Chapter V. Saturn Arc
Session 39. Janus’ Grasp
*November 20, 2024
As the Soul Shepherds sail across the Titan Saturn’s path, Silas attempts to locate the Titan itself by Prophesying with the God of Magic, Magi. His connection to his god proves mighty, and Silas begins to feel the effects of a looming beacon in the distance- the power of the moon is channeled into the young man’s body, a phylactery of Souls now housing the temporary arcane energies of the God of Two Faces. “The beacon that must be turned off…” requests Magi off Silas; Silas feels the pull of this mysterious beacon, helping guide the Scions towards Saturn’s location.
Soon after, the sky grows dark, and wind stops, and they find themselves at the mercy of a millenia old beast; they are on the eternal path of a giant, and they are but ants. The Titan’s mountain-sized trunk takes hold of the airship. Silas and Diallos are able to secure some supplies and Whimsical saves some of the crew’s lives. As the rest of the supplies spill forth from the airship and their hull begins to tear, Diallos & Virtus fly into the cavern-sized nostrils of the Titan elephant in attempts to make it sneeze, desperately hoping that it releases their vessel. Virtus channels the power of Tekk and smites the tendril-like hair follicles within its’ nose; triggering a vicious pressure vacuum that almost sucks in both of the Scions. Diallos’ visions are triggered as he helplessly flails around in Virtus’ grasp. Virtus is able to climb out of the Titan’s nose and back on the airship.
As Diallos comes to - within seconds their attempts prove futile, as they are flung upwards to the heavens, the elephant’s trunk still holding strong. The elephant sneezes, violently flailing its trunk around, but not letting go. The shaking causes greater damage to the airship and the Scions find themselves at gravity’s mercy. As they all descend to the Titan’s back. Bartholomew saves Whimsical from falling off with his mage-hand and Whimsical secures a foothold by channeling Natu’s vines. Carter uses some of his Enlarge/Reduce magic to mitigate some of the airship’s damage when it inevitably crash lands… Virtus orders everyone around her and uses the Pegasus Feather for a Feather-Fall escape landing, securing the crew’s safe landing to the Jungle below. Now, they must find the wreckage of their airship in a new and strange land…
The Solar Shepherds are on the back of Saturn, the Elephant Titanborn, roaming unfamiliar Jungles and locating the wreckage of their vessel. The crew is accounted for, at the very least, if not distraught and frightened at the loss of what they called their flying home. Cannoch assists the Scions in navigating the Jungle with his map, as Silas guides the crew towards the beacon. Carter finds that the jungle is home to peculiar magic fruit that emit wild magic. He hesitates to consume it but is quite curious. Diallos hears a commotion up ahead. The Scions find a large dinosaur, who seems to be emitting that same wild magic Carter felt, chasing after looters of the fruit itself. Finley charms the Dinosaur and learns that it wishes for the fruit the poachers have “stolen”. Virtus & Whimsical order the poachers to leave the fruit and the Dinosaur will leave them alone. The Dinosaur hopes to show Finley its’ ‘den’, but Finley refuses as they have more pressing matters to attend to. The Dinosaur grabs Finley in its mouth, but then comes to understand the lesson of responsibility. It trudges away sadly and loudly. The Scions reach a vast marsh and decide where to go next, Carter eats the wild magic fruit, known as ‘Regalo’ and turns into a girl.
Session 40. Jungle Journey to Garuda
*November 27, 2024
The Soul Shepherds observe monkeys, plants, and animals seeking shelter, the Scions experience the Eruption of Rain. It happens twice a day, like the titan’s pulse. Janus inhales through its trunk, salty cloudwater; the Sky Sea and a cascade of cloudwater and salt. Then the rain comes. No, not rain—an eruption, a flood hurled into the heavens that cascades back down in shimmering sheets. Carter and Silas are hit by the heavy barrage of water and flow downstream in a newly flowing river. The rest of the Cannoch Pirates are wiped out as they are impaled by sharp rocks down the cliffside. Captain Cannoch laments the loss of his crew. Carter and Finley help Pinot up, as he spits out water from his lungs. They travel down towards a nearby settlement Finley learned about after communing with Natu using his Staff.
Carter observes that they are approaching civilization, he teaches his friends about the engineering behind the rice paddy farms they pass by. An Arrow flies at the Scions’ muddy boots as they pass the Mahogany Carved Gates of Garuda, in the outskirts of town. Someone is watching them, Whimsical notices. Diallos makes note of the carving of the gate, intricate swirls of wood showcasing Janus’ trunk and symbolizing the lives of the Children of Jas; he uses it as inspiration for a new Totem motif he will carve himself.
The Scions cross a wooden bridge over a large bog at the entrance to a small settlement, Saza, a snoring Aarackocra guard and the first Children of Jas (a Titanborn) they meet on Janus, is sleeping - induced magically by a Fomor, Carter surmises, during his watch, but is awoken by Diallos with sharp jostle on Saza’s feathered chest. Saza mentions he has heard of the Soul Shepherds, Scions that defended Astraloftum from demons, from the Papers. Saza mentions he has a wife named Alcaldesa Paza who knows more current events on Saturn. They enter Garuda Town and find the rest of the villagers have fallen into slumbers of their own. They wake and meet Aladra, an Aarackocra baker & farmer. She thanks the Solar Scion Silas and dubs him ‘Waker of Garuda Town’. They go to the Mayor’s house, who they find out is Paza, Saza’s Wife.
At the mayor’s home, they find the front door locked. Silas climbs to the second floor, where he smells blood, causing him to get sick. He heads downstairs with his fellow Scions after unlocking the door and witnesses a gruesome murder scene. The Mayor Paza was killed by a powerful blast, the hole through her abdomen rife with crackling wild magic. Diallos detects the thoughts of nearby creatures and discovers… the murderer is in a nearby closet.
The Scions ready to apprehend the culprit, as the closet opens, a shadowy aberration with multiple limbs springs forth from the darkness, but falls to the ground in hideous laughter by Finley’s fae magic. As he rolls on the closet floor laughing, Diallos restrains the creature with his astral arms. Silas prepares to counter spell the aberrations’ dangerous wild magic.
As Diallos reads its thoughts, it learns that it harbors guilt for its actions and was paid handsomely for the murder by ‘the Maskin’, 130 ‘palos de oro’, a local currency on Janus. It was perhaps once a Titanborn, a Child of Jas, but is now an aberration changed by the power of ‘Magi’s Comet’. It informs the Scions that the Beacon at the end of the island is causing Time Rifts, and it is only a matter of time before history repeats itself. Now the Scions must decide the creature’s fate. Tick Tock, 43 hours remain…
Session 41. The Maskin Schism
*January 9th, 2025
The Soul Shepherds deliver the aberration responsible for Mayor Paza’s murder to justice, marking a grim turning point for Garuda Town. That evening, they seek refuge in a decrepit inn, where an elderly woman recounts the town’s dire economic straits. Amid the somber atmosphere, Virtus stumbles upon a hidden chest marked “J.T.,” triggering memories of her father’s possessions. Diallos repairs broken furniture with Virtus’ aid, while Silas patches the leaky roof with blankets. Carter meditates on Magi’s guidance as Finley finds comfort in the fading evening. Whimsical and Bartholomew reflect on life in quiet conversation.
At dawn, the Scions overhear plans for the aberration’s escort by Guard Saza to Janus’ Head for trial. During their interactions with the townsfolk, Virtus and Diallos uncover Garuda’s hidden truths: the residents, self-identified as Maskin, share the Scions’ reverence for Magi. The grateful villagers disclose the political rift dividing the Country of Saturn. The Mad Shaman Jas-Farrah leads the rebellious Maskin, wielding corrupted Regalo fruit to fund her crusade for open borders, while the loyalist Jas-Sharazas fight to preserve isolation.
Garuda Town’s Maskin, aligned with the Jas-Sharazas, have suffered under Jas-Farrah’s dark shamanic magic. The manipulation of Regalo fruit plunged the village into poverty, culminating in Mayor Paza’s assassination. Resolving to aid Garuda, the Scions commit to dismantling Jas-Farrah’s hold over Saturn.
Leaving Cannoch, Pinot, and the remaining pirates behind, the Scions pursue Maskin activity deeper into the jungle. Along the way, Finley observes desolate farmlands and ominous ogre tracks, while Carter notes the rampant depletion of Regalo fruit. At the edge of a river canyon, the Scions discover a watchtower occupied by a slumbering ogre. Opting for stealth, they descend a waterfall using Finley’s Polymorphed Liondrake form and Carter’s wings.
At the canyon’s base, the Scions encounter an old fort repurposed into a logging camp swarming with ogres. In a decisive clash, they overwhelm the guards and press onward into the jungle, edging closer to the heart of the Maskin resistance.
Session 42. Hanging Gardens
*January 15th, 2025
The Soul Shepherds explore the keep where the Ogres made residence in. They find a number of trinkets and a horn bugle used to warn others. Amidst the pile of bones, Carter & Diallos find a magical conch capable of recording voices and playing them back. The last recording, which Whimsical pays great attention to, was of Ogres discussing recipes (and devising disguise ideas) for the looming Great Meal Festival in Janus City. Finishing up at the keep, they venture towards the ruins, but Silas notices a looming electric storm brewing and requests that they dance to ward it off their path. They dance and the storm recedes.
