WINTER SOLSTICE

WORLD CHAMPIONS

The first part will start with the Ecliptics dealing with a new Champion and logging it into the Champion Power Codices. This Champion will be a criminal that they are investigating but they will find out that this criminal isn't who they thought it was. He will in fact be a poor young man who is stealing around the outskirts of a village.

John, Aletheia and Shoshanna will be escorting a local official and his treasury. There has been sightings of a thief in the area. They are attacked but will subdue the thief and only then realize that the thief is a young boy. The boy has the power of Shielding. The young man is named Gabriel. They learn about his power to so Aletheia can log it into the Champion Power Codices. They talk a little and find out however that the boy is stealing for his uncle, who is using him for his own gain. 

The uncle appears with a crossbow and attempts to steal everything on the cart for himself. There is no official and it was a trick to find out about the Champion in the area. The uncle is angry but Gabriel at this point does not want them to get hurt as he looks up to the Ecliptics. He attempts to defend the Ecliptics but the uncle strikes Gabriel who is knocked to the ground. The three are shocked by this. The uncle then asks for any belongings from the three.

John pulls out a small coin case and tells him that these coins are special. He pulls out one and holds it up. The uncle asks for the case and John speaks a phrase. He says "Bolt", and the crossbow bolt is pulled from the barrel and comes to John's hand. The uncle is shocked and before he can act Shoshanna has grabbed her spear and knocks the bow and him to the ground. John asks if Gabriel is alright and the boy asks how he did that. John tells him that it was an Artifact as the coin shatters.

Shoshanna binds the uncle and they put him in the cart of the constable who thanks them. The Ecliptics had offered to travel ahead of the real official to discover the thief. The uncle shouts at them and Aletheia puts him to sleep. The three then look around for Gabriel and find that he is gone. The Constable asks if everything is alright but John doesn't mention the boy to him. John hears something in the woods but lets it be.

The three will then return to Selene and the Crescent Keep. John will visit Sam and inform him that he only has three Artifacts left. Unfortunately he has not created any more in a while but Sam will be excited about something else. He will show the group what he calls a Nullifying Artifact. It is a dagger with a lead sheath and a clear blade. 

He doesn't immediately tell them what it does but he will demonstrate it by asking John to hold out his hand. He asks Aletheia to remove her glove and put his hand over hers. Sam pulls the dagger from it's sheath and then touches John's hand to hers. Aletheia immediately pulls her hand away but John does not fall asleep. Sam explains that the dagger will Nullify Powers in a small area. It will also only work outside of the sheath.

Shoshanna is excited about the new item as it eliminates the need for other Artifacts. John will be quiet but then congratulate Sam as well. Aletheia will become deeply captivated by the dagger. She will walk to the window to hide her emotion at the fact that a world is instantly opened to her. The others will not notice that she is dazed by the repercussions of truly touching someone for the first time. The group will be interrupted by a guard informing them of a summons from the King. The group will leave but John will look back. He will begin to say something but Aletheia will interrupt and say that she will be right there. She will be looking out the window looking hopeful as a tear drops from her eye.

They find that Morgandy has come to Selene. Aletheia and Shoshanna will be elated as they have not seen her for nearly a year. This is because Morgandy had recently become the new High Champion of the Northern Kingdom of Istoria. She will then inform the group of an invitation from the Prince of the Kingdom of Istoria. The message is for the King of Selene and Aletheia to attend the coronation of their ally Prince Thomas of Istoria. The Ecliptics of Vailen are invited as well which is why Morgandy has come to Selene to deliver the message herself. The King of Vailen has been becoming ill and opts not to attend at the suggestion of his Council the Curia Regis.

Princess Aletheia will go in his stead with the Ecliptics accompanying her. The group will consist of Aletheia, John, Shoshanna, Sam and Morgandy. This will be the first time they will all be together in years.

GRACEFUL NIGHTS

They will then travel north to the capital city Lenore in Istoria. The group will pass through the border town of Grace that separates Vailen with Istoria.

The group will dine at a pub where they will enjoy each other's company and speak about the situation and their lives. There will be some conversation that will hint more about the dealings with Basildes and what he eventually learned about the goings on in the South. There apparently has been no word in the South about anything strange regarding the Ouroboros Gate after it was opened. Basildes, however, is skeptical that whatever happened at the Gate will come to light eventually. John and Aletheia will have a small moment and Aletheia will have too much to drink and become ill.

