oh... Hi mom."
She smiled, "Hey kid."

End session.

After a pause, Rina hugged her son and he hugged her tightly back.
"I missed you, kid."
"I missed you too, mom," he said with a smile.
She pulled back a moment and held onto his shoulders, "Look at the man you've become... you look so much like your dad."
Alice and the rest of the team were there behind her, "Oh! I want you to formally meet everyone. Alice, Neely, guys... This is my son, Darrian."
Blanke immediately went in to hug Darrian and hugged him just a little too tight.
"Oh! Oh, well it's nice to meet you, too! Wow, so you're mom's adventuring party, huh?"
"Officially just Alice and I are The Bound, but we've officially invited Neely and she's accepted."
"Well, it's amazing to meet you all, thanks for taking care of my mom."
"Yeah, we've had to take care of her," said Alice, "she can barely take care of herself some days."
"Okay, today's fight was not normal, okay? You should have seen me fight last round - I looked like a badass. I was teleporting in the air and shooting arrows down from the sky and freezing the arena stage."
Darrian laughed, "It was a tough fight out there today, but you guys won! That's something to be proud of!"
"We are," said Rina as she smiled at her teammates, "I want to congratulate you all, as well! Getting this far in the tournament is no joke. We were watching from... one of the boxes."
"Yeah, we try to win every year. The queen likes to... 'watch the animals fight'" Darrian said with an exacerbated tone.
"Well, for whatever its worth, she did bet 10 gold you would win," said Rina.
"And I won her gold!" Blanke said as he showed off the newly minted royal coins.

"We should give miss Rina some privacy with her son..." said Neely.
"We need to have a buddy system this time!" said Blanke.
"Yeah, Rina can't be trusted on her own," said Alice.
Rina sighed, "Ok, Neely will you stay?"
"Oh, of course... if that's ok."
"Ok, then Lloyd, Blanke and I will go take care of some business," said Alice as the three of them walked away.

Rina had a drink with the Beasts of Claw and Tooth and Darrian, celebrating their fights, but Rina wanted some time alone with her only son.
"I want to sit and talk with you," Rina started, "I have so much to tell you about, and there's so much I want to hear! I want to hear about your adventures, how you got to be in your position... and I want to hear about this mysterious good news you didn't want to mention in a letter!"
"And I want to hear everything about you, too, mom! I just need to finish up some things here. I need to send off the team and have a few other political discussions before the end of the day."
"We're in room 14," she said, "come see me when you're free?"
"Of course, mom," he said as he hugged her again.
"I'm so... so happy to be with you again, kid."
"I'm happy too, mom."
Some of the Beasts of Claw and Tooth teased him a little as she walked away, "Mama's boy? are we?"
Rina glared back at them and used Prestigitation to make it smell like farts in the faces of those who said anything, then she smiled at Darrian again.
"Ahh who dealt it!?" Prettyface Quietwing complained.

