We use the magic Thorn Story Update – Morning, Day 14 (Cont.) Location: Verdant Hollow – Spirit Convergence Glade Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 17 / 17 | Fatigue: Rested Codex Attunement: Unified Elemental Bond | Soulmark Token | Binding Bloom Sigil Elemental Strengths: Water 13 | Fire 10 | Spirit 10 | Earth 4 | Air 5 You reach for the Memory Thorn, now resonating faintly with your emotional clarity. The glade quiets. You press the sharpened point to your palm—not to draw pain, but intention. A pulse of Spirit threads from the Thorn into the ground. The roots recoil, then tremble… then part. The grove shifts. Vines fall away from a moss-coated spiral stair, sinking into a hollow chamber below. Golden pollen drifts upward like reverse snowfall. The Heart is stirring. Nyra exhales. “You did it.” The Heart of the Hollow awakens… You descend. At the base lies a great core of bark-wrapped crystal, fractured in places and weeping faint green light. This is not the Heart of the Elements—but a Fragmented Heart, one bound to Verdant Hollow alone. A shard of natural soul. The Codex flashes: Codex Insight Unlocked – Heartbonded Groves These lesser hearts are spirit-anchors, formed when ancient groves awaken. They can die… or heal. This one has been wounded by echo-poisoning and needs restoration. A successful binding will strengthen the land and yield powerful rewards. You step closer. “Are you the one who listens?” a voice asks—raw and sorrowful. “I remember fire. I remember pain. What do you bring to mend me?” What would you like to do? Offer a Hybrid Spell: Veilbrand Surge (Water + Fire + Spirit) – overwhelming restoration Channel Spirit + Water into a custom weave to soothe the Heart gently Speak to the Heart, sharing your journey and your burden Place the Binding Bloom Sigil directly against the fractured core Ask Nyra to help—you’ll both reach the Heart together

Or calling to check on their extended Temple warranty

Loan

I even make siggys on my phone lol

We actually watched a couple of the 90s action movies yesterday. Turns out a lot of them are on Disney Plus. We watched Armageddon, where Bruce (not a cop) saves the world from the giant meteor. And then we watched The Rock, that I thought was about a prison break but is actually about stopping a biological attack.

Yeah we got the thing so I think it might be a good idea to use it. Tbh I'm just glad it's not jumping about this time lol

Oh me too. I thought I would hate it, but then I absolutely loved it.

We're just about to start a new game, so if anyone would like to play along, in the Spectator Chat, you you need to PM the Mod. This time it's @keyholder21. One of the Golden Rules of Mafia is that we're not allowed to talk about a current game, unless we're a player in the active game Chat, or we have a special PM or Discord chat. I'm going to be Key's back up player, so if anyone would like to do a Ridealong with me, just PM Key and she'll be able to arrange that too. We do hope to see some new players having a go 💙

I thoroughly recommend the ease and speed of having any team chats in Discord. It's so quick and easy and I'm super grateful to @Darthe for showing us how it works 💙

This is the DM discord https://discord.gg/HnD6B72 During onboarding, and anytime new or old users go on Discord, they can now select this role - without having to bug Sinister to add it to you directly - to access the Mafia Discord channel on DM's discord.

We meditate and up our Spirit game Story Update – Morning, Day 14 (Cont.) Location: Verdant Hollow – Spirit Convergence Glade Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 17 / 17 | Fatigue: Rested Codex Attunement: Unified Elemental Bond | Soulmark Token | Binding Bloom Sigil Elemental Strengths: Water 13 | Fire 10 | Spirit 10 | Earth 4 | Air 5 You settle cross-legged amid the gently pulsing roots, letting your breath fall into rhythm with the Hollow’s thrum. The spiritual pressure here is rich—woven through centuries of growth, sorrow, and memory. You activate the Soulmark Token, and your Codex responds with a flicker of resonance. Around you, the trees whisper forgotten names. Nyra sits nearby, eyes closed, feathers slightly flared. The Binding Bloom Sigil pulses at your side. You allow the Spirit energy to wash over you. Codex Meditation Complete – Spirit Resonance Enhanced Spirit Attunement slightly increased for the upcoming trial The next Spirit-based interaction or hybrid weave gains an empathy bonus, improving clarity and control The Memory Thorn is now attuned to your current emotional state – you may guide it more precisely A warden’s whisper drifts to your thoughts: “The Heart sleeps in grief. If you carry clarity, it may listen…” Nyra opens her eyes. “Ready when you are. Whatever we find down there—it matters that you chose to care.” What would you like to do next? Descend into the Seed-Core and begin the restoration trial Use the attuned Memory Thorn now to awaken the Heart gently Craft or prepare a hybrid weave using Spirit + Water or Spirit + Fire Speak to Nyra before heading into the Heart’s chamber Return briefly to Windrest Hollow for any final preparations