The next morning, all the characters oversleep because of their late night and must rush out to make it to Lenore on time for the coronation. This is when they will be confronted by the Warlock who had come to specifically challenge the Ecliptics. His power will be that of Illusion and will take them by surprise. They figure out the ruse and realize that the Illusion power is based on sound and more specifically the voice of the Illusionist. 

During the fight John is taken off guard by an Illusion and will be helped up by Aletheia, without her gloves and their hands will linger on each other longer this time. It is clear that they realize what is going on between them. Aletheia then unsheathes the Nullifying Dagger and the Illusions fade. Morgandy subdues the Warlock and Sam creates an adhesive that covers his mouth preventing further Illusions.

The Magistrate wishes to see him hanged but the Ecliptics convince him that they will take him to the Moon Temple. He will be locked away in Grace until the characters return from the Coronation of King Thomas.

John will then catch a glimpse of a strange man in a bird mask in a crowd before they leave and he appears to be watching them from afar.

HALCYON DAYS

They reach Lenore and find that the situation with the Rogue Warlock sidetracked the group enough that they miss the coronation. Thomas Dalton, now the King, greets them. The group apologizes for their late arrival and for missing his coronation but the King is courteous and states that it was a self indulgent affair that they were fortunate to miss. They find out that the Emerald King and Queen have also not yet arrived.

The characters are welcomed at the Halcyon Keep and the King requests an audience with Aletheia where he asks her to marry him. She is unsure at first and the King respects this because of the unorthodox method of his proposal considering King Marcus was not present. King Thomas tells her to take her time and enjoy Lenore for now. He invites the characters to the coronation fete.

At the dinner, the King and the Ecliptic's recount some of their earlier previous interactions. Aletheia is quiet and preoccupied with her thoughts during this. The King expresses his disappointment that the King of Selene could not join them. He speaks at length about how the Ecliptics helped his Kingdom deal with a Rogue Champion called the Ghost of Aedesia. The Prince used to moonlight as the High Champion of Lenore. The Ghost is the reason the King now walks with a cane since that encounter. He was saved by John and his team who helped him defeat the Rogue. Morgandy has since become Istoria's High Champion.

John and the Ecliptics helped to unite the 3 Kingdoms, Vailen, Istoria and Meridian by their High Champions. He would like to strengthen their alliance further. He then informs the characters that now that he has become King, he has asked for Aletheia's hand in marriage. Everyone is taken aback by this. He continues that he would like her to take her time with the decision. John is somewhat shaken by this news.

The ball commences and the characters are able to interact more freely. They discuss the goings on and Aletheia and John have a small moment to themselves on a balcony. She had been looking at the Nullifying Dagger before he enters. As they speak it becomes clear that Aletheia's confusion stems more from her feelings towards John. She is conflicted with now being able to touch people as she is had always put people to sleep with her Seal power.

The two are interrupted by the King who asks Aletheia for a dance. John is not his usual self but dances with Morgandy who asks him about his feelings on the matter. They all have known that they seem to be drawn to eachother. He is unsure of how to respond at first but then notices the Strange Man again and confronts him, believing him to be a threat. The Strange Man is collected enough to remind him that he has committed no crime especially not for simply wearing a mask. He also claims to have an invitation. 

This incident sparks a scene at the ball though and the Strange Man is able to speak directly. He claims to speak on behalf of the Empress of Gules. The King suggests that he is referring to the Empress that was killed nearly 30 years prior. The Strange Man informs them all that their ally, Meridian has been taken back by The Empress. She has taken her rightful seat in Helena to return Meridian to its former glory. 

 The King tells the masked man that if this is true, this person that is calling themselves the Empress of Gules has attacked a nation of the Champion Coalition. He says that this would be considered a threat and declaration of war. The Strange Man assures them that this is rather a declaration of Peace. He states that the Empress has requested a truce with the nations of the west and wishes to be part of the Champion Coalition.

