Snow Stained Red

Our session begins back in Ederia, with Talon addressing the people of Kingsford, acknowledging the cult menace and telling the people to hold onto hope, as Talon has sent his five children to fight for the people. He moves to pass out blankets and other supplies. However, in the midst of this generosity assassins strike. Many are cut down, and Talon uses his own magic to fight back. However, at the end of it Gareth Thornfield is badly wounded, and the assassins seem to hold back from attempting to strike Talon himself down.

Back with the King's Hand, Marik asks what each of his siblings plans to do once the battle with the cult is over. Edwinn desires to move his family fully back to Crown's Rest, Cailynn is uncertain but desires find a way to combine her two worlds, Xanthe speaks of becoming the queen and starting her own family, Marik wishes to become a legend in Ederian history, and Via is uncertain and chooses to not answer.

Marik and Edwinn take more time to study, Marik for the Thicket, and Edwinn in his necromancy. Marik mentions his concern that Xanthe will not respect their father's wishes should he pick another of the siblings for the crown, a fear that also concerns Edwinn. Edwinn asks Mark about his study of necromancy and how it makes him feel. Marik admits that it makes him nervous, but seems to accept it after some reassurance from Edwinn.

Eventually, Edwinn heads to bed and leaves Marik alone in the common room of the inn. Marik is soon joined by Captain Emric. The two soon chat, with Marik questioning Emrich about his own feelings of his role as a Drakar. The two find common ground, and grow closer in their shared view of their duty to the people Before going to bed, the two train together.

The next day, the King's hand set out to depart but find themselves blocked by the Order of the Edict, led by Kasya Y'Seraphil, Xanthe's mother.

Kasya attempts to use her clerics to get the heirs to turn around and head back to Ederia, claiming that their lives are more important. The heirs all push back, insisting on their course of action. Despite the threats of violence, they are able to reach out to Veskas who is able to use her own soldiers to arrest them. Before departing Kasya makes one final plea for the heirs to turn around, insisting that one of them was going to die, and that Talon "didn't deserve this".

Moving into the thicket, the heirs are assaulted by an oppressive air of darkness and magic. Edwinn uses his magic to light the way, with Marik trying to navigate them through using the maps provided by Draven. Each heir is assaulted by ghosts that speak words of doubt that try to slow them down and make them abandon their path. The heirs push forward though.

Partway through the forest, Edwinn uses his magic to raise a skeleton to scout and fight with them. The skeleton insists on calling Edwinn master, and seems to show more of an ability to speak and think than most undead who are raised. Gerald is sent forward as a scout as they continue on.

Deep into the thicket, the heirs come across a man sitting alone. He calls out to them and speaks of his business capturing and training wild animals to fight. The King's Hand holds their guard up, a wise decision before the man unleashes several vampire spawn on them. The King's Hand stands ready, prepared to fight and make their way deeper into the thicket.