*Fade in* Our session begins in the Emperor's throne room. During the parties talks with the Emperor Himself, a ticking noise could be heard. In a blur of motion, the doors to the throne room Burst open, and a familiar looking mechanical man rushed in. Before the party could even Draw their weapons, the assassin fell upon the Emperor, dealing a wicked slash across his chest, while several armed men, wearing the colors of Depar burst through the door. With quick action by Arcturus, pushing the assassin off the Emperor, and Helix rushing to his Side, casting his holy magic and mending the Emperors wounds. The party then took up the fight. Thôm dealt with wrapping the armed soldiers up in entangling vines, forcing them to melee him. The rest of the party was trying to tie down the assassin, they were able to deal a fatal blow To the metal-man. As the party started to clean up the rest of the Depar soldiers, Thom sealing The doors so none could escape, the party heard a familiar ticking noise. As they turned to the Assassin, they saw a hand cranking a gear, and shortly after the metal-man stood up again. After another grueling battle, the metal-man fell again, this time Arcturus using his family's sword and his shield to sever the head from the body. Again the party thought the battle won, and stopping to catch their breath, they heard the familiar ticking, and looked just in time to see the assassins hand reaching for the gear on its own chest, winding it, and arising again, this time without a head attached. Another chase and more blows to the assassin's now falling apart body, sent it clattering to the floor again. This time Thom taking his glavie and cutting off the gear,the proceeding to dismember it. With everyone safe, and the intruders dealt with, the party proceeded to lead the Emperor to his bedroom. After much praises and discussions, the Emperor declared that he shall give the party A fertile plot of land outside the city, to live as nobles. Thom, stepping forward, declared that He had no interest in living in his lands, and wished for a better reward, to where the Emperor, noticing Thom's southern bloodline, declared that Thom's reward shall be leaving with his life. As Things got heated, weapons drawn, Thom stormed from the room, not before extinguishing all the flames, telling the Emperor he has no idea who he is dealing with. After Thom's dramatic exit, and Arcturus was able to settle things down, Arcturus proposed another reward for his own, to take the Emperor's daughter as his wife and to marry into the royal family. The Emperor, while not dismissing the idea right away, came up with an idea of his own. The Empire's Expanse to the west has been halted, sightings and attacks of strange monsters and abominations had Not let the Emperors men get farther. He proposed that if the party could fix the issue, he would consider allowing it, if the princess was OK with it. The party, not able to decide on what to do, headed home for the night, to rest. Thom did not return for the night, arriving the next day at dinner, spending his time as an alley cat, roaming the city and being alone with his thoughts. The next day, Arcturus took Doc and Helix to Cyron's temple to ask the heads about the box, and what We should do with it. They came to the agreement that it needed to be placed under watch, and should Take it to the paladin fortress to the far north, Warrior's Hold. They would send 6 of their finest Paladins to transport the chest there. While they were at the temple, Thom pulled Finnick aside, and asked For a conversation. Thom proceeded to tell Finnick that he has been thinking a lot lately, about the situation at hand, and the people we call friends. And that now is the time we will need our closest friends, and for Our bonds to be strong. He apologized about the way he treated finnick before, and was not mad at him, even that he thought about taking the key and dealing it with himself. But he wanted to make amends and keep his bonds as strong as possible. Finnick blowing it off, and saying no apology was needed, and that he knows he was in the wrong, but he appreciates the thought. Thom walks up to Finnick, and reaching into his hobo sack, pulls out an extravagant black fur cloak. It is made from the finest furs, and has small bone trinkets, intricately carved, hanging off it. Thom says that in his country, it is taught, that when you wish to say you are sorry, you do it with something you make by hand, to show you put time and thought into your action. He presents the cloak to Finnick, and says that he wishes to remain