Session 40
Godly Revelations
Delbellis was quickly pulled back from the scene in Avalon, and seemingly returned to the lighthouse. The Flame was still burning bright behind her, and the voices downstairs sounded muffled, as if filtered through water. Except Tisker’s, who appeared to be positioned next to her within the veil that separated her from the water. His amulet was floating before him like it was bobbing with the seawaves, and his clothes equally moved slowly and ethereally. She had not yet left her meditative state.
She spoke to Tisker, and he turned to her. His eyes glowed and illuminated the water that surrounded them somewhat. After confirming that this vision was real, he inquired about her amulet. When she explained that it was found in the White Mountains, he asked whether she could be the next champion of Solis. Though she could not give a definitive answer, she claimed to do her best for the Goddess.
Tisker admitted that he had not heard the name Solis being uttered for a long time. The Goddess went by many names; The Sun God, Mithras, Suna, bright bearer, among other things, and she had had champions throughout history. Perhaps Delbellis was chosen too.
He explained that he was the last champion, and that it was custom that they guided those that came after them. Solis herself had once been a champion, ascended to godhood through the Silver Moon, like the champions that came after her. Enoreth had once been a champion of Solis, too. She ascended to godhood and was given the task to watch over the continuity of time.
Delbellis had seen the Silver Moon in her vision, but it was too soon for her, and Tisker admitted that he had to pull her back. He bade her to seek out more about Solis; find out what the Goddess meant to her, and who and what the Goddess truly was.
When Delbellis looked around, she noticed that she was no longer at the lighthouse. Instead, in this watery realm beyond the veil, she was surrounded by large mountains. Behind Tisker’s spectral image, was a large and somewhat familiar and old stone ring. It was cracked in some areas, and stairs were leading up to it. Through the water, she could see Cerrule in the distance. This older version of her ally had her back turned to the Aaracokra, and was looking at the ring.
By the time Delbellis called out to her, Tisker’s shape disappeared into the water so that only his glowing eyes remained. Her words did not reach the older druid, and Tisker warned her that it was too soon. Though perhaps one day in the future, they would find themselves there.
His hand reached back through the veil, and before it a large, softly glowing green staff appeared. He then explained that she had to find out more about the Time Staff, and learn about this sacred place in Avalon, so that she and perhaps even Cerrule could one day ascend through the Silver Moon.
The more her true surroundings returned, the more Tisker disappeared. He reiterated that she was too soon. The staff lingered a little longer before it disappeared along with him.
When she descended into the lighthouse, she briefly passed Tisker. The two exchanged a light nod and went about their ways.
With Undu still fast asleep, the group sat alongside the lighthouse walls when Delbellis returned. Aragir had tried to eat some old bread he had found, Cynic was making notes while researching the Flame and the book of Solis, and Cerrule was investigating the area a bit. While Cynic tried to manipulate the Flame with his own magic, Delbellis used the Criir’s blade to craft herself a necklace for the glowstone that now contained a part of this Flame.
Aragir was about to ask the others to exchange their findings at the Vault when Delbellis exclaimed that she had had a vision where she had seen Cerrule. She gathered the group to explain it to them.
Delbellis and Cerrule shared their experiences and descriptions of the staves they had witnessed in their visions, and the group discussed what it could all mean.
What exactly was the purpose of this Illuminus Lux, the gate through which Cerrule came? Was one of them to ascend to godhood to free the other gods and guide them to battle? Were they to stop whatever threat loomed over Yggdrasil from entering their world?
Cerrule recalled the world that she came from, and the prophecy that she was told by the elder that came from Avalon. About the light that would be their salvation as the chosen one would enter it and save the world. She explained that she was not intended to go through this light, but that her mother sent her through it to save her life when they were ambushed.
She also remembered the dream she had, and recounted how Enoreth and the other gods were held back by a gate that was constructed by Mortemus. Enoreth warned her about the threat they faced. Cerrule also noted that Alenriel walked in it.
Aragir suggested that perhaps Solis was trying to find her way to this gate. Cerrule quoted;
“A gate once created by a friend or a brother. Illness has taken him and now he embodies all we are against”. The group speculated whether this could be about Mortemus. Cerrule also remarked that Weylin’s time manipulation shook this gate, suggesting that it was in some way connected.
Delbellis then mentioned that there was a different gate in Avalon, that could either lead to the past, the present or the future.