Alice, Blanke, and Lloyd all went to speak to the Eyeless Kindness in the room that Alice recognized to be the one they lured her to before.
They knocked and the guy who answered the door begrudgingly let them in, "It's the bound..." he sighed. Everyone in the room groaned.
"We wanted to talk to you about what's next," said Alice, "even though I think Rina should be here to explain it herself since she's the one who lost it..."
"What matters is getting it back..." said the old wizard, Conrad, "Now, Alice... we know you don't owe us anything. But we would appreciate your help in getting the Cylinder of Liquid back. It is the most valuable artifact to our religion, and if if the church has it then... I don't want to think about what that implies."
"Ok, how can I help?"
At this point, Blanke and Lloyd were in the corner - Blanke was playing his flute and Lloyd was dancing to the music.
"We know that the Cylinder of Liquid is being transferred the day after tomorrow, that is when it will be most vulnerable."
"The day after tomorrow? That's the final tournament fight."
"Yes... and this will need to happen during the fight."
"But... I need to BE in the fight," Alice said.
"We are offering an exchange of sorts. We would need you and your bard to help us, and we would send our champion into the fight in Neely's place."
"Ok... that still leaves my team with only 4 people."
"We have procured a Major illusion spell that your warlock can cast," he said, "this would be an illusion of you that would only need to last a short time. Then you could fly in as a bird or something once you have gotten the Cylinder. Then, hand the cylinder to our champion afterwards. We will make sure that Rina is protected fully during this time to keep the concentration."
"So... you want to replace Neely with your armored dude, who is currently working with the Fearsome 5?"
"Yes, he has... stepped down from working with them. If it was up to him, he would storm the church himself to get it back. Offering for him to fight with you was our compromise."
"And you want Rina to risk her spells to keep an illusion of me in the arena until I can - maybe - get the Cylinder back?"
"Yes, then give it to our champion once you replace your illusion in the arena."
"I will have to ask the rest of the group if they are ok with this before I give you an answer," she said, "Maybe by dusk tomorrow?"
"It will need to be no later than noon tomorrow," he said, "we will have to prepare quite a lot to pull this off. If you agree to doing it, we must begin preparations right away."
"For now I'll say... assume we will do it. But I will talk to them to confirm and meet you at noon here tomorrow."
Blanke could tell they were very disheartened by what had happened, and were also holding some things back.

Rina and Neely went back to room 14, Rina began pacing, waiting for Darrian to arrive.
"Um, Rina? I'm going to just be in my room practicing the harp and let you two be alone."
"Will you stay out here with me until he gets here, though? I kind of don't want to wait alone."
Neely nodded and started playing her harp in the main room, until there was a knock at the door. Rina opened it without even checking who it was - it was Darrian.
"Hey kid!" she said as she hugged him again, "Come on in, have a seat wherever."
"Shoes off or shoes on in here?"
"Well, I'm not the one cleaning so... I guess shoes off?" she answered.
He waived at Neely, who then slipped off into her room and shut the door. He glanced into the other two rooms to see the dilapidated bedposts on them, "Uhh... what happened with that?"
"Oh, Lloyd thought he needed to practice his sword fighting on the posts."
"Well he is.. he's a fine fighter, I'll say that," Darrian commented.
They both nodded sarcastically.
"They certainly are... interesting - your group."
"Yeah, I didn't really have a choice with any of them, to be honest. Except Neely, I asked her to work for us."
"But it would be less fun without them, right?"
She laughed, "Yeah, they certainly keep things interesting. Let's talk, kid. I want to hear all about the good things, the happy things, the beautiful things in your life... but I also have some heavy stuff to talk to you about. So... please, let's make time for both. I want to know who you are again, kid."