close friends. Finnick takes the cloak and puts it on, agreeing to stay close, burying his face in the furs taking a big sniff, smelling soft oils, deep forests, and even the hint of Thôm's musk. They clasp hands and drink and laugh the rest of the night, waiting for the rest of the party to return. Arcturus returns with Helix and Doc, with a wagon and 6 paladins of Cyron, to take the box to Warrior's Hold. A stand off ensues, with Thom not trusting the paladins, or Warrior's Hold, and Finnick not waiting to part With the box, until he is sure that Lucas's wife and child were not in the box. Arcturus, and the holy men, tried to perform a ritual on the box to get some answer, but nothing came from it. Arguments begin, with no side seeming to want to give way. Over the fighting and yelling, a loud *click* can be heard, with everyone turning their attention to the box, falling silent. Nothing happens. Finnick then proceeds to start harassing the party,calling everyone all kinds of names, and several foul things. The box starts to shake. Thom catching on, starts to curse out Arcturus, calling him a traitor. Another loud *click*. This time the lock on the box fly's open, and long spindly black fingers begin to reach out, and then more, and then some more. The party takes a step back. The Lid of the box fly's open, and standing in the center of the chest, is a women and two children. Finnick instantly Recognizing them, and falling to his knees and calling out to Lucas's family. They stand silent and glare at Finnick. After a few moments, finnick stands up and proceeds to walk towards the chest. Helix grabs Finnick by the shoulders, and Thom jumping between them and the box itself, weapons drawn. A discussion is had between the party, agreeing that they want something. Finnick begins to walk forwards, as Thom puts out out an arm and pushes Finnick back, saying nothing. Finnick places a hand on Thom's back and saying "I'm Sorry" casts suggestion on Thom, telling him to let finnick past. Thom doesn't move. Finnick begins to walk around Thom, as he stands like a stone statue. That's when Helix walks up to Thom,and placing a hand on him, casts despell. Before anyone is even sure the despell worked, and could react, Thom broke out into a run, jumping feet first into the chest itself. With wails, almost of joy, the three spirit in the box shot out, and began to rapidly fade away. With Finnick screaming in rage, he rushed towards the chest, as Thom turned around. Their eyes locked, and time froze. Finnick screaming in sadness and anger, and Thom with a slight smile on his lips, and eyes that beg forgiveness. Thom takes one final, shuttering breath. The lid slam shuts, trapping Thom inside. Finnick falls upon the chest, crying out in anguish, kicking and punching the chest, trying everything to open it, his fingers Becoming bloody from tearing at the lock. He then turns to the party, and calling them all the foulest of names, demanding the party Do something, anything to help. "It wasn't his choice to make! The box wasn't for him! Why does Thom have to be so stupid, and never think ahead!" Finnick screams. The party begins to disscuse on the next course of action, when Finnick hears a faint whisper coming from the box. *Finnick* Finnick yells at the party to shut up, and presses his ear to the box. The entire party can hear familiar sounds of Thom's war cries, fighting, and the bone snapping and growling of his shape shifting, struggling against some unknown foe. He seems to be losing. Large wails of pain can be heard. Finnick calls out to Thom. The fighting stops. *Finnick* Again a faint whisper. "Yes I'm here Thom, I'm right here! Tell me what to do to get you out!" Finnick cries out towards the box. *Finnick* *Remember our mission. Remember why we came here* *Remember our destiny* Silence. Finnick calls out for Thom again, no answer. 10 minutes go by. 15 minutes. 20. Nothing. Finnick stands up, and pulling out from his pocket, he points the Chaos wand, and in a cry of frustration, fires at the chest. A large bubble blows up from the wand, enveloping everyone around, putting them inside the spell Silent. Trying to cry out in rage, but not able to make a sound, Finnick snaps the wand in two, sending a massive, but completely silent explosion, knocking everyone back from the chest with a shockwave. With no damage to be done to the chest, Finnick falls to his knees. In the silence, as everyone picks themselves up, the last scene we see is Finnick on his knees in front of the chest, weeping into his hands, not a sound to be heard. *Fade to black*
