Episode 26

Viewing the destruction left in the room, the party notices that all the Byseilu clones that fell appear old and dried out, almost as if they had been mummified when the original also fell.

Orlix informs the group that he will be leaving Sharn for a period to recover from what he has experienced and consider what to do next. With agreement from Barclays, he organises to contact someone he considers to be his brother to come and run the Cog and Fresh. He says that he also wants to tell the tales of the party to people, but some of the party do not want their real names included in the stories.

The group begin to exit the building, remembering that the Arch Devil caused an earthquake as he took Byseilu away. Emerging from the rubble, the results of the earthquake have impacted the local buildings, causing both collapse and redirection of the lava river. Homes have been lost, people have been injured and it appears some have even died.

Amara returns to the Cog and Fresh to see Osei while the others remain to try and help the local residents that have been impacted. They organise to take the refugees to the Cog and Fresh for an immediate place to stay while a longer plan is worked out.

During the clean up, the group notices some rober figures watching. After some enquiries, they determine the figures are people in authority trying to determine how the event occurred and who caused it.

Thulrom and Gunner depart back to the Cog and Fresh first, trying to catch up with Amara. By this time she has already arrived and found Osei to be eating a meal. Osei confirmed they felt the tremors from the earthquake at the Cog and Fresh, but it was not strong enough to cause damage. Amara confirms they retrieved another piece of the prophecies when Thulrom and Gunner arrive.

Barclays and Rook decide to help transport the group and play a song as they go to lift spirits. Rook, rolling particularly well, impresses the crowd and finishes with a powerslide across the floor when they reach the Cog and Fresh, being thrown some coin as a thanks.

Now all the group are present and she is feeling better, Osei relates where she found the piece of the prophecy she had brought the day before. She recounts being called to the lake where the twelve floating towers of Arkinix are located. Osei found a set of magical locks which were powerful. She cannot say who put them in place as while powerful in casting, the magic itself was simple and so she could not determine an individual signature of flair. Osei spent two days underwater to get past the locks, despite the injuries it caused to herself through the environment.

Osei also relates that there are colonies of merpeople in the lake as well. They confirmed they could feel the magic, but it caused a level of fear among their people so they had not investigated it further.

The group disclose to Osei that they have the true name of a demon to control them if needed in future. Osei warns them against this path, telling the group that while the demon will have to complete instructions, they will find ways to plot ways to somehow break free from the group which may cause them harm.

The party now considers what to do for the next few days while remaining in Sharn. They are reminded there are places which will, for a fee, help increase some of their skill levels. Osei reveals that she has a place she goes to where she practices dexterity and escaping various forms of ‘locked room’ scenarios.

Osei opens up to the group that she was a pirate before being turned into a vampire. She was turned at Ilmeror Castle in the Fingerbone Mountains. She acted as one of their soldiers in effect, both undertaking piracy and increasing their ranks. Osei disclosed she escaped their hold and remains in hiding from her prior masters. While the group sees her true visage, she holds an illusion to those she does not know, so they believe she is human. The group assures Osei that they consider her to effectively be a member of the group and will help her in any way they can if issues arise in future.

The group return to discussing the prophecy parchments they have been accruing. Osei confirms she does not get the visions that they do, which she takes to be a sign about who should be using them.

Thulrom begins to look into some magical issues. He discovers the only way to cure Osei of her unwanted vampirism is to use powerful magics like a wish spell. He uses a ring that shields his mind and has Amara help him test it. Thulrom also creates a cocktail he names Dragon Sunrise, which tastes… average.

Barclays, while heavily intoxicated, still remembers to deploy our favourite watch man Prickly Pete, then promptly retires and passses out.

Ragafsel arrives and identifies some of the magic items the group looted. He tells Gunner that the many eyed robe is actually a piece he created on commission and that Byseilu must have stolen it before she burnt his shop down. Ragefsel had told the person who commissioned it the item was gone, so he is willing to either sell it to the party or take it to give it to the customer. Description of the robe indicates it allows for increased visual capacity, including being able to see things that are invisible. Ragafsel also warns the group to be careful with the poisoned dagger they took from Byseilu. He confirms the poison is magical and not one he is familiar with.

The group rests, but Osei keeps watch and remains in the same seat when the party awakens the next morning. The group makes small talk, reflecting on things like Feriso being out of contact and what happened to the ‘package’ he was meant to deliver to Count Babby given that it was one of Byseilu’s doubles.

Amara tries to discreetly hand Rook some burnt wood. She recounts that she obtained it from her monastery which had been burnt down. Rook notes that despite being burnt, it does not leave behind a smudge when he touches it, so it is not normal charcoal. Amara recounts a painting she saw of her god holding a rod with a triangular crystal at the end, which she had noted before entering the plane where the Dreaming Dark are. After some discussion, they deduce this is a smaller version, indicating part of the shaft is missing. Rook, trying his ability to look for items and people, is unable to deduce where the missing part or Amara’s god may be. The discussion elicits familiarity with Rook and he presents a pendant wondering if they are connected, but Amara is unable to provide him with answers.

The group retires to Amara’s room so they can inspect the parchment they took from Byseilu in private. After a few attempts with different methods, the scroll is finally opened and a group vision begins. The party sees a blackened landscape with spears in the earth, flags of King Boronell’s armies, bodies lying scattered on the ground, weapons littering the earth, the smells of fire stinging their nostrils. Winged creatures with wicked faces and leathery skin lie beside broken pieces of warforged wearing red capes. In the distance, moving quickly towards them, an enormous leathery winged figure glides slowly and as it gets closer, the group see gargoyle features and black whiskers on the side of his mouth. Atop the being rides Byseilu, holding a staff of gold, a dragon claw within holding a diamond.

As the duo are almost above, the group looks down to see their hands blackened like the earth, then disintegrate and disappear like dust on the wind. There is no pain, just loss as the pieces of their bodies start to move and shimmer out of existence. The archdevil lifts a hand and grabs Byseilu, throwing her onto the ground. A scream from her and a ringing pierces their ears and their very being. She exclaims she wants it, that it is not supposed… but her cries are unfinished as the claw of the devil pushes her into the ground until her body ruptures from the pressure of his wrath. The archdevil ignores the group, but surveys the landscape as the party are drawn into their individual visions.

Rook sees a warforged, the Lord of Blades, walking to him through a void. The Lord is less threatening and he faces Rook, removing the mask he wears. Underneath, is a face that is half metal but also half human. Rook sees the face of Agnorak, his third.

Amara sees a small pool in an expanse of nothingness. Through the pool she spies an object that appears like a shimmering sun made from multifaceted crystal. The water burns her hand like acid, but as Amara touches it, she somehow knows that this crystal holds all the souls of the Kalashtar race. Amara hears a voice telling her it is the price.

Barclays sees a fortress of ice and steel floating in nothingness. Doors open and a being floats to him, familiar but more impressive. The floating Djinn nods to him and Barclays notices within a scabbard he has a wind sword. He turns to Barclay, saying “finally my son”.

Thulrom hears a roar of triumph from his race. He is told to see where they hide, seeing images of a city that housed a believed extinct subrace of dragonborn. Thulrom sees a skeletal face of a female spider eating the heads of creatures lying about her.

Gunner sees a small room, realising he is bound by leather straps onto a wooden board. Going past is a large insectoid being and Gunner feels pain in his head, knowing mental attacks are slowly weakening him as his mind winces in pain. Gunner sees someone stepping toward him, a face that is familiar but constantly changing to different people Gunner knows. As the face comes closer, it settles on the visage of an old man that makes Gunner feel defeated. The old man reaches Gunner’s face, calmly saying “I am close now”.