Episode 37

Episode 37: The Mountain’s Melody.

The Shepherd makes its way to the south western coasts of Ichorfall to get to Mount Marack, where Toraleth’s coterie is located. A giant volcano overlooks a plateau as they approach, where the coterie resides. Toraleth leads everyone to his former home, trying to imagine himself anywhere but there. They are greeted by some Teraidran guards who immediately recognize Toraleth upon first glance. Andrew explains that they’re here in search of a weapon known as Vulcan’s Lyre for Toraleth. The guards let them through, urging Toraleth to visit the people here who are waiting for him. Toraleth explains that his mother, Tofflan, knows everything about a Teraidran’s life, and definitely knew about his arrival. The ability is passed down through Teraidran High Priests, and allows them to know the events of any Teraidran in the coterie’s life. Toraleth makes his way through the coterie as quick as he can, but is stopped by a familiar face. A Teraidran from the Nadar Plains coterie, Remus, approaches them with open arms, recognizing Wood Taiji in particular. Remus, Toraleth’s cousin, was the one who forged Wood’s sacred sword Raijinn Tide to a better potential. Everyone else notices Remus’s striking resemblance to Xavier, a bit dumbfounded by this for a moment. Remus mentions that Toraleth has a coming of age ceremony coming up, to Toraleth’s shock. Toraleth was never able to have his coming of age ceremony when it was time because he was already on the boat, so knowing that he was coming back means the coterie planned for it to be when he arrived. Toraleth explains that he should be getting his Teraidran tattoos that signify his adulthood, the ones he missed out on five years ago while he was on the boat.

As they make their way through the coterie, suddenly everyone is struck with an intense feeling of pain and sadness, a melody from the volcano and the earth. A deep loneliness rings throughout the coterie, but the Teraidrans don’t seem to be bothered. With this, Toraleth approaches his two mothers, Tofflan and Xiankha, who are speaking with another familiar face, the High Priestess of fire from Kahlessi, Simica. Tofflan explains that the Mountain’s Melody has been within the coterie since the Grand War, the war in which the Divine Weapons were created. She explains that Wulcani’s Tomb holds the Lyre, but they will have to go in by themselves the next day. Simica, eager to know more about their Divine hunts, takes a look at Rasmesus's weapon, Faelthorn. Simica explains that Faelthorn has a checkered past, having once been wielded by someone who didn’t use it for good. Ras recognizes that person as Abbadon, his ancestor who he claims established a large cult while wielding the weapon and doing experiments on the dead. Simica starts to guess what everyone else’s designated Divine Weapon is, and even offers to help Xavier locate his. Simica makes her leave, and Xiankha approaches, more stern than Tofflan, and gets right to it. She immediately gets into Toraleth about what he’s been doing all of this time and why Toraleth chose these people to accompany him. She questions their trustworthiness and even calls out Xavier for being trouble. Xavier defends himself, saying he was taught by someone named Ruebin on how to be a good person. Xiankha grills Toraleth more, saying he has two days to prepare for his ceremony. She explains that as their child, he is set to take over the coterie one day, as the Solvans have run the Marack coterie since the days of Wulcani. Toraleth was chosen over his other siblings to be the next leader, but not by his choice, it seems. He is very distraught by this, trying not to cry hearing this news. Tofflan explains that this is predetermined, as she has already seen the future. They assure him that in time, it’ll come and it’ll be okay, but for now to focus on getting the Lyre and preparing for the ceremony. Tofflan explains that Wulcani’s tomb is more of a museum that details events of the Grand War and Wulcani’s life, and that the Lyre is resting inside. It’s too late to go that day, so they will get some rest and go the next day.

Everyone gets some dinner for the night, talking amongst themselves. Cici tells Toraleth he doesn’t have to do anything he doesn’t want to do, even coming off as a bit violent about it, to Toraleth’s panic. While waiting for food, made by Andrew’s mother no less, Baird speaks with a lone Teraidran who is sitting and looking at the stars. The Teraidran, Jinx, talks with Baird for a bit, talking about the stars and history. Baird tells them a little bit about Luxx and his mission to take down a tyrant, not remembering who this evil figure was. Baird, as he talks, realizes that he’s missing something that everyone else seems to have. Baird mentions that he grew up an orphan, without a family other than his brother, Railund. Jinx relates with that, having also been an orphan from a different coterie. Jinx says that they study stars because they believe their parents are up there, and wants to find them someday. While they talk about their lack of parents and becoming family with each other, Toraleth overhears this, storming away in rage. Wood and Xavier find him to calm him down. Toraleth breaks down a bit, explaining that his parents never really loved him. Hearing people talk about never having parents like Baird did made him incredibly mad, knowing that his family never truly cared for him. Wood and Xavier comfort him, saying that he has family, true family, with them and on the boat. Wood leaves Xavier and Toraleth alone for the night, letting them spend some time with one another.

Toraleth decides to get over some of his fears, and speak with some of his other family members with Xavier, mainly his siblings. He first approaches his sibling Aries Solvan, their wife, Liara, and their child, Hamal. Aries, seemingly tough and cocky, apologizes to Toraleth for not treating him the best when they were kids, and possibly seems to have changed since Toraleth last saw them. Aries still has a rugged, rough exterior they always had, but seems more genuine and mature seeing them now, wanting to start over with their brother. Their child, Hamal, even says that their parents have talked about Toraleth before and said he was a good dancer. Toraleth tells the child a bit about his adventure and destiny, to Hamal’s wonder and curiosity. Hamal follows Toraleth around to see his other sibling, his sister Alma and her shadowy, Sombrean counterpart, Mater. Alma has also seemed to change for the better as well, with Mater keeping her in line and grounding her abrasive personality a bit. Toraleth thanks Mater for keeping Alma in check, giving Alma some looks. Maybe Alma has changed as well, saying that she won’t be mean to Toraleth today despite being a bit mean in the past. Things are a bit different for Toraleth’s family since the last time he was here. While Toraleth apologizes to Xavier for the awkward meetings, Cici hounds Andrew and his mother. Andrew says that Cici should apologize to him for being a bit violent and threatening while here. Andrew also comes to Toraleth’s comfort, saying that he’s proud of Toraleth no matter what. Cici apologizes to Toraleth, offering her support going forward without being too abrupt about it. Everyone packs it in for the night, saving their energy for the upcoming venture to Mount Marack and the tomb of Wulcani.