Mizugami/SessionTwentyTwo

16th Day of Resplendent Wood

Only by the grace of the Dragons and the actions of my classmates do I yet live. We tracked Amosa to that ice cave demesne we discovered what feels like a lifetime ago. House Ferem turned it into a manse in the intervening years. When I eventually control a manse, I need someone of Ferem Havelock's skill to create the defenses. They were amazing.

A death knight slipped into Amosa's estate and twisted her into a slave. We encountered them in the hearthstone chamber of the manse in the midst of a ritual to move it into the Underworld and change its aspect. The nephrack, ghosts, and lesser minions were entirely destroyed. The Anathema fled through a one-way portal into the Underworld. We were forced to knock Amosa out, but we did save her.

I say we, but I was downed very quickly after hostilities began in the hearthstone chamber. I only know how things ended because my classmates told me. On death's door, Morning Frost Willow was able to stabilize me. When it was all over, Captain Petris had to send down some men with a litter to bring me back to the surface. A suitably sturdy litter was rigged up for Amosa that could survive the flaring animas of all concerned.

We returned to Cherak early yesterday and thanks to Reflections, I was fully healed by this morning. The Satrap is still unconscious. Reflections did what she could for her and Seven Bounties Paste appears to have cured the disease with which she was afflicted, but Amosa will undoubtedly need psychological help when she awakens.

17th Day of Resplendent Wood

Amosa awoke today. Her intimacies have been destroyed by the death knight. Ragara Takar and I have begun helping her under the suspicious eyes of General Malkator. We've moved her to one of her estates outside the city to minimize questions during what could prove to be a lengthy recovery.

22nd Day of Resplendent Wood

I am not sleeping well at all. Alone in my bed, in the darkness, I keep replaying the scene in the hearthstone chamber. But for a moment either way, I was dead. A ghost would have killed me. I would have died. Not for some grand cause, not in some epic battle, and not as some great symbol, but because of a stupid ice cave's defenses and a ghost. Face down on a sheet of ice, not even 17 years old, all my plans and schemes for naught...

10th Day of Descending Wood

Amosa returned to the city today, as well as we could make her. She still harbors an immense guilt. I know it can't be easy. The Immaculate Faith teaches us that when Dragon-Blooded fail, it is due to weakness on their part and thus is their fault. I cannot deny the truth of it, but the powers of the Anathema are so great... But faith isn't supposed to be easy and neither is the life of a Terrestrial.

12th Day of Descending Wood

Of all people, J'hana is organizing a pre-graduation party. If I didn't know better, I'd think she was trying to cheer up Kazuki. He's taking what happened worse than me, I believe. I can't complain about the clinic he's opened in the Glittering Smoke District, though. In fact, I've had several shipments of supplies dropped off anonymously.

14th Day of Descending Wood

Kira's research and experimentation have born fruit. At J'hana's party last night, there were surly (not homicidal) snow goons serving drinks. She wouldn't discuss her methods, but the change in the snow goons was clear.

I think Kazuki is out of his funk now. He certainly had a good time at the party. As for me, I'm still not sleeping well. But I'm through wasting time. Any day, any moment, could be the last. So whatever I do, whenever I do it, I intend to throw myself into it fully and completely, work and play.

18th Day of Descending Wood

Satrap Amosa wishes to name us all Champions of Cherak upon our graduation. No one refused the honor.

1st Day of Ascending Fire

V'neef Tegraat was assassinated last night by a Second Circle demon. Crow delivered the news at breakfast. Tegraat and his Cheraki guards were all killed. The demon did not escape. The investigation is ongoing.

I'll have to keep a close eye on it. It was public knowledge that Tegraat was something of a mentor to me. He and his House had their own enemies, though, to be sure. A Second Circle demon indicates Anathema involvement; we may soon have another visit from the Wyld Hunt.