Sabina Moorden

Art by hailiiz

### Proficiencies

Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Perception, Performance, Survival, Flute, Disguise Kit

## Character Biography

### Childhood

Twenty years before the adventure began, Sabina was traveling in a caravan wagon.  Her father woke her up and asked her to feed the moorbounders and do her chores.  She got out of the caravan wagon she was sleeping in, grabbing some food along the way and made her way to the moorbounder pen.  Calling a baby Dax over, she gave him a bit of scone before feeding the moorbounders.  She saw her mother talking with a human captain of the Aurora Watch and eavesdropped on their conversation.  The captain assured her mother that they would protect the caravan from raiders and other dangers in exchange for a favour.

Several days later, the captain gave his demands to Sabina’s parents.  As she watched from one of the nearby caravan wagons, fire leapt from tent to tent, burning them to the ground.  Sabina was about to join her parents when she felt a tug on her sock. Looking down, she saw Dax had escaped from his pen.  It was then that the captain killed her father.  He ordered his men to kill everyone and take any valuables.  As he killed her mother, Sabina picked up Dax and ran to the swamp.  The sounds of their deaths echoed through the night.

The next morning, hunger drove her to return to the caravan, where she saw the dead bodies of her family and friends.  Dax found a scrap of moldy bread, which Sabina split with him.  Sabina began telling Dax to leave when a voice interrupted, asking her if she wanted revenge.  As the sky turned black, the clouds formed into the eye of Gruumsh.  Sabina told him she did desire revenge, wanting to become stronger so she could pay them back.  She felt a searing pain before losing consciousness.

When she next woke up, she was in the back of a wagon.  A half-elf named Corvan, wearing the colours of the Cobalt Soul, greeted her.  He told her he was a traveling librarian who’d found her and Dax along the side of the road and she’d been asleep for a couple days. Sabina recalled her family was going to Asarius and Corvan agreed to take her there.  He added that she’d experienced a fever and guessed she’d caught it while traveling through the swamps with an open wound, which he’d cleaned and stitched up.  Sabina noticed the ‘wound’ would remain hot to the touch, and would be so for the next two decades.  She also noticed a periapt, which Corvan had given to her as it would help suppress diseases and he was not using him.  Sabina thanked him and regretted that she had nothing to offer in return.  Corvan told her he was collecting stories and songs during his travels and suggested she sing something in return.  He offered to introduce her to some of his friends in Asarius, but Sabina claimed that her family was waiting for her in the City of Beasts, and they’d just gotten separated while she was chasing after Dax (episode 22).

### Outskirts of Jigow

At some point, Sabina met Xarria, Kaeko, Dorlen and Valas. Their travels eventually brought them to Jigow, a ramshackle collection of shanty towns originally founded by goblins and orcs in northern Xhorhas. As they set up camp, Valas noted that they would reach Jigow the following day. Kaeko looked forward to a real bed. Xarria wanted a shower, which made the party realize they were all overdue for a wash. Dorlen, roused from his musing, offered one of his inventions (a spray version of Prestidigitation). The conversation turned to what the party would do in Jigow. Kaeko was eager to earn some money participating in the Festival of Merit. Dorlen having never been in Jigow, was immediately excited at the prospect of the Festival and wanted to try everything. Sabina, however, was concerned that she might find the crowds overwhelming. Kaeko assured her that she and Dax would help her get through it. The party retired after sharing a bottle of elven brandywine that Valas had been saving for a special occasion.

### A Fateful Competition

When the party reached Jigow, they made their way to the Jumble, the most densely populated district of Jigow. Dorlen was immediately interested in the riddle contest advertised by a prominent banner pointing to a three-story temple in the middle of the Jumble and eagerly tried to convince his companions. Kaeko was more hesitant, citing her lack of experience in deciphering riddles and a greater interest in entertaining the crowd for some coin (and drink). Sabina, catching up to the rest of the party on her moorbounder Dax, was amenable to Kaeko's proposal. Xarria didn't have any strong opinion one way or the other.

It was Valas who broke the stalemate. After reminding Kaeko that he had won a drinking contest the other night (albeit after Kaeko had won a previous drinking contest earlier that evening), he suggested they take part in as many contests as possible with the aim of winning the grand prize of one hundred gold pieces.

They began with the riddle contest, much to Dorlen's delight. An elderly goblin in blue robes presided over three tables, each with a different riddle (a wooden box, a glittering star map of the Exandrian sky) and a row of coloured bottles). He told them the cost of each attempt and that successfully guessing the answer to two of the three riddles would win them the contest. When he told them there were already several competitors, their eye was drawn to a tall drow male in red robes.

After Dorlen handed over six silver pieces (one for each riddle), they approached the table with the box. Upon closer inspection, they saw four metal keys. A placard gave clues as to which key would successfully open the box... and warned that 'shocking' consequences if they chose the wrong key. Kaeko elected to distract the party's competitors with her cleavage. Dorlen, Sabina and Xarria realized the box looked like a bronze dragon, so Dorlen picked up the bronze key and successfully opened it. No sooner did the goblin congratulate him than Dorlen asked if he could see what happened if the *wrong* key was inserted. Xarria, however, beat him to it and was zapped for her trouble. Undeterred, she repeated the process (after Dorlen paid for an additional ticket).

Kaeko and Valas left to get drinks, but not before Sabina plucked a feather from Kaeko's cloak to find them later. The remaining three went to the table with the star map. Dorlen and Sabina soon realized the riddle on the accompanying placard referred to the twin moons of Exandria, Catha and Ruidus. After Sabina whispered the answer to the goblin, Xarria tried to get Dorlen to explain the riddle to her.

The goblin decided that Dorlen, Sabina and Xarria would have to answer all *three* riddles to win, given that they were clearly helping each other, which the group agreed to. They overheard the drow muttering that he'd have had more success if he'd had similar help and invited him to join him after introducing themselves. The drow was aloof at first, but was soon charmed by Dax and eventually introduced himself as Galsariad. He agreed to see how they fared with the last riddle and offer his assistance if needed.

Approaching the last table, Dorlen, Sabina and Xarria saw a row of seven bottles filled with coloured liquids. The placard gave enigmatic hints as to which bottle to drink in order to win, which bottles would be harmless to drink but incorrect and which bottles would be hazardous to drink. Dorlen eliminated the first and last bottles. Xarria narrowed it down to the third and fifth bottles and, after some consideration, drank the fifth bottle. Her skin began to glow, signifying she won. The goblin gave the party a Medal of Wit, which they decided should be given to Xarria. Their next act was to have Dax find Kaeko and Bala's, using the feather Sabina had plucked earlier.

Reunited, the party exchanged accounts of their contests and dissauded Dorlen from creating homemade fireworks as a demonstration for Sabina. The goblin overseeing the event (and the bets) interrupted them to award Kaeko with the Medal of Muscle.

Eager to win more medals, Dorlen dragged Sabina to a pie-eating contest, located underneath a three-story building constructed atop of a tortoise. An orc invited one and all to enter the contest and eat as many meat pies as they could. Dax was forbidden to enter, but was given a free meat pie as consolation. Xarria declined, citing the medal she'd already won and the desire to watch her figure. The rest of the party paid the requisite fee and joined a scrawny young human at the table.

Kaeko was the first to bow out, becoming queasy after her second pie, followed by Valas and Sabina (on the third and fourth round, respectively). Dorlen began choking on his fifth pie. The human tried to help by forcibly hitting him on the back, only to launch him through the air and into a waste barrel of discarded food and drink. Xarria hurried over and dislodged the chunk of food, which Dax happily ate along with Kaeko's leftover pie. As the human was also unable to finish, the ogre declared him and Dorlen the winners, giving each of them a Medal of the Meat Pie. Dorlen gave the medal to Dax and offered to have a rematch with the human. The human, who introduced himself as Irvan, agreed, suggesting the party find him at the closing ceremonies... after Dorlen cleaned himself off.

They made their way to a swimming competition, where they saw a blue-skinned water genasi decisively end an argument over who could participate. She was joined by a drow that Dorlen, Sabina and Xarria recognized as Galsariad. Some of the party overheard the woman turn down the drow's offer to help with a Longstrider spell, but promised not to report him. The goblin officiating the event told them participants had to swim upstream through the Ifolan River, retrieve a rusted spear and return. However, only one member of a party could join. Dorlen was mainly interested in cleaning himself and, after paying the goblin a silver piece, had Kaeko toss him in the river (for science!). Valas eventually entered the competition after a round of unintentional innuendo, joining the water genasi and a pair of other competitors. As the race began, Dorlen and Kaeko made a bet on who would win; with Dorlen betting on 'Blue' (who Galsariad later told him was named Ayo) and Kaeko betting on Valas. With her Bardic Inspiration, Valas managed to grab the spear and began swimming back. However, Xarria spotted a pair of reef sharks following the swimmers and shouted out a warning.

Xarria fired her light crossbow and scored a hit on the sharks, who failed to bite Ayo and Valas. Dorlen gave himself an injection of pseudo-adrenaline (Expeditious Retreat), activated his Arcane Armour and dive into the river. Xarria fired her crossbow again, missed, and attacked with her Spiritual Weapon. Valas, realizing there were sharks in the water and attacked the closest one with his newly acquired spear. Ayo simply swam faster.

Kaeko made such a Vicious Mockery of one shark that it swam away while giving Sabina Bardic Inspiration. The remaining shark attacked but missed thanks to Kaeko's Silvery Barbs. Sabina used Speak with Animals to calm down the shark, apologize for the attacks and offer some healing. Dorlen, unaware of the truce that had been made, grappled the shark when it swam overhead and pulled it upriver away from any swimmers. Sabina had Dax intervene. A confused Dorlen allowed Dax to rescue the shark. As it swam back to shore, Kaeko calmed the crowd while a guilt-stricken Xarria Cured its Wounds.

Ayo and Valas emerged from the water, followed by Dax, who was dragging a waterlogged Dorlen. After Sabina pulled the gnome out, Ayo complimented Valas on his victory, revealed she led an adventuring party and suggested they meet each other at the closing ceremonies. The goblin official awarded Valas with a Medal of the Conch. Valas accepted the medal and asked Sabina, who had not won a prize, where she'd like to go (episode 1).

Sabina wondered if there was any competition involving archery or animal handling. Kaeko immediately suggested the herding challenge and the party headed over, but not before Sabina fed the shark some scraps of meat pie. The party made their way to a paddock where several young horizonback tortoises could be found. The lead trainer, an orc named Adan, explained that the goal was to guide a tortoise into the paddock. Dorlen, Kaeko, Sabina and Xarria agreed to participate, while Valas chose to watch from the sidelines and dry himself off with one of Dorlen's contraptions. Sabina charmed her tortoise with a dandelion before using Dax to launch herself into the saddle. She then asked Valas to look after the moorbounder.

Once everyone was seated, Aden began the competition. Xarria soon took an early lead, while Dorlen was almost bucked off his saddle. As they passed a clover patch, it was Kaeko's turn to narrowly avoid being thrown off. Sabina and Xarria ultimately succeeded in guiding their tortoises into the paddock, with Kaeko following suit. Dorlen, however, was thrown from his saddle onto the ground. He locked eyes with the tortoise before it bit his boot and began shaking him back and forth. Sabina had Dax, with Kaeko's Bardic Inspiration, herd the animal away from Dorlen and into the paddock. Aden would give Kaeko, Sabina, Xarria and Dax Medals of Horizonback for their accomplishments. He invited the party to come back and herd horizonback tortoises again (with some added romantic undertones to Xarria).

After the event, the party decided to go somewhere to drink and eventually finding a goblin brewery named Hobnobbers. The proprietor offered Kaeko a free drink if she could drum up some business. She promptly played some songs, and ultimately earned fourteen silver pieces, while Sabina put on a show with Dax. As they relaxed, they spotted Irvan and joined him for drinks. Xarria, unfortunately, got a little drunk after the third round.

Shortly after, drums began to play outside. Irvan told them they were signalling the closing ceremonies. As everyone headed towards the drums, they saw an orc elder named Ushru standing atop some wooden crates. After motioning for the drums to stop playing, he congratulated all the participants and announced that two teams would be chosen to race through the submerged Emerald Grotto and retrieve a jeweled icon. Ushru and another elder, Kaz, consulted amongst themselves before selecting the party, and Ayo's group, for the final challenge.

The elders led the groups to the edge of Jigow, moving from island to island until they stopped at the smallest one. Kaz handed each member of the group a Potion of Water Breathing, diluted to last for an hour. After some discussion, and good-natured ribbing from Ayo, a potion was given to Dax as well. Kaz then addressed the groups and the crowds that had followed. Holding up a medal, he explained that its twin, known as the Emerald Eye, had been hidden underwater. The first group to retrieve the Eye and return it would win the grand prize and be crowned Champions of Merit for the year. Kaeko conducted an Aria of Suspense on her party so they wouldn't be surprised. They then downed their potions and dove in before Ayo's group.

Their first challenge lay in a bed of kelp. Sabina got stuck, but Dax managed to drag her through. After turning east at an intersection, they entered a chamber filled with bioluminescent algae, two algae-covered pillars and a patch of bone-white sea grass that blocked the exit. Sabina tried casting Entangle to move the grass to no avail. Kaeko eventually cleared a path through with her greataxe and the party proceeded,with Dorlen briefly pausing to grab a chunk of algae for additional illumination.

They went down a winding tunnel into another chamber that had experienced a landslide. As they paused, more rubble began to fall. Dax was trapped and injured, prompting Xarria to cast some healing magic while Kaeko and Valas freed him. It was then that they realized that they couldn't find a way out. Dorlen saw a partially-buried exit to the north along with a cave. Kaeko, Valas and Dax dug out the exit while Dorlen investigated the cave, finding a Potion of Healing and a soggy Scroll of Thunderwave. The next chamber was home to a school of quippers. Despite Sabina's attempt to Handle the Animals, the fish attacked.

Once the quippers were defeated, the party swam into an underwater cave, where they encountered a giant shark. A glowing silver spear protruded from its side. An amulet--the Emerald Eye they were seeking--hung from a thick rope tied around its body. Sabina pleaded to the party not to harm the shark. While Valas readied an attack and Dorlen dodged around the beast, Dax tried to pull the spear out. Unfortunately he failed, prompting the shark to bite around wildly and land a hit on Dorlen. Kaeko swam over, ripped the spear out and climbed on top of the shark. Seeing no other option, the party proceeded to attack the shark. Dorlen tried to retrieve the Emerald Eye, only to suffer such a vicious bite that he fell unconscious. While Xarria healed the gnome and the party continued their attacks. At that point, Ayo and her party arrived, assessed the situation and entered the combat against the shark. Eventually, Kaeko decapitated the shark (natural 20!). The headless shark pushed Sabina, Dermot and Xarria aside in its death throes and knocked over one of the pillars, which broke through the southern wall. As golden light shone through, Dax floated over to Sabina, necklace in his mouth.

The party investigated the light, though Sabina paused to offer a sorrowful apology to the shark, entering a glowing air-filled cavern. A golden pendant lay on a crystal pedestal in the middle. Dorlen couldn't resist reaching up to touch the pendant, triggering the emergence of a spectral man clad in leather armour and a tattered red cape who pleaded for help. The ground disappeared under the party's feet, causing them to plummet into a dark expanse. They saw the man again, this time bound by strands of a fleshy, crimson substance. He stopped his prayers when he saw the party and identified himself as Alyxian. As tears streamed down his face, he explained that long ago, he had prayed to the Change Bringer in the heart of a temple of evil. He begged them to take his jewel and save him. It was at that point that the party passed out (episode 2).

### The Leave-Taking

Maggie carried Sabina and Dorlen through the streets of Jigow. After Dorlen, Kaeko and Xarria came to, she gently woke up Sabina. Upon awakening, her first thought was to ask for Dax, who shakily walked towards her. She persuaded Maggie to put her down and hurried over to check on Dax. Ayo conceded the final contest to the party and, after a long look, tossed the pendant to Dorlen. The party, grateful for how Ayo's group helped them fight the shark and rescued them from the underwater caverns, felt it was only fair to share the winnings. Sabina found a petunia by the side of the road, did some Druidcraft on the flower and gave it to Maggie as a gesture of thanks. She then found a sea-coloured fern and gave it to Ayo as well.

The elders (and spectators) were surprised to see the two parties return to them by an unexpected route. While the elders respected their declaration that the final contest ended in a draw, the crowd was confused and disappointed. Seeing that, Kaeko mollified them with an impromptu ditty while Dorlen proudly showed off his scars from the shark bites. As fireworks exploded and the crowds resumed their celebrations, the elders asked what really happened in the Emerald Grotto. Sabina simply glared at them while Dorlen and Xarria gave an overly detailed explanation. The elders grudgingly accepted their tale, but were surprised to hear about the pendant. They offered both parties free room at the Unbroken Tusk inn for the night and a hearty breakfast, during which they would bring the prize money. Kaeko bluntly requested that they refrain from using innocent animals, that were deliberately harmed to the point of hostility, in their challenges. The elders claimed ignorance of that particular detail, but promised to chastise the people responsible.

With that settled, the two parties went off to enjoy the revelries. While most of them chose to spend the evening drinking, Sabina slipped out with Dax to walk through the town, only to bump into Maggie. The ogre apologized for helping kill the shark, seeing how that had distressed her. After Sabina forgave her, Maggie gave thanks for the flower. Maggie then surprised Sabina with a short poem composed on the spot, confessing a secret love for poetry.

In the morning, Elder Ushru woke the party up and asked to talk to them about the pendant over breakfast. They joined him after inviting the other party, some of whom had eavesdropped on the conversation. Ushru confided in having a vision of a golden amulet rising to the surface of a pool of blood, countless hands trying to grasp it, and a man who eventually claimed it asking for the people from the grotto to find him. Dorlen recounted what happened from the beginning of the shark fight to the point where he and his companions passed out. After hearing the tale, Ushru told them they had probably found a Vestige of Divergence hailing from the time of the Calamity known as the Jewel of Three Prayers. As people rarely discovered Vestiges without a reason, he advised them to travel to Bazzoxan. While it was an admittedly grim town, built atop of an ancient temple of evil and presently under the control of the Aurora Watch, it was the best place in Xhorhas to learn more about the Calamity and the Vestiges.

Valas grew notably pale when Ushru mentioned Bazzoxan. After Xarria and Kaeko pressed him, he admitted visiting the town in the past and warning that it was not a pleasant town. He and Kaeko also recognized that any journey to Bazzoxan would require travel through the wastes, and that the town was near the Barbed Fields, meaning they were likely to encounter demons, devils and various monsters.

After Ushru handed the parties their winnings and left, Dorlen returned from his initial investigation. Ayo wanted to join forces with the party, citing the thrill of adventure and the known dangers of the wastes. Kaeko and Xarria readily agreed on behalf of their group. Dorlen insisted that while he wanted to keep studying the Jewel, it would be unwise for him to actually carry it. While some thought Kaeko would be a better alternative, Xarria would ultimately gain possession of the Vestige.

Before long, the combined party set off into the wastes. Kaeko suggested traveling at a normal pace. She also advised that they seek out a caravan stop, saying she knew where it normally stopped, that it would be a safe place to rest and resupply, and that she knew a few friendly faces there.

On the second day of their travels, they encountered a tiefling and his moorbounder mount under attack by two bristled moorbounders. Sabrina managed to calm one with Animal Friendship, but the other proved significantly more troublesome. After the party exchanged blows (and spells), Sabina was eventually able to establish Animal Friendship with the second moorbounder. A grateful tiefling introduced himself as Justice, a scout for the caravan. He told them he had to continue his patrols with his moorbounder Rice Pudding, who seemed quite taken with Dax, but invited them to find him at the caravan so he could reward them properly. After parting ways, the group set up camp for the night.

During the third day, Ayo spotted the smoking corpse of a large, winged creature. Dorlen, Xarria and Valas identified it as a gloomstalker. Furthermore, Dorlen, Kaeko and Sabina determined it had been downed by a combination of arrows and magic, the latter being fire or radiant in nature. Kaeko and Sabina would take some teeth and a wing, respectively, from the creature.

As dusk fell on the fourth day, the group came across an overturned wagon and cautiously approached. Dorlen and Kaeko discovered three dead merchants. The gnome took a key he found from one of the bodies. Meanwhile, Sabina opened the wagon door and found three will o' wisps, who immediately attacked. Despite taking some wounds, the group was ultimately victorious, with Xarria, Kaeko and Sabina delivering a killing blow. The ethereal spirits of the dead merchants materialized to thank them and offered a Charm of Heroism, which the group ultimately decided should go to Xarria.

Dorlen searched the wagon and discovered a strongbox that he unlocked with the key he'd found earlier. The box contained fifty gold pieces and a Potion of Giant Strength. After distributing the gold, he put the potion and the strongbox in his Bag of Holding. The group then decided to camp there for the night. Kaeko started a bonfire while Dorlen, Dermot and Xarria buried the merchants.

As the group discussed who would keep watch, the sky suddenly turned red. Looking up, they discovered Ruidus had suddenly become full, cursing them with its vermillion light (episode 3). The party tried to rest, managing a fitful sleep at best until Kaeko woke them up with a discordant tune.

During breakfast, Dorlen made an approximation of fuse as was his daily practice. He began making more for Dorlen when the sticks propping up the kettle suddenly rotted, causing its contents to douse the fire and choke the party with smoke. Galsariad guessed that was due to Ruidus's influence. When prompted by Dorlen and Sabina, he described the various superstitions and folklore associated with the Moon of Ill Omen until his moodiness got the better of him. Sabina tried to improve his disposition through Dax, only to fail when the moorbounder coughed up a hairball (natural 1).

While the day's journey through the wastes proved uneventful, the party's luck ran out as evening fell. Sabina and Dax, who were scouting ahead, came across an enormous, ape-like corpse punctured with spears and axes that was slowly melting into ichor. The corpses of two dozen humans in hide armour and their horses lay around the corpse, which she identified as an udaak, while a carrion bird circled overhead. Sabina used Druidcraft to put flowers on the horses and began searching the riders when she was attacked--learning too late that the 'bird' was actually a vrock. To make matters worse, quasits burst out from the udaak's fur and joined the combat.

The party managed to hold their own against the quasits, quickly dispatching one and entangling two more (through Sabina's Entangle spell) while exchanging melee and magical attacks. However, the vrock proved more challenging, staying out of reach for much of the fight and taunting the party out loud (in Abyssal) or telepathically. Kaeko managed to hurt the fiend with repeated Dissonant Whispers, but not before it let out a Stunning Screech that incapacitated most of Ayo's group and sent Dermot into seizures. The vrock took the opportunity to swoop down, attack Dermot and rip his eye out. Outraged, the party tried to draw the vrock away, either through attacks or verbal taunts, while casting healing magic on the goblin, who eventually fell into unconsciousness. Ultimately, the quasits were destroyed and the vrock flew away, though not before it threatened them one last time.

Once the fight was over, Irvan recognized the dead humans as wastewalkers from his own tribe. Sabina searched the bodies again and found a fancy dagger. She offered it to Irvan, as she thought it belonged to his people, but he declined to take the weapon. The halfling also gathered bits of hide armour and collected some saddle bags, which she attached to Dax. Valas urged the party to leave the area and find a safer site to take shelter for the night.

After another hard day, the curse of Ruidus wore off. The party reached a copse of trees that they recognized as the Wandering Oak's Grove, where the Emerald Loop Caravan Stop could be found. A path through the trees led to a clearing where the caravan's wagons were set up. Valas had to reassure the party that this was a safe place, particularly as Dorlen mistakenly thought the area was home to black market dealers and slavers (due to a natural 1), After some thought, Xarria remembered that the forest was first seeded to a treant named Wandering Oak, who subsequently entrusted its care to a pair of dryads known as the Acorn Sisters.

Kaeko, however, had someone else on her mind. After some careful searching, she spotted her husband's purple tent outside the circle of wagons. Valas took the gold Kaeko found from the dead riders and set off with Ayo and her companions to buy food and drink. Meanwhile, Kaeko led Dorlen, Sabina and Xarria to 'Bodhi's Brilliant Bodega' and enjoyed a passionate reunion with her husband. Bodhi greeted Sabina and Xarria, having met the two before and was introduced to Dorlen. Sabina proved to be embarrassed and disgusted by the shameless flirting between Kaeko and Bodhi, but ultimately bought a bone carving.

All was well until Bodhi asked how Xarria proposed to pay for some items she wanted. After he suggested he was open to a trade, Kaeko offered the moon-touched spear, going into an explanation of how she'd acquired it at the Festival of Merit. He was also willing to trade for the Vestige Xarria innocently revealed, initially mistaking it for an expensive medallion, until Dorlen blurted out what the artifact truly was. Bodhi grew increasingly alarmed as the party stumbled through an explanation of how they found it, the vision they'd experienced and why they needed to go to Bazzoxan, though he tried to hide it with lascivious comments. He eventually accepted the spear in exchange for all of Xarria's purchases and hurriedly closed up shop.

They walked over to the bonfire that served as the centre of activity for the caravan stop and joined the rest of their party. Valas was talking to a pair of teenagers, who he introduced as Tyvak and Moghra. Once Sabina learned the teens were the lone survivors of the udaak encounter they'd come across, she offered to return everything she'd gathered. The only item they wanted was the dagger, as it belonged to their father. In exchange, they offered an axe covered in runes. Sabina offered to return the dagger without any compensation, but they insisted on a trade (which Irvan explained as a wastewalker tradition).

When Sabina had Dax get their scent (so she could track them down later), the teens remarked that they'd just seen another moorbounder. To the party's surprise, the moorbounder was none other than Rice Pudding who had successfully returned to the caravan along with her rider, Justice. Justice thanked them again for the rescue and handed over the reward he'd promised: a pair of Goggles of Night (that he hadn't been able to sell previously). Dorlen examined them closely.

Meanwhile, Xarria saw the Acorn Sisters and recalled a few more facts, such as their acceptance of bonfires so long as only dead wood was burned and that it was customary to share food, drink and song with them as a gesture of appreciation. Galsariad was clearly interested in meeting them, but claimed he did not want to disturb them. Unperturbed, Sabina picked up a pair of acorns and turned them into miniature trees so he would have something to offer them. The two of them walked over, with Xarria trailing behind. Sabina and Xarria decided that Galsariad would greet the Acorn Sisters first with the acorns (he didn't get a say in the matter), after which Sabina would play on the flute and Xarria would dance. The Acorn Sisters accepted the offerings and invited the nervous and awkward drow to sit with them.

When she returned to the party, Sabina noted Ayo seemed bothered, and possibly jealous, that Galsariad had caught the dryads' attention. To help distract her, Sabina asked Ayo to distract Tyvak and Moghra so she could slip ten gold pieces in their bags. The party enjoyed the rest of a nice, relaxing night as they prepared for the next step in their adventure (episode 4).

After waking up, Sabina played with Dax before the moorbounder tackled her to the ground. Valas reached down and offered her some herbal tea, which she gratefully accepted. She noticed that the drow seemed distracted and offered to lend a friendly ear, but he politely declined.

The party gathered for coffee and tea, which Sabina almost skipped due to her desire to avoid the lewd exchange of words between Kaeko and Bodi. For his part, Bodhi spent some time with the party before parting ways, explaining he was en route to Ank'Harel. Valas warned the party that they needed to be careful, though he conceded their unusually large size might deter most dangers.

They did enjoy two uneventful days until encountering a gloomstalker who was attempting to attack a trio of mammoths. After failing to penetrate their thick hides, the flying monstrosity turned its attention to the party. Xarria and Dermot buffed the party (with Beacon of Hope and Bless, respectively) and Sabina summoned a Healing Spirit. The party then moved into position and made preparations to attack. Kaeko cast a Slow spell on the gloomstalker when it came within range, making it significantly more vulnerable to attacks. After being hit by several arrows, crossbow bolts and spells, the gloomstalker tried to escape, only to be downed by a final strike from Sabina and Ayo. Dorlen pushed Irvan to safety, but paid a price as the dying gloomstalker landed on top of him. As the party retrieved the gnome and healed him (with an angry Xarria's Cure Wounds and Sabina's Healing Spirit), Valas made sure the gloomstalker was dead. The more perceptive members of the party overheard him castigating Irvan for his performance during the encounter (failing to protect Xarria due to his missed dagger throws and needing to be rescued from the plummeting gloomstalker at Dorlen's expense) and threatening to kill him if he didn't improve. Irvan would become somewhat withdrawn for the remainder of the journey through the wastes, enduring conflicts with Ayo and Galsariad.

### Bazzoxan

Four days later, the party reached the military outpost of Bazzoxan, seated beneath an immense stone temple known as the Betrayer's Rise. As they approached the front gates, they were greeted by the sight of Aurora Watch guards, a plethora of spikes and grim visages of demons. Dorlen wondered aloud if they were in the right place before donning his Armour. Kaeko ruefully admitted her husband might have been right about his concerns after all and decided to play her Aria of Suspense to bolster the party. They were greeted by a member of the Aurora Watch, who repeatedly asked if they were mercenaries looking for work. Kaeko identified herself as a former sergeant of the Watch and told the nervous soldier to take them to his superior. The soldier opened the gates and began leading them towards the barracks.

They were still heading for the barracks when they saw five skinless masses of eyes and mouths wriggling around the corner of a crumbling building. Several Aurora Watch soldiers advanced towards them, though one--a male drow--paused, urging the party to fight or find shelter. He subsequently ordered Ayo's party to help defend the nearby infirmary while the others joined the attack. They eventually learned the aberrations were gibbering mouthers, who proved to be somewhat formidable due to their effect on the surrounding terrain, their incoherent gibbering that could potentially manipulate anyone who heard it, their blinding spittle and their bites.

During the battle, both the male drow and Valas disappeared down a nearby alley, only to reappear closer to the gibbering mouthers, a coincidence that was not lost upon the rest of the party.

Seeking to prevent the gibbering mouthers from approaching the infirmary, and the wounded being cared for, Dorlen cast Kinetic Jaunt and charged into the midst of the aberrations, much to the alarm of Xarria, who repeatedly scolded him throughout the conflict. Dorlen would pay for his recklessness as he sustained several attacks that eventually brought him down. Xarria brought him back with a Healing Word while Sabina and Dax tried to extract him. Unfortunately, Dorlen was affected by the mouthers' babbling and struck out at Dax. The moorbounder instinctively retaliated and sent the gnome back into mortal peril, though he would return to consciousness and rejoin the fight.

The battle was eventually won, though one of the Aurora Watch was killed and absorbed by the gibbering mouthers. Sabina began healing Dorlen, though she made a point of mentioning how she was expending her magic on him rather than her beloved Dax. Kaeko would also scold Dorlen for his poor choice of tactics. Dorlen ignored them and passed out after receiving confirmation from Valas that the infirmary was safe. The male drow introduced himself as Taskhand Verin Thelyss, leader of Bazzoxan, and welcomed the party to his city (episode 5). He asked what brought the party to the fortress, to which they openly admitted their desire to learn about the Vestige. Thelyss allowed the party to explore the city at their leisure and asked them to find him later at the Gatehold Barracks. Dorlen asked if anyone needed help, only to be scolded by Kaeko and Xarria again. Sabina took the time to cast Cure Wounds on Dax. The Taskhand left, but not before complimenting Valas on how quickly he moved down the alley during the fight.

Sabina pointed out that openly talking about the Vestige was unwise, prompting the party to brainstorm alternatives such as a fictional uncle. Kaeko also wondered how Valas moved so quickly, which the drow attributed to calisthenics. Xarria continued scolding Dorlen (and casting Cure Wounds), but the gnome insisted that his actions helped protect the other party members and prevented the gibbering mouthers from approaching the infirmary. As the city alarms, ceased, the party decided to go to the infirmary and check on Ayo's party.

As the party walked through the city, they noted its obviously utilitarian and functional layout. Distracted, Dorlen walked into a bugbear who was fixing a wounded drow's wheelchair. Dorlen helped him fix the chair while quickly sketching ideas to improve it. Sabina passed the time playing her flute while Kaeko provided musical accompaniment. The bugbear thanked Dorlen and provided directions to the infirmary (and, if needed, the crematorium).

The party continued to the infirmary, where they were greeted by a drow priest named Bautha Dyrr. When asked, Dyrr recalled that Ayo and her party had briefly guarded the infirmary before being sent somewhere to the north of the city. Xarria recognized the black wing pin on her cloak as the holy symbol of the solar Xalicas, though Kaeko mistook it for the Raven Queen. Dorlen refused any healing, asking Dyrr to mend Dax's wounds instead. Before caring for the moorbounder, Dyrr asked what brought the party to Bazzoxan. Kaeko and Dorlen claimed, in unison, that they were looking for an uncle, causing Xarria to groan and Sabina to cover her face. The party continued fumbling through patently obvious lies until Dyrr asked them to stop, expressing a willingness to take confessions or offer aid as long as they were not here to cause trouble. Dyrr admitted she had thought they were hired muscle for some scholars that had recently arrived. She gave some names (Prolix Yusaf and Aloysia Telfan), which the party did not recognize.

Kaeko played a Song of Rest on her guitar to help the wounded. Dorlen was waved over by a heavily bandaged drow woman, who asked him to retrieve her satchel. After he emptied its contents out in his hands, she gestured to a tiger's eye figure of a rabbit with a name carved in. She explained she had planned to visit the Wall of the Unforgotten and asked if he could bring the trinket there for her. He readily agreed.

Meanwhile, Sabina asked about the scholars. Dyrr said they came to study Betrayer's Rise before asking why they were really in Bazzoxan. Sabina said an elder of Jigow had directed them here to inquire about an artifact, but apologetically declined to provide further information. The priest told her that one of the scholars might have gone to the crematorium. She also provided directions to the Ready Room, which was the only inn in town that offered lodging for those who were not members of the Aurora Watch. Finally, Dyrr offered to cast Greater Restoration for anyone who needed it. Sabina immediately thought of Dermot, on the off chance he'd want his natural eye restored.

The party gathered outside and actively discussed their next move, along with how to make inquiries about the Vestige without openly revealing it. Their discussions were eventually interrupted by Dyrr, who suggested that they should close any doors--like the entrance to the infirmary--if they wanted to keep their conversations private. The party eventually revealed why they were here. Dyrr recalled a legend about a hero of the Calamity who begged aid from three gods in his time of need. Two of the deities were Avandra the Change Bringer and Sehanine the Moon Weaver. The priest also recalled that Avandra was said to have grieved for the hero, not for his death, but because her aid forced him to push on at the expense of his future.

Eventually, the party decided to go to the Ready Room. Sabina spotted two drow siblings, approached the one who had a ledger and paid for lodging. She asked the drow, whose name was Prima, about any scholars who might have frequented the establishment and was pointed to a tiefling named Question who was eating and reading at the bar. When the rest of the party joined her, Sabina handed the key over to Valas. Kaeko noted most of the customers were recent arrivals and decided to play. After Sabina arranged with the other drow, Delez, to cover their meals and drinks in exchange for Kaeko's performance, she told them about Question, Hearing her/their name, the tiefling perked up. Question was very eager to talk about mythic resonance, a phenomenon where acts of great courage left an impression on the world that inspired similar deeds, believing that the Calamity was the latest example.

Question knew little about Alyxian or the Vestige, but readily showed the party her book, which contained numerous sketches and pictures, including a larger and more elaborate version of the Jewel of Three Prayers and a rubbing of Avandra. Question believed that the Jewel was originally an ordinary amulet before it was imbued with power from three gods and it was tied to a mythical hero (who the party guessed was Alyxian). She told them there might be more information in the Betrayer's Rise but was reluctant to go there. The scholar explained she had traveled there with her colleagues, but had been frightened away when she started hearing whispers and had not seen them since. The party offered to look for them as they were planning to go there anyway.

During their conversation, the more perceptive members of the party noticed a gaunt blonde elf in scarlet robes eavesdripping on them. Kaeko walked over to confront the elf, who introduced herself as Aloysia Telfan. Aloysia offered to pay them if they would escort her to an ancient prayer site located within the Betrayer's Rise. When pressed, she told Kaeko she was looking for a certain mineral that had absorbed the power of Ruidus.

Kaeko brought Aloysia back to the party, where the elf repeated her offer. When Dorlen brought up the plight of Question's colleagues, Aloysia insisted her job took precedence. Uncomfortable with the thought of ignoring people in need, Sabina declined the payment but emphasized that was her choice alone. Valas, however, supported her position, as did the rest of the party (though Kaeko later lamented the loss of coin). Aloysia did not take the rejection well, coldly stating that Question's colleagues were probably dead and walked away.

After dropping their belongings off, the party headed back out into town. Kaeko proposed that she visit the nearby barracks, and use her status as a former soldier in the Aurora Watch to glean information, while the rest of the party go to the Wall of the Unforgotten. She found an orc outside the barracks who recognized the goliath. Seeing how she saved his life when they served together, he invited her in and gave the others directions to the Wall.

On the way over, they met a drunken man overwhelmed by the constant demonic incursions and convinced they were all going to die. The party tried to console the man, only to have him vomit on Dorlen (who chose to stand his ground) and Xarria's boots (as she was unable to dodge out of the way). Dorlen encouraged him to sober up, fight the demons and make his supposedly inevitable death mean something. The drunkard believed Dorlen was a divine messenger sent to him in his time of need, declared him 'Mentos, the Freshmaker,' and promised to spread his 'gospel of courage'. An amused Xarria told Dorlen he might have gotten his first follower.

They eventually arrived at the Wall of the Unforgotten, where a drow priest of the Luxon sternly told them to show respect for the dead. The priest, whose name was Kalym, softened when Dorlen showed him the tiger's eye figure. Kalym explained that it was a recent practice amongst newer members of the Aurora Watch to leave keepsakes by the Wall in case they died without making enough friends to hold a memorial for them. Dorlen began searching for the perfect spot to leave the figure while Xarria joined Kalym in prayer.

Sabina stood aside and watched with Dax, noticing that Valas kept pacing back and forth, mouthing some of the names. When asked, Valas admitted he knew some of them. Sabina did not press further, guessing it was part of some tragic backstory and respecting his right to privacy. Valas asked if she was all right, particularly given some of the sexually-charged innuendo the rest of the party engaged in. Sabina explained that she had gotten so used to being mistaken for, and treated as, a child that she sometimes acted like one even when she did not mean to. Valas confided that the 'stick up his ass' that the other party members had noticed stemmed from places like Bazzoxan and the unpleasant memories they stirred up. For her part, Sabina admitted that unpleasant memories were also the reason she left the moors.

Dorlen eventually chose a location to place the figure, though he fretted over its suitability. Kalym assured him his choice was perfect. He also thanked Xarria for her prayers and suggested she might be interested in another nearby temple. The priest apologized for initially mistaking their intentions and gave them all a Mote of Possibility to make amends. Valas was the only one who refused his offer, citing he was 'lapsed'. When asked by Dorlen, who wondered if Valas would object to healing spells that required physical contact, Valas gruffly replied that he did not like the Luxon.

After some time and careful consideration Dorlen found a location to leave the figurine. Kalym assured him that he'd made the perfect choice. He also thanked Xarria for her prayers (even if it was to a different god) and recommended another temple should she require a location for further prayer. He also wanted to offer a token of apology for mistaking their intentions, as he was used to seeing Aurora Watch soldiers (who came to honour the fallen) and locals (usually teenagers who vandalized the Wall). Dorlen, Sabina and Xarria agreed and gained a Mote of Possibility. Valas declined as he was 'lapsed,' so Kalym gave his Mote to Dax instead. When the priest asked what brought them to Bazzoxan, Dorlen almost blurted out their true reason before falling back on their story about a lost uncle. Kalym suggested investigating the infirmary or the crematorium. He also provided more information on the temple he'd recommended earlier, saying it had fallen in disrepair and had been converted into a garden whose vegetables fed the Aurora Watch troops. A firbolg apparently resided there. Before the party left, Dorlen thought Kalym should meet Dermot, as they were both followers of the Luxon. Kalym extended an invitation for the goblin to meet him.

As they left the Wall, Dorlen wondered if Valas's aversion to being touched (and gaining the Mote) meant he did not want to receive healing through physical contact. Valas was forced to explain he did not like the Luxon religion.

The party arrived at a spiral-shaped, dilapidated temple. Broken glass was strewn amongst the weeds. Pots and planters were situated throughout the temple. At the far end a broken glass mosaic sat in a window frame next to a withered tree. Sabina cast Entangle to create a mat of vines in order to protect Dax's feet. Meanwhile the rest of the party reassembled the mosaic, which turned out to be a faded picture of Avandra. Heading inside, they met the firbolg Kalym had mentioned. He introduced himself as Foghome and welcome them to his garden. Dorlen was fascinated by some of the spicy peppers he had grown, particularly a variety known as Tasha's Hideous Habanero and ate one. Unfortunately, the pepper proved overwhelming and Foghome was forced to give him a dose of spider milk that stopped the burning (though talking would be painful for the interim).

Sabina explained they were doing research on local temples, with Dorlen adding the name Alyxian in a croaking voice. Foghome asked if their research might have anything to do with the Betrayer's Rise, explaining he'd had an experience during his meditations that reminded him of the Prime Deities. He believed it meant a relic or echo of the Calamity had awakened within the Rise. He also had a similar sense from the party... specifically Xarria, who was wearing the Vestige. Unbeknownst to her and the party, the artifact had popped out during her earlier prayers. With her permission, the firbolg took a closer look. Foghome determined that there were three fragments of divine power in the Vestige, but only one was awakened. He also sensed that one of the fragments was similar to the presence he sensed during his meditations, and that it might awaken if the Vestige was brought to the Rise.

Curious, Sabina asked about the withered tree and learned it was too close to the Betrayer's Rise and its influence. Foghome was forced to prioritize his care for the other plants in order to provide food for the Aurora Watch. Sabina tried to make a flower bloom on the tree to no avail.

Foghome told the party that he meditated in the evening to commune with his Goddess, Melora the Wild Mother, and offered to reach out to her for more answers if they joined him. The party agreed and sat down with him in the garden. After a few minutes, Dorlen, Sabina, Valas and Xarria saw a vision of an young human dropping to his knees in the garden. Exhausted and frightened, he asked what he should do. As the sun rose, he was joined by five silhouettes. The human embraced them and they marched off to war. When the vision concluded, the party fell prone and passed out (episode 6).