The Soul Shepherds find the ruins where the Maskin are holed up. They spot an Ogre lamenting that his friends died and were swept down the river. The Scions decide to avoid the main path, sneaking through the rocks flanking the river, but they encounter a sleeping Ceratops mother guarding her eggs from two mischievous apes. Whimsical & Virtus wake the beast as they noisily jump down from the rocks - the apes climb the trees to get away. The Ceratops charges towards the Scions as they run away but Silas casts Calm Emotions on the dinosaur, allowing them to avoid conflict.
The apes come down from the trees, impressed by the bravery of the Scions, approaching Whimsical from the smell of a large egg she possesses. Whimsical hands the apes her large egg from a previous island she visited (and Carter had gifted her) and they guide the Scions to a hidden entrance into the ruins, avoiding direct confrontation with the Ogres. The apes speak to Finley, saying that he looks like someone from the ruins.
As Finley passes through an illusory wall, they reach a branching tunnel, one full of water, and the other impeded by an extremely powerful Wall of Force spell, which Carter deduces was done by a skilled mage. Silas attempts to dispel the wall and succeeds with the help of Bartholomew’s charming bardic inspiracíon, and Diallos’ guidance. The wall dissipates and they continue down the tunnel, flanked by ancient murals etched onto stone; they depict an elven scholar writing a ‘Lifebook’ (a magical tome that guides the fate of the individual written within its’ pages) Diallos surmises. They reach the end of the tunnel, while Diallos overhears a conversation between two individuals above, Whimsical smells grass and hears flowing water - Finley wild shapes into a giant badger and digs through to the outside world.
Two Maskin wish to capture the Giant Badger to keep as a pet, but Finley returns to his form, surprising them that the badger is in fact, a druid. The rest of the Scions leave the tunnel from the hole Finley made and introduce themselves. The Maskin are suspicious, one of them holds a horn bugle in his left hand, about to sound the alarm if the Scions make any sudden moves. After some interrogation, it is revealed that the Maskin have been paid by Jaz-Farrah to retrieve the ‘Urn of Phoenix Ash’ within the ruins, but are unable to solve the puzzle required to enter it.
Silas, realizing they are a threat, uses his Subtle Spell metamagic to silently cast a Silence spell upon the Maskin, preventing them from calling for help. They engage in combat. Virtus & Diallos run up to engage them within the Magical Silence bubble, pinning them down. As one attempts to escape, Finley lashes out with his Staff and drags him back into the Silence. Diallos knocks him out of mercy. As the other Maskin attempts further escape, Bartholomew throws out his boomerang and scores a critical hit on their noggin, stunning them briefly as Virtus tosses them off the ruin walls, falling to their death.
Some Ogres see the commotion and join into the fight. Whimsical engages with the Ogre but gets slugged off the ruin walls, but craftily uses her Pan to scrape the sides of the walls, allowing her to climb back up with a vengeance, bonking the Ogre with her heavy, fiery Pan. Silas cuts off a Maskin Shaman’s fingers with his obsidian dagger to prevent them from casting any spells. Carter shoots out a barrage of Magic Missiles that whiz quickly past the Maskin, finding their marks on the big Ogres. The Scions await the ambush of Ogres as they attempt to solve the puzzle. Carter & Silas prepare a Unity magic Fireball in case they come to their location and the rest of the party stands at the ready as well.
Session 43. Rise from the Ashes
*January 22th, 2025
As the Soul Shepherds regroup around a mural depicting an Elf & a Phoenix, they proceed to solve the Puzzle of Ash, revealing a message: “Seek the Urn at Mother’s Gaze; Douse it with our Guardians’ Water, Mask your Sins in Ash, and Become Reborn.” They climb the side of the ruins, reaching the peak and initiating a small skirmish with a corrupted Titanborn, which Carter freezes in time and shoves their frozen body into his bag of holding for safe-keeping. They await the 9:00 AM Eruption Rain, it comes and floods the jungles underneath, leaving the ruins in a swamp, but the Scions are able to find shelter and see that the Maskin & their Ogres are just as wise, finding shelter inside the ruins as well.
As the rains subside, they find that the pool where the Urn should be is full of Eruption Rainwater. Finley feels the accelerating heartbeat of Gorgo the Fairy’s Heart in his bag as he approaches the pool, and releases the heart into the water, revealing the Urn. Finley chooses the Crown of Ash nestled on the Stag statue’s head (instead of the Crown of Spring) and opens the Urn - thunders roars, the sky darkens and with a black plume, the Spirit of Ameno’s wrath storms out: the Arcadian Phoenix of Ashen Lineage has been released from its’ prison. It blinds the Scions’ eyes in a violent ashcloud and insults them as “Mother’s Warriors” as it flies up into the sky, roaring with ash flame.
Bartholomew persuades the Phoenix to lay out why it is so hateful to the Scions (it is because of Magi imprisoning it within the Urn) & Finley pleads to the Ashen Phoenix that he is family, the Phoenix flies to Finley and traps him in the Urn, dissipating Finley’s material body into dust. The Scions stand around in confusion, as Finley has vanished. Silas’ eyes start to water as he grabs Finley’s blood vial and pours it into his retinas using his Lunar Sorcery, attempting to find a semblance of what was once Finley in this realm… or the next. Finley’s Soul hovers below his friend’s bodies, unable to find respite in Paradise, Finley is undoubtedly dead, but he is not gone quite yet.
In the dark void within the Urn… a fragment of Finley’s consciousness rises in the mounds of Ash, naked, alone, frightened - he shouts! No-one returns naught a whisper. Silas’ eyes silently view this bleak landscape through his friend Finley’s. An unfamiliar but friendly visage approaches, a tall and proud Satyr with a grizzled beard, hooves crunching the black ground underneath Finley. Their armor - interlaced with yew branches looping over his shoulders; the man is covered in soot. The Duke of Ash, he calls himself, and Finley’s Father. He explains that Finley will be reborn in Ash and will choose whether to forge his own destiny, or follow in his Ashen lineage.
The Duke of Ash offers a path of vengeance for the Ashen lineage that was killed off by the tyrannical leader of the Gardens of Arcadia: the Monarchon. He informs Finley that he is of two houses - the Ashen Court and the Spring Court, and that his wife was killed by the Monarchon as well. Seeking out the entrance to the Gardens of Arcadia will be treacherous, and the Duke of Ash asks Finley if he has friends that will aid him on his journey. Finley says he has friends he can trust. Finley is given his Father’s Blade of Ash and receives a hug from him, telling him:
“If you yearn to speak once more, seek the ash—embers of our Fey lineage smolder, awaiting your curiosity.”
The Urn shatters beneath the Scions’, laying out dust on the ancient stone pavement. Carter uses a Firebolt to reignite the dust, and within the ashes, Finley is reborn!
The Maskin that were taking refuge from the Eruption Rains climb to the top of the hanging gardens, led by a Regalo-blessed and intelligent Ogre Shaman; they encounter the Scions, urging them to hand over the Urn of Phoenix Ashes or die. A fight ensues. Whimsical rages and knocks the Hill Giant ‘Hilly Billy’ down the ruins with a flying kick. Finley calls the power of the moon goddess Noctu upon his foes. Bartholomew rushes towards an intimidating Ogre. Carter and Silas perform Unity Magic ‘Cold Snap’ together and create a massive Iceball that hurls down and shatters the stairs leading up to the top of the gardens. Diallos & Virtus use a Unity Combo called ‘Twin Comets’, Diallos flies into the air with his Cometborn wings and drops Virtus from above at a high speed, empowering her shield and igniting it. They both land a profound blow on Hilly Billy. The Regalo Shaman Ogre ‘Ogrin’ uses Psionics to Control Silas’ mind and pits him against his allies. The battle continues…
Session 44. A Fruitless Escape
*February 5th, 2025
The Soul Shepherds continued their skirmish against the Maskin Shamans and their monstrous Ogres.The Regalo Shaman Ogrin, wielding his psionic dominion, compels Silas to unleash a devastating Thunderbolt upon Finley, wounding his friend. Before the shaman can issue further commands, the ingenious Carter forces a Potion of Psionic Fortitude down Silas’ throat, breaking Ogrin’s mental grip on his friend. The Shaman gasps in disbelief, “Was it the power of friendship that ended my ability?” To which Carter coolly replies, “Nah, it’s just a potion.”
Now freed, Silas attempts to retreat, only to be snatched by an unseen horror—a lurking Shaman Abomination that tears away his shadow, pinning him down and sinking its fanged maw into his arm. Gritting his teeth through the pain, Silas teleports above his attacker, reaching out to a Soul within him: Timothy Lockeheart, a fallen Solari Inquisition Soldier whose Soul Silas carries. Drawing upon the lingering strength of Timothy’s Soul, Silas unleashes a supercharged Firebolt, obliterating the Abomination in a flash of righteous fury.
