Silvered Fates

Silvered Fates

**Silvered Fates** were a band of adventurers based in Karandor, active between 1003 2E to the present day. They are locally renown heroes, most notable for being survivors of the Siege of Sharkweir.

## Founding

The original group who came together in Sharkweir comprised of Conroy Kovostov, Daramas Hawthorne, Ilrath Stormrage, Karth Aurath, and Mazdarian Pyralspite. Everyone had found a poster scattered around the city of Sharkweir that would suit their line of work, and were to arrive at Grimwood Manor and meet Dralos Grimwood for further information.

Dralos Grimwood read the collective group's fates, informing them that a creature of darkness whose powers are beyond that of a mortal lurked within their mother's tomb. The information they received, in the form of five prophecies, led the rag-tag group across Sharkweir to figure out why they were bought there at the same time.

## Adventures

### Arc 1: Sharkweir

The then nameless group explored Sharkweir to figure out their fate from the five cards that had been revealed by Dralos Grimwood. Following a lead "The treasure hidden in plain sight in a house of blue cloaks overseeing a place of coin", the group ventured to a guard tower on in the Copper District of Sharkweir. Using his authority as a Witchfinder, Ilrath Stormrage managed to gain entry to the guard tower, and subsequently secured possession of a Sun Sword.

The group decided to next move onto the gladiator arena, in search of a "wounded Elf who will part with the knowledge that will help you better understand your enemy". The group met Zaan Leafwrist, a gladiator who had been injured in a fight outside the arena. Zaan told the party that the goons of his opponent for the championship fight, a Minotaur called Pallaton Runebreeze, had beat him up last night. Zaan, not being able to afford to go to a healer, nor able to use the healers of the arena due to his injuries being sustained outside of gladiatorial combat, asked the party to handicap his opponent in exchange for an old book he had, and a share of the winnings. The party agreed, clarifying that Pallaton needed to be alive and able to fight, but injured enough to level the playing field. The group decided to wait till closer to the fight to confront the Minotaur.

Whilst the gladiatorial fight remained a couple of days away, the party went in search of an "entertaining man with a monkey". They found Peet Darktrick begging on the streets and heavily traumatized. Peet explained that he was part of a travelling troupe who were attacked by creatures outside of town. He described them as approaching their camp as black-furred wild dogs before turning into human form and brutally tearing his companions apart. Peet believes that one of the wild dogs has followed him into the city and was hunting him down. Peet led them to a crypt, the last place he saw the dog. The party investigated, finding a black dog down in the crypt. It attacked the party, transforming back into its humanoid form, severely injuring Hawthorne before escaping into the crowd of the nearby market in its dog form. Whilst on their way to find an inn to spend the fight, the party noticed two individuals carrying a black hound into a manor house basement, just off of the market area. Hawthorne, being made invisible by Conroy, investigated the manor later that evening, discovering that there was a group creating various concoctions and devices that seemed akin to a monster hunter; and that the manor was more akin to a base of operations than a house on the inside. Reporting back, the group devised a plan, resulting in Maz knocking on the door and confronting the housemaid who invited them in for a meeting. The group met with the Kindred of Pelor, who revealed that they were Sunwalkers - a mutation of a traditional vampire who were more powerful in light. They attempted to use magic to pursued Maz to agree to help them in their fight against the Fangir, a group of vampires within Sharkweir. However, upon entering the Abyssal Tavern, the magic was severed and Maz became enraged with the knowledge that they had cast a spell on him to gain their compliance.

Now, a day before the gladiatorial fight, the group tracked Pallaton Runebreeze down to a gym in the Copper District. Although he was guarded by two other Minotaurs, the group quickly devised a plan to confront the gladiator. Hawthrone made quick work of the two goons, killing both of them, whilst Karth and Ilrath beat down Pallaton and convinced him to take a fall during the fight, else they would come back and finish the job. Heading back to the gladiatorial arena, they collected the book Ancient Myths and Stories of Make Believe from Zaan Leafwrist, informing him that Pallaton Runebreeze would be taking a fall to let him win. They dedicated the rest of the day to finding The League who they believed would have been able to provide them more information on the creature that had attacked them, but lacked the funds to put a bounty on the creature's head.

