The Price of Power

minor Active Sessions 7–14

Power and dependency, physical transformation, the seduction of strength, cost of supernatural gifts

character development

Description

For the first time in their life, Calum experiences what it means to be physically strong and whole. The cursed sword grants them the ability to walk without aid, to fight without weakness, to stand proud rather than struggling. But this gift comes with immediate dependency—the moment they release the blade, debilitating weakness crashes back. During combat with the goblins and hobgoblin, Calum doesn't just use the power; they revel in it, smiling through blood and flame as silver fire erupts from their strikes. The young lord who once feared their transformation now embraces it with disturbing enthusiasm. The question isn't whether they'll keep using the sword—it's whether they can afford to stop.

Timeline

Session 6

The Cursed Blade's Burden

Calum discovers the sword grants them physical wholeness but causes immediate weakness when released, establishing the dependency

Ambush in the Night

Calum embraces the sword's power in combat, smiling through carnage as silver flames and cold magic erupt from their strikes

The Chase

Calum wields the sword with growing confidence and command, destroying the golem with lightning

Session 7 "The price of truth is paid in blood and ash."

Session 8 "Beneath the paint, a crown; beneath the throne, a fall."

Session 9 "Divine fire sleeps within mortal veins, waiting for the season of storms."

Session 10 "False engagements, prison breaks, and spider attacks—just another week in Flower Bay."

Session 11 "Masks fall and blood rises as secrets older than the crown threaten to drown them all."

Session 12 "When the prison breaks, so do the chains of fate—and what emerges from the dark may burn the world."

Session 13 "When the hunter becomes the hunted, even council meetings become traps."

Session 14 "The truth beneath the throne room runs red with stolen divinity."

The Letter's Blade

Caelum summons Shadeful immediately upon receiving the threatening letter, the blade blazing in his grip as he races through castle corridors. The sword has become his first response to crisis—not his cane, not his guards, but the cursed weapon that grants him strength.

The Witness Ascends

Throughout the desperate battle with the Witness, Shadeful remains in Caelum's hands, channeling his silver flames and dark magic. When Lady Ruben's charm takes hold and threatens to render him useless, it's the sword that continues burning with potential, waiting for him to break free and strike again.

A Lord's Testimony

After the battle, Shadeful speaks mockingly in Caelum's mind about the fight and power, demonstrating growing personality and opinions. Caelum dismisses the blade as he approaches the council chamber—a telling choice that suggests he knows when the weapon's presence would be inappropriate, but also that he's become practiced in calling and dismissing it at will.