Dorlen, Sabina, Xarria and Valas came to after Foghome doused them with water. As they recounted their vision, the firbolg admitted he'd had a similar experience. He believed the human was a hero of the Calamity. Foghome added that the Kryn capital of Rosohna was once the Betrayer Gods' citadel of Ghor Dranas, protected by a fortress built in the Betrayers' Rise until the Prime Deities and their champions captured the Betrayers' Rise and routed the forces stationed there. His description of the bonds forged by those champions and their impact reminded Sabina of Question and her/their study of mythic resonance. After she mentioned the scholar, Foghome showed them some faded messages carved into the alcoves by those heroes. Dorlen thought one of the messages might have been addressed to Alxyian directly. Valas sarcastically applauded his insight.

Foghome gave the party some fresh vegetables, adding a spicy pepper after giving Dorlen a warning, and offered to let them sleep in the temple if the Ready Room proved too rowdy. The party decided to go to the Aurora Watch barracks and find Kaeko.

The party reunited on one of the main streets. Kaeko told the others she'd heard rumours at the barracks that Ayo's party had been hurt or killed. They agreed to visit the crematorium without delay. Making their way over, they were greeted by a willowy man named Reynard, whose cheerful demeanour was at odds with the acrid smoke and stacks of wrapped bodies. He allowed them to search for their friends in exchange for their help loading bodies into the incinerator. Dax confirmed that none of the corpses belonged to Ayo's party. Another man, Sebastian, remembered seeing Galsariad and Dermot visiting earlier. In particular, he recalled Dermot praying over the bodies. Neither he nor Reynard remembered seeing Ayo, Maggie or Irvan. Relieved, the party resumed their work.

Sabina noticed that Reynard was deliberately avoiding one of the large corpses near the bottom of the pile. Looking closer, she saw what appeared to be a vrock. Pointing it out to Xarria, they were about to burn it when they were interrupted by a tiefling who insisted on examining the corpse. He identified himself as Prolix Yusaf, a scholar from the Allegiance of Allsight. Some of the party recognized it as a non-political archeological guild from Ank'Harel known for studying ancient history and ruins. When asked, he admitted he was spent to spy on his rivals from the Consortium of the Vermilion Dream. In particular, he was watching a Consortium agent named Aloysia. Prolix was pleasantly surprised to hear the party had already met her, relieved to learn they'd turned down her job offer and was interested to learn what she was seeking within the Betrayer's Rise.

Prolix soon turned his attention back to the vrock corpse, as he wanted to know why it had not decomposed like most vrock. Reynard admitted that anomaly was the reason why he'd avoided it. Prolix theorized the vrock might have eaten something from the Rise that preserved it. The party agreed to skin the corpse, only pausing when Dorlen punctured a spore bladder inside and breathed its contents. While Xarria healed Dorlen, Sabina kept cutting the vrock open and eventually found some gold-trimmed spectacles with feathers, some gaudy costume jewelry rings and an onyx puzzle box. Prolix grabbed the latter, causing the vrock to dissolve before their eyes. He insisted he had to open the puzzle box in a safe location for everyone's safety, though most of the party realized he was lying to make himself seem important. After some negotiation, Prolix offered to pay them part of his stipend if they let him keep the contents of the box and inform him about Aloysia's motives.

At that point, Prolix thought to ask what brought the party to Bazzoxan. After some discussion, the party admitted they were hear to learn more about the Vestige they'd uncovered. Prolix recognized it was ancient and powerful. Sabina recalled Foghome saying it was linked to something that had awakened inside the Betrayer's Rise, much to Kaeko's surprise. Prolix made a sketch of the Vestige, though Xarria mentioned that Question had already drawn one. He invited them to seek him out at his university in Ank'Harel, the Crystal Chateau, as it might contain more information about the Vestige and its purpose.

Meanwhile, Dorlen insisted on examining the puzzle box but quickly got stumped. Xarria tried her hand as well, to no avail. Sabina suggested Dax make an attempt and was vindicated when the moorbounder opened the box, revealing a scroll of Bestow Curse. Prolix decided that their aid, and promise not to work for Aloysia, was sufficient cause to pay them on the spot. After further discussion, they decided to retire to the Ready Room.

They made their way back without incident. Before entering, Sabina thought it might be wise to go in separately and avoid arousing Aloysia's suspicion. Prolix agreed to enter on his own and only join the party if Aloysia was not present. He also advised the party not to venture outside after dark, as they ran the risk of encountering, and being killed by, one of Bazzoxan's sacrifice engines.

Upon entering the stable-turned-rooms, the party saw Maggie. She motioned for them to be quiet and closed the door so as not to disturb Ayo's rest. Realizing the rumours were true and Ayo was hurt, Xarria offered her services. Ayo overheard her and told Maggie to let her pass. Heading inside, Xarria saw Ayo was heavily bandaged and had a haunted, shaken look about her. After Xarria cast Cure Wounds, Ayo explained her party had driven a group of aberrations away from the infirmary and into a sacrifice engine, but had been badly hurt in the process. Ayo blamed herself for the injuries her party had sustained. When asked, Ayo believed the rest of her party was somewhere upstairs in the bar. She added Dermot probably needed healing as he wouldn't have thought of his own welfare, which immediately caught Dorlen's attention. Maggie insisted she was fine and chose to stay with Ayo and continue reading her book.

Heading upstairs, the party could not find Prolix, but they did see a clearly inebriated Irvan. Sabina told Valas this was why she didn't drink and failed to see why it was so popular. Valas started to reply, only to see someone and abruptly claim he needed sleep. Following his gaze, Sabina saw a drow soldier of the Aurora Watch looking thoughtfully at Valas. She told Dax to make sure the other party members got some rest and followed Valas. On the way back, she asked Valas who he was avoiding. After feigning ignorance, Valas started to explain, only to be interrupted by the drow who called him out by another name. The drow approached, ignoring Sabina entirely, only to be beaten unconscious by Valas. Sabina pressed her companion for more information, refusing to believe this was a random encounter with some drunk and telling Valas that the others needed to know the truth, both for their safety and so they could help him. Valas promised to provide more information later and persuaded Sabina to help him move the soldier to a more innocuous location.

In the morning, the party made preparations to meet the taskhand. After another pointed look from Sabina, Valas told the others about his encounter last night and admitted there might be others who would recognize him. He revealed his true name was Antalas Thalund, he was a former Echo Knight of the Kryn Dynasty and there might be a sizable bounty on his head. Valas went on to explain that his lover, Celae'sarrin Dro'as, reincarnated enough times to become an Umavi: one whose soul had found their purpose. Unfortunately, Celae'sarrin believed their purpose was to kill the Bright Queen, who they believed had lost themselves amidst her cycles of rebirth. After failing to assassinate the Queen, they were sentenced to execution outside the reach of the Luxon to end the cycle of rebirth. Valas, however, managed to kill Celae'sarrin at or near Bazzoxan, before they got out of range. While merciful, this was also considered an act of treason, which meant Valas was risking being discovered by going to Bazzoxan. At the time, he had mistakenly believed the risk was low considering several decades had passed. He refused to leave, though, as he'd hoped to find Celae'sarrin's reincarnation. Furthermore, he asked that the party continue calling him Valas, which they agreed. In an effort to lighten the mood, he also asked that they not sell him out, to which the party joked that they would rather drive up the bounty and rescue him at the last minute. With that decided, the party decided to disguise Valas before meeting the taskhand. Valas was dismayed to see Sabina pull out a makeup kit, turning him into a farmer with a thick beard and bright russet wig rather than a magical disguise. Kaeko completed the disguise with some voice acting tips.

Some time later, the party met Taskhand Verin Thelyss in the War Room of the Aurora Watch barracks. He greeted them individually and offered them refreshments before inquiring again about their business in Bazzoxan. Recalling their earlier comments, he asked if they were members of the Cobalt Soul, as an expedition from that organization was lost somewhere in the Betrayer's Rise. He cautioned them about the Consortium of the Vermilion Dream in general and Aloysia in particular, confirming that she'd been reprimanded for trying to bribe Aurora Watch soldiers to guard her while she scoured the Betrayer's Rise. The party admitted they'd met Aloysia and rebuffed her proposal as their values did not align, before realizing Ayo's party should be warned. Dorlen, however, recognized that they were in no shape to accept any work. Verin assured them that he'd personally paid the cost of lodgings for Ayo and her group and would make sure they were cared for, in gratitude for the sacrifices they'd made for his city. He also added that Prolix was working with the Watch's arcanists to seal the rift in the Rise, though he suspected the academic had ulterior motives. The party was quick to vouch for Prolix and his intentions.

Verin continued to ask why the party came to Bazzoxan. While they did their best to keep certain details to themselves, they did confirm they were in possession of an ancient artifact, that their path seemed to lead to the Betrayer's Rise and they planned to do as much good along the way. The Taskhand warned them to be cautious and urged them to retreat if things became too dangerous as he could not spare any soldiers to act as guards or escorts. He also cautioned them about the Rise as something (possibly the influence of the Abyss) caused its passages to constantly change and shift, something that might make it difficult to navigate. When the party brought up the expedition, having met Question earlier, Verin warned the labrynthine nature of the temple might make it impossible to find Question's colleagues and they ran the very real risk of meeting their doom. Xarria, along with the party, insisted that they were a capable group and that their primary goal was to enter the Betrayer's Rise so they could determine the next step in their journey. Dorlen added that they had every intention of coming back to Bazzoxan and do whatever they could to help the city's people. In the end, Verin gave them leave to enter the Betrayer's Rise, reminded them again to be careful and wished them all the best.

The party walked up a steep staircase to the Betrayer's Rise. Upon their arrival, they were greeted by a variety of reliefs (many depicting torture) and lifelike grotesques of leering demons. An immense set of double doors barred their entrance, along with several guards from the Aurora Watch. As they approached, two gloomstalkers burst through the doors and dove towards the party (episode 7). The party immediately sprung into action, but the situation grew suddenly dire when one of the aberrations teleported to Dorlen, grabbed him in its talons and let out a shriek that stunned Kaeko. The other gloomstalker slammed Kaeko to the ground and tore her open. Fortunately, she was able to rally and rejoin the fight. After redoubling their efforts, the party gained the upper hand. Dorlen would ultimately kill one gloomstalker with a barrage of Magic Missiles before being pulled away by Xarria for healing. Valas would kill the other gloomstalker with one of his echoes. Kaeko started to heal thanks to a Healing Spirit that Sabina summoned.

Looking through the doors, the party saw three Aurora Watch soldiers who were seriously wounded. Their comrades ran to help. At their request, Sabina cast another Healing Spirit. As the party rested, a member of the Aurora Watch recognized them as the ones Verin had talked about. Given their aid in the battle, they were granted leave to enter the Betrayer's Rise at any time.

Before they went in, Sabina told Valas she was glad he'd stopped holding back. Kaeko gave a Motivational Speech. Dorlen was so inspired, he was the first to enter the temple. The rest of the party followed, congregating on a bloodstained bridge overlooking a chasm of swirling silver mist. They saw a closed double door of black stone on the other end of the bridge with a circle containing the profile of a smiling woman. Despite the deep claw marks gouging the symbol, some of the party recognized the woman as Avandra the Change Bringer. Xarria felt the Jewel grow warm and saw it pulse with light. Noticing the doors had also begun to glow in sync with the Jewel, the party decided to approach. As they crossed the bridge, they began hearing whispers from the chasm, but ignored their words. Remembering that Kaeko could not see in the dark, Xarria cast Light on the Jewel. Dorlen could not resist touching the subtly glowing doors, which opened in response. Before the party went through, Kaeko sang an Aria of Suspense.

The party entered a hallway and immediately noticed snoring noises coming from the walls. Dorlen touched them, finding them moist to the touch, and was both dismayed and intrigued to find that his hand was now covered in black ichor. Looking closer, Sabina saw the walls were covered in holes. Xarria examined the mural in the centre of the room. As the doors closed behind them, Dorlen and Valas saw some carvings on the wall and realized that they depicted the Battle of the Barbed Fields, a climactic fight of the Calamity. In particular, they noticed a proud, melancholy warrior with curly hair who carried a spear and shield, who Dorlen, Sabina and Xarria guessed was Alxyian. By his side were a white-haired girl no more than twelve years old and a young adult woman with hair that flowed behind her, who Dorlen and Sabina recognized was Sehanine the Moon Weaver and Avandra the Change Bringer.

Kaeko examined the walls and also noticed scores of small holes. Touching them, she found something that felt like a pebble... except it pushed back. Pulling away, she saw the 'pebble' become a molar. The holes began filling up with eyes, teeth and flesh. Dorlen poked one of the eyes, which gave way and popped beneath his finger. Realizing they were gibbering mouthers, Sabina urged the party to move. They quickly headed into the next room, a pentagonal chamber with several alcoves, one of which sported a skull-shaped vase on a small, semicircular table. The northeast alcove seemed to lead to another hallway, but had since caved in. Valas urged the party to clear the rubble and began digging away, with Kaeko soon joining him. Xarria found an inscription written in Abyssal and translated it for her comrades. Curious by her words, Dorlen touched the wall and felt it writhe beneath his fingers. Kaeko, Sabina and Xarria realized the wall wanted to consume them, but could only take those who had accepted the inevitability of their death. Dorlen sensed that as well and resisted the wall's pull. The rest of the party was about to assist Kaeko and Valas when three gibbering mouthers entered from the previous hallway and attacked.

Dax was sent to continue clearing the rubble while the others engaged the aberrations, whose teeth, terrain warping, gibbering and blinding spittle made them just as challenging as the ones faced in Bazzoxan. By the time the last mouther was killed, the party had expended a significant number of spells and other resources--a matter of some concern considering they had just entered the Betrayer's Rise. Kaeko took a Short Rest while the other party members joined Dax and finally cleared a path through the rubble.

With a clear path and no new dangers to distract them, the party took a closer look at the skull-shaped vase and table, noticing it contained the withered remains of a bouquet of lilies. Xarria read a phrase in Abyssal on the edge of the table, "Cast that which you value into Oblivion," which Sabina recognized as a reference to Tharizdun, the Betrayer God of emptiness and entropy, also known as the Chained Oblivion. When Sabina used Druidcraft to revive the lilies, the eye sockets flashed, the lilies died again and the wall behind the table slid open to reveal a long tunnel. Sabina apologized for not recognizing this sooner and forcing the party to fight the gibbering mouthers, to which the party told her not to blame herself. Valas noted that now they had another potential avenue of escape, should they require it (episode 8).

Dorlen wanted to reinvestigate the wall that tried to eat him, an idea that the others flatly refused. The party then decided to go through the newly opened door behind the skull-shaped vase, following a zigzagging corridor that eventually led to a large room with black stone pillars supporting a vaulted ceiling. Ornate brass braziers sat at the foot of four of the pillars. Faint music filled the hall. At Kaeko's request, Xarria cast Light on her greataxe. Dorlen offered to make a pair of Goggles of Night for the goliath once they had more time and money, only to be interrupted as the braziers suddenly ignited with pale flames that coalesced into a humanoid form. The glow revealed a stained glass mosaic containing an image with nine symbols. The image shifted as they looked at it, though the symbols remained stationary. Seeing the figures beckoning the party forward, Kaeko began strumming a Countercharm on her guitar, just in case. The more insightful members of the party realized the flames were moving in time to the music and were making gestures as if they were seeking dance partners. After some discussion, Xarria danced with one of the flames. The flame then flew into the mosaic, but not before illuminating a spider symbol. Xarria identified the symbol as that of Lolth, and then realized the other symbols were those of other evil gods. Seeing Xarria was unharmed, Kaeko, Dorlen and Sabina danced with the other three flames, which subsequently flew into and illuminated the bleeding eye of Gruumsh, the jagged spiral of Tharzidun and the trio of arms of Torog, respectively. Kaeko wondered if the order in which the flames highlighted the symbols was important. While Valas gave a sarcastic reply, Dorlen decided to touch the symbols in the order presented to them. As he touched the last symbol, the music stopped and a door at the base of the stained glass opened to reveal a hidden passage.

Before they investigated, Kaeko saw a pair of double doors to their right. When Kaeko opened them, the party saw a half-collapsed chamber filled with thick spiderwebs and two driders. They also heard a haunting song and a reverberating clicking noise. At Sabina's nervous suggestion, Kaeko closed and barred the doors. Unfortunately, that attracted the driders' attention. As the monstrosities tried to break through, Kaeko urged her comrades to run.

Peering through the door in the glass mosaic, Dorlen saw a hole in the floor and suggested it might be a means of escape. As he entered, he saw the walls had carvings of supine figures and chained bodies, while the floor was covered with black chains. More importantly, he heard wailing come from the hole that assaulted his senses. Overcoming their attack, he turned back to warn the rest of the party, but was too late. Valas, Dax and Sabina were overwhelmed by the wailing, slowly fell to their knees and fell prone. The chains began swarming over them as the wall carvings began to drone. However, Valas, Dax and Sabina were able to recover and stand before the chains could wrap around them. Kaeko and Xarria helped them up while Dorlen peered down the hole, seeing it descended into a much larger room.

At that point, the driders broke through the door and charged towards the party. Sabina hopped on Dax's back, cast Entangle (which the driders avoided by crawling on the walls) and dove into the hole with her moorbounder. Kaeko grabbed Xarria and pulled her towards the hole, narrowly dodging the driders' arrows with her Silvery Barbs. Seeing them try to escape, one of the driders cast Darkness. Kaeko, Xarria, Valas and Dorlen were forced to jump blindly.

The party found themselves in a chamber, where a beam of light illuminated a pale marble statue of a man on his knees. Despite the hideous noises coming out of the statue's mouth, and the chains and barbs digging in, there was a look of ecstasy on his face. A handleless double door made of iron was set in the statue's chest. A triangle was carved around the statue, with a stone arm and outstretched hand jutting from each point, one of which Sabina, Dax, Kaeko and Valas landed on. Xarria and Dorlen, unfortunately, would tumble into the chamber and land hard on the floor itself. Everyone would sustain psychic damage from the wailing. More importantly, Dax and Dorlen were overcome by the urge to attack. Dax struck Kaeko, despite Sabina's best efforts. Shrugging off the attack, Kaeko climbed down and began playing a Countercharm. Valas tried to draw the moorbounder's attention before summoning an echo on the floor and switching places. Meanwhile, Dorlen came to his senses, but not before casting Shatter on Xarria. The tiefling picked herself up off the floor and chastised a guiltstricken Dorlen, who quickly cast Cure Wounds on her.

Now that the battle was over, the party saw each of the arms were of different heights. All of the hands were positioned such that the palms faced the wall. The more perceptive members of the party also saw a throbbing pustule in the centre of each palm. They also saw passages leading to the east, west and south. Kaeko suggested examining one of the passages to find a safe place to rest. Sabina advised them that they should be stealthy and thorough in their exploration, as the ever-shifting nature of the temple meant they might not be able to come back to a previously visited room. Kaeko eventually climbed up and tried to pry them open to no avail. While the party considered shooting the pustules, they also peered down the hallways. They saw the east hallway had a stairway at the end leading up and the west hallway was dark, while Valas saw a stone slab rise from the floor to block the south hallway. Eventually, the party agreed to take a Short Rest, one marred by the statue's constant wailing and the distracting throbbing of the pustules. Kaeko played a Song of Rest and gave a Motivational Speech.

After much discussion, the party went down the west hallway. They soon reached an intersection that split into a hallway lit by red lights, another lit by purple lights and a third hallway that was dark. After some thought, they realized the previous chamber must belong to Torog and recalled one of the god's commandments mentioned seeking and exalting places of darkness. They deduced that the dark path was the correct one to follow. After making the same choice two more times at subsequent intersections and struggling through a crawlspace, they entered a chamber whose black stone walls were covered in gouges and lined with alcoves. In the centre lay a pool filled with blood, where one orc was seen pouring the sanguine fluid over another. Both orcs turned and snarled at the party. Stone slabs rose to block the exits, giving them no choice but to fight the orcs.

The battle proved quite trying as the orcs had been changed in such a way that they were immune to both fire and poison. Even worse, after uttering a prayer in Abyssal to Gruumsh, the blood began to boil and spill out of the pool, scalding the party members as it spread over the floor and began filling the room. Before long, Sabina succumbed to the orcs' attacks and the boiling blood and went down. Shortly after, Kaeko attempted to go to the halfling's aid, only to be downed by an attack by the other orc. Xarria roused the two and bolstered the others with a Mass Healing Word, allowing the party to continue the fight and ultimately triumph. As each orc was killed, they dissolved into the blood. When both orcs died, hidden vents appeared and drained the blood from the chamber.

Stunned, the party did their best to heal themselves. Kaeko reluctantly admitted that she'd exhausted her magic and was so grievously hurt that she would be a liability in any subsequent fight. Xarria chimed in that she was in similar straits. Dorlen proposed that they rest in the chamber and prop one of the grates open with his crowbar, only to find they had magically disappeared. Seeing no other choice, the party left to find a more defensible location to hide and rest (episode 9).

They eventually found a quiet place to sleep in the centre of a tunnel. Valas decided that he'd stand watch while the others rested. Kaeko offered to keep him company for the first few hours. Sabina eventually fell asleep and dreamt she was at a carnival with her parents. As they hurried to find a seat for the show, her parents thanked her for inviting them, expressed their love and asked if she was seeing anyone (hinting they wanted grandchildren). After Sabina deflected the question by pointing to Dax, they started watching the show. The carnival master approached them and introduced himself to Sabina's parents. After complimenting her tracking skills, he offered Sabina a chance to run the animal show as ringmaster. When she accepted, he gave her a lash dripping with blood. Sabina heard rusty cages screech open and soon saw the 'animals' were a tiefling, gnome, drow and goliath--all bound in chains and bladed collars. The ringmaster and audience, who she belatedly realized were exclusively halflings, urged her to punish them for the show. She threw down the lash in horror and backed away, only to be intercepted by a skeletal jester and a deep-voiced man who put a bladed collar on her neck. Sabina cried out for help from Dax, only to see him laughing with her parents. Dax cruelly told them that Sabina was nothing but an animal, that he was the smart one of the pair and he would give them all the grandchildren they'd wanted.

The sleeping party members were roused from their nightmares by snarls and a furious cry for help. As the statue droned in the background, they opened their eyes to see Valas and his echo frantically holding back demons at either end of the hallway. Xarria immediately recognized them as manes. As they watched, a mane plunged its blade into the echo's throat and destroyed it. The party swung into action, splitting up to meet both groups with spell and steel. Kaeko's Cloud of Daggers and Xarria's field of Spirit Guardians would prove particularly effective. Dorlen welcomed some unexpected aid from a member of the Aurora Watch, only to realize too late that it was actually a barlgura. However, the party ultimately persevered. Dorlen and Sabina healed Valas's injuries once the final demon fell and the party took a moment to rest.

After Xarria cast a Light spell for Kaeko, Dorlen suggested returning to the chamber with the statue and outstretched hands. As soon as Kaeko gave a Motivational Speech, he led the way only to see the chamber had changed to a circular room with a ceiling lined with throbbing veins. There were also two sets of massive bronze doors, one of which swung back and forth. Sabina and Xarria heard the sounds of something stripping meat from bones. Looking up, they saw a gloomstalker eating a giant rat. Xarria suggested retreating while Kaeko wanted to investigate the statue. While they debated their options, and dispelled Xarria's Light spell, they heard the sounds of cheering and horns in the distance. Kaeko also glimpsed a dull light reminiscent of glowing rock. Sabina and Dax crept forward and climbed up the statue to the doors in its chest, only to find they were still locked. Meanwhile, Kaeko investigated the swinging double doors and looked inside. She saw an immense cave, with a horned, winged creature sleeping in a lake of lava, and silently retreated.

Dorlen silently signaled Sabina to shoot the pustules, which she managed with a half dozen arrows. As the last pustule burst, the doors in the statue's chest opened with a groan. The party quickly sneaked inside before any monsters saw them, finding themselves in a corridor that seemed to warp through space and time. The passage ended it a circular chamber whose walls were covered with softly glowing crystals. In the centre of the room lay a crater and altar, both made of the same crystal. Kaeko, Sabina and Valas slipped and fell down amongst the crystals, cutting themselves on their soft edges. As Xarria healed Kaeko's wounds, she felt the Jewel tug forwards and sensed it wanted to be placed upon the altar. Dorlen joined her as she complied with the Jewel's 'request'.

A spectral figure emerged from the amulet before everything disappeared in a blinding light. The party saw a vision of Alyxian and a company of grim-looking soldiers entering the Betrayer's Rise. They saw another vision where all but Alyxian were dead, lying amongst corpses of demons. After falling to his knees, Alyxian was lifted to his feet by Avandra, the Change Bringer, only to be confronted by the voice of Torog the Crawling King who ured them to give up. The vision shifted again to show Alyxian underwater in the ruins of a sunken city. He begged the party to help him set things right. With a start, the party realized he was actually seeing and speaking to them.

Dorlen assured him that they would help and the party introduced himself. Kaeko asked if he knew where he was. Alyxian could only tell them that he was somewhere underwater and that his surroundings were lit by a crimson glow. However, mortals were harvesting the source of the glow and gradually plunging him into darkness. Xarria tried to comfort Alyxian, who blamed himself for accepting the gifts of the gods and sought reassurance that he was not selfish for seeking aid. As he moved to touch Xarria, his image and the light faded.

As the vision faded, the party saw Aloysia at the end of the crater... trying to steal the Jewel with her Mage Hand. Kaeko tried to snatch it back with her own Mage Hand but failed. Ayo's party stood alongside Aloysia, visibly bloodied and confused. The party tried to stop Aloysia, with Dax successfully snatching the Jewel, and provide healing to Ayo's party. However, the gloomstalker they saw earlier teleported into the chamber and attacked. Snarling at Dax, Aloysia cast Earthquake from a scroll. As fissures appeared in the chamber, and falling rocks battered the party and knocked Valas down, shadowy demons entered the room and joined the fight. The situation grew worse as a hideous screech from the gloomstalker paralyzed Kaeko, Sabina, Dax, Ayo and Dermot.

Aloysia snatched the Jewel from a paralyzed Dax and snapped a small tablet, opening a portal behind her. As she stepped through, her satchel caught on the edge and fell back into the chamber, revealing two more tablets inside. Irvan threw a dagger after Aloysia. To everyone's horror, the portal closed before it could hit her... and the dagger struck Valas instead, causing him to tumble into one of the fissures.

While Dorlen tried to scramble after the drow and Irvan dropped to his knees in horror, Xarria cast Mass Heal Wounds on Ayo's party. Seeing the tablets within the satchel, she grabbed them and realized they were teleportation tablets, though she did not know where they were keyed to. Reasoning that anywhere was better than the chamber, which was still suffering from the Earthquake, she called everyone over and snapped a tablet. As a new portal opened, she felt a gust of warm air and smelled the scent of sand.

One by one, everyone ran through the portal, carrying anyone who was in need of help. Dorlen was almost crushed by falling rubble, only to be pushed aside from Valas's echo. He sadly grabbed Valas's sword and went through the portal. Sabina paused long enough to cast Spike Growth in the hopes that it would snag Valas before following. Kaeko cried out in anguish that Valas was not supposed to die, but passed through the portal before it closed (episode 10).

### Ank'Harel

The party found themselves within a teleportation circle, on a rooftop overlooking a bazaar. Sabina found herself overwhelmed at the sight, but was soon interrupted by Kaeko, who tackled Irvan to the ground in a fit of rage. Xarria snapped that it wasn't his fault. Irvan sobbed that he didn't mean to kill Valas. Dorlen told Kaeko they needed to focus and find Aloysia, who was ultimately responsible for Valas's fate. He grimly told Irvan that he knew it was an accident, but warned him never to throw a dagger near one of his friends again. Seeing that Kaeko was still holding Irvan down, Ayo pointed a javelin at the goliath. That prompted Sabina to draw her bow on the genasi and an alarmed Dermot to try and calm things down.

Kaeko finally broke down in tears while Irvan blubbered that he did not want to die so far from the Luxon beacons. Dorlen managed to get through to Kaeko, who released Irvan just before two armed humans climbed up to the roof and challenged them. Between their accents, the city below and the desert off in the distance, Xarria, Sabina and Dorlen realized they were in the continent of Marquet--halfway across the world. The party explained where they had come from and asked if they had seen someone matching Aloysia's description. Seeing how distraught Kaeko looked, the guards were convinced of their sincerity and introduced themselves as members of the Hands of Ord. The woman, in particular, was a sergeant by the name of Adralla Bue. The Hands of Ord then welcomed them to the city. When asked by Sabina, they did not know where Aloysia's employers, the Consortium of the Vermilion Dream, could be found, but told them that scholars were often found in the Sigil District. Kaeko asked for a tavern, to which the guards replied that there were several in Ank'Harel, including the one whose roof they stood on. The Hands of Ord asked again where the parties came from and were shocked to realize how far they had traveled. They finally admitted they had not seen anyone resembling Aloysia, which did not surprise them given the size of the city and its population. When asked, the guards told them the entire Suncut Bazaar was filled with a variety of shops, including a pawn shop called the Bone Garden.

After the guards left, Dorlen briefly talked to Dermot before loudly proclaiming they had to find Aloysia and heading for the ladder. Sabina finally sheathed her bow, glared at Ayo and Maggie (who moved to protect Ayo) before following Dorlen. The party made their way down to the ground below, discovering they had teleported to the roof of a tavern called First Eclipse. They began walking towards the Sigil District as they discussed their next move. Hearing multiple vendors hawk their goods, Dorlen approached one for food. After buying some meat, he asked if the vendor had seen anyone resembling Aloysia. The vendor replied in the negative, but suggested hiring mercenaries if they were tracking anyone. Dorlen then wondered if Dax could track her, but Sabina told him there were too many people and scents. The rest of the party eventually bought food as well. Kaeko voiced a complaint about the heat, to which Xarria replied she found it rather pleasant. Dorlen, however, also felt hot and took off his jacket.

Sabina approached another Hands of Ord guard and, pretending to be a child, obtained directions to the Crystal Chateau, a location in the Sigil District where the Allegiance of Allsight could be found. The party then went around the Cerulean Palace and through the Sand-Herald District, noting the increased presence of the Hands of Ord. Sabina noticed the presence of several halflings. They eventually reached the Crystal Chateau, an immense structure of smoky quartz and white marble, where they were met by a tiefling scholar. Kaeko, in a roundabout fashion, explained they were looking for Prolix Yusuf, who they had met in Bazzoxan. After a few minutes, the scholar pointed to one of the teleportation atriums, where Prolix--and Question--had just emerged. They called out to Prolix and Question, who quickly realized that Valas was not present and that Xarria no longer wore the Jewel. The scholars explained that at least three days had passed since the party entered the Betrayer's Rise, much to their surprise. Fearing the worst, they opted to teleport to Marquet.

Question quickly excused themselves as they had to report to the Library of the Cobalt Soul, but believed their superiors would want to talk to the party. The gave them a sending stone so they could arrange a meeting as well as a map of Ank'Harel. A grateful Kaeko helped Question hail a carraige. Prolix invited the party to his home for chocolate and, at Kaeko's request, liquor, but suggested they should talk to his headmaster first. He led them to a small house and introduced them to Headmaster Gryz Alakritos, a small and plump goblin. Alakritos greeted them, quickly sensed that Bazzoxan had been hard on them and offered to make them tea (with some spirits). While Alakritos prepared the tea, Prolix asked what had happened in the Betrayer's Rise, and quickly sensed that Aloysia had a part to play in their present sorrows. The headmaster returned with snacks, and the party told him and Prolix about all their adventures in Bazzoxan, their trials in the Betrayer's Rise, the vision they shared, how Aloysia stole the Jewel from them and was indirectly, but ultimately, responsible for Valas's demise. The headmaster seemed to recognize something when they described the sunken city in their vision. When Kaeko pressed, the headmaster admitted there were some sunken ruins nearby, but access was restricted to members of the Allegiance of Allsight. Dorlen asked if they could make an exception, as they had mutual interests where Aloysia was concerned. Sabina suggested that Dorlen could act as a visiting professor, which led to a tangent regarding Dorlen's field of study until Sabina brought them back on track. Ultimately, the headmaster sympathized for their loss and was certain they were truthful. However, procedure dictated that he could not provide access until they had proven themselves. He assured them that opportunities to prove their worth would come soon and that he would conduct some research for them in the meantime. When Sabina asked, the headmaster also provided some ideas on where the Consortium was known to gather.

Once their meeting was concluded, Prolix led them to his home, promising he would guide them around the city in the morning and help them find their own accommodations. True to his word, he also offered them chocolates and liquor, but warned that they should not have too much of the latter. After Prolix retired for the night, Kaeko gathered the party together and reminded them they still had not chosen a name for themselves. Recalling the importance of valour during her time in the Aurora Watch, and wishing to honour Valas's memory, she suggested incorporating part of the drow's name in some way. Sabina proposed the name 'Echoes of Valas' as the drow had left both a physical and metaphysical impression. Xarria suggested combining both ideas into the Echoes of Valour, a proposal that met unanimous approval. The party finally drank the liquor as a toast, quickly agreeing that it was a potent drink. Sabina waited until the other party members fell asleep before attempting to leave and hunt Aloysia on her own, but was so overwhelmed by the sight of Marquet that she retreated and cried herself to sleep.

In the morning, Prolix led them to the market and gave them a range of options for housing, depending on their finances. After some discussion, he suggested they stretch their budget and supplement their income by seeking out jobs. When they agreed, he recommended an inn and tavern called Step Aside, known for its signature dessert of haluh. The party followed Prolix to the inn, where they met an elf named Irawan. Irawan asked if they were here for the haluh. While the Echoes of Valour explained they were actually here for rooms, they soon got sidetracked by the dessert until Irawan's husband, an elven druid named Calinao, intervened. Calinao assigned them separate rooms at their request. Seeing Kaeko, Calinao recalled another goliath adventurer by the name of Grog Strongjaw. The two began discussing other people they knew, getting into some rather salacious details. An embarrassed Sabina soon interrupted by revealing that Kaeko was a performer. After Kaeko gave a demonstration of her skills, with Sabina and Dorlen assisting, Calinao agreed to give them a discount. As they received their keys, the party noticed that both Irawan and Calinao sported several scars, suggesting some kind of martial or adventuring past. Recognizing Sabina as a ranger and realizing they were not used to the intensity of the sun, Calinao also gave them a potted aloe plant.

After they had secured their rooms, the party left to explore Ank'Harel. They considered visiting First Eclipse, but ultimately decided to stop by the Bone Garden first. They made their way to the pawn shop, where they met the proprietor, a mute human woman named Rerosha, and her parrot Akil. Sabina asked if they had seen anyone resembling Aloysia, to which Akil squawked that they were not snitches. When Sabina explained that Aloysia had hurt their friend, the proprietor mimed that she couldn't help them but made drinking motions. Playing along, Sabina asked her for recommendations for places to drink. Rerosha mimed the word 'eclipse'. Satisfied, Sabina asked if she would buy the battleaxe she'd acquired at the caravan stop. Rerosha demurred the offer but recommended a shop called Mystic Pursuits.

Once the party had concluded their business and left the Bone Garden, Xarria explained she had rested enough to cast Locate Object on the forked stick she'd bought, which would allow her to find the Jewel and, by association, Aloysia. Sabina added that Rerosha had hinted they could find Aloysia at the First Eclipse tavern. They quickly decided to travel there.  Xarria cast her spell along the way and the stick steered them straight to the tavern's front door.

Entering the bar, they saw a seedy clientele, including a pallid elf wearing an outfit similar to Aloysia's. Xarria's stick led the party past the bar and over to a wall bearing numerous cask lids. The stick began pulling Xarria towards a cask lid with a red crescent moon sigil and began tapping against it. Noticing them, the bartender claimed it was the house ale and asked if Xarria wanted a drink. Thinking quickly, Xarria asked Dorlen to buy her a drink. An oblivious Dorlen obliged, with Kaeko following behind him.

Meanwhile, the stick kept tapping the cask lid. On the third tap, a hidden latch was released and the cask lid swung open, revealing a staircase within. They were still going down the stairs when a small room came into a view. They saw a glass cabinet holding several fist-sized chunks of red rocks... and the Jewel. Hearing a whimper, they looked down and found Aloysia underneath a table in the centre of the room. Aloysia was bound, gagged and severely beaten. Dax turned and growled just as the door behind them closed. Turning around, they saw a pallid elf woman, who said she had wondered when they would show up (episode 11).

Sabina drew her bow while Xarria pretended they were looking for the washroom. The woman commented that they would have to review their security measures. Upon receiving confirmation that they were the people Aloysia had met earlier, she greeted them by name, citing Aloysia's notetaking, and introduced herself as Vrill, one of the organizers of the Consortium. Sabina whistled to Dax to return to her, allowing Vrill to squeeze past them, descend the staircase into the room, retrieve a key from her hat and open the glass cabinet. She told them she truly wanted to study the Jewel, but conceded that would be difficult in Ank'Harel and admitted it was not her property. Placing the Jewel on the table, she backed away. Xarria immediately entered the room and picked up the Jewel. Feeling the warmth and a sense of rightness, Xarria let out a sign of relief. Sabina trained her bow on Aloysia as Xarria retrieved the Jewel, prompting Vrill to assure her that Aloysia was incapable of casting spells until her thumb was reset. Sabina told her it was difficult to take her at her word, given that she and Aloysia were part of the same organization. Vrill understood, but told her that Aloysia would be fired once they'd taken steps to minimize her knowledge of the Consortium, both due to her recent transgressions and as another gesture of goodwill. When asked, Vrill said the price for theft was usually imprisonment, but conceded that Aloysia had done more than steal the relic. Sabina and Vrill briefly debated the boundaries of laws versus ethics and how they did not always coincide.

Vrill then expressed a desire to work with the Echoes of Valour, offered sympathies for Valas's loss and disavowed Aloysia as a rogue agent whose actions were not sanctioned by the Consortium. Xarria cut to the chase and bluntly asked what she wanted. The pallid elf replied that she would like to offer the party a series of missions, with the ultimate goal of having them join the Consortium. Xarria told her that they would have to consult with the other party members. Vrill told them to come back in two nights if they were interested in joining. When asked, Vrill said that the Consortium was founded to seek knowledge, unlock the mysteries that had been kept away from 'the undeserving' and gain power. She made them one final deal: after their next meeting (in two nights), the Consortium would turn Aloysia over to the authorities. If the party wanted to take her into their custody instead, they could speak to the dragonborn bartender. Xarria thanked the pallid elf for her time and left. A wary Sabina followed with Dax, keeping her bow at the ready until they returned to the bar. The three arrived in time to see Dorlen smashing a beer glass on the bar and Kaeko vomit over the dragonborn bartender. They quietly made their exit and joined the other party members outside.

When the Echoes of Valour reconvened, Kaeko quickly noted Sabina's barely suppressed rage and asked what happened. Sabina curtly told Kaeko and Dorlen that the Consortium had Aloysia in their possession and planned to turn her over to the authorities unless the party agreed to work for them. It soon became clear that Sabina wanted to kill Aloysia as punishment for Valas's death. The party debated their next move. Dorlen pointed out that the Consortium might not be reliable partners considering how willing they were to dispose of Aloysia when she became inconvenient. Furthermore, he suggested asking Prolix about the laws of Ank'Harel so any actions the party took would not have unwanted repercussions. He also pointed out that keeping her alive might prolong any suffering she might experience. Kaeko had some qualms over outright murdering Aloysia, no matter how much she might deserve it. Xarria felt death was not the worst fate one could face, but agreed with Dorlen that they should see what consequences might arise from their actions. Sabina, however, was adamant on killing Aloysia.

Kaeko then brought up her discovery that Bodhi was apparently in town and asked if they could visit him before going to Prolix. The party agreed, though Sabina was clearly reluctant. Kaeko tried to lead them through the throngs of the open-air market but kept getting distracted by the smells and ultimately stopped by some stalls for food.

The other party members caught up with Dorlen and made their way to Bodhi's shop. Bodhi, who was otherwise arguing with renovators, was surprised to see them, disturbed to hear they went to the Betrayer's Rise and saddened to hear Valas's fate. Kaeko asked how Bodhi had gotten the shop and was concerned to hear he had both taken out a loan and wagered their savings. Dorlen and Xarria felt discretion was the better part of valour and went outside, where Sabina was already waiting.

Bodhi invited the rest of the party back inside and asked about their plans. Kaeko told him they had another vision in the Betrayer's Rise. Dorlen, after making sure they had some privacy, quietly said they might be seeking to avenge Valas's death. A concerned Bodhi directed them into a small back room and told them he had some familiarity with the local laws, which were based on the Code of Ord and enforced by the Hands of Ord. He told them that theft, exploitation, and murder were the worst crimes and generally led to incarceration (the severity depending on the crime). The judges of the Cerulean Palace or, in some cases, the ruler J'mon Sa Ord, might rule on crimes where culpability was in question or particularly heinous crimes. He was not sure if crimes committed in Bazzoxan would be within the jurisdiction of the Ank'Harel authorities. Above all, he urged the party not to get caught committing any crimes.

After expanding on the definition and scope of exploitation, he offered to put them in touch with a friend if they needed an extra set of hands for any jobs around the city and agreed to hold onto Valas's longsword for safekeeping (as none of the other party members were proficient in that weapon). Sabina, still intent on killing Aloysia, wondered about using their remaining teleportation tablet, which they had taken from Aloysia's bag, to transport her body (and evidence) away to another location such as the Betrayer's Rise. Unfortunately, it was keyed to the rooftop of the First Eclipse and Bodhi's arcane knowledge did not extend to changing its destination. He did recognize that Valas's sword was magical, but accidentally cut off his own finger while examining it. Kaeko quickly reattached the digit with a Cure Wounds.

Sabina asked Bodhi about his friend. Bodhi explained that she did some guard work for his caravans and used to run with the Scarbearers. While Kaeko somehow thought they were literally scarred bears (or werebears), the others recognized them as the most famous mercenary company operating out of Ank'Harel, named after the scars their founders showed to J'mon Sa Ord. They also knew that they proudly claimed an honourable place in Marquesian society, even though they had a reputation as brutish soldiers of fortune. Dorlen and Sabina also recalled their motto and that their headquarters was in the Bowl of Judgement, an arena in the Sand-Herald District. Bodhi promised he'd put out feelers and suggested they return in a few hours.