On the evening of the fight, the group found a good view of the fight and watched on eagerly to see Zaan Leafwrist beat Pallaton Runebreeze. Conroy, just discovering betting for the first time, confidently placed all of his gold on Zaan to win. However, during the main event, a sudden blood moon rose over the city, causing the crowd and the city to go into a state of frenzy. The mayor of Sharkweir, who had introduced each fight, turned into a Wearshark and stormed the arena, killing both Zaan Leafwrist and Pallaton Runebreeze. The group, shocked by the frenzy, made their way towards the battleground. Maz, last there, was bitten by a vampire, whilst the rest of the group fought the Wearshark. Once again, Hawthorne was severely wounded and, to make matters worse, was infected by the lycanthrope. The group gathered themselves quickly, and headed out the nearest exit, battling their way through the frenzied and barbaric crowd. Just outside the area, strangely, they once again found the Abyssal Tavern. Ensuring everyone else got inside, Ilrath gave Maz the book, Ancient Myths and Stories of Make Believe, and turned back into the city.

The group found that the Abyssal Tavern was able to teleport around to several "parking spots" throughout Karandor, including two locations within the city of Sharkweir. The three brothers, Kassidy, Karl, and Clive, were taking in survivors of the madness raging outside. The group spent the night in the tavern, before venturing out the next day in search of answers as to what had happened. Before they left, they met with an entity in the tavern, who called itself Codex. The entity offered a one-time trip to the Abyssal Library in exchange for the head of a lesser Bodak that had entered the city. The group tracked the creature down to the Sunwalkers' mansion, only to find that they had been slaughtered, the only survivor being their leader, Remus. The group were able to dispatch of the Bodak and take its head back to Codex. However, on their way back, a beam of green/purple energy broke into the sky from the gladiator arena, sealing the city within a dome. Codex informed them that they were unable to teleport outside the city, due to this dome. Before leaving, a scholar and interested individual by the name of Dheagar asked to accompany the group. Needing all the help they could get, they accepted his offer.

Preparing themselves, the group made their way to the gladiator arena once again. Outside, Hawthorne befriended a cat familiar called Dune. Once there, they charged into the arena to slay a group of individuals conducting a ritual, that was opening a rift. They made short work of the cult-like group, Karth recognizing them as Soul-Bound and taking a ceremonial dagger as evidence. However, as the rift closed, one aberration made its way through into Sharkweir. A Handmaiden attacked the group, focusing the spellcasters. Conroy was able to keep the attention of the aberration long enough for Maz to slay it. The dome came crashing down around the city, as the ritual was ended, and the group were able to leave the city. Claiming their reward from Codex, everyone but Maz went and claimed a book from the Abyssal Library. The Abyssal Tavern stayed put as a shelter and hospital for the wounded and displaced of Sharkweir, promising they'd meet up with the group in Lichendeep at a later date.

### Arc 2: Lichendeep and Return to Sharkweir

After travelling for around a week on the road together, the group finally reached Lichendeep. Whilst waiting in a queue for entry, Maz recognized a group causing trouble ahead as Spellbreakers from Galdrin. As they walked by, carrying a magical lantern, all the group's magic ceased to work, including Hawthorne's prosthetic legs; although this went unnoticed by the group. Maz had communication from his old mentor and father-figure, Laborious Suleiman, through the ring that he wore. Maz discovered that the magical lantern the Spellbreakers wielded, was information that Laborious had tried to keep hidden from the Wizard Hierarchy, and was the trip he was coming back from the day that he and Maz met. This was when Maz discovered that Laborious had been with him the whole time since his passing, having put his consciousness into the ring that Maz wore. Whilst this was all happening, their latest travelling companion, Dheagar vanished. A passing Halfling Bard by the name of Elrich Thornbottle said that he spotted their friend entering the city with a handsome man who looked like an actor.

