Ok. So glad we have Nyra Story Update – Day 14, Midday Location: Verdant Hollow – Hidden Heartroot Alcove Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 21 / 21 Elemental Masteries: Water, Fire, Air, Earth You hold the Verdant Sap-Phial in your hand. The resin within is warm, pulsing softly like a sleeping heartbeat. You glance to Nyra. “Can this be used to commune with the Hollow? With the land itself?” Nyra hovers, her wings shifting green as she closes her eyes and tilts her head, listening. “Yes,” she says after a pause. “This sap was taken from one of the First Trees—before roots knew walls and before men gave names to soil. If you pour it into the earth and open your senses through the Codex, you can... hear the Hollow breathe.” With careful reverence, you unstopper the vial and pour a few drops into the roots at your feet. You kneel, placing one hand over the damp moss and the other on your Codex. The glyphs glow faintly—Earth, Fire, Water, Air—and then… something deeper. A deep rumble passes beneath you, not threatening, but timeless. A memory awakens in the land. You hear whispers of voices in stone and soil, fragments not in words but feelings: A great tree, once vibrant, standing sentinel for centuries before hollowing. A network of life, intertwined roots and fungal pulses carrying wisdom like blood through veins. The Echo of the Warden’s Vow: “Guard the balance. Anchor the breath. Bear the weight.” The communion ends with a deep exhale through the soil. Your Codex pulses. Codex Insight Updated – Verdant Hollow You now understand the Hollow’s “sleep” is a defensive slumber, meant to protect the Heart during eras of corruption. There was once a Fifth Root, long withered—connected to a Spirit Grove now faded from the world. If all four elemental glyphs are awakened, the Codex may recall the path to the lost Grove. Verdant Sap-Phial: Still has 1 use remaining. May be used again for healing or in future rituals. What will you do next? Return to the Grove Altar to awaken the Earth Glyph officially. Review your Earth and hybrid Weaves (new options may be available). Ask Nyra what she knows about the Fifth Root and Spirit Grove. Meditate once more with the Codex and remaining sap. Begin the journey back toward Windrest Hollow or another site.

Morning 36 hours and 17 minutes till end of Day 3

Official Vote Count Heavy (1) - Dice Not Voting (5): Heavy, Tig, Turin, Eddie, DPR With 6 alive, it takes 4 to lynch Day 3 Deadline

Turin knew you wouldn't let him down lol Story Update – Day 14, Midday Location: Verdant Hollow – Heartroot Depths Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 21 / 21 Elemental Masteries: Water, Fire, Air, Earth – Earth Glyph Not Yet Activated at Altar You pause, sensing that the trial’s conclusion hasn’t yet revealed all the Hollow’s secrets. With Nyra fluttering at your shoulder, you take a slow, sweeping glance around the Heartroot Chamber—letting instinct guide your feet. A gentle tug in your Codex leads you toward the far edge of the chamber, where thick moss and luminous ivy obscure a root-wrapped wall. Nyra glides ahead, brushing her wings against the vines, which shimmer in response before curling back. A low groan of shifting bark and soil echoes as part of the wall splits open, revealing a small, hidden alcove beyond. The air is cool and still within—ancient, but not dead. Inside, nestled within a natural cradle of stone and root, you find: Stonecore Pendant – A relic of the first Hollow Wardens. When attuned, it grants: +1 bonus to Earth Weaves Reduces physical damage taken by 1 (minimum 1) Rare: When grounded in meditation, may let you sense vibrations or approaching footsteps through solid ground. Verdant Sap-Phial – A vial of preserved ancient tree sap, softly glowing. When consumed: Restores 10 HP and purges mild poison/venom. Can also be used in certain Earth or Nature rituals to commune with ancient flora. Your Codex pulses lightly—the pendant is already beginning to resonate with its arcane circuits. Nyra flits above it, nodding slowly. “It knew you were coming,” she says softly. “This wasn't hidden to keep others out. It was waiting for you.” Inventory Updated: Stonecore Pendant added (automatically attuned to Codex) Verdant Sap-Phial added Codex attunement slots: No swap needed; pendant integrated into Unified Bond Earth synergy strengthened: Earth Weaves will now gain +1 potency baseline Nyra circles back to the heart chamber entrance, wings twitching. “That presence is still gone,” she murmurs, “but it’s left traces. Watchful, but distant. Whatever’s chained… it didn’t stir fully.” What will you do next? Return to the Grove Altar and awaken the Earth Glyph officially. Review Earth Weaves and new hybrid spells now available. Ask Nyra if the Verdant Sap-Phial can be used to commune with the land. Begin meditation here in the hidden chamber to attune more deeply. Leave the Hollow and return to Windrest Hollow or another destination.

