EP26: Pride

The party is compelled to choose: abandon their comrades or comply with the demands of a bare-chested patrician warrior who fights with chosen-level resilience alongside Constantine, another formidable chosen.

Despite the imminent danger of a skeletal retinue descending upon the weakened Fellowship, Titus manages to reach the tenuous reason of their host, Lord Lepidus Terentius Cavinius Zosh. The older patrician stands down, appearing more desperately lonely than hostile. Meanwhile, Weisa and Caepio Secundus depart the camp unchallenged — Caepio having left a reasonable facsimile of his tent to delay discovery of his betrayal of Borolas. A strange yet not entirely unknown power rises in Weisa, traveling along the spiritual line she established with Caepio by breaking bread with him, snaring the Death Tamer in a subtle yet powerful compulsion. The Fellowship reunites as Weisa and Caepio arrive at Lord Zosh's tent. With the Death Tamer as guide, the group comes to the field of mystic energy surrounding the presumed location of Jason Tenderheart's tomb. Titus impulsively crosses the barrier, drawing the attention of a being of immense antiquity — one before which Caepio humbles himself. The being rotates through the Fellowship, remarking upon core characteristics of each with an underlying thread of contempt for Titus, Merick, and Weisa. His assessment of Nilishli is neutral. Marcus's judgment is deferred. After this, the Guardian of the Tomb commands: make your case. The binding power upon Caepio begins to fade. The Death Tamer turns upon Weisa in a fury. The next few moments could spell disaster.