Once in the city, the group checked out the nearest job board, finding several posters for work that would tide them over and line their pockets with some much needed gold. After a debate, the group also agreed to investigate where Dheagar had gone. They first stopped by the Hearth & Pot Tavern, which was having troubles with nightime breakins. The propriator of the tavern, Butch Marcle, agreed to giving them lodging in his bunkhouse if they could get to the bottom of what was causing his troubles.

Back out on the streets, Conroy bumped into his childhood friend Ildrex Mephit. Ildrex, excited to see his presumed dead friend again, explained that he and others who started to think similarly to Conroy were sent out on a patrol and encountered a Crystalpead. Ildrex, similarly to Conroy, escaped the counter and found the same teleportation circle that Conroy had. Ildrex also informed Conroy that his parents, Lokee and Bellista, had become the leaders of an underground movement in Valus called the Network of Elements who were looking to overthrow the Council of Three. Conroy asked Ildrex not to inform his parents that he was alive, and agreed to help overthrow the Council of Three when the time came.

Whilst inside The Magic Wand, having lunch, Karth was asking for information about the city and was informed by a member of staff that someone was awaiting him upstairs. Wasting no time, Karth slipped upstairs, away from the rest of the group, and met with the individual. Arther Kelsey, a fellow Soul-Bound, questioned Karth on his arrival into Sharkweir as he was not informed that there would be new agents arriving in the city today. Karth explained that he was actually stationed in Sharkweir, and recounted the events that took place. Knowing that this information would be valuable to the expected Soul-Bound who were soon to arrive in the city, Arther informed Karth of what to look for to find their safehouse.

After lunch, the group headed to The Limelight Assembly Theatre to follow up on the last time Dheagar Maraz was seen. Whilst Conroy and Maz bought entry into the rehersal performance, Hawthorne waited at the entranceway, and Karth slipped off to the Soul-Bound Safehouse. Conroy and Maz noticed the play's lead actor had the same face as Dheagar. Conroy made himself invisible whilst Maz distracted a Gray Jester, allowing Conroy to get under the stage. Conroy found the faceless, tied-up, but alive body of Dheagar and a rope-linked chain of masks akin to humanoid faces. Conroy, in a panic, did not take any evidence from under the stage, instead making Dheagar invisible and getting him out from under the stage. Regrouping, they discussed their plan of action. Conroy was to await with Dheagar in the ally way they were in. Maz and Hawthrone were going to find members of the Four Swords. Whilst on his way back, Karth noticed a Lunar Elf drawing a large crowd outside of The Limelight Assembly Theatre, due to her Saber Cat pet. Karth found Conroy and Dheagar in the allyway, and waited with them for the others to return. Whilst searching for guards, Hawthrone was engulfed by ice-white flames and vanished infront of Maz's eyes. Confused, Maz carried on searching for guards, until he found Akiri and Brian, members of the Four Swords. Although they were unsure of his story, the two guards followed Maz back to Dheagar.

