Episode 26

Episode 26: Bone Chill.

The draconic champion Dae has been found, but isn’t that easy to talk to. Dae is incredibly defensive, prickly, and strong, conditioned by living in Ker Jarra and fending for themself for years. They do make it very clear right at the start that they don’t mess around, threatening all of them by lifting them by their collars, intimidating them all with their ice cold breath. Their intention is not to hurt them however, but rather put them in their place. Dae recognizes Onyx in particular, pointing out that Onyx once attended The Royal Enclave, Velstrana’s biggest school for magic users. Confused, the party still gets a chance to learn more about them: Dae has been living in Ker Jarra after escaping their abusive mother at home on the continent of Canderous, where the Royal Enclave is located. They and their siblings were experimented on in the basement of the school by their mother at a very young age. The siblings, severely augmented from experimentation, ran away from home, were hunted for sport in the forests, and ran away using underground systems, with Dae ending up in Ichorfall by themself. Dae also mentions that they have been stalked by both the Enclave and the Gongoozler cult, killing every person trying to come after them so far, and is making sure the Shepherd party is not affiliated with either of them. The Shepherd tells them their plans, and that they have been searching for them to be a Divine Wielder and become powerful, Godlike heroes. Onyx, while once a student at the Enclave, never graduated and never returned, so doesn’t really pose a threat to Dae. Dae, while eager to leave Ker Jarra, does admit they have unfinished business down here before leaving. Dae strikes a deal: Dae will go with them if they help get back something important stolen from them by Ker Jarra’s biggest monster.

After some rest and preparation, the heroes go up against the worm, a double headed, bright purple beast living deeper in the cave system. The fight is a brutal test of strength, the worm dealing heavy damage to the party, knocking Taylansta unconscious, and bringing Gem, Onyx and Callisto very close to knocking out as well. Dae is able to deal the finishing blow on the worm, slicing through the worm with a sword of ice. Taylansta is revived by Onyx, going into a panic attack upon awakening again, having faced xyr biggest fear of death face to face. Onyx and Gemevieve try to console xem while Dae takes back their stolen item from inside of the worm’s body: a pendant made of wood with a tree carved into it. With that, Dae is ready and willing to make their way out of Ker Jarra for good, but not until the party gets some good, needed rest.