Dice is the hero we needed. He was OK to play as long as I promised I wouldn't lol. He thinks I'm evil or something

Car

Ok, we're gonna try to restore it Story Update – Morning, Day 14 (Cont.) Location: Verdant Hollow – Outer Sanctum (Spirit Convergence Point) Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 17 / 17 | Fatigue: Rested Codex Attunement: Unified Elemental Bond | Soulmark Token | Binding Bloom Sigil Elemental Strengths: Water 13 | Fire 10 | Spirit 10 | Earth 4 | Air 5 You step closer to the ethereal wardens, your voice firm but laced with compassion. “I don’t want to destroy this Heart… If there’s any way to restore the Seed-Core, I want to try that first.” The spirits pause—wind and leaves drifting as if time itself listens. One warden lowers their hood, revealing eyes that shimmer like dew on moss. “Then you must descend not as a conqueror, but as a witness. Her pain must be understood… not merely challenged.” Another spirit raises a pale hand, and a soft pulse flows into your Codex. Codex Insight – Restoration Path (Seed-Core of Verdant Hollow): If you enter the Hollow’s core with Spirit-weaving active, you may attempt restoration through resonance and memory interaction. You will face illusions, echoes, and the buried grief of the Seed-Core. Success depends on empathy, Spirit level, and Codex resonance. Casting Veilbrand Surge, Soul Veil, or other Spirit-Water hybrids may help reveal truth beneath corruption. A final warden offers you a fragile object woven of roots and memory-thread: Memory Thorn (Rare – Spirit Focus Item) Usable once during the upcoming trial. Inflicts no damage, but may “pierce” illusion or pain-based mental constructs, grounding the Heart in truth. Recharges only in places of Spirit convergence. Nyra touches your shoulder gently. “So we won’t just be fighting... We’ll be listening too.” Inventory Updated: Memory Thorn (1 use, Spirit utility item) What would you like to do next? Descend to the Seed-Core and begin the restoration trial Use the Memory Thorn preemptively to open a connection with the Heart Meditate to strengthen your Spirit affinity and Codex resonance (gain small bonus to restoration) Prepare a hybrid weave (Veilbrand Surge or a new fusion) Return briefly to Windrest Hollow for anything missed or to speak with Halwen

Fortune

Which one would cleansing be? Oh the ask how to restore it option?

Yay! Thank you @dicetosser1 Now we just need one more and the game can start. We need a hero! Who can take this last spot?

If anyone is able to play Key's game that would be lovely. She still needs two players.

Ok let's do a bit more talking Story Update – Morning, Day 14 (Cont.) Location: Verdant Hollow – Outer Sanctum (Spirit Convergence Point) Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 17 / 17 | Fatigue: Rested Codex Attunement: Unified Elemental Bond | Soulmark Token | Binding Bloom Sigil Elemental Strengths: Water 13 | Fire 10 | Spirit 10 | Earth 4 | Air 5 EP Regen (Hybrid Casts): Active You bow your head slightly and step closer to the spirit who last spoke — the one who mentioned the bloom and its pain. “This Heart you guard… is it the Heart of the Elements?” you ask, voice low, respectful. The air grows still. “No…” the spirit answers. “The Heart below is but a fragment… a seed-core planted when balance still held.” “It is one of many—used to anchor the Verdant Hollow to the great cycle. But this one… was touched.” “Twisted by flame not born of fire. She sleeps, but dreams dark things now. She may not know friend from foe.” Your Codex pulses — the Soulmark Token responding faintly to the warden’s words. This is not the true Heart of the Elements, but it is linked to it… perhaps once part of the ancient framework that maintained elemental harmony. You continue your questioning: “What corrupted her?” “The Cult… not with hands, but with memory. They sang to her from the deep roots. Lies. Pain. Echoes of the Shrouded Flame.” “And she listened. She believed them abandoned.” Another warden steps forward. “If you seek to restore the Hollow’s Heart, you must show her truth. Or endure her grief.” Nyra folds her wings quietly, eyes narrowed. “This seed-core may be the key to Earth’s altar. If it’s twisted… your next trial won’t just be stone and vine. It’ll be sorrow made real.” Clarification: The Heart referred to in this temple is not the Heart of the Elements, but a Verdant Seed-Core, one of several ancient “fragments” used to maintain balance in each elemental domain. This one may help restore or awaken the Earth Altar, but its corruption must be healed — or overcome. What would you like to do next? Descend the stairwell toward the corrupted Seed-Core (Earth Altar trial begins) Prepare Veilbrand Surge and other hybrid magic before facing the Heart Ask the spirits how to restore the Seed-Core rather than fight it Return to Windrest Hollow for supplies or to consult Halwen one last time Rest and attune Codex further to Spirit for bonus perception in upcoming encounter