28 minutes till end of Night 2. Drink service has ended. Would the gentleman in 1st Class please check his autocorrect

1 hour and 21 minutes till end of Night 1 Please put your seats and trays back into the upright position and prepare for landing.

Ok a quick chat with Nyra Story Update – Day 14, Midday Location: Verdant Hollow – Heartroot Depths Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 20 / 20 Elemental Masteries: Water, Fire, Air – Earth Attunement Complete As the echo of the final stone resonance fades, the Verdant Hollow settles into a deep calm. You turn to Nyra, her tiny wings aglow with a faint, greenish shimmer from the Heartroot's radiant pulse. “Did you feel anything deeper down?” you ask quietly. Nyra hovers, thoughtful. The roots overhead twist lazily, now glowing with a stable, healthy green. “Yes,” she says at last. “When the Heart of the Hollow flared—something else shifted below. Not awakened, exactly… more like disturbed. A hidden root recoiling from light.” “It wasn’t the Heart. And not the Sentinel you freed. Something else was watching us—something bound, waiting. It blinked out just as fast.” Your Codex pulses, the Earth and Spirit glyphs softly glowing. For a fleeting moment during the ritual, something Spirit-touched flickered in the deep. Now it's gone. Nyra flutters beside you. “It reminded me of the chained presence near the Cult’s sites. A buried echo, maybe. But this place accepted you. The Hollow knows you now.” She circles the Heartroot gently, and you feel its final acceptance settle into your Codex. A fourth elemental glyph has awakened within you—Earth. Codex Insight – Elemental Mastery: EARTH You have now mastered four of the five elemental glyphs: Water, Fire, Air, and Earth. Your Elemental Capacity increases by +1 EP. Earth spells and weaves are now unlocked. Hybrid spells using Earth can now be crafted with your Codex. Unified Elemental Bond strengthens—balancing across four elements. Codex Insight – Cult Echo A buried Spirit-Earth presence briefly stirred during the Hollow’s awakening. Codex could not identify it fully—its echo vanished too quickly. Possible link to the Chained Entity the Cult seeks to free. It remains unclear whether it was watching—or warning. Current Stats: HP: 26 / 26 EP: 21 / 21 (+1 from Earth Mastery) Elemental Strengths: Water: 13 Fire: 10 Spirit: 10 Air: 5 Earth: 10 Glyphs Mastered: 4 / 5 Unified Elemental Bond: Strengthened synergy bonuses across Weaves. What will you do next? Return to the Grove Altar and fully activate the Earth Glyph, marking your fourth mastery. Review new Earth spells and hybrid combinations now available. Ask Nyra more about the presence she sensed—was it the chained one the Cult seeks? Search the Heartroot Chamber one last time for hidden relics or clues. Take a moment to meditate and feel how the new Earth energy reshapes your Codex.

4 hours and 18 minutes till end of Night 2 Please remember to submit Night actions if necessary.

