Master Yugi Called Mervyn a Weed

# Session Recap: The Spirit and the Sword

Master Yugi, an ancient turtle who claimed the island as his own, arrived at dawn and offered to train Kithri in a dangerous technique—one that carried a slim chance of death but promised formidable power if her spirit proved strong enough.

Hello Turtle Man

Viktorin's dawn watch ended when a humanoid turtle peered upside-down through the skull's eye socket and asked permission to enter. Master Yugi introduced himself as the island's centuries-old inhabitant, drawn by the previous night's battle. He questioned Viktorin about the party's purpose, speaking in riddles and garden metaphors while assessing whether they walked a righteous path. When Marnok joined the conversation, Yugi pressed for details about the creatures threatening the world, eventually learning the party sought to dismantle the House of Five—ancient dragons whose combined power could rival the Calamity itself. Jack Sapphire emerged from his hammock to confirm Yugi's reputation as a capable if cryptic former adventurer, revealing the turtle had found them before Jack brought the party to the island.

The Troubled One

Yugi sensed something wrong with Mervyn, warning Viktorin that the artificer's ears and eyes were not his own—a weed strangling the plant that needed pulling at the root. The revelation sparked urgent whispered planning among the conscious party members, with Viktorin clarifying to Kithri and Marnok that Addison could see and hear through Mervyn, not through Viktorin as Litton still believed. The group realized Addison now possessed intelligence on their plans regarding Master Yussa Errenis's orb, conversations with the City Watch, and discussions about the House of Five. Sapphire absorbed the news grimly, relieved only that they likely hadn't revealed his true draconic form to the vampire's surveillance, preserving one element of surprise for the eventual confrontation with Yinra and Addison.

Three Days of Growth

Yugi offered to teach Kithri a gift from the Wild Mother, warning it would take days and test her spirit to its limits. Kithri accepted, leaving Dook as her only companion while the rest of the party occupied themselves on the island. Mervyn attempted to fabricate diamonds from a massive quantity of charcoal but failed when casting the spell scroll, though he successfully created liquid incense oil for Viktorin's spellwork. Litton explored the island's perimeter and attuned his newly acquired Hammer of the Tempest, while Marnok helped Sapphire repair and rename Vodea Phorus's captured ship to the Second Wave, a name chosen by Phaedra who would inherit the vessel once Sapphire reclaimed his own from Ska'Dreshan. Litton confronted Marnok about his suspicions regarding Viktorin, only to learn the truth about Mervyn's affliction and the need to avoid discussing sensitive matters in the artificer's presence.

The Spirit Ball

Over three days of grueling training, Kithri struggled to harness her spirit energy, suffering exhaustion and disappointment before finally manifesting a glowing orb in her palm. Yugi struck her head with his cane to test her concentration, and when she maintained focus despite the blow, he declared her successful. He explained the Spirit Ball could be used once per day and would cause exhaustion, but allies could lend their energy to increase its power—though they too would suffer exhaustion from contributing. Kithri marked her path back to the skull cave with golden spiderwebs of druidcraft, a precaution in case she failed to return.

Moonlight and Vestiges

Viktorin meditated and found herself transported to the familiar dark space where the Moonweaver's voice greeted her. The deity explained that scrying failures stemmed from targets' willpower, not Viktorin's inadequacy, then revealed a second divine presence—the Archheart, whose masculine voice joined the Moonweaver's in granting new boons. Together they promised Viktorin the ability to attune to the Moonblade she had carried since the Hofstetter Ranch, powers she would access through their combined patronage. When Viktorin opened her eyes, she discovered her necklace had transformed, three blue lapis gems now sprouting beneath the golden disc as physical proof of her awakened vestige.

Legends of the Calamity

Using Mervyn's liquid incense, Viktorin cast Legend Lore on Lady Kisara and found herself standing on an ancient battlefield during the Calamity. She witnessed Kisara—whose true name was Ki'Saraia, the Dark Frozen Winter—leading an army against forces supported by two younger dragons, one brass and one silver. The white dragon proved terrifyingly powerful, laying waste to everything before her while the names Salethar and Tho'Maeus echoed across the carnage. By battle's end, the two younger dragons lay injured while Ki'Saraia flew away from the blood-soaked field, a survivor of the Calamity and one of its most formidable combatants. Viktorin sent messages to Kithri's mother Vira, learning business was slowly recovering in Nikodranas, and to Master Yussa Errenis, warning him about Mervyn's condition and receiving a promise to research vampirism for a cure.

Ready to Sail

Yugi returned Kithri to the skull cave as dusk approached, gathering the party to acknowledge the growth he sensed in all of them over the past three days. He urged them to take what they had learned, blossom it into the world, and get to the root of their problems—fixing his stern gaze on Viktorin and Marnok as he spoke of pulling weeds. After bidding farewell and exchanging knowing words with Sapphire, the ancient turtle departed, leaving the party with a ship renamed and attuned, supplies restocked, and new powers awakened as they prepared for the journey back to Nikodranas.