In the Heart of the World

Part 1
Having stopped by Shelburn on their Northward journey and met Blitz’s family, the party follow a glowing deer sent by the deity Mieliki to an archway that transports them to a cavernous area where they battle two earth elementals. They venture further inwards and find a large floating orb that emanates divine power and energy.

The party spend way too much time poking the ball of powerful magic and getting blasted against the wall. Despite keeping watch however an invisible presence creeps in on the ceiling and steals the magical orb or ‘the Heart.' Immediately the party feels a weakening of the magical energy surrounding them.The party blindly pursue the presence and manage to catch a glimpse of it before it steps through the archway portal and disappears. It is a humanoid creature that wears white armour and a white cloak.

Upon emerging from the cavern the party hear sounds of chaos from Shelburn and find that the animals have become berserk and violent much like in Mokupuni and Talisdur.

Blitz runs home to check on his family and after finding them ok he falls into despair, blaming himself for letting it happen and apparently leading the mysterious person to the Heart. He forsakes his god Valkur and wishes to just stay home believing himself to be unable to stop what’s coming.

Cassia tries to persuade him otherwise before leaving to find the others who stayed behind to investigate the clearing and theorise on the meaning of the events. Blomf comforts Blitz and calls him his brother and Blitz reciprocates and agrees to sleep on the decision.

Blomf leaves the Shelburn household and bumps into the rest of the party coming to talk to Blitz. Though he tries to stop them, claiming Blitz needs space, Malik uses the Misty Step spell to teleport past him while Damien tries to push his way through. Malik bursts into Blitz’s house and gives him a harsh pep talk telling him he is needed in the party and that his god will get over it. As the others catch up Damian recommends they ask for a sign from Valkur to test if he still supports Blitz. Though thunder sounds it is not enough and an upset Blitz yells at Valkur to not hold back and to send him a proper sign and Valkur responds by striking him with lightning, rendering him unconscious but leaving him alive.

After tending to a somewhat charred Blitz the party find an inn to stay at whilst Blitz’s parents watch over him. Malik celebrates his birthday with a cake in a somewhat depressing atmosphere in the light of the days events.

Blake: “Nothing visible could stealth through an open area.”

Jacob and Alex thinking about invisibility: *panic*

“Do you think it would reveal itself if I did a backflip?” - Damian

(To Blitz) “Your god’s a little kid with too much power.” - Malik

Part 2
Having arrived in Shelburn and had one of the Magical Hearts stolen from under their noses the party experience the chaos of animal behaviour following the loss of the heart and Blitz struggles with his faith in himself and his god.

The party spend the night in an inn before picking Blitz up from his house and setting off back on their journey.

The party barter their way onto a ship, the Glass Stag to head to Zenith and on their way are attacked and boarded by a red flagged ship bearing the same symbol as the Red Leviathan - the pirate ship that slew Blitz’s entire crew prior to meeting the party in Opaz.

Though outnumbered the party fight fiercely with Cassia and Damian firing shots from the crows nest and Alice sneakily shooting people whilst hidden in a barrel. Despite their efforts Blomf and Blitz (as well as the Captain and First mate of the Glass stag) are brought down in the fight and then the Captain of the Red Leviathan emerges and calls a ceasefire.

The pirate Captain turns out to be a white tabaxi woman who Cassia recognises her as Kyra: [Minor SPOILERS for those who have not read Cassia’s background] her old friend and adopted sister.

“This is not good…I love it from a story point.” - Alex