Cane

We do the thing Story Update – Day 14, Midday Location: Verdant Hollow – Heartroot Depths Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 20 / 20 | Earth: 9 | Spirit: 10 You step forward and place your palm against the Heartroot. The moment your hand makes contact, a rush of silent memory floods your senses—not words, but sensations: rich soil, growing pain, the thunder of collapsing caverns, a scream muffled by roots. Then… nothing. A long stillness. Centuries of isolation. Your Codex flares. The symbols for Earth and Spirit spiral outward, weaving into the Heartroot. One by one, the three trial glyphs—Seed, Root, and Stone—light up. The Heartroot pulses once—twice—then surges. Roots spiral down into the slumbering Sentinel, wrapping it in radiant barklight. Its eyes glow dimly as it inhales, the basin shuddering. Dust falls from its limbs. It rises slowly, towering, regal, carved from the Hollow’s essence. And it speaks—not aloud, but through the resonant field of your Spirit bond: “You have walked the trials. Not to conquer, but to remember. You carry no blade. You carry balance.” It kneels—kneels—before you, one arm placed across its chest, the other extended in offering. A shimmering shape blossoms in its palm: a Living Glyph of Earth, pulsing with patient strength. “Take this. You are the Verdant Warden now. Should the Hollow fall again, you will be its voice.” Codex Glyph Gained – Earth Mastery: Verdant Warden You are now recognized as a master of Earth. Earth Element Level raised to 10. You can now shape terrain, command growth, and access new Earth hybrid weaves. Earth spells cost 1 less EP to maintain. Unlocks Verdant Warden passive: When standing on natural terrain, gain minor HP regen each turn. Nyra flutters beside you, awe in her tone. “We should return to the surface… the Hollow feels lighter. As if it’s awake again.” The Sentinel watches you silently, then turns to the Heartroot once more and takes its place—no longer sleeping, but guarding once more. What will you do next? Return to the central Grove Altar and mark the Earth glyph. Ask Nyra if she sensed anything unusual deeper in the Hollow during the awakening. Open your Codex and review your new Earth-based spell options. Try to speak to the Sentinel again about the Cult or the corruption they seek. Use this moment of calm to meditate and recover EP.

5 hours and 17 minutes till end of Night 2

Down down down the road, down the hidden road Story Update – Day 14, Midday Location: Verdant Hollow – Heartroot Depths Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 20 / 20 | Earth: 9 | Spirit: 10 You step into the narrow crevice, Nyra’s wings brushing your shoulder as she follows. The descent is tight at first, carved through root and stone, but soon opens into a chamber older than language. A single pulse echoes as your foot hits the earthen floor. Light trickles down through unseen cracks above, filtered green. Massive root systems spiral along the walls like veins of ancient memory. In the center stands a great Heartroot, suspended above a wide basin of living earth. Its form is somewhere between tree and crystal, glowing faintly with life. And beneath it, within the basin, rests a figure of stone—not bound, but sleeping. It’s humanoid in shape, tall and earthen, with barklike plating and eyes shut in stillness. Vines connect it to the Heartroot. Nyra lands near the basin’s edge, voice quiet. “This… this is the Verdant Sentinel. It was once the Hollow’s guardian. Bound not by chains, but grief. Forgotten by the world above.” As you approach, your Codex pulses in response. The glyphs of Earth and Spirit shimmer. You sense that you may awaken it… but not by force. This being waits for understanding, not commands. Codex Insight – Verdant Sentinel Identified Earth-Spirit Construct: A dormant guardian soul tethered to the Hollow’s balance. Can be awakened through memory resonance or soul attunement. Will only respond to one who has completed the three Verdant trials in harmony (you have). What will you do? Approach and place your hand on the Heartroot, offering the resonance of your completed trials. Use Soul Veil to understand the Sentinel’s emotional state before making contact. Attempt a Spirit Weave to send a message into its slumber. Ask Nyra if she knows what broke the Sentinel’s will to guard. Step back for now and review your Codex or spellbook.