"That's really sweet, mom. Well, I'm now known as Darrian Michaelis Deepcut."
"Yeah, I noticed you changed the spelling of your name, too. It's spelled more like your dad's now... so I think it's fitting."
"Yeah... it is spelled more like dad's," he smiled, "When I moved to Kay'Lend I was really looking for a place for a while. It was strange to be in a new place. Then it was really strange when dad died... things were hard. And I know you were always there with us, mom... but it felt like your elf age and memory affected you more back then. You seem more plugged in to the day-to-day now."
"Well... I really want to be, kid. I'm really trying to. And you're the main reason I want to try. You're my whole world, Darrian. You have been ever since I found out you existed."
He paused for a moment, then sighed, "It's hard to feel like someone's entire world when you know that they will just go on. I'll just be a speck in your life."
She started to try to protest, but he continued, "And while, yes the memories will live on and you'll care... I needed to find people who I can impact for their whole lives. I needed to get away, I needed to go."
"I never held it against you that you left," she said holding back tears, "I always said that I wanted you to find your own path in life, be your own person, find your place in the world, find your people... and you have. And I'm so proud of you and happy for you... because you really deserve it, Darrian."
He paused and also began to tear up a little, "Thanks mom... I really appreciate hearing that."
"You know... your dad really wanted that, too. You two were really joint at the hip your whole life. He was like you, you were like him and I was... just the catalyst that brought you together. But you're still my whole world, and I don't want to miss any more of your life. I've already missed half of it."
"Well... then you need to come visit Basta'Thrope'."
"I want to. I was actually on my way to you when we came here. This was just supposed to be an escort mission for Lloyd while we were already on our way east. I didn't even know he expected us to be in the competition until we got here."
"That's classic you, getting caught up in some adventure," they both laughed.
"Listen, kid... I also have some serious things I want to talk to you about. There's a lot of fun things we need to talk about. All the people you've met, the people you love, the things you love to do... I want to know all of the good things. I just... I also have some heavy things I need to discuss."
"Yes, I... I think we will have much time to reminisce and enjoy that. But I also some more serious things to talk to you about, mom."
He then paused for a moment, seemingly trying to shake away a thought, "I've been having... dreams. Dreams about dad involving chains... and fire. Would you happen to know anything about that?"
"That is actually part of what I wanted to talk to you about... yeah."
"Do you know what's happening, mom?"
Rina sighed heavily, then decided to mentally open the conversation to Agronoch so that he could hear what was happening - at least she hoped.
"Yeah, Darrian, I do. So, I'm just going to start from the beginning. When I got to Kay'Lend I was approached by an... immortal, ethereal being who told me that the souls of the Therianthropes were in danger... and if he and I worked together, we could fix that. I didn't really know what he meant at first, but then I did the Blending in Pennislovica - I'm assuming you know what that is."
"I've heard of it, though I don't know the specifics."
"Well, basically the universe shows you what it thinks you need to see most. And what I saw... the souls of, not just your dad, but I think every one of Therianthrope Souls that has ever existed. They were all in chains, and in agony in the afterlife. Now I know... that's what's at stake. So, I'm working for this... Immortal, Ethereal being to try to fix that. He's in the afterlife working on it, and I'm here working on it."
Darrian paused in disbelief, then covered his face with his hands, "So... ok... ok wow, that's a lot..."
"I know, kid, I know it's a lot to take in, and I know I didn't raise you to be spiritual but... There's a lot more to the afterlife than I thought.