Meanwhile, Diallos is battered by Hilly Billy’s massive club, the impact triggering in him a prophetic vision—he sees a tall metal cage looming behind Silas and Carter, the two of them merging into a single entity before a Rubix Cube. Snapping back to reality, Diallos and Virtus turn their focus on Hilly Billy, launching a coordinated assault—Virtus cripples the Hill Giant’s leg, giving Diallos the perfect opening to roll the massive brute down the Hanging Gardens’ stairs, sending him crashing into the flooded jungle below. As Virtus dives after a fleeing Shaman, Bartholomew deftly secures the Hill Giant’s magical belt using Telekinesis. But as Bartholomew helps Virtus climb back up, she notices something peculiar—the Bard seems to be hiding something about his appearance…
With the battle turning against him, Ogrin attempts to flee, aiming to warn Jas-Farrah of the Scions’ interference. Whimsical gives chase, leaping into the flooded jungle below, with Finley, now a ferocious crocodile, jumping into the waters. In a desperate gambit, Ogrin over-consumes a Regalo fruit, his body grotesquely twisting into a Gargoyle-Ogre hybrid with stone-like flesh and powerful wings. Observing the transformation, Carter’s Tome of Time pulses with unease. He watches, realization dawning—the Regalo fruit is interfering with Spacetime itself.
With his newfound wings, Ogrin attempts to take to the skies, but Finley’s crocodilian jaws clamp down on his stone-hide, halting his escape. In a last-ditch move, Ogrin orders Whimsical to strike Finley, freeing himself just long enough to ascend—but Diallos is already in pursuit: astral wings unfurled, soaring through the air, pummels Ogrin with a furious aerial beatdown, stunning the monstrous shaman in mid-flight. The gargoyle’s massive form plummets toward the water below, and before he can react, Finley’s crocodilian maw is waiting. With a vicious death roll, the Druid rips Ogrin apart, ending his reign once and for all. The Scions stand victorious.
As the dust settles and the jungle quiets, the Scions gather clues and loot from the fallen Maskin.
Finley discovers three ripe Regalo fruits in Ogrin’s satchel. Carter uncovers a letter detailing that consuming Regalo fruit prevents someone from being affected by a “Time-Loop”—a crucial revelation, but one he keeps to himself. Virtus claims an Immovable Rod, a tool of great potential. Bartholomew secures the coveted Belt of Hill Giant Strength, amplifying his might. Whimsical acquires a cryptic ‘IOU’ for a Special Mount in Janus City, a curious promise waiting to be fulfilled. With new mysteries uncovered and the Maskin’s plot unraveled, the Soul Shepherds set their sights on what lies ahead—Jas-Farrah and the secrets of the Elephant Spire.
Session 45. It’s Giving Loops
*February 12th, 2025
The Soul Shepherds began by interrogating a captured Maskin Shaman. With Virtus and Whimsical applying some fierce intimidation, they extract information about Jaz-Farrah’s intentions—specifically her obsession with the Ashen Phoenix’s urn. By Bartholomew’s soft command, the Maskin Shaman reluctantly guides them to a fork in the jungle: one path leading up the mountain trail toward Janus City, the other descending along a river toward the Elephant Spire.
Before parting ways, the Shaman gives a cryptic hint about Regalo Fruit—that it might “fortify one’s mind from previous lives.” No sooner did he vanish up the mountain path than a roaming dinosaur charged out of the undergrowth and devoured him on the spot.
Undeterred, the Scions pressed onward downriver, stumbling on a small village enveloped in an eerie stillness. A Spirit Goat barred their path until Finley, brandishing his status as a Solar Scion, convinced the entity they meant no harm. Inside, they discovered villagers frozen in time: a farmer endlessly hoeing the same plot of soil, a bird-girl perpetually drawing water from a well, a Titanborn family forever paused in prayer. Silas came upon a single white feather belonging to Carter—proof the party had been here before, in another life.
They found clues left by a past iteration of Whimsical and Virtus, confirming that the time-loop had already repeated multiple times. Virtus’s captain’s log recounted how Carter, corrupted by the Rubix cube, trapped the village in stasis. Whimsical’s older self apparently fought someone—magical blood stains still marked the spot—and uncovered a missing page from the Tome of Time, which she now handed to Carter. Silas, however, refused to accept that they were caught in a loop, arguing against the others’ conclusions.
Resolving to break the cycle, the party continued toward the Elephant Spire. At a bridge, they met a Troll demanding a toll; instead of fighting, Silas diplomatically engaged it in conversation. It turned out to be a jar of fingernails—secretly pre-arranged in another loop by Bartholomew—secured safe passage.
Beyond the bridge, a sudden time-rift opened, and Jer’Emee (the Jas-Sharaza from Diallos’s visions) appeared, revealing this was the 14th loop. In the last loop, Carter and Silas died right here, thwarting any chance to stop the timeline from resetting. Jer’Emee recognized a new variable this time around: Finley’s Ashen Phoenix, now free, which might help unravel Jaz-Farrah’s accidental catastrophe. He also warned that both Jaz-Farrah and Talleah (Silas’s sister) had been microdosing on Regalo to retain their memories.
When Jer’Emee hinted that Bartholomew’s secret identity was relevant to the group’s quest, Bartholomew finally admitted he was actually a Fomorian Emerald Kobold named Arse, hiding behind a half-ling façade for protection—he wasn’t officially a Solar Scion at all. Despite the shock, the rest of the party accepted him without hesitation.
With unity restored, new truths unveiled, and their path set, the Soul Shepherds gathered their strength and pressed on toward the Elephant Spire, determined not to repeat the same mistakes that had haunted them in loops past.
Session 46. Sisters & Spires
*February 19th, 2025
The Soul Shepherds continue on the jungle path with Jer’Emee. As they walk, they ask him questions about the nature of the Time Loop, what kind of things happened to them previously (with Silas requesting the most interesting death), Jer’Emee mentions it was quite odd in a previous loop that SIlas and Carter fused into one entity, spelling demise for both of them in process. Silas likes it and moves on. While these discussions happen, Carter finds a small device under a rock and gives it to Silas.
Whimsical consumes a microdose of Regalo, triggering a past memory of her death, she stays silent while Virtus, Diallos, and Finley discuss the interplay of Fate, Diallos and Virtus advocating for the God Tekk’s leaning that the world is dictated by free will and, that they will succeed this loop for sure.
The Scions then encounter a wagon being loaded by two suspicious individuals. Jer’Emee tells them to ignore them, as they are not important in this loop.
As the Scions reach Jer’Emee’s old campgrounds, he says there should be supplies nearby, checking a stash he tucked away but only finding a note within written for Silas by someone named ‘T.P’, clearly Talleah Preshons, the note saying: “brother, meet me at the docks of Spire Village”.
Bartholomew hears Raptors approaching behind them and urges the party to hurry , however, Jer’Emee suddenly suffers the effects of previous loops trying to ‘overwrite this version of him’, he requests that someone present him a ‘Temporal Anchor’ to stabilize him as he begins to glitch out of reality. Silas presents the contraption that Carter found under the rock, stabilizing Jer’Emee. He thanks him and recommends everyone create a Temporal Anchor for themselves. Virtus writes in her journal “This is loop #14, we must press on, and we will succeed”, serving as her anchor.
Whimsical and Carter then forge a path through the foggy jungle trail after crossing a lagoon, when they encounter a chest on the side of the road. Jer’Emee again requests that the Scions ignore the “obvious mimic” by the side; Carter and Silas are eager to open it but are scolded by their Virtus to not do so.
The evening Eruption Rain then triggers once more! The Scions run to secure shelter under massive ‘Janus Shrooms’, large blue and purple mushrooms that rise high into the sky. They secure themselves to the stems of the large mushrooms and wait out the Eruption Rain. Whimsical collects some fish that fell from the sky from the rains, and pours some delicious sweet sap from the Janus Shrooms into her bottle. The Scions bounce atop the mushrooms avoiding the flooded jungle below.
They arrive at Spire Village that sits at the banks of a large lake. At the lake’s center, the Scions see the tall Spire in the distance, rocks orbiting around it, a shining beacon atop the Spire illuminates the afternoon sky, shining upon the valley.
Jer’Emee suspects there is heavy Maskin presence at the village and suggests that everyone wear disguises. Luckily, Finley from the previous loop stashed a Spell Scroll of Seeming in his bag, allowing everyone to magically disguise themselves as Maskin Cultists! The disguised Scions enter town and encounter a heavy Maskin presence indeed. Bartholomew smoothly talks his way into the village with no suspicion.
Talleah waits at the docks for Silas, and the two meet once again. However, the Scions are still disguised as Maskin, so Silas spins an elaborate lie that he and the rest of the Scions fought, abandoning Silas to meet with Jaz’Farrah alone. Silas has a heartwarming moment in which he is relieved to see his sister once again, but Talleah has done this encounter many times before, she is happy to see Silas, yes, but is also so very tired of repeating the same loop so many times. She requests Silas come peacefully (this time) to meet Jaz’Farrah.
Silas asks why Talleah even trusts Jaz’Farrah: “…because she saved me from Father’s clutches. You abandoned me, and I abandoned you, but Jaz’Farrah gave me hope and unconditional love, something I never received from anyone back home. She understands the feeling of being trapped, and she wants to break everyone free from it.”
Silas proclaims that she is just replacing one Tyrant (his and her father) for another (Jaz’Farrah). Talleah doesn’t necessarily refute that, some of Silas’ words resonate with her.
Talleah then humbly requests that Silas consume Regalo in case the loop repeats again (so that he may remember this encounter). Silas refuses, and in a hilarious display of deception, Talleah orders the disguised Scions (who still look like Maskin) to apprehend Silas and forcefully feed him Regalo, the disguised Scions purposely fumble their orders; tricking Talleah and presenting Silas with admiration from his sister for his combat prowess. Talleah even jokingly surmises that Silas might stand a chance against Jaz’Farrah with that level of acrobatics. Silas and Talleah travel the Elephant Spire on rowboat.