9 hours and 11 minutes till end of Night 2

Huddle up! Story Update – Day 14, Midday Location: Verdant Hollow – Memory Grove, Lower Altar Chamber Entrance Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 20 / 20 | Earth: 9 | Spirit: 10 You take a slow breath and step away from the open passage, lowering yourself to the mossy floor. Nyra lands gently in front of you, her wings folding like petals in rest. Together, you enter a focused state—your Codex glowing softly, channels of green and violet energy circling your body. Your Spirit and Earth elements resonate, weaving through the nearby roots and stones. You feel the Hollow around you breathe, not with air but with memory and meaning. The stone beneath whispers of weight and waiting. The vines speak in pulsing patience. Nyra rests one small hand over your Codex. “Now, your presence is known. You’ve listened. It will listen in return.” The meditation completes. A soft pulse emanates through the ground below. Something ancient—aware now of your harmony—shifts gently in the depths. Codex Insight – Elemental Attunement Earth and Spirit energies harmonized. EP fully restored through grounding focus. The Spirit below has acknowledged your presence as one of attuned balance. You are ready. What will you do? Descend into the hidden chamber to meet the Spirit of the Hollow. Ask Nyra what this Spirit may want from you. Cast Soul Veil before entering to sense its emotional intent. Mark this place and consider returning later with allies or gear. Review your current spellbook and Codex attunements before heading down.

We check with Nyra's cheat sheet Story Update – Day 14, Midday Location: Verdant Hollow – Memory Grove, Lower Altar Chamber Entrance Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 16 / 20 | Earth: 9 | Spirit: 10 As the hidden spiral of roots yawns open beneath the central altar, you pause, turning toward Nyra. “That figure in the stone’s memory... the chained one. Is it the same presence that calls from below?” Nyra folds her wings tightly, hovering close to your shoulder. Her glow dims slightly with a hush of reverence. “No... but they are connected. The chained figure in the memory was a memory itself—a guardian shattered by betrayal.” “What lies beneath is older still... The original Spirit of the Hollow. Not chained in stone, but bound in silence.” She tilts her head, antennae twitching as if listening to something you cannot yet hear. “The Cult tried to awaken it, twist it. But they failed. They didn’t understand it. The trials were not just protection—they were fragments of its own memory, preserved for a worthy soul to piece together.” Your Codex pulses again—less like a warning now, more like recognition. Whatever is down there is waiting... for you. Codex Insight Updated – Heart of the Hollow The being calling from below is not the same as the chained guardian shown in the Stone memory. It is likely the original Spirit or Heart of the Hollow, silenced and hidden by ancient druids. Completing the Earth trials has allowed you to awaken its path. The Cult attempted to reach it and corrupt its essence, but were repelled. What will you do? Descend into the hidden chamber beneath the altar and meet the Spirit of the Hollow. Cast Soul Veil to sense the emotional presence of the being below before descending. Meditate briefly with Nyra to align your Spirit and Earth energies before going deeper. Mark this place and return to Windrest Hollow first to gather allies or supplies. Ask Nyra what she believes the Spirit might ask of you.

Honey

Well that was easy... too easy?

Onto the Stone Story Update – Day 14, Midday Location: Verdant Hollow – Memory Grove Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 13 / 19 | Earth: 9 | Spirit: 10 With resolve guiding you, you step toward the final trial to complete your path through the Verdant Hollow’s sacred echoes—the Memory of the Stone. The trial site lies beneath a grove where trees bow low in reverence to a massive, rune-inscribed monolith. Its surface pulses faintly as if remembering your approach. Unlike the blooming Seed or the twisting Root, this place holds stillness—a memorial, and a warning. Placing your palm to the stone, the Codex flares and accepts your intent. Trial of the Stone – Complete “To endure is to remember. To stand is to protect.” The vision that comes is unlike the others. You witness the Verdant Hollow fracturing under duress—corrupted tremors splitting the land, while druids and earthbinders raise the great monolith in haste. Beneath it, something stirs—an elemental rift, raw and unstable. And beyond it— A shadowy figure wrapped in fire and void, bound in a net of flickering chains. Its gaze pierces through memory and time. You hear only one phrase: “Stone cannot chain me forever.” The vision fades. You are left breathless. Trial of the Stone – Complete +1 Earth Level (Earth is now 9) Earth spells now gain a minor fortify effect when cast in natural terrain. +2 EP restored from grounding resonance (EP: 15 / 19) Verdant Hollow Trial Progress: Memory of the Seed – Completed Memory of the Root – Completed Memory of the Stone – Completed Nyra perches on your shoulder, wings dim but steady. "The Hollow’s memories have accepted you. You’ve heard its Seed, Root, and Stone. Now it will awaken." Your Codex hums. The elemental glyph of Earth is shining—awaiting final attunement. A soft tremor pulses beneath your feet. Something has shifted deeper in the Hollow. New Objective Unlocked: The Heart of the Hollow You’ve completed all three Earth trials. The final sanctum awaits— The place where the Earth Glyph will be granted, and the Hollow’s Heart revealed. What will you do next? Proceed toward the final sanctum of the Verdant Hollow. Speak with Nyra about the chained being you saw. Re-examine your Earth spells to see the new passive in action. Use this moment to meditate and center your elemental bond. Review your inventory and Codex-attuned items before moving on.