"My thoughts on the afterlife have shifted a lot recently, too. It didn't used to matter to me as much but..." He then pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to her, "It would have been nicer in person, but I wanted you to have this."
On the paper was a sketch of Darrian next to another cat-person, a woman, and between them stood a small child.
She looked at it and started to cry, "You... you're a dad?"
"Yeah... I'm a dad."
They both smiled.
"This is amazing, kid... I'm so... so happy. I'm overjoyed for you."
"I know, he is amazing. I don't know how you put up with me - this little bugger scratches his claws on everything and climbs up trees! He's a scamp!"
"Yeah! You think you weren't a scamp? We had to replace our banister and our doorframes a hundred times with you climbing up them so much!"
"I know I did all that, too! I know I was just like him... and he's my whole world, mom. I can't bear the thought that something like what's happening in my dreams would happen to him. I can't bear that he would be in danger for something he didn't do."
"I know, kid... that's exactly how I feel about you. I think about you all the time, and I think about your dad all the time... every night I think about it. I don't want that to happen to you, and there's only one way that I know of to make it not happen... and that's through Agronoch. He's my warlock patron, he's the person I've been working with. He's in the afterlife, and he's the lord of the Beast Plains."

"What is he, mom?"
Rina paused a moment and looked at Darrian with an obvious feeling of dread, "He's... he's a devil."
"What?"
"I know, I know... but-"
"Mother..."
"Look I need you to listen to me, ok?"
"A Devil, mother? You made a contract with a devil?"
"Ok, yes I may have... sold my soul for you."
Darrian put his hands over his face again, "Oh my gods, mother..."
"Look, kid, I've learned more about devils, too. The term devil didn't even exist 1000 Years ago. It's just a term for powerful people in the afterlife, and it's gotten a negative connotation."
"Yes, for good reason."
"Well, not with him - not with Agronoch. He's a good person."
"Oh, he's a good one? Okay, sure."
"Yes, he is."
"Ok, fine, then where is he? Can we meet him?"
"We can meet him, I just don't know when he can show up again. I haven't seen him for about three weeks now."
"That's a lot of faith, mom."
"I know, but I know there's nothing he would ever do that's worse than what's happening now."
Darrian paused again, and considered her words, "Do you trust him?"
"Yeah... I do. For some reason, I really do, kid. He's a little naive in some ways, but he's growing up."
(nat 20 persuasion check from Rina)
Darrian sat on the edge of his seat, his long tail whipping like a bothered cat's. He relaxed after a moment, wrapping his tail around his waist, and sighed.
"Ok, mom... if you trust him..."
"Yeah... I really do, kid. And I hope you will get to meet him soon. I hope he shows up for me again soon. He's been distant since... well... he pulled me into hell once to talk to him and-"
"Mother, this does not make me feel better."
"But he obviously sent me back here to help you. And I'll be honest... it was kinda nice there."

Darrian blinked a few times, then responded, "Well, mom...if you can give us any information, I'll get our best scholars on uncovering this thing. It seems like something to do with being a Therianthrope is tied to this."
"I agree, that's my conclusion, too."
"Do you know how or why it started?"
"Yes, I read that it was Bolgroth the Conqueror is who created the curse..."
"Oh, great... so it's Bolgroth. I heard that Pennislovica recently opened up its trade with Bolgroth again. I remember you mentioning it in your letter, but I only recently heard they accepted the deal."
Rina took a deep breath, nodding as he spoke.
"I don't mean to offend you, mom, but what loyalty do you share with our main enemy?"
"They, I'm sure, are more upset with the Therianthropes now than they were before Basta'Thrope' was established, and part of that is because you've cut off most of their trade routes. Which I genuinely love for you, I want your country to be thriving and successful! But it's also making them more angry with you. Hungry people are angry people. King Sullivan Frey owed me a favor so... I hoped that feeding them would keep them from fighting you so much."
"Well it has certainly caused a stir."
"Has it caused you problems?"
"Not yet. Luckily our relationship with Asmery is pretty palatable, as long as we keep showing up to the Everbleed Bowl every year."
"Well, Queen Loanna Staffon did bet on you to win."
"We're pretty vicious when we need to be."
"I know, it was great."

"Regardless, it's caused a stir, and it could ultimately be good. It's just that... trying to communicate with Garrison Bolgroth has been intolerable. Especially since Drysky desert has become overcome with this... red. It's just been bad."
"The desert has been overcome with... red? Red what?"
"We just call it 'the red'."
"So... is it like a fog? Or a substance in the ground like a slime? Or what?"
"It's in the sand... I've never seen it myself, I've only heard reports. The problem is that whenever someone goes into the desert... they don't usually come back. Very few people who do come back report the Red, they mostly just describe the color before their eyes go blank and they become too afraid to speak. So, until we stop whatever is happening with that, Bolgroth and Basta'Thrope' are not open to trade at the very least."
"Well, kid... I don't know if you know this, but that desert was created because so much blood was spilled there that it killed all the wildlife. Probably the blood of your people, if I'm being honest."
"Then maybe they're seeking vengeance."
Rina then recalled something Alice had said the first time she showed herself as an unbalanced scale, 'the cycle has become a spiral, the spokes have rusted from the iron in the soul-bound blood the whirlpool is beginning to deepen, bulling the future into eternal ruin.'
"The soul-bound blood..." she whispered out loud.

