Session0070

==June 22nd==
In the morning, Louche plays the psalm of enervation. Patches shapeshifts into a loxodon, which ends the mutations that he suffered as a result of the Earthstar.
Malkoth asks if anyone in the party can scry on Avourel Orion, explaining that he wants to attempt to summon Avourel with a gate spell, but wants to first ensure that he isn't protected by abjurations. Frog attempts to scry on him, but the attempt fails. He also attempts to scry on Dalestinn Sarmaris, but it fails as well. Frog deduces that there's either some sort of abjuration in place, or they're on a different plane of existence or otherwise immune to the spell somehow. 
Malkoth uses a contact other plane spell to contact Patches (Deity). He asks Patches if Avourel Orion can be affected by a gate spell currently, and learns that he cannot. Patches also explains that he is leaving the Star Road to take Tamrius Grimm to another universe, so Ice might lose his powers soon, and should probably return to his home universe.
Frog reports to Aristoadle about the party's success in the Underdark, and the two discuss the future of the Fable Bearer's Circle now that their purpose is essentially fulfilled. Frog suggests that the order focus their efforts on the rebuilding of Kameshima, and perhaps also on improving the circumstances of the Mycorrhizan colonies. 
The party spends the morning enjoying the festivities around Mycorrhiza for the ongoing celebration of the fall of Daimao. Frog and Porcini spend some time catching up, and engaging in festivities with some of the Kameshiman refugees. Frog also asks Porcini about Marcello, and Porcini explains that Marcello has returned to Sibillini with his family, but will return in the coming days for the festival. 
Later, at Louche's request, Frog joins him for a date around Mycorrhiza while shapeshifted into Israphel.
During the morning, Odell receives a sending from Grenfi Nackle explaining that Gragnok has gone missing, and that her divination efforts have indicated that he is in some kind of danger related to Avourel Orion.
Later in the afternoon, the party reconvenes at Mycelium Palace in a chamber warded with a private sanctum spell to discuss strategy. Odell tells the rest of the party about the message he received from Grenfi Nackle. The party discusses trying to contact Gragnok for intel about Avourel Orion and Thalien Omadithas, but ultimately decide against it. 
The party discusses their strategy for the upcoming battle against Lane Coronato, and they decide not to attempt to face him until after the next Prime Zenith. They also discuss their upcoming plans regarding the Morningstar's ascension. Odell uses divination magic to try to deduce whether or not she is planning to wait until the holiday Sur'noresh, on July 1st, to undergo the ritual. He learns that this is, in fact, her plan, but that she is willing to accelerate plans if it becomes clear that she doesn't have enough time to wait without jeopardizing its success. He also learns that Gragnok has been killed by Avourel Orion, and his ghost has been captured. As such, he deduces that the Morningstar now has access to everything Gragnok knows.
As the party is discussing strategy, Patches lights one of his magic candles, which transforms into a hot air balloon. He takes it outside and arranges with Boletus to sell hot air balloon rides to tourists. 
XVIII once again says that they're not sure if they'll be able to join the party for their venture to stop Lane Coronato, because they have affairs they need to put in order before they have to depart the world to fulfill their pact with the Raven Queen. Specifically, they explain that they want to go to Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's former keep to settle some affairs there, and then to Mimrinoth to visit their family. The party agrees to join XVIII for this trip, since they're awaiting the next Prime Zenith to confront Lane anyway. XVIII also asks Patches to use his divine intervention to create a simulacrum of them, which Patches successfully does. 
Their plans set, the party packs up their belongings and prepares to depart for Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's old keep. Malkoth teleports the party, and they arrive at the keep in the early evening.
Arriving at Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's former keep, the party is greeted by Berty, who welcomes them in and offers them food (including humanoid blood for XVIII). She explains that Valomir Quinn and the rest of the family have gone to Mimrinoth, and that she has remained behind to tend to the home, though she makes occasional trips up to Mimrinoth to visit them. She further explains that the paladins of the Raven Queen who had been monitoring the keep have now been gone for a number of weeks, and she thinks it would be safe for the family to return home now, but Valomir is still apprehensive. XVIII says that they can help by placing a magical ward over the keep. They also explain that the party will be headed to Mimrinoth next, and invites Berty to join them, to which she happily agrees.
