02/11/2021 - Communing Conversations, Teleporting Troubles, and a Valiant Ves

## Communing conversations

We had asked Kunai’s family to ask three questions during their commune….
1) is there a specific source of power (person/artefact/building etc) that is allowing Cyric to channel his power across Echs and control it's population, and if so what and where is it?
2) where on the island do we need to be to stop Cyric?
3) does stopping Cyric require us to stop the war between Echs and Tupelo's tribe?

## Kunai’s mother

Grandmaster, Kunai’s mother speaks first… is there a specific source of power? No, she found nothing. Though a deity’s power is built from the following they receive. Therefore, his influence has grown via the members of the council of Echs choosing to follow him. Due to the proximity to the Dark Eye, even the following of these few council members is enough to give Cyric more power here than he would have elsewhere with such a following. As such, overall, Cyric’s power is quite low, just locally high. It is not Cyric controlling the population, it is his control of the council, and their subsequent control of the country, that has allowed the population to be controlled. Cyric has tricked the council into thinking he is a benevolent deity. The control of the council seems to have happened since the last civil war. Alliser Comorrah was until recently the King of the Island, but four to seven days ago he was deposed by the Lord President of the council, and the council took complete control of the island.

TL:DR… The council somehow came to be followers of Cyric. This gave Cyric local power over the island due to the proximity to the Dark Eye. The council then set about controlling the island through their civil and military power structures, and Cyric worked through them. So solution is to kill the councillors? We discuss this briefly. Ves believing we should firmly check the councillors innocence before removing heads from soldiers.

Cyric is essentially accumulating power and resources through the council, and will at some point use that to attack places beyond the island, thus causing strife, chaos, and other shenanigans in the short term, and working towards a new spell plague in the long term.

## Kunai’s father

Kunai’s father speaks next… went back through the timeline, looking at the life of King Comorrah. As the end of the civil war seemed important. Their vision was clouded at the exact moment, though they caught a glimpse of a young King Comorrah pleading with the Dark Eye to attempt to commune for guidance… out of the Dark Eye spoke Cyric. During this commune Cyric gave him an item, a crystalline headpiece of some kind. They were not able to distinguish exactly where the headpiece is now, but it was last seen in the possession of the king, so it stands to reason the Lord President has it, or it is left where the King fell, in the council chambers on the tallest tower of Mischansen. Lysandre remembers from his dream that the Lord President had picked up the headpiece and threw it across the room. Is the headpiece good or bad for Cyric? Was the king using the headpiece to protect himself from Cyric, hence why the Lord President had thrown it away? Or is something else happening? Lysandre adds that the headpiece was a gift from Cyric, gave to the king after he asked for aid in ending the old civil war.

Lysandre witnessed the king, while alive, a few weeks ago, pleading with the Lord President and the council to stop with their campaign of violence. The president accused the king of narrow mindedness, and wanting to keep the status quo and not wanting the betterment of the island. And by standing in the way of the Lord President, he was judged as counter to the interest of the island, accused him of treasons, and whilst invoked in a purple should, killed the king instantly. The president then picked up the crown, without thought, or seeming to know what it was, and threw it to the far end of the table and fell into the corner. Lysandre then mind linked with Christo, and Christo, who didn’t seem to know what was ging on, but confirmed that the rest of the council seemed fully on board with the actions of the Lord President.

The headpiece is crystalline, like the dragon cave we saw. We debate whether this headpiece is good or bad. We conclude that we should probably try to just find this crown and see what the heck it is.

## Kunai’s brother

Kunai’s brother… does stopping Cyric require us to stop the war between Tupelo and the Echsians, in short the answer is yes. But that could be achieved in many ways.

## Now what…

Do we trust Christo to help us? Maybe a bit, but not totally… If we don’t trust Christo, could try to use locate object to find the headpiece. Would need to be in the city to do that. Can we get Narrow bones to teleport somewhere close?

Plan…. Lysander can use the bag of scrying to scry on the council rooms, we, including Narrow bones can watch the scry, thus allowing Narrow Bones to see the location and then teleport us there.

As we leave, Kunai’s brother mentions that there is still fighting at sea… The pirate D’sterre is currently attacking some Echsian ships with flame throwers. We think this is good banter, but decide it doesn’t warrant us doing anything.

## Ves’s questions

As the rest of us leave to go find narrow bones, Ves hangs back to talk with Kunai’s family alone. She has two requests? Asks to borrow/buy some equipment, a spell focus or mirror. She also asks if she can go back in the room with the eye? Kunai’s family are hesitant, but say in theory she could. Ask what she wants to do with the room? Ves says she is concerned about the blood vial, bombs, that had been sent all over the place. She thinks she might be able to use the Dark Eye to deactivate some of the bombs…. Kunai’s Mum is not happy about this. Acolytes who have trained for a decade fail to interact at all after multiple exposure. She tells Ves that the consequences of failure are ultimate, and likely permanent. Ves should not do this lightly. The tribunal are watchers, they do not usually interject or intervene in things. However, Kunai’s mother would not stop Ves from trying, though she would not take responsibility if she dies either. Ves understands this, but believes this is the only way the blood vials can be dealt with and another spell-plague avoided. Ves will decide tomorrow if/when she wants to attempt this. Kunai’s mum agrees and ushers her out of the room.