Darrian then broke the silence with a smile, "Well, mom... I want to hear about your adventures! Please, tell me everything!"
She smiled, "First I need to know what my grandson's name is! And your... wife?"
He laughed, and pointed to his wife on the page, "This is Felicity."
"Aw, she has a pretty name..."
"And, well, you may think this is silly, but I named him Sebastian. Well, Sebastian Jr."
"Aw... of course it's not silly," she said as tears began to well up again, "I'm glad that your dad's name lives on... it's adorable."
"I thought so. Felicity didn't like it at first, but I convinced her that him being named after dad would be worth it in the end."
"Can I keep the sketch of them?"
He smiled, "Of course, mom."
For a while the two of them continued to talk about their time apart, sharing adventures and stories of those they met along the way.
"Unfortunately, mom, I do need to go before nightfall," said Darrian, "I need to speak to some dignitaries and other trade representatives before the day is done... with the trade between Bolgroth and Pennislovica going through, I need to ensure that Basta'Thrope's trade agreements are set in stone."

The rest of the party all arrived back at room 14, Darrian sees them walk in and hugs Blanke again - who hugs him much too tightly once again, "Oh, this guy! He's a strong one. Well, I'll pop back in here and there as I have time!"
"Please give us some warning before coming in," said Blanke, "lots of people are going to be out to get us the next couple of days. Don't sneak up on us or surprise us, please."
"Oh, of course, I'll announce myself when I arrive."
"Also, it's probably not completely safe for you to be by yourself in this city," Rina started, "Don't to anywhere alone, even if you think you're walking up to someone you know... Someone disguised themselves as your father - or maybe you, you look so much like him now. They lured me away from the party and tried to assassinate me. So just be careful."
"I think I should be asking you to be careful, mom. I certainly will be. I guess that's part of being a dignitary... everyone knows what you look like. I don't really like that someone was impersonating me, either, that's not good. But the good thing is... they can't do it well."
Rina laughed, "No, you're right. They can't."
"Even in a mesh top?" asked Blanke.
Darrian blinked a few times then answered, "I'm sure that would look so much better on you," he said with a smirk.
"Everything looks better on me."
"If nothing else, he has confidence," said Alice.
"And he's tall," Darrian added.
"He can take a hit," said Rina.
"Well it was lovely to meet you all," said Darrian as he walked out the door, "I'll try to pop in tomorrow. Good luck deciding on your wish - it took us forever to figure out what ours would be."
"Ok, love you, kid!"
"Love you, mom!"
The door shut behind him, and Rina was over the moon.

Neely then also comes back out and joins the group, "Um, so I still have this letter from the queen... I think this is how we get to The web."
She showed them all the letter and it said, "Shadow box password: Daluka Ta Amor."
The group decided to eat rations that they already had on them, Rina heated them up with her magic. None of them even trusted room service at this point.
Neely and Rina used Alarms on the doors and windows and set the sound to a bell that anyone could hear.
"We should discuss the wish," said Alice, "Are we going to help the queen?"
"I don't feel the need to," said Rina, "If it is our wish, why would 2 non-citizens care about using something so powerful to 'fix' the politics of a different country?"
"If you didn't want to be beheaded," Blanke said wide-eyed, "You wouldn't want your son to see you beheaded, would you?"
"...fine. We can try to do what she wants while also getting something we want," said Rina, "Let's duiscuss this in the Tiny Hut."
Rina put up her little igloo tiny hut in the living room area of room 14 and they began to discuss the details of the wish.
"The queen wants us to knock the church and the pyre down a peg," Blanke started, "but we need to make sure the queen still has power over the people."
"Why not give every single person equal power? If they want to elect someone, then so be it," suggested Alice.
"I have a feeling that wouldn't end well," said Rina, "We could go with some sort of constitutional monarchy - keep the queen on top, but allow other elected officials to keep her power in check. If I recall from my research, this is how Ilianga runs its government under the Emperor."
"But... what if we say it in a way that gives each of the covens more power than the church as a whole?" Alice said, "It would still lower the individual power of the pyre and the church as a whole, but the covens would have more power than the church overall."
"But then the covens will all be in competition," Blanke mentioned, "couldn't that cause more of a stir on the pyre's side?"
"That would be for them to figure out, then," said Rina.