Busy

We have a good think Story Update – Day 14, Midday (Cont.) Location: Verdant Hollow – Grove of the Root (Trial Grove) Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 13 / 19 | Earth: 8 | Spirit: 10 You sit in quiet contemplation beneath the canopy, your hand pressed to the cool stone circle that marked the Root trial’s end. The phrase echoes in your mind again: “The Stone warns.” You draw the essence of Earth inward, aligning with its grounded stillness. The Codex hums with quiet resonance, and for a moment, your thoughts expand—rooting into the memory network that binds the Hollow together. [Spirit + Earth Meditation – Insight Check Passed] A vision forms—dim, but tangible: A massive stone monolith rises from deep beneath the Hollow. It's etched with warning glyphs and veined with glowing channels of sealed magic. You feel a heartbeat pulsing faintly within, but it is not the Heart of the Elements. This is something else. You hear a Grove Tender's voice again: “Should the balance ever break, the Stone shall pulse to warn the faithful. The corruption will seek it, but the Stone cannot be unmade. Only through harmony can it be heard.” You snap back to the present. The meaning is clear now: the Memory of the Stone will reveal a warning or prophecy tied to the land's survival—and perhaps to the Shrouded Flame’s coming. Codex Insight Updated – The Stone's Purpose: The Stone contains a warning mechanism tied to elemental corruption. It cannot be destroyed, only ignored—or misunderstood. Completing the Memory of the Stone may reveal more about what is stirring beneath the Verdant Hollow. Nyra, perched lightly on a nearby branch, speaks gently, “If the corruption seeks it, then the cult may already be hunting for the Stone’s signal. We should hurry.” What will you do next? Begin the final trial: Memory of the Stone. Ask Nyra what she felt during your vision—does she sense the Stone’s pulse too? Equip or attune the Root-Etched Charm to your Codex. Check on any active Spirit/Earth buffs before beginning. Ask if the vision implies the Stone may also hold a fragment of the True Heart.

Such goblins Story Update – Day 14, Midday (Cont.) Location: Verdant Hollow – Grove of the Root (Trial Grove – Memory Vision) Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 13 / 19 | Earth: 8 | Spirit: 10 You kneel once more in the heart of the Grove, your hand pressed to the mossy bark of the great Rootheart Tree. Its essence hums with silent resonance. Though the memory is faded, you feel a lingering presence—threads of purpose still woven through its roots. Your Codex responds to your intent with a low, harmonic pulse. You reach inward with Spirit and Earth, weaving together a gentle invocation of memory. [Hybrid Spellcraft – Spirit + Earth] Echo Root Ritual – Attempting to commune with latent memory remnants in the sacred Grove. The vines around you stir. A warmth presses into your spine, and for a moment, your vision shifts: You see a younger Verdant Hollow, vibrant and untouched. The totems stand freshly carved, and a robed figure—a Grove Tender—kneels beside a sapling wrapped in ritual silk. Their voice speaks into the wind: “Should the Hollow ever fall, let the Seed remember, the Root protect, and the Stone warn. Together, they shall open the path to the True Grove— where the Heart still pulses beneath the soil.” The image fades, but the resonance lingers. Something has been unlocked in the Hollow’s trials. A deeper path—accessible only once the final memory is awakened. Codex Insight Updated – Verdant Hollow Lore: The three trials form a key to unlock the True Grove, a hidden inner sanctum where the original Heart of the Hollow lies. The Grove Tenders bound this Heart to the land to shield it from corruption long ago. Once all three memories are experienced, the sanctum may be revealed through ritual or resonance attunement. Gained Item: Root-Etched Charm (Spirit Trinket – attunable to Codex) +1 Spirit when in natural or sanctified spaces Once per day: Regenerate 1 EP when taking damage while in Earth stance. Nyra stirs beside you, eyes wide. “You saw it too, didn’t you? The first Heart… still beating, somewhere below.” What will you do next? Return to the Trial Circle and begin the final trial: Memory of the Stone. Equip or attune the Root-Etched Charm to your Codex. Ask Nyra if the Grove Tenders who created the trials still exist. Meditate on the phrase “The Stone warns” for insight before entering the trial. Switch your Rootform Synthesis stance or examine current buffs.