As the disguised Scions & Jer’Emee continue to keep their identities undercover, they row through the lake, but water does not ripple, the air remains silent, and Janus groans throughout the land in pain; the time is near. Diallos receives a vision: a massive hand in the sky holding a black spear jabs the Titan Elephant Janus on the back. The vision ends and they all arrive at the Spire, greeted by more Maskin that are surprised that Silas came by himself.
They travel up the Spire and encounter Jaz’Farrah, trying to stabilize the Rubix cube with the tattoos on her hands. She stands atop of a metallic contraption that counts the time down till midnight. She welcomes Talleah with a warm embrace and requests Silas’ help with shutting down the loop.
Jaz’Farrah explains her reasoning, ending Janus’ suffering by removing the Spire from its’ back (which is actually the giant black spear that Diallos’ vision revealed)
Jaz’Farrah wants to liberate the Children of Jas from centuries of isolation, and usher in a new era of Titanborn on Janus. The trapped Arcadian Phoenix of Ashen Lineage that Finley released from the Urn, sits atop the Spire, conserving its strength and rage within a large birdcage of Jaz’Farrah’s design. It telepathically tells the disguised Finley to not believe a word she says.
Jaz’Farrah then offers a solution to ending the time loop without Carter’s Tome of Time (since Silas “came alone”). She prepares elixirs of sleep for Silas to drink, she hopes Silas can enter the Rubix Cube and end the loop from within while she stabilizes it from outside. The Scions stand at the precipice of a huge decision, do they trust Jaz’Farrah and drink the elixir, or do they defy her help and engage against her? The clock continues to tick.
Session 47. The Fourteenth Struggle Part I
*March 5th, 2025
Silas and Talleah share a poignant exchange as Jaz’Farrah meticulously prepares her mysterious elixirs atop the Elephant Spire. The tension simmers, unspoken yet understood between the estranged siblings. Carter, still disguised as a Maskin cultist, boldly steps forward, offering Jaz’Farrah assistance with her delicate preparations. Unfortunately, Carter’s attempt at aid quickly devolves into chaos: glass vials slip from their fingers, shattering on impact. Furious at the blunder, Jaz’Farrah lashes out with lightning-fast talons, leaving a fresh, stinging gash across Carter’s face. Calmly and reassuringly, Carter nods to the disguised Scions nearby, hinting at a hidden strategy.
Regaining her composure, Jaz’Farrah pivots to a new test, producing a weathered chalkboard etched with an impossibly complex Causality equation. She challenges Carter to prove their worth, skepticism coloring her tone. The wizard steps forward, chalk in hand, and methodically unravels the intricate puzzle before Jaz’Farrah’s astonished eyes. Genuinely impressed by Carter’s intellect, Jaz’Farrah eagerly proposes a partnership: to combine their minds, she needs Carter’s coveted Tome of Time. Carter stalls, feigning difficulty in retrieving the book from their cluttered bag of holding, cleverly granting the other Scions time to stealthily reposition.
Then, in a flash of magical defiance, Carter attempts to freeze Jaz’Farrah with a burst of potent Chronomancy. But the shamaness remains unfazed—her continual exposure to temporal energies rendering her immune to such wizardry. She casts aside her feigned courtesy, her dark eyes narrowing with recognition: the Scions’ disguises are no longer fooling her.
Determined and unwavering, Whimsical advances through the oppressive slowing field emanating from Jaz’Farrah, testing her strength against this unnatural barrier. Virtus, not far behind, hurls her gleaming boomerang shield at the shamaness, only to watch Jaz’Farrah effortlessly evade. Smirking, she taunts Virtus, “A poor opening by the Queen. You’ve failed to defeat me before. If you refuse collaboration, then this will be the 14th Struggle!”
In a swift, precise gesture, Jaz’Farrah conjures two mischievous hourglass fairies—known as ‘Sandys’—to her aid. Seizing the distraction, she grabs Carter’s satchel, with the Tome of Time nestled inside, and gracefully ascends, unfurling great wings black as midnight. Determined not to lose their prized possession, Carter leaps into the air, pursuing Jaz’Farrah in a frantic aerial chase.
On the ground below, Finley confronts Talleah, urging her to reconsider fighting against her brother and the other Scions. Talleah, conflicted but moved by Finley’s sincerity, hesitates. Nearby, Diallos draws his bow with swift precision, firing arrows into the Sandys, earning grudging acknowledgement from Jaz’Farrah: “A bold attack by the Bishop.” Virtus stands resolute, declaring with authority, “This will be the final Struggle!”
A raging and titanic Whimsical climbs the Elephant Spire toward the imprisoned Arcadian Phoenix, only to discover dozens of caged birds surrounding the legendary creature. Her heart sinks, realizing the Phoenix has deliberately restrained its fiery power to protect the innocent lives around it.
But suddenly, reality fractures: Virtus, Diallos, Whimsical, Carter, and Bartholomew are violently scattered across the battlefield. Diallos and Virtus cling desperately to floating rocks orbiting the towering Spire, while Carter finds themselves severely wounded and bewildered, desperately scaling the structure. Elsewhere, Bartholomew pulls an injured Jer’Emee from a precarious ledge; the Jas-Sharaza gravely reveals that Jaz’Farrah has halted Time itself!
Calmly confident amidst the chaos, Jaz’Farrah appears beside Silas, leisurely flipping through the pages of the Tome of Time, her gaze undisturbed by the Scions’ animosity. Acting quickly, Bartholomew frees the caged birds with precise throws of his boomerang. Now unleashed, the Arcadian Phoenix ignites its prison in radiant flame, ensuring no bird is harmed in its bid for freedom—a display that earns Bartholomew’s deep respect.
Seizing a critical opening, Finley channels his ashen heritage through his ashen blade and inflicts a grave wound on Jaz’Farrah, sending her reeling backward and giving Silas the crucial seconds he needs to rip the Tome from her grasp. Whimsical, recovering from her daze, rises from the debris with renewed vigor, eyes blazing with determination, ready to strike. With time fraying at the seams, and the beacon atop the Spire pulsing ominously, the Scions rally together, bracing for the decisive clash still ahead. The battle rages onward, unresolved until next session!
Session 48. The Fourteenth Struggle Part II
*March 12th, 2025
Jaz’Farrah reverses time, rewinding to the instant Silas snatched the Tome of Time. Now, with the Tome back in her possession, she hastily pores over its pages, determined to break the Time Loop and remove the Elephant Spire from Janus’ back. Silas, refusing to let her seize control, tackles her at full force, trying to reclaim the book.
Meanwhile, the newly freed Phoenix, aflame with vengeance, looms behind them. Bartholomew leaps from the Elephant Spire’s edge, plunging his draconic blade into one of the flying Sandys. He lands gracefully and dashes over to Whimsical—who flings him into the air with her trusty cast-iron pan—allowing him to deliver a booming, righteous blow to a second Sandy, felling both summons in rapid succession.
Further below, Virtus and Diallos—scattered from the main party—coordinate to rejoin the fray. Diallos gives Virtus a special totem that grants her enhanced speed (Longstrider), and together with her channeled Tekk divinity, she becomes a nearly unstoppable athlete. Diallos extends his astral arms out to his friend, launching Virtus skywards, catapulting her nearly a hundred feet. She lands at the Spire’s pinnacle and hurls her Boomerang Shield at Jaz’Farrah, who’s pinned by Silas, stunning the shamaness. Carter flies in as well, desperate to secure the Tome and end the Loop on the Soul Shepherds’ terms.
From the side, Talleah begs the Scions to surrender, as does Jer’Emee, whose perspective shifts upon seeing both the Phoenix’s unchecked fury and the Scions’ formidable might. The Arcadian Phoenix—engulfed in ashen flames—unleashes a punishing wave of radiant fire upon its despised foes, Silas and Jaz’Farrah. Despite the scorching assault, Silas grits his teeth and fights on. Finley, wearing the Crown of Ash, casts Hideous Laughter on Jaz’Farrah, driving her into a horrific laughing fit that leaves her vulnerable. Diallos tries to peer into Jaz’Farrah’s mind to glean her deeper intentions, but she easily shields her thoughts from his intrusion.
Taking full advantage, the Soul Shepherds converge on the helpless shamaness. Whimsical bashes her with colossal swings of her pan, while Silas—tearing himself up inside—taps into his vampiric nature, biting Jaz’Farrah’s neck and draining her time-shifted lifeblood. Though it bolsters his energy, Silas is left disgusted by the sight of blood, even from a sworn enemy.
Virtus, arriving in time to deliver the final blow, smites Jaz’Farrah and knocks her unconscious. Grabbing hold of the defeated shamaness by her robes, she lifts her toward the raging Phoenix, declaring, “She is mine!” Intimidated by Virtus’ resolve, the Phoenix reluctantly recedes, murmuring in wonder, “Truly you are Mother’s Warriors.” Acknowledging Finley’s rightful claim as the “Prince of Ash,” the Phoenix fuses its essence into Finley’s Ashen Crown, ready to be unleashed whenever he deems it necessary.
With the battle won, a new danger emerges: the Loop is on the brink of resetting. Talleah positions herself in front of the Rubix Cube, blocking Carter from tampering with it. She implores everyone to follow Jaz’Farrah’s original plan—destroying the Spire and ending the Loop so Janus can finally be absolved of its endless penance, thus freeing the Children of Jas from their forced isolation. Whimsical, reminded by Janus’ pained groans, sympathizes with the ancient Titan’s agony. Jer’Emee, however, denounces Talleah’s plea, calling her ignorant of both the Titan’s deeper history and the crime that led to its ongoing punishment.
