# Character State: ch-06

## Elara Vance
- **Location:** Foothills of the Earth Sanctum, Northern Elderwood.
- **Physical:** Persistent bruised ribs (winces when breathing deeply); mud-stained and damp from the Falls; eyes shadowed by spiritual fatigue.
- **Emotional:** Haunted by Thalric’s final moments; deeply unsettled by the corruption’s root-source; feels the crushing weight of the Sigil’s "debt."
- **Active Obligations:** Owes Kaelen a "debt of protection" (Ch-02) — UNPAID.
- **Open Loops:** Must keep the root-origin of the corruption secret from the Council to prevent panic.
- **Arc Progress:** 58%. Having mastered Water, she is transitioning from a grieving apprentice to a burdened leader. Traces the Sigil’s glow when making hard decisions.
- **Status:** Permanent.

## Kaelen
- **Location:** Foothills of the Earth Sanctum.
- **Physical:** Lingering cough from the mist; hyper-vigilant; hand stays near the Sunstone Shard.
- **Emotional:** Defensive of Elara; growing resentment toward the "destiny" that hurts her; fears his Seeker past catching up.
- **Active Obligations:** Owes Elara his life (Ch-02) — UNPAID.
- **Open Loops:** The stolen Grove map (Ch-05) remains a secret to Elara.
- **Arc Progress:** 50%. Has fully transitioned from potential thief to dedicated protector, though his loyalty is to Elara, not the forest.
- **Status:** Permanent.

## Thorne Blackroot
- **Location:** Elevated ridges overlooking the foothills.
- **Physical:** Pallid skin with blackened veins; tracing palm scars to draw blood for a tracking ritual.
- **Emotional:** Obsessive; views Elara’s harmonization as a personal insult to his exiled lineage.
- **Arc Progress:** 35%. Has closed the distance; prepares to use the blighted terrain to ambush the duo before they reach the Earth Sanctum.
- **Status:** Permanent.

# World State: ch-06

## NPC Memory
- **The Voice of the Falls:** Distant but favorable. The Blessing of Tides lingers as a faint resonance in Elara's spirit.
- **Grove Sentinels:** Expectant. They wait for the Vessel to complete the cycle or perish, holding the perimeter against the Circle.

## Faction Attitudes
- **The Circle of Thorns:** AGGRESSIVE. Scouts are actively harrying the foothills, using blight-vines to slow Elara’s progress.
- **Oakhaven Refugees:** DESPERATE. Faith in the Vessel is the only thing preventing total societal collapse under Mira’s temporary watch.

## Active World Events
- **The Great Blight:** RAPID ESCALATION. The corruption has moved from leaves to marrow; the Earth Sanctum’s foothills are "choking," with soil turning to ash.
- **The Vessel Ritual:** Stage Two (Water) COMPLETED. Stage Three (Earth) BEGINNING.
- **Current Objective:** Breach the blighted foothills and enter the Earth Sanctum.

## Canon Artifacts
- **The Sigil:** Pulsing with a soft blue-green light; heavy and cold to the touch.
- **The Sunstone Shard:** Hidden in Kaelen’s pack; acts as a beacon that Thorne is potentially tracking.
- **The Map of the Grove:** In Kaelen's possession; reveals a hidden path to the Earth Sanctum's rear entrance.