Booker and associates are staging an intervention to try to reconcile the Tender with the Traitor. Surely nothing can go wrong!

• Booker - Dan
• Bartholomew - Matthew
• Penelope - Tom
• Armand - Emma
• Francesco - Vicky
• Senta - Sally
• Aria - Chaos
• Simon - Cameron

WORK IN PROGRESS

With the puppets of Tuirrean wilting into mulch the sisters have another heart-to-heart. Bartholomew's honesty threatens to blow things up when he confesses to the the Tender that he believes that Booker and the Traitor may have attempted to deceieve her; at this the rest of the party jump in to alternately shush him or try to convince the Tender to accept her doubt and let her sister back into her life. Aria, still stuck with the effects of an earlier Alway the Correct Path, keeps trying to impress upon both parties the importance of Abraxis stabbing Alyssa again. Abraxis promises never to hurt Alyssa again; sanctified by Francesco's miracle. Alyssa says that she needs time to think about what she has seen and decide upon whether she is willing to trust again. She flinches away from Abraxis' hug but allows their hands to brush together for an instant and then both gods are gone.

This leaves the party in the middle of a wrecked village under a rain of volcanic bombs spewing forth from the blazing crater in the side of the Peak of the World. The warrior priests call upon their miracles to protect the surviving populace: Armand helps the villagers protect themselves from the flames and destruction, filling them with Lyndiss' strength and vigor, meanwhile Senta starts batting incoming boulders off into the distance with great swings of her spear.

Despite their assistance the villagers predictably blame the adventurers for the terrible misfortune that has (once again) befallen them, and chuck them out with all haste despite offers to stay and help rebuild. They make swift progress up the road to Acryn and soon everybody is reporting in to their various superiors/peers.

Senta brings up the appearance of Nice Lizard to the Warrior Church and they agree that she has first dibs at resolving the threat. It is pretty clear however that the rest of the church are beyond seeing Nice as 'in need of reform' and will expect a permanent solution. Their displeasure with Senta's leniency/lunacy however is much curtailed by the opportunity to watch her demonstrate some of Warrior's fighting techniques.

Armand talks to a civil service contact provided in a last letter from Booker. They make it clear that the cult intends to take possession of Penelope's body in the near future but will appreciate Armand's cooperation in making that happen. Later he speaks with Simon and makes it clear that he expects the Traitor priest's help in looking after his cousin's body in days to come.

Discussing the dispostion of Booker's gear, Aria gets ahold of one dagger, but as soon as Armand asks for one to be gifted to him and explains its power Simon vanishes and runs off with the rest.

Armand

• True Face of the Traitor Epic Tree
• Letter from Booker

Francesco

• Upholds a Geas upon the Traitor never to harm her sister again. Should this be broken before your ascension you can choose to levy immediate repercussions or wait for an appropriate moment.

Senta

• True Face of the Warrior Epic Tree

Simon

• True Face of the Traitor Epic Tree
• Most of Booker's daggers (confirm details with Dan)

Bartholomew

• True Face of the Tender Epic Tree
• Gains the Blessed Roots Quirk: This prevents any corruption of the Dragon Tuireann from affecting you as a result of taking root in an Ancient Forest. It will be withdrawn if you lose the Tender's favour.

Aria

• True Face of the Traitor Epic Tree
• One of Booker's daggers (confirm details with Dan)
• Letter from Booker

Booker

• Has become the Fire beneath the World, a lurking malicious spirit of flame currently recuperating from taking on the Tender's metaphysical wounds.

Penelope

• Though her body appears dead, her soul lies within, tormented as it attempts to bear the spiritual injuries of a far greater being.

Alyssa the Tender

• Is restored to full spiritual health, gaining the full capabilities of Ascendancy.

Abraxis the Traitor

• Is temporarily restored to health. Penelope's soul is currently acting as a surrogate to carry the Traitor's wounds; should that miracle be interfered with or her body destroyed then those wounds will revert to their owner.