Confused by the sudden teleportation, and the ice cold conditions he found himself in, Hawthorne attempted to gather his barings on the top floor of the tower he found himself in, which was carved directly into an iceberg, and made of granite, marble, and basalt. An almost familiar voice spoke out to him, welcoming him to the Tower of Reprive. Maayana, a Devil, explained that Hawthorne's mother had made a pact with Maayana on the Night of Fire and Fang, which ensured their survival. Hawthorne learnt that his part of this pact, was to serve Maayana and her interests to better his soul's position in The Nine Hells, as that was owned by this Devil under the signed pact. Maayana also revealed that Dune, the cat familiar, was infact an Imp called Szem that Maayana had placed in Sharkweir to watch over Hawthorne. Szem was granted as a gift to Hawthorne, who was also magically branded by with a Mark of Levistus; granting him some basic infernal powers. Hawthorne then reappears in ice-white flames where he had been taken from, infront of Maz and the two Four Swords guards. Confused by the Imp that arrived with him, Maz almost tried to fight the creature, before it turned into a cat again. Fully regrouped and with two city guards, Maz explained the situation and where they found Dheagar. The guards informed the group that they would need more evidence than just their word and a faceless body to launch a full investigation of The Limelight Assembly Theatre due to it being a well-respected institution within the city. Having paid entry for the show, the group found their seats. They could all see the Lunar Elf and her Saber Cat pet. Whilst the actors and show master, Korias, were distracted by the Saber Cat, Hawthrone instructed Szem to steal the masks from under the stage. This caused the evenings show to not go on, due to "costumes and props" having been stolen. Hawthorne, having a faint memory of his mother telling her about Watchers of the Moonsilver Grove, approched the fellow Lunar Elf with Maz. They explained to the Lunar Elf their situation and that they were adventuers, who introduced herself as Io. Needing gold, and with no where else to turn to, Io agreed to accompanying the group.

Needing to store Dheagar somewhere safe, the Karth bought a room at The Magic Wand. They then stayed overnight at the Hearth & Pot Tavern. Although the night was quiet, Conroy discovered a loose brick in the cellar of the tavern, that led into a small tunnel. Sending Szem to investigate, the group discovered there was a Kobold named Hox living in the tunnel. His clan had been hired by the city to keep the sewers safe, but they had been killed by monsters in the sewer. Butch agreed to hire Hox to keep pests away and clean the tavern.

The next day, the group sought out Akiri and Brian who informed them that The Limelight Assembly Theatre had "donated" gold to the Four Swords which prevented them from investigating The Limelight Assembly Theatre further, however the two guards agreed to standwatch and prevent anyone from intervening if the group wanted to investigate themselves. Doing so, the group had a confrontation and battle against several members of The Limelight Assembly Theatre cast - chasing the Masquerade to the cliff edge. Ultimately, the Masquerade escaped, but Conroy recovered Dheagar's face and the group managed to restore it to his body. The captain of the Four Swords, Fordac, personally thanked the group for putting an end to the Masquerade's terror. The next morning at the Hearth & Pot Tavern, Dheagar informed the group that he had decided to retire from adventuring, as the whole experience had put him off, but that he was going to spend some amount of time in the Tower of Sheev within Lichendeep - a renowned wizarding tower in Karandor. The group, over breakfast, had their first encounter with another adventuring party, the Black Bastion, who were talking about going after the head of a goblin warchief. The group decided against competing for this bounty. The group started to notice that street urchins were following them around Lichendeep.

The remaining members of the group next went onto recover a rare metal found within the nearby Noxian Woods, so Rosette Emberstrike could make Duke Karl Harrington some ceremonial daggers for his upcoming birthday celebration. They followed this up by going to the nearby village of Morrowvale, where they defeated a cursed entity that was possessing the village's Scarecrows and Harvest Golem.

Karth reattended the safehouse, being introduced to Jorn Thackeray of the Mist Rangers, Arnelle Blackwood of the Death Knights, and Janiya Pyralspire of the Society of Apothecaries. They want to uncover proof that renegades from the Society of Apothecaries were responsible for the destruction of Sharkweir, with Karth having knowledge of Sharkweir they asked him to go back to Sharkweir and provide them with sufficient proof. They offered him the chance to start progressing towards joining one of their illustrious organisations.

Maz, having enough of being followed by street urchins, confronted them. The group found out that the orphans were from Madam Ziener's Home for Street Urchins. Getting directions from Butch Marcle, the group headed to the orphanage. Upon being introduced to Madam Ziener and being told that once again their fate lay in Sharkweir, the group was reluctant to return due to the horrors they faced. Madam Ziener informed them that they would be getting invitations to the duke's birthday. Karth explained his origins, informing the group that he had died around 350 years ago, and got permission to introduce the group to the other Soul-Bound in the city, leading to Maz being reunited with his mother.

