The Leviathan Returns: The Binding Ritual
Location: The H.E.L.M., The Moon's Orbit
Zavala, Eris Morn, and Empress Caiatl stand at the viewport of the H.E.L.M. and gaze at the Leviathan.
Eris Morn: The lunar Pyramid stirs to the Leviathan's call. It manifests our deepest regrets. They wear familiar faces and speak with familiar voices.
Empress Caiatl: Remember your last advisor, Zavala.
Empress Caiatl indicates Eris Morn with a jerk of her head.
Empress Caiatl: You trust this one's judgment?
Eris Morn: I can bind these Nightmares to us, grant us safe passage through the ship.
Empress Caiatl: Hive Magic. You would doom us all.
Eris Morn speaks to Zavala and touches his arm.
Eris Morn: I know what I'm asking you to confront.
Zavala: Do you?
Eris Morn: The rules have bent around us. We must also bend.
Empress Caiatl: Madness. Your witchcraft plays right into my father's hands. Find someone else for your ritual.
Eris Morn: Your regrets will follow you, Empress. Let me offer protection.
Empress Caiatl slams her fist against her chestplate.
Empress Caiatl: [grunts] My armor is protection enough. I will lead the charge. You need only follow.
Zavala and Eris Morn nod to each other.
Location: Wing of the Haunted, The H.E.L.M.
Eris Morn, Zavala, Crow, and the Guardian participate in a ritual in front of the Crown of Sorrow.
Eris Morn: No matter what happens, do not break the circle.
Eris Morn holds out the Nightmare Harvester.
Eris Morn: This will anchor our offerings. Now, tithe your weights to the Crown.
Eris Morn offers her Ahamkara bone.
Zavala: My heart… from a time long past.
Zavala offers Safiyah's crochet hooks.
Crow: My memory, from one life to the next.
Crow offers a cloth scrap from Uldren Sov's burial shroud.
Eris Morn: Song of Sathona, your words are mine to command. Vorlog. Aiat.
Eris Morn is lifted into the air by the Nightmare Harvester.
Zavala: Eris!
Zavala starts to rise and reach for Eris. The Guardian holds Zavala's arm and he pauses.
Eris Morn: Chords plucked in offered throats, find chorus. Echoes once dissonant, exhumed, find harmony in binding flesh. It burdens. It burdens.
Zavala: [groans under strain]
The Nightmare of Safiyah appears behind Zavala.
Crow: [grunts]
The Nightmare of Uldren Sov appears behind Crow.
Eris Morn: It burdens… until the choir relents, accepting. Aiat.
The Nightmare Harvester pulses with energy, and Eris Morn returns to the ground.
Eris Morn: We are bound.
Location: The H.E.L.M., The Moon's Orbit
Empress Caiatl is still at the viewport of the H.E.L.M. The Nightmare of Ghaul appears behind her.