In order to learn more about the gate and the gods, they planned to get into the library of Elderwalk. They would also find a tiefling archeologist there named Korra, who might know about the Illuminus Lux.
They talked some more about the gods and what they were, and about the planes of existence. Delbellis mentioned the meteorite that created the World Eater, and Aragir reiterated that there seemed to have been an old world that was far more advanced than theirs.
After they had dinner, Aragir received a sending message from Vaeri, asking them if they were alright after the fall they made from the Academy. Despite the group not yet being prime suspects for the Vault break in, she nevertheless recommended they don’t come back for a while, as investigators suspected an inside job.
As the night was coming to a close, Cynic decided to take a bath in the sea. Cerrule suggested that she and Delbellis try to connect with Enoreth. Though Aragir originally wanted to observe, he was drawn in to join them instead.
With help of the Whisper of Enoreth, they managed to reach her. Enoreth seemed surprised to face them as they met her in this seemingly timeless space of their meditation.
She asked why Cerrule had called her, and told her that there was little time before she would be pulled back. When Cerrule asked her about the Time Staff, she told her that she hadn’t seen it in many lifetimes, and that she could not remember. As she was slowly losing presence, she exclaimed that someone had taken and hidden it.
Aragir quickly asked whom she meant, and received an intense gaze in response. As he felt the pressure she exerted on him, he used his abilities in an attempt to resist. This displeased the goddess. The reality that he had chosen was disintegrated, and she forced him back in the timeline she deemed correct. She warned him that he should stop meddling with reality, as it was unsafe to go down that path.
Ignoring her warning, Aragir once again asked who had taken her staff, and she told the group it was Mortemus. He was up to something, and he was the one trying to pull her back.
Cerrule asked her where to find Mortemus, and Enoreth told them that to find the hole in the world was to find him, but that it was not yet the right time. Aragir then asked who it was who had latched themselves onto Alenriel. Before she was pulled away, she was able to tell them it was an entity called Shar.
As the vision was closing, Enoreth’s response to Aragir’s attempt to manipulate reality had caused his being to become temporarily shattered. As he was slipping away, Delbellis firmly held on to him. As this was happening, Tisker, who was observing and standing by Delbellis, slowly stepped backward and equally disappeared from view.
When Delbellis and Cerrule left their meditation, they noticed that Aragir was not there. It did not take long for him to fall back into their plane, though the experience had left him exhausted and disoriented.
His erratic behaviour worried the party, though he assured them that all he needed was some rest. They insisted that it was best that he was not left alone, so he eventually agreed to have Cerrule accompany him as long as she didn’t try to ask questions.
While Delbellis helped Cynic fix the window he broke on his way out of the lighthouse before, Cerrule and Aragir quietly sat near the cliffside.
The wizard mentioned that as the champion of Enoreth, it was quiet around Cerrule, as she had no alternative timelines surrounding her. For a moment this seemed to discourage her, since she still hoped she would one day find her parents.
Cerrule then asked about what exactly Aragir meant, and he admitted that he could see different possible realities of moments in time. Though he could normally maintain some control over it, when he would lose control it made it difficult for him to discern his own reality.
It had started roughly 60 years ago, as a result of a failed experiment.
When the druid asked whether there was a cure, he admitted that he did not want one. Not only could he see various realities, but he could manipulate them to some extent, choosing what fate he deemed more favourable. He acknowledged how this was received by the Goddess of Time, and explained what it was she had done to him.
Aragir finally asked Cerrule to not tell anyone about this ability, as some might consider it to be dangerous. If the Scarlet Academy found out, it was possible that they would want to contain him. This sparked a small debate about the ethics of the Academy’s pursuits.
Shortly before the two returned to the lighthouse, Cerrule paused. She wanted to reiterate that even if they were to part ways someday, she would still be there if he needed it, and he would just have to find her. This confused the elf, who immediately asked her whether she was planning to leave. She told him she was not sure, and that for the moment she was just following the path that was in front of her.
Intrigued by how Delbellis was able to repair the window with help of Criir’s Blade, he asked her about what exactly it was. The aarakocra explained that it was the blade of the God of Creation Criir. She asked him whether he would like to try it, though he would have to attune to it first, and like her, he would likely meet Criir and answer to him in doing so. Cynic agreed, and was carefully handed the blade.