With a handful of days to spare before the party, the group set out on one last job to go to the Temple of Talos of Lichendeep to investigate strange sounds from their catacombs. The group defeated a Spectator found in the catacombs, in a carved out room that no one was aware of - Conroy established that the room had been behind an illusion, however when someone dispelled the magical lock to the catacombs they must have inadvertently dispelled the illusion. During this encounter, it was discovered that Karth's longsword was cursed, after a spell that Maz cast was deflected into Karth, who started vengefully swining at him. Maz managed to magically put Karth to sleep, allowing Hawthorne to take the sword and get the curse removed by a priest of Talos. After helping out the temple, each member of the group spent the remaining time doing various activities. Conroy spent several days learning more about Talos with one of the priests of Talos, a fellow Tiefling called Orianna Sternwater. Maz learnt alchemy from his mother. Hawthorne wrote home, and collected his new sickles from Rosette Emberstrike, part of the reward for helping her.

The group attended the Duke's birthday party at the Crescent Castle. The party spotted someone talking to the duke who looked like a slightly older version of Maz. The group made attempts to socialise with the other members of the party, to varying degrees of success, and Maz was the only one with any familiarity in the etiquate so such an event. The group met Duke Karl Harrington, who was impressed at their work helping the locals, and the members of his council, Ajaxian Blueblade, Fel'Anyr Styllmist, and Vaccaar Armorn. Fel'Anyr Styllmist told the group to come back tomorrow at midday, to discuss an improtant mission they were recommended for. Karth uncovered a rumour that Ajaxian Blueblade and Fel'Anyr Styllmist were romantically engaged, which would put their positions on the council in danger. The following day, returning to the Crescent Castle, the group came to the decision to accept Duke Karl Harrington's offer to return to Sharkweir in search of the Royal Guard. Ecah member of the group was granted an item from the Royal Guard's armoury.

Whilst travelling back to Sharkweir, the Silvered Fates stumbled across a stomach-turning sight on the road; several bodies drained off blood lay dead before them. Maayana was there to inform Hawthorne that this was the work of a hellfire harpy, which was a twisted version of the truth. A nest of blood-siphoning harpies, a vampiric mutation of a regular harpy, had killed the fleeing refugees; but the nest was controlled by a hellfire harpy who had escape Maayana's Tower of Reprieve. This was to be viewed as a test for Hawthorne, the newly dubbed Blade of Levistus, and his baatorian green steel sickle; a metal that had been planted long ago for him to have a weapon made from. The weapon worked as intended, sending a soul to the River Styx; although Hawthorne was severely injured during the fighting; much to the disappointment of Maayana.

Upon entering Sharkweir, after finding a safe location outside the city for Buttstallion and their cart, they came across the site of head horses and a broken banner of Lichendeep; semising that the Royal Guard had been attacked here. Before having too long to investigate further, the sky filled with indistinquishable creatures, soaring towards them. A shadowry figured swung a door opened, and barked an order for them to get inside or they'd be dead. Making it into the building, with mere moments to spare, they came face to face once again with Ilrath Stormrage. After being informed of the situation in Sharkweir, the blood hunter's defeat to Count Harkon, and the growing masses of undead on the west side of the city, the Silvered Fates left on bad terms with the blood hunters, and travelled through the sewers towards the Abyssal Tavern. Whilst in the sewers, they battled a vampiric mutated Carrion Crawlers. Upon arriving at the Abyssal Tavern, the Silvered Fates found Lorros Harrington alive and well, along with two of the other members of the royal guard. Meanwhile, two more of the royal guard were injured and two more dead. Reunited with Kassidy and Karl Rellevart, the Silvered Fates were informed that Clive Rellevart had been murdered by an intruder, who had managed to make off with their teleportation device for the tavern. Kassidy described the individual as someone who *"looked dead"*.

