01/25/2025
Atop Vyelga, Star and Scale sat and spoke with Cadogan, the King of Highcroft's father, who preferred to be called Rider.
The group entreated Rider to come and help his son, who was slowly dying due to some unknown ailment. The angel denied their request for two reasons: the first being that he could not simply step in anytime an issue arose in Vault, as it was not his domain to interfere with.
The second was that he was stationed atop the Scaleback Mountains in order to watch a nearby cave and ensure a creature within did not leave.
The creature of which Rider spoke was also the means of the King's salvation apparently, as he instructed Star and Scale to obtain a drop of its blood to administer to the King.
Rider claimed the curse slowly killing the King was not of Vad's making, but occurred when Valdina attacked the King along the Royal Road, allowing Hellfall to exert his power and authority over the King through their connection made by the magical manacles.
Rider also mentioned the manacles found beneath Cradle Loch were the remnants of a conflict between two beings known as Araz and Zora. He later referenced Araz as the "greatest of his order."
With this knowledge in hand, the group left Yofa the giant with Rider, and along with Ezekiel and May, entered into the cave where the creature Rider called "Seed" could be found.
Within, the group found Seed but also found a hydra, which they quickly took to dispatching.
After the battle, the group approached Seed and attempted to communicate with the creature.
Eden and Zeb discovered it was an innocent creature, childlike in how it interacted with the group.
An attempt to give it gifts was met with each gifts seemingly unwitting destruction. Every time Seed would touch an item, it disintegrated into dust -- even when a magical item was given to it, and the magic dissipated into the air in a rainbow of colors.
Zeb and Eden played a game of bloody knuckles with each other in an attempt to get Seed to willingly give up some of its blood, which ended up working.
Once the group had a drop of its blood, they debated whether or not to follow it deeper into the cave, as the creature seemed to wish to show them all something. They ultimately decided to leave the cave due to the warnings from Rider to not engage with Seed beyond getting the blood.
Back outside with Rider, the group found a second angel had arrived, named Ravaliel.
Rider and Ravaliel were discussing something in hushed tones as Star and Scale approached, with Ravaliel saying, "I thought there were meant to be seven of them."
Rider congratulated the group on obtaining Seed's blood, and wished them well on curing his son.
Yofa decided wandering into Caim would not be wise, but wanted to help the group further. He promised to wait upon the northern slopes of the Scalebacks until the group came for him.
Ravaliel flew the group down to the gates of Caim after Rider said, "Make us proud," which caused a visceral reaction from Ravaliel.
Left there by the angel, Star and Scale produced their Papers of Populace to enter the city, and saw Omnia in line ahead of them. She waved to them and promised to see them soon.
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