Does Nyra have clues? Story Update – Day 14, Midday (Cont.) Location: Verdant Hollow – Grove of the Root (Trial Grove – Memory Vision) Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 13 / 19 | Earth: 8 | Spirit: 10 New Passive: Rootform Synthesis – You may shift between Oak, Thorn, or Beast Root Stances during battle (1/turn). Each grants a unique buff. You turn to Nyra, brushing your fingers across the faintly glowing vines as she flutters gently to hover at eye level. “What do you think lies ahead?” you ask softly. Nyra doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, her wings beat once, shedding a shimmer of golden-green motes into the air. Then, she speaks—not in her usual teasing tone, but something hushed, reverent. “The Memory of the Seed taught you to awaken. The Memory of the Root taught you to become. But the Stone…” she tilts her head, wings folding close, “...The Stone remembers what was broken. It's not about growth. It's about weight. About truths buried so deep they shape everything above them.” Her voice trembles slightly. “Stone doesn’t forgive. It doesn’t change quickly. But it’s honest. Old pain… old strength… You may not come back from that trial unchanged.” She presses one tiny hand over your chest. “But maybe you’re strong enough now. Just… be ready to listen. Even if what you hear hurts.” Your Codex flares once in acknowledgement—resonant, prepared. Remaining Trial: Memory of the Stone What will you do next? Return to the Trial Circle and enter the final memory: Stone. Ask Nyra what she meant about not returning unchanged. Examine Rootform Synthesis stances and consider a stance attunement. Attempt to draw out a memory from the Grove for a hidden boon. Use Soul Veil to peer into Nyra’s emotions.

Let's take a moment Story Update – Day 14, Midday (Cont.) Location: Verdant Hollow – Grove of the Root (Trial Grove – Memory Vision) Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 13 / 19 | Earth: 8 | Spirit: 10 New Passive: Rootform Synthesis (Oak / Thorn / Beast Stances) You remain still, surrounded by the lingering resonance of the Grove’s memory. The ground beneath your feet is no longer just soil—it hums with ancestral depth, carrying stories in every root. You kneel, letting your hand press against the mossy surface, and feel it answer. Not in words, but structure, pattern, continuity. Each of the guardians you faced has vanished—dissolved into the green beyond—but their essence remains embedded in the grove’s design. The Oak-Knight’s markings are etched subtly into the bark of nearby trees. The Thorn-Dancer’s fluidity echoes in the motion of vines in the wind. And the Root-Beast’s presence is echoed in the deep, steady pulse you now feel at the Hollow’s heart. You realize: this was never just a test of battle. It was a lesson in identity. Form is not what you wear—it’s what you choose to shape. Nyra hovers close by, wings dimly glowing, and rests again on your shoulder. She hums softly. “They weren’t just guardians. They were questions. And now you have some answers.” She brushes your cheek with a whisper of wind-scented light. You feel a quiet pulse in your Codex—acknowledging the moment, sealing this memory deep within your Elemental Bond. You may now proceed to the final path: Memory of the Stone remains. What will you do next? Return to the Trial Circle and begin the final memory trial: Stone. Ask Nyra what she thinks lies ahead. Open your Codex and examine the Rootform Synthesis stances. Meditate here once more to stabilize your Earth affinity. Attempt a Weave Fusion using the Root’s energy (costs 1/day use).

you got 21 minutes to go. 21 minutes to go Wicky wa wa wa wicky wa wa wa 21 minutes to go