As they left Bodhi's shop, the Echoes of Valour were greeted by a messenger who handed them a missive from the Allegiance of Allsight. The party was tasked with returning a marble elephant figurine that had been stolen from them. They could retrieve the figurine from the Bone Garden, whose proprietor, Rerosha, had been told to expect them. The party decided to complete this errand while waiting for Bodhi's friend, making their way to the pawn shop and greeting Rerosha and Akil. Seeing the figurine, Dorlen couldn't resist picking it up. As soon as he did, though, a burst of red light exploded outward as the figurine expanded into a full-sized elephant with a pinkish-red crystalline hide and a network of red veins. Everyone managed to dive out of the way as the elephant exploded out of the pawn shop.

The elephant attempted to attack Kaeko and Xarria, who managed to dodge both the attacks and the falling debris from the Bone Garden. Failing to strike either adventurer, it began rampaging down the street and slammed through the front of an arcane shop named Mystic Pursuits. An explosion of ink burst out, coating Kaeko and Xarria a brilliant shade of blue. Several other passerby were also painted in neon blue. Kaeko managed to cast Slow on the elephant before it knocked over a melon cart.

Xarria rushed up the elephant's back and cast Inflict Wounds. Dorlen joined her, hastily donning his Arcane Armour, followed by Dax. Sabina tried to get in front of the elephant and calm it down with a Speak With Animals spell, only to find out too late that it was not actually an animal. The elephant trampled over Sabina, knocking her unconscious. Dorlen and Dax scored opportunity attacks before it plowed into Bodhi's shop, much to the proprietor's dismay. At that point, a green orc woman entered the fray. Summoning an echo, she grabbed the first thing she could find and struck three blows against the elephant.

Kaeko, Xarria and Dorlen cast spells against the elephant while Bodhi revived Sabina with a healing potion. Coming to, Sabina whistled for Dax to attack. The moorbounder leapt over Dorlen and pounced on the elephant, knocking it over. Sabina picked herself up and hit it with her hatchet. However, the elephant soon recovered and got back on its feet, shaking off Kaeko's Slow spell. The orc woman struck it twice and drew its attention away from Bodhi while Kaeko went into a rage and hit it with her greataxe. Xarria would deal the killing blow with an Inflict Wounds spell, causing the elephant to explode with a bright light before reverting to a marble figurine. Dorlen tentatively touched it, despite Kaeko furiously reminding him she had Mage Hand, but nothing happened.

Xarria greeted the orc while Bodhi cried at the damage done to his shop and asked what had happened. Sabina told him they defeated the elephant thanks to the orc. Dorlen noticed she fought like Valas, prompting Sabina and Xarria to realize that she was holding Valas's sword. Bodhi belatedly introduced the orc as Zenada, the friend he had mentioned earlier, and added that she was willing to act as their guide . At Sabina's request, Zenada returned to Bodhi, who asked that she put it back on the wall rather than risk any further injury to himself. The party offered alternatives to pay Bodhi back for his healing potion, ultimately settling on Dorlen brewing a replacement when he had time. Dorlen then jabbed Sabina with a Cure Wounds.

Bodhi finished his introductions and Zenada offered her own greetings.  He was then distracted by the workers he hired, who returned from break, saw the damage and observed they were getting overtime. Dorlen introduced himself, to which Zenada requested that she keep his needle away from her. Sabina then recalled that they had originally set out to complete a job for the Allegiance of Allsight, plrompting Zenada to ask if they needed a guide. The party discussed how large Ank'Harel was before Dorlen asked Zenada how she learned to fight like an echo knight, which forced them to talk about their deceased friend Valas. Bodhi awkwardly interrupted them to point out that, given the recent damage to his shop, he had nothing large enough to safely hold Valas's sword and suggested Zenada carry it instead. While the party considered that, Dax came forward and introduced himself to Zenada with a silent paw, receiving an unexpectedly flirtatious greeting (and scritches) in return. After some discussion, the party agreed that Zenada could wield Valas's sword, at least until they found a better option. Zenada gave Bodhi her old sword in return (as she only had one sheath) before the party left for the Sigil District.

The Echoes of Valour made their way to the Crystal Chateau, where they were met by a gatekeeper named Jor Raashid. Deciphering Kaeko's explanation, he recognized that they were the friends of Prolix who had been trusted with one of their errands (though Zenada's presence and the party's newfound name was unknown to him). After Dorlen warned him about what happened to the figurine, Raashid withdrew his hand and hastily emptied his lunchbox. The party then realized they had entrusted the figurine to Dorlen, who had somehow misplaced the item. After some thought, Dorlen remembered he'd stopped by a public washroom to relieve himself after all the drinks he'd consumed at the First Eclipse and ran off. Sabina hopped on Dax, picked up Dorlen and retraced their steps.

When they reached the public washroom, Dorlen ran inside. Sabina spotted a small air genasi boy walking along and playing with the elephant. After some discussion, Sabina offered to trade the elephant for the horse carving. Despite her lack of haggling experience, the boy agreed if she bought him a snow cone as well. Once they had the elephant figurine, Dorlen, Sabina and Dax returned to the Crystal Chateau. They found Raashid was passing the time by reading a book titled 'Curriculum of Chaos' and gave him the elephant figurine. Moments later, Prolix saw them and wandered over to greet them. Prolix admitted hearing about the trouble The Echoes of Valour had faced during the mission, prompting the party to ask whether the Allegiance of Allsight would help compensate any businesses that had been affected.  The conversation quickly became awkward as the issues of responsibility and culpability were debated.  Eventually, Prolix agreed to investigate what his organization could do about the collateral damage to the bazaar and offered to give them another mission if they were interested.  When Xarria pressed for details, Prolix slowly admitted they were in the midst of a massive excavation in the Sigil District concerning the ruined city of Cael Morrow—the city Ank’Harel was built over—and wanted the party to investigate rumours of an entrance to the city located somewhere in the oasis.  The party decided to discuss it amongst themselves before making any decision.

They were interrupted by Question, who had just arrived in a carriage.  The party bid Prolix farewell as Question stepped out to join them. Sabina introduced Question and Zenada, prompting Dorlen to ask aloud whether they should tell Zenada about their ‘uncle bard Destiny’.  Xarria firmly suggested that now was not the right time.  After a pause, Question told them that his superior, Iwo Zalarre, wanted to offer them work on behalf of the Library of the Cobalt Soul.  She confided that she’d accidentally read a secret document, suggesting the job had something to do with cultists.

Sabina tugged on Zenada’s sleeve and quietly apologized for the party’s cryptic comments, explaining they had several secrets they had to keep and had dealings with people who ultimately proved untrustworthy.  Zenada assured her that no offence was taken.  She added that she was currently between jobs and was helping them as a favour to Bodhi—though she wouldn’t say no if her aid led to a paying job.  Ultimately, she was willing to respect the party’s privacy and right to keep whatever secrets they might have.

Dorlen wanted to know Question’s opinion about Zalarre, with some emphasis on his character, but quickly decided the party should meet him.  One by one, the others agreed.  With that decided, Question led them to the Guided District, eventually coming to the Temple of the Mentor.  While the building was a temple of Ioun, the party quickly discerned it was more of a library than a place of worship.  They went to the second floor and met Zalarre, who quickly got down to business. Walking to the balcony, the middle-aged half-orc pointed at a pale wizard in academic robes who bore numerous body piercings and carried a snake-headed staff.  Zalarre told them the investigators of the Cobalt Soul believed the wizard was a cultist of Zehir.  He ordered them to follow him back to his home and quietly determine his true purpose. If he was up to no good, the party was authorized to apprehend him and turn him over to the Hands of Ord or Zalarre. His warning about the need for discretion prompted Dorlen to declare they were doomed (episode 12).

Curious, Dorlen asked what led the investigators to suspect the wizard.  Zalarre replied his snake-headed staff was a staff of the adder—a powerful relic of some import. Furthermore, some of his tattoos hinted at connections to Zehir.  Kaeko asked how they could distinguish any evidence they found versus hearsay. Zalarre said that between Question’s word of their abilities and Xarria’s clerical spells (Zone of Truth, in particular), he trusted they would be up to the task.  After some further debate on the party’s skills, particularly where subtlety was concerned, Zalarre wished them luck and told them to find him when they had completed their mission.

After eating the snack, Question expressed hopes that the party would join the Library of the Cobalt Soul.  When Sabina asked, Question told them the Cobalt Soul was an extremely old group dedicated to preserving truth, no matter how uncomfortable, and combating misinformation.  The conversation meandered to different ways of learning, truths and falsehoods, though Question may have gotten distracted by the assets presented by Kaeko and Zenada. The party tried to recall what they knew about Zehir. Sabina knew Zehir the Cloaked Serpent, was one of the Betrayer Gods, responsible for the domains of assassins, poison and snakes, and that his symbol was a coiled serpent.  She also remembered learning about the tenets of Zehir’s religion, which revolved around sowing chaos.

At that point, Question pointed out that the suspect had begun to leave.  As the party followed, he rudely brushed off a halfling and climbed into a carriage.  Kaeko began magically drawing the ambient noise into musical notes, composing an Aria of Suspense for the party.  Meanwhile, the others were able to catch enough of the suspect’s directions to guess he was heading for the Sigil District.  They quickly decided to flag down another carriage.  Sabina volunteered to hop on Dax and follow on her own.  Dorlen, Kaeko, Sabina, Zenada hopped in and asked the driver to follow the suspect.

Sabina and Dax managed to follow the carriage without raising the suspect’s suspicions. They eventually arrived at a surprisingly expensive-looking apartment building called Scroll’s Alcove.  Sabina pretended to ride past him before doubled back.

They eventually arrived at a surprisingly expensive-looking apartment building called Scroll’s Alcove.  Kaeko paid the fee as well as a generous tip before they got out.  Sabina joined them and confirmed the suspect had gone in.  Kaeko offered to use her various charms to persuade the dwarven doorman to let them in.  Unfortunately, the doorman recalled she was instrumental in breaking up his brother’s marriage when she was with the Aurora Watch.  Kaeko motioned for the rest of the party to sneak in while the doorman was busy giving her a piece of his mind. Unfortunately, the doorman heard Sabina.  Sabina quickly pretended to be a child and Kaeko pretended she was her daughter.  Sabina managed to persuade the doorman to give her a bottle of water.  Kaeko and the doorman continued to argue until she realized the doorman was transitioning and was shamed out of the apartment with Sabina (who returned the water).

After some time, Xarria cast Sending to Kaeko, suggesting she, Sabina and Dax follow the suspect while the others search his room. Kaeko and Sabina managed to persuade Dax to pretend he was a domesticated pet and lead the others to them.  Seeing the suspect step out, Kaeko and Sabina resumed their mother-and-daughter ruse.  After exchanging greetings, the suspect headed off, with Kaeko and Sabina trailing. They had the sense that the suspect was nervous and looking for something.  Sabina felt a disturbance along the way, as if animals somewhere were in distress.

Kaeko and Sabina saw the suspect knock on a door in an alleyway.  They heard the suspect talk to someone, who greeted him as Ophidas. Ophidas confirmed he had four vials of powerful snake venom… before Sabina accidentally drew their attention. The other person slammed the door while Ophidas ran for the end of the alleyway.  Kaeko and Sabina followed, casting Slow and Entangle, respectively. They managed to grab Ophidas, but not before he cried for help.  As the local Hands of Ord responded, Sabina hopped out of the alley to draw their attention while Kaeko tied him up.  When the Ord patrol arrived, Kaeko and Sabina were surprised to see one of the officers was Sergeant Adralla Bue, who they'd met when the Echoes of Valour first arrived in Ank’Harel. Ophidas insisted he had been accosted by Kaeko and Sabina.  For their part, Kaeko and Sabina revealed they were working on behalf of the Cobalt Soul to follow Ophidas, a suspected cultist of Zehir, and had discovered he had vials of snake venom in his possession.  The Hands of Ord ordered everyone to empty their pockets.  Kaeko and Sabina quickly complied.  The suspect protested, but ultimately revealed his vials of snake venom.  The patrol insisted everyone follow them to the nearby station for questioning.

At the precinct, Kaeko and Sabina gave their statements and were soon given leave to depart. Ophidas was kept for further questioning, given the incriminating testimonies and evidence that had been gathered.  Kaeko arranged for Question to join them and corroborate their story.  Eventually, they emerged to find Dorlen, Xarria and Zenada, who had followed Dax to the precinct.

The party brought each other up to speed on their findings.  Sabina and Question were upset to learn Xarria had killed the snakes.  Sabina and Question were upset to learn Xarria had killed some snakes that had confronted her.

Question felt Zalarre would want to speak with them, so the party returned to the temple and reported what had happened.  Zalarre seemed frustrated that they had blatantly revealed their mission, forcing him to answer a lot of awkward questions from the Hands of Ord.  Kaeko and Sabina eventually convinced him they were able to prove the suspect was a cultist and stop him with a minimum of bloodshed.  Zalarre identified the skull as a halfling who was the former owner of the snake staff. Ultimately, he felt Question’s faith in them was rewarded and he promised to call upon them for future missions, handing over a sending stone.  Sabina carefully slid the stone to Xarria for safekeeping before Dorlen could get his hands on it.

Zalarre offered the party coffee before they departed, inadvertently triggering a conversation over donuts, bagels and who was allowed to have the food.  Sabina, however, had a more serious question regarding whether they were allowed to read the library’s books.  Dorlen asked what Sabina wanted to learn given his background.  Sabina said she didn’t want to bother Dorlen before Zalarre began questions regarding his credentials and specialties.  After much prodding from an increasingly interested and suspicious Zalarre, Dorlen eventually retrieved a book on the schematics and theories behind his armour and other technomagical devices.  He also hinted he had begun teaching students before he was expelled.  Zalarre was interested in reading Dorlen’s book, but settled for having one of his scribes copy it the next time they visited the library.

Sabina asked if Dorlen would be willing to teach him how to read.  Dorlen immediately agreed and wandered off with Sabina, chattering the entire time. She would stay as late as she could, reading bestiaries and other books with Dorlen's help. (episode 13).

The next two days were relatively peaceful. Sabina went on walks with Dax when it wasn’t too crowded with people, stopping by the First Eclipse for some reconnaissance. She also enjoyed spending time with the plants of the Step Aside and talking to its proprietors.  In particular, she noticed they received a great deal of deference, even from well-armed people, which further supported the possibility that they were former mercenaries of some sort.

Dorlen and Sabina were sharing a room, partly to facilitate reading lessons; partly so someone (else) with healing spells was readily available should Dorlen suffer an accident.  Sabina was playing a flute song at Dorlen’s request, so he could add the melody to his ‘Kaeko Box,’ when she spied a small brown viper swaying back and forth in time to her performance.  After asking Dorlen to replicate her song with one of his trinkets, she cast Speak With Animals and greeted the snake.  She learned the snake had many names, including Chet, lived on the roof and occasionally had problems with cats.  Chet also told her there was someone at the door, at which Sabina asked Dorlen to investigate.  Opening the door, Dorlen saw Kaeko and Xarria.  He also stepped on a piece of paper, which proved to be a note from Prolix requesting a lunch meeting to discuss another mission for the Allegiance of Allsight.

Kaeko caught up with him outside the inn and asked if he wanted to join them for breakfast and present the Allegiance mission now. Prolix agreed, explaining he had originally suggested a lunch meeting as he thought the party might be sleeping in after a long night’s adventuring.  Kaeko proposed heading to a tavern for breakfast, but Prolix insisted the inn had its own restaurant and he did not want to inconvenience them. Overhearing him, Dorlen realized that Prolix really wanted the dessert the inn was famous for. Sabina regretfully informed Chet that she couldn’t take him in as he might find the presence of so many people overwhelming. She offered to bring back any treats she might find, promised to have a word with the cats, but urged him to share the inn’s mice population with the cats.

Before long, they were seated at the inn’s rooftop bistro.  The party took part in a hearty breakfast while Prolix enjoyed a small bowl of haluh—and happily told them that he would pick up the tab for the meal.  He then looked around to ensure their privacy before presenting the mission: the Allegiance of Allsight was exploring the ruins of Cael Morrow and heard rumours that there was a second point of access to the ancient city that ran through Ank’Harel’s oasis.  They wanted the Echoes of Valour to investigate those rumours as soon as possible and were willing to offer 300 gold pieces.  If the party accepted, Prolix would send word to the Life Dome, which crowned the oasis, and arrange access for them.  Once they agreed, Prolix handed over a scroll.  Dorlen took it and handed it over to Sabina so she could practice her reading.  She realized it was a writ of payment from the Allegiance of Allsight for 300 gold pieces, which could be redeemed at any financial institution.  They discussed the advantages of a writ versus a bag of coins, with Prolix adding that while his faction could hire any band of mercenaries, they were one of the few adventuring parties that he trusted. When asked for more detail, Prolix told them the oasis was quite small and any entrance to Cael Morrow should be fairly large.  The party discussed what they should do if there was an entrance, given that Cael Morrow was submerged underwater, and considered going to the Bone Garden and asking Rerosha if she had anything, before Prolix told them they were probably over thinking things.  They eventually decided to head over to the Life Dome after noon.  After Prolix left, Sabina asked Irawan for some raw chicken eggs.  He guessed she’d been talking to Chet and warned her that he was something of a con artist, but complied with his request.

Sabina spent the next few hours going on another walk, stopped by the First Eclipse again.

The Echoes of Valour met up again and made their way to the River District, noting the vast amount of farmland, the network of canals and a marked increase in humidity.  Before long, they reached the Life Dome, where they were met by a friendly gnome.  Guessing who they were, he introduced himself at Carliale Kroogan.  Concentrating on a thin shard of iridescent quartz, he caused one of the dome’s glass panels to flare with blue and purple arcane runes before vanishing.  Carliale gestured for the party to come inside.  They followed, only to immediately regret it as they walked into the sweltering heat.  Dorlen and Xarria saw their hair frizzle.  Kaeko felt terrible.  Of the group, Sabina was the only one who didn’t mind the humidity.  After a while, Sabina and Xarria felt a cool breeze that provided some measure of relief.

They saw the oasis consisted of a small lake, that was spanned by a series of crystal bridges. The edges of the dome were lined with vegetation.  Carliale invited them to ask questions, causing Sabina to immediately ask about the flora.  He also told them the oasis was the primary source of fresh water for Ank’Harel, which originated from the flooded caverns below.  Given that Cael Morrow was located underneath Ank’Harel, he understood why there might be a passageway connecting the oasis to the ancient city. However, he felt the caverns and passages were too small to squeeze through, and consequently was confused when Prolix told him he was sending the party to investigate whether they could be used as a second way into Cael Morrow.  He also added that Cael Morrow was a pre-Calamity city that was originally on the surface before either the Calamity or natural tectonic activity caused it to submerge.  Carliale also explained that the water levels fluctuated, but was at a loss to explain why. Dorlen wondered where the rumours of the oasis providing a way to Cael Morrow came from if information about it was so tightly restricted.  Carliale had no idea where the rumours might have started. As Carliale talked, Sabina and Xarria noted the bottom of the lake was very silty.

Hearing that Dorlen was a scientist of sorts, Carliale went on to explain that the Life Dome regulated the flow of water between the lake and the canals, using a combination of magic and engineering.   That water flow was supplemented by drawing water from the air, which caused the humidity experienced by the party. Carliale explained that he could regulate it all using the quartz shard to open a path… then realized that it was missing.  Guessing he must have dropped it near the entrance, he invited the party to look around while he retrieved it.  He accepted Sabina’s offer to lend him Dax’s aid.

Sabina climbed a tree and looked around.  She saw no sign of disturbance that might suggest a hidden entrance into Cael Morrow. However, she did see the oasis begin to churn and tried to alert the rest of the party.  Alas, her warning came too late and a geyser sent Dorlen, Kaeko and Xarria flying into one of the canals. A fight quickly broke out, with the party defending themselves from a pair of unseen adversaries. Xarria quickly determined that they were invisible stalkers and managed to pass along the information despite being choked and drowned. While most of the party would take some wounds, they ultimately prevailed, with Kaeko and Dax scoring the killing blow.

Carliale rushed up and asked if the party was okay.  He guessed the invisible stalkers were likely assassins sent by the Consortium of the Vermillion Dream or the Sentinels of Memory.  As the party did not recognize the latter faction, Carliale explained that the Sentinels opposed the Allegiance’s work to unearth Cael Morrow, as they believed some things were better left in the past, and would do anything to thwart those efforts.  He hoped that the Echoes of Valour would not have to go up against the Sentinels and regretted that the party didn’t find what they were looking for.  The party disagreed, suspecting the Sentinels were responsible for starting the rumour of a hidden entrance in the Life Dome (episode 14).

Before they left, Carliale encouraged them to take advantage of the Life Dome’s abundant supply of fresh water to clean themselves off.  Kaeko asked if he had any idea where the Consortium or the Sentinels might reside, but Carliale had no concrete information on hand.  Sabina suggested they report back to Prolix, which the rest of the party agreed.  She also found the iridescent shard that Carliale had used to open a way to the Life Dome.  They suspected one of the invisible stalkers might have taken it earlier.  Sabina then thought they should recommend that the Allegiance send support to reinforce security around the Life Dome.  They eventually said their goodbyes and left, but not before exchanging sea life puns.

The Echoes of Valour took a moment to enjoy the change in their surrounding environment, finding the dry heat preferable to the humidity of the Life Dome, before following Dax back to the Crystal Chateau.  Prolix greeted them and made some chai tea while they gave their report.  After hearing about their ordeal, Prolix decided that they deserved something better than tea and offered some peppermint schnapps, which all but Sabina and Dax accepted.  Prolix expressed regret that he’d inadvertently sent them into harm’s way but was glad that they were the ones who encountered—and defeated—the invisible stalkers.  While the party assured him that they did not blame him, they did want to know where the rumours came from.  Unfortunately, Prolix had no answers.

Prolix emphasized that he had recommended the Echoes of Valour due to their past effectiveness, wished aloud that the Allegiance of Allsight had more people with their skills and, with the party’s permission, offered to submit their names forward as potential new members.  Sabina asked for further details and was told members would be expected to perform field work or missions in exchange for perks such as funding or accommodations. He assured them that membership did not mean they would be forced to stay in Ank’Harel or give up any personal quests (e.g. the Jewel).  Regardless, Prolix promised to pass along any information regarding who tried to murder the party.  The party soon left as it was getting late and Prolix had a date that night (Sabina Druidcrafted some flowers, Xarria rearranged his hair, Dorlen used Prestidigitation and Kaeko fixed his collar with Mage Hand so he could make a good impression).

The party was walking back when a teenage air genasi girl bumped into Sabina and handed her an unsigned note that the halfling supposedly dropped.  It tasked them with investigating rumours of a ghost haunting a shrine to the Wild Mother in the Sigil District and, if possible, channeling its wrath towards the faction’s benefit.  Dorlen kept walking, oblivious to what had happened and engrossed in upgrading his goggles to better detect invisible stalkers, until Dax blocked him from proceeding further.  Kaeko, Sabina and Xarria tried to discern who sent the note.  It was Xarria who detected the smell of old ale and sulfur that made her think of the bar and back room of the First Eclipse, confirming their suspicions that it came from the Consortium of the Vermillion Dream.  After Dorlen came back and was brought up to speed, the party decided to hunt the ghost that night so they could visit the Consortium in the following morning—but not before stopping by a food pavilion for dinner.

It was dark by the time the Echoes of Valour made their way to the shrine.  It was built, in part, out of bone and stone with a stone wall to keep out people.  Sabina noted there were plenty of spoor and other indications that animals frequently passed through the area, which was somewhat overgrown.  After Kaeko conducted her Aria of Suspense, Sabina and Dorlen, who had already activated his Armour, led the party inside.  Xarria spent a moment in contemplation of who the shrine was dedicated to before proceeding.

As they went in, they noted a wash basin that could easily be mistaken for an altar.  Beyond it was a small wooden shrine building.  Dorlen kicked loose an old copper coin.  Picking it up, he was pleasantly surprised to see it came from his home city.  Sabina, then Xarria, caught the smell of snuffed candles and saw smoke rising from the side of the shrine and nearby tent posts.  Sabina cast Druidcraft on some dried vines to see what would happen and watched as it blossomed to life.  Xarria did not sense any malevolence, though she did detect a general presence of the divine.  She also heard some wailing, followed by a deep voice telling her to go away.

A moment later, the rest of the party heard the same thing.  Kaeko cast Light on herself.  A bloom of fog formed right in Kaeko before coalescing into a skeletal hand that began to choke her.  Sabina thought it looked similar to low-level wizard spells that she'd seen. Kaeko cast Thunderwave, disintegrating the hand.  Dorlen ran into the shrine, looked around and asked aloud where the ghost was.  The ghost told him to leave.  Sabina bade Dax to go find anyone hiding.  He charged into the shrine and pounced on someone.  Hearing a feminine squeak, Sabina followed and saw Dax had pinned a malnourished teenage girl in threadbare clothing.

Xarria entered the shrine and, using Thaumaturgy, commanded the girl to sit still and explain why she was defiling the shrine.  Dorlen promptly sat down.  The girl began crying.  Dax rolled over and offered his belly.  The girl tearfully told them she just wanted somewhere to sleep and begged them not to kill her.  As Kaeko came in, Dorlen realized Xarria wasn’t yelling at him, stood up and tried to reassure the girl before wondering if she was the ‘ghost’.  The girl explained she recently discovered she could do magic and, fearing for the safety of others, sought refuge in the shrine. She had pretended to be a ghost in order to frighten others away.  Kaeko accepted her apology and wondered if they should find her someone who could teach her magic.  Sabina summoned a Healing Spirit near the girl and introduced the party.  They offered her rice crackers (that Prolix had given them earlier) and jerky, which she practically inhaled before giving her name of Shira.

As Kaeko gave her a spare cape, Xarria looked Shira over and saw she was malnourished and exhausted (from staying up all night to scare people away).  With Sabina’s coaxing, Shira revealed she had grown up in Ank’Harel and had run away from an orphanage.  Kaeko offered to buy food for and share their lodgings with Shira before finding her a job and a way to learn magic.  After discussing various ideas, Shira began to nod off.  Seeing that, Kaeko gently picked her up.  The party took advantage of Sabina’s Healing Spirit before returning to the Step Aside.

In the morning, the party found Irawan and informed him they had to step out for some business.  They also told him about Shira, asked that anything she needed be put on their tab and to tell her they would be back soon.  They also warned him that Shira had recently discovered her magical talents.

They then made their way to the First Eclipse.  Sabina and Xarria were the first to realize the tavern door was ajar.  Dorlen recognized the door had been struck from the outside with enough force to knock it off its hinges.  Sabina rushed in first.  The other party members followed, with Dorlen activating his Armour.  The inside of the tavern was trashed; as if a bar fight had begun and spiralled out of control.  They heard someone warn them to stay away and thought it sounded like the blue dragonborn bartender.  Looking around, they saw a scaly arm poking out near the bar.  On the other side of the room, where the wall of casks lay, the previously secret door was wide open.

Sabina ran to the door, mind racing with thoughts of Aloysia escaping and how she might have killed her.  She looked down the stairs and saw a body on the table. The head had been crushed in by a mighty blow.  After a moment, she thought she recognized the clothes as the ones Aloysia had been wearing.  Sabina fell back against the wall of casks and slumped down. Xarria joined her and asked what happened before looking through the door and down the stairs.  Sabina mumbled that at least the deed was done and it was nothing less than what Aloysia deserved.  After a moment, Sabina and Xarria took another look and realized the body was still bound with rope, while the items that had previously been on the table were now on the floor.  They concluded that someone had swept the table clean before throwing Aloysia on top and crushing her head in.

The party reconvened by the secret door. Dorlen and Kaeko saw the crime scene for the first time, with the latter so disgusted that she fought the urge to vomit. Sabina then saw Dorlen doing something, but said nothing. As she hugged her knees, Dax came up and licked her face clean.

Suddenly, Sabina and Dax heard booted footsteps, realized the Hands of Ord were about to enter the tavern and warned the others.  Sabina wanted to hide, but Kaeko saw no reason to as they had done nothing wrong. Dorlen moved to see how the bartender was doing.  Seeing that the party were not hiding, Sabina ran out of the tavern crying for help. She recognized one of the three guards as Sergeant Adralla Bue.  Bue recognized Sabina in turn and sighed before looking inside the tavern and wondering what they had gotten themselves into this time (episode 15).

The Hands of Ord interviewed the party for an hour but ultimately let them go after the bartender cleared them of any wrongdoing. Dorlen was very insistent that they return to the Step Aside to talk, once again raising the confusion and suspicion of his companions—particularly after he accidentally brought up Maggie’s name.

The Echoes of Valour reunited with Zenada on the rooftop of the Step Aside.  Zenada shared some of her pita with Dax and explained to Xarria that she’d finished her contracts and thought she’d visit the Step Aside to catch up with old friends and possibly see the party again.  Dorlen gave Zenada a rambling summary of their exploits, which included a ‘magic girl’.  Kaeko added that they needed to see the girl… and Dorlen had some explaining to do.  Zenada gave mild thanks that they hadn’t killed themselves after Bodhi called in the favour she owed and asked what they were doing. Kaeko explained that they were doing random jobs to curry favour with some of the factions of Ank’Harel. Dorlen added that they might have angered the Sentinels of Memory in the process before emphasizing they need to talk in privacy.

They checked in on a bleary-eyed Shira, who was sleeping in Dorlen’s and Sabina’s room. When she mentioned feeling hungry, Kaeko told her to head to the rooftop, let the staff know she was with the party, and eat as much as she desired.  Sabina sent Dax to play with Shira and escort her to the rooftop for food. The party then retreated to Kaeko’s and Xarria’s room and shut the door.  In his usual meandering way, Dorlen told them he’d discovered a bloody ogre-shaped footprint and scraps of armour consistent with the kind sold in Jigow. He concluded that Maggie, along with the rest of her party, had killed Aloysia both to avenge Valas’s death and make amends. Dorlen also admitted to destroying or taking the evidence and explained he’d pointedly offered alternate explanations so as not to arouse the bartender’s suspicions.  Sabina then apologized to Zenada for the confusion she must have felt and brought her up to speed.

Zenada calmly, but firmly, advised Dorlen to dispose of the evidence he’d taken, as he did not want to be linked to murder, or the cover-up of a murder, in Ank’Horel.  She reassured him that she was used to other forms of justice outside the city limits.  Kaeko felt they needed to talk to the other party.  Dorlen agreed, but thought Zenada should be fully informed of ‘Operation Uncle Bard Destiny’, considering Bodhi’s trust in her.  Xarria groaned at the idea that they were giving their quest such a name. Zenada was silently, but visibly confused. After the party agreed to take Zenada into their confidence, Kaeko told her about the quest they’d found themselves on.  Zenada took the rambling tale in stride before informing them that, according to her friends, someone was very interested in Dorlen and might have broken into their rooms were it not for Shira.

Dorlen was then reminded of the coin he’d found when the party met Shira, as it originated from his hometown of Hupperdook.  Kaeko then wondered if the people asking about Dorlen had placed a scrying spell on the coin.  Zenada suggested that the best way to protect themselves from those people was to ally themselves with one of Ank’Harel’s major factions.  The Echoes admitted they had been courted by those organizations.

As if on cue, the sending stone Zalarre gave them began to speak.  He asked if they were still interested in joining the Cobalt Soul and, if so, to meet him at the Temple of the Mentor for another mission.  After some confusion over how the sending stone operated, they agreed to meet in an hour.  They also realized they would have to commit to one of the factions.  Kaeko suggested delaying that decision until after the Cobalt Soul mission.

The party turned their attention to Dorlen’s coin, quickly determining that none of them had any immediate means of detecting magic, before discussing which faction to join again.  Dorlen simply stated that he liked the Cobalt Soul’s books.  Sabina, who had brought up that topic, voiced an appreciation of how the Cobalt Soul offered their library of books to anyone, whereas the Allegiance of Allsight restricted access of their books to its members.  Dorlen hastened to add that Prolix had gone out of his way to take care of them, but Sabina pointed out that that generosity was not always reciprocated by the Allegiance of Allsight.  Kaeko repeated her suggestion of deferring their decision, admitting she wasn’t as enthused at the prospect of working for the ‘book people’.

Sabina remembered Chet saying there were many cats in the area, so she went to the rooftop to find one. Spotting one who was cleaning herself, she cast Speak with Animals.  The cat was disinterested at first, asking if she had fish. Sabina went to Calinao and asked if he had any fish.  Calinao found her a dented tin of canned sardines, which she gave to the cat.  Sabina asked if the cat was willing to take the coin with her as she wandered around the city and perhaps pass it to her friends along the way, thereby confusing anyone who might be tracking the coin. The cat agreed, provided that Sabina provide chicken and catnip the next morning.

After Sabina returned, Dorlen hesitantly admitted there might be a reason why people were looking for him.  He admitted he might be a wanted man back home as his brother had used some of his tools to commit mass murder and he had refused to turn him in as he was the only biological relative he had (their parents were adopted).  Kaeko gave him a hug.  He admitted running wasn’t the right choice, but he was scared so he ran.  Then Sabina gave Dorlen a hug.  Dorlen excused himself to freshen up, and received a pat on the head from Xarria on the way.  While Dorlen was cleaning up, Kaeko declared that the only person who they would allow to hurt Dorlen was himself.  Xarria admitted feeling some empathy, having been adopted herself.  Kaeko sympathized for Dorlen’s plight as she’d been kicked out of her clan for being too creative and not violent enough.

Zenada redirected the conversation to another question: whether the Echoes of Valour wanted her to join them whenever they left Ank’Harel.  Sabina said yes, given Bodhi’s trust in her and the good impression she’d made in the short time they’d known each other.  Zenada accepted, as she was getting tired of city life, then asked for Valas’s full name.  She snorted when she found out, saying it was a pun in the drow dialect of Undercommon, which she learned growing up with drown in the caravans.  The party interpreted that as another sign that Zenada was meant to join them, along with the fact that Zenada and Valas were both fighters who were proficient in longswords.  When they brought up the fact that both fighters also had the ability to summon echoes, Zenada said the only other person she knew who could do that was the man who’d taught her.  The party took her at her word.

Sabina speculated that they might learn more about Zenada’s fighting abilities in the Cobalt Soul libraries, asking again if they should join that faction.  Zenada felt the Allegiance and Cobalt Soul were similar in their pursuits of knowledge, but believed the former was more inclined to the ends-justified-the-means while the latter was more inclined to good.  Sabina pointed out they had a large library and she was learning to read.  She also told Kaeko they apparently had a martial group that might appeal to her sensibilities.

Shira came back and decided she was going to have a nice long rest.  Kaeko gave her a deck of cards and set of dice, suggesting they might help her dexterity and, in turn, her spellcasting.  Sabina loaned her some books, though she later admitted that they might be too basic for her.  After the party left the room, Dorlen admitted overhearing Kaeko talk about her illiteracy and offered to teach her.  Kaeko was reluctant, claiming goliaths did not read.  When Dorlen pointed out that literacy might help her songwriting, she begrudgingly accepted his offer.

The party made their way to the Temple of the Mentor and met Zalarre again.  He unfurled a map of the River District and explained that they suspected a baker named Kruuk of selling illegal magical goods.  However, they needed proof before involving the Hands of Ord. The party was asked to investigate after the bakery closed.  There was a brief segue that revealed Kaeko’s illiteracy, which Zalarre found surprising considering her former rank of Sergeant in the Aurora Watch, before they returned to business.  Zalarre charged them with obtaining proof that Kruuk was illegally selling magical items, confiscate any such items they found and return them to him.  Zalarre paid them 250 gold pieces up front and offered a further 250 gp if they found proof, plus additional 250 gp for each item of contraband they brought back.  Sabina asked what they’d do with those items.  Zalarre told her they would appraise them, put them into circulation if they were deemed safe, or destroy them if they were too dangerous.  The baker would be handed over to the Hands of Ord, who would also be made aware of any items the Cobalt Soul kept.  Zalarre hoped to hear from them soon, hopefully that night.

Before they left, Dorlen asked if they had a means of teaching people who had magical aptitude but lacked the requisite control.  After Zalarre amused himself, and alarmed the party, with a bit of dark humour, he told them they did have some form of schooling that could be made available for a fee or, for those who were down on their luck, some chores around the temple. Dorlen hastened to add that this was a hypothetical question, prompting Xarria to dub it ‘Aunt Cleric Fate’.  As the party joked about it, Zalarre and Zenada exchanged raised eyebrows.

The Echoes of Valour said their goodbyes and went to the River District, heading to Old Man Kruuk’s shop once it was closed.  Kaeko and Xarria were the first to see the sign had a field of coloured dots.  Kaeko recognized the dots as Thieves’ Cant from her time in the Aurora Watch, though she couldn’t read it.  Kaeko told the others that there was a hidden message, prompting Dorlen to knock on the door.  The rest of the party ran away, leaving only Xarria who could not hide in time.

Dorlen and Xarria eventually stepped away from the front door. They began talking about a hidden door before the former began flailing at a centipede in his mouth.  Dax ran over to dispatch the arthropod, knocking Dorlen over in the process.  Kaeko motioned for Dorlen and Xarria to come over and confirm the possibility of a hidden door.  Zenada suggested they check out the back of the shop.  They did so, spotting at least one door.  Kaeko tried to open it, but found it locked and asked if anyone had thieves’ tools.  Dorlen reluctantly revealed his tools and picked the lock.

Opening the door, they saw the room in state of decay and disarray.  Dorlen, Kaeko, Xarria and Zenada went inside, with Dorlen putting on his Armour.  Sabina loaned Kaeko her Goggles of Night so she could search inside, choosing to stay outside with Dax and keep watch.  They looked through some crates, finding nothing but low-value stolen goods. Xarria was the first to spot a metal lockbox in the corner of the room.

Sabina heard the sounds of boots approaching, told Dax to stay put, hugged the wall and sneaked forward.  Glancing around the corner, she saw a female gnome approach the door, open it and announce herself.  Kruuk let her in, asking if she was followed.  Xarria overheard the front door bell jangle.  Sabina sneaked back, opened back door and warned the party.  The party decided to take the lockbox and leave. A door opened just as Xarria picked up the lockbox, though… revealing Kruuk and the gnome. A battle broke out immediately.  Kruuk threw some knives at the party but, after taking some hits, disengaged and ran.  The gnome proved more challenging, revealing herself as a magic user capable of responding with psychic attacks, but was ultimately no match for the party.

Dorlen and Zenada joined the others, dragging the unconscious gnome behind them, just as an angry Kaeko smashed the lockbox onto the floor. A plume of poison gas billowed out, but the party managed to avoid inhaling anything from the trap.  Once the smoke cleared, the party saw a shortsword.  Looking closer, the realized the blade had red crystalline veins running up and down its length that pulsed in the darkness; veins that looked similar to the animated elephant they’d fought during their first Allegiance of Allsight mission. Thinking it looked cool, Dorlen picked up the sword and suddenly felt tough.  The Echoes of Valour heard the gnome cough and then stop breathing, having succumbed to the poison gas (episode 16).

Sabina checked the gnome but felt no pulse. Dorlen observed out loud that the red crystals were the same substance as the one seen in the elephant and wondered if the sword would animate.  Kaeko pointed out that they were at the scene of a murder.  Zenada urged the party to leave; acknowledging the gnome’s death was an accident but not wanting to have to explain things to the Hands of Ord.  She then explained to Dorlen that the lockbox was rigged with a trap that killed the would-be buyer.  Sabina advised that they should leave and hope the Hands of Ord would conclude it was nothing more than a sale gone wrong.  Dorlen was confused, as he misunderstood how closely the Cobalt Soul worked with the Hands of Ord.  The party gave an abbreviated correction, emphasized the need to leave the scene and advised him to put the shortsword in his Bag of Holding.  Before they left, Sabina took costume jewelry from some of the crates to make it look like a robbery.

Thanks to their stealthiness, the party left the bakery before the Hands of Ord arrived on the scene of the crime.  After reviewing the relationship between the Cobalt Soul and the Hands of Ord, they decided to report to Zalarre before he received any reports from the Hands of Ord. They quickly returned to the Temple of the Mentor, where Zenada gave a succinct summary of the events that unfolded at the bakery.  The other party members added further details as needed.  Dorlen pulled out the shortsword, waving it about and commenting on the hum he heard before offering it to Zenada, who refused to take it. Zalarre asked Dorlen to place the shortsword on the table before he carefully examined it with a set of tools, taking care not to physically touch the weapon.  Seeing all the precautions being taken, Dorlen began wondering if the blade was cursed, admitting he felt stronger while holding it but now desired a nap.  The mention of strength caught Kaeko’s attention but Xarria cautioned her against touching the weapon, especially as she was strong enough already.  Zalarre asked for more information about the gnome, how the party dealt with her, and whether there were any similar items at the bakery, but was content to maintain the fiction that the Echoes of Valour were never present at the scene of the crime.  He expressed some concern about the death, the sword, the overall situation and the fact that the Cobalt Soul lacked enough operatives to handle their missions throughout Ank’Harel, much less Exandria.

Zalarre interrupted himself to pay the party what he promised.  Dorlen asked if his portion of the gold could fund Shira’s schooling, but the half-orc assured him that the Cobalt Soul would cover any costs.  He then returned to the Cobalt Soul’s need for operatives, particularly new recruits that their enemies would not expect, and proposed to speak to the high curator about fast-tracking their membership. Regarding the gnome, Zalarre suspected she was a member of the Consortium and made plans to investigate further.  As for the red crystalline substance, Zalarre felt it was dangerous.  While the Cobalt Soul was still determining its properties, they knew the sword was not the only source within the city.  When asked, Zalarre could not say whether Dorlen was cursed by his brief contact with the crystal-laden sword, though the party noted he was more tired and subdued than normal.  Kaeko tentatively mentioned that they had been courted by the Allegiance of Allsight and had retrieved an elephant figurine that was briefly covered in the same substance.  Zalarre told them he would take that into consideration.  In the meantime, he advised them to spend the rest of the night establishing alibis, preferably in a place where the surrounding people would have trouble recalling facts, and cleaning themselves off.