The party spends the evening working on some repairs and maintenance around the keep. XVIII straightens up the library and leaves some books and other belongings there.
Later, XVIII and Jack work together to bury the body of Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel in the keep's courtyard, and Louche uses elemental magic to create a headstone for him. XVIII also prepares an empty grave for XIX, who was killed at Grimm Manor. 
Afterwards, XVIII begins casting a hallow spell over the keep - a process which will take 24 hours. He integrates Odell's rune of the Raven Queen into the spell, using it to prevent followers of the Raven Queen from entering the keep. 
In a private room, Malkoth casts a wish spell on himself to improve his bodily health and resilience. The spell is successful, but in casting it, Malkoth permanently loses the ability to ever cast wish again. Afterwards, he gives Jack the scroll of wish from the Luxturrim Obelisk, vaguely explaining what happened to him. 
==June 23rd== 
In the morning, Louche plays the psalm of mastery, granting the party expertise with the tools and skills needed to continue making improvements to the keep. 
As XVIII, who stayed awake all night working on their hallow spell, is working, Berty comes out and asks them about what they're doing. XVIII explains that the spell will ward out enemies. The two discuss XVIII's family and their plans, and XVIII recommends that the family stay in Mimrinoth for a little while to make sure that everything settles at the keep before they return.
The party spends most of the day continuing to work on repairs and maintenance to the keep. In the afternoon, the party takes a break outside, where Patches begins planting magic beans, resulting in chaotic magical effects, one of which results in Patches dying and having to be resurrected.
In the evening, XVIII finishes the hallow spell, and is no longer able to enter the keep due to their pact with the Raven Queen. Afterwards, XVIII asks Malkoth to take care of the keep after they leave for the Shadowfell. They also ask Malkoth to go to Grimm Manor and retrieve the corpse of XIX, and bring it back here to be buried. Malkoth agrees to all of this. 
That night, the party spends the night outside with XVIII camping, since XVIII's no longer able to enter the keep.
==June 24th==
In the morning, Louche plays the psalm of imitation. 
After breakfast, the party departs for Mimrinoth aboard Patches' yacht, bringing Berty along. En route, XVIII gives Odell the vial of water from the River Styx that they retrieved from the Shadowfell, and the two discuss the future.
Arriving in Mimrinoth, XVIII leaves their simulacrum aboard the yacht, then heads to a bacnk into town, where they deposit all of their money in a trust for their siblings. Next, they find Lo at the Circle of Architects, and ask her her to accompany them to visit their family. Along the way, XVIII tells her that Gragnok is dead, and the two discuss Gragnok and his relationship with Lo. XVIII also tells her that he knows about her pregnancy, and explains that their family will help her and Pepper take care of their child. 
The party and Lo arrive at the apartment where XVIII's family is staying. XVIII is reunited with their family, and introduces Lo to them. When asked, XVIII says that they are done with adventuring, and that they have a few more errands to run tonight, but that afterwards they'll be home to stay. They also explain about the work that's been done at the keep. The family and the party spend some time reconnecting and enjoying each other's company.
Off to the side, XVIII speaks with XXI, who is now able to communicate with them thanks to their newfound ability to speak with the souls of the deceased. XVIII apologizes for what Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel did to her. XXI insinuates that she is ready to lot go of her hatred for Dippel and move on to the afterlife, but he asks her to stay with the family a little longer. 
Later, Valomir Quinn privately confronts XVIII about what's actually going on, expressing some skepticism that XVIII is telling the truth about being done adventuring and home for good. XVIII briefly explains the pact that they made with the Raven Queen, and explains that they will be leaving their simulacrum behind to take their place in the family. XVIII asks Valomir to become a doctor on their behalf, as that was their dream, to which Valomir agrees. 
Louche telepathically asks XVIII about their decision not to tell their family the truth about what's happening, and the two discuss whether or not this is a good idea. 
As the evening grows late, XV and XVIII spend some time together alone. After sharing a romantic moment, XVIII ends up confiding to XV the truth about their pact with the Raven Queen, and takes him to the yacht and shows him their simulacrum. XV vows to find some way to free XVIII from the Raven Queen, and the two spend a romantic night together. 
Category:SessionLog