Fortunately for Ionia, the vanguard do not take long to follow their Mystrider escort down the valley where she is being accosted by Tiana and her rearguard. Confusion over Lysaedra's sudden turnabout becomes the topic of conversation and eventually, it becomes clear that the Mystriders fear Maaike has been infected with a sickness they aptly call "Red Mist".
After a great deal of discussion and Lysaedra's supportive interjections, Tiana finally agrees to escort them to "the sovereign", the only man in their world they feel can help. Jericho attempts to learn more, especially after realising that "the temple" is the same rocky structure he saw in Garnak's mind, but he can get only glimpses that mean very little.
When they explain that others are likely to follow from Elysia, Tiana offers to station a squadron of Riders at the portal so they can cross the Badlands and Peace Valley without suffering as the vanguard have suffered. With that, the escorting Riders whip out large tarps and tell the Elysians to climb in. They will be grabbed at the corners by the myst dragons, two per "sling", to be carried to the temple.
Before they can set off, however, another squadron arrives and flags down Tiana. Jericho translates as the two Wing Masters confer: They bring a message that their village is under attack. A large Malaki war party has commenced a raid, but the villagers cannot evacuate as they normally would because a number of their young have recently "bonded" and are thus grounded. Lysaedra immediately turns bright eyes on the Elysian vanguard and asks for their help.
The vanguard splits into two groups. Those who even suspect they are infected with Red Mist are told to go to the temple along with anyone who wishes to go with them. The rest are taken to Vynett to help the Mystriders defend their village.
A couple of hours later, the first group has been dropped off at the rocky structure Jericho described with only a pair of Mystriders to serve as messenger relays and quick transport should it be necessary. However, the harpies guarding the temple have refused them admittance, telling them they will have to wait for an audience with the sovereign until he is ready, so they have little choice but to explore the temple while they wait.
Note: Don't forget to worldbuild as you plot! You can now also create/join side threads to explore events through Chapter One to Three, or to finish previous chapter threads.
PCs will be added to this list as they join. If NPCs (italics) do not already have profiles linked and are not personal NPCs, you can make them up as you go and their listed vitals will be updated per chapter.
Aella Karakinos — Unaffiliated Ayad, blacksmith's apprentice (inactive, following)
Aiden Roy — Therian
Aifric Ramsey — Therian Cartographer
Faris ibn Alsyad — Purifier rep attached to LoP
Ionia Essytia — Skotadi representative, League of Adventurers
Kiel Taskel — Rutilus, League of Protectors
Maaike Sullivan — Therian scout, LoP-attached mercenary
Mortimer Jericho — Peteulanus, supplies & logistics, translator
Nimisha — Sidhe forest guide for unmapped areas
Captain Olympias Lysistrata — Apali, Varagoi, no-nonsense, stereotyper
Raphael — Djinn bodyguard and hunter attached to Ionia
Ninian Aedh — Therian enforcer attached to Jericho
Shane — Shadowkin attached to Kiel
- Explore the temple.
- Talk to various NPCs and learn what you can about Acantha, the temple, the sovereign, Garnak's whereabouts and the Red Mist.
- Ask the sovereign for the cure.
This chapter will end out of character at midnight (GMT) on the 28th of August. In-character, the events of this chapter will last one week.
Mysts can carry just one person (besides their rider) between two of them, hence the slings. Larger passengers or those with cargo may need a third or even fourth dragon to counter the weight.