We offer peace Story Update – Morning, Day 14 (Cont.) Location: Verdant Hollow – Outer Sanctum (Spirit Convergence Point) Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 17 / 17 | Fatigue: Rested Codex Attunement: Unified Elemental Bond | Soulmark Token | Binding Bloom Sigil Elemental Strengths: Water 13 | Fire 10 | Spirit 10 | Earth 4 | Air 5 You rise slowly, extending your palm once more over the moss-covered floor. Your Codex glows with soft amethyst light as you weave a gentle stream of Spirit essence, not to command — but to comfort. You cast: Soul Veil (Enhanced) Range: Wide (influenced by high Spirit) Effect: Calms lingering spirits, reveals emotional states, can establish temporary communion The mist thickens. Shadows retreat. The flickering echoes you saw before now take fuller form — five spirits cloaked in green and silver, their eyes hollow yet watching. They hover in a silent circle around you. “We remember... pain.” “The bloom screamed… and we failed.” “Your bond… it feels like the grove’s breath…” You gently channel the Binding Bloom Sigil, letting the faint floral resonance hum through your Codex. At the sight, the spirits hesitate—then bow their heads. You have soothed the Hollow Wardens. Minor Spirit XP gained Passive protection granted while inside the sanctum (reduces incoming Spirit or nature-based effects) Spirit-based dialogue and spells will resonate more strongly here One of the wardens steps forward and gestures. A patch of wall — once sealed by thick vines — now parts with a sigh. Beyond it, stairs wind downward, glowing with bioluminescent roots. “The path to the Heart lies below,” the warden intones. “But she is not what she was. She is still bound… and angry.” Nyra draws close. “They’ve shown you mercy. That won’t last if the Heart still sees you as a threat.” What would you like to do next? Descend the newly opened stairwell into the Heart-Chamber Prepare Veilbrand Surge and ready a hybrid spell before continuing Speak further with the spirits and ask about the corrupted bloom Return briefly to Windrest Hollow to consult Halwen before continuing Meditate here to restore EP or check inventory before moving forward

Foggy

We are one with the force Story Update – Morning, Day 14 (Cont.) Location: Verdant Hollow – Outer Sanctum Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 18 / 17 (temporary surge) | Fatigue: Rested Codex Attunement: Unified Elemental Bond | Soulmark Token | Binding Bloom Sigil Elemental Strengths: Water 13 | Fire 10 | Spirit 10 | Earth 4 | Air 5 You kneel among the tangled roots and moss-veiled stone. The Codex responds as you call on Spirit, its sigils glowing with gentle violet-white radiance. You press your palm to the ancient floor—cool, smooth, and faintly trembling with memories. You cast Soul Veil, letting the weave ripple outward. The world quiets. The light dims. Whispers emerge from the Hollow’s breath. “We bound it… to protect what slept below…” “He took the bloom. Made it scream. Roots poisoned…” “No rest—only rot and memory…” Visions flood your mind: cloaked acolytes burying a radiant seed beneath this place; a masked figure whispering to a glowing flower that weeps and closes its petals; a twisting of the garden into a prison of vines. You see faint outlines of lost spirits — former wardens. Their sorrow binds them still. Codex Insight Updated – Verdant Hollow’s Curse The Verdant Hollow once held a Life-Bloom, a sentient elemental flower of great power. Cult forces defiled and twisted it into a corrupted Heart-Seed to fuel their greater ritual. Spirits of the wardens still guard it in torment. Spirit-aligned weaves may soothe or redirect the guardians. Earth-based force may trigger unintended defenses. Your vision fades. Nyra is kneeling beside you, her feathers bristling. “They’re not gone,” she whispers. “They’re… waiting.” What would you like to do next? Follow the spiraled stone path toward the leyline convergence Call out to the wardens again—offer peace through a Spirit weave Prepare your strongest hybrid spell: Veilbrand Surge, and advance Set up a defensive weave—ready Water Barrier before proceeding Return to the surface briefly and reassess the entry path