The party decided to visit a bathhouse and go out for drinks.  Sabina sought clarification on whether membership meant they had to stay within Ank’Harel before wondering whether the party should take him into their confidence regarding the Vestige and any connection it had to the red crystals.  She suggested staying behind to talk to Zalarre.  The half-orc demurred, not wanting to be seen with potential manslaughter suspects or imply he was having a tryst with one of them.  The talk of sex made Sabina so uncomfortable that she immediately changed her mind and agreed to join the party.

The party made their way through the city, with Kaeko holding a tired Dorlen like an infant. Before long, they arrived at the Steam Gardens, renowned both for being the most luxurious arboreteum of Ank’Harel as well as its bathhouse and spa.  The party was greeted by a halfling woman named Bruella who, after some pleasantries, asked Kaeko if she was a musician.  When Kaeko confirmed that, Bruella explained their usual minstrel had come down with a bad case of food poisoning and offered a deal if she would perform in her stead.  After some haggling, Kaeko and Sabina agreed to perform in exchange for admission, while the others got a discount on their first hour.  When Kaeko introduced the party, Bruella recognized her as Bodhi’s wife, explaining that he’d procured many oils and supplies for them. Kaeko had Xarria write a message for Bodhi, sent via one of the Steam Gardens messengers, inviting him to join her. She then paid Bruella enough gold to buy the most expensive package for the party.  Bruella gave them locker keys and clay chits that would grant access to all the exclusive areas of the spa.  After some persuasion, Bruella allowed Dax to come in as well.

The party then met a rotund human male named Guillermo, who found robes for each of them. He found a plush velvet collar for Dax, which had apparently been left behind by a previous customer.  Sabina was assured that the collar had been cleaned. After receiving their robes, the party entered the change room and saw seventeen naked people of different races and genders, all engaged in various activities. Zenada went to her locker and disrobed, revealing several scars and golden-hued tattoos that complimented her green skin.  Xarria joined her, revealing a tattoo on her left shoulder of a blood drop and sword.  Zenada and Xarria commented on how difficult it was to understand Giant.  Dorlen also took his clothes off, revealing a tramp stamp of an anvil and sparks.  If asked, he explained he got it in his seventies after partying too hard one night. Sabina went to a locker, doing her best to not look at the nudity, then tried to steel herself by talking to Dax. Overhearing her, Zenada pointed out some stalls that give her some privacy, while Dorlen offered to loan her some goggles to cut out some of the details.  Sabina declined Dorlen’s offer but thanked him, doing her best to avoid his nudity before going to one of the stalls Zenada suggested.  She eventually emerged, revealing a surprisingly curvaceous body and several old burn scars.

Once the party had changed, they entered the bathhouse proper, noting the many customers who frequented the establishment.  As they entered the more expensive sections, they saw massage rooms and various pools that were tiered for different races and heights.  Zenada spotted two striking drow in revealing robes who she recognized as Jaena and Jivaren Dhalmistryn, cousins and courtesans whose company she’d enjoyed in the past.  They greeted each other and Zenada introduced the rest of the party.  Jaena and Jivaren recognized Bodhi’s name, complimenting (most of) the lubricants he’d provided and offering sympathies for the recent damage done to his shop.  Jaena was persuaded to join Kaeko and Sabina in their performance, while Jivaren flirted with Xarria. Kaeko, Sabina and Jaena began entertaining the customers of the Steam Garden, starting with a ballad Sabina remembered from her childhood. After her performance, Sabina worked up enough courage to relax in the baths.  She was pleasantly surprised to discover the Steam House had a mud bath that reminded her of home.

In the morning, Dorlen told the party he saw Irvan and told Xarria ‘Den’ said he was a coward but did not want to be.  He added Irvan did not look well and had been drinking with Ayo during the ‘Maggie Incident’.  Dorlen then remembered finding a note and excitedly thrust it in Kaeko’s face. After Kaeko reminded him she could not read, Xarria took the note and read it aloud. The note was written by a ‘Master Dendarrion’ to a ‘Master Khelkur’, explaining that their attempts to access the rift had proven disastrous due to an aboleth, with the peculiar name of ‘Alyxian,’ who had slaughtered their last expedition.  They concluded that they needed to focus on Cael Morrow so the Allegiance of Allsight could not control the only known source of ‘ruidium,’ but had lost their only key to the rift.  In the meantime, they had decided to clear the First Eclipse, before the Hands of Ord could search it, and establish a new headquarters.

Dorlen, Kaeko, Sabina and Xarria recalled Alyxian decrying some people who were taking ruidium.  The party as a whole also recognized that ruidium was likely derived from Ruidus, the Cursed Moon.  A crestfallen Dorlen then realized that the note came from Irvan’s locker, suggesting that Ayo’s party was likely working for the Consortum.  As Xarria repeated the note’s instructions for the First Eclipse, Bodhi informed them that the bar had been closed last night.  As the party did not recognize the names in the note, Sabina suggested they talk to Zalarre.

Dorlen was concerned that their quest may have been an elaborate trap to acquire the Vestige. Kaeko felt it would not be a trap if they were expecting one and planned accordingly.  A bleary Bodhi wished them well in their endeavours, as he had to return to his bodega and deal with the dwarven contractors who were rebuilding it.

The party then continued their discussion on which faction they should consult and, by extention, join.  Sabina felt the Cobalt Soul was more willing to share their knowledge and help common folk, comparing Zalarre’s willingness to assist Shira versus Prolix’s inability to compensate Bodhi.  Zenada reminded them that membership in one faction did not mean abandoning friendship with another faction’s members.  Based on the note, Dorlen concluded that the Allegiance and the Consortium had access to the Drowned Soul, but it said nothing about the Cobalt Soul.  While Sabina reminded him that they were assuming the note was from the Consortium and not another faction like the Sentinels of Memory, Dorlen wondered if they should consider the Allegiance’s offer if the Cobalt Soul could not provide them access to where they needed to go. The party decided there was only one way to resolve that and set forth for the Temple of the Mentor.

Zalarre was happy to see them, having planned to introduce them to the high curator.  He grew more serious when they presented the note they’d found and brought them to the third floor to wait while he briefed his superior.  Five minutes later, he escorted them to another room where they met the high curator, a young human male named Jail A’alithiya.  The high curator told them the Consortium was known to conduct experiments on ruidium, which was indeed the red crystalline substance they’d encountered before. A’alithiya expressed concern that the Consortium was meddling with powers beyond their control and had originally planned to have the Echoes of Valour infiltrate the First Eclipse. Given that the Consortium headquarters was now closed, he formally proposed that the party join the Cobalt Soul.

A’alithiya repeated his warnings about ruidium’s hazards, explaining the Cobalt Soul planned to destroy the shortsword that the party had retrieved, and told them the Allegiance had granted them limited access to Cael Morrow.  Dorlen became worried about ruidium’s corruptive influence but was assured that he was probably safe, based on Zalarre’s report—particularly his limited handling of the sword and the fact he’d worn gloves. However, the gnome was asked to seek an examination by Xarria or another cleric.  Sabina’s opinion of the Allegiance sank lower as she confirmed that the Allegiance had access to Cael Morrow all along.

The high curator went on to explain that ruidium had been mined from the Drowned City of Cael Morrow, but ultimately originated from a place called the Netherdeep, which could only be reached through a rift in the heart of Ank’Harel. He believed they needed to seal off or destroy the Netherdeep to stem the flow of ruidium into Ank’Harel and avert any further destruction or unrest.  However, they needed a key of some kind to pass through the rift.  While A’alithiya did not know what would qualify as a key, he concluded its acquisition must be their next step (episode 17).

Once the Echoes of Valour agreed, A’alithiya ordered them to travel to Cael Morrow and meet Professor Insight Acuere, a tiefling with the Allegiance of Allsight.  The party had a week to earn her trust, learn how to access the Netherdeep and acquire whatever key was required.  If they were successful, he would give them one thousand gold pieces and his personal thanks.  In the meantime, he inducted the party into the Cobalt Soul and offered them free robes, free lodging and access to the temple stores.  He assured Kaeko, who did not know Bodhi’s sleeping arrangements given the damage to his shop, that the lodging extended to family members.

Kaeko asked how soon they had to depart, given that Dorlen was working on a magical item for their friend. At that, A’alithiya’s face darkened. He knew she was referring to a member of Ayo’s party, and warned the Echoes of Valour that their rivals had made an ill-advised choice of allies.  While Dorlen protested that Ayo’s party were not inherently bad, Xarria thanked the high curator for his concern and promised they would exercise caution.  A’alithiya urged them to wrap up their affairs quickly before asking Zalarre to give them their badges.  The half-orc gave them badges bearing the sigil of the Allegiance of Allsight, which would give them access to the dig site.

Zalarre guided them to one of the temple stores and left them with a dwarf quartermaster named Arro Stonemason who took measurements for their robes.  Sabina politely declined, requesting needle and thread so she could sew the badge to her clothes. After getting their measurements, Stonemason listed the items he had for sale.  After much discussion, the party bought three healing potions (which they later gave to Zenada, as she was the only party member without access to magical healing), four scrolls of Detect Magic, a Scroll of Commune and a pair of sending stones. Sabina asked if the dwarf had any fish, as she wanted to repay the favour she owed to the cat Chet.  While Dax was greatly offended, Stonemason and Sabina immediately bonded over their shared love of felines.  He happily gave her a filet of dried fish from his own lunch while showing her portraits of his own pet cats.

As Stonemason handed over the sending stones, he gave the party a cautionary tale of a gnome from Hupperdook who had sent bombs to Cobalt Soul recruits under the guise of selling sending stones.  Dorlen immediately asked for details, growing alarmed as he heard several recruits had been injured, but had all given different descriptions of the vendor. Zalarre returned after they completed their purchases and received their robes.  As the conversation had turned to Kaeko’s sexual exploits to Bodhi, an embarrassed Sabina called out to Question and invited them over.

Once Question had arrived, Zalarre wished the party good luck, bade the tiefling to find them accommodations and returned to his work.  Question asked if the party was excited for their mission and gave them some random information about the Drowned City before leading them out of the Temple.  They gave the party a running commentary along the way to the Cobalt Arms, an apartment complex within a few minutes’ walk of the Temple, before showing them to their rooms. Sabina chose a small room on the third floor, finding it a novel experience as she never had a room of her own before.  Stepping inside, she discovered the bed was lumpy enough to remind her of sleeping outside.

The party later returned to a common area.  Question, who was waiting for them, told Zenada they were neighbours.  They also told Sabina their room was directly below hers and apologized in advance, as they were often noisy when inviting company over.  Kaeko then told Sabina that her room was directly above the halfling’s residence. Putting two and two together, a horrified Sabina hurriedly left to give Chet the fish she’d acquired.  Zenada left to gather her belongings while Kaeko departed to see Bodhi.

Dorlen and Xarria caught up with Sabina.  They took a circuitous route through the city, stopping by the Suncut Bazaar to talk with Bodi and pick up Kaeko before buying some lunch.  Xarria enhanced their meal with some Devil Pepper, which she retrieved from her newly acquired bag.  Dorlen was quickly overwhelmed by the spice.  After he recovered, they returned to the Step Aside.  While Sabina went to find Chet, Dorlen, Kaeko and Xarria pulled Irawan aside and told them they were leaving.  He easily guessed they had joined the Cobalt Soul from the robes they were wearing and wished them the best.  Dorlen asked whether they could have one more bowl of haluh before leaving, but was told they had just served the last of their signature dessert.

Zenada then joined the rest of the party and exchanged greetings with Irawan.  The adventurers then saw Shira coming down the stairs.  Dorlen was saddened to see she was finishing a bowl of haluh and quickly turned away.  Kaeko told a confused Shira that they had found people who were willing to give her a place to live and teach her how to control her magic.  Shira was briefly concerned that they were trying to induct her into a cult, seeing the matching robes they were wearing, but was reassured when Sabina joined them and told her she did not have to wear the robes if she did not want to.  The group agreed to return to the temple.  Dorlen urged them to hurry, as Xarria had discovered that Ayo’s party was already in Cael Morrow.

### The Drowned City

They made sure Shira was settled in, receiving several profuse thanks, before proceeding to the dig site. The Maw, as it was called, was a giant hole approximately 150 feet across and hundreds of feet down with a stairway spiralled towards the bottom.  Several Scarbearers patrolled the area.  The party was greeted by an orcish genasi and a human woman named Kal and Nadiya, respectively.  Kal was surprised to see Zenada, who told him she was trying something new.  Nadiya warned them not to cause any trouble as she checked their badges. Zenada protested her innocence, prompting Nadiya to remind her of previous incidents in the Suncut Bazaar and the Sand-Herald District.  When Dorlen asked for more details, Nadiya revealed that Zenada had gotten drunk one night and danced naked on the table.  Zenada later added that Nadiya joined her.

The party was eventually waved through and proceeded down the staircase.  Dax almost stepped off the edge and accidentally clawed Zenada in his haste to back up.  Sabina accompanied Dax the rest of the way down.  As they descended, they saw an orc leaning against the door.  When they reached the bottom, they saw the orc was a tuskless red-skinned male reading a notebook through spectacles.  Dorlen greeted him, startling the orc from his study. He introduced himself as Gortag Inkdrinker, a junior researcher with the Allegiance of Allsight.  After a confused and meandering conversation, Inkdrinker led them past a set of double doors into an airtight tunnel framed by shimmering blue light to a door of a submerged building.  A small stone cube inscribed with glowing blue symbols saw above the door, which was guarded by a human and a halfling wearing Allegiance of Allsight apparel and badges.  Looking at the sea life swimming around, they realized they were at the bottom of the sea.   Dorlen successfully stepped through the barrier and into the water, where he waved at an octopus who threw a rock at him.

The party saw Dorlen floating through the water before noticing Xarria seemed distracted.  She assured them that she was fine and they should hurry… after rescuing Dorlen from his plight.  Zenada reached through the barrier, having been reassured by the guards at the far end, and pulled him back into the tunnel.  The party noted that Dorlen was dry, and that seawater did not pass through the barrier.  While Dorlen found the experience fun, Kaeko was quick to chastise him for going off without someone to accompany him.  Dorlen pointed out that Zenada had come to his aid, prompting Kaeko and Xarria to nominate Zenada to be his ‘buddy’.  Zenada was not amused.

Sabina and Dax walked up to the guards and gave their names.  The human and halfling returned the gesture, introducing themselves as Kai and Nadiya, respectively.  The Echoes of Valour explained they had been sent from the Cobalt Soul to meet ‘Professor Insight’.  After checking with the professor, the guards let them pass.

They passed through the door—and another magical barrier—into a storage building consisting of three floors connected by a spiral staircase.  Bookshelves held various journals, relics and excavation equipment. Windows warded by more barriers of blue light offered views of the underwater environment.  A female tiefling, a goliath and a kenku—all wearing Allegiance of Allsight garb and badges—were hard at work.  As the party entered, the tiefling turned towards them and adjusted her glasses.  Introducing herself as Insight Acuere, she asked the party for their names.  She recognized the Vestige Xarria wore from Prolix’s description and asked to touch it before changing her mind.

Insight explained that since the party were not members of the Allegiance of Allsight, she needed them to perform a small task to prove their trustworthiness.  She started explaining that her team was searching for the writings of the hero who tried to save Cael Morrow from destruction during the Calamity, only to be interrupted by Dorlen, who gave Alyxian’s name.  The goliath researcher recognized the name as the individual they were trying to locate, introducing herself and the kenku as Xot and Scribble, respectively.  Insight went on to explain that they had found clay tablets beyond the excavation site to the south, but they were outside the secured areas and there were too many dangerous creatures for the researchers to safely retrieve them.  Dorlen agreed to search for the tablets on behalf of the Echoes of Valour, but pointed out the problem of breathing underwater.  After some thought, Insight took them up the stairs to the third floor and past several crates, casks and cots to an unlocked wooden case.  She rummaged through the case and pulled out two Breathing Bubbles and three Potions of Water Breathing.  After some thought, she found an additional, misshapen, Breathing Bubble that proved to fit Dax.  Now outfitted, the party prepared to set out on their latest assignment (episode 18).

After some discussion, the party determined that the potions and the bubbles only had one hour of air.  However, the latter would be the limiting factor as the former would not use any stored air if the wearer was in an air pocket of any kind. Sabina loaned Zenada one of her shortswords, as she knew that longswords would be of limited effectiveness underwater, and offered Dax’s services to Kaeko.  Kaeko thanked Sabina, but felt she would probably be spending more time casting spells.  Dorlen reassured the party that, as per their new buddy system, he and Zenada could form a front line to fend off any hostiles.  Xarria chimed in that she and Kaeko would be spellcasting buddies.  It was assumed that Sabina and Dax would be buddies.  Zenada indicated her displeasure to all but Dorlen.  Given her swimming skills, Sabina suggested that she take one of the potions while Dax take the misshapen bubble.  After some discussion, they decided that Kaeko and Xarria would take the remaining bubbles, while Dorlen and Zenada drank the remaining potions. They then hurried through the hallway while Kaeko conducted an Aria of Suspense. As they left, Sabina overheard Scribble mimic Dermot’s stutter.

They entered the ruins of a stone house, whose marble floors were covered by masonry, broken bed frames and furniture.  Walls of blue light kept out the water.  Dorlen felt the world shift around him, glimpsed a flash of red and heard Alyxian’s voice in his mind asking why the gods had forsaken him.  He replied out loud that he did not know but his party had come to his aid.  The rest of the party was confused until Dorlen explained what he had heard. Dorlen expressed surprise that none of them had encountered the same experience, as they had all faced shared visions before.  Xarria then revealed experiencing a similar phenomenon.

The party continued on, walking through a corridor of shimmering blue barriers that intersected with the remnants of a guard tower.  Looking to the east, they saw a red glow on the horizon that was reminiscent of ruidium.  They decided it might be worth investigating once they finished their current assignment and replenished their supply of air.

As they walked into the guard tower, the party noted that each excavation site was also lit with mystical lanterns that offered enough illumination for everyone to see.  Dorlen saw water dripping from the walls, seeping through inconsistent, flickering protective wards.  He also saw a stone cube on the floor, hissing and sparking.  But all that went away as he had a sudden headache, accompanied by Alyxian announcing that others were right about him bringing nothing but despair.  Dorlen dutifully recounted his latest experience to the party, who wondered why Dorlen had been repeatedly targeted.  They speculated whether this was due to his entering rooms first, touching the Vestige first or handling the ruidium-infused sword.  Dorlen then picked up the stone cube.  With a loud pop, the wards shattered and the water came crashing in.  As the party was knocked about, a giant shark corrupted by, and trailing, ruidium burst into the tower. A battle ensued, one complicated by the shark repeatedly dealing psychic damage to the party. However, they were ultimately triumphant, with Xarria striking the killing blow.

Xarria admonished Dorlen not to touch any more cubes. Sabina cast a Healing Spirit to heal a grievously wounded Kaeko.  Dorlen promised not to touch any more cubes.  Zenada suggested not touching anything, to which Dorlen replied that that was impossible.  Xarria cast Cure Wounds on Zenada, who reluctantly accepted another Cure Wounds from Dorlen.  They looked out the hole the shark came from and saw some buildings to the south that were humming with the same energy emitted by the cubes and some buildings to the west that had no such protection.  Amidst the ruins of a palace, they also saw a gaping rift pulsing with sickly red light.  Jagged spines of ruidium sprouted from the ridges of the rift, forming a rough dome. Dorlen immediately wanted to investigate the palace.  Sabina reminded him that they already had a mission, and that completing it would eventually allow them to enter the palace and the rift within.  Xarria expressed doubts that they could penetrate the dome at all.  They eventually decided to head west, as the research team had already cleared the southern buildings.   After Sabina cast another Cure Wounds, they decided to investigate the closest building to the west, which appeared to be a stone tavern, but not before repeatedly telling Dorlen to consult with them before touching things.

They went inside and saw it was lit with Continual Flame spells.  Pushing inside, they saw a blue-skinned, white-haired elven woman tending the bar. The party approached and were greeted by the bartender in a curious language. Zenada explained that the elf had potions for sale. Using Zenada as a translator, the party learned that the elf did not know about any clay tablets.  The elf then brought out her wares—three intact bottles of wine, five Potions of Healing and two Potions of Heroism—and listed her prices.  The party quickly determined the Potions of Heroism were out of their price range. Sabina looked at the wines, realized they were ancient, pre-Divergence vintages that would fetch a high price to the right buyer, and insisted they should acquire them.

As they were talking, the elf interrupted them.  Zenada talked to her, arranged to buy the wine and healing potions, and put them in Dorlen’s Bag of Holding.  The elf continued talking to them until Zenada hurried them out of the tavern, revealing that the elf constantly greeted them as if her memory was resetting itself. Dorlen sneaked back to take a look and whispered for someone to come over.  When Xarria joined him, he told her of his suspicions and asked if there was anything she could do.  Xarria said no.  Sabina reminded them that they had a mission and a limited amount of time.  Xarria suggested they could always come back later.

Swimming away from the tavern, the party decided to head south and look for any buildings that the Allegiance of Allsight had not searched and warded with protective barriers.  Spotting a large building that resembled a government structure or library, and was not glowing with any light, Dorlen insisted they should investigate.  He saw that it connected to another building with a protective barrier and, after getting permission from the others, pushed into that building and the pocket of air it provided.  They found themselves in a corridor that led to several rooms and chose one that was not glowing, which appeared to be a library.  The room was covered in kelp, broken clay tablets and other detritus, all illuminated by the red light that filtered through broken windows.  At that point, the party saw something was affecting Kaeko. When asked, she told them Alyxian said his powers were not, and had never been, enough.

Xarria felt they should hurry and wondered if Alyxian had been affected by his imprisonment. Sabina theorized that these mental communications might be within the power of an aboleth.  They decided to proceed with investigating the clay tablets. Dorlen began searching through them, realized they were either in Elvish and Orc and began invoking the ‘buddy system.’ Zenada reluctantly came over and began reading them for any references to Alyxian.  At the party’s suggestion, Zenada scratched out ‘hero’ in Orc so the others could search for anything with that word.  Xarria found a relatively intact tablet that had the word Zenada was looking for.

After some searching, Dorlen found a tablet that appeared to have what they were looking for.  When he picked it up, though, Kaeko and Xarria felt a shiver as if hands were reaching out of the tablets towards them.  A male elf and female orc appeared next to Kaeko and Xarria, respectively, dressed in elegant robes trimmed with embroidery.  Dorlen stood up and walked over to join the ghosts.

Dorlen and the ghosts greeted the rest of the party, speaking in the ancient dialect of Elvish and Orc, and told them their intentions were peaceful.  Kaeko was confused, but Sabina guessed Dorlen had been possessed. The ghost possessing Dorlen walked up to party and asked them to end his suffering.  When Zenada asked how, Dorlen’s eyes welled with tears as he looked at the ruins of the library.  The ghost possessing him lamented that they gave their lives in an attempt to protect their city and ensure their culture would not be forgotten.  He felt that the wreckage before him indicated that their saviour had failed.  Zenada assured them in Orc that they had not been forgotten, that there were organizations studying the city and its people and they needed the ghosts’ help.  Dorlen walked over to the tablets and rearranged them in a specific order.  He said this told the story of the gathering of the elves, how Corellon blessed Cael Morrow and the birth of the first orcs.  Zenada tried to give a running translation in Common to the rest of the party, including the question of what the party was looking for.  When Sabina mentioned the name Alyxian, the ghosts looked at her.  They recognized Alyxian as the Apotheon, who gave his life to defy Gruumsh and was connected to Sehanine, Avandra and Corellon.  Zenada (reluctantly) accepted their offer to see a vision.

The water vanished from the party’s sight.  Through the hole in the library, the party could see a glorious and mighty temple to the west.  They saw Alyxian armed with spear and shield, standing alone atop of the building while Gruumsh loomed over him with his own spear poised to strike.  As the god plunged his spear down, Alyxian raised his shield and uttered a prayer.  The vision came to an end, though the party felt it reverberate within their soul. They also realized the ghosts had vanished, though they heard them ask that they not be forgotten.  Zenada was the first to speak, telling the others what order to read the tablets.  While Kaeko felt the Allegiance of Allsight would have been able to sort them out, she was grateful that Zenada had joined them and was able to speak to the bartender and the ghosts.  For her part, Zenada was thankful that the Orc language had not deviated too much from the language they spoke.  Dorlen carefully and reverently placed the tablets in his Bag of Holding.  The party decided to head back before their potions wore off and the bubbles ran out of air.  Zenada admitted she felt helpless against ghosts or anything she couldn’t hit. Dorlen assured her that that was what the buddy system was for.  Kaeko and Xarria added their magic could likely help.

As he looked through the tablets, Dorlen had a nagging feeling based on his recent possession that he could find what he was looking for in a building to the south that was situated near the temple.  Sabina wanted to recruit an animal to act as their scout.  Kaeko advised them that they had ten minutes before they had to head back.  They had just left the library when they spotted a giant octopus the size of a horse that seemed to be wrestling with something.  Sabina asked the others to slow down, cast Speak with Animals and asked the octopus if they needed help.  The octopus admitted they were trying to open a locked treasure chest.  Sabina asked Dorlen if he could help open the chest, learned the octopus was named Rocky and introduced the other party members.

Rocky misunderstood Sabina’s question about his preferred pronouns for his sexual preferences and told her he was pansexual.  He eyed Dorlen, finding the gnome attractive.  She did not pass this information on to the rest of the party. As Dorlen passed Rocky, the octopus slapped him.  Sabina knew this was the octopus’s way of flirting, but instead told Dorlen that the act was not meant as a threat.  Dorlen replied that he did not appreciate being offered a sacrifice when it was not his idea, but successfully opened the chest.  Rocky looked at the contents, declared it junk and began dumping it out, burying Dorlen in one thousand electrum coins.  After taking some damage, Dorlen tried to collect as many coins as he could.  As the party tried to help Dorlen, Rocky put the chest on his head as a hat.  Rocky thought the party was cleaning up the litter and expressed his appreciation.  Sabina asked Rocky if he’d be willing to act as a scout.  Rocky told her the most dangerous location was the kelp forest, where a big ugly one-eyed red creature lived.  Turning in the direction Rocky pointed, Sabina saw a large amount of kelp near a flight of stairs at the base of the rift.  Rocky did not know the creature’s name, but knew it gave off weird feelings, and agreed to allow Sabina to use magic and see through his eyes. Sabina told the party that they could search the temple while Rocky stood watch.  She added Rocky’s warning about Alyxian residing in the kelp forest. Rocky warned that the temple was locked and that other humanoids had tried to break in earlier to no avail.

After gathering all the electrum, the party went to the temple.  They saw strands of ruidium reaching out from inside the temple. When Dorlen approached the door, Sabina and Xarria noted a distortion in the light.  Xarria realized the alabaster pillars were generating an invisible barrier, a common protection to deter robbers and anyone who was not a true believer. She tried to warn Dorlen but failed to stop him in time.  Once he hit it, everyone in the party saw it.  Xarria swam up and touched the barrier with the Vestige, but nothing happened. She did recognize the temple was raised to honour Corellon.  Dorlen saw the building that had triggered his memory and drifted over to investigate. As the party followed, they saw murals depicting orcs and drow working together to build a city in the midst of a jungle.  As they stepped inside, Zenada commented about hearing voices.  When the other party members asked, Zenada revealed that Alyxian had said something about burning the world if he could not live in it.

Zenada wondered if the person they were trying to rescue was a good person.  The party suggested that their earlier visions suggested Alyxian was a good person and that he may have been warped after fighting Gruumsh, being transformed into an aboleth or simply being trapped downhere for so long.  As Zenada suggested they should prepare themselves, Sabina and Xarria saw movement in the rubble before four scuttling serpentmaws burst from the rubble and attacked. (episode 19).

The party was not surprised due to Kaeko’s Aria of Suspense and quickly attacked the four scuttling serpentmaws.  However, one managed to hit Sabina enough times to bring her down. As Sabina lay on the ground, she desperately fought to regain consciousness as she did not want Dax or her friends to die in the watery depths of Cael Morrow.  Before she woke up, Sabina heard a familiar voice urging her to stay as they missed her. Nevertheless, the party rallied and saw Zenada score the first kill.  Xarria used Cure Wounds to bring Sabina back, only to realize with horror that the halfling’s potion had worn off. The party redoubled their efforts, with Zenada killing two more monsters.  As the tide began to turn, Kaeko stopped attacking, swam over to Sabina and cast another Cure Wounds.   After several more attacks, Xarria finished the last one off. Kaeko bade the others to search the area before casting Dimension Door, teleporting Sabina and herself to safety before Sabina ran out of air.

Kaeko and Sabina teleported back to the research site, much to the surprise of Insight and her colleagues due to their surprise appearance and the fact that they were drenched (as they had bypassed the barrier).  While Sabina recovered, Kaeko explained what had happened.  Insight decided she would stop buying potions from random tieflings in alleys, prompting Kaeko to recommend her husband.  Sabina became increasingly frantic at leaving the others behind and not explaining the situation to Rocky/the octopus.  Seeing her distress, Insight put Sabina to Sleep and asked Xot to find somewhere to let her rest. While she slept, though, she had nightmares of Dax being crushed (episode 20).

Sabina woke up after the party returned. as Dorlen tried to rouse her. She pretended to be asleep. Kaeko gently placed Dax next to Sabina, moving some cots together to make them comfortable.  The party agreed to take a nap, though Xarria cast Cure Wounds on Dax first.  The moorbounder was momentarily roused, but returned to a slumber once he realized they were safe.  Dorlen remembered the damaged cube he’d taken from the guard tower and decided to return it to Insight.

Sabina recalled everything she’d learned about aberrations—including their protective mucus cloud, their amphibious nature, their psychic powers, their devastating physical attacks, their ability to magically enslave people for days (if not the rest of their lives), their talent for siphoning and absorbing psychic energies, their evil alignment, their willingness to keep their word, their usual colouration and the fact they usually had one face.  Based on her friends’ description, specifically Alyxian having two faces and albino skin, the realized this aboleth was vastly different than the norm.

The party cuddled together, though Zenada initially stayed apart to care for her weapons and armour until the others convinced her to join them.  Dorlen asked Zenada why Alyxian brought up her name, wondering if it was a code name or alias.  Kaeko and Dorlen thought her name had something to do with Bazzoxan.  Xarria, in a flash of insight, seemed to realize what her name really meant.  For her part, Zenada feigned innocence, an act that Dorlen and Xarria bought, Kaeko accepted with some mild suspicion and Dax saw through completely.

Dorlen decided to change the topic of conversation to Alyxian.  Kaeko tried to wake Sabina up so she could participate.  Sabina woke up, all puffy-eyed and hugged Dax. Xarria confirmed to Sabina that they’d met Alyxian, but she found it odd that he was unfamiliar with the Raven Queen. Dorlen told Sabina they’d met an aboleth who claimed to be Alyxian.  Xarria added that he’d apparently been cursed by the gods for failing to save Cael Morrow. Sabina suggested the real Alyxian might be somewhere else and telepathically gleaned enough information to impersonate him.  Dorlen noted a second face seemed to be growing from his body.

Sabina recalled everything she’d learned about aberrations—including their protective mucus cloud, their amphibious nature, their psychic powers, their devastating physical attacks, their ability to magically enslave people for days (if not the rest of their lives), their talent for siphoning and absorbing psychic energies, their evil alignment, their willingness to keep their word, their usual colouration and the fact they usually had one face.  Based on her friends’ description, specifically Alyxian having two faces and albino skin, she realized this aboleth was vastly different than the norm. She told the party what she recalled about aboleths and theorized Alyxian might have warped this aboleth in some way.  Zenada pointed out that Alyxian was in Cael Morrow when it became submerged, meaning he might have been trapped for thousands of years and might have gone mad. Kaeko wondered if his body was trapped but his mind was free.  Sabina asked if they found any ruidium, recalling what Alyxian had said.  The others confirmed vast amounts of the mineral near a rift.

Sabina told the party what she recalled about aboleths and theorized Alyxian might have warped this aboleth in some way.  Zenada pointed out that Alyxian was in Cael Morrow when it became submerged, meaning he might have been trapped for thousands of years and might have gone mad. Kaeko wondered if his body was trapped but his mind was free.  Sabina asked if they found any ruidium, recalling what Alyxian had said.  The others confirmed vast amounts of the mineral near a rift.

The party was interrupted by the sounds of someone climbing the stairwell.  Insight then entered the room, cheerfully admitting she had heard much of their conversation due to the building’s acoustics.   She thanked them profusely for retrieving the tablets and told them they could return at any time.  Going back to what she overheard, she told the party that the rift led to another dimension, which the professors and scholars of the Allegiance of Allsight called the Netherdeep.  While it was sealed, the Allegiance of Allsight had discovered a way to open it: weapons infused with ruidium.  Dorlen remembered the shortsword they’d given to the Cobalt Soul to destroy.  Sabina asked if a carved elephant figurine infused with ruidium would work.  Insight didn’t know, but thought the item had to be an implement or key of sorts.  She believed the Consortium had left some ruidium-infused weapons behind when the Allegiance evicted them from Cael Morrow and advised them to search any buildings that hadn’t been secured or excavated.

After Insight flirted with him, Dorlen thought it might be best to return to the Cobalt Soul and see if the ruidium shortsword had been destroyed yet.  Insight warned she’d gotten her impression was that the Cobalt Soul was expecting an actual key to the Netherdeep, not just information on what the key was.  Insight retrieved the bubbles to recharge their air supply.  The conversation drifted to pockets and sexual innuendo, which amused Zenada.  Sabina was uncomfortable and loudly asked if they should go back to the Cobalt Soul.

Remembering the Sending Stones they bought recently, Kaeko used one to send a series of emojis to Zalarre. He responded with a text that Kaeko could not read, prompting her to give the stone to Xarria.  After a confused exchange of texts, Xarria was able to establish who they were and initiated a two-way communications link. Zalarre told them that they’d interrupted his private shower and that the ruidium sword had already been destroyed. The party explained they needed ruidium-infused weapons to serve as a key, which confused Zalarre as he was not privy to their conversation with A’alithiya.  He promised that he would update the high curator, but advised them to find a replacement weapon themselves.

After a series of highly amusing and nonsensical events, they concluded the call and enjoyed a well-deserved long rest. When he awoke, Dorlen created a Cloak of the Manta Ray.  He also invented some masks that could extend the time they spent submerged and eagerly waited to measure their faces.  Unfortunately, he made the mistake of looming over Zenada, who assumed he was a hostile holding a garrotte and punched him.  Dorlen told them about his masks and the need to measure their faces to ensure their fit. After letting Dorlen take his measurements, Sabina hid in a corner, preparing her weapons and reading her books.

The party made further preparations to depart.  Kaeko was alarmed to feel her fingers trembling as she picked up her axe and asked if anyone else was feeling weird.  Dorlen said he always felt weird.  Zenada said the thought of the aboleth slime was weird.  Kaeko admitted she was feeing physically weird since encountering Alyxian and had trouble handling her axe.  Dorlen applied the contents of one of his syringes (Lesser Restoration), but it did nothing.  While Zenada and Dax began mock-wrestling with each other, Kaeko stuck her head out into the water and asked Alyxian to stop whatever he did to her.  Seeing she was unsuccessful, Xarria told Kaeko she might have a backup plan but, given that it would require a great deal of energy, she recommended speaking with Alyxian first.

Dorlen then attached his new masks to the party and advised they should bring their masks and water breathing potions just in case.  Zenada tested the mask and found it work.  Dorlen was surprised and delighted, which caused Xarria to sigh.  One by one, the party left the research site. Dax went out and looked at Sabina. Sabina reluctantly followed.  Dax sensed something was wrong.  Sabina offered reassurance.

As the party began searching for sites that had not been excavated by the Allegiance of Allsight, the more perceptive members saw streaks of crimson darting amongst some of the ruins and alerted the others.  The streaks revealed themselves as three slithering bloodfins that quickly attacked the party. The party swung into battle, aided by an octopus that Sabina summoned.  Xarria tried casting Greater Restoration on Kaeko, but the goliath found it only provided momentary relief.  Shortly afterward, one of the bloodfins swallowed Dorlen.  Sabina was greatly distressed.  During the following round of combat, Sabina fell unconscious. As she lay there, she felt she had nothing to live for as she kept going down and the party had recently left her behind.  However, the party eventually prevailed, though the bloodfins’ ability to explode in their death throes was briefly disconcerting.

The party licked their wounds. Dorlen got confirmation that everyone’s mask was working.  Sabina meekly refused Dorlen’s offer of healing and healed herself.  Dorlen recalled what happened with Zenada’s Echo and wondered if the orc (technically) stabbed herself.  Sabina and Xarria noticed a collapsed guard tower on the other end of the rift that seemed like a good place to search.  They swam over to the tower, making their way through schools of fish.

Searching the tower, the party found nothing.  However, Dorlen found, amidst a symbol of Corellon, was a trap door.  He immediately tried to open it with a crowbar but failed.  After the party realized what happened, Dorlen backed up and let the octopus try opening with the crowbar.  Kaeko begged the party to rest first before doing anything and they, eventually, relented. Kaeko then used the crowbar to open the trapdoor, with Dorlen’s help.

Dorlen saw a corroded iron ladder leading into a circular room lined with weapons.   As Kaeko asked what was down there, Dorlen immediately jumped down. Sabina and Xarria glimpsed a small glyph flare to life.  Dorlen saw it too and felt regrets just before the Glyph of Corellon exploded, inflicting radiant damage on the party (episode 21). Xarria collapsed to the ground while everyone else felt a tremor.  Sabina saw that her clothes and skin were burned.  Furthermore, the radiant damage was enough to snap the leather thong of a small pendant that Sabina wore beneath her clothes.  It fell to the ground at her feet.  As Sabina coughed out blood, Kaeko and Zenada noticed a brand of a burning, dripping eye burned into Sabina’s skin, just beneath the collarbone.  To their surprise, the eye blinked at them.

Kaeko asked about the brand, but Sabina insisted she was mistaken.  After another tremor, they noticed Alyxian walk through the centre of the watchtower.  The ground shifted beneath the feet and their eyes were pulled upward to Gruumsh pointing a spear at them. While this looked like one of the visions they experienced before, Sabina noticed the spear was pointing at her.  In Orcish, he told her the bargain would be paid. Zenada tried to grab Sabina and jump into the hole.  Gruumsh’s spear struck the earth so deeply and forcefully that it turned the rock into magma.  Everything went dark.

Sabina remembered her past, how everything changed when her family and friends were slaughtered, the deal she made with Gruumsh and how she was rescued by a traveling librarian named Corvan. Looking back, she realized that Corvan had found her amidst the bodies of her family and knew she was lying when she claimed to be meeting them in Azarias.

Sabina remembered her past, how everything changed when her family and friends were slaughtered, the deal she made with Gruumsh and how she was rescued by a traveling librarian named Corvan. Looking back, she realized that Corvan had found her amidst the bodies of her family and knew she was lying when she claimed to be meeting them in Azarias.

She then found herself back in the underwater ruins of Cael Morrow, with the bodies of her party members, including Dax and herself, crumpled in an unconscious heap around her. On the other side of the Netherdeep rift, she saw Alyxian walk through the underbrush to a nearby stone cathedral, replete with alabaster pillars.  Sabina tried to wake up her friends, but her hands simply passed through their bodies, so she decided to follow Alyxian.  As she got closer, she saw the cathedral was surrounded by softly glowing alabaster pillars.  Alyxian walked through the archway, which was lit by a pulsing red light, and faded from view.  Sabina took a step forward towards the temple and felt a pressure pushing back.  Her eyes were drawn to a periapt hanging from her chest.  Feeling the weight alleviate, she entered the temple.

Sabina looked around the surprisingly dry interior of the temple.  She noted the floor mosaic that depicted two verdant moons atop a four-pointed star, one similar to her own periapt.  There was a red crystal shard at the centre of the mosaic that seemed to pulse like a heartbeat.  Scarlet tendrils extended from the shard and throughout the stonework.  Against the north wall stood a statue of Corellon.  A figure in verdant robes stood before Corellon’s statue in verdant robes.  Sabina sneaked around and got a better look at the figure.  For a moment, she thought it was another statue of Corellon as both of them bore similar androgynous features.  Then the figure turned, looked at where Sabina was hiding and greeted her. She was surprised at how they knew her. They explained that the periapt she had worn bore his symbol.  Corellon went on to explain that some of her friends needed more than others and asked if she would help them.  Sabina admitted she wasn’t sure if she could.  She lamented that her friends were stronger than she was and more deserving to bear their symbol, while she was too small.  In answer, Corellon revealed an acorn, which they planted in the ground.  As it magically grew between them into a tree, they told Sabina that acorns were also small at first, but they, like all things, could grow.  They told Sabina that it was time for her to leave.

Sabina then heard other voices from the other side of the tree.  To her surprise, she heard her father, who said her family had been waiting and asked if she was ready to go.  Sabina said she didn’t know if she could leave Dax.  Moreover, there were people she’d promised to help.  She asked for advice, as she felt she had not helped them yet.  The temple began to fade out of view, replaced by a verdant field.  Her mother stepped around the tree, which was still there, reminded her of the importance of keeping promises and invited her to join them if she could not keep this one.  Her father stepped around the tree as well and assured her they still loved her. Sabina admitted she did not want to disappoint them or her new family, but couldn’t stand to lose any more family members.  Her mother replied that life was full of pain, but it was ultimately worth it and one never really lost family.  Her father reminded her that he’d made many mistakes, but Sabina was not one of them and she would never be alone.  After some thought, Sabina reluctantly decided her parents would have to wait a bit longer and told them she loved them.  The parents told Sabina they loved her, they were proud of her and should get to work.  Sabina turned away and ran back to her friends.

The tree began to wilt and the grass began to turn to into the wastes of Xhorhas.  Ahead of her, she was surprised to see Valas, who was looking at something. Sabina called out to him.  While he might have heard her, he did not see her and convinced himself he was losing his mind.  Looking over his shoulder, she saw five drow.  Four were soldiers of the Bright Queen’s court, dressed in ceremonial armour.  The fifth was collared and bound in chained bars between them, dressed in simple garb. He bore slightly androgynous, though unmistakably masculine, features, a slim and muscular frame and long dark hair. The fifth drow had no shoes and had been walking so long their feet bled.  One of the other drow told them they would be executed in another mile.  The prisoner replied with a round of defiant banter.

