We left our Adventurers having entered Eaden and meeting the Emperor, before they spent the afternoon passing time until the evening where they to meet with the Emperor for dinner.  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ This week’s game begins with the Party completing some errands before returning to the Emperor’s Palace and preparing for dinner. Being shown to the dining room by the Palace Attendants, they are seated closest to the Emperor who introduces them to the other dignitaries that are at the dining table. During dinner, the Emperor makes conversation with the Party enquiring to their adventures and giving some background to the Gogalla Empire. Jett asks why his Palace grounds are so bare, to which the Emperor answers that when the Palace was first built it contained a large number of garden beds, trees, garden ornaments and a hedge maze; however, during the Battle of Devotion these were destroyed to make way for the city-folk to take refuge in the Palace grounds when Eaden came under attack. It was declared afterward that from that time on the Palace grounds would remain empty for such necessity in the future. Catsi then informs the Emperor to her background and how she came to Primundu, as well as telling him that others had been brought here as well. The Emperor replies that he is willing to provide land for her and her kin so they may settle for Catsi’s aide in helping the Realm with the Heart Sphere. At the close of dinner, the Emperor dismissed those in attendance, informing those who were to attend the Council that it would begin within the hour. In that time, Catsi and Jett had a friendly game of poker, with Catsi winning the first hand, Lilliannes and Tados went to practice their performance once again with Charlemaines which was successful, while Calico and Bardryn spent some time together discussing the abrasiveness between them so far on the journey over a drink of Ale, with Bardyn ultimately relinquishing that she has become somewhat fond of the Drow. Calico, who does not drink, takes a sip of the Ale as Bardryn walks off to her room for the night. When the time came, Catsi and Jett were led to the Council meeting where they were introduced to the Emperor’s Advisors as those who were brave to bring the Heart Sphere across the land to Eaden. The Emperor then request Jett to put forth his idea of using the Sphere to draw Gareth out of his stronghold, to which Jett details his plan to keep the Sphere covered until they can find a place where they may battle Gareth to their advantage. This brings concern from the Military Advisor who informs that the Empire cannot afford to sustain a war at this time due to the loss in produce from the land dying as a result of the Heart Sphere being displaced, and the great cost involved in transporting a large army across the Realm. Jett responds that a war is coming no matter what and with the Religious Item that they have been given to take the place of the Heart Sphere, the land will begin to return to its luster, and they can postpone the war for a few months until resources are able to be gathered. The Ambar Guild member that is in attendance at the meeting, a Half-Elf named Simtharal, informs that they are unable to gauge how long that would take, but assumes it would be at least six months before the everything returns to normal. The Religious Item will only last for six-months, to which Simtharal requests that they use the Heart Sphere for a time and then replace it with the Religious Item while they use the Sphere to draw Gareth out of his stronghold. Reluctantly, Jett agrees and a plan is established to use the Sphere to have things return to normal so crops can be harvested once more and resources can be regathered to support the cost of the war to come. The Meeting is dismissed with Simtharal requesting Jett and Catsi to bring the Sphere and the Reliquary with them in the morning to the docks so they can convey it to the Ambar Tower. Come the next morning the Party gather together to head down to breakfast with the Emperor, though they notice that they are missing a Drow member of their party. Checking his room, they see that it has not been used overnight, with the bed still made, though his gear is still in the room. Believing that he may have gone off to spend time at a Temple they decide to split up and find him as he has the Reliquary they need for the Amber Tower. Making their way downstairs to exit the Palace, the doors open and an exhausted and dishevelled Calico enters the Palace. Questions are asked to which he replies that a drunken night ended in sexual revelry at a promiscuous gathering of Sune worshippers. Surprised and somewhat admiring of the Drow they make their way to their morning meal with the Emperor before heading down to the Docks where they meet with Simtharal and begin the final leg to the Ambar Tower.