Whilst settling down for the night, Daramas Hawthorne was approached by Mayanna. He was informed that Levistus had plans that involved Conroy Kovostov and Mazdarian Pyralspite, and that they should look to destroy the *"mother shriekfang"* in the clocktower. Shortly after, whilst the group were discussing their plans for the next few days, the tavern fell silent as a lound series of thudding sounds hit the tavern door. As the group tentitively opened the door, they found a box of food rations for the surviours holding up in the Abyssal Tavern, and a wicker basket of gifts for them along with a note. Riding off around the corner, on a spectral black bear, with two of his vampire spawn, known as the Lord and Lady, was Count Harkon. The note granted the group reprive from the vampiric threat in the eastern side of the city as long as they did not aid anyone not aligned to Count Harkon.

The next morning, heeding the advice of Mayanna, the group made stealthily made their way across the city and towards the clocktower; the source of the shriekfang infestation, being watched by members of the 'court' of Count Harkon. Upon reaching the tower, under the noses of the shriekfangs, they sized up their options. They could either go in through the main door, or up the scaffolding around the outside of the tower, and in through a hole in the wall underneath the clockface. Deciding to take the fastest way up, they ran for the scaffolding. However, in their hurry, Hawthorne slipped off the scaffolding, drawing the ire of the shriekfangs above. Quick thinking from Mazdarian and Conroy, combining their magical skills, caused a noise distraction away from the tower, drawing the shriekfangs away from Hawthorne, who quickly joined them at the top of the scaffolding. Entering the tower, they found a large swell of corpses, picked clean of flesh and muscle, deducing that these were refugees who must have fled the fighting over the city after they left previously. Entering the main chamber of the tower, they saw a huge shriekfang decend upon them; the mother. After a long and drawn out fight, which battered the group, they were able to slay the mother shriekfang.

Taking some time to recouperate from their intense monster slaying, the group decided that they needed to head towards Count Harkon's manor, carefully moving through buildings and keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. Karth noticed that a blood hunter was watching them from the upper floor of a building. At Count Harkon's manor, the group came face-to-face with the Lord and Lady. Being led into the dining area, they sat at the table of Count Harkon, and the group decided to get straight to negotiating with the vampire. The Count proposed that the group, using their previous experience in fighting necromantic forces in Sharkweir. Karth let slip that they were looking for members of the Royal Guard from Lichendeep, and wanted to see proof of one of them being alive. The Count relented, and bought forth Drexhul Odrish; who had led the expedition to the city. Mazdarian inspected Drexhul for injuries, innately talking Draconic to her, discovering that she believes that there are hidden passageways in the ground floor corridor, and using his positioning to stealthily use his mage hand to suspend his Sending Stone above the doorway, and placing it in Drexhul's pocket as she was escorted out of the room. In exchange for their help, the Count agreed to extend his cease-fire to the residents of the Abyssal Tavern. The Count also provided old maps of the sewer system of Sharkweir, and informed the group that the necromantic forces are amassing at the gladiatorial arena. Leaving the manor, Io informed the group that she could talk to animals to see if they knew anything about the source of the Count's invulnerability within his manor or the necromantic threat. Speaking to a rat in the sewer, she discovered that there a *"blood fountain"* exists in the basement of the manor. Still physically battered from their fight at the clocktower, and mentally exhausted from negotiating with a vampire, they headed back to the Abyssal Tavern to rest for the evening. Daramas informed Lorros Harrington that Drexhul Odrish was alive, but prisoner of Count Harkon.

