Manithan Vaanam

In-Game Time	29th Day of the 5th Dharan Cycle
Played On	11th of July, 2025

After the Lady Ambikadevi forced the party to reap the consequences of their deceit, the group leaves the blood-soaked arena into its rear chambers, collects their belongings, and are handcuffed by their respective guards. The guards then lead them through underground tunnels, which drive them towards the surface of Malai. As they walk the streets, they are assaulted by the stench of booze and urine mixed with the snow. As they walk the bustling city, they witness a street with two raised platforms lining each end of the road, topped by torturers flogging chained prisoners. Screams fill the air, drowning out all sounds of chatter from the previous roads. As they pass by the floggings, blood flecks them, and they all notice a raised flag of the Maaveeranam kingdom that flies indifferent to the cruelty. Eventually, they reach the gates. The guards lead them through rooms built inside the gates of ice, at last leading them to the exterior side, where they see their yaans and unconscious Nila waiting. The guards remove their handcuffs, remind them of their expulsion from the city, and leave them to their yaans. The party straddles their mounts and starts heading upwards, determined to reach the mountaintop shrine of Dhara.

After a few hours of travel, the sun sets, diminishing what little heat there was. The party slows; Haavani resolves to find shelter. However, instead of finding shelter, she perceives an old man far off in the distance, whom she points out to Shwari. As the group approach the figure, his long-flowing beard reveals himself to be a hermit. As they get closer, he calls out to them, asking why they are out at dusk. The group explains their hope to get to the shrine, which the hermit rejects, informing them that it is a two-day journey to the shrine. Bhavannan then asks for shelter, and assuages the hermit's hesitations. The old man asks the group to follow him, and he walks towards what seems to be a sheer wall of ice. Yet, as he waves his hand across it with manthiram, two doors appear within it. As the party walks in, Bhavannan stops and touches the hermit's feet with respect as thanks. The group walks into a hollowed-out cave furnished with a bed, sofa, a multitude of hiderugs and blankets, and a raging fire in the center for warmth.

As the party settles in around the fire, the hermit asks the party their exact reason for journeying to the shrine. Shwari responds, explaining her uncertain connection to Vasuki. Aadhi responds as well, describing the hope that Dhara may help Nila's condition. The hermit first acknowledges Vasuki's influence on Shwari, before asking Aadhi why she thinks Dhara can truly help Nila. Aadhi seems stumped, prompting the hermit to ask her why she truly wants to go before departing to his corner, leaving Aadhi speechless. Bhavannan lies down immediately next to the fire, and, as he rests, Haavani fully tends to his wounds, the two Soodamese in a mutual silence. After the hermit rustles through his items, he gestures Shwari to join him in his corner, which she complies with. As the hermit sits on the bed, Shwari on the floor underneath him, the hermit questions Shwari and Vasuki's intentions. As Shwari displays her scarce knowledge of it all, the hermit explains that Dhara's rage is central to his power, which must be the reason why Vasuki is interested in Shwari. Shwari quietly admits her inner rage and expresses her doubts about her image. They also converse about Aadhi and her ties to Shwari's rage. The discussion ends after he reveals his name: Rambunayan. He then expresses his need to sleep, and Shwari rejoins the party. Bhavannan has fallen asleep, leaving Aadhi, Shwari and Haavani awake.

As Shwari was conversing quietly with Rambunayan, Aadhi was watching intently, which she reveals as Shwari joins back. The twins joke about the conversation, but it turns heavy when Shwari ask Aadhi why she wants to go to the shrine. Aadhi explains her frustrations and difficulties with Bodhi, expressing that her life has collapsed so quickly and suddenly and her hope that Dhara could possibly fix it. However, she then apologizes to Shwari for her behavior in their life before, expressing that she does not want to go because Shwari is. The two converse about their previous life in the Neithal kingdom, leading Aadhi to apologize to Shwari for her past actions. Afterwards, Aadhi lays her head upon Shwari's shoulder, and, after a few seconds of amiable silence, Haavani interjects, asking how the conversation with the hermit went. After joking for a few minutes, Haavani brings up the need for an alternative weapon for Aadhi, to which Aadhi responds curtly. The conversation then turns to Haavani's dagger, and Shwari teaches Haavani knife-wielding tricks. After the teaching session ends, Shwari offers to clean the dagger for Haavani, as it had been rusting. After this, Aadhi goes to sleep, barring Bodhi from interfering with her dreams, and Shwari and Haavani stay up.

Haavani asks Shwari if she is well, and the conversation again becomes heavy. Shwari admits her fear of what is to come and then asks Haavani if she thinks that all people see is Shwari's anger. Haavani insistently says no, naming other qualities that Shwari possesses. Haavani also explains that Shwari can use her anger for good, and that there must be more to why Vasuki chose her. The two converse for longer, speaking on the matters of Malai and Ambikadevi. They also talk about Bhavannan's father and their mutual trust of each other. At last, they go to sleep, and everyone rests peacefully within the abode of the snowy hermit.