Valas gritted his teeth and summoned an echo in front of the soldiers.  They moved to attack, realizing too late that it was an echo and decoy.  Valas ambushed and killed them all.  Sabina saw one of them clutching the symbol of the Luxon as he died.  Valas approached the prisoner, who Sabina now realized was his lover, Celae'sarrin Dro'as, and apologized for the delay.  Celae’sarrin told him he’d cut it rather close.  Valas said he’d lost his sword—the price of betraying the Bright Queen.  He apologized to Celae’sarrin, telling them the queen never stop hunting them.  Celae’sarrin told him they knew.  He promised Celae’sarrin he’d find them before giving them a mercy kill.

Sabina watched this from afar before everything faded away.  She heard another wagon, accompanied by a deep feminine voice in pain. She saw an oxen-drawn wagon and an orc couple within—the woman clearly in the midst of labour.  A orc girl was born.  Looking back, Sabina could see the site of Celae’sarrin’s mercy kill was only a few miles away. Sabina looked at the baby and saw it looked back.  The baby reached out to Sabina.  Sabina reached back with a finger.  In a flash of light, Zenada appeared next to Sabina. Sabina hesitantly greeted Zenada and assured her they were not dead.  Within moments, they found themselves back in Cael Morrow, in the shadow of the cathedral.  Sabina told Zenada she saw her death as Celae’sarrin and her subsequent reincarnation. Zenada revealed that was why her sword ‘worked’ for her and not for Bodi.  Sabina conceded that made sense and apologized that the party could not reunite her with Valas.  Zenada easily forgave her, admitting she did not remember everything from her past life. Thinking on the memories she’d been forced to revisit, Sabina guessed it must have been scary for Zenada to come back alone.  Zenada disagreed, thinking one of the important things was learning how to be alone as one could always make friends.  Sabina felt it was hard to make friends when it was easy to lose them, to which Zenada asked whether that fear worth not making friends at all.  Choking back a sob, Sabina said Zenada sounded like her mother.  Zenada took that as a compliment, particularly after learning Sabina’s mother was also good with a sword.

They decided to look for their friends, finding them at the bottom of the guard tower.  Thinking of their buddy system, Zenada went to Dorlen while Sabina went to Dax. However, both of them found their hands passing through the bodies of their friends.  Sabina tried Kaeko next and, while her hands still passed through the goliath, saw a shiver of light.  They found themselves somewhere in the mountains, heard the Giant language, blades clashing and the sounds of grunting.  Before long, they saw goliaths training for battle and a teenage Kaeko Skaar who had far fewer scars than they were used to.  Sabina and Zenada watched as her father angrily approached her, told her to stop wasting time and start training.  Kaeko tried to talk back, only to be forced into hand-to-hand combat with her father.  The fighting only stopped when she was beaten unconscious.

When Kaeko woke up, she was in a hut surrounded by furs, skin, trophies and the goliath markings of Augthag ‘Smartleader’ Nalakelo, the leader of her tribe.  Seeing she was awoke, Nalakelo accused her of thinking she was smarter than the tribe. She disagreed, thinking she saw and heard things differently.  Nalakelo believed she was just stupid or mentally challenged; a disgrace to the Skaars. She wondered if they ever thought about the people they pillaged or killed.  Nalakelo replied they did: it was how they got trophies, money and items for trade.  He went on to discuss the tribe’s last raid, which Kaeko and several other youths participated in, noting that all she brought back was sheet music, a book of poetry (with pictures), a conducting wand and a bottle of ink.  Kaeko insisted there were other ways to fight, which Leader ultimately dismissed.  He accused her of being useless and not helping her people, adding she should leave and go far away so her disgrace would not sully the reputation of her tribe. Enraged, Kaeko attacked her leader. Leader beat her into a broken, bloody pulp and exiled her from the tribe, but not before forcing her to burn the book and sheet music.  As a cruel gesture of mercy, he let her keep her wand.

Kaeko travelled through the wastes of Xhorhas to Asarius.  An orc saw her in a bar trying to earn some coin and, noting her musculature, asked if she was interested in working for the Aurora Watch. He quickly gave a sales pitch, adding he’d heard her sing and suggested she could parlay that into entertainment for the soldiers.  Kaeko was intrigued by the prospect of a steady source of income and lodging.  She was not bothered by the prospect of dying in battle and did not want to get tied down with family, as she was still smarting from her recent exile.  The orc, who she later learned was Turok Gristlegrinder, agreed.

Sometime later, she was part of a contingent assigned to defend a group of merchants traveling through Xhorhas.  After killing an adolescent gloomstalker, Kaeko felt inspired and began jotting down some musical ideas.  A fellow soldier ordered her to help the merchants and hum her ideas out loud rather than sit and write.  A red-skinned tiefling merchant overheard her humming and admired her voice, gently offering some constructive criticism before asking her to help him with his overturned cart.  As they worked, he complimented her fighting skills and noted how unusual it was for a practitioner of the bardic arts to fight in the Aurora Watch.  As they righted the wagon, some items fell out—including a jar of wine that broke on the ground.  The tiefling cursed at his ill fortune before offering to share what was left of the wine.  Kaeko accepted and began helping him collect his spilled belongings, only to stop when she saw a book similar to the one she’d been forced to burn.  The tiefling told her it was book of erotic poetry. Guessing Kaeko couldn’t read, he assured her she could appreciate its contents as they were mostly wood stampings. He introduced himself as Bodhisattva, but suggested she call him Bodhi.  They sat down and shared the broken decanter of wine.

Everything then evaporated into mist, leaving Sabina, Zenada and a confused and startled Kaeko.  Zenada calmly told Kaeko that they were not sure whether they were alive or dead, but noted she’d had a rough childhood.  Kaeko noted it took a day before they had sex, using the poetry book as inspiration, and was grateful—for Sabina’s sake—that they had not witnessed their carnal activities. Before long, the three of them found themselves in the base of the tower.  They saw their bodies alongside the bodies of their companions.  Sabina wondered if Dorlen was okay, prompting Zenada to try and touch him.  After her hand passed through him, Zenada entertained herself by poking Dorlen in the face, noting this must be what her echo felt like.  Sabina tried to wake Xarria with similar results.  As she did so, though, her necklace began glowing. At Kaeko’s suggestion, Sabina tried to touch Dorlen while holding her necklace.  The tower and the bodies of the party members disappeared.  They heard the sound of various activities including music, drinking and gambling.  They then saw Dorlen emerge from a building.

A couple guards approached him as he was locking up, introduced themselves as members of the city watch and asked if he’d seen his brother Garin.  Dorlen said he’d seen him a couple days ago and jokingly asked if he was in trouble.  One of the city watch gave him their contact information, admitted they wanted to speak with him and asked he contact them immediately if he saw his brother.  They also requested he inform them if he planned to leave town.

As the guards left, an increasingly confused and concerned Dorlen heard his brother call out from a nearby alley.  Upon his request, Dorlen entered the alley, wondering out loud what Garin had done. His brother insisted all he did was make some enemies, to which Dorlen assumed he’d cuckolded some unfortunate married couple again.  As Dorlen got closer, he smelled gnomish whisky and could tell his brother had been drinking.  Garin asked him if he could keep a secret.  Dorlen suggested they drink and share secrets.  Garin handed Dorlen a dark-coloured flask of whisky and drunkenly asked if he remembered a girl from the last Spring Festival who broke his heart.  He then made a comment that Dorlen mistook for sexual innuendo… until Garin opened a Bag of Holding and revealed the girl’s decapitated head.  As Dorlen turned away in horror, Garin asked for the whisky back.  Brother told Dorlen the modifications he’d made to the bag worked flawlessly.  Dorlen insisted he didn’t make modifications for that reason.  Garin insisted the girl had treated Dorlen rudely and he would not stand for it.  A shocked Dorlen took a sip of whisky, insisting his brother would not commit such a heinous act.  Garin replied that he was a slightly obsessive professor before tossing the Bag of Holding to Dorlen and calling for the guards.  Dorlen dropped the bag and ran.

When he finally came to a stop, Dorlen realized his hands were covered in soot. He then remembered Garin was fond of a particular prank where he’d line something with coal dust so it would leave a mark.  A horrified Dorlen slowly realized that the flask of whisky had been coated in coal dust and, by touching the Bag of Holding after holding the flask, he’d transferred his fingerprints to the item Garin had turned into a murder weapon.

An unusually intense Zenada shook Dorlen out of his memories and asked if Garin was still alive.  She insisted that, should they survive their underwater adventures and successfully complete their quest, they would clear Dorlen’s name and bring his brother to justice.  She reminded Dorlen about Zone of Truth spells, declared that they were part of the buddy system and pulled him into a hug.  Zenada silently told Kaeko and Sabina to join them for a group hug. Kaeko insisted that they were family and would get justice for everyone who had been killed by his psychopathic brother.

After taking comfort in each other, they found themselves back in the ruins of the tower. Holding Dorlen’s hand, Sabina walked over to Xarria and touched her shoulder.  They quickly found themselves in a lavish bedroom, their eyes drawn to a four-post bed covered in silk where a human noblewoman was giving birth.  The midwife was in the midst of giving her encouragement when she suddenly trailed off and fell back in shock.  Thinking the baby was stillborn, the mother looked for herself and saw the baby had pink skins and horns.  The mother’s screams drew the attention of her husband who, upon seeing the baby, accused his wife of being a whore.  Whatever else he might have said was forestalled by the priest behind him, who magically put him to sleep.  The priest, whose name was Houl Henschell, advised the noblewoman to announce that the baby had died in childbirth.  In truth, he took the baby to a temple of Avandra, named her Xarria, and raised her in secret.

Even in that relatively secluded environment, she would occasionally be subjected to prejudicial remarks about her tiefling heritage, but she did her best to ignore them and concentrate on learning how to be a healer under Houl’s tutelage. Everything would change one day, when they were trying to treat a woman’s myriad boils.  Learning that the woman would probably not give any donations to pay for her healing, Pool settled for lancing them instead.  After the woman insulted Xarria for her heritage, Houl pulled Xarria aside and offered to send her away for her words, but Xarria insisted on treating the woman.    All was proceeding smoothly until the woman moved, causing Xarria to accidental pierce her flesh.  As the woman cursed her, Xarria felt a pull towards the blood dribbling down her leg. She noticed the blood seemed to react and be drawn to her.  Feeling a connection to blood, a transfixed Xarria began pulling more and more blood out. A crow began cawing as the blood formed a sphere…

Later at night, Houl sat across from Xarria.  He said they couldn’t help Xarria after the events of the day, as the woman almost died.  After Xarria apologized, Houl told Xarria about a nearby temple dedicated to the Raven Queen.  He suggested it might be a safer and more suitable place for her as it offered sanctuary to other tieflings and other people who displayed a similar affinity to blood.  After insisting he wasn’t trying to rid himself of her, Pool promised to write a letter of introduction on her behalf.

Sometime later, Xarria, now a disciple of the Raven Queen, found lodging at an inn.  As she signed the registry, the dwarf innkeeper thanked her for making an advance reservation.  He added that a gentleman was looking for someone matching Xarria’s appearance and asked if she wanted him to feign ignorance.  When Xarria said yes, the dwarf assured her that he would happily comply as his first duty was to his customers.  Unfortunately, the innkeeper’s promises proved hollow as the man paid more.  After confirming Xarria’s identity, the man handed her a letter, which he promised would explain everything, and said her family wished to see her.  He added her mother was very sick and wished to make amends. He handed over the letter, bound within a signet ring, and a bag of gold coins for passage.

Xarria stared at the letter for a while before finally reading it.  The writer introduced herself as Beatrice Rexxentrum, Lady of House Rexxentrum and her biological mother.  Lady Rexxentrum revealed that her husband was dead and she had five children, of which Xarria was the eldest.  She apologized for subjecting Xarria to a lifetime of separation, as she was the product of a one-night stand with an unnamed, but apparently handsome, stranger.  While Lady Rexxentrum had sent Xarria away, both for her safety and the reputation of House Rexxentrum, she now wanted to make amends as she was in poor health. She asked that Xarria come to the Dwendalian Empire and assume her rightful place at last.

Kaeko touched Xarria and observed that she should never get on her bad side.  Xarria was visibly confused until Kaeko brought her up to speed. Dorlen eventually remembered that House Rexxentrum was one of the reigning families of the Dwendalian Empire.  An oblivious Kaeko asked if Xarria was someone important, a fact that the tiefling confirmed through her embarrassment.  Sabina assured her she could be simply Xarria, not someone associated with nobility or royalty.  Dorlen assured her he’d probably forget anyway before growing more serious and assuring her she did not deserve the abandonment and prejudice she’d endured throughout her early life.  Xarria lamented that she’d missed out on everyone else’s backstory.  Dorlen told her she missed a group hug, which Kaeko promptly initiated.  Zenada simply said that Dorlen’s brother was scum and they would destroy him, a quest Xarria was happy to support.

The party found themselves back in the wreckage of the watchtower.  Sabina began to hurt as the eye on her chest opened again. They saw Gruumsh overhead, aiming his spear at her heart.  In response, the periapt at her throat glowed with the light of Corellon.  A voice on the breeze asked out loud if she still wanted power.  Sabina hesitantly said yes, but said she didn’t want it for revenge anymore.  The voice told her she must defeat it.  The periapt then grew silent.  As the party watched, black tendrils began growing from the eye on her chest.  Zenada and Xarria recognized the Eye of Gruumsh on Sabina’s flesh.

Dorlen put a hand on Sabina’s shoulder, while Zenada and Xarria wondered what the black tendrils were, and tried to give her some healing.  Kaeko began playing song that seemed to fit Sabina’s theme, promising to support her.  Zenada also put her hand on Sabina, told her she was good enough and didn’t need the Eye of Gruumsh to succeed.  As the blackness continued to spread, Xarria cupped Sabina’s face in her hands and insisted she keep fighting as the party needed her.  Feeling the love and support of her friends, Sabina fought against the corruption.  There was a flash of light…

…and the party found themselves back in the tower, watching in horror as Dorlen opened the latch and triggered the glyph.  This time, though, the light did not deal any damage.  As the party milled about in confusion, the periapt fell from Sabina’s throat to the floor.  Sabina quietly picked the item up and put it in her pocket.  Kaeko wondered if they were not dead, chastised Dorlen for touching things without consulting them first and pulled him into hug.  Xarria thought Dorlen had actually asked permission first to no avail.

Looking down, the party looked down and saw armoury full of rusted weapons and armour. Zenada did a cursory investigation and found a sentinel shield with an emblazoned eye—not Gruumsh—and a frostbrand longsword with an icy grip and a tiger’s head pommel.  Meanwhile, the rest of the party could see the temple of Corellon. Sabina remembered she was forced away from it before.  Zenada called up and asked if anyone needed a longsword.  The party discussed who might be proficient in wielding the longsword or shield, until Sabina told them they should go to the temple as she thought she had seen Corellon.  Dorlen agreed, as Corellon was one of the good gods.

The party walked over to the temple, noting features like the surrounding alabaster pillars and the pulsing red light inside.  Sabina went in and saw the others could follow.  Dorlen, Kaeko, Xarria and Zenada saw the lavishly sculpted pillars lining the interior walls and a floor glass mosaic depicting two verdant crescent moons atop a four-pointed star.  The party felt a sense of peace before a vision of Alyxian filled their minds. They saw him, haggard and aged beyond his years, kneeling before the statue of Corellon.  Alyxian swore he would do anything to protect ‘them,’ even if it meant his life or his soul.

As the vision faded, the rest of the party saw a shining, glowing crystal of ruidium in the centre of the mosaic.  Dorlen walked forward to touch it, only to be frightened away.  Sabina was able to approach the crystal and touch it. She felt a sensation of rapid descent, accompanied by a sharp pain emanating from their breastbone, as another vision overtook her.  The ambient light grew dimmer before going out entirely.  She looked down at Alyxian, who was floating in the darkness with a look of slowly growing horror on his face.  He reached out to her, as if he wanted her to take his hand. Alyxian asked her to let him leave when she saw him. The crystal emitted a hissing noise before it cracked and exploded.  An image of a stern, impatient Alyxian briefly appeared in the temple.  Sabina received a fair amount of psychic damage and became exhausted from the experience.  As she stumbled backward, though, the party saw a shard of ruidium had embedded itself into her hand.

Xarria felt a sudden heat and brightness at her chest as the image of Alyxian faded away. Alyxian’s voice echoed out that he could not do it himself.  As Xarria looked down at the Vestige she carried, Xarria felt something.    As they watched, the Jewel of Three Prayers shifted into its final, Exalted State. Dorlen was the first to ask if Sabina was okay.  Sabina shakenly said she just needed to sit down.  The party reassured her they would find a solution.  They huddled together in the temple as the light from the ruidium crystal died out (episode 22).

The party returned to the surface and spent a day recuperating from their ordeal in Cael Morrow.  Bodhi took the vast quantity of electrum they’d acquired and converted it into other currency, which Kaeko divvied up amongst the party. While the shard of ruidium that pierced Sabina was no longer visible, she now had a rash that was gradually spreading up her hand. Xarria examined the rash and noted that it had not started to heal despite the spells that were cast or the time that had passed.  They wondered if someone else might be able to help.  Sabina decided to consult Prolix, while Xarria agreed to peruse the books within the Library of the Cobalt Soul.

Sabina had trouble adapting to the experience of a comfortable bed, unlike Dax who took full advantage of the opportunity.  After having a nightmare about everyone dying from falling rocks, Sabina pulled out the periapt and tentatively called out to Corellon, apologizing for not recognizing everything they had done and promising to consult Xarria for proper methods of worship.  She then apologized to Dax, who was very confused as to why Sabina was talking to herself instead of him, and suggested they go have breakfast.  As Dax rolled off the bed, Sabina saw a single stalk rising from what was previously a barren window box.  She was about to cast Druidcraft on the stalk, but watered it instead.  Sabina made a mental note to go to the Step Aside and get some plants, with the intent of caring for them without magical means, before being distracted by the sounds of Kaeko and Bodhi having sex.

She later left for the market with Dax, where she greeted an orcish baker by name and wondered if he’d sold any of the stuffed donuts she’d suggested.  The baker admitted that no one had bought them.  Sabina soon realized he had misheard her and substituted sweet custard for yogurt.  She asked to try one of his original batch and found it surprisingly tasty.  Dax, however, vehemently disagreed.  The baker sold her some fritters and asked if his cousin still ran the pie shop in Jigow.  Sabina informed him he did and gave an account of her pie eating experiences during the Festival of Merit.  She declined the baker’s offer to set her up with his daughter but was amenable to meeting her, particularly after learning the half-orc/half-elf was a librarian.

Dorlen ran through the market until he stepped on a piece of donut, squirting custard and gravy onto the side of the shop.  He skidded to a halt when he realized he’d almost passed by Sabina and doubled back.  He quickly told her that the party should talk, but inquired about her hand. While the baker got Sabina’s fritters and Dorlen cleaned his shoe, Sabina admitted the ruidium corruption was somewhat itchy and that she was going to talk to Prolix while Xarria was going to consult the resources of the Cobalt Soul.  Dorlen reminded her that he was supposed to touch things and suffer from any resulting explosions.  They extolled each other’s merits and expressed concern for each other.  Dorlen also felt they should talk about the flashbacks they’d been forced to see, admitting that the few he had witnessed were unpleasant. He then told her about the Goggles of Night he’d crafted for Kaeko, going into extensive detail while Sabina received her fritters (and gave one to a mollified Dax).

The Echoes of Valour met outside a building behind a silk shop.  Sabina and Dorlen admired the new red silk sarong Xarria was wearing.  A surprised and grateful Kaeko accepted a pair of Goggles of Night from Dorlen, informing him she had a surprise for him at Bodhi’s shop.  They walked over to the shop, which had now finished repairs.  Bodhi invited them to join him inside for lunch.  After toasting each other with drinks, Kaeko motioned Dorlen over to a nearby crate—which had arrived just before the party. Kaeko explained that she would be trying the magical longsword they’d acquired from Cael Morrow.  Meanwhile, she’d traded the magical axe they’d received some time ago for a set of plate mail.  Dorlen thanked her with a hug once he’d recovered from his shock, then began tinkering with the plate mail.  He was particularly excited to see it was red, forgetting that Bodhi had mentioned that earlier.

While Dorlen occupied himself, Bodhi told the others he had acquired some more items in exchange for the axe.  He handed over three magic arrows, two Potions of Lesser Healing, a loaded die, a pair of Beads of Refreshment and a pair of Beads of Nourishment.  Xarria bought some diamond dust from him for spell components.  The conversation meandered to other topics, including a neighbour allergic to moorbounder hair and the fact that the entire building knew Kaeko and Bodhi had sex—except for Dorlen, who mistook the noise for rats.  Dorlen bought the rest of his diamond dust before Kaeko remembered they’d bought some old bottles of wine from Cael Morrow.  Bodhi appraised the merchandise, was shocked to realize it was truly pre-Divergence and was confident he could sell each bottle for a thousand gold pieces. The party decided to celebrate by sampling one of the wine bottles, as it was not every day they could enjoy such an expensive vintage.  In lieu of the wine, Sabina accepted a philter of love (which she later poured out as she had moral objections to it) and a Potion of Minor Transmutation.  When Dorlen tasted the latter, the party noticed his hair changed colour to match that of the potion.  The party then sampled the wine.  Zenada and Kaeko felt a mild buzz.  Xarria felt it was fairly strong.  Bodhi and Dorlen immediately got drunk.  Dorlen suggested he could build things for Bodhi to sell.  Kaeko remembered the lingerie shop and told Bodhi she had to take his measurements.

Despite his inebriated state, Dorlen thought they should discuss whatever flashbacks they’d seen (if they wanted to).  He freely admitted his brother was ‘a piece of shit’ and was strangely grateful that he could share such a personal part of his past with some of them.  Sabina silently eyed Zenada to suggest she reveal her flashback.  Zenada explained to Xarria (who had not witnessed Dorlen’s flashback) that his brother framed him and gently told Dorlen he could decide how to reconcile his conflicted feelings.  She also observed that no one had witnessed Sabina’s memories.

While Dorlen hastened to assure her she did not have to reveal anything, Sabina admitted she made a deal with Gruumsh to gain revenge when she was ten years old.  She went on to reveal that she was saved by a member of the Cobalt Soul who gave her a symbol of Corellon, which shielded her from Gruumsh’s influence.  Zenada hinted Sabina was now part of a party whose contacts could help her track down the perpetrators.  Sabina reluctantly admitted her family trained moorbounders as part of a traveling circus until members of the Aurora Watch had tried to purchase some for combat purposes.  When her parents refused, the soldiers returned to kill and burn their caravan. Sabina admitted she and Dax were the only survivors and that Gruumsh had met her afterwards.  She sheepishly acknowledged she could no longer maintain the fiction that she’d been raised by moorbounders.  Dorlen drunkenly admitted Sabina was a little too well-spoken for someone of her supposed upbringing.  Zenada simply expressed her sympathies, followed by Dorlen.  Kaeko offered to put out some feelers with her former comrades in the Aurora Watch.  Zenada calmly went on to tell Sabina they could ensure the offenders receive a long and painful justice.

Sabina tentatively suggested Zenada had some familiarity with that.  Zenada acknowledged that it was interesting remembering they died at the hands of a friend.  She went on to reveal to Dorlen, Kaeko and Xarria that ‘Valas’s sword’ worked for her as she was the reincarnation of Celae’sarrin Dro’as and it was actually her sword.  Sabina offered Zenada some comfort and assured her Valas cared for and never stopped looking for her.  Zenada simply stated that she only retained some of her past life’s memories and how odd it was to be two people at once.  She gave a few more details on the reincarnation cycle, clarifying that Valas had broken his sword and stabbed her past self with the broken end.  Dorlen wondered what the odds that they would be drawn together were.  Xarria thought it might be fate.  Bodhi said it might be destiny.

As an increasingly inebriated Bodhi rambled, Kaeko admitted her flashbacks had revealed how she first met her husband, but also how she had been exiled from her tribe.  Bodhi drunkenly declared his opinion of her biological parents and reminded her that his parents loved her—revealing that Kaeko had accomplished the rare feat of out-drinking his mother.  The party assured him they regarded him as an honorary member.  Zenada wryly observed he had not inherited his mother’s tolerance for alcohol. Sabina asked why they found drinking, and sex, so enjoyable.  She received a variety of answers.  Zenada amused herself by tossing a chocolate croissant at Bodhi and a custard-filled tart at Dorlen.  Bodhi responded by squeezing the contents of some pastries over Kaeko and Dorlen.

Their merriment were interrupted by a knock.  Dorlen hastily cast Disguise Self while Zenada answered the door to find Prolix. Zenada vaguely remembered him and invited the tiefling in, warning him they were somewhat drunk.  Prolix greeted the party and nervously told them someone was trying to frame him for the events at the Life Dome (episode 23).

Prolix explained that someone stole his satchel earlier that day.  Sometime after reporting the theft, he was notified through a Sending spell that his satchel had made its way to the Crystal Chateau and he should retrieve it. He was on his way when he found a silver ring with a stripe of red metal, which he suspected had come from Cael Morrow. Taking out the ring, he presented it to the party, swore it did not belong to him and begged them to believe him. Seeing how badly shaken he was, Sabina assured him they trusted his word and invited him in after checking with Bodhi. Bodhi gave his permission before pulling Kaeko into a private, albeit drunken, conversation.  Zenada summoned an echo and used it to serve herself more wine.

Sabina apologized for the drunken state of (most of) the party, as they had been celebrating. Prolix regretted disturbing them, but confessed they were the only people he could trust.  He did not know what might happen if he returned to the Crystal Chateau and did not want to claim his satchel or report to his superiors until he knew what was going on.  Dorlen tried to see if the red—which he presumed was ruidium—reacted to Sabina’s rash, then asked for Xarria’s input when the experiment yielded no results.  They were able to determine the red metal was ruidium, though it was unclear whether the ring was deliberately forged with ruidium or whether the latter infected the former.

Prolix recalled there were many items from Cael Morrow that were touched by ruidium.  He asked the party to find his friend, Bookkeeper Khime, who managed the Omnival Library in the Sigil District and maintained records of all antiquities salvaged from Cael Morrow.  He hoped Khime could find a record of the ring, which the party could then use to determine who was trying to set him up.  Dorlen interrupted him to say the party would help as he was their friend, then asked if Prolix had anywhere to stay.  They eventually decided that Bodhi and Kaeko could keep Prolix safe—while sharing the recently opened thousand-gold piece wine—as Prolix had done something similar when the Echoes of Valour first arrived in Ank’Harel. As an added measure, Dorlen loaned Prolix to disguise himself.  Zenada decided to stay as well, both because she did not want to miss the entertainment and because she had apparently assumed the role of bartender.  That left Dorlen, Sabina and Xarria to find Khime.

After Dorlen kept mangling and mispronouncing names, Xarria promised to keep him from talking—possibly with the Silence spell.  Prolix suggested, in Abyssal, that a sock would suffice—and was delighted to discover Sabina knew that language along with a few others.  He felt that her language skills would be welcome in the Allegiance of Allsight, though he noted she’d been recently spending a great deal of time with the Library of the Cobalt Soul.  Sabina expressed her fondness for Prolix, but confessed an appreciation for how the Cobalt Soul did not try to gatekeep knowledge and was trying to pay them back for the aid a Cobalt Soul librarian provided in her youth.  Prolix thanked them again, stating he was in their debt.  Sabina disagreed as she felt friends did not keep track of debts.  Xarria agreed, promising to help no matter who they were officially working for.  Dorlen urged them to get going, though he momentarily regretted missing out on the fun they were leaving behind.

Dorlen, Sabina and Xarria made their way across town and soon found themselves at the Omnival Library. Xarria saw that it boasted texts from all across Exandria and recalled that anyone could check them out as long as they received approval from the Allegiance of Allsight for anything esoteric or delicate.  Sabina found similarities between this policy and the one used by the Cobalt Soul. Dorlen decided he no longer had regrets about leaving Kaeko and Zenada.  He then remembered he had a book to return.

Xarria suggested Dorlen take the lead, given his familiarity with the library.  Dorlen’s eye was momentarily caught by a post-Calamity romance novel of questionable taste, but then remembered to return his book.  On the way, he accidentally knocked over another gnome.  The gnome moved to pick up the spilled books before recognizing Dorlen.  While Dorlen feigned ignorance, Sabina and Xarria remembered seeing him in or around the Cobalt Soul apartment complex.  Xarria saw one of the books that fell was a copy of ‘Tusk Love’.  She picked it up as she found the salacious cover image intriguing.  Sabina noted other details like the thread count of the gnome’s shirt, how most of the other books were about engineering… and one book was written by ‘Professor Dorlen Wildrock’.  She commented that the last book looked interesting and helped pick up the books in such a way that Dorlen could see the title.

The gnome said the book Sabina saw came out this year, which piqued Dorlen’s interest.  Dorlen exclaimed that he had not written that book, which made the gnome realize that he *did* look familiar.  He turned the book to the ‘author’s’ picture, revealing a man who looked similar to Dorlen… except he had a curled and waxed mustache, clean hair and expensive clothes. While Dorlen gawked, Sabina asked for the gnome’s name and learned he was Snicpnick Kinglegard.  Snicpnick was very excited to meet Dorlen as he’d audited some of his lectures.  When Sabina asked when those lectures took place, Snicpnick guessed it was seven months ago.

Dorlen was quite confused as he did not recall giving lectures or writing books, but did admit he’d had a lot to drink.  Thinking he’d been celebrating, Snicpnick asked for recommendations for gnomish establishments. Dorlen did recall a club that technically allowed any clientele, but catered primarily to gnomes and Halflings due to their five-foot tall ceilings.  However, he focused on Snicpnick’s claims that he attended ‘his’ lecture within the last seven months.  Snicpnick recalled it was about the sustainability of Bags of Devouring and organic matter, with emphasis on how it could clean up the streets of Hupperdook.  Dorlen admitted it was a good idea but was still confused.  After confirming Snicpnick was a fan, he told him he hadn’t been in Hupperdook for quite some time.  Then he realized that if ‘Dorlen’ was a professor, that meant he was not wanted for any crimes.  Snicpnick recalled he had a ‘falling out’ with his brother, who was run out of town. Sabina wondered if that meant his brother assumed his identity.  Dorlen declared feeling that his life was a lie.  Xarria was not paying too much attention as she was engrossed in reading Tusk Love.

When asked, Snicpnick admitted he did not know why Dorlen’s brother was run out of town as the university fan page had contradicting explanations.  He regarded the brother as a loser, while Dorlen was a scientist. Snicpnick then expressed concern that he’d just insulted Dorlen’s brother, before mentioning Dorlen was also head of the Artificer Department at the university.  Sabina and Xarria pressed him for more details, learning that Snicpnick had only met ‘Dorlen’ for a minute or so, but that he seemed less scruffy and cooler.  Sabina suggested Dorlen show Snicpnick his armour.  Dorlen complied, prompting several exclamations for silence—including one from Bookkeeper Khime himself.  The party said farewell to Snicpnick, learning that he was allergic to moorbounder hair in the process.

An impatient Khime asked the party to come with him.  Dorlen told him he had a book to return, while Xarria asked if she could check out Tusk Love.  Khime told her it was not a library copy, but she was free to borrow the book for now and put it in their Lost and Found department later.  The party followed Khime into a room filled in scrolls, notes, indexes and ledgers. He invited them to sit down and asked why the party was looking for him.  Xarria said they were told Khime had records of all the antiquities recovered from Cael Morrow.  Khime admitted he had such records, but wondered why three members of the Cobalt Soul were asking.  They explained that they were trying to help his friend Prolix, who thought he was being framed for taking a ruidium-laden ring.  Khime agreed to search his ledgers as he had a high opinion of Prolix and remembered Prolix talking about the party.

Looking over Khime’s shoulder, Dorlen recognized the classification system he used.  They briefly discussed other classification systems, which led to Dorlen mentioning his Kaeko Box and Khime recalling that he met Bodhi. After helping Khime sift through the expedition logs, Dorlen eventually told Sabina and Xarria that all the expeditions that had encountered some trouble were led by the same person: Professor Lymmle Wist. Furthermore, the expedition reports were signed off by the same individual: a professor working in Cael Morrow named Galeokaerda.  Dorlen believed these incidents were linked to the assassination attempt at the Life Dome.

Khime recalled Prolix talking about the Life Dome and realized they were the ones who conducted an investigation for him.  He confided that, if the rumours he’d heard were true, the Sentinels of Memory were capable of anything—even working with the Consortium—if it meant keeping Ank’Harel safe. He told them that Professor Wist, Anbara and Idris could all be found at the Crystal Chateau and advised them to keep the ring secret safe.  Sabina asked if confronting them was a good idea.  Xarria wondered if it was a good idea to talk to Anbara and Idris first to get their sense of Wist and the expeditions they participated in.  Khime conceded that Xarria had a good idea and assured her that they could easily find them as they worked long hours.  He then asked how the party would enter the Crystal Chateau.  Xarria pointed out they still had their Allegiance of Allsight badges from Cael Morrow. Khime believed that would pass a cursory inspection.  If not, he also suggested the guards might be amenable to bribes.  Ultimately, Khime was not happy with the thought of someone as kind as Prolix being framed and wished them luck.

Dorlen and Khime exchanged farewells, each mangling the others’ name.  Xarria thanked Khime as well, but mistakenly called him by a character from Tusk Love.  To her surprise, Khime blushed.  They bonded over their appreciation of the book.  As Dorlen returned the book he borrowed, Khime conveniently crossed his legs. He invited Xarria to return so they could discuss Tusk Love further, presenting the idea as a book club. Dorlen found the idea of a book club fascinating and thought it would help Kaeko and Sabina learn to read. Xarria agreed to come back.

The three of them went straight to the Crystal Chateau, where the guards let them enter after a cursory inspection.  They made their way through the hallways to an area assigned to excavation and archaeology staff.  They found a door marked with the names Professor Lymmle Wist, Anbara and Idris. The party discussed their next move. Sabina ultimately suggested they pretend to be part of a joint task force between the Cobalt Soul and the Allegiance of Allsight, assigned to follow up on some of the recent expeditions.

They knocked on the door. A human male acolyte opened the door. Xarria greeted them and said they were looking for Anbara and Idris.  The acolyte introduced himself as Idris and said Anbara was inside.  Xarria explained they were part of a task force between the Cobalt Soul and the Allegiance of Allsight and wanted to fill in some missing details about an expedition they were on two months ago, specifically an item that was stolen.  Dorlen added that Idris was on another expedition where a similar theft occurred. The researchers thought Dorlen was acting like a cop, but Sabina and Xarria excused it by saying Dorlen was a conspiracy theorist.  Anbara immediately perked up as she was one too.  She and Dorlen got side-tracked with various conspiracy theories.

Sabina and Xarria were slightly confused at what Anbara and Dorlen were discussing and decided to talk to Idris instead.  Idris recalled discovering a ring at one of the expeditions and being attacked on the way up, but could not remember much more.  While Sabina believed him, Xarria was suspicious at how completely he believed what had happened in general without knowing the specifics.  Anbara and Idris disagreed on the details of the person or people who robbed them.  Sabina saw Professor Wist had a small office in the back, confirmed she was in charge of the expedition and found out she specialized in archaeology and ancient history—specifically Cael Morrow.  She also specialized in abjuration and divination magic.  Idris also told them she worked quite often with an on-site archivist and researcher named Galeokaerda.  As the conversation went on, Sabina and Xarria noticed that Anbara and Idris were displaying a similar level of confusion, as if they were both so blackout drunk that they were filling in details.  Dorlen asked if they would recognize any of the stolen items if they saw it, then presented the ruidium ring.  Anbar and Idris displayed no reaction, other than the ring might be similar to the one that was stolen.

At that point, another human opened the door and walked in.  Sabina guessed she was Professor Wist, repeated the fiction about investigating stolen expedition items as part of a task force, and asked if she remembered anything.  Wist explained she could not provide much information as she was struck from behind, prompting Dorlen to immediately ask which time she was referring to.  Xarria thought Dorlen was being rather insensitive. After a pause, Wist replied that the work they were doing was occasionally leaked to parties like the Sentinels of Memory.  She added that the thefts were a deeply traumatic experience and requested they come back later as they were closing up for the day.  Dorlen listened to her story, and wondered if Anbar and Idris had been affected by a Modify Memory spell.

As she talked, Wist brushed her hair behind her ear.  Sabina felt she looked uncomfortable.  More importantly, she noticed a thin ring of elevated red veins on the base of her ring finger, similar to the rash on her hand.  Sabina asked if they could talk to her again at a more convenient time and agreed to schedule a meeting next week.  Dorlen asked if there was anyone outside the Allegiance of Allsight who they talked to on a regular basis, but Wist said she would have to check first and get back to them.  She expressed some confusion that she was talking to members of the Cobalt Soul about Allegiance matters.  Sabina explained they’d been working with both organizations on various matters, including a recent incident at the Life Dome.  Xarria noticed Wist twitch with guilt and grow visibly uncomfortable, as her eyes kept glancing to her office.  Wist offered to search through her documents and see if she could find any names or leads, since they had already come all this way.  Dorlen whispered ‘memory spell’ to Xarria, who replied Wist seemed to know more than she was letting on.  As they talked, Wist entered the office and closed the door.  The party heard the sound of a door being locked.  Sabina asked if the office had a window.  Idris said yes, just as they all heard the sound of glass breaking.

Xarria broke into the office and caught Wist trying to escape. She tried to cast Hold Person, which Wist Counterspelled. The professor then escaped, despite Dorlen hitting her with a Thunder Fist on the way out. Sabina knocked her out of the sky with an Eldritch Blast that she released from her bow. Seized with remorse, Sabina then cast a Healing Spirit on the fallen professor. Xarria cast Hold Person again, this time successfully.

The party hopped out of the window, ran over to the prone professor and asked that she answer their questions.  Their interrogation was interrupted by Headmaster Gryz Alakritos, who stormed out into the pavilion with some guards and demanded to know what was going on. Dorlen, with Xarria’s help, claimed Wist was a spy for the Sentinels of Memory and they had evidence including a ruidium ring that she previously wore on her finger.  Sabina added it was likely she’d been modifying peoples’ memories to cover her actions.  Dorlen accused her of assisting with the attack on the Life Dome, while Sabina suggested she had tried to frame Prolix.  Furthermore, Dorlen began listing all the evidence he could remember from the expedition reports.

Alakritos asked Wist to explain herself.  In response, Wist cast a Fireball.  Alakritos and the party managed to endure the fiery explosion.  However, one of the guards—who’d let them into the Crystal Chateau—was immolated.  Sabina and Xarria both cast Hellish Rebuke in response.  Wist Counterspelled one of the spells before going up in flames, leaving everyone uncertain as to which Hellish Rebuke killed her.  Xarria was impressed, as she did not realize Sabina could do that.  Sabina was shocked and horrified that she could do that.  Dorlen cast Revivify on the dead guard, cursing at the use of the limited and expensive spell components, then added a Cure Wounds as well.

The party later met Alakritos in his office.  He thanked them for their hard work, especially for uncovering a traitor in their midst, and regretted they didn’t join Allegiance of Allsight.  Xarria offered to cast Speak with Dead on Wist.  Alakritos agreed as long as one of the Allegiance members was present.  The headmaster then handed Dorlen a pouch of 50 platinum coins (500 gold) as thanks and compensation for casting the costly Revivify spell.  Furthermore, Alakritos offered to let the party keep and use the ruidium ring as long as they inform the Allegiance  what properties it had, revealing that they’d discovered ruidium-infused items allowed their bearers to naturally breathe underwater.  Sabina reminded him that ruidium also caused some form of corruption and asked for more details.  The headmaster admitted he did not know much beyond the fact that it caused allergic reactions and it usually spread.

Alakritos was in the midst of thanking the party again for helping Prolix and outing a traitor in their midst, when an elf entered the room.  He introduced himself as James Cryon, another headmaster of the Allegiance of Allsight, and asked if they were the ones responsible for setting one of the buildings on fire.  Dorlen corrected him that it was one of the professors, though Xarria admitted they did contribute to the fire.  Cryon recognized the party as the adventurers Alakritos was interested in recruiting, prompting the latter to repeat his offer of membership.  Alakritos was forced to smooth things over due to the various condescending remarks Cryon made.

The headmasters asked if the party could help them identify another traitor in their midst, offering a thousand gold pieces as a reward.  They told the Echoes of Valour that they suspected someone on the excavation team was a double agent who was smuggling ruidium-infected items out of Cael Morrow for another organization—likely the Consortium or the Sentinels—and wanted them to find out who they were.  The party suggested Galeokaerda, as the archivist’s name had come up several times during their investigation.  Alakritos and Cryon added Insight and her associates, Xot and Scribble, as persons of interest.  The headmasters also acknowledged other individuals down in Cael Morrow including the elven bartender.  They discussed how her memory issues were similar to Anbar and Idris, though they suspected the former was due to something radiating in the deep as opposed to the spell that had likely affected the latter.

During the conversation, Cryon gave a series of insults and condescending remarks.  Eventually, Dorlen had enough and called him out on his behaviour, particularly as *he* was asking for *their* help.  Cryon reluctantly apologized to Sabina, explaining his vexing day and the startling discovery that Wist, who he’d personally hired, was a traitor had caused his lack of decorum.  Sabina accepted his apology and, in Abyssal, said she could be much more helpful than her appearance might suggest.  Cryon replied, in Abyssal, that Tusk Love actually did have some interesting pictures.  Dorlen was confused at their exchange.

Alakritos and Cryon expressed their fears that the Consortium would acquire enough ruidium to establish a monopoly or, worse, take over Ank’Harel and the Netherdeep.  Sabina silently asked the party if they should tell the headmasters about Alyxian.  Xarria suggested consulting with Kaeko and Zenada and returning to the headmasters later.  The headmasters asked that the party begin their investigation immediately, as the Allegiance of Allsight desperately needed their help (episode 24).