## The plan

Back outside with Narrow Bones, Eddin and Rocky, we explain to them the plan. Narrow Bone is not convinced, he wants to go home…. Elyan pours on the persuasive charm, and Narrow Bones relents.

Lysandre tries to use the bag, with some inspiration from Elyan and some dodgy attempts at requesting divine help from Bayul. Lysandre meets some resistance from the room, he sees a brief glimpse of a familiar table, but then the pain in his head is so bad he has to drop the spell.

With that failing, we discuss other ways to get close to Miskanshen. Discuss various ideas including using Galdor’s Roc, but can’t seem to come up with a solution. So, after bidding goodbye to Narrow Bones and Eddin (who wild shapes into a flaming ape!), we decide that the best plan is to take a long rest, and then head off in the morning once Ves is done with what she needs to do.

Before we go to bed, Elyan throws a curved ball with an idea about using modify memory to give Narrow Bones a vision of Miskanshen. But we decide its too complicated and that the walking plan is probably a better idea.

## Ves’s valiant commune

The next morning, Ves knocks on Bayul’s door before going to see Kunai’s mum. Asks Bayul if he wants to come. He says he will, but wants to know why. She explains her plan to try and use the Dark Eye. Bayul tries to talk her out of it. Ves explains she has a “cheat code”. Cyric gave her an item that lets her chose an outcome in a given situation (as long as that situation isn’t directly against him). Ves hopes he is currently too distracted to stop her using it to get rid of the blood vials. She thinks is the only chance she has. She tells Bayul she is doing it. Bayul gives her a nod of respect, and says he will accompany her, though he doesn’t trust any item given by Cyric.

Bayul asks if the Grand master (Kunai’s mum) is ok with this. He is not pleased to hear that she is not that ok with it, though will let it happen. Ves explains her motives some more, and Bayul agrees to accompany her.

They go to the Grandmaster. She seems surprised to see Bayul there, but allows them to continue. Bayul waits outside, as per Ves’s request. The Grandmaster will go in, but to watch only. She will not intervene in any way.

Leaving Bayul behind, Ves and the Grandmaster enter the communing chamber. The Grandmaster asks one more time if she’s sure she wants to do this and offers some words of advice. Ves says she is, and pulling out the rod Cyric gave her, kneels in front of it and stares into the Dark Eye.
She uses the rod, which seems to permanently damage her, focuses in on the eye. She hears voices bellowing and crescendo in her head. She feels something touch her ears. She sees petals floating around her and flowers and plants seem to grow around her. She hears a voice say, “you have grown, I am not hear to render any judgement upon you. You have contacted me beyond the veil of your realm. Sylvestra, what is your wish?”. She asks for the blood, the spell plague fragments, to be annulled. “I shall make it so”. She then feels her consciousness be dragged through the room, she watches as the fragments of blood within the tribunal go from black to white, she sees Dr T’s office, the blood vial there turning black to white, she sees a fiery hellscape, with a soldiers camp with hundreds of vials, all turn from black to white. She sees an army, thousands strong, on a plain guided by white obelisks, with more tents and vials turning white. As her consciousness returns, she realises that her hair has grown and become intertwined with flowers and petals. She feels like Sylvanus has answered her call, and her wish has been granted.
Ves turns around to see the Grandmaster staring open mouthed. Ves says she doesn’t think she could do that again. This is a shame, as with that control she would be a great addition to the Tribunal.

Bayul was outside for a good 45 minutes, before Ves returns. He gives her a massive bear hug. Ves’s eyes also look opal-esque.

## Breakfast and pirates

Ves and Bayul return to the others, who compliment Ves on her new hairstyle and opal eyes. Everyone is very impressed when she explains what she did.

As we leave, Kunai’s family thank us for our help and ask us to pass on their good wishes to Kunai. They think that his newfound connection with Jazirian may rectify some of his earlier mistakes.

Also warn us that there are still many extra-planar creatures on the path back. Recommends we follow in the footsteps of the retreating army.
This path leads us down towards the coast. Hard to tell how many footprints. From here can see several fragmented and splintered ships, charred and aflame. One ship remains in the bay, anchored, with figures on the beach. As we get closer, Galdor recognises the ship, it’s the emerald ship of D’esterre. Many figures on the beach are lying down, several others are crouched over the ones lying down. The pirates clearly won.
Ves declares that she thinks we can trust the pirates, and steps out of our hiding place towards the pirates. All the pirates point their weapons at Ves. Galdor notices a sneaky sand-coloured lizard at his feet. D’esterre appears, giving Elyan a wink.

D’esterre says he didn’t know about the blood vials he delivered. They had been given to him in Merchendale, by the same trader they always use. His contact in the city told him that this shipment had cone awry, and that some military ships were threatening his trade lines, so he decided to take action.

D’esterre says he can sail us into Miskanshen if we want. Bayul is impressed that after taking out an Miskanshen fleet he is happy to sail into Miskanshen. D’esterre says this is intended to be his last hurrah before retirement.

He will then be off to find his cousins, his full name is D’esterre Venusto, and he wants to see what his cousins have been getting up to – particularly Krieg.

With that, we sail towards the Miskanshen docks, whilst preparing our plans to enter the city….