"Ok, that's what the queen wants," said Alice, "let's work on what we want and how to make it tie into this. What does everyone here want most?"
"I want all of the Lloyds Boys to be friends for ever!" said Lloyd.
"Good thing I'm not in that group," said Rina.
"I'll always be your friend, Lloyd," said Blanke.
"Me too!" said Alice as the three of the hugged.
"One day we will get the scary one!" Lloyd said as he gestured at Rina.
"Well, if it was up to me, I'd want the, um... task... that I need to complete for Enoch to just be completed."
"And I'd want to find the Beginning Medallion."
"I just want access to the information on the The Syndicate."
"I just want to queen to not be upset..." said Neely.
"Well we have the queen's issue covered I think," said Alice, "but we can't just list a bunch of things."
"We can add commas!" said Blanke.
"So after the bit for the queen, we just put a comma and add everything else after it? Seems unlikely to work to me," said Rina, "That's like using the command spell and asking for multiple commands - it doesn't work that way."
"Well, we're going to try," said Alice.
"If we had one object that could somehow show us the location of something we wanted, and we could use it multiple times... that might work," said Blanke.
"There's a locate object spell," said Rina, "but it is one-time use. Plus, I needs to find a person, not an object."
"What's something that can point us in the direction of something we want?" asked Blanke.
"Like a compass?" Alice said, "What if we asked for a compass that points the holder in the direction they want to go?"
"We know the universe can make such things," said Rina as she pulled out the God Compass, "if this can point to gods, surely one could be made that can find the desires of the person holding it."
"So, 'a compass that can point to the holder's conscious desire' - that sounds like good wording," said Alice.

After much deliberation, Alice write up a draft wish they would present to the queen: We wish for the Church of Luminus and each of the recognized covens to have equally shared and recognized power under the queen in a system of shared power in a constitutional monarchical system similar to that in Ilianga, as well as a compass that points toward the holder's conscious desire to be put into the possession of Rina Afrisa-Michaelis, and for Lloyd's Boys to always be friends."

"You really have to put that last part in there?" Rina groaned, "And why put it in my possession?"
"Yeah, she's good a losing important objects - we do know that about her," said Blanke.
"Hey, that was one time!"
"Well, that is true," said Alice, "but she has the most unique name. And... let's be honest, she's the most responsible."
"And the most scary..." said Lloyd.
Rina smiled, loving her reputation, then glanced down at the God Compass just out of curiosity. From Greenwarf it pointed southeast, from Everhelm it pointed straight south - straight at Mt. Luminus.
"Hmm... So if I jump off of there, do I meet a god?" she asked herself.

"Now we should discuss our plan for tomorrow," said Blanke, "I don't want to go in there unprepared again."
"Now is a good time for me to bring up the stuff I talked to the Eyeless Kindness about..." said Alice. She explained to Rina and the others how the fight was to go down if they chose to help get the Cylinder of Liquid back.
"I'm down with helping them," said Rina, "I'd rather anyone have it but the church."
"I'm thinking we do all that... but not give it back," Alice suggested.
"And put a target on our backs again?" said Rina, "They need it, it belongs to them. Let's just let them have it. Gabrielle's name is even on it... she's one of them. Its theirs."
"We don't know that Gabrielle is actually one of them," said Alice, "and we also don't know what the Eyeless Kindness even really needs it for."
"Are we all in agreement we are getting away from the church, at least?" Rina asked.
They all agreed.
"Great, assuming we're doing that - it means I'll be concentrating for the first few rounds on the fight keeping an illusion of Alice on the field."
"They also said their champion would be keeping you safe, as well as Lloyd and I, of course," said Blanke, "I think we should talk to the other parties who will be on the field and get them on board."
"If the Fearsome 5 and the WhatTheHecks can tag-team the Knights of Light, we can at least keep them from wining," said Alice, "The most important thing here is that the church doesn't win."
"I will write a letter to Mayoay and one to Gunther," said Rina, "I'll have Mari deliver them tonight, and maybe we can convince them to get in on the plan."
Rina wrote with her scribe's pen and Illusory script to both Gunther and Mayoay explaining the plan and asked them to be on board. For anyone other than the members of the Fearsome 5 and the WhatTheHecks - the script would have simply said, "Good luck tomorrow," but the select people could read the entire plan.
She then handed them to Mari, along with 30 gold, "10 for each letter, and 10 for you - thanks for everything."
"Oh... yes... you're so welcome..." she said, annoyed that she has to have anything to do with them at this point.

