Session 81

Vidh Zadhhas rather suddenly come upon some people who need help. Rather than help them himself, he hijacks the party's teleport to Nox's false lair, delaying their retrieval of Sors' body from Hedemora.
== Summary ==
The skyforged Bellerophon lived in the Athelion Observatory, a mobile observatory that could be stationed wherever the sky elves who built it wished to do their work. She had been stationed there over 1,000 years prior, her job consisting of taking readings and making calculations. She had continued to do her work the entire time she had been there, despite the sky elves having not been by in many hundreds of years. The observatory had been stationary for the last 800 or so years, and had been reclaimed by the land around it. During this time, Belle had spent her nights doing her work, and her days interacting with the local flora and fauna. 
Recently, though, an elven researcher had found the observatory. Julia Karamzin, a researcher, astronomer, and academic, had expressed interest in the work Belle had been doing, though she had also been surprised by her existence entirely. She visited Belle monthly for a year and a half, using a teleportation sigil in the area. The two became friends during this time, with Julia bringing games on occasion to play with the warforged. During this time, Belle also noticed that nearly a dozen stars had slowly begun to disappear, increasing in numbers while decreasing in frequency. It was also during this time that Belle began to have the feeling of being watched. 
One day, instead of Julia arriving, a small, glittering piece of metal appeared instead. Belle recognized it as a pin that Julia wore as a regular part of her attire. She knew it was the crest of the college she worked at, but finding it damaged as it was alarmed Belle. She attempted to continue her work, but the feeling of being watched intensified that night until a figure appeared in the room with her. They said that they were made somewhat uncomfortable by the fact that she had been watching them, but had noticed that her gaze had been noticeably distracted that night. Belle explained that something had happened to her friend Julia, and that she was worried. The figure offered their help, recognizing the symbol on the pin, and offered to take her to someone who might be able to help more. Belle accepted, and the figure teleported the pair away. 
They appeared in the bedroom of Izora Burnett, which both surprised and annoyed, though mostly annoyed, the tiefling. Belle explained the situation, and though Izora did not recognize Julia, offered to help Belle find her. She led Belle to the study, where she would stay while Izora made some calls. They would leave the next morning, leaving Belle to read and be alarmed by the fiction in the room. 
Bumble had become lonely since his human and his human's children had grown up. He had noticed, though, that the children in town were having more nightmares than normal. Some of them had even begun manifesting physically. Though the children were not his, he still felt it personally. The nightmares fed on negative emotion, but during one encounter with them, there was backlash and Bumble, a creature of positivity, felt mad. His child, now an adult and wizard, was curious about the subject due to Bumble's existence, but was unsure what was going on. He offered to get Bumble in contact with his old teachers in Mudwall, in particular Victor Zarius, a mage quite knowledgeable about planar magic. 
So Bumble took an airship to Mudwall, his meeting with Victor set for the next day. He spent the day with the local children until Edward Dukazel approached him. As the mayor, he was interested in the strange new person in town. He rambled on for a while, explaining that there wasn't a smithy in town because it got hit by an angel, and that he—no, not he, his father—had built the college. He then led Bumble to the college before wandering off to be mayor somewhere else in town. Bumble set off in search of the headmistress, but was instead directed by one of the students to Victor's office. 
That same morning, having rested and made her preparations, Izora took Belle to Mudwall via teleport. Having never left her observatory before, Belle was in awe of the things she saw along the way. A student recognized her as a skyforged and attempted to talk to her, but Izora, recognized and intimidating, scared him away. Despite the vaguely uncomfortable feeling she had, Belle followed Izora to an office. Though it was empty, she declared that "we need to talk," and a man teleported in. He gave Izora a look, but asked what her business was. She explained their purpose, and Victor explained that Julia had been doing some research for him. Bumble then knocked on the door and was let in. Victor read the letter of introduction he carried, and decided immediately that he did not have the time, patience, or care enough to help both of them with their problems. He informed them that they should instead help each other, and that he would obtain assistance for them as well. 
The party, having been moments from teleporting to Nox's false lair were instead transported to Victor's office. Brief introductions were made and an explanation given. Victor explained that the stars have meaning and power, and that Julia had been doing research on his behalf for a project. He provided them with her home address, suggesting that it would be a good place to start the search for her. Without much of an option, the group went off in search of her house. 
They found her home lightly ransacked; the fireplace was running low, valuables had been left behind, but no immediate signs of life. Upon entering, Ephemera stepped on a glyph, causing her to be launched into the fireplace. Concerned about more traps, Kiono began to ritual cast Detect Magic. While the others waited, Bumble offered the group cupcakes, which he seemed to pull from nowhere. Belle explained in more detail who she was, her duties at the observatory, and her friendship with Julia. She was uncertain of the observatory's location, as she had teleported away from it the day before, and hadn't left prior to that. Teer was impressed with how well-adjusted she was to the outside world already, especially in comparison to his own experiences. Bumble explained that he had come into being to protect his child, though gave no indication as to how that had happened or what sort of creature he was. He also described his encounter with the manifest nightmares and how strange it was that he had felt a negative emotion like anger.
Her spell complete, Kiono located another glyph at the back door and a magical onyx cat statue on a shelf. Belle gave the statue a pet, which caused it to project a depiction of Julia in a struggle with Vargus. He knocked her out just after she had managed to throw her pin through a magical gateway. They were able to find some of her notes, many of which had been burned in the fireplace, but some had been wedged behind a desk. The notes explained that Julia had been curious about Victor's intentions with the information. A group had reached out to her about her research, but had never shown up for that meeting. The party decided to go to this meeting location to see if they could track down any clues as to where Vargus had taken her. As they traveled, Belle attuned to the crystal ball the party had recently obtained. 
The meeting place was an alley on the other side of town. It was secluded and it was unlikely that anybody might have witnessed anything that might have happened there. While the party investigated the alley, Belle attempted to scry on her friend. She was able to see the elf in an underground ruin, unconscious but alive. She could see Vargus sitting nearby, idly occupying himself. Something in the darkness moved, and Vargus spoke to the figure. His impatience with having had to wait was disregarded, but his services might be required in the future. He left, his contract apparently fulfilled, and a green dragon in the darkness broke the scrying sensor. 
At the end of the alley was an inn. The innkeeper shared that the man in room seventeen had left upon the arrival of Julia in the alley. The party went to that room and found that it was indeed Vargus there. He fled, but was captured by Belle and Ephemera. He admitted that he had kidnapped her and taken her to some old celestial ruins beneath Auguste. His employer was large, green, and draconic, but he had no more information on who it was. Teer attempted to take Vargus' shoes, but the man swiftly took them back and left. Realizing that it was possible this dragon was Elizrae and that the situation might require them working together for longer than expected, more introductions were made, introducing Akaros and explaining that Kiono and Ephemera were two separate people. 
The group returned to Victor to update him on the situation. He explained that Julia was an expert in her field. She was able to use the constellations as a sort of map to guide her in her studies. He also explained that the celestial ruins mentioned were likely beneath the Blight Ward. The party mad preparations to teleport to Auguste to potentially deal with an ancient, very powerful green dragon. 
== NPCs ==
=== Introduced ===
* Julia Karamzin
=== Returning ===
* Aedon
* Izora Burnett
* Victor Zarius
* Edward Dukazel
* Vargus
=== Mentioned ===
* Hedemora
* Nox
* Elizrae
== Items ==
* some minor shopping to get the newcomers their equipment