Dorlen, Sabina and Xarria left the Crystal Chateau and returned to Bodhi’s shop. They found Kaeko, Zenada, Bodhi and Prolix surrounding a hookah, with discarded food wrappers, canvas bags of leftover fried potatoes, an empty bottle of thousand-year old wine and an empty tankard of ale.  Prolix was putting out his hair, which had somehow caught on fire.  Zenada had smoke coming out of her nostrils, as if she had breathed fire on Prolix.  Furthermore, Kaeko’s corset was half-undone, Bodhi had taken off his pants and was sitting in his underwear and Zenada had taken off her overcoat.  Sabina took one look, turned around and walked out the door to sit outside with Dax.  She was disappointed to see that Dax had drunk some ale and was mildly inebriated.

Xarria helped put out some lingering flames in Prolix’s hair.  Dorlen, Sabina, Xarria then told the others they found evidence that cleared Prolix, but accidentally fried one of his colleagues—Professor Wist. Dorlen said that they’d presented their evidence to the headmasters, one of whom was decidedly rude until Dorlen scolded him.  He added that putting people in their place was not an unfamiliar experience as he was an ex-professor, then corrected himself to say he was a professor.  Prolix mistook his words to mean he’d joined the Allegiance of Allsight as a professor and became excited at the theories they could share.  Dorlen began imagining the possibilities himself, only to mess up his own name as well as Prolix's.  Sabina explained Dorlen was—and was not—a professor in charge of a department at the University of Hupperdook.

They eventually steered the conversation back to the need to return to Cael Morrow and investigate another professor named Galeokaerda, who had been signing reports of expeditions where ruidium items had been stolen.  Sabina added that Wist had been modifying the memories of her colleagues and claimed to be working for the Sentinels of Memory, though she might actually be an agent for the Consortium of the Vermilion Dream.  In addition, there were concerns that Insight, Xot and Scribble might be involved.

As an aside, Dorlen recalled that Xarria was planning to speak with Wist’s corpse. Zenada was surprised as she did not realize Xarria had that ability.  Bodhi claimed he could speak to dead people, too.  Xarria clarified that her method allowed dead people to respond, though she could not force the matter.   However, Dorlen, Sabina and Xarria remembered that the Allegiance of Allsight needed time to reassemble the body.  Kaeko asked if everyone in Cael Morrow was corrupt.  Dorlen clarified that they did not know, but suspected at least one of the expedition members was a spy.

Sabina then revealed that Wist exhibited signs of ruidium corruption, probably due to prolonged contact with the ring.  She was not sure whether Wist was corrupted to acquire ruidium from the beginning, or the ring corrupted her to want more ruidium.  A concerned Prolix thought they should return the ring to the headmasters. Dorlen assured him not to worry and pretended to make the ring disappear, only to lead Prolix to slam his head against a cabinet.  Bodhi explained that Prolix had been very stressed, so he introduced the professor to Wildemount pipeweed.  He then asked Dorlen to fix the hookah that Prolix broke.  Dorlen complied after tucking a pillow under Prolix’s head.

While Dorlen helped Bodhi repair the hookah, Sabina inquired about Kruuk, who they had been asked to investigate some time ago.  Bodhi told them the baker had been apprehended while trying to leave town with a shipment of stolen camels.  The conversation then drifted to speculation about whether they could question Kruuk about what he knew of the ruidium smuggling trade, the party’s complicated history with the Hands of Ord and whether the Cobalt Soul had already questioned the baker.  Kaeko eventually asked if it was more important to find ruidium weapons or find the villains in Cael Morrow.  They decided they would have more luck—and more freedom to operate—in the Drowned City. Sabina suggested that they—especially Dorlen—should not be too aggressive or accusatory with their investigation, as they did not know who had their memories altered and needed to find out the facts.  Dorlen expressed faith in Sabina’s ability to handle the situation.  Sabina expressed faith in Xarria’s ability to handle the situation.  Xarria expressed faith in her ability to Speak with Dead.

After briefly wondering if that meant one or more of them were dead, the party decided to call it a night.  While Dorlen wanted to investigate the ring, Kaeko proposed that she and Bodhi have sex. Bodhi agreed, asking Dorlen to pass over a glass vial holding red fluid and bearing a nipple cap, as he needed the recuperative properties of the potion inside.  Sabina woke Prolix up and told him again that they’d cleared his name and asked if he wanted to return home or stay with one of them.  She offered the use of her bed as she did not use it, which Prolix took to mean she had multiple sexual partners.  Sabina was horrified.  Prolix suddenly became nauseous, but Zenada grabbed a nearby bucket and expertly slid it under his face to catch the vomit. Dorlen helped Prolix sober up with an injection to his ass.  He was surprised the concoction worked and wondered if he could remember its contents.

Bodhi and Kaeko decided to go ahead with their carnal plans, prompting Sabina to throw up in the bucket herself.  Prolix thanked the party for everything they did.  The party insisted they were happy to repay him for the kindness and friendship he’d shown them.  Now that he was sober, Prolix insisted he was serious about encouraging them to join the Allegiance of Allsight.  Dorlen promised to consider the offer.  Prolix awkwardly hugged them one by one before leaving. Kaeko hugged him hard. Sabina then enjoyed a good night’s sleep.

In the morning, Dorlen revealed the ring could let whoever was attuned to it breathe, swim and fight underwater.  It could also be used once a day to give the wearer advantage on Strength checks/saves, deal more damage, navigate difficult terrain and become immune to being paralyzed or restrained.  He felt they should take advantage of what the ring could do. However, he also warned they would need to be careful, given Wist had demonstrated how easily ruidium could corrupt the wearer.

Xarria pointed out she had an amulet that let people around her swim—and fight—freely. Dorlen eventually took the ring as everyone else declined to wear it.  They walked through the city, gathering whatever supplies they needed. Before they descended to the excavation site, Dorlen offered his Cloak of the Manta Ray to Zenada.  She was visibly reluctant, but eventually agreed after learning it could expand to fit her and let her breathe, swim and fight underwater.  He also gave Kaeko a Cloak of Resistance.

One of the guards asked if they were ready to go down, though he asked Dorlen if he could make a cloak for his sister.  The other guard told them the party were members of the Cobalt Soul, not cloak merchants.  Sabina suggested Naughtyleaf and his silk wares.  Xarria concurred with that recommendation and offered to show the guards the dress she’d bought, which led to a round of inadvertent flirting. Kaeko and Sabina decided to sneak past the guards while Zenada simply strode on through.  One of the guards decided to take Xarria up on her offer, introducing himself as Edgar and his partner as Tonka.  Xarria gave her name before taking her leave.  Dorlen also left the guards behind.

The party went down the spiral stairs and was waved through the double doors by Gortag Inkdrinker.  They were given a quick once-over in the tunnel by Nadiya and Kal, who both looked very tired.  Sabina expressed her concern over their exhaustion.  Kal explained Nadiya had a hot date and lost her voice screaming at a concert.  Kaeko offered her sympathies and asked if anyone was acting strange or secretive since the last time they were there.  Nadia took her leave to get some tea.  Kaeko recommended she add honey and ginger to soothe her throat.

Once Nadiya had left, Kal admitted he had been bored since Nadiya lost her voice. He agreed to give them some information if one of the party members beat him in a wrestling match.  Kal was slightly disappointed when Kaeko agreed, as he’d hoped to compete with Xarria.  Nevertheless, he began wrestling with Kaeko.  After some initial trouble that was solved with Dorlen’s coaching, Kaeko won the match.  Kal complimented the goliath as a ‘glorious mountain hussy’ and suggested a yoga rematch. He demonstrated a yoga move and was impressed when Xarria copied the move.  Dorlen tried to do the same, only to fall over.  Dax made an attempt before sitting back down and licking himself.

Kal finally told the party that Insight seemed too eager to make friends, possibly due to loneliness.  He also admitted that Scribble had been acting weird during the last couple weeks. He warned the party to tread carefully as Xot was very protective of them and asked them not to reveal what he said as gossip was a punishable offence.  The party agreed to keep his secrets safe.  Before they left, Sabina loaned Kal her comics to stave off his boredom.

The party entered the excavation site.  In the distance, they heard Xot and Scribble arguing over a dragonchess game.  Over by the central chamber, they saw a pair of recently excavated statues, still covered in barnacles and seaweed.  One of them had a pair of legs sticking out of the open counter beneath them.  They heard Insight call out for a spanner.  Dorlen handed one over and was taken aback when she started feeling up his arm and onto his chest before realizing he wasn’t Xot.  After making some adjustments, she slid out and asked how Dorlen was doing.  Dorlen blurted out his discovery that his brother had stolen his identity and was posing as a professor, much to Kaeko’s and Zenada’s surprise.  Sabina and Zenada speculated that his brother took advantage of Dorlen’s departure to switch places.  The conversation was derailed by talk of multiverses and Dorlen’s mispronunciation of names; with Zenada comforting Sabina over sexual innuendos inspired by the latter.

As Kaeko and Dorlen stepped aside, Insight noticed how they kept looking back and wondered what they were talking about. Xarria and Zenada admitted it was hard to tell at times.  Zenada confessed Dorlen was both brilliant and oblivious, but it was hard to tell which version one would meet.  Sabina emphasized Dorlen’s kindness, citing how he stood up for her when one of the headmasters called her dumb.  Insight immediately grabbed Sabina, shook her, told her she deserved as much respect as anyone else and insisted Sabina repeat after her before letting her go. Sabina was very confused.

At that point, Kaeko and Dorlen saw Insight grabbing Sabina and wondered what was going on. Dorlen went so far as insisting Insight leave her alone, wondering why the Allegiance professors behaved this way. Sabina reassured him that she was just being (aggressively) nice.  Insight eventually realized Dorlen was talking about Headmater Cryon.  Kaeko claimed she was talking to Dorlen about a rash, only for Dorlen to shatter her ruse with his ignorance.  Xarria assured Dorlen that she would look after Kaeko.

Xot interrupted them by informing Insight she had the items ready for appraisal. The goliath insisted they needed examination as they were on a timeline and asked him to identify them.  While he was occupied, Xot leaned over Xarria and asked if she was responsible for handling the party—having surmised the role fell to her or Zenada.  Hearing Xarria’s hesitant confirmation, Xot warned her to make sure Dorlen wasn’t left alone with Insight, as she deemed the professor emotionally fragile and likely to seek a live-in boyfriend.  Xarria replied that she would try to keep Dorlen in line.

Meanwhile, Dorlen determined the items as a Potion of Healing and a Ring of the Ram. After informing the others of his findings, Insight asked what brought the party to Cael Morrow.  Dorlen brought up their ‘Uncle Bard Destiny’ and was surprised to see Xot react to the name.  Apparently a bard named Destiny had come to her tribe when she was a child, taught them how to love and dance, then burned their village to the ground.  Dorlen looked at Xarria and asked why she never told him their fictitious bard was based on a real person.  Xarria urged Dorlen to stop talking.

Unfortunately, Xot was so enraged that she telekinetically grabbed Dorlen and pulled him towards him.  Desperate, Sabina blurted out that their ‘uncle bard Destiny’ was merely a codename for someone else.  When Xot sought clarification, Sabina admitted aloud that everyone else in her family was dead. As silence filled the room, Sabina saw Scribble stare intently at her from the second floor. Xot apologized to Dorlen, explaining she had lost her shoe collection that day and had tried to rebuild it ever since. Xarria loaned Xot a handkerchief to dab at her tears, while Dorlen offered his own shoes.  Xot declined as he preferred Xarria’s designer shoes, though she wished they were larger.  Kaeko lamented that she had not grown up in Xot’s tribe.  Xot then revealed her nickname was ‘Greatpump’ and her brother’s was ‘Twopump’.  In Giant, she and Kaeko commiserated over how her brother’s name had a different meaning in Common.  Dorlen suggested that if Xot made shoes, she might seek out the Naughtyleafs for some sort of collaboration.

Sabina saw that Scribble had backed away while the others were talking about shoes.  She climbed the stairs, found he was surprisingly disheveled—either from exhaustion or lack of sleep—and asked if he was all right.  Scribble replied in Alyxian’s voice, quoting his laments about power not being enough and lamenting that the gods had forsaken him. Realizing the kenku had encountered Alyxian too, Sabina told him the Echoes of Valour were searching for Alyxian amidst the ruidium-laden ruins and learned he was disturbed about all the ruidium being taken away.  She asked Scribble if he knew anything about thefts of ruidium.  Scribble told her the psychic assaults he’d endured had stopped a week ago and the nightmares, while still present, became more bearable.  He wondered if the party had been responsible. When Sabina admitted it was possible, Scribble wrote something on a notepad.  Unfortunately, Sabina could not read his cursive writing, so she went to the balcony and got Zenada’s attention.  Zenada saw her motion and joined her upstairs.  Sabina asked her to read the notepad.

Zenada learned that Scribble began having visions of Alyxian while excavating some of the ruins.  The visions had caused him pain, suffering and nightmares.  About a week ago, the visions suddenly stopped and the nightmares became more bearable.  He wondered if they were responsible.  Zenada relayed the information to Sabina, who confirmed that they had put several things to rest during that time.  Scribble hugged and thanked both of them.  He then called out to Xot and insisted she give the Ring of the Ram to the party.  Scribble and Xot began exchanging insults.

Insight asked what was going on as she sensed people were keeping secrets. Dorlen said he wasn’t supposed to talk. Insight assured him he could stand by and look pretty, much to Zenada’s amusement.  Sabina told the party to confide in Insight and her colleagues. Zenada suggested that Sabina and Xarria provide the majority of explanations after Dorlen mangled Galeokaerda’s name.  Xarria complied, explaining that Galeokaerda had signed off on all the reports of expeditions where items had gone missing.  Dorlen added that the archivist had also altered some of the reports, while Sabina revealed that Professor Wist had (sort of) admitted her own culpability. Insight was reluctant to believe their accusations, but agreed they should speak to her.  She directed them to the Royal Reading Room, which the party realized was in the same building where they’d found a cache of historical tablets during their first visit.  Insight hoped the party would prove her innocence, as Galeokaerda had offered her kindness, friendship and a reprieve from the politics typically found in academia.

Insight also told them that she discovered Galeokaerda holding meetings with another group of people bearing Allegiance of Allsight badges, one of whom was a blue-skinned water genasi.  Kaeko immediately thought of Ayo and asked if there was an ogre present.  Insight confessed it was possible, but she had not paid close attention as Galeokaerda routinely kept a shield guardian close by for protection and seemed nervous or angry when Insight discovered them.  When asked, Insight told them the meeting took place the day after the party had visited the excavation site.  Xot spoke up, recalling another member of the group was a grievously wounded human.  Sabina saw Xarria was upset, guessed she was probably thinking of Irvan, and offered her support.

After saying goodbye to Insight, Xot and Scribble, the party made their way through the ruins.  When they arrived at their destination, Kaeko cast an Aria of Suspense while Dorlen put on the ruidium ring and donned his Armour.  They made their way through the submerged library and past an adjoining corridor and door to the north, then stopped to discuss how to approach Galeokaerda. They eventually settled on the tactic used to question Wist.

They opened the door and entered a large room filled with tomes and scrolls that had long since turned to mush.  The smell of rotting, waterlogged wood filled their nostrils.  A female elf was sifting through the detritus with an exasperated look on her face.  She was accompanied by a large construct that some of the party recognized as the shield guardian.  Dorlen was fascinated by the construct and asked Galeokaerda if she made it. Galeokaerda turned towards them and demanded to know what they were doing here.

Xarria tried to explain they were part of a joint task force investigating omissions in some reports she’d signed.  The archivist immediately took offence and rudely dismissed her.  Dorlen protested that they were here under the authority of the Allegiance of Allsight headmasters, but was similarly rebuffed when he mangled their names. As the conversation devolved into an exchange of insults and indignant remarks, Sabina and Xarria noticed the telltale markings of ruidium corruption along her bare arms.

After a few minutes, Galeokaerda declared that she might cooperate if the party retrieved some tablets that her underlings dropped in one of the two rooms to the north.  An exasperated Dorlen complied, only to stop and admire the shield guardian.  Sabina accompanied him but stopped at the room’s door.  Zenada stayed behind at the door they had entered.  Kaeko positioned herself between Dorlen and Galeokaerda.  When Dorlen opened the door, he immediately saw a teleportation tablet.  Xarria confirmed she might still have one from Bazzoxan while Zenada reminded Dorlen to be careful.  Dorlen stepped in and immediately saw a swarm of sorrowfish descend towards him. Dorlen cast Invisibility on himself and evaded the attack.  Sabina and Xarria were momentarily alarmed until they realized he was safe.

As the sorrowfish stunned Dorlen with their innate magic, Galeokaerda recognized the party as the adventurers she was warned about. She attacked Xarria with crimson bolts, which the party recognized from their encounter at Kruuk's shop. After Xarria Hellish Rebuked the archivist, Galeokaerda then commanded the shield guardian to attack Xarria, who summoned Spirit Guardians to protect her. Sabina declared she was tired of people hurting her friends and fired a Lightning Arrow at Galeokaerda before commanding Dax to attack the shield guardian. Zenada noticed the wood in the shield guardian’s chassis began to splinter as Galeokaerda took damage.  She walked up to the shield guardian, summoned her echo in front of the archivist, and unleashed a barrage of attacks on both. She later noticed a glowing pendant around Galeokaerda’s neck and deduced it was transferring some of the damage she took to the construct. Dorlen came to and saw the shield guardian had hurt Dax, prompting him to call on the power of his new ring before hitting the sorrowfish and shield guardian. Galeokaerda fired two more crimson bolts before trying to flee. Xarria ultimately destroyed the shield guardian with her new Ring of the Ram, but not before it hit Dorlen. Kaeko caught up to Galeokaerda and tackled her to the ground while Zenada used her echo to contain the sorrowfish. Xarria's Spirit Guardians convinced the sorrowfish to swim away.

Kaeko dragged Galeokaerda back to join the party, sat on her and demanded she start talking.  Galeokaerda revealed the key to the Netherdeep could be found in a villa to the south.  She also declared that they were too late and the Consortium would soon control the source of the ruidium.  Zenada marveled at how the Allegiance of Allsight allowed a fool like Galeokaerda into their midst.  Galeokaerda demanded the party release her in exchange for her information.  Sabina intimated that they should just kill her instead.  Kaeko reprimanded Sabina, stating that they—usually—did not murder people.  Galeokaerda accused them of killing Aloysia, but the party quickly corrected her.  The archivist told them to use the teleportation tablet to transport all of them to the rooftop of the First Eclipse.  From there, she could direct them to their friends.  Dorlen, Kaeko, Sabina and Zenada believed her.  Xarria, however, saw her look away as she spoke. Recognizing the telltale sign of a lie, Xarria gripped the shaft of Sabina’s arrow, twisted it and asked what Galeokaerda was hiding.

Before Galeokaerda could reply, a horrible noise tore through their minds.  The party received varying degrees of psychic damage, while the archivist’s eyes popped from the onslaught.  Amongst the screams of a hundred different lives, the party heard Alyxian’s distorted voice ask why they did not protect him.  Moments later, Galeokaerda and the Alyxian aboleth died. They sensed that the aboleth perished at the hands of Ayo's party (episode 25).

The party recovered from their shared psychic onslaught and slowly rose to their feet. The party heard a series of inarticulate screaming in Deep Speech.  As Sabina understood Deep Speech, she knew the screams were from creatures who decried the death of ‘the progenitor’ and their ‘Creator’. Kaeko and Sabina also heard the sound of one of the creatures being killed by an ogre.  They quickly informed the rest of the party, declaring they had to confront the perpetrators.

While Zenada kept guard, Dorlen went to pick up the teleportation tablet he spotted during the previous combat and determined it was keyed to the teleportation circle on the rooftop of the First Eclipse.  Meanwhile, Kaeko looted Galeokaerda’s body, obtaining several coins, a brooch—holding a ruby, not a stone of ruidium—a sheathed longsword and the trident she displayed. Sabina and Xarria noticed portions of the trident looked like they were painted over.  Scratching away, Xarria revealed red veins of ruidium running through the weapon.  They informed the party of their findings. Sabina suggested that someone else should carry the trident, since Dorlen and Sabina had already been corrupted by ruidium.  Dorlen claimed he had not been affected.  When Kaeko pressed him, he claimed he was trying to emulate her fighting skills.  Xarria decided to take the trident as she did not want Dorlen and Sabina to sacrifice themselves for the party.

Dorlen swam outside to look around. He excitedly told the party that he could see Ayo’s party and called out to Dermot, telling him he had the eye he promised. Kaeko, Sabina, Xarria and Zenada joined Dorlen and saw Dermot was holding a warhammer infected with ruidum.  Ayo’s party.  One by one, their other friends—and rivals—turned around.  Maggie, Ayo, Galsariad and Irvan revealed that ruidium had also infected their plate mail, harpoon, staff and short sword, respectively.  Furthermore, Irvan’s left arm had been replaced with a clockwork prosthetic.  Xarria gasped, blurting out the name ‘Den’ and swam towards Irvan.  Dorlen followed, with Kaeko close behind.  Sabina stayed behind, hiding out of sight.  Zenada lingered as well, given that Ayo’s party did not know her.

As the Echoes of Valour approached, Maggie shot Ayo a look before taking a combat stance.  She warned the party to halt as they did not want to fight.  Xarria insisted they did not want to fight either and asked Irvan what happened to his arm.  Irvan explained he’d been careless and lost it to a slithering bloodfin.  Dermot thanked Dorlen for bringing his new eye and promised to try it on after returning from the Netherdeep, picking it up when Dorlen tossed it over.

A confused Dorlen asked why they would be fighting.  Ayo stepped forward and said everyone wanted the Netherdeep and what it could provide.  Kaeko explained her friends were only here to save someone who was trapped.  Ayo replied that Alyxian was imprisoned, not trapped, and rightfully so as she’d seen a vision of him vowing to destroy everyone to get his revenge.  Furthermore, she expressed interest in the vast quantities of ruidium held within the Netherdeep.  Kaeko pointed out Ayo was acting hostile and that ruidium inflicted a terrible cost—suggesting that it was indirectly responsible for Valas’s death.

Dorlen retracted his armour and pulled out pieces of Maggie’s old chainmail.  He said he knew they had tried to make amends for Valas’s death and it wasn’t their fault, adding that he’d cleaned up what evidence he could find.  Maggie observed that they had cleaned up each others’ messes.  Several people on both sides continued expressing a desire to avoid fighting each other, if not work together.  Ayo, however, was tired of the Echoes of Valour always getting to be the heroes—making a pointed reference at the Jewel Xarria wore—while her party made just as many sacrifices—if not more—only to be seen as mere sidekicks.

When Kaeko asked what they wanted, Galsariad stepped out and said they wanted to see this through to the end and keep whatever power they found.  Sabina and Xarria sensed the wizard had changed.  Galsariad confirmed their observations, saying he’d seen and done too many things and he needed them to mean something.

Irvan asked Xarria to give them the Jewel so they could deal with whatever they found in the Netherdeep.  Xarria, who had intended to step towards him, refused and stepped back.  He insisted they could not work together as the Echoes of Valour had joined the Allegiance of Allsight or Cobalt Soul, while they had aligned themselves with the only remaining faction that would have them.  He lamented that they arrived in Ank’Harel with nothing, ignoring Kaeko’s and Xarria’s reminders that they were in similar straits.

Kaeko tried one more time, insisting that they could work together so everyone could be a hero.  Instead, Ayo decided they should have a competition like the one they had in Jigow so the Echoes of Valour could prove their worth.  She ordered her party members to attack the Echoes of Valour, adding they should try not to kill them.

Echoing Ayo’s words that this was just a friendly competition, Irvan moved towards Xarria but struck at Dorlen.  While Irvan only hit him once, he used the pommel of his dagger rather than the envenomed blade.  Sabina stepped out, told Dax to stay, put her Hexblade’s Curse on Ayo and fired her bow.  After scoring a direct hit, she coldly told Ayo—and Galsariad—that they were not the only ones who had gone through hard experiences.

Zenada emerged and maneuvered herself so the Echoes of Valour did not group together and make a tempting target.  She then summoned her echo.  Having overheard the declaration that they were not trying to kill each other, and seeing how Irvan had taken some damage from fighting the aboleth, she decided to try and knock him out.  Zenada then dealt him two blows, bisecting his ear in the process.

Dorlen activated his Armour again.  Maggie promised to try not to kill anyone before attacking Kaeko. Kaeko cast Silvery Barbs, but still took two hits.  Maggie then gave Irvan some encouraging words.  Dermot took a few steps forward, braced himself and attacked Zenada as she’d just hurt his friend.  While he only hit once, his warhammer emitted a searing blast of light that blinded her. Ayo ordered Dermot to give Irvan backup before charging Xarria, demanding she surrender the Jewel as her party was meant to have it.  Xarria blocked her harpoon with her shield and replied that they would have already had the Jewel if that was truly their destiny.  Ayo gave Galsariad a look.

Kaeko went into a rage and hit Maggie in the knee with her new longsword. Blood seeped out, only to crystallize and sink to the bottom, frozen so solidly by Kaeko’s sword that even the water could not thaw it.  Xarria touched Irvan’s forehead and put him to Sleep at third level, catching him as he slumped to the ground. Understanding Ayo’s command, Galsariad cast Gravity Wave at a point just behind Dorlen.  Sabina took 49 points of damage, while everyone else took 24 points of damage. Sabina and Xarria cast Hellish Rebuke before both of them went down. Sabina thought about her parents and how it might be time to join them, but not if it meant being bested by someone weaker than her. Unbeknownst to her, a furious Dax grew angry and tried to attack Ayo, but missed.

Zenada was still blinded, but sensed someone in front of her.  Getting a Second Wind and having a Remarkable Recovery, she scored two hits on Dermot.  Her vision finally began to clear.  Dorlen threw a crystal (from the Betrayer’s Rise in Bazzoxan) strategically and cast Hypnotic Pattern, while talking to Dermot the whole time.  Ayo managed to take the Jewel from Xarria, briefly succumbing to the Hypnotic Pattern, but she shook it off.  Galsariad resisted the magic as well, but Maggie was lulled into a stupor.  Dorlen gave himself some temporary HP while chastising Ayo.  Dermot got an opportunity attack, but failed to hit Dorlen.

Kaeko dropped her Rage, ran to Xarria and cast Cure Wounds.  Maggie looked off into space.  Dermot looked at Zenada, said they didn’t have to fight and asked them to back off.  He explained that he was just here to make sure no one died, to which Zenada retorted his party opened hostilities.  Dermot warned Zenada against doing any rash actions as he lowered his warhammer and backed away towards Sabina.  Zenada warned him to consider his next move carefully.  Dermot cast Spare the Dying on Sabina.

Xarria came to, realized her Jewel had been stolen and cast Hold Person on Ayo.  Galsariad cast Slow, but only managed to catch Dax.  With Irvan asleep and Sabina stable, Dax attacked Ayo again and sunk his fangs into her calf, scoring a critical hit from Xarria’s Hold Person.  Zenada thanked Dermot for helping Sabina, but told him she still had to knock him out. Dermot decided to knock her out in return.  Dorlen cheered Dermot on, causing Zenada to feel betrayed.

Dorlen took the amulet back from Ayo, as she was still frozen with Hold Person, telling her “Stealing is bad, especially from friends.”  He then charged Galsariad and hit him once. In response, Galsariad cast Distort Gravity around himself, hitting Dorlen, and floated upwards.  Ayo failed to shake off Hold Person.  Kaeko cast Slow and hit Galsariad, Maggie and Ayo.  She then gave Bardic Inspiration to everyone.

Dermot swung at Zenada with his ruidium warhammer and hit, then missed her with his Searing Wrath.  Given that Ayo was paralyzed and Irvan was asleep, Xarria swam to Sabina and cast Cure Wounds at 4th level.  Frustrated, Galsariad cast Gravity Wave again.  While the Echoes of Valour endured its effects, Dax went down. Sabina looked around, cast Hunter’s Mark on Galsariad and hit him with two magic arrows.

Zenada hit Dermot twice.  Dorlen swam up to Galsariad and knocked him out with his Thunder Fists, then gave himself some temporary HP.  Ayo shrugged off Hold Person despite Kaeko’s Silvery Barbs.  Kaeko cast Thunderwave. Maggie succeeded but Ayo failed due to Kaeko casting Silvery Barbs again.  The Thunderwave sent Ayo towards Dorlen, whose opportunity attack dealt enough critical damage to knock her out.  As Ayo fell down, Dorlen saw ruidium veins running up her arm to the shoulder.

Maggie shook off Dorlen’s Hypnotic Pattern and turned around, only to see Kaeko wave at her.  Maggie hit Kaeko and knocked her out, thus freeing herself from the Slow spell too. Maggie then charged at Zenada and hit her.  Dermot swung at Zenada and missed.  He had better luck with another Searing Wrath, which blinded Zenada again.  With Galsariad still unconscious, Xarria cast Spiritual Weapon and scored a critical hit on Dermot.  She then clubbed him with her quarterstaff.  Dermot fell to one knee and asked his comrades for help.

Sabina aimed an arrow at Dermot, then turned her bow towards Maggie. She finally fired her arrow near Kaeko, using it to summon her Healing Spirit.  She then ran to Dax, dodging Dermot’s opportunity attack, and tried to stabilize the moorbounder.  Zenada summoned her echo and knocked Dermot out.  She then hit Maggie twice.

Dorlen urged Ayo to stop as the fighting wasn’t helping and her arm looked bad.  Ayo warned she wouldn’t show mercy the next time they met.  She then ate a Goodberry before diving towards Sabina, taking an opportunity attack from Dorlen.  Sabina cast Shield and blocked her attacks.  Frustrated, Ayo threw a dagger at Irvan’s foot to wake him up.

Bouyed by the Healing Spirit, Kaeko rose to her feet, backed up and cast Thunderwave at 4th level, using Silvery Barbs again to hit Ayo and Maggie.  Ayo took full damage and was blasted back.  Maggie tried to hit Zenada, but botched her attack so badly that Zenada was able to score a critical hit.  Maggie’s attack against Sabina also failed so spectacularly that Dax could swipe at Maggie and tear the armour off her legs.  With Dermot unconscious and Galsariad snoozing, Xarria downed Maggie with her Spiritual Weapon.  She then ran to the ogre and cast Spare the Dying. Now awake from his magically induced slumber, Irvan stood up behind Xarria and declared it was an evenly matched fight.

Sabina looked into Ayo’s eyes and saw a familiar pain and need of validation and fear of failure.  She also recognized that the wellbeing of Ayo’s party was more important than her own welfare.  Sabina moved Hunter’s Mark to Ayo but sheathed her bow.  Zenada recognized Ayo’s behavior from some of the commanders she encountered in her past life (and some of her past life’s actions). She carefully lowered her sword and told Ayo that, while they hadn’t met each other, the Echoes of Valour spoke highly of them.  She told Ayo that glory was useless and it wouldn’t keep her alive.  She added that the Echoes of Valour, while ridiculous at times, positively dripped with sincerity and genuinely wanted to stop fighting.

As she and Zenada tried to Persuade Ayo to stand down, Sabina encountered another level of exhaustion as her ruidium corruption deepened.

Dorlen offered Dermot a Healing potion.  Kaeko cast Cure Wounds on Maggie and dragged her into Sabina’s Healing Spirit.  Maggie asked if they won.  Kaeko replied that they would’ve killed each other before anyone won, as they were evenly matched.  Xarria stood up, turned around and healed Irvan’s split ear with Cure Wounds.  She scratched Irvan’s beard as he leaned into her hand (while secretly gathering some of his blood in her handkerchief). Ayo insisted they would have won if Irvan was awake.  Sabina retorted that he had not.

The two parties finally ceased hostilities.  They decided they should get a drink, with Ayo suggesting the Last Willow.  Zenada sheathed her sword, nudged Dermot and told him it was a good fight.  He asked if Zenada was a follower of the Luxon. Zenada’s vague response caused Dermot to realize she was a Consecuted.  Irvan was shocked to recognize Zenada was a Consecuted too.

With no further distractions, the two parties swam over to the Last Willow.  The sea elf bartender recognized them and said hello, which surprised the adventurers given the memory issues she displayed during their last visit.  Kaeko wanted to use her longsword to do a trick, only to realize she lost it during the fight.  She swam back to retrieve it, ignoring the fact that she would leave the range of anything that let her breathe underwater.

The bartender offered wine and spirits, but regretted she had no healing potions as she vaguely remembered selling them to the Echoes of Valour.  Then the bartender asked what year it was.  The Echoes of Valour tentatively told her she’d been in a time loop and the year was 835.  The bartender guessed the date reflected a significant event, such as the sinking of the city.  Maggie asked for a wineskin.  Dorlen eagerly suggested it was a good time to put Dermot’s eye in, but asked Galsariad if he wanted to examine it.  Galsariad was going to order some wine, but agreed to look at the eye.  Dorlen assured Galsariad he took his advice and didn’t weaponize it, before popping it into a surprised Dermot’s eye socket. Irvan tested Dermot’s eyesight by giving him the finger.  Xarria told Irvan to behave, but called him ‘Den’.

Kaeko then returned. The party observed her longsword was now infected with ruidium.  Dorlen returned the Jewel to Xarria.  Ayo noted Sabina changed and thought it might not be a bad thing.  Sabina replied that Ayo had not, which was.  Ayo wondered what Maggie saw in Sabina.  Maggie replied Sabina used to be nicer.  Sabina thanked Maggie for killing Aloysia.  Ayo asked the bartender about her memory. The bartender revealed her memory began coming back roughly around the time that Ayo’s party killed the aboleth. The bartender introduced herself as Olara.  The Echoes of Valour started introducing themselves, though they made innuendos of Dorlen’s name.  Olara wondered where she could go if she wanted to leave.  The Echoes of Valour warned her many things had changed since the Calamity.  Sabina suggested she might go to the Life Dome.  Zenada suggested that if she had more valuable wine, Kaeko’s husband could help her sell it.

Sabina wanted to know if Alyxian was a hero or someone out for revenge, pointedly looking at Ayo. Olara remembered serving the Apotheon, Alyxian, wine once (the thousand-year old vintage the Echoes of Valour bought). She thought he was haunted, weighed down with responsibility and tragedy, but also felt he had a presence that made you want to listen to him and be around him.  She also thought he was attractive, reminding the others that she still had needs even though she had been in a daze for 800 years.

Dorlen went to Galsariad and, on the subject of Ayo thinking Alyxian wasn’t a hero, warned him that the Consortium had been using mind magic to modify the memories of others. Galsariad assured him that no one had their mind altered as far as he knew.  However, Alyxian had tried to target them with his psychic abilities while they were searching the Drowned City—Galsariad, Ayo and Irvan received visions, while Dermot only got a headache and Maggie displayed a surprising resistance.  Galsariad recalled Alyxian saying “Ungrateful wretches, they have forgotten all I have done. If I can’t live, I’ll burn this world down.”  Irvan took a big pull on his wine skin and remembered Alyxian lamenting “Why have all the gods forsaken me?”

Dorlen wanted to know what happened to Irvan’s arm.  Irvan revealed that a slithering bloodfin sliced his arm off during his last visit. Dermot corrected him, saying Irvan got hurt because he was protecting Ayo.  Ayo stiffened before she responded that he shouldn’t have intercepted the creature and that she could have handled it.

Irvan and Dorlen commiserated over their shared desire to get in harm’s way to protect the ones they cared about.  Xarria admired Irvan’s arm.  Dorlen asked to examine it.  Irvan popped his arm off after Dorlen promised to return it.

Ayo hopped on the bar and asked to get down to business.  She confirmed the Echoes of Valour were working with the Cobalt Soul and Allegiance of Allsight.  She revealed her party was hired to secure a path to ruidium.  She thought that if Alyxian was still down in the Netherdeep, he had probably gone insane after almost a thousand years.  Zenada admitted it was possible but would not go in with any preconceptions, admitting “I figure we’d go look and if he’s bat shit insane, then we deal with it then.”  Ayo got silent messages from the rest of her party before offering to work with the Echoes of Valour.  She proposed the two parties scout independently, but share information. Kaeko offered to give them a sending stone (of a set) so they could stay in touch, calling them Rocky Talkies.

Sabina recalled Alyxian was a progenitor, which meant it had birthed spawn that might seek revenge, and passed that information to Ayo.  In return, Ayo and Galsariad revealed the Echoes of Valour needed ruidium.  Dorlen, Kaeko, Sabina and Xarria revealed their ruidium items.  Zenada was surprised to realize she was the only one *without* any ruidium.  Galsariad suggested there were a few sites where ruidium might still be found, such as a villa to the south.  Irvan warned the Echoes of Valour about a Death Embrace in the area, which he described as an unfriendly jellyfish octopus  Sabina guessed it was another aberration.

Dermot said the other location was the Kelp Woods, as the aboleth was often seen there and was obsessed with ruidium, but felt it was a death sentence.  The Echoes of Valour were collectively concerned with ruidium corruption, but felt it was worth the risk.  Zenada offered to put in a good word with the Cobalt Soul.  Dorlen told Maggie again that he’d destroyed any incriminating evidence left behind from Aloysia’s murder.

Dorlen helped Irvan open a bottle before returning his arm. Irvan suggested they search for more ruidium and enter the Netherdeep after a long rest.  Ayo gave Sabina a wary look, but suggested a truce between the Echoes of Valour and her party, the Warring Destinies.  When everyone agreed, Ayo prompted Dermot to crack a teleport tablet, which immediately sent them back to the rooftop of the First Eclipse—bloodied, bruised and soaked in seawater.  Ayo commented that she did not mean for Dorlen to initiate the teleport right that second.  Dermot attributed the lack of forethought to the injuries he sustained during the fight. Dorlen belatedly, and formally, introduced his two buddies (Zenada and Dermot) to each other.  The two parties decided to get another drink (episode 26).

The Echoes of Valour and rivals teleported to the roof of the First Eclipse but then headed to the roof of the Step Aside for food and drink.  Dorlen became excited about spiced tubers (sunchokes with cumin and allspice), but soon asked the Warring Destinies what they had done recently.  Irvan gave a general summary, making reference to his lost arm.  Dorlen assured him that there was probably magic that could restore it, before getting distracted by thoughts of examining and upgrading the prosthetic that replaced it.  Xarria advised Irvan against allowing Dorlen to examine it and accepted his plea for protection.

Zenada introduced herself to Maggie and the two complemented each others’ fighting prowess.  Maggie admitted she fought more to discourage hostilities than because she enjoyed combat, confessing she preferred poetry.  Zenada was familiar with some of the poets Maggie cited, but admitted she usually read more novels than poems.  Eventually, Irvan urged her to talk about the ‘dragon book,’ which quickly drew everyone’s interest. Finally, Maggie admitted the name of the book was Scales of Passion, which Irvan explained was like Tusk Love but with Dragons. Xarria and Maggie agreed to trade the two books, with Xarria giving Maggie her copy of Tusk Love.

Ayo asked if anyone had a plan, as they would need one before entering the rift.  She mentioned that they were probably under surveillance and that an apartment or private residence would be more suitable than the rooftop of the Step Aside.  The Echoes of Valour discussed their accommodations.  Dorlen talked enthusiastically about the indoor plumbing in his room, which a confused Maggie confused for plum trees until Zenada provided an explanation.

Sabina was listening to their conversation, but quietly focused on an early reading book to further her literacy.

With that item of business settled, Ayo suggested they all rest for the night, particularly as some of the adventurers looked exhausted.  She said her party had a tablet that could transport them all to the teleportation circle they all saw in Cael Morrow.  Once there, they could take care of any unfinished business in Cael Morrow and they can get any missing keys.  Ayo then asked Galsariad to reveal what he knew.

Galsariad told them he’d read reports from the Consortium, including one whose author entered the Netherdeep and brought ruidium back.  The report warned of the crushing water pressure within the Netherdeep.  Galsariad also revealed that ruidium was theorized to protect against water pressure, much like it granted the ability to breathe underwater, and expressed doubts on whether the Jewel would be sufficient.  He then asked who still did not possess any ruidium items.  Kaeko recalled that Zenada was the only one.  After examining Sabina’s ring, he also suggested she acquire something with more ruidium.  Kaeko had trouble understanding the concept of water pressure until Dermot used a dog pile as an analogy.

The Rivals encouraged the party to “settle up” any business they have in the city.  Galsariad emphasized the seriousness of their proposed undertaking, stating he would not want any lingering regrets if something were to happen. .

Dermot, displaying an increased confidence, encouraged Galsariad to reveal some discoveries the Consortium of the Vermillion Dream had made, which they felt the Allegiance of Allsight and the Library of the Cobalt Soul had withheld from the Echoes of Valour.  First, ruidium could corrupt other items that it came in contact with.  Second, ruidium possessed innate magical properties that could be used to  replace vast swathes of magical resources.  Dermot provided further information, citing how he used a piece of ruidium that was equal in power to diamond dust to cast Revivify.  Irvan revealed he was the one who was Revivified, as he went down after losing his arm.  Ayo speculated that there was no limit to what Dorlen could create using ruidium and how infecting items with ruidium might be preferable to battling aboleth spawn.

At Dermot’s insistence, Ayo confirmed how easily ruidium corruption could spread.  Furthermore, the Consortium had been experimenting ways to synthesize ruidium, though their past efforts were so volatile that they exploded, and had hired her party to set up a route to monopolize the supply of ruidium.  Ayo added that the Allegiance of Allsight was trying to establish their own pipeline while the Cobalt Soul, from the party’s reaction, wanted the whole thing shut down. .  Kaeko pointed out it also affected the mood of those in contact with it.  Noting how her ruidium corruption had resulted in the growth of pulsing crimson veins, Sabina triedto hide her hand.  Ayo explained that helping the Consortium establish a route to harvest ruidium seemed safer than their experiments, but she was starting to have doubts.  Maggie echoed her concerns.

Kaeko suggests they meet at Bodhi’s shop the next morning.  Galsariad called him a “sassy know-it-all, prompting Kaeko to remind him to watch his words as Bodhi was her husband.  Nonplussed, Galsariad observed that Bodhi smells like an Asarian brothel.  Zenada says Kaeko worked hard to get Bodhi smelling like that.  Ayo asked why the Echoes of Valour had gone to Cael Morrow, to which they replied that they were sent to root out any spies within the Allegiance of Allsight research site.  Satisfied with their answer, Ayo suggested they keep their newfound relationship a secret from their respective patrons and conceded they might have been destined to solve this problem together.  Dorlen agreed, remembering how well they worked together when traveling through the Wastes of Xhorhas.  Maggie admitted she enjoyed the camping, but felt the smores they made needed marshmallows.  Still intent on perpetuating their competition, Ayo asked who would pay the bill.  While Kaeko proposed arm-wrestling and Ayo suggested a game of rock-paper-scissors, Zenada settled the money by paying the bill herself. Ayo summarized that they would meet at Bodhi’s shop the next morning, wryly guessing that Irvan–who held hands with Xarria–would make sure they were not late.  Irvan gave a thumbs-up with his mechanical hand.