Diallos experiences a vision—an ancient memory of Titans rising against the Gods—hinting at why Janus carries such a burden. Silas, meanwhile, begins to see some logic in Talleah’s argument, triggering a heated debate among the Scions: Should they leave the Spire intact, prolonging Janus’ curse, or risk its immortality by removing the spire?
Ultimately, they decide to end the Loop without destroying the Spire. Diallos thanks Jer’Emee for his guidance, gifting him a flute carved from Bobo Bird quills. Jer’Emee responds with a soulful rendition of “Eternal Wind” while Carter manipulates the Rubix Cube’s chrono-magic, halting the cyclical reset for good.
Session 49. Journey to Janus City
*March 19th, 2025
The Soul Shepherds agree with Jer’Emee to escort the unconscious Jaz’Farrah to Janus City for trial, with Whimsical settling her onto Axey the Axebeak. Silas’s sister, Talleah, suddenly steps forward, insisting she face the same judgment as Jaz’Farrah. The group presses on through the entire night, retracing their path along Janus’s mountainous shoulder. By dawn, they stand in awe before the city’s orange skyline—its crisscrossing aqueducts and bold windmills a marvel of ancient Titanborn engineering. Diallos, deeply curious, asks who built them, but embarrassed by his ignorance, Jer’Emee can’t provide any answers, only that the city has stood for centuries, predating history.
Jer’Emee then summons turtle shells with a flute to ferry everyone across a wide river. Virtus and Whimsical remind Silas they have no interest in Saturn’s politics. Jer’Emee appreciates their sovereign respect, promising that Jaz’Farrah will pay for her heresy under the judgment of the Jas’Sharazas. Finley has a brief conversation with a spotted, but territorial boar, calmly explaining the party’s harmless intentions.
Arriving at a steep outcrop, Jer’Emee calls out for someone named Maverick. No response. Silas climbs the fleshy, rocky surface and finds only a winged dog named Margarine and an empty windmill. Carter, Diallos, and a flying Gorilla Finley fly up to see what the hold up is, they find Silas comedically running away from Margarine. Within the windmill’s upstairs, Diallos locates a worn manual for the lift while Virtus, still below, doubts the chains can hold her – “they are weak”. Jer’Emee grows uneasy—he hasn’t traveled this route since childhood. The Scions find their way up regardless of their trepidations, rejoining the group up above.
Diallos notices a rope tied to the whirling windmill blades. It turns out Maverick himself is bound up there, fast asleep! Carter halts the gears using Chronurgy magic, allowing Diallos to catch Maverick as he drops. Margarine eagerly revives him with some dog kisses. The old, feathered man says hooligans left him tied up for letting foreigners into the city. Diallos asks what day it is and learns from a newspaper that 14 days have passed in the outside world—despite the Scions feeling only 3 days due to their repeated loops. They also discover an airship from Astraloftum recently arrived with goods for the upcoming Meal Festival Auction and left just as quickly.
Whimsical then demands a direct route into Janus City. Maverick suggests Freedom’s Respite as a hub for the travelers, a grand inn tower, and offers an unconventional way up to Janus City – an unstable mine cart track that shoots the Scions screaming through the mountain. After narrowly leaping free at the track’s end (aided by Virtus’ Pegasus Feather), the weary Soul Shepherds slip into Freedom’s Respite, keeping Jaz’Farrah hidden above Axey. At last, they secure rooms for a week of rest. The first day of the Meal Festival unfolds, promising both respite and fresh challenges ahead.
Session 50. Restful Revelations
*March 25th, 2025
The Soul Shepherds spend a well-earned rest at Freedom’s Respite, taking in the lively atmosphere and meeting the tavern’s owners: Aukshirok (a kindly old blind man), Sonata (a former sky pirate who now wields a spatula instead of a scimitar—and a previous Meal Festival trophy), Turnip (the youngest barkeep), and Hans (a one-armed bard from the College of Damocles, who winds up in a friendly musical match with Bartholomew). A solitary Giant also stands out among the patrons. Silas and Whimsical attempt to buy his feathered glide-cape at a lowball price, which he rejects. Diallos learns the Giant belongs to Cloudbeard’s crew, while Bartholomew discovers he’s also a smuggler.
Later that afternoon, the Scions head to their respective rooms to rest. Finley meditates alone. Silas and Talleah share a quiet moment reminiscing about their abusive upbringing. Meanwhile, Carter and Jer’Emee discuss Chronurgy magic and how spell scrolls are transcribed. Whimsical, Diallos, Virtus, and Bartholomew keep watch over the still-unconscious Jaz’Farrah in a shared room that Carter has sealed inside a Private Sanctum to keep unwanted visitors out.
Within the Sanctum, Diallos asks Bartholomew why he continues posing as a Halfling, especially after revealing his true Emerald Kobold self to the party. Bartholomew explains he was mocked as “Arse” in his youth for being weak, so he prefers the confident persona of Bartholomew. Diallos empathizes, having been labeled “too weak” by other Solar Scions himself. Hearing that Bartholomew, despite his Fomorian heritage, clearly possesses a Soul, Virtus questions the Church’s strict teachings about Fomorians.
In the evening, Finley quietly explores Janus City in the form of a Macaw, listening to townsfolk debate whether Saturn should keep strict borders under the Jas’Sharazas or embrace open borders like the Maskin—and, by extension, Jaz’Farrah—propose. Diallos also flies through the city, amplifying the glow of airborne lanterns and giving merchants pause as they close up shop. Virtus and Silas head downstairs, where Bartholomew’s drumming and a quicksilver duet with a flute player mesmerize the crowd. Virtus laments to Diallos and Silas that Bartholomew is hiding his true self, drawing parallels to her brother Animus—another soul who masks his identity. As Bartholomew’s drumming reaches a rhythmic crescendo, Diallos experiences a vivid vision of a battlefield in the past: Dragonborn generals leading a Kobold army to slaughter against Demons; Demons consuming the Kobold Souls’, and a Solar Scion that falls in battle protecting some Kobolds – an Emerald Kobold then approaches the dead Scions’ body some days later and takes their Solar Scion Insignia and assuming their identity.
At that point, Virtus, Diallos, and Finley tell Silas what truly happened while he and Carter were possessed by Magi: they almost murdered Talleah. Realizing it and recalling the episode himself, Silas condemns Magi’s influence, removing his Ring of Magi and thrusting it upon Virtus in anger. At once, Magi’s magic wanes from Silas’s body.
Upstairs in the Private Sanctum, Whimsical notices Jaz’Farrah awake. Though Whimsical sympathizes with Jaz’Farrah’s desire for a free Saturn, she reiterates that Jaz’Farrah remains their prisoner until she can face the Jas’Sharazas for her crimes. Carter arrives and presses Jaz’Farrah about the Tome of Time’s missing pages. She admits she harvested them from Carter in earlier time loops. Silas then enters, challenging her. Carter stops him, and Silas demands an explanation for Carter’s continued devotion to Magi. Carter replies that if Magi asked him to kill Talleah again, he’d comply. Jaz’Farrah mocks Silas as a “Blasphemer,” incapable of matching Carter’s potential. Furious, Silas fires off a Firebolt, but Carter halts it. When Silas questions why Carter defends her, Carter states she’s still useful. He abruptly slashes Jaz’Farrah’s cheek, gathering her “time-shifted” blood in a vial. As Carter leaves, Silas vows to stand by him should Magi ever betray Carter the same way.
Session 51. Fractured Judgement
*April 2nd, 2025
Diallos finds a solitary Child of Jas late at night, praying to Janus for a fat eel in the next Eruption Rain. He joins him briefly in prayer, then returns to Freedom’s Respite to carve his totem. As he works, he keeps an eye on Jaz’Farrah, who pretends to sleep but eventually dozes off for real. Bartholomew wraps up his duet with Hans (his new one-handed flutist friend) and the two become fast pals.
In the early morning, Virtus purchases a Glide Cloak. Downstairs, Jaz’Farrah asks Diallos to untie her so she can tend to some business. Diallos obliges. Afterward, he heads upstairs to look for Carter and Jer’Emee (who has gone out already). Finley, Silas, and Talleah also emerge. The Scions inform Jaz’Farrah that she’s going to face the Jas-Sharazas Council at Elefanti Palace today. She assures them she has no plans to run off, and Talleah stands by her side.
Jer’Emee awaits them all at Freedom’s Respite, having secured a taxi-fleet of “Glidewings” (winged pack dinosaurs). Bartholomew guesses Jer’Emee must have struck some political deal – money has been tight. The Scions mount the Glidewings and fly up toward Elefanti Palace. Passing over the nearby Auction House, Finley muses about its strange shape; Jer’Emee blushes while Jaz’Farrah wryly notes that it “looks like a pair of mammaries.”
At the Palace Gates, a Guard recognizes Jer’Emee and tries to catch up on old news, but Jer’Emee insists they have urgent business. A swarm of additional guards soon descend, escorting Jaz’Farrah inside with the Soul Shepherds close behind. Everyone remarks on how run-down the Palace appears; Jer’Emee explains they allow the forces of nature to consume the structure, embodying Janus’s passage of time. A stone staircase, shaped like an elephant’s trunk, lowers like a drawbridge. The Scions lead Jaz’Farrah up and step into the Palace’s interior.
