"Will do, Rose." Zaf said before breaking out the star map and firing out another death laser of the cosmos upon the worrisome centaur.

Action: Cast from Star Map a Star Bolt, causing Sanctuary to drop.
Attack: 23 Damage: 11 of Radiant upon Svathiruim.

End Turn:
TSB Temp HP gained for Zaf(if greater than 6): 2.

Zaf(15),Rose(14),Svathurim(13)(33),Nadya(9),Jasun(8),Jirel(5),Seraphina(1)

The Svathurim attacks Jasun, Jirel, and Seraphina

Jasun

Attack: 14 Damage: 23

Jirel

Attack: 27 Damage: 21

Seraphina

Attack: 32 Damage: 29

Zaf(15),Rose(14),Svathurim(13)(33),Nadya(9),Jasun(8),Jirel(5),Seraphina(1)

Sera grunts as she gets crit A*******AIN, then swings back.

Attack: 25 Damage: 18

Attack: 27 Damage: 13

Jasun uses Entropic Ward to have that attack against him at disadvantage.

The Svathurim is killed by Sera and now the battle is really over.

Area E9

This vast natural cavern is drowned in darkness. To the southeast, a ring of towering black basalt menhirs surround a great gaping pit torn into the cavern floor. Spiraling runes etched in white chalk cover the faces of the standing stones, which are painted with fresh blood. The bodies of two frost giants lie on the floor outside the ring. A border of countless skulls, both human and animal, surrounds the pit. A break in the border forms an entrance leading to the edge of the pit. There, a flight of stone steps carved into the perimeter descends into the abyss. The air above the pit seems to waver and ripple as if from heat, though there is no discernible change in temperature. At the bottom of the pit lies the single scale of a blue dragon.

"This may be understating things, but that does not look good." Zaf said, gesturing to the fresh blood and corpses. "While I can mend some wounds yet, is falling back and perhaps taking a moment to mend at least some of our wounds not an option?" He asked the others. "If so, I can expend what I can now for you Seraphina and Jirel, at the very least. But what strength I would have to channel such miracles beyond that, I fear I must leave for an absolute emergency."

Jirel would take a look over herself. Sure there were some cuts, but she was excellent in comparison to Sera. The barbarian would refuse Zaf, and Rose, for that matter on expending any reserves on her. She would agree for Sera's sake, time to mend and receive healing would be of most important at this time. The blonde would nod to the Owlakocra in agreement. "Taking time to regain our strength and mend wounds is a wise idea."

Jirel would offer Sera a potion of healing should she desire one.

Sera nods in agreement. "At least a quick rest would be...good."

"Are you alright?" Jasun asked Sera. "You took quite the pounding back there. If there are any gods of randomness or fate, they were not on your side during these last few battles. And believe me, I can relate. And, it appears, a few of my glasses have broken." he said, looking at the mess. "Oh well. Something to look forward to the next time we go shopping, wouldn't you say?"

"I am...pretty far from all right." Sera winces. "I agree, the fates were not with me the last couple fights. And we will definitely be needing to pick up new mimosa glasses next time we shop." She manages a slight chuckle.

Jasun smiled but truly felt bad for Sera. With no ability to heal himself, he simply decided to keep her company quietly.

CON 19
WIS 18

As you descend into the pit and retrieve the scale, you are unable to fight off the Curse of Eons and are aged 300 years and you suddenly feel like you need to get drunk in order to be sane. But you now have both of the keys needed to make Baba Yaga's Hut take you to the next destination, wherever that is, and one step closer to figuring out what happened to her.

Level up to 10.

End of Book Three. Reign of Winter will continue in Book Four: The Frozen Stars.

Jasun picked up the scale and immediately felt..strange. Older. Like a wave of radiation washing over him. And thirst. So thirsty. 

GET OUT!

Wait. What?

FOOL! GET OUT! THE CURSE IS AGING YOU!

This..could be a way out.

NO!

Yes.

For a moment, he stood there. Thinking. Contemplating. I'm aging rapidly. A..curse? Yes. A way out. No more voices. No more torment. No more..anything.

He let the radiation wash over him. 

GET OUT!!

No more Jezzika. You won't get me. You won't win.

GET OUT!!

He closed his eyes and let the angry screams of the Herald drown out his thoughts while he stood there.

Sera's eyes widen as she sees Jasun just...standing there and getting older. "JASUN!" she roars. "GET OUT OF THERE! NOW!"

Rose stands there in fear when she realizes just what Jasun was doing to himself. She’s unable to formulate words, not that it mattered though. He wouldn’t have listened nor cared for her callings, but when Sera shouts for him, she only hopes the blood hunters voice is able to knock him out of it.

Sera's voice jolted him. It wasn't Jezzika's He blinked. His heart pounded and his mind raced at hearing it.

You idiot, what are you going? 

No. This isn't the way. I know you want it to stop, to end. But..this isn't the way.

He turned, nearly stumbling, climbing back up. He looked at Sera - silent for a moment, unable to find the words to describe what he was feeling, thinking, or doing. His face was a bit pained, as if something troubled him deeply, but didn't want to share it with everyone. No. Not with everyone. Not with just anyone. He was done doing that. 

Instead, he showed her the scale. "I..found something.." he smiled weakly at her, as if it was the best thing he could think of to say.

His hands were shaking holding it, as if an alcoholic aching for a drink. Just a sip. It nearly consumed him. Such an overwhelming need. It was hard to focus. But the way Sera looked at him, he couldn't look away. He felt tired, and foolish.

Sera helps Jasun pull himself out of the pit, returning his gaze seriously. "Do not pull some shit like that again," she says, voice tight with a complex mix of anger, worry, fear, and determination. She glances down at the scale. "...Looks like we have our other key."

"I'm sorry." Jasun admits to her, and he meant it. "I had..a moment of weakness. For a second, escape seemed like..an attractive offer. But your voice, your scream..it snapped me out of it. I have to admit, at first I didn't know what was happening, but the overwhelming feeling of defying..her..even at the cost of my life, paralyzed me. I just didn't want her to win.."

"There are other ways to defy her. And other consequences to you dying," Sera says seriously. She rubs her forehead. "Ready to get out of this place?"