The next morning, the group setout on their mission, to get to the underground hub of the necromantic force. Outside of the Abyssal Tavern, they watched as the Lord and Lady took a cart of valuables from Daisy Oakmane and her gang, The Thorns. Mazdarian, Conroy, and Hawthorne, confronted the group, demanding to know why they were looting and stealing valuables to avoid being *"vampire chow".* Offended by the claim, Daisy Oakmane informed the group that they were using valuables obtained from the individuals they were smuggling out of the city to maintain an uneasy peace with Count Harkon. Mazdarian informed her that they were planning on stopping Count Harkon, and that they will be using the Abyssal Tavern to escape the city. Daisy, impressed by the claim, said that The Thorns would be a sweep of the city, gathering up anyone who remained, and escorting them to the Abyssal Tavern. Moving through the city, and out of the walls into the necromatic force's side of the city, the group came to a V shaped junction in the road, and face-to-face with a heavily armoured individual with a runic sword. Karth recognised this as a Death Knight of the Soul-Bound. Karth attempted to negotiate with his fellow Soul-Bound, but ultimately the Death Knight was slain by Hawthorne. They headed into the sewers via a nearby manhole cover, to follow the central sewage line towards the gladiatorial arena. Arriving underneath the arena, the group found a previously covered up staircase, and heard voices crying for help. Leading the way down, Karth confronted Doctor Sanity, a former member of the Society of Apothecaries in the City of Crypts. A long discussion of ethics, politics, and the gift/curse the two men had been given ensued. Doctor Sanity revealed that he had developed a plague which they could use to wipe out the population of Karandor, so that they could be resurrected and offered the same choice he and Karth had, live on eternally or go to their final rest. Karth stuck to his morals, unswayed by Doctor Sanity's best efforts, and engaged the apothecary in combat. Karth took the initial bombardment of concoctions produced by Doctor Sanity, and attacks from his Green Slimes. As the rest of the group charged in, they were able to defeat Doctor Sanity; or so they thought. Hawthorne pinned Doctor Sanity against a pillar with both of his sickles, only for the apothecary to chug a potion. Swelling in size, Hawthorne was pushed back, Doctor Sanity healed his wounds, growing large pussing boils on his skin. Hawthorne attacked once more, only to be covered in acid from the bursting boils. Doctor Sanity retorted with vicious attacks against Hawthorne, forcing him to retreat towards his allies. As the fight continued, one by one, the group were beaten to within an inch of their lives. Finally, after a well placed lighting bolt struck the chest of Doctor Sanity, he was slain by Conroy for good. Looting the make-shift labratory for valuables, they freed five more of the Royal Guard, and found the teleportation device for the Abyssal Tavern; although it appeared to be repurposed. They also found information about how to attack Count Harkon, discovering hastily written notes stating that the blood fountain needed to be 'purified'. Mazdarian used his newly found Hat of Disguise to disguise himself as Doctor Sanity, and took his head as evidence of his betrayal of the City of Crypts.

Returning towards the Abyssal Tavern, the group were stopped by a Val'Kyr. She broke her spear and tore her wings off; admitting to Karth that his convictions regarding how the Soul-Bound should move forward made her realise she was walking down the wrong path. Having hope for the future of the Soul-Bound, with it being in the capable hands of individuals like Karth, she went into exile. Once back at the Abyssal Tavern, the group organised a wartable. After a long, drawn out, and heated discussion, a battle plan was agreed for the next morning. Io was to lead an extraction of Drexul Odrish, who via their Sending Stones, were able to locate her within the manor. Hawthorne and Conroy were going to use the teleportation device to get to the blood fountain, and purfy it. Maz, disguised as Hawthorne, and Karth were going to go to Count Harkon to inform him that they had defeated Doctor Sanity, and the rest of their party was either dead or left the city. Isodora and Ilrath were to be backup for the assult on the manor, whilst the Royal Guard were to cover the retreat and fend off any reinforcements. Daisy Oakmane and The Thorns would protect the Abyssal Tavern and the remaining surviours, attempting to flee the city if they believed it was safe enough.