They soon encounter five Jas-Sharaza Elders – eccentric, silent robed figures who thank the Scions for capturing the “Mad Shamaness” Jaz’Farrah, offering a reward. Virtus requests aid fixing their airship, and the Elders refer her to Beppo at his Airship Workshop. Though Saturn’s airship industry suffers from a closed-border policy, they promise to pay Beppo to handle the repairs. Virtus accepts. The Elders then immediately propose executing Jaz’Farrah (and Talleah for accessory to conspiracy). The Scions are stunned by this hasty judgment. Whimsical recalls that the Elders should consult the Eruption Pool first for Janus’s true will, and Diallos senses personal vendettas clouding their deliberations. Carter uses Magi’s magic to calm their heightened emotions, inciting fearful cries over someone invoking the “Old God’s name,” though it does help some Elders see reason. Seizing the moment, Diallos, with the help of Bartholomew’s rhetoric skills, delivers an impassioned appeal that convinces them to delay any verdict.
They announce they need more time before passing sentence, ordering the Scions to hold Jaz’Farrah captive until the full Council is summoned. Jaz’Farrah laughs at their indecision and incompetence as the Scions are ushered out by the Guards. Jer’Emee promises to appeal the matter to the broader Council, but for now, the Scions must keep Jaz’Farrah under guard—a situation that clearly irritates them. Though Jaz’Farrah vows not to flee and suggests staying at Freedom’s Respite’s Private Sanctum, the Scions remain wary of her. Everyone heads in different directions through Janus City for personal errands: Diallos leaves to check on Maverick, while Silas and Carter linger with Jer’Emee at the Palace. Whimsical, meanwhile, commands Jaz’Farrah to “carry her” back to Freedom’s Respite.
Mini Scion 4. Dive into the Heart
*April 6th, 2025
Silas snuck into the Elefanti Palace with Talleah and met a Jas’Sharaza named Reina at the Eruption Pool. Silas undressed and dove into the Eruption Pool, spoke to Janus, and discovered that the Elephant Spire is still an active beacon… and is pointing towards Paradise.
Session 52. Salvaging the Fallen A.R.K
*April 30th, 2025
The Soul Shepherds reconvene at Freedom’s Respite; Silas informs the rest of the Scions that the Spire is “pointing to Nirvana” (what Fomors call Paradise) and that they should investigate it when they can. Virtus then tells the party that they should go meet Beppo at his workshop to request he fix their airship. When they arrive, they find a rundown workshop and old automatons organizing piles of lumber. A large panda-man with mechanical wings flies down to greet the Scions - introducing themselves as Beppo. Beppo agrees to go with the Scions into the Jungle to find the Airship wreckage and assess the damage.
Whimsical and Diallos smell an oil leak within the workshop and discover that Beppo is building some sort of water pump prototype, a personal project that stems from the fearful prophecy of his now deceased daughter; a vision of a frail Janus in the future unable to lift her trunk and create eruption rain. The contraption explodes and damages some of the workshop; Beppo apologizes. Diallos investigates the contraption and realizes there is a Air Elemental Orb within it that powers the device, but it is covered in years of solidified oil. Diallos breaks the oil coating, allowing Carter to use magic to extract the Orb. Finley says there is a trapped Air Elemental that wishes to be freed within the Orb. Whimsical blows air on the orb with her powerful barbarian lungs and breaks the Elemental seal, freeing the Air Elemental, both Finley and Whimsical gain Piety from their Goddess Natu for freeing the Elemental.
Beppo returns, Diallos explains that the device did not work, but Beppo shrugs and says he will try to find a new Orb during the upcoming Meal Festival Auction tomorrow at the Scheppin Auction House - he also mentions that there will be a ““J.T.” Original Holy Mahogany Chest rumored to contain untold treasures within, being sold at the Auction; which piques Virtus’ interest. The Scions fly out to the airship wreckage aboard Glidewing’s Taxi Services to deep within the Jungles of Saturn.
At the crash site, Cannoch and Pinot reunite with the Scions; they had been camped out there awaiting their return. Virtus rescues P-Sowen under some rubble, the automaton given to them by Vincent. Carter opens up P-Sowen’s head to fix their language gears, since they were damaged during the crash, and finds a device within P-Sowen’s head that resembles a Sol-Phone, proving to the Scions that their communications is being spied on by Vincent through P-Sowen.
Silas and Carter find the Rubix Engine in the decks below, which is in a state of turmoil, hungry for Souls; Carter uses Rubix to stabilize it. Finley begins a Plant Growth ritual to increase the yield of the local Mahogany trees’ wood to aid in the reconstruction of their Airship. Beppo says that the repairs will take about a month to complete, but the local lumber used will improve their ship’s ability to withstand water damage. The Scions then eye a nearby cave where Finley suspects a dangerous Dinosaur lives; they resolve to slay the beast to ensure the safety of the Airship repair site.
Session 53. Fiery Som
*Dusquor, 6 Lunareth 312 (May 7th, 2025)
A tender flashback opens the session: Whimsical, honing her culinary knife-work under Aukshirok’s watchful eye in the Freedom’s Respite kitchens, serves a melon-infused feast to a young boy named Pickory – her first paying customer.
Back in the present, the Soul Shepherds stand before a lifeless Giant’s skeleton and a dormant portal cracked with age. Carter seizes an obsidian shard, reassembles the broken runes, then breathes magic into it with a crackling Firebolt. The portal flares to life. Silas and Carter slip through the threshold to scout ahead. When their friends press forward, they step into a vast, molten cavern.
Whimsical’s shout of warning echoes off lava-scorched walls—and awakens Saturnus Rex, the dread “Tyrant of Saturn.” The creature’s thunderous roar freezes Silas and Carter in place. Silas’s desperate Shatter spell rattles the rocks beneath the beast, but it shrugs off the tremor and lunges. Carter flies and narrowly escapes to a rocky ledge—but Silas is swallowed whole by the monster’s gaping maw.
Panic surges through the Shepherds. Whimsical vaults onto a hidden springy pad, launching herself skyward before swooping down on the hot rock, glide-cloak unfurled. She rages with maternal fury and taunts the Rex from the cliff’s edge. Diallos and Finley unleash rain after rain of divine arrows, slowing the monster’s ascent. Virtus joins the fray, dropping beside Whimsical readying her Boomerang Shield.. From above, Carter rains Magic Missiles into the beast’s vulnerable underbelly. Its fierce struggle forces it to regurgitate Silas back into the open, oops!
As Silas plummets toward the molten river, Whimsical hurls a javelin true – but only Carter’s mastery of time-bending magic can guide it to intercept Silas, slowing his fall. In that suspended moment, Magi’s commanding voice booms in Carter’s mind, demanding Silas’s life as penance for betrayal. Carter obeys: the javelin pierces Silas’s heart, oozing a yellow liquid full of Souls—and at the same instant, arrests his fall against a rocky outcrop, impaling him but saving him from the lava below.
Now the scales turn. Virtus and Whimsical, side by side, grapple the exhausted Tyrant. Virtus strangles its long neck until its eyes glaze, then Whimsical brings her oversized cast-iron pan crashing down, crushing its skull in a final, echoing roar. The cavern trembles—stone begins to fall.
Rushing to Silas’s side, the Shepherds bear witness to a miracle: Finley’s fervent prayers to Natu revive Silas, though not without cost. He reopens his eyes but discovers his left arm has been lost to the molten depths. As the smoking cave collapses around them, the Soul Shepherds gather their wounded comrade, forge a path back to the light, and carry with them both grief and triumph—their bonds, stronger for having faced the “Fiery Som” and survived.
Session 54. Throbbing Lonelyhearts
*Samhain, 7 Lunareth 312 (May 14th, 2025)
Whimsical plunges her hand deep into the Saturnus Rex’s corpse, ripping out its fiery, throbbing heart. Carter secures two unhatched Saturnus Rex eggs. Diallos activates a teleport scroll found by his hawk, Eden, within the cave. The Soul Shepherds escape the collapsing dinosaur lair, an unconscious Silas in tow. Outside, Beppo thanks the Scions for clearing the cave, promising swift repairs to their damaged airship.
The Scions fly back to Janus City for some rest at Freedom’s Respite, rejoining with Bartholomew. The imprisoned Jaz’Farrah teases the Scions for Silas’ injury. Talleah grows anxious over Silas’ severed arm and helps him to his quarters. Bartholomew follows, offering quiet comfort in his ‘Arse’ Kobold form. In shared grief, Silas confesses to Bartholomew that the throbbing warmth he once felt from Magi has faded, the Mad God he forsook now distant and cold. Bartholomew urges Silas not to depend on the Trinity but to lean on friends, explaining that Whimsical and Virtus’ toughness masks their care, and Arse understands Silas better than most. Silas, grateful, acknowledges Bartholomew’s unwavering support, strengthening their bond.
Morning arrives, and the Scions attend Auction Day at the Scheppinh Auction House. Virtus learns the coveted “J.T Holy Chest,” sold by Vincent of Damocles during the Astraloftum Estate Sale, once belonged to her father. Meanwhile, Carter eyes the Spell Scroll: Power Word Peel (which he later loses out on in a bid against a Giant named Sven), Silas studies an ancient tablet describing Magi’s origins, and Bartholomew is drawn to an Obsidian Pepper Orb whispering to him in Draconic. Whimsical sells ten bottles of Holy Astraloftum Wine from the Ecclesia Solari crypts, mischievously aided by Bartholomew, who spreads exaggerated claims about the wine’s worth. The bottles sell for a throbbing premium.
