Session XVIII - Inertia

The party is currently split between three locations:

* Shadowsong and Loobie are in the Arcane Temple with the Arch-Mage, who needs a day to prepare the Gate spell.
* Norman is camped out just west of the wooded area in Dawnleaf where the entombed creepy book is buried. It is still dark in the early morning hours.
* Brook and Solo's location are currently unknown to the rest of the party.

Norman finds that he was tracked by two of the "Blood Devils", who accost him in his camp.

* A little imp-like creature on the shoulder of one of the Blood Devils inquires about the location of the Liber Hereticus Malfectorum, but Norman plays dumb.
* Norman tries to cast a spell on one of the creatures, which initiates combat.

At this point, it is revealed the Solo and Brook have been following the rest of the party at a distance in an attempt to counter-track the Blood Devils that are pursuing them. They have taken refuge in the treeline just outside of Norman's camp and have been watching.

* Combat occurs between the two Blood Devils and the three members of the party.
* Norman is badly injured and is rendered unconscious. Brook is seriously wounded in the combat. The Blood Devils are defeated and vanish in a sickly purple flash of fire. The imp-like creature appears to have flown away during the battle.

At this point, Brook, Norman, and Solo proceed to the Inn after checking on the location of the book.

* The party notices the wanted poster depicting the party with varied degrees of accuracy, offering a reward for their capture.
* Due to her charismatic bluff (and partially due to the wanted poster artist being unable to correctly draw a Tengu), Brook convinces the innkeeper that she is a bounty hunter and is in the process of capturing the party. She gives him a few gold crowns and asks him to keep a look out for the other members, who may show up.
* The party then gets a single room. Brook remains suspicious of Norman.

Back in the Arcane Temple, both Loobie and Shadowsong attempt to leave.

* Two Blood Devils are making their way up the mountain steps and will intercept the two soon.
* Shadowsong outmaneuvers one Blood Devil, who chases him down the mountain and into the Southern Ward proper, where Shadowsong manages to lose the creature in the streets and alleys.
* Loobie handily defeats the other Blood Devil.
* Both make their way out of the Southern Ward and proceed to the tram system. They then make their way back east towards Dawnleaf.
* After they confirm that the creepy book is still where they buried it, they head to the inn. The innkeeper recognizes them and tells Shadowsong and Loobie that they have "just won a contest" and that he needs to go get their prize. Instead, he goes to Brook's room and let's her know. She proceeds downstairs and then "captures" them both by pretending that she defeats them in combat. Shadowsong and Loobie play along and the innkeeper seems fooled.

Now the party is back together. They then leave for the Arcane Temple in the Southern Ward.

* The party "obtains" another cart and goes to the clearing, loading it up with the lead-encased book.
* They travel south-west to avoid the main roads and tram system, arriving in the Southern Ward by the next morning. Loobie grudgingly hauls the cart up the thousands of steps to the Arcane Temple.
* The Arch-Mage provides the party with a basic explanation of a common model of the elemental planes and tells them which ones are available to them.
* The party decides on the elemental plane of Inertia. The Arch-Mage opens the gate and the party tosses the cart into it, watching as it tumbles into the maelstrom of elemental forces. *They feel as if something is different, something is changed, and the timeline itself has been altered.*

At this point, the Arch-Mage tells the party that he needs them to do him "a solid". He advises the party that he is aware of who they are and what era they come from. He asks that, upon their return to their future era, the party seeks out the Isle of Stormwatch and locate the lord of the island, known as Axis. The Arch-Mage describes Axis as an evil warrior who has slain many of his Draconic brethren. The party agrees to do this task and the Arch-Mage tells them *"Yes. I know you will. Because I am coming with you."*