Sabina, Zenada and Dorlen set off to collect the party’s earnings from the Allegiance of Allsight and the Cobalt Soul.  They arrived at the Crystal Chateau and spoke with Headmaster Alakritos, who thanked them for rooting out Professor Lymmle Wist and Galeokaerda as traitors, rewarded them with 1000 gp and offered them another job in a week’s time.  Sabina admitted they were planning to return to Cael Morrow.  Dorlen began elaborating about treasure hunts until Zenada hushed him.  Sabina continued by saying they sought to recover things for Professor Insight.  A concerned Alakritos warned them to be careful and stay away from the rift at the centre of Cael Morrow, feeling some things should stay buried.  He thanked them again and invited them to finish their spiced tea and enjoy the Allegiance of Allsight’s hospitality before they return to their business.

As soon as Alakritos left, Headmaster Cryon slips quietly into the room, made sure no one saw him and locked the door.  Sabina drew an arrow and nockedit, but angled her bow toward the ground.  Cryon explained he only wanted to hire them, admitting Alakritos would disagree with what he was about to propose.  However, he felt his actions were in the best interests of the Allegiance of Allsight.   He told them the Consortium had sent a party to investigate the rift, though he did not know if they had actually passed through it..  Cryon wanted the party to enter the rift, confirm the presence of ruidium and determine whether the rift was a viable source of the mineral..  In exchange for their report, he offered 1000gp.

Zenada quietly motioned her friends to stay silent, but Sabina asked what Cryon planned to do with their report.  Cryon admitted he wanted to protect the Allegiance of Allsight from the Consortium and the Sentinels of Memory.  Dorlen offered to make a map, then mistook Zenada’s warnings as a signal to kill Cryon.  Cryon added that the payment included keeping this assignment a secret from anyone outside their party–including Alakritos.  Zenada tentatively agreed on the party’s behalf.

After Cryon left, Zenada urged Sabina and Dorlen that they should make their own exit.  Once they were safe, Zenada told them she had not made a decision beyond securing the promise of payment.  Dorlen was confused over why they were going to kill Cryon.  Zenada explained she was trying to get him to stay quiet as he talked too much, pointing out that if she wanted to kill anyone, she would do so herself.   She went on to say Dorlen was incredibly smart but tended to share too much information.  As such, once he cleared his name and resumed teaching, he would have to curb that habit as what he said might not be appropriate for all students.  Dorlen said he’d come to prefer a life of adventuring over teaching.  Zenada replied that the two were not mutually exclusive.  Dorlen then wandered off, trying out different ways of introducing himself as an ‘extraordinary professor.’  .

Once Dorlen was out of earshot, Sabina expressed concern that they were only doing things for profit rather than what was right.  Zenada replied that they could be selective about what jobs they accepted and receive payment for their troubles without sacrificing their morals.  Sabina wondered if they should enter the Netherdeep without the Rivals, given their various conflicts, but Zenada felt they were more likely to succeed by working together..  Catching up with Dorlen, who had gotten lost and was wondering where to go, Sabina complimented Zenada for her intelligence, thanked her for her input, and reminded her that they were owed payment from the Cobalt Soul.  Zenada responded that Sabina was smart, albeit inexperienced, and suggested that she could always donate her earnings to charity.

Sabina began steering Dorlen towards the Cobalt Soul.  Seeing that Dorlen was still trying out ways to introduce himself, Zenada suggested he could become famous enough to be recognized by his name alone.  She expressed concern that people might make unfortunate bardic rhymes of his name, but Sabina pointed out that could be a moot point.  The three then proceeded towards the Library of the Cobalt Soul.

Before long, they arrived at the Temple of the Mentor and were directed to one of the conference rooms.  High Curator Jamil A’alithiya joined them shortly, inquiring how it went with Insight.  Dorlen gave a highly flattering appraisal of Insight, after verifying with Zenada that he did not need to watch his words.  The adventurers gave a detailed account of their trials in Cael Morrow, including the death of the aboleth and how it had taken on some of Alyxian’s memories, but left out their encounter with the Rivals.  Jamil expressed satisfaction that they went above and beyond in completing their mission and doubled their pay to two thousand gold pieces, asking them to pick it up from Iwo Zalarre at the desk on their way out.

After confirming their plans to travel to the Netherdeep, Jamil told them their goals were still aligned.  He revealed the Cobalt Soul had heard rumors that both the Consortium of the Vermillion Dream and the Allegiance of Allsight are both stockpiling ruidium, which the party had verified, and opined that that would be disastrous.  He also divulged that the Consortium had sent their own adventuring party to Cael Morrow and guessed–rightly–that they had killed the aboleth.  Jamil added that they would need items made–in part–of ruidium to withstand the intense water pressure of the Netherdeep, but theorized that the Jewel of Three Prayers would also protect Xarria.  Sabina was unsure, citing research that Dorlen had supposedly conducted.  The adventurers asked if the Cobalt Soul had any ruidium items.  Jamil admitted that they had destroyed any items touched by ruidium, including the shortsword the party had retrieved from the bakery.

Sabina hesitantly, but openly, asked Jamil if the Cobalt Soul wanted to destroy all traces of ruidium or establish a monopoly over it like the other factions.  The High Curator responded by asking them to go to the Netherdeep and destroy it, along with all the ruidium there.  Sabina said the visions they’d received from Alyxian revealed his concerns over the ruidium being taken and how it was the only thing keeping him alive.  She then asked if they should try to save Alyxian or destroy him along with the Netherdeep.  Jamil replied that he would like them to accomplish both goals if possible, but the Netherdeep’s destruction took precedence.  He conceded that it was easy for him to say so considering he would not be making that choice.  Jamil concluded by offering two thousand gold pieces per adventurer, his personal gratitude and the gratitude of countless people who would never know the truth of their accomplishments.  Zenada and Sabina were insightful enough to recognize he was completely straightforward and sincere in his words.

The party said farewell to the High Curator and went downstairs to see Iwo Zalaare.  He put down the book he was reading, congratulated them on a job well done and put their library dues (a bag with 2000 platinum coins) on the table.  Dorlen was confused until Zenada told him they were using codewords.  Iwo played along–stating he was aware that they were planning to visit their ‘Uncle Bard Destiny,’ hold a house rager and find him a new home as the old one was being demolished–and wished them good luck.  He told them it was an honour getting to know them, but a greater honour to see Sabina learn her letters.  As an additional reward, he promised to introduce Sabina to a book called Call of Xhorhas about a boy, a moorbounder, and their adventures.  Dorlen and Iwo suggested that Sabina could write a sequel. Sabina was surprised at the possibility and promised to return with better stories. They bid farewell to Iwo, headed back to their apartment and had a long rest.

The adventurers arrived at Bodhi’s shop the next morning as agreed. Ayo gave Xarria an eye when she and Irvan arrived, having spent the night together.  Galsariad was oblivious, but Maggie blushed and Dermot gave an approving nod.  Dermot brought out some donuts and coffee, which the two parties enjoyed before returning to Cael Morrow.

### The Netherdeep

They agreed to meet by the rift in an hour or less. Kaeko gaveone of their sending stones, which Dorlen dubbed ‘rocky talkies’, to Ayo so they could communicate.  The Echoes of Valour belatedly realized they needed to get something with ruidium for Dax.  Kaeko suggested corrupting one of the medals they won from Jigow with ruidium, while Dorlen proposed that Xarria break her tridentin two. Galsariad thought Dorlen’s idea should be treated as a last resort.  Dorlen suggested Kaeko tie the medallion around the ruidium trident to corrupt it.

Sabina got temporarily confused and voiced her mistaken impression that the Jewel of Three Prayers might help withstand water pressure and grant the ability to breathe underwater because it had ruidium.  After determining that the Vestige was not tainted with ruidium, Ayo made some snarky remarks.  Seeing Sabina was hurt, Kaeko assured her that she was not stupid, while Zenada glared at Ayo. The parties wished each other good luck.  Maggie advised them to avoid getting eaten like Irvan, earning a fist-bump from Zenada..

Parting ways, the Echoes of Valour swam to the Kelp Forest, noting the ancient ruins and carvings of Corellon’s serene and benevolent face amongst the 30’ tall kelp.  As they approached, Sabina and Xarria saw two figures retreating in the distance.  Sabina pointed them out and suggested that they weren’t a threat.  On that note, Kaeko conducted her Aria of Suspense.  The party started Investigating near each other.

Xarria was distracted by those figures.  The others found traces of infighting. Sabina saw tentacles and almost drew her bow before realizing it was a dead aboleth spawn.  She got Xarria’s attention and investigated the aboleth spawn, discovering it had been killed by a crude, ruidium-infected spear.  She realized the spear was wielded by an aboleth.  In addition, Sabina recalled that, in the absence of an aboleth, the aboleth spawn might succumb to infighting.  Sabina pulled out the spear and called out to Dorlen.

While searching, Dorlen heard Sabina call his name.  Looking up, he saw Sabina wave him over.  He took a step, stepped on something that moved and fell on his ass.  In the process, Dorlen sent something flying straight at Sabina’s and Xarria’s faces.  Xarria dodged out of the way but Sabina did not.  As it flew closer to the halfling, Dax jumped up and grabbed it with his tusks, stopping it from hitting her.  After he dropped it at her feet, Sabina saw that Dax had intercepted a kite-shaped shield, with a giant boss in the centre, that was streaked with ruidium veins. At Sabina’s request, Dorlen used Prestidigitation to remove the aboleth spawn goo from the ruidium shield.

The party reconvened and showed off the things they found.  They affixed the shield to Dax’s back, which made him resemble a turtle of sorts.  Xarria kept the trident as she was proficient with the weapon due to her clerical training and tiefling nature.  Zenada received the spear.  They realized that all ruidium items required attunement, even if they did not have to use them to gain their benefits.

With the items handed out, the party contacted the Warring Destinies with the Sending Stone.  They replied they would meet at the designated spot near the rift in five minutes, as Irvan did something stupid.  The Echoes of Valour continued to the rift, arriving roughly at the same time as the other party.  Everyone confirmed they were ready to go—even Dax, who was now carrying the shield Dorlen ‘found.’

Kaeko asked how they could open the rift.   Ayo replied that contact with a ruidium weapon would suffice and suggested that Xarria do the honours.  Xarria agreed and stepped forward, feeling the weight of the ruidium trident she carried.  But then the Jewel of Three Prayers began humming, glowing, light shot out and hit the rift.

An anguished wave of screaming sadness ripped through everyone’s mind.  Maggie’s eye filled up with blood as red boils showed up near the ruidium collar of her armour.  Dorlen went over to Maggie and offered Cure Wounds.  At Ayo’s urging, the parties stepped through the rift and entered the Netherdeep (episode 27).

The Echoes of Valour and the Warring Destinies burst through the planar rift and into the deep, cold water.  They found themselves floating in a cavernous pit, illuminated by the light sources they brought with them.  Xarria floated amongst them, a cascade of light pouring out from the Jewel of Three Prayers she held in her hands.  As they took a breath and recovered their equilibrium, they could feel the water pressure around them, stronger than anything they endured in Cael Morrow. Two enormous, headless statues, dressed in floating robes, capes, broaches and other classical clothing, lay down at awkward angles.  One had an outstretched hand that looked like it would catch anything that got too close to it, while another held a spear.  Crystalline tendrils covered the statues and clung to the walls, shedding a dim, eerie red light.  A ten foot high tunnel on the floor, covered by patches of seagrass, led out of the sunken chamber.

Looking more closely at Xarria, the adventurers saw she was encased in a sort of bubble.  They could hear the Jewel of Three Prayers humming.  Impatient, Ayo told the Echoes to get Xarria out.  Sabina reached out and touched the bubble, hoping to discern if Xarria is okay, only to get knocked back and take psychic damage.As she recovered, she saw a bloodfin and two light devourers moss-covered fish with tendrils that were as large as she was.  Sabina alerted the other adventurers.

Ayo used her harpoon against the blood fin but missed both attacks.  Galsariad was more successful with his Gravity Wave, hurting all the creatures and restraining two of them.  Irvan pulled out his poisoned weapons, beheaded the bloodfin and hurled a dagger at a light devourer. Zenada manifested an echo near that light devourer and attacked. At that point, the bloodfin corpse trembled and exploded, sending out a burst of toxic blood and gore.  Ayo took some damage, but Maggie went down.  Furthermore, the adventurers could see shards of ruidium pierce the pustules growing on Maggie’s neck.  Kaeko went into a rage and killed the light devourer that Irvan and Zenada were fighting.  Dorlen healed Maggie before interposing himself between her and the remaining light devourer.  The creature moved between Maggie, Ayo and Dorlen before releasing a discharge of radiant light that hurt Ayo and Dorlen and dropped Maggie again.  Dorlen took several more hits before going down too.   Sabina told Dax to help the others before attacking with her ruidium shortsword.  Her Wrathful Smite frightened the light devourer.  Irvan dealt the killing blow with his poisoned knives.

Kaeko dropped her rage and healed Maggie.  Ayo asked if everyone was okay.  Several adventurers requested a short rest to heal before moving on.  Ayo swam upwards to look around.  After sixty feet or so, she was so surprised that she called down for a second set of eyes.  Zenada and her echo swam up to join her.

Maggie asked if everyone was okay.  Dorlen noticed the ruidium protruding from Maggie’s neck and asked if he could take a sample to determine why it was growing, though he warned her it might hurt.  Galsariad provided an answer while insulting Dorlen.  Kaeko reprimanded the drow, while Dorlen explained he wanted to see if ruidium had any unique properties from growing inside people.

The symbols of the three deities glowed on the Jewel before the light dissolved like foam into the water, drawing everyone into a vision.  They heard a baby cry before they saw the new parents, an infant and a priest.  The father asked for a blessing.  However, the priest gestured at the infant, recoiled as if burned and refused as the infant showed signs of being marked by Ruidus.

They felt time flow away and rewind before hearing a woman cry out in pain, echoing the vision Xarria once had of her own birth.  They saw the woman cry out again before sagging in relief onto a simple bed made of straw and hand-carved wood.  The midwife swaddled the child but refused to pick it up.  She told the mother that his soul was preparing to face the omens that would haunt him for the rest of his life.  Concerned at her baby’s silence, the mother pulled up her bloodied gown and looked at her eerily quiet son, illuminated by the red light of Ruidus.

As the vision faded away, the bubble surrounding Xarria dissolved. Xarria asked what had happened and how they got so hurt, before rushing over to heal Maggie.  Kaeko explained they had been ambushed by some fish.  Dorlen declared that he would eat a large plate of fish when they got out of the Netherdeep before acquiring a sample of ruidium crystals from Maggie’s neck.

Ayo and Zenada returned to the adventurers, reporting there was no end in sight.  Dorlen offered to provide more healing.  Ayo bluntly told him that he needed healing himself, prompting Xarria to cast Cure Wounds.

The adventurers began to look around.  Zenada realized the statues looked like Alyxian.  They wondered why the statues had no heads.  Kaeko tore open a light devourer to see if there were any victims inside, decided to take some fangs for souvenirs and wondered how they tasted.  After asking if anyone could help cook it, she decided to eat some raw fish.  The others watched her skin light up as the flesh went down.  Dorlen and Irvan made a joke and gave each other a high five.  Kaeko was confused until Dermot and Xarria gave her an explanation.  Dax ate some of the light devourer himself.  Sabina asked Dorlen to help clean up Dax afterwards, much to his delight.

Kaeko wondered if everyone was okay and whether they should keep going, then stopped to tell Xarria she was happy to see her out of her ‘cage’.  Xarria admitted she did not know what had happened.  The adventurers explained she was encased in a floating bubble throughout their fight with the sea creatures.  Sabina had tried to reach her, only to be hit by the protective magics of the bubble.  Dorlen then confirmed that everyone else had experienced the vision and wondered if they could weaponize the bubble in some way.  Kaeko wondered if they could safely handle the bubble by wielding the blunt end of a spear.  Sabina and Zenada expressed their hopes that the bubble would not return.

The adventurers discussed their next move, noting that Maggie still needed more rest.  Dorlen pointed out that resting in the Netherdeep might be dangerous, remembering their experiences in Bazzoxan and Valas’s eventual demise.  Ayo reminded him that they had greater numbers now.  She suggested that her party stay behind to rest while the Echoes scout ahead.  The two parties could take turns leapfrogging forward to avoid depleting all their resources, joining forces if one party needed help.  While the Echoes agreed with Ayo’s proposal, the more perceptive members could tell she was mainly worried about Maggie and her friends.

The Echoes went through a corridor and into a chamber, noting tunnels heading off to the east and west. However, their surroundings vanished as the water shimmered away.  They found themselves transported into a child’s room filled with a teddy bear, an empty cribwith a mobile hanging overhead, a rocking horse and other simple toys–all laced with ruidium.  They then heard muffled voices and an occasional thud.  Seeing a window, Kaeko decided to look outside.  Zenada realized they should notify Ayo’s party.  Xarria looked underneath the crib and saw Alyxian’s name carved into the horse.  Seeing Dax sniff at the teddy bear, Sabina pulled the toy away.  The adventurers then heard Alyxian’s voice say he no longer cherished the teddy bear, but they might find it valuable.

When Kaeko looked outside, she saw two humans in simple garments, who she recognized as the parents from the vision.  As she watched, the parents were attacked by several other people, whose faces were shadowy and blurred.  Alyxian’s voice spoke once more, telling the adventurers that they were seeing his earliest memory of his family facing violence and rejection because he was born under the sign of Ruidus.  Kaeko kept watching the ruffians as they knocked the parents to the ground, noting how their features were obscured and kept shifting in a muted haze, as if she could not remember them.  Dorlen declared they could not stand by when the parents needed help.  They leapt out of the window.

Kaeko hopped out the window and intimidated the assailants amidst their curses and insults, which seemed to echo through the air.  Standing on the rocking horse, which was stabilized by Dax, Sabina restrained them with an Ensnaring Strike spell delivered through her arrow.  Dorlen jumped through the window and waded into the fray, giving the father some healing.  The father grabbed Dorlen’s sleeve and urged him to flee, but called the gnome ‘Alyxian’.  An assailant tried to attack them, only to miss due to Kaeko’s Silvery Barbs.

Realizing the party was helping the ‘ruiners,’ two of the assailants hit Kaeko with their cudgels.  One tried to hit Dorlen while admitting they wanted to kill Alyxian to lift their supposed curse, but missed.  The last assailant attacked the mother, knocking her unconscious and spitting on her.  Outraged, Zenada jumped out the window, joined Kaeko and attacked one of the assailants.  She noted the assailant’s cudgel looked like a typical farm implement before switching places with her echo.  Xarria followed suit, cast Cure Wounds on the mother and hit the assailant with her ruidium trident.  Kaeko drove the closest assailants away with a high-powered Thunderwave.  Still inside and balancing on the rocking horse, she shot two arrows on the assailant who was not caught by her Ensnaring Strike.  Dorlen punched two of the attackers, while telling them he was not Alyxian.  The two attackers that were knocked back from Kaeko stood back up.  One hit Kaeko while the other destroyed Zenada’s echo. They then targeted Dorlen, who took a hit as he expressed shock that they would attack a child. The other assailants hit Xarria and Alyxian’s father.  Zenada manifested another echo and unleashed a barrage of attacks that killed an assailant.  Xarria charmed one assailant into attacking another with Crown of Madness before making a Vital Sacrifice.

Kaeko used some Evasive Footwork and hit one assailant before using her Mobility to move closer to Dorlen.  Sabina hit two opponents with her arrows before casting a Healing Spirit underneath the parents.  Dorlen punched one of the assailants caught by Sabina’s Ensnaring Strike.  Another assailant swung at Dorlen, hitting him once.  A third attacker tried to hit the mother, but missed due to Kaeko’s Silvery Barbs.  The last assailant missed Zenada’s echo.  Zenada attacked twice through her echo and killed an assailant.  Xarria made her charmed assailant attack their comrade before pulling out her shield.

Assessing the battlefield, Kaeko cast Cloud of Daggers to target three of the assailants.  Sabina had Dax run over to pull one of the parents away.  Seeing an assailant being targeted by the assailant who Xarria charmed, she shot them with Eldritch Blasts that she manifested as arrows from her pendant of Corellon.  Dorlen knocked out another assailant with his fist before hitting another, then took a blow in return.  Xarria continued commanding her charmed assailant to attack their comrades.  Zenada attacked through her echo, killing another assailant.  Xarria then cast Inflict Wounds to kill one more assailant.

The last assailant fell to Kaeko's sword strike.  Alyxian’s parents gathered themselves and looked around.  The mother grabbed Xarria and, mistaking her for Alyxian, told her to get back inside as the assailants did not understand what they were doing.  Dorlen assured them that they had done the right thing in trying to protect their son.  Xarria suggested to Alyxian’s parents that they go back inside.  As they extended a hand to her, the world dissolved around them.

The party found themselves back in the grotto, lit only by the Netherdeep’s ruidium deposits.  They found they had all their possessions, with the addition of the teddy bear that Dax held in his mouth.  Sabina took the toy and asked Dorlen to keep it in his Bag of Holding.  They heard Alyxian’s voice again, telling them he’d learned that his parents would always suffer because of him (episode 28).

Sabina touched the ruidium-laced teddy bear and felt a tingle as the ruidium in her hand reacted.  She took it away from Dax before it could further infect him and asked Dorlen to put it in his Bag of Holding.  Dorlen was surprised to see the toy had stayed behind after the vision faded. Kaeko swam back south and called out to the Warring Destinies.  After a moment, Galsariad emerged.  Kaeko asked how long the Echoes of Valour had been gone and learned an hour had passed.  She told Galsariad what they had found in the next chamber, informed him about the vision they’d experienced and suggested the two parties join up.

Galsariad went back to retrieve the party, who quickly joined the Echoes of Valour.  Ayo pressed for details about the vision they’d experienced.  Dorlen gave a rambling summary and pulled out the teddy bear while Zenada sat down to sharpen her sword and have a Short Rest.  After Dorlen concluded, with some additions from Xarria, Ayo asked for Galsariad’s opinion.  The wizard felt anything was possible and advised caution.

After much discussion, the adventurers decided that the Warring Destinies would venture forth while the Echoes of Valour took their turn resting and tending to their wounds, as it would be the most efficient way of finishing the quest and celebrating their achievement.  Kaeko made frequent sexual innuendos, prompting Ayo to ask if she was always like this.  Sabina confirmed it, leading to a bonding moment between the two.  Zenada simply looked up from her sword and silently agreed.

Getting back on track, the Warring Destinies left, but not before agreeing that the two parties would check in on each other with their Sending Stones.  Irvan gave a personal farewell to Xarria, which was slightly spoiled when an oblivious Dorlen said goodbye as well.  Before she got out of range, Sabina cast Hunter’s Mark on Ayo, with the unconventional intent of tracking her and knowing if she died.  She silently indicated to Ayo that they would get through this together.

The Echoes of Valour rested up with Kaeko giving her friends a Motivational Speech.  Dorlen was so inspired that he cheered several times throughout the speech before leading the way out.  Noting another sexual innuendo Kaeko had slipped in, Zenada replied with one of her own and slyly looked at Sabina.  Sabina had missed it as she had screwed her eyes shut.  Clapping her hands over her ears, Sabina followed Dorlen, with the others close behind.

As they entered the next grotto, the walls around them shimmered and shifted, drawing the adventurers into another vision.  Fragmentary recollections filled their minds, informing them that Alyxian had been a daring teenage boy who wanted to take part in a village hunt.  They somehow recalled Alyxian vowing to resist the effects of Ruidus before donning a cloak and setting out.  The scene shifted to a clearing, whose beauty contrasted sharply with the smell of blood and the sounds of shouting. Sabina took a moment to bask in the natural splendor, however illusory it might be.

The shouting grew louder, informing the party that Alyxian had run off, someone was hurt and the success of the hunt was now in jeopardy.  Seconds later, a herd of deer burst through the trees, knocking Sabina prone. The party heard Alyxian’s voice commenting on the scene as he expressed regret over his selfishness, desire to fit in with the others and lamented how the death of ‘Saqiri’ had haunted him for the rest of his life.  Hearing that, Xarria rushed towards the shouting.  The others quickly followed.

They soon met four hunters in cloaks, their faces obscured and hazy as if they could not remember their features, leaning over a prone figure.  Xarria moved forward, intending to cast Spare the Dying, only to be blocked by a hunter who mistook her for Alyxian, accused her of cursing their comrade and demanded she leave before she cursed anyone else.  He tried to grab Xarria, but she managed to slip out of his way.

The other hunters stood up and reached for their weapons, but Kaeko persuaded them to calm down and let them help.  Taking a closer look, Xarria saw the prone hunter—was a grievously wounded drow woman who was bleeding out, and decided to cast Cure Wounds before applying bandages.  Dorlen, having calmed down from Kaeko’s words, decided to keep watch for any owlbears.

Recovering, the drow, who the party guessed was Saqiri, placed a hand on Xarria’s shoulder and told ‘Alyxian’ to take one of the carcasses, return home and give it to his mother.  She also encouraged Alyxian to tell his mother that he did a good job and admitted that many people believed he was cursed.  Xarria tried to respond as Alyxian would. Alyxian’s voice spoke out again, repeating his regret at Saqiri’s death while marveling at the words she would have spoken had she lived.

Sabina appraised the scene and saw nothing out of place, other than ruidium shards growing where she would normally see moss.  She saw the hunters had killed some small deer and, judging by the diversity of the hunting party, surmised that this was a community hunt typical of small villages.  Spotting owlbear tracks, she pointed them out to Dorlen and Zenada. Trying to follow Kaeko’s example, Dorlen began to run off.  Sabina called him back, suggesting they should investigate the tracks together.  Dorlen agreed that Kaeko might do that, second-guessed himself and asked the bard what she would do.

When she looked over, Dorlen told Kaeko there were tracks.  Sabina elaborated that she had found owlbear tracks and Dorlen was wondering if they should investigate together.  Kaeko agreed, reminding Dorlen what she had said during her speech.  Dorlen insisted that he remembered, with an amused Sabina adding that he’d only forgotten for fifteen seconds.  Kaeko noted that that was a record.  Dorlen admitted he had been caught up with excitement.

Zenada observed that this was the second vision where the people they had interacted with mistook them as Alyxian and ignored the fact that they were a party of five rather than one individual.  The rest of the party realized she was correct.  Kaeko then led Dorlen off to follow the owlbears before Zenada corrected them.

Sabina soon took the lead, guiding the party through the woods until they caught up with a pair of owlbears.  They wondered what they should do and what the owlbears had done.  Thinking back on how the first vision ended, Zenada guessed that they had to do something to resolve the situation and bring this vision to an end.  Taking a closer look, Sabina saw they were dragging a pair of deer and informed the others.

The party decided they should scare the owlbears off and return the carcasses to the hunters.  While Kaeko thought they could drive off the owlbears with hugs, Xarria and Zenada recalled that owlbears had keen senses of sight and smell, might be scared off with loud sounds, but were fierce and stubborn predators that most wildlife would avoid.  Dorlen and Kaeko proposed scaring the owlbears off with Thunderclaps.  Sabina considered using Druidcraft to generate a scent that would intimidate them, soliciting advice on how to mimic a dragon, before deciding to talk to them.  Sabina hopped on Dax, approached the owlbears and cast Speak with Animals.  Fearing the worst, Kaeko followed her and prepared a Thunderclap while Zenada hefted her ruidium spear.

After greeting the owlbears, Sabina complimented their hunting prowess and asked if they might help provide food for the nearby human hunters.  When the owlbears interpreted her words to suggest the hunters were prey, Sabina suggested they could provide some service for them instead.  Unconvinced, the owlbears began assessing Sabina and Dax as prey. Sabina motioned to Kaeko and ducked as the bard triggered her Thunderclap.  Dorlen followed up by firing off a Lightning Bolt between the owlbears, setting some of the grass on fire. Sabina noticed the moss and deadfall burn away, with kelp gently waving through the forest floor.

Thoroughly intimidated, the owlbears ran away.  The party carried the deer back to the hunters.  Saqiri smiled and gave them a nod before the world shifted and faded away, returning the party to the Netherdeep.  Lying on the floor, in the same location where Saqiri would have died in the vision, was a treasure chest.  Sabina reminded the others that she was not supposed to touch things anymore.  Realizing that was his role, Dorlen quickly stepped forward.  Zenada hid behind one of the other party members.  Xarria expressed concerns for Dorlen’s safety—and was not mollified when Dorlen assured her he would be fine and asked what could go wrong.

Dorlen opened the chest without incident, found fifteen tiny rubies and two six-inch tall solid gold owlbear figurines and showed them to the others.  Kaeko suggested they put the loot in Dorlen’s bag and move on, but Sabina wondered if the rubies were actually ruidium.  Dorlen took a closer look, confirmed they were just rubies, put them back in the chest and added the item to his bag.  Kaeko realized that they might want to contact the other party and tried using the Sending Stone.  However, there was no response, though Sabina sensed her Hunter’s Mark was still active.  Zenada speculated that they were in a vision of their own.  After some discussion, the party decided to swim down a long, long tunnel that weaved back and forth before opening up into another large grotto.

They sensed their minds merging with the Apotheon and recalled a story from the Calamity where Alyxian took shelter in the home of three women. The party now found themselves outside their home and saw three gravestones nearby made of jagged ruidium.  They heard Alyxian say the women welcomed him into their home, but he could not remember their faces or names.  He begged the party to help him remember.  Sabina examined the gravestones but saw no markings or inscriptions.  Seeing no other recourse, the party entered the house, but not before Kaeko conducted an Aria of Suspense.

The party saw the front had been broken down and the ground floor—consisting of a living room, kitchen and dining room— was covered with corpses and smashed furniture. Dorlen investigated the kitchen with Sabina.  He saw the table was strewn with flour and blood, as if someone was making a loaf of bread when they were interrupted.  He saw a folded note next to a torn bag of cinnamon spattered with blood and tied shut with a green ribbon.  The note said “Marisa—for that little cake you like so much.”  He read the note aloud.  Sabina guessed one of the women was named Marisa.  Dorlen remembered why they were in the house to begin with and took the note, cinnamon and ribbon.

The party came back together and compared notes.  Sabina revealed that she and Dorlen found a note with the name Marisa.  Kaeko announced that she and Xarria found the name Celeste Zenthas in a book.  Dorlen asked if Kaeko read the name on her own.  Kaeko admitted she did, albeit with Xarria’s help.  A creak overhead told them Zenada had probably gone upstairs.  Moments later, they heard a horrid sound, accompanied by the sounds of windows rattling.  Dorlen insisted he did not do anything.  Three spectral figures rose from the bodies of the women and shrieked at the party.

Zenada jumped downstairs, positioned herself between the other party members and the ghosts, but held her action. One ghost , smelling faintly of sugar and cinnamon, wailed that their home was defiled.  Another ghost, smelling faintly of incense, snarled that they sheltered ‘him’ and died for ‘him’. Sabina held her action and prepared to attack. Seeing Sabina and Zenada, Kaeko tried to talk to the ghosts, explaining they meant no harm and only wanted to hear their story.  A ghost replied that they had been defiled and ‘he’ would not remember their names.  Guessing the ghost was referring to Alyxian, Kaeko explained he had sent them to remember them and help.  The ghost bitterly replied they could not help the dead as they had been forgotten.

Dorlen approached the ghost Kaeko had been talking to, took out the note and showed her the note while insisting that Alyxian had cared about them.  Seeing that the ghost was not acknowledging the note, he read the note aloud.  Hearing her name, Marisa solidified into a woman and told ‘Alyxian’ that he had brought ruin upon them and asked if he cared about them and was genuinely sorry.  She accused Alyxian of being responsible, both because her family’s killers followed him and because of his curse.  Irritated, Dorlen snapped that it wasn’t fair to blame Alyxian because of his curse, insisting that red was a colour and that he was sorry.

Xarria walked over to the ghost that smelled of incense and held up the book.  She spoke her name, Celeste, and asked if she might make the incense in her honour or do anything to honour her memory.  Solidifying, the woman asked Alyxian why he had let them die and whether he even knew.  Playing along, Xarria admitted that ‘he’ never meant to let them get hurt.  The woman was unconvinced that intent mattered, but accepted Xarria’s apology.  Celeste became so solid that she almost appeared alive again.  After telling Alyxian she would die again for Alyxian, she faded away.

The last ghost, who looked like a young soldier, lunged forward towards Kaeko.  The ghost revealed a Horrifying Visage that caused Dax to yelp in fright.  Zenada thrust her spear forward and blocked the attack.  Sabina continued to hold her action. Assuming the role of Alyxian, Zenada apologized to Meri by name.  The ghost solidified into a young woman who bore a striking resemblance to Marisa.  Meri replied that she died a soldier, like her mother, and that what happened was neither their fault nor Alyxian’s.  After bidding the Apotheon farewell, the ghost faded away.

Sabina stepped in front of Dorlen and apologized again to Merisa, telling her that she did not deserve her fate and swearing she spent the rest of her life trying to make amends.  Mollified, Marisa solidified again and admitted fearing that her family’s killers would kill him too.  She asked him to be well and not mourn, as no one could harm them anymore.  She then faded away.  Sabina swore that she would make their sacrifice worthwhile.

The party found themselves back in the underwater grotto.  Kaeko found the vision an interesting experience, while Xarria hoped they would find peace.  As Kaeko repeated their names, Alyxian’s voice began to speak.  He said that the Crawling King’s horde destroyed them and marveled that they forgave him nonetheless.  Seconds later, part of the northern wall crumbled away to reveal a new passage.  The party decided to try and contact the Warring Destinies again before proceeding any further.

Ayo replied, acknowledging that they had been unable to respond to their first call.  Kaeko explained they had explored two more chambers.  Ayo told them that part of the wall had crumbled near them.  Dorlen asked if they needed help.  After a pause, Ayo noted that Dorlen’s voice carried and asked him to repeat his question.  When Dorlen complied, the party heard a distant voice call out to them.  Dorlen belatedly realized the cinnamon was wet, put it in his Bag of Holding and called out again.  Ayo’s voice called back from the southern passage and asked the Echoes of Valour to join them.  She added that she sensed a trap and wanted Dorlen to go in, much to the other adventurers’ amusement.

The party soon came across the Warring Destinies, who were busy bandaging their wounds from a recent skirmish.  Ayo greeted them but, after Dorlen responded in an unusually brisk tone, asked what had happened.  Kaeko described the two visions they had experienced.  Ayo admitted they had had a similar experience.  Dermot explained they saw a village surrounded by hills that was being terrorized by shadowy soldiers.  Galsariad added that the soldiers were Alyxian’s erstwhile allies who were bullying the villagers.  Irvan cleared his throat and continued, saying the soldier’s commander, a man named Kalagothe, called them Alyxian and accused the villagers of refusing to pay them tribute.  Maggie finished by saying they saved the villagers, though Irvan added they did so by killing the soldiers.  Kaeko admitted they had done something similar while Zenada nodded approvingly.  Ayo also recalled that Alyxian said something afterwards, though Maggie recalled the actual words, and guessed that the real Alyxian had given his soldiers free reign.

Dorlen wondered how much of this was real and speculated that Alyxian might not be recalling his memories perfectly, explaining that the people in the vision seemed to respond when the party had changed the course of events.  Xarria added that they were seeing things from his perspective, which might have been warped by his guilt.

Ayo brought their attention to a wall to the north which seemed to have recently crumbled, revealing another passage.  Sabina suggested sending Zenada’s echo in first.  Zenada agreed, but warned her body would need protection as she would transfer her consciousness to the echo.  Dorlen promptly moved over to stand guard, as per the buddy system.  A mischievous Kaeko licked her finger and tried to stick it in Zenada’s ear, though Dorlen tried to swat it away.  He suggested that Kaeko could try that prank later.  They then saw Zenada’s echo, staring at them with her hands on her hips and tapping her foot.  Kaeko cheekily waved at the echo and apologized.  Zenada’s echo indicated that she would be watching Kaeko before stepping into the next room.

Moments later, Zenada regained consciousness and told the others that the chamber held a marble pedestal with a doll and a mote of glowing light, which she believed was some form of distilled emotion like despair.  She added that she heard a voice telling her to abandon hope as nothing would ever change and speculated that nothing else had happened because her echo was not corporeal.  As the Echoes of Valour left to investigate, they heard Irvan tell Ayo that their party would have to investigate the next chamber.

Entering the chamber, the party saw the mote—and were reminded of the Mote of Possibility they were given in Bazzoxan—before spotting the doll.  Dorlen then took out a small vial, crept forward and—despite Kaeko’s warnings and Xarria’s confusion—tried to push the mote into the vial.  He thought he was successful until he saw the mote had been absorbed by the hand used to push it.  As the party saw his hand, which was now glowing, they had a fleeting vision of a baker hiding a mussed, dirty boy behind the counter of his shop before slipping him a tart.  As children outside called for the boy, a patron repeated rumours of the boy having Betrayer’s blood to the baker.

The Echoes of Valour would later learn that the Warring Destinies had also experienced that vision.

Kaeko asked if Dorlen was okay before wondering if Alyxian had possessed her friend.  Dorlen assured her that he was still himself.  Kaeko had some lingering doubts until Dorlen began rambling, then picked up the moorbounder toy.  As she squeezed it, Alyxian’s voice spoke again, fondly reminiscing about the toy.  Dorlen admitted he was feeling removed from things.  Kaeko told him not to touch any more things.  The party noted some passageways and agreed they had not been there before.

Dorlen called out to the Warring Destinies and assured them the Echoes of Valour were okay.  However, he was unable to adequately explain what happened with the mote, forcing an impatient Ayo to join them.  When they explained that the mote had been absorbed into Dorlen, Ayo ordered him to take off his shirt so she could examine his chest.  Zenada advised against Ayo’s alternate idea of finding the mote by stabbing Dorlen.  After Ayo could not find anything, Dorlen suggested the mote might be somewhere else.  Zenada told him not to remove any more clothing while Sabina covered her eyes.  Ayo asked if Dorlen had changed in any way after absorbing the mote.  Dorlen replied that he felt removed, but struggled to find the words to elaborate.

Once Dorlen had put his clothes and Armour back on, the party returned to the previous chamber.  Seeing how hurt the Warring Destinies looked, Kaeko offered to help.  Ayo and Galsariad went down a tunnel, followed by Kaeko, Xarria and Zenada.  Sabina chose to stay behind as she still had her Hunter’s Mark active, taking the Sending Stone from Kaeko.  Seeing that Xarria was going, Irvan decided to follow.  Dorlen stayed behind with Sabina, Maggie and Dermot.

Dorlen suggested that Sabina hang onto the moorbounder toy rather than put it in his Bag of Holding.  After examining it for obvious signs of ruidium, she thanked the gnome.  Dorlen felt the toy had Sabina’s name on it, but clarified his statement when Sabina took him literally.

The Echoes of Valour reunited and decided to go back to the grotto where they encountered the first mote and through the newly revealed passageway to the northeast.  They swam some distance before encountering a ruidium-veined wall.  Dorlen decided to knock on it and saw the outline of a door as the wall vibrated.  While the party complimented Dorlen for his cleverness, he confessed he was amazed that his idea worked.

The other adventurers caught up with them and together they entered a large chamber filled with hauntingly beautiful seaweed and ghostly white coral.  They saw a stone altar in the middle of the room, covered with carvings of cyclopean skulls and grasping hands.  The adventurers also saw a barrier of red energy covering a doorway in the north wall that led to another chamber.  A carving in Common above the doorway bade the Apotheon to leave his childhood yearnings behind, don his armour and go to war.

Sabina wondered if Alyxian had left his memories and emotions behind on purpose.  Zenada thought it would be an incredibly insensitive demand to make, but agreed with Sabina that gods were capable of such acts.  Galsariad and Dermot went forward and examined the altar, quickly recognizing the imagery as symbols of Torog and Gruumsh.  Sabina visibly cringed away at the mention of the latter god.  Thinking the inscription required them to leave a cherished possession behind, the adventurers took the moorbounder toy from Sabina and placed it on the altar.  With a brief crackle, the door—and the toy—vanished.  Dermot marveled at how easy that was and voiced his opinion that they should have teamed up earlier.  Ayo glared at Dermot, while Zenada gave him a smile.  Dorlen felt something was wrong, as he had done two consecutive things correctly without any negative consequences.  Kaeko suggested it was a sign of growth, and Zenada conceded it was possible.  Ayo led the adventurers past the door and into the next room after curtly shutting down Xarria’s question about whether they found any cherished possessions.

The room’s roof had three naturally forming domes, each with an apex thirty feet above the floor.  Veins of ruidium formed a lattice on the walls that shone a red light on the clumps of sea grass growing at the perimeter.  They only had a few seconds to take it in before they were whisked into another vision.  The adventurers found themselves in a parched battlefield under a bleak, ashen sky.  They saw shadowy figures fighting all around them as battle cries and the drums of war filled the air.  The black towers in the distance told them they had been brought back to a pivotal moment of the Calamity: where Alyxian fought the Crawling King’s horde and scored a hard-won victory at the gate of the Betrayers’ Rise (episode 29).

As the Battle at the Betrayers’ Rise continued, the Echoes of Valour and the Warring Destinies realized that this conflict would be theirs to win or lose.  They moved around, positioning themselves around Xarria, who had been dubbed the leader of the Echoes of Valour.  A wave of ten sword wraith warriors approached, representing the soldiers of the Crawling King.  They heard Alyxian explain he tried to remember the faces of the soldiers who fought beside him and did his best to fight where the battle was fiercest and the suffering was greatest.