Next on auction, the Obsidian Pepper Orb prompts a tense bidding war between Bartholomew and a bearded gentle birdman. Bartholomew, in less-than-subtle desperation, casts Suggestion to halt the rival bidder, but the spell triggers the watchful ire of a winged Gorilla security guard. Bartholomew quickly casts Gift of Gab, confusing the Gorilla into forgetting its outrage. With the path clear, Bartholomew wins the orb.
The auction throbs onward…
Session 55. The Auction
*Samhain, 7 Lunareth 312 (June 4th, 2025)
The auction continues: the Tears of Janus is sold to Reina the Jas-Sharaza with Whimsical help, believing it is sacrilege in the hands of the undevoted to Janus. Silas, wishing to keep the Orimagi Tablet away from Carter, gets into a bidding war with them, further dividing the two who once called each other friends. Carter wins the bid, exhausting all of their gold in pursuit of this divine Magi artifact. The God Magi is pleased with them.
The bidding for Sir Amiel’s chest begins: Sven, the Giant Pirate & Virtus Tenebris, daughter of Amiel, get into a bidding match. Whimsical moves in closer to the pirate (despite her hatred for them) to attempt to distract Sven, she pulls out wily charm. Despite this, Sven wins it as Virtus strategically backs out, conspiring to steal it from the pirate later instead. Auction Complete. Silas and Finley go magic item hunting. Whimsical accompanies Sven to keep tabs on him with Carter and Virtus in tow. Diallos and Bartholomew stay at the Auction House waiting for Sven to come back for the chest.
Session 56. Actions Speak Louder than Words
*Samhain, 7 Lunareth 312 (June 11th, 2025)
Finley and Silas discuss something in secret while shopping for some magical artifacts at Le Festin Markets. Virtus and Carter follow Whimsical and Sven to a brothel called ‘the Timeless Birdcage’. At the brothel, Whimsical meets Sven’s Giant crew, Demo and Rotto. Whimsical dances with both of them but they get jealous of each other and fight, with Demo accidentally setting the brothel on fire with bombs. Virtus and Carter run into rescue Whimsical and civilians, but the Giant Pirates remain within the blaze.
The rest of the Soul Shepherds receive a warning from Eden that there is trouble at the brothel, so they go help put out the flames. Diallos and Finley arrive and work together to extinguish the flames. The Jas-Sharaza Reina arrives and thanks the Scions for putting out the fire. Silas catches up to Whimsical and Sven and “asks to join their pirate crew” using the moniker ‘Carrrl’ to further infiltrate them. Sven, hesitant at first, is impressed with Silas’ magical skills and allows him to join their ranks. Whimsical, Silas, Sven and his crew all head back to their pirate ship to prepare to set sail later that evening. Silas meets some of the Kobold crew the Giants employ and asks them if they wish to be liberated, he doesn’t get a solid answer but befriends a young blue Kobold named Meek who hates their parents.
Whimsical learns that Sven is a lot more ambitious and independent from his Fleet Captain Cloudbeard than he initially led others to believe. Sven confesses he has a romantic interest in Whimsical but she tells him that “actions speak louder than words”. Silas, Whimsical, and Sven’s crew then go to pick up the J.T Holy Chest from the auction house.
The remaining Soul Shepherds prepare an ambush at their ship for when they return. An arrow flies towards Diallos and Virtus’ Sol Phone rings, Virtus answers and the voice on the other line tells the Scions not to board the pirate ship: Carter surmises that the caller from the other side is a Solar Scion. Virtus listens closely to their voice and recognizes them as Henry Feaxin, a Solar Scion that had rescued Silas a few months ago and was presumed dead. Henry reveals that he is spying on the Cloudbeard Pirates and wishes to find the whereabouts of their captain. The Soul Shepherds and Henry agree to set up an ambush and join forces to steal the J.T Chest back from the Pirates. With Silas and Whimsical disguised as pirates from the backline, and a crew full of Kobolds aboard their pirate ship, what will the Scions do?
Session 57. Ambush at the Aque-Docks
*Samhain, 7 Lunareth 312 (June 23rd, 2025)
The Soul Shepherds ambush Sven’s Cloudbeard Pirates at the Janus City Aque-Docks. Carter burns the docks with a massive Fireball spell, preventing the Giants’ escape to their docked airship and forcing their Kobold crew to swim. The Fireball’s explosion forces the indestructible J.T Holy Chest into the air, which Diallos catches and secures with his astral arms. Whimsical turns on Sven with her Fiery Pan – Sven is distraught by her betrayal. The Solar Scion Henry flies towards the airship where Kobolds are attempting to make a getaway.
Finley teleports with Bart to fight the Cloudbeard Pirate Bruiser ‘Rotto’, and pushes him into the water with his Ashen Blade’s pommell. Finley’s Fey Pixie aids them in combating the pirates as well. As the wet Rotto comes back up the docks, he rushes towards Finley, but he is able to dodge the Giants’ fisticuff onslaught, distracted however, Finley gets hit by Sven’s Greatclub.
Bartholomew is approached by an angry green Kobold pirate – once a member of the Emerald Scourge – he is unaware that Bartholomew is a Kobold. The green Kobold accuses Bart of stealing a ‘Blade of Clorox, the Emerald Dragon’ and engages in a fight with him to retrieve the sword. Silas sneakily unleashes an electrifying lightning bolt behind them that rips through Sven and Rotto, igniting a nearby tree and scaring some of the locals.
At the climax of the fight. the Cloudbeard Demolistionist ‘Demo’, in a desperate attempt to take everyone down with him, then begins to light all of his bombs on his belt, resulting in a massive explosion at the Aque-Docks that scars Finley, Virtus, and incapacitates Bartholomew. Virtus then knocks Sven unconscious, but Whimsical, in a fit of fury, smashes the Giant pirates’ head in, killing him. The Scions loot the bodies of the Giants, heal up, and demand that the Kobolds guide them to Cloudbeard’s hideout somewhere in the Skysea.
Session 58. A New Scale
*Natusol, 8 Lunareth 312 (July 9th, 2025)
In the aftermath of the chaotic battle at the Aque-Docks, the fallen bodies of Sven Stormson, Demo, and Rotto – Cloudbeard’s Giant pirates – lie still. Silas deceitfully binds their Souls to himself. The surviving Kobolds are spared, and one of them, Frederick, a former Emerald Scourge, recognizes Bartholomew’s blade as belonging to the Emerald Scourge. In a groaned whisper, he calls Bartholomew by his true name: Arse.
Frederick confides in Arse that their homeland, Dragon’s Rest, has been overtaken by the Martian Imperium. The Imperium seeks to resurrect Clorox to bolster their military might. Frederick begs for Arse’s help in reclaiming their ancestral town. Arse agrees on the condition that Frederick and his companions help guide them to Cloudbeard first. The three Kobolds: Meek, Meek Sr., and Frederick, are recruited into the Soul Shepherds under this agreement.
The party returns to Freedom’s Respite, their temporary lodging in Janus City. Diallos continues carving his Janus Totem. Silas has a quiet meeting with his sister, Talleah Preshons, still uncertain whether her loyalties lie with him or the cult of Nirvana. Meanwhile, Jer’Emee and the chained Jaz’Farrah, still bound together by history, share a quiet conversation under the shroud of night.
As dawn breaks, a storm of “Heavy Rain” descends on Janus – an unnatural downpour of glittering metal particulates from a floating island somewhere above the Skysea that renders flight near-impossible. Silas charters a Glidewing Taxi for the Scions to reach Le Festin Row, where the Quadrennial Meal Festival preparations begin.
Whimsical appoints Diallos as her sous-chef for the festival’s cook-off. Helga the Ogre Baker, delighted to be included, invites Silas for drinks at the eccentric Delishibird Café. Arse buys instruments for Meek and Frederick, who hope to perform during the festivities. Meek Sr., though resistant at first, is convinced by Arse to take up a new hobby, and wanders off with Helga and Silas for drinks.
At the festival plaza, Virtus stakes out a front-row view of the judges’ platform. There, Jer’Emee, Reina Akaska (the “Iron Feather”), and the youthful Pickory announce the competition rules: chefs will gather ingredients, perform cooking challenges, and offer their creations to Janus the Titan herself in the Final Offering.
Finley strikes up conversation with Lady Mussurana, a refined woman reading a romance novella titled The Black Sludge of Winter. Finley presents his Arcadian Flute, and in response, hears snake-like hisses from her veiled hair. He suspects she may be a Medusa in disguise. She asks Finley to investigate a distressed Ychen Bannog – a massive, gentle oxen – penned for ritual sacrifice. Learning the creature is to be slaughtered for the Meal Festival, Finley secretly casts Polymorph, transforming the creature into a rat and setting it free. For this defiant act of mercy, Natu blesses him with a boon of divine favor.
Setting up on the competition stage, Carter begrudgingly recruits a drunken Silas as his helper. A mysterious old lady named Masha (who recognizes Silas) uses a Clone spell to recruit… herself. Helga proudly reveals her assistant – a small dinosaur she’s befriended and fed scraps. With all the chefs assembled and paired, the Meal Festival Competition officially begins.