He says that the Empress requests an audience with the Ecliptics that represent the Champion Coalition. The Coalition is invited to the city of Helena. The Empress wants a peaceful meeting in Helena as soon as they are able. The King states that this is a ruse, claiming that they are allies with the Emerald King and would have heard if an army had taken over Helena. The Strange Man then claims that the Empress' power is great and required no army to take Helena. He claims that the Emerald King has opted to joined the Empress's cause. He then places the blade of the Emerald King in front of them. The room is silent.

John then asks how they can trust the Strange Man or the Empress that this isn't a trap. Or that the Emerald King and Queen are even alive. The Strange Man states that he is just a messenger. They need not trust him but perhaps they can trust the words of the Emerald King himself. He then gives them a letter from the Emerald King of Helena detailing the situation and subsequent invitation. The Strange Man notes the Meridian Seal is unbroken. He then raises a small black ring and reminds them that both Vailen and Istoria have a history with the Empress. They have now been offered the same opportunity their fathers had been given. He then states that they would be wise to remember that or they may soon be Eating Crow.

Immediately crows begin to fly through the archways and engulf the Strange Man and swirl about the room. They then fly away just as quickly as they came. The characters then see that the Strange Man is gone.

STRANGE HAPPENINGS

After the guests leave only the main characters of the Ecliptics will be present plus the Queen Mother Lady Gwendoline. The characters have already read the letter and find that it is indeed written by Emerald King Zhunar detailing his relinquishing of the Crown to Anahita.

Sam and John are discussing that they suspect the Strange Man seems to be a Champion that can control animals. This is something they have seen before. The main characters believe that the Empress not only has powers but could have other Champions in her employ. They don't know what their powers are but despite this, John and Sam realize they have an advantage in the Nullifying Artifact.

The Empress it seems is not only a very powerful Champion but the King claims to have joined the Empress of his own volition. The King believes her to be the true Empress of Gules. His description matches that of the late Empress from nearly 30 years ago. Fire Red hair and pale skin. Aletheia is intrigued by this. The letter states of the Empress's intention of joining the Champion Coalition as a truce between nations. They would be wise to come and learn of her intentions for themselves as they would seem to benefit all Kingdoms of the West.

The characters discuss going as the King and Lady Gwen believe that it is a ploy to get the High Champions in one place. Everyone agrees that the letter, it would seem, means little under the circumstances. King Thomas believes that the Emerald King was simply force to write the letter under threat of the Empress. It could be an effort to bring the Coalition into a trap. The Empress must somehow be threatening him into cooperating. 

The Sisters suggest the Empress' actions would necessitate a counterattack. She has made the first move by attacking a nation of the Coalition. Aletheia feels that even if the King was forced to write the letter, they should find out more before they set upon attacking a potentially powerful enemy.

John agrees and states that regardless of it being a trap, they should meet the Empress directly. He suggests they go to Meridian at her invitation. The other characters are initially unsure of this. John defends this by stating that she could have tricked them into coming somehow but she didn't. They were invited to discuss the terms of peace even after the Empress has admitted to taking over Meridian. She could have had the element of surprise but she instead told them straight out of what she had done. Why would she do that.

Considering that Helena is now under the rule of the Empress, they should find out what state the King and Queen are in and what they can do to help them first. Meridian is their ally and The Emerald King is part of the Champion Coalition. The Ecliptics consider themselves capable of handling the situation if it goes awry and decide to go to Meridian. The King is not entirely convinced and asks what the Ecliptics plan to do if it is a trap.

John then states that they have a trump card. He asks the King to use his Aeromancy power to blow out a candle. The King is confused but Aletheia insists that it is for a purpose. The King does so and John then pulls out the Nullifying Dagger and thrusts it into a table. John asks The King to use his power again but it doesn't work. King Thomas is confused but Sam explains that the Dagger blocks powers.

Whatever power the Empress used to defeat the Emerald King, she would be unable to use it if they have the Nullifying Dagger. The King is impressed and asks John and Morgandy, the High Champions, what they think. They look to each other and nod. John indicates that they will go to Meridian. The King will organize his forces in Istoria as a precaution while the Ecliptics will find out about the situation in Meridian. The King knows that it is futile to ask Aletheia not to go and tells her to please be careful. He begins to ask John to keep her safe but John informs him that she doesn't need protecting but he will make sure that all of their friends make it back safely. The Ecliptics then head to Meridian.