Episode 30

Episode 30: Discovery Of Grace.

A week has passed since the Shepherd departed from the newly reformed Zada. With every champion collected, the search for the Divine Weapons begins, starting with Rasmesus. During this week, Rasmesus has been buried in his research, and Taylansta has also been reclusive, not speaking much to anyone. After a week in his books, Rasmesus reports that the first place they must go is Kahlessi, the religious capital of Velstrana. There, he must go to the Earth temples to find even more information about his Divine Weapon, Faelthorn. His family owns a library there, which is the perfect place to find the next place to go from there. With Rasmesus, many Shepherd party members set foot in Kahlessi, with some others like Xavier and Taylansta staying behind.

Upon arriving at Kahlessi, the Shepherd crew is met with five sprawling sectioned off locations, one for each domain of The Pentkillion elements: Spirit, Ignian, Aquan, Terran, and Auran. While Ras heads straight for the Earth domain, the rest of the groups split, investigating their temples of interest. They meet briefly with one of the High Priestesses, Simica, who tells them tales of the portal in the center of the city that used to be used to talk directly to the Gods. The portal has been out of use, but once served as a vital accessory during times of the past. Baird and Wood then head for the docks of the water domain, a floating temple resting in a beautiful pond of neon blue water. Inside, Baird and Wood see two large statues, eerily resembling the two of them, and another statue that’s too ruined to decipher. The High Priest of Water, a Salrin axolotl named Wisper, greets them and answers their questions. Wisper explains to a confused Wood that this statue he is looking at is of a hero named Taijinn, a Divine wielding warrior from an event called The Second Grand Demon War, the same event detailed at the Haalmun festival in Episode 8. Taijinn once wielded a weapon called Paramecium, a coral polearm that could transform into other weapons as needed. Baird, however, is sure the other statue is of his ancestor Luxx, who he’s admired since he was young. The plaque on the statue reads that Luxx was, “a hero lost to time,” and “the first of the wielders”. Wood even receives a journal kept by Taijinn himself from Wisper, and eagerly gets to reading, documenting it all with his good friend eagerly listening.

Meanwhile, Callisto and Cici enter into the marbled halls of the Spirit temple, full of diligent paladins training together. Despite Cici’s disinterest in religion, she goes with Callisto to spend more time with him and see his excitement. Just above a statue of the winged hero Algrim is the High Priest of Spirit, a panther Kreolyn named Olomun, a mysterious, vague individual. Olomun seems to have some familiarity with the two heroes, but Callisto and Cici don’t seem to recognize them. Olomun doesn’t reveal where he has seen them before, but rather speaks in mysterious riddles and vague proclamations. Cici asks if they would know anything about Matsuku, or the strange moon birthmark she has. Olomun has no knowledge, but offers to do their research into it, to Cici’s frustration. Olomun, saying that someday, their paths will someday lead back to Kahlessi, mentions having already given a gift to one of them before, but does not have another to offer, a cryptic message for both of them. Callisto then remembers; something he was once given by a stranger, but does not tell Cici what it is. Cici leaves with him, frustrated, with more questions than answers.

In another part of the city, Scrungus, Gemevieve and Toraleth head for the Earth domain after Ras, met with a large arena in a clearing, marked with crystal pillars and large stones. Ras has already dived into his family’s library, but Scrungus, Toraleth, and Gemevieve are stopped outside. They meet the High Priestess of Earth, Rayna, who just so happens to be an “aunt” of Scrungus, having known him since he was a baby adopted by Baldr and Andrew. Rayna shows them around, showing them more statues of ancient heroes. Here, there’s a statue of the Etheral hero Thessala wielding a staff, another crystal statue depicting an unknown dragon champion with their own divine shield, and another metal statue that depicts a Kronon, wielding the same Divine Weapon that Baldr wielded back in Valdore, Ferrous. Rayna also explains the process of how Divine Weapons, when wielded probably and valiantly, will transform and awaken depending on the user, getting stronger when they do. Rayna mentions that Scrungus might also not even know he’s adopted, having been found in the woods at a remarkably young age. On the other hand, Scrungus is pretty unenthused and irritated with all of this, and demands something to keep him interested. Gem and Toraleth make their attempts at making him feel welcome, even with his abrasive attitude. He decides to spar on the training grounds with Toraleth to get his energy up.

After their fight, Toraleth meets with Cici and Callsito to go to the fire temple, an obsidian building floating in a pit of lava. With the help of the High Priestess of Fire, Simica, everyone hops across obsidian platforms in the lava to make it to the floating temple. In the temple are two more statues of ancient heroes, and another one fallen to ruin. There is Wulcanikoisya of the Teraidra, also known as Vulcan or Wulcani, a lyre wielding Teraidran hero who serves as Toraleth’s patron saint. The other is uncannily similar to Callisto, and features a Cavanid dressed in robes, even featuring the same chest scars as him, to Callisto’s surprise and confusion. Simica explains that this hero was named Jupiter, and the ruined statue used to feature a hero named Castius. The Priests have made vows to let the statues fall and crumble if they begin to, and allow for time to have its way naturally. Toraleth seems conflicted about how the statue of Vulcan has kept its integrity while others haven’t, to which Simica responds that, “Time favors some”. Toraleth also explains that Teraidrans have six patron saints, and Wulcani was destined for him, no matter how he feels about it. Unfortunately, the temple, being located in a lava pit, isn’t the best at keeping books, so they don’t have any other valuable information on the heroes depicted, but the visit was still insightful.

Lastly, Gem, Callisto and Toraleth make a brief stop at the wooden Auran temple, and meet with the High Priestess of Winds, Lilith. She is whistling and training some sort of flying fish resembling a salmon on a large windmill. She explains the varieties of flying fish they have discovered and raised, to Gem’s wonder and curiosity. There’s also another set of hero statues here, two kept in tact and one borken: one features another dragon champion, much like the dragon hero of the Earth domain, and a large Kreolyn statue depicting Soaringwind, a one armed lion and Praxis’s ancient ancestor, wielding a crossbow. Lilith mentions that it is possible that Praxis’s mother at home is possibly getting sick, and to let her know when they can. Gem also asks about the extinct dragons, particularly the crystal ones, but doesn’t get many answers. Afterwards, everyone meets back up in the center and speaks to Ras, who has pinpointed Faelthorn’s location within the forests of Highmount, a place found on another continent called Felldrift. There, he is to prove himself to the ancient forest and be gifted Faelthorn accordingly. There is a portal that leads to a fantastical dimension called The Bright Veil, where Etherals come from. Everyone heads back to the boat, and prepares for the voyage to Felldrift.