We scan the area Story Update – Morning, Day 14 (Cont.) Location: Verdant Hollow – Outer Sanctum Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 17 / 17 | Fatigue: Rested Codex Attunement: Unified Elemental Bond | Soulmark Token | Binding Bloom Sigil Elemental Strengths: Water 13 | Fire 10 | Spirit 10 | Earth 4 | Air 5 You steady your breath and open the Codex, allowing its power to flow freely. As your fingers trace a weave across its glyph-etched surface, your attuned relics respond—the Binding Bloom Sigil glows soft green, and the Soulmark flickers faintly. The air thickens with hums of ancient resonance. The Codex unfolds a delicate magical scan, threads of elemental force weaving out through the Hollow like roots seeking water. Codex Scan – Verdant Hollow: Outer Sanctum Primary Element Detected: Earth (Verdant life resonance, deep root leyline) Secondary Currents: Spirit (Residual sorrow and memory echoes) Tertiary Signals: Water (Flowing through hidden channels beneath) Hazards Detected: Dormant seed guardians, earthbound and reactive to sudden movement Dense illusion fields layered through central paths (Spirit may pierce them) Pockets of unstable flora (release sleep spores if disturbed) Nyra narrows her eyes. “Something’s cloaked up ahead. Not just vines—memories too. We’ll need more than fire to cut through this place.” You focus. One path pulses faintly in your Codex’s vision—less overgrown, edged by spiraling carvings in the stone floor. Your Unified Elemental Bond surges faintly in response to the leyline. You feel a slight restoration: +1 EP. (EP: 18 / 17 – temporary surge) What would you like to do? Take the spiraled stone path – cautiously follow the leyline Attempt a Spirit-based commune with the sorrow bound to this place Use Aqua Surge to wash spores or clear a path through the dense flora Trigger a minor Earth weave to shake loose any hidden traps or guardians Wait and observe – let Nyra scout slightly ahead while you focus

If you've had chance to have a good look through our previous games, and think that you might enjoy trying to find out who the 'imposters' are, please do feel free to send me a PM. Our Mafia community is honestly very friendly and super patient with new players. That doesn't mean you won't get voted off or mysteriously killed in the Night. We love for you to come play a game with us.

Ok we're doing this. A quick sleep then off to the Earth Temple Story Update – Morning, Day 14 Location: En route to the Verdant Hollow Status: HP: 26 / 26 | EP: 17 / 17 | Fatigue: Rested Codex Attunement: Unified Elemental Bond | Soulmark Token | Binding Bloom Sigil Elemental Strengths: Water 13 | Fire 10 | Spirit 10 | Earth 4 | Air 5 The morning light finds Windrest Hollow draped in mist. You gather your gear as Nyra stretches her wings, silhouetted by the rising sun. Kerin sees you off at the edge of the village, giving a nod but saying little more. The path toward the Verdant Hollow winds east through dense forest, then descends into mossy cliffs. The air grows heavier with every step—damp, alive, humming with quiet breath beneath the earth. After hours of travel, you reach a ridge overgrown with thorn and vine. A vast wall of living roots coils across a stone arch: the Bloomgate. It isn’t just a barrier—it watches. As you approach, the Root-Etched Effigy warms in your pack. The vines shift slightly, curving inward like a breath drawn through green lungs. Nyra lands silently beside you. “We’re close. I feel something here… not just life. Memory. Sorrow.” You reach out and hold the effigy up to the Bloomgate. The moment it nears, the Codex pulses. A low chime sounds within your mind—roots twisting, a memory uncoiling. Codex Alert – Vision Triggered Attuned Relic Detected: Root-Etched Effigy + Binding Bloom Sigil Vision – “The Hollowed Grief” A boy kneels in a glade, tears soaking into the moss. Flowers bloom around him, pale and luminous. A voice: “Where you bury sorrow, the Hollow listens.” The scene blurs. Now the same boy is older, cloaked in ritual garb, laying the effigy into a knot of roots. “When the bloom weeps, it remembers.” The vision ends. The Bloomgate’s vines ripple once—and then part. You have gained entry to the Verdant Hollow. The passage is narrow at first, then widens into a lush cavern, lit by glowing fungi and streams trickling from tree roots above. The air feels ancient. “This place is... alive,” Nyra whispers. “And waiting.” What would you like to do? Explore the Verdant Hollow’s outer sanctum carefully Use the Codex to scan the area for magical resonance Attempt to commune with the Hollow itself using Spirit Prepare your spells and gear before delving deeper Rest briefly to regain EP and focus before entering