Session 59. Quadrennial Meal Festival Competition Part I
*Natusol, 8 Lunareth 312 (July 23, 2025)
Finley releases the old Ychen Bannog back into the wild – as it walks away back to the grasslands on the outskirts of Janus City, the Oxen collapses from exhaustion. Finley sits next to it as it sees its’ life dwindle in its’ eyes, and accompanies the Oxen in its final moments; he keeps a tuft of the beast of burden’s hair. Now unburdened with the weight of old age, the Oxen’s heart stops. Finley witnesses the ground and vegetation underneath him overtake the Oxen’s corpse, absorbing the last of its’ essence back into the land of Saturn. Finley returns to the festival with a heavy heart and the Lady Mussurana returns him his Pan Flute. The two hit it off and watch the competition together.
The Competition begins, and the first dishes are brought out for the judges to eat. Whimsical and Diallos create a wonderful dish – Lover’s Dance – smoked Sky Fish topped with a lemon garlic hummus sauce and served with seared sun-dried tomatoes, that tells the love story of Noctu and Natu, impressing the judges with their cultural and culinary fusion. Silas and Carter deliver a provocative ‘Soulfood’ dish that intrigues the judges (despite Silas antagonizing one of them during the cooking process with a misplaced Fire Bolt). Helga, the Ogre Baker, disturbs the panel by serving her raptor sous chef – grilled to perfection of course – while Masha’s Mystic Honey Cakes earn disgust, thanks in part to Silas’s sly Prestidigitation spell. Ultimately, Whimsical and Diallos are declared the victors of the first round.
Session 60. Quadrennial Meal Festival Competition Part II
*Natusol, 8 Lunareth 312 (July 30, 2025)
Round 2 of the Quadrennial Meal Festival begins, and the stakes rise. Contestants must craft a dish from unique elemental ingredients. Masha, in a moment of desperation, attempts to steal Silas’ Truffle of the Undershell, but is quickly intimidated into returning it. Diallos (with Eden’s help) notices Helga has accidentally taken their Aquitania Pearl Oyster from the pantry, and they manage to retrieve it.
A heated argument erupts between Carter and Silas over their cooking strategy, culminating in a violent magical exchange. Carter’s arcane energy, combined with Silas’s frustrated outburst, sends a smoothie jar flying. Silas falls to the ground, magically deprived and unable to cast spells. He storms out of the competition, leaving a stunned Carter to reverse time and restore the jar. Carter’s lone creation, an elemental “smoothie”, is deemed a disappointment by the judges. Masha’s dish, sabotaged by Carter’s meddling, also falls short. Helga, without a sous chef, fails to deliver a satisfying meal. Whimsical and Diallos create a dish symbolizing the duality of Magi, using both halves of their oyster and a truffle aioli sauce. Their brilliance is rewarded, and they win Round 2.
Meanwhile, Bartholomew continues his musical performance with the kobolds. When Meek’s flute breaks, Bart allows him to play alongside him on the same drum, and the pair plays on, earning a small fortune from the crowd. Bart, with a generous heart, gives all the money to a gleeful Meek. A vigilant Virtus, overhears Maskin shamans planning to break Jaz’Farrah out of the prison cart and “waiting for the signal.” She quickly informs Finley, who casts a Sleep spell on the would-be conspirators, allowing the city guards to arrest them. Amidst the chaos, Talleah secretly follows the retreating Silas, and the two have a somber meeting in a quiet alley.
The final round begins, and the contestants must use an ingredient on their person. Whimsical unveils a Saturnus Rex Heart she has been meticulously marinating for days. Diallos, in a spur of divine inspiration, crafts a clay vessel shaped like Janus to cook it in. Whimsical nearly spoils the meal, but Carter, in a show of goodwill, reverses time, allowing her to perfectly cook the heart. In return, Whimsical gives him some Sky Fish for his dish, which Carter uses to make a simple, yet elegant, sandwich. Whimsical and Diallos present their dish to the judges, and Diallos blesses the meal with the divine favor of Tekk. The Judges are mesmerized by the meal and, despite his reluctance, a stern Whimsical compels Pickory to eat a piece of the heart.
Then, an event of cosmic scale unfolds. The judges take the final dishes and fly upwards, as a colossal, starless shadow blocks out the sun, blanketing the city in darkness. A vacuum of air sweeps down, forcing everyone to hold on to something grounded. The food levitates upwards into the void of the ancient Titan, offered to Janus herself in a final act of divine judgment.
The Scions are told they will receive Janus’s decision at a later date, but Whimsical is named the Meal Festival Champion and awarded a medal and 10 solid Gold Blocks for her and Diallos. In the aftermath, Carter uses the Magi Tablet to restore Silas’s missing arm. A quiet Silas analyzes his new limb, seemingly lost in thought. The Scions return to Freedom’s Respite to rest, knowing that the morning will bring Jaz’Farrah’s trial.
Session 61. The Trial of Jaz’Farrah & A Shattered Fellowship
*Tekktol, 9 Lunareth 312 (August 13th, 2025)
In the morning before the Trial, Carter reveals to Silas that he is no longer the same Carter he once knew, but rather a Carter Moonwing from another timestream. When the Time Loop was stopped back at the Elephant Spire, a temporal swap occurred and reality unraveled. The Carter before Silas wishes to return to his own Timestream, but to do so, he needs Jaz’Farrah’s and Silas’s help. Silas opens up to this Carter about having fundamental disagreements with the Church and the Solar Scions, and that he wants to be with his sister Talleah; with the oncoming trial, there is no knowing what the verdict will be, therefore, the two then mutually concoct a secret plan to ensure Jaz’Farrah and Talleah’s escape, well aware that this is probably the last time they will be with the rest of the Scions.
The morning after the secret meeting, the air in the Elefanti Palace courtroom hangs thick with judgment. Before the venerable Jas’Sharaza Council, the trial of the Mad Shaman, Jaz’Farrah, and her conflicted ward, Talleah, commences. The charges are read, a litany of sins against the Titan and its children: Treason, Conspiracy, Magical Assault, Murder, and the trafficking of the sacred Regalo fruit. Reina Akaska presents the evidence with an unyielding tone: “the Iron Feather,” she utters each word as if a stone cast upon the scales of justice.
When it is his turn, Diallos steps forward, his questions aimed not with malice, but with a desperate hope for understanding. He delves deeper into her psyche with Detect Thoughts, and discovers a conflicted and traumatized soul at a young age, prosecuted for her “gifts” and “destined for madness”. She thinks her ways of doing things are the right way, but over time, her methods become more devious, resulting in the Jaz’Farrah of today. Yet, Jaz’Farrah shoves the divine psychological probing aside and twists his inquiries, attempting to sow seeds of doubt and discord among the Scions and the Council. The Judge, however, will not suffer her games, his gavel falling like a thunderclap to silence her silvered tongue. The jurists, swayed by the weight of her crimes, deliver their verdict with grim finality: execution.
As the bailiff instructs the Soul Shepherds to depart, the fellowship of the Soul Shepherds is irrevocably shattered. In a breathtaking act of defiance, Carter and Silas enact their plan. Silas unleashes a shroud of magical darkness, plunging the courtroom into chaos and confusion. From within the inky blackness, he unfurls a spell scroll of unimaginable power – Power Word: Peel – and reality itself begins to tear asunder. A spatial rift yawns open, a wound in the world that threatens to swallow everything.
The ensuing pandemonium sends Diallos and Virtus tumbling into the chaotic void, their outcry lost in the dimensional tear. Amidst the turmoil, Jaz’Farrah seeks escape. But Finley, his heart a cold stone of resolve, stands in her path. With a determined airborne strike, he sends the shamaness spiraling down into the rift.
A flicker of regret crosses Silas’s face as he beholds the dangerous rift he has created, and with a heavy heart and all his magical might, he dispels the volatile magic lest it grow out of control and consume the rest of the world. As the chaos subsides, the silence is deafening. Whimsical ensures the Council members are ushered to safety, her face a stoic mask hiding a storm of emotion. Virtus, righteous fury burning in her eyes, can only watch as Carter and Jaz’Farrah escape - vanishing into the sky.
Whimsical stoically ushers the Council members to safety. Virtus, her eyes burning with righteous fury, watches as Carter and Jaz’Farrah make their escape, vanishing into the sky. After a few days of rest, the Soul Shepherds bid farewell to Janus, their airship repaired. Silas and Talleah, now imprisoned under suspicion for their betrayal, were flown back to Astraloftum on the newly restored Project A.R.K..
In the aftermath, the Soul Shepherds remained on Janus in Freedom’s Respite, the silence between them louder than any argument. During their long rest, the Project A.R.K. was finally restored to its former glory. The Jaz’Sharaza Council, despite the chaos of the trial, honored their debt to the Scions for saving the city and their Titan from the Time Loop. The Council fronted the staggering 35,000 gold pieces required for the repairs, covering the cost of materials and the two weeks of intensive labor by Beppo and the Soul Shepherd’s crew needed to make the vessel sky-worthy once more. The Scions, however, would not escape the cost entirely; they realized that this expense would be offset by reducing their future stipends from the Church.
Silas and Talleah, now prisoners under suspicion of treason and betrayal, were loaded onto the newly christened ship. As the Rubix Engine hummed back to life, the Soul Shepherds bid a somber farewell to Janus, their fellowship irrevocably changed as they set a course back to Astraloftum.