# Character State: ch-17

## Elara Vance
Location: The Heart of the Weeping Grove, Elderwood
Physical: Severe spiritual exhaustion; bruised ribs aching; Sigil on palm glowing faintly.
Emotional: Resolute but heavy with the weight of sacrifice.
Active obligations: owes Kaelen protection (Ch-17) -- UNPAID.
Open loops: [Elara & Thorne] Final confrontation over the Vessel artifacts (Ch-17) -- UNRESOLVED.
Known secrets: CARRIED (Ch-05--unresolved): knows the Great Blight is fed by the Elderwood’s own ancient roots — Oakhaven Council.
Arc: 85% -- Fully accepted the role of the Vessel, transitioning from a reluctant survivor to a leader willing to shoulder the forest's pain.
Permanent: YES

## Kaelen
Location: The Heart of the Weeping Grove, Elderwood
Physical: Minor lacerations from thorny vines; heavy fatigue.
Emotional: Fiercely loyal and protective.
Active obligations: owes Elara his life (Ch-17) -- UNPAID.
Open loops: [Kaelen & Thorne] Exploitation of deserter past (Ch-17) -- UNRESOLVED.
Known secrets: knows the location of the hidden cache in the Southern Wilds — Elara.
Arc: 80% -- Solidified his commitment to Elara over his own safety, shedding the last of his deserter instincts.
Permanent: YES

## Thorne Blackroot
Location: The Heart of the Weeping Grove, Elderwood
Physical: Searing magical burns from a failed channeling attempt near the Grove's sanctum.
Emotional: Fanatical and vengeful.
Active obligations: owes the Circle of Thorns a cleansed Grove (Ch-17) -- UNPAID.
Open loops: [Thorne & The Blight] Does the Blight serve him or use him? (Ch-17) -- UNRESOLVED.
Known secrets: knows the ritual to invert the Vessel's power — Elara.
Arc: 75% -- Decided to risk his physical form to tether the Blight to the Grove's core.
Permanent: YES

## Elder Thalric -- DECEASED (Ch-05)
Established: Killed during the initial Blight incursion while protecting the village archives.
Legacy: His absence forces Elara to lead without guidance, fueling her guilt and determination.

# World State: ch-17

## NPC Memory
- Grove Spirits (The Weeping Grove): AGITATED -- Witnessed Thorne's corruption attempt -- They are now lashing out at any who enter.

## Faction Attitudes
- Circle of Thorns: Aggressive -- Actively deploying Blightweavers to the Heart of the Grove to intercept the Vessel.
- Oakhaven Survivors: Desperate -- Relying entirely on Elara's success as the Blight reaches the village outskirts.

## Active World Events
- The Great Blight: Rapidly accelerating; the Heart of the Grove is the final threshold before total ecosystem collapse.
- The Vessel Ritual: Final stage initiated; requires three points of harmonization to stabilize the Elderwood.