"We should also discuss the plans for tomorrow," said Blanke, "I think we should hide in the Tiny Hut as long as possible."
"We need to meet with the Eyeless Cult around noon, and I think we meet with the queen tomorrow, also," said Alice, "We should also go to the web with that password she gave us first thing."
"I need to talk to the Tall Tails again, as well," said Rina, "and maybe the other parties on the field if they need a meeting."
"Is there any actual prize money for this competition?" asked Alice, "If not, I think we should negotiate that with the queen somehow. Rina and I aren't citizens, there's no reason for us to use our wish to make Asmery better."
"When we take the draft of the wish to the queen, let's just ask her for it," said Blanke, "50,000 gold for each non-citizen for a wish seems reasonable."
"So we are asking the queen for 100,000 gold," Started Rina, "and I want to ask she promise to recognize Basta'Thrope' and ease trade with them."

Just then, Rina got a Sending in her head from Mayoay, "We are in."
The party continued to make plans, until they heard a knock at the door.
Rina jumped up to answer - hoping it was Darrian - but it was Gunther on the other side.
"Oh, hey! I didn't expect you to come by, necessarily," she said.
"Well, we got your letter and I wanted to share the new in person," he started, "We, the Fearsome 5, have... dropped out of the competition."
The rest of the group were all bickering and joking and talking, so Rina just stepped out into the hallway to talk to Gunther, "Oh, no, why?"
"Well... the guys we hired to fight with us have decided not to anymore, and we just don't have to desire to find anyone else."
"I'm sorry you won't be able to get the chance at a wish, though..." said Rina.
"Yeah... me too. But we kind of realized that... maybe asking for our friends to come back from the dead could have worse consequences than we thought. We've decided... it's time to move on. The Fearsome 5 is... well, not an adventuring party anymore."
Rina hugged him, "It'll all be ok, you can get closure now. I told Long Neck where your friends' bodies are - hopefully you can bury them and have a proper funeral. It won't make it easier, but it will bring some closure."
"Yes, that's the first thing on our list to do. Then it's wedding planning."
Rina smiled, "That will be amazing - I hope to be there to see it. Are you still needing funds for it?"
"Well, actually, the organization the two other guys came from gave us a large sum of money to drop out. So that wont be a problem now."
"This i really tough right now, I know," she said to him, "but it's good to enter new chapters of life. You've lived an exciting life of adventure and grandeur... now it's time to slow down. I remember when I did that - for 70 years I slowed down and had a boring little life. One that I'd live over and over again a million times if I could. Go live a boring little life."
"Well, it may not be so boring," he said, "she's already talking about kids... I'm terrified."
"It's terrifying," she smiled, "but in the best way."
They both laughed a little before he turned to leave, "Well, thanks for everything, Rina. I'll send you a wedding invitation!"
"You better!" she yelled down the all as he turned the corner.

She went back into room 14, reset her Alarm, and told the others what happened.
"We should contact Mayoay with that being the case," said Blanke.
"I never responded to the Sending," said Rina, "I'll do that now."
"Just tell her we want to meet her tomorrow... maybe at dusk here."
So Rina responded to the Sending, and they all decided it was time to get some actual rest.
Rina remade her Tiny Hut, and they all finally ended the day.

Next: Day 58 (S41)