Sabina summoned a heron and had it attack the closest sword wraith. The sword wraiths rushed forward.  One of them struck Sabina in the shoulder, causing the heron she had just summoned to vanish.  She responded with a Hellish Rebuke.  Two targeted Maggie, though the only one to land a blow saw their critical hit mitigated by Kaeko’s Silvery Barbs.  Several more peppered Maggie with arrows, but none of them penetrated her armour.  Kaeko faced two wraiths, taking slashes to her chest and hamstring.  Another slashed Ayo along the side of her throat as she tried to come to Kaeko’s aid.  Xarria deflected arrows from the last sword wraith. Ayo struck back with a flurry of blows from her javelin, eventually lopping its head off.  She shot a look at Sabina and proudly claimed the first kill.  Sabina was slightly impressed, despite herself. Dorlen punched the two closest sword wraiths with his Thunder Gauntlets before raising his Defensive Field. Irvan rushed up and attacked the sword wraith that hit Kaeko’s ass with his dagger and ruidium shortsword.  While he was dismayed to find they were immune to the poison on his blades, he still managed to decapitate the soldier.  He then issued a challenge to the sword wraith who tried to shoot at Xarria. Kaeko went into a Rage and struck back at the remaining sword wraith who hit her. Zenada summoned an echo beside Irvan, told him she would take care of things and killed the sword wraith who attacked Xarria.  She then moved closer to her echo. Galsariad unleashed his Gravity Wave to wipe out all but two of the sword wraiths. Dermot killed a sword wraith with his Searing Wrath and bashed the remaining one with his ruidium warhammer. Maggie told the last sword wraith it made poor life choices before splitting it in two with her greataxe. Xarria summoned her Spirit Guardians and made a Vital Sacrifice in preparation for the next fight.

Sabina summoned a Lightning Arrow and stood ready to fire it, after casting Cure Wounds on Dax.  Kaeko dropped her Rage and healed herself with Cure Wounds, later gaining another one from Dermot.  Dorlen injected himself with some healing substances.  Maggie Rallied Dermot with words of encouragement.  The adventurers also repositioned themselves as needed.

A pair of moorbounders charged in from the left and right, while ten more sword wraiths marched up the centre.  As Dax moved forward, Sabina fired her Lightning Arrow, killing the closest moorbounder, its companion and the closest sword wraiths.  The sword wraiths merged into two slithering bloodfins, who swam through the air as if it were water.  Dorlen looked up at the sky and opined that was unfair.  Sabina told Ayo her kill was bigger before realizing the sword wraiths had merged and transformed.  Irvan cursed, remembering how another slithering bloodfin cost him his arm. Dax charged at the closest moorbounder, striking a blow but failing to knock it prone.  Sabina fired an arrow but missed in her panic. Ayo ran up, killed the closest moorbounder on her side—shouting a boast to Sabina—then hit the next moorbounder. Dorlen cast Expeditious Retreat on himself and ran around, punching both slithering bloodfins. Irvan stepped towards one of the slithering bloodfins despite his fear, determined not to let it approach Xarria.  After landing several hits, he was dismayed to see the creature was not dead. Kaeko Slowed the moorbounder, but was unable to affect the slithering bloodfins.  She then conducted a Frenetic Crescendo to give the other members of her party Bardic Inspiration. Zenada moved her echo and killed the slithering bloodfin with five attacks.  While it exploded in a cloud of toxic blood, no one was hurt. Galsariad cast another Gravity Wave, enhanced with Kaeko’s Silvery Barbs, that killed another moorbounder and the second slithering bloodfin.  Dorlen was poisoned by the bloodfin’s Death Burst. Dermot joined Dax and killed the last moorbounder with a Searing Smite... to its testicles.

They heard Alxyian’s allies cheer at their latest victory.  Alyxian himself commented that his allies died, regardless of how many enemies fell or how much blood was shed.  They saw more wraith-like figures in the distance, but also saw—and heard—something huge moving through them.

Dax ran forward, only to yelp as he moved beyond an unseen range of Xarria.  Seeing that, Sabina cast another Cure Wounds on her moorbounder.  Xarria repositioned herself to get closer to the group and readied her crossbow.  Dorlen injected himself with another substance so he could move with Haste.  Hearing the noise, Kaeko prepared a Hold Monster spell.  Galsariad prepared to cast Slow while Dermot prepared a Searing Smite.  Ayo prepared an attack.

Then the next wave of enemies came into view: two groups of sword wraith warriors followed by a horizonback tortoise that carried a sword wraith commander and four sword wraith warriors.  Alyxian spoke again, remembering how he had to slay both the commander and the tortoise, though he could not remember which one was killed first.  Ayo fired her longbow at one of the sword wraiths on the flanks.  Kaeko managed to bring the horizonback tortoise to a halt with her Hold Monster spell.  Galsariad captured several sword wraiths in his Slow spell, while Dermot was unable to hit another sword wraith with his Searing Site.  Xarria fired her crossbow at one of the wounded sword wraiths. Sabina had Dax help Dorlen before hitting the sword wraith commander with one of her Eldritch Blasts. Ayo killed a sword wraith with an arrow through the eye socket and hit another with two more arrows.  She then commanded Irvan to move up.  Irvan ran to the horizonback tortoise and climbed up to face the sword wraith commander, ignoring the psychic damage inflicted from the chaos around him. Dorlen teleported on top of the horizonback tortoise with Vortex Warp and struck the sword wraith commander with his Thunder Gauntlets.  He also took psychic damage from the surrounding battle frenzy. Irvan repeatedly stabbed the sword wraith commander with his blades, dealing a great amount of damage despite its poison resistance.  The commander addressed Irvan as the Apotheon, promising to bury his body with his ‘false gods,’ unnerving the adventurer. Zenada moved her echo to the top of the horizonback tortoise and landed three hits against the sword wraith commander.  The echo then succumbed to the chaos around it and vanished.

Moments later, the sword wraith commander succumbed to Kaeko’s Dissonant Whispers.  Irvan and Dorlen scored opportunity attacks as it retreated.  The sword wraiths charged in, dodging the attack Maggie had prepared.  Four of them entered the field of Xarria’s Spirit Guardians, ignoring the damage done to their bodies.  Maggie blocked several attacks with her shield, only taking a single hit.  Dermot blocked another sword wraith attack with his shield.  Two sword wraiths fired arrows at Kaeko but missed.  Zenada took a slash to the hip from another sword wraith.  On top of the horizonback tortoise, Dorlen dodged all attempts to hit him.  Irvan, however, was not as lucky, taking three attacks.  The sword wraith commander summoned five more sword wraiths to the battlefield before shooting arrows at Dorlen, all of which were deflected.  The newly summoned soldiers also directed their attacks at Dorlen, though only one of them hit.  Galsariad unleashed another Gravity Wave, killing three sword wraiths and, after Kaeko’s Silvery Barbs, the sword wraith commander.

As the commander’s body collapsed to the ground, the other sword wraiths fled the battlefield.  The still-paralyzed horizonback tortoise fell down.  Dorlen apologized to the tortoise before giving it a hit.  Xarria walked forward, bringing the tortoise within the range of her Spirit Guardians, before finishing it off with an Inflict Wounds.

A veteran soldier limped towards them and pulled off his helmet.  Hailing ‘Alyxian’ for his victory, he vowed to follow him, despite his grievous wounds, until the end.  Alyxian’s voice lamented, heard only by the adventurers, that it never ended.  Xarria agreed, but made sure to cast Cure Wounds on the veteran.

The vision faded and the adventurers found themselves back in the grotto.  They saw a wall to the west shimmer before falling away, revealing a hidden chamber, while a door opened directly ahead.  Ayo asked where they should go.  Dorlen began to give a rapid-fire response before his Haste wore off.  Sabina caught him before he drifted too far away.  Kaeko confessed she could use some kind of rest.  Irvan scouted ahead and saw the room to the west might be a defensible area, but that there was another mote.  Ayo reminded everyone that it was the Warring Destinies’ turn to take a mote and led the way.

Ayo led the way to the newly opened grotto, which held both a marble pedestal with a mote and a small wooden chest.  Irvan opened the chest and expressed his relief at discovering healing potions.  Ayo strode up and absorbed the mote.  When Sabina and Xarria asked what happened, Ayo simply said it would help her heal faster. Sabina told her, with all sincerity, that she deserved to have the mote.  Kaeko expressed her admiration for Galsariad’s magic.  He replied that his power came at the cost of his soul.  Dorlen began to speculate about souls until Zenada slipped up behind him, put her hand over his mouth and suggested he have a nap.  Dermot asked if the adventurers should keep going or stop.  Dorlen simply bid him good night, while Kaeko admitted her magics were almost drained.  Bowing to the inevitable, Dermot agreed that they should rest in the grotto.  The adventurers quickly determined they had enough people to stand watch in shifts while the others slept and prepared themselves for their next day in the Netherdeep (episode 30).

Galsariad, Dermot, and Sabina took the first watch.  Galsariad passed the time reading a “tome” that was magically protected from water.  When Dermot commented on that, Sabina said she didn’t bring a book as the water would damage it.  She then admitted that she was learning to read.  Dermot handed over a field guide to the birds of Marquet.  Excited, she began looking at the pictures, but soon realized she was reading the words.  She pointed to a word and asked if it was in Common, but learned it was in Elven.    Sabina touched her spiritual symbol and felt it was warm.  She admitted that she recently became a follower of Corellon and guessed that they gave her the gift of reading.

She asked Dermot if she could return the book later.  He agreed, asking her to annotate it if she saw any birds.  She thanked him for staying kind.  During their conversation, Dermot recognized that she and Ayo did not get along very well.  He then said that Sabina and Ayo both cared for their people.  She agreed to try harder.  They also talked about their families: with Dermot feeling he should check on his brothers and sisters, while Sabina admitted that the only ‘sibling’ she had was Dax.

Before their shift ended, Sabina asked Dermot if Galsariad was okay.  The drow answered for himself, saying he was fine and that all he wanted was to find the root of that realm and tear it out.  Sabina and Dermot woke up Maggie, Ayo and Kaeko before retiring for the night.

The sleeping adventurers woke up as the final watch ended and made their preparations , though there was a slight mishap when Dax tore a page out of Sabina’s book and tried to eat it.  After checking for traps with Zenada’s echo, both parties entered the much larger chamber to the north, passing the altar to the Crawling King.  They found it devoid of inhabitants or any noteworthy creatures.   When they fully entered the room, the door behind them closed.  A shadow emerged from the floor, its single glowing red eye fixed on them.  As it rose to the height of 150 feet and saw the spectral spear it held, they recognized it as Gruumsh, the Ruiner.  They felt its hate bear down on them as it thrust its spear into the floor, knockin them all prone.

Sabina thought of her parents, using the strength of their memory to fight back and began to stand up. Irvan reached forward and put a hand on Xarria’s shoulder as she was praying.  Dorlen called to Irvan, telling him the force was not real and he should push through it.  Gritting his teeth, Irvan stood up. Galsariad muttered that it was obviously not real and stood up. Dermot braced himself and declared they had come too far to lose now.  He began to stand up. Vowing she would not let Gruumsh get the best of her, Ayo began to stand up, seeming to weave her way around the waves of pressure.

As the adventurers fought back, enduring psychic damage in their struggle, they heard Alyxian’s voice fill their minds.  “Why did I give my life to save everyone?” he said.  “They wouldn’t have done the same for me.  They never would have cared.”  The pressure grew stronger. Sabina successfully mimicked Ayo’s method of weaving around the pressure. Irvan gritted his teeth and reached out to try and grab Xarria’s hand.   Galsariad watched as Dorlen’s clothing began to fray and said, “I thought you said it wasn’t real.” Maggie shouldered the burden. Dermot gritted his teeth, too, and tried to bear it. Ayo continued to swim around, taunting the image of Gruumsh.  Part of her ruidium spear flaked off from the pressure.

All the adventurers took more psychic damage.  Gruumsh’s spear pushed down even closer, until they could almost touch it.  The tip glowed with its hate, boiling the water above them. Sabina put her hand forward and pushed back, bolstered by Xarria and the magic of her Jewel.  She felt the pressure above her shatter and heard a voice inside her head, “Perhaps you will be remembered.  Now what about your companions?”  When the voice finished speaking in her head, she reached back to assist her friends. Sabina reached out to Zenada, reminding her that she joined them for a purpose. Zenada pushed through the pressure with a defiant roar. She tried to help Dorlen, reminding him of their ‘buddy system’. Dorlen overcame the pressure through sheer force of will.   He responded to a voice only he could hear, declaring he would remember them. Kaeko saw the others escape, told herself that this was not the end of her story and pushed through the pressure. Kaeko reached out to grab Xarria’s free hand.  She told Xarria that she was their leader and they could not continue without her.  Fighting back, Xarria felt the spear push harmlessly through her.

Xarria turned to Irvan, squeezed his hand and vowed they would get through this together. Irvan admitted he wanted that, commenting she was pretty when she was not dying. He stood up and ‘encouraged’ Galsariad by telling him that he had been beaten by Dermot, who started to deny doing anything. Suitably riled, Galsariad rose to his feet and declared Dermot would only beat him if he allowed it. Dermot retorted that it was easy when Maggie took all the hits for them. Maggie replied that she was just doing her job.  Standing to her full height, she thanked Ayo for leading them to the Netherdeep. Bolstered by Maggie’s sincerity, Ayo rose to her feet.

In the silence, they reflected on the fury of the Betrayer God, and admired how Alyxian had faced the same thing.  Part of the north wall crumbled, revealing a jagged open doorway.  They all entered the next chamber.  A glowing portal appeared in the middle of the room, floating between the hands of a giant statue depicting Alyxian in armor.  Alyxian’s voice told them that they had endured much and granted them time to recover and prepare for their next trial.

They all took a short rest and mended their wounds, with help from Kaeko’s Song of Rest, before pushing on.  They recalled a pair of coiling tunnels off to the side of the ivory pedestal chambers, where Ayo and Dermot took their motes from.  Ayo began proposing an idea to Xarria as “leader of the ‘B’ team,” only to be interrupted by a discussion over what ‘B’ stood for. The water genasi eventually asked Xarria which way she wanted to go.  Xarria decided to go west, as her party had gone east last time.  They agreed and parted ways, though Irvan snuck back so he could squeeze Xarria’s hand.

The adventurers followed the tunnel west, and then north, reaching a seemingly empty chamber.  With time, though, they spotted a hidden door and pushed through.  The water was visibly hotter to the touch.  It boiled around them and a current threatened to pull them into the chamber where red ruidium spires lined the walls. The Apotheon’s ragged breathing was audible in every heave of the water.  Thermal vents in the floor gave off swirling bubbles, dim light, and warmth.  A glimmer of light appeared above them, revealing a light devourer swimming around for prey.  It did not seem to respond to Dorlen’s outburst.

However, as Xarria made a mark to note the path they decided to follow, the light devourer disappeared. The creature suddenly flared back to life and swam down to bite Xarria, who responded with a Hellish Rebuke.   However, the fire damage caused the light devourer to recharge.

Kaeko cast Spiritual Weapon, which manifested as a guitar, and cast Vicious Mockery.  Both spells would hurt the light devourer. Xarria hit the creature with Inflict Wounds before making a Vital Sacrifice. Dorlen swam up beside Xarria, scoring one hit.  He then raised his shield. Zenada manifested her echo and channeled three attacks through it, damaging the light devourer. With Dax’s help, Sabina killed the light devourer with her Eldritch Blast.

The chamber rumbled and the currents increased in strength, swirling around them.   Dorlen was unable to resist and was hurled back into the wall and onto the ruidium shards.

Kaeko began struggling in the water as Dax took some damage. Zenada saw that Dorlen was sheltered in the tunnel, which looked like the best way out.  They quickly headed inside, but not before Dax was corrupted by the ruidium and became exhausted.  They found themselves in a chamber with gold coins scattered on the floor.  They counted a total of 750 gold coins, all minted before the Calamity.  They also found a ceremonial jade dagger and a vial of bubbling purple liquid.

Sabina noted that the chamber door could be put back into place, making the chamber a safe place to rest.  She began to pull ruidium shards from Dax.  Dorlen took a taste, determined that it combined the properties of a Potion of Superior Healing and a Potion of Heroism, and decided Zenada was best suited to use it.  As they looked at each other, they could hear the currents swirling in the other chamber… and the ragged breathing of the Apotheon (episode 31).

The party took a short rest.  Kaeko played a Song of Rest while the adventurers tended to their wounds and collected any remaining gold coins.  When they had recovered, Sabina asked if they wanted to brave the currents.    Kaeko suggested that they tie everyone together with rope, stationing herself and Zenada at either end, as they were the biggest and strongest, and the other three between them.

Dorlen pointed out that if he was anchored, he would be less likely to bash into secret doors and uncover new areas like the chamber they were resting in.  When Zenada suggested tying him to the end of the rope so he could bang around all he wanted, he conceded that he probably shouldn’t be concussed for the travel and admitted that they had a good plan.  Sabina used an Entangle spell to create some dense seaweed to help them get a better grip on the ocean floor, avoid the worst of the swirling vortex and reach the southwest passageway.  As Kaeko was going first, Xarria cast Guidance on the bard’s nose.

As Xarria touched Kaeko’s nose, a vision settled on them all.  A soldier crouched over a dead commander in a plaza filled with corpses, feeling the weight of responsibility settle uncomfortably on her.  “Harbinger,” she spat at Alyxian.   “Warbringer!  Omen!  We sheltered you!”  The vision receded.

Kaeko commented that the vision was just as unsettling as before. Dorlen asked what they knew about the Netherdeep and whether it existed before Alyxian was imprisoned.  He began to elaborate, speculating that the Netherdeep was just a manifestation of Alyxian’s mind and that they were actually in his mind.

Kaeko took that literally and found the thought repulsive. Sabina pointed out that Alyxian’s mental state had invaded Cael Morrow and infected the aboleth, so it may have infected this plane as well.  She also reminded them that he was imprisoned.  Kaeko agreed and hypothesized that perhaps he had been imprisoned in the Netherdeep but then had grown so powerful that it seeped through to Cael Morrow.  Dorlen chimed in, saying the best prison for someone who had gone through what he had would be their own head.  They murmured in agreement and Kaeko added that the prisoner would relive everything thousands of times.  Dorlen agreed again and added that they’d be twisting the memories adding to them.  Kaeko admitted she did that too, but Dorlen pointed out that Alyxian had hundreds of years to twist his memories.  Kaeko admitted that would drive anybody insane.  Dorlen added that Alyxian had no ‘buddy system’ to rely on.

Xarria felt the race had not ended and encouraged the party to help Alyxian.  Kaeko blurted out that they were all figments of Alyxian’s imagination and were not real.  Dorlen disagreed, feeling no one could imagine him.  While Xarria agreed with Dorlen, Kaeko continued voicing her delusion until Zenada pinched her.  Sabina quietly pursued their original plan and tied everyone to some rope.

Kaeko stepped out of the chamber first.  Between her strength and Sabina’s seaweed, she managed to resist the currents.  Dorlen was not so fortunate, as he was buffeted around and slammed into the walls.  One of the ruidium shards broke off from the wall and worked its way under Dorlen’s skin, increasing his exhaustion and ruidium corruption.  He later discovered the ruidium was festering in his flesh, causing his skin to turn crimson and weeping blisters to form down his neck.  Zenada and Dax brought up the rear but they all made it across, even if Dorlen was bloodied.

They reached the other room, fully expecting to face some new monster.  However, upon entering, they noticed the cavernous space expand and contract like a lung of a living, breathing creature.  Natural fissures in the floor belched out columns of steam and bubbles, warming the water.  Red light emanated from the vents, illuminating the chamber and the mouths of the tunnels that led away from it.

Looking around, they saw a slithering bloodfin and a swarm of smaller fish–all dead from a previous battle.  Kaeko wondered if the Warring Destinies had passed through and fought the creatures.  .  As the vents flared with red light, Sabina pulled out the sending stone to contact the other party.  However, a huge flare from the vents, one right under Sabina’s feet, began scalding the party.  Noting the water boiling in the passage behind them, they decided to hurry out of the chamber.

Once they entered the next tunnel, the sending stone held by Sabina got reception and Maggie’s voice came through.  The two parties compared notes and figured out they had crossed paths.  Maggie abruptly ended the conversation as the Warring Destinies encountered something with “a lot of tentacles” that prompted at least one of the adventurers to let out a bubbling scream.  They briefly discussed Dorlen’s suggestion to go help them but, given the labyrinthine tunnels and the boiling water, decided to move forward instead.

After traveling 150 feet through the undulating tunnel, they found themselves in a huge chamber.  A ruidium sphere, pockmarked with crater-like indentation, rotated 20 feet above the floor.   They also saw the bodies of two huge sharks, their mouths and bodies encrusted with ruidium, who had been killed by the other party. And, they noticed that the moonlike sphere had numerous open bloodshot eyes, each a milky pale jaundiced yellow. As Sabina entered the room, she heard a voice in her mind that sounded like Alyxian.  It said “Embrace that malice that is deep within your heart as it is within mine.”  She became cursed so that she could not take help or heal others.

Looking around the room, they saw a chamber immediately to the left.  It opened up into another small ivory podium chamber.  In the center of the chamber was a statue of Alyxian, tilted back at an angle.  They could see parts of the statue had been broken off, with tendrils of ruidium rising up from the damaged areas.  There was only one other passageway–leading north past the moon, whose gaze had no further effect on them.  Dorlen proceeded to swim up to the moon and poked one of the eyes to see what would happen. As he poked it, he felt an internal shiver that felt like revulsion. Feeling uneasy, Dorlen advised the party to leave quickly.  Xarria asked if they should still be tied together.  After a pause, Dorlen said no and untied himself.  Zenada swung Dorlen onto her back and swam with him to look into the next room.

Zenada saw a pit, devoid of the thermal vents they had become accustomed to.  The floor was strewn with humanoid skeletons clad in rusty armor and the bones of other creatures.  Tendrils of ruidium wove through the battlefield like ivy.  In the center of the room, a shining spear stood upright, its shaft emerging from a pile of bones and rusting weapons.  From the visions they’d shared, some of the party thought it looked like the same spear Alyxian used to fight Gruumsh. Dorlen decided to retrieve the spear so they could return it to Alyxian, feeling its loss had made it harder for Alyxian to fight off his inner demons.  Xarria stopped him long enough to cast Greater Restoration.  While it lifted some of his exhaustion, it did not affect the ruidium poisoning.  After thanking her and receiving some additional Guidance, he called for Zenada to swim the way they’d decided to go.

Swimming through the room, they passed rows and rows of soldiers that died during the Calamity. They saw bones of humans, giants, mastodons, and moorbounders littering the ground. Dax made a weak noise as he swam by the skeletons of a couple of moorbounders.  The spear in the center of the room showed no signs of decay, rust, or ruidium corruption, unlike any other thing they’d found in this chamber or the rest of the Netherdeep.  Dorlan swam up to it and, after pausing to look at his companions, grabbed the spear.

As Dorlen did that, a low growl reverberated through the cavern.  As the sound faded, a soft, melodic voice said, “You shouldn’t have done that.”  The voice came from a blue, translucent figure of a child that appeared to come out of nowhere.  Floating next to him was the figure of a man carved out of ruidium with a solemn expression.  The boy introduced himself as Theo and the golem as Alyxian, the Hunter.  He explained that the golem had come to destroy them but would not act so long as they were with him.  After confirming that the party had come to save Alyxian and end his nightmare, he agreed to travel with them for a time.

Kaeko clarified the Hunter’s intentions and tried to remove it with Dispel Magic, to no avail.  Dorlen examined the golem, discovering it was made of pure ruidium and questioned Theo about its origins.  Theo believed it had simply appeared one day.  Dorlen began musing about building golems while Kaeko wondered why her spell failed.  Dorlen then asked why Theo was here.  The apparition explained he was a guide.  He added that he had come close to meeting the other party before they took a different path.  Sabina wondered how he had come down here, as the Netherdeep had few sentient beings.  He responded that he’d always been there.  Sabina pressed further and learned he had not existed before the Apotheon.  The party noticed that Theo wasthe spitting image of Alyxian at that age.  As Dorlen held the spear, he felt a tremor when he locked eyes with Theo and another vision began.  They saw Alyxian roar as he cleaved through foes in front of him.  His rapid breathing made allied soldiers around him skittish.  One noted that it was an omen of malice and advised against getting on his bad side.

After the vision ended, Dorlen remembered he had taken the spear, took a closer look at the spear and–after noting its flawless craftsmanship–attuned to what he would call a ‘spear of anxiety’.  He then declared that the party should follow the boy, as he seemed to know his way around and the party was used to following random strangers.  Dorlen checked that he had Theo’s name correct and got his full name–Theo Nathope.  Kaeko confirmed the child’s name was an anagram for The Apotheon.  Dorlen summarized that they were in Alyxian’s head, with a ruidium golem of Alyxian the Hunter and a child that was the Apotheon.  Xarria added that they also experienced visions where they were also treated as Alyxian.

Kaeko asked Theo about the other party.  The apparition explained they had gone south and woke the red moon.  He idly wondered who would be foolish enough to cast a spell or touch it, prompting Dorlen to innocently look around.  Theo then began floating south, with the party following behind.  Kaeko and Dorlen began to ask Theo questions about its existence, which led to a philosophical discussion.  They approached the chamber with the boiling vents, prompting Kaeko to warn Theo of its dangers.  Theo gestured to a section of the wall, which led to a reminder that the party was corporeal and could not pass through walls… without extreme measures as proven by Dorlen.  Zenada flung Dorlen at the wall, revealing it was actually a hidden door.  The party realized they would have to inspect the walls more carefully in the future to uncover more secret passageways.  They also considered throwing Dorlen, though they conceded that method had the drawback of giving the gnome concussions.  Dorlen began theorizing novel uses for a catapult system before urging the party to carry on.

Theo and the party entered an oblong cavern that was heated and illuminated by the thermal vents that lined the floor.  Ruidium-veined walls expanded and contracted like a beating heart, while a ruidium-lined archway led to a darker chamber. Theo told the adventurers that Alyxian’s suffering made him callous and selfish, but believed he could be reminded of his goodness.  The apparition was interrupted by a human-sounding howl that echoed throughout the cavern.  Darkness swept throughout the grotto and over the adventurers, flooding their minds with visions of Ank’Harel, Wildemount and a godlike wrath that ravaged the world’s civilizations and citizens.  When the visions faded, Theo warned that they might expect similar experiences in the Heart of Despair.

Zenada was the first to step through the archway.  As Dorlen and the others followed, they had another vision.  They saw Alyxian kneeling before an altar in a ruined temple of Avandra.  He swore to fight for the freedom of others and be daring, as the Change Bringer did not bless cowards.

When the vision faded, the party looked around.  They saw the cavern was devoid of thermal vents, the water was cold and dark and a few tendrils of ruidium clung to the walls around the archway.  More importantly, they saw another mote hover above the ground in a crevice to the north.  Kaeko suggested Zenada, Sabina or Xarria touch the mote.  Zenada volunteered as she was the first to enter the room.  When she touched the mote, the party saw another vision, where a drop of moonlight from the moon Catha fell into Alyxian’s hands and transformed into a small golden amulet.  Awestruck, he whispered a prayer as he pressed what would become the Jewel of Three Prayers to his chest.

After she absorbed the mote, three lobster-like creatures rose from the sandy floor.  Theo shrieked and cowered as the creatures, known as chuuls, attacked.  Zenada launched forward and unleashed a barrage of strikes against its chitinous armour.  She managed to manifest her avatar just before the chuul struck back and grappled her.  Xarria stepped forward until she could see Zenada, cast Spirit Guardians, pulled out her shield and made a VItal Sacrifice.  Sabina entered the room as well and fired two arrows into the chuul grappling Zenada.  Following suit, Dorlen swam past Xarria and attacked another chuul.  He tried to come to Zenada’s aid but missed his attack.  Two of the chuuls were attacked by Xarria’s Spirit Guardians, thanks in part to Kaeko’s Silvery Barbs.  In response, one of the chuuls moved away from Xarria and tried to attack Dorlen to no avail.  Kaeko took out her baton, thought about Galsariad’s lessons, tapped the cavern walls and channeled the sounds into a Gravity Sinkhole that damaged two of the chuuls.  Looking at Zenada, she gave the warrior some words of Bardic Inspiration. One of the chuuls took more damage from the Spirit Guardians before dealing Xarria a critical hit.  As it grappled her, Xarria lost concentration and her Spirit Guardians vanished.

Zenada killed the chuul grappling her with two hits and slashed the one next to Dorlen with her third.  Xarria then killed the chuul grappling her with Inflict Wounds.  Sabina fired two arrows, one of which struck the remaining chuul.  Dorlen punched it twice, cracking its chitin.  Kaeko rushed forward and stabbed, only to take two hits and get grappled in return.  Zenada stepped in and killed the chuul, slicing it in such a way that Kaeko was left holding its claws.

Kaeko began cooking the chuul claws over the thermal vents, adding some seasoning that Xarria offered.  She soon admitted that she had limited cooking skills as Bodhi usually made most of their meals.  Xarria kindly took over and added more ingredients from her spice pouch to brine the meat before Dorlen cooked it with a controlled Fire Bolt.  The party enjoyed the impromptu meal during their short rest, though Dorlen declined the food as he was allergic to shellfish.

After tending their wounds, Theo told them Alyxian’s rage, sorrow and yearning to escape was reflected in the creatures they had encountered.  He noted that Alyxian cursed and scorned the gods when he was angry, but always returned to prayer, as if hoping he would someday learn why the gods abandoned him.  Theo also revealed that when Alyxian’s rage was spent, the Netherdeep grew dark and quiet.  During those times, he could hear laughter and feel lightness and joy.  He believed the Apotheon found peace and solace during those times.  Despite all his anger, regret, fury, yearning and despair, there was still goodness in him.  Theo implored the heroes to appeal to that part of him and ultimately save him.  Kaeko asked Theo where they should go.  After he gave a cryptic response, the bard began feeling for hidden doors amongst the cavern walls.  She stopped as the party experienced another vision.  They saw Alyxian limping through a burning battlefield towards a wailing child, who screamed when she saw him.  He flinched, but picked her up before carrying her towards the far-off remnants of civilization.  Once the vision faded, Theo gave them the directions they sought, asked the party not to judge him too harshly and insisted there was still good in him, even though it was buried under centuries of anguish.  Dorlen mused that they should have brought a therapist with them into the Netherdeep.  Xarria guessed they would have to suffice, while Kaeko thought Dorlen’s academic experience might be an adequate substitute.  A puzzled noise from Dax alerted the party to the fact that Theo had vanished.  Kaeko immediately realized that the Hunter would now pursue them.  Dorlen urged them to hurry.

They made their way back to the first chamber and headed north into a tunnel, only to encounter the ruidium golem standing in front of them.  Kaeko, who was in the lead, saw the Hunter first.  She warned the rest of the party and told them she would try to get behind it.  She granted Xarria Bardic Inspiration before casting Greater Invisibility and dashing forward, entering the room with the giant eye.  After recovering from the shock of Kaeko vanishing, Dorlen charged forward and attacked, hitting with one of his two punches.  Zenada moved up behind Dorlen, manifested her echo on the other side of the Hunter and used it to land three blows.  In response, the Hunter pulled a shard of ruidium from its chest and threw it into Zenada’s shoulder.  While the damage was mitigated somewhat by Dorlen’s Flash of Genius, the shard worked its way into Zenada’s body and vanished.  Sabina entered the corridor behind Zenada and fired a Witch Bolt from her bow.  In response, the Hunter punched Dorlen back, knocking him to the ground.  Xarria followed Sabina and Dax into the corridor, summoned her Spiritual Weapon and attacked.  The Hunter retaliated by hurling another ruidium shard into her, which vanished just like the one that hit Zenada.  Nonplussed, Xarria hit it with her crossbow.

Kaeko cast her own Spiritual Weapon to attack the Hunter, darted forward to hit the golem with her own sword, then retreated before it could react.  Dorlen cast Kinetic Jaunt, moved through his allies and Spiritual Weapons and punched the Hunter.  Meanwhile, Zenada looked down at the site where the ruidium shard hit her and felt a pulsing sensation as she sustained further damage and became corrupted.  Enraged, she unleashed a barrage of strikes through her echo and hacked the golem until it was a vermillion cloud of dust.  Kaeko appeared as she dismissed her Greater Invisibility.

As Sabina, Xarria and Zenada looked at the mist that had formed from the pulverized golem, they noticed it was not dissipating.  In fact, it seemed to be concentrating in places. A worried Zenada realized the Hunter was reforming and urged the party to leave immediately.  Xarria agreed that it would be back.  Kaeko wondered whether taking some of the dust would prevent it from fully reforming.  The party asked if Dorlen had a spare vial.  Dorlen, however, was inspired to try and gather up the dust in his Bag of Holding.  Unfortunately, he only succeeded in sweeping up an unknown volume of the water.  As the golem continued to gather itself together, the party fled deeper into the vents of fury (episode 32).

They took a northward passage, making their way around the giant moon to the chamber where they had found an absence of thermal vents, a floor strewn with bones and rusty armour and Alyxian’s spear. Sabina: Looking around, Sabina saw a glint of light from a dark recess in the northeast corner of the room, reminiscent of a cave-in.  Investigating, Xarria found a human skeleton in rusted chain mail, wrapped in coils of ruidium tendrils.  She spotted a ruidium shortsword clenched in its hand and decided to take it.  However, she accidentally broke off various hand bones in the process.  Apologizing, she did her best to replace the floating bones before moving on.  Kaeko observed that the long-deceased human would probably not take offence.  Xarria appreciated the sentiment, but admitted she did not want to desecrate the body, regardless of how long it had been lying there.

With her keen hearing, Sabina heard the sound of a stone foot crushing ruidium in the room behind them and warned her companions.  Swimming faster, they soon entered a narrow chamber whose floor and walls were covered in a rippling carpet of thin, pale arms that ended in hands with long, delicate fingers.  Whispering voices began echoing through their minds, telling them to join them, be with them and never be alone again.  Dorlen voiced his discomfort and declined the eerie invitations.

The more perceptive members of the party noticed that some of the hands held items: a locked box, a key, a flask of red liquid and a rolled-up scroll.  Sabina wondered if they should grab the items.  Dorlen immediately swam to the box, as it was the first item Sabina mentioned.  He was able to retrieve it, though he was disturbed as the hands touched and caressed his face and limbs.  The box was decorated with wedding bells and was inscribed with the words “For those whose love never wavered.”  Kaeko followed suit and retrieved the flask, which she identified as one of elven craftsmanship.  Zenada deftly took the key, finding that it was made of tarnished silver.  Sabina used Summon Beast to summon a construct of her friend Rocky the octopus and asked him to pass the scroll to her.  Given that Rocky was also uncomfortable with the hands, Dorlen felt that they were best avoided. After Sabina allowed Rocky to climb into her pack, Kaeko remembered that she had Mage Hand.  The party assured each other that it was understandable to forget things.

Dorlen began trying to pick the box, oblivious to Zenada’s efforts to offer him the key.  He eventually realized what she was getting at, took the key and used it to successfully open the box.  After batting away several pairs of hands that whispered their congratulations, he discovered the box held a black pearl, a violet garnet and a pair of platinum rings.  Thinking of her own wedding band, Kaeko asked Dorlen to see if there were any inscriptions on them. Sure enough, Dorlen found that both rings had the words “For the one I love” inscribed and offered them to Kaeko.  The bard demurred, as she and Bodhi had their own, and wondered if they were meant for Alyxian.  After some discussion, the party could not recall Alyxian having any significant partner and wondered if they belonged to a pair of long-lost adventurers.

While the party debated who the rings might have belonged to, Sabina opened the scroll and discovered it was a spell scroll of Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere.  Kaeko eventually turned her attention to the flask and discovered it contained a Potion of Superior Healing.  When they heard another footstep, the party decided to continue, though they did not leave the chamber until remarking on the pearl and the creepiness of the hands.

The next cavern they entered was almost completely filled by a spherical black mass that resembled a giant heart.  Veins of ruidium criss crossed its surface, which was covered with spiky protuberances that retracted and elongated as the sphere pulsated.  Dorlen declared the mass looked unhealthy.  Kaeko guessed it was either Alyxian, what was left of him or some kind of prison for the Apotheon.  From the southern passage, Sabina and Xarria saw motion and heard the sound of metal.  Xarria alerted their companions just before an immense form loomed into view.  Maggie’s voice called out, much to the party’s relief, expressing surprise that they survived.  Dermot chimed in, explaining they had encountered some traps, before trailing off at the sight of the mass.  Kaeko asked if they had encountered Alyxian the Hunter.  Hearing Ayo’s confused response, Sabina provided an explanation.  Dorlen told any injured members from the Warring Destinies to come over for healing.  Ayo warned that they might be followed by some kind of winged creature.  As the other party swam over, Zenada reluctantly accepted some healing from Dorlen.  Kaeko was initially less hesitant, but was somewhat alarmed when Dorlen listed some potential side effects.  Sabina remembered Theo’s words about bringing out Alyxian’s joy and wondered if the wedding rings would do so.  Dorlen immediately went down on one knee and offered the rings.

Seeing no response, Dorlen thought about touching it.  He was warned off by Kaeko, moments before he was hit by a ruidium spear.  Turning around, they saw Alyxian the Hunter enter the chamber.  Sabina told Ayo’s group that that was the golem they were talking about.  The two parties prepared for combat.  However, the Hunter managed to Slow Kaeko, Dorlen, Dermot, Sabina, Irvan and Galsariad.  It then grabbed Galsariad and brutally hit him twice.

Sabina hit the Hunter with a Lightning Arrow.  Unfortunately, all members of the Warring Destinies were hit by the following discharge.  Irvan was the first to recover, but failed to hit the golem. Ayo moved through her companions to reach the Hunter and hit it twice with her ruidium harpoon.  Zenada then backed up, manifested her echo and used it to hit the golem three times. Kaeko cast Dispel Magic to remove the Hunter’s Slow spell, went into a Rage and ran up to the golem.  Seeing how badly Galsariad was hurt, Maggie Rallied the wizard with words of encouragement.  She then swam above the Hunter and hit it twice with her greataxe. The Hunter hit Galsariad again. Irritated, Galsariad retaliated with a Gravity Rend that damaged the golem—and popped Zenada’s echo.  He was too disoriented to hit the golem with any subsequent attacks.  Xarria cast Hold Monster, which failed to paralyze the Hunter, and performed a Vital Sacrifice. Dermot gave Galsariad some much-needed healing.  Dorlen swam up to Zenada, wished her good luck and administered a stimulant that Hasted her actions. Dax swam down, slammed into the Hunter and knocked it prone.  Then Sabina swam over, cast Wrathful Smite and struck the golem with her ruidium shortsword.  Irvan followed up with attacks from his ruidium shortsword and his dagger. Zenada summoned her echo again and dealt so much damage that the Hunter disintegrated into a red mist.

Kaeko swung at the mist until her Rage was spent.  Dorlen swam up and eagerly asked Zenada for feedback on his concoction, but she was too exhausted to reply.  Sabina tried to heal Galsariad, but was dismayed when her efforts failed.  Galsariad refused Dorlen’s offer of healing due to a fear of needles, but eventually relented after a combination of Kaeko’s slap, Ayo’s repeated urgings and Dax’s presence.  Out of consideration for his feelings, Dorlen emptied the contents of his syringe and let him drink it instead. Irvan drew everyone’s attention to the fact that the Hunter had begun reforming itself and had already restored a foot.  The two parties began to discuss how to escape the golem before Galsariad intervened, saying he had deduced something about the motes they had collected. Sabina belatedly realized that she felt a pulling sensation when Dorlen approached the mass, but had dismissed it out of concern for Dorlen’s safety.

Galsariad asked Irvan to touch the heart, believing that he would not succeed.  Irvan was less than thrilled to learn he would ‘probably’ live.  When Sabina volunteered to take his place as she possessed one of the motes, Galsariad explained that that would defeat the purpose of the experiment as Irvan did not.  Kaeko realized that only people who possessed a mote would be able to enter the heart.  Galsariad confirmed that that was his theory and asked which of the Echoes did not have a mote.  Xarria admitted she was the only one.

Ayo declared that four of the Echoes had a mote and three of her party had one.  Recognizing that the Hunter would keep reforming and their fight would probably attract more enemies, she swam up to Xarria.  After stating that this did not count as winning the race, Ayo removed her mote and gave it to Xarria.  When Xarria protested, Ayo stated that one party had to enter the heart and finish the quest while the other stay behind to fend off any pursuers, as they did not have time to look for more motes while the Hunter pursued them.  Kaeko suggested collapsing the tunnel that the Warring Destinies came from to cut off an avenue of attack.  Ayo agreed but urged her to hurry as the Hunter had reformed its legs.  Swimming over, Sabina and Kaeko prepared to collapse the tunnel by casting Entangle and Thunderwave, respectively.  Ayo repeated that this did not count as a concession of defeat.  Various adventurers humored her statements and teased her for being soft at heart, though they returned to business when Irvan gave an update on the Hunter’s status.

Kaeko and Sabina collapsed the tunnel before returning to the adventurers.  Sabina gave Galsariad the spell scroll she found, Xarria cast Bless on some of Ayo’s party and Kaeko gave everyone a Motivational Speech.  Irvan warned that the Hunter had almost reformed.  Before the Echoes of Valour could move towards the heart, Dorlen mentioned the spear they had found.  Ayo happily took it off their hands.  As the golem became corporeal, Irvan and Xarria exchanged some final words before the Warring Destinies prepared to fight.

The Echoes of Valour swam to the heart.  As they touched it, they felt their motes resonate before they were pulled inside.  Then, each adventurer felt their mote burn within them before it was torn from their souls.  They plunged through a void that was darker, emptier and lonelier than anything they had ever faced.  Then the Jewel of Three Prayers began to glow from its position upon Xarria’s chest, shining a light that grew brighter and brighter until the adventurers could see each other.  As they descended, they felt the blessings of Sehanine, Avandra and Corellon wash away their curses and grant them the benefit of a Long Rest.

### The Heart of Despair

The party saw vision after vision of the bloodshed and suffering Alyxian endured as he sought the power to change fate and the Jewel of Three Prayers became complete.  They passed through the clammy darkness and eventually tumbled onto the glassy surface of a lake that somehow seemed as solid as any floor.  Three rocky isles rose out of the water, each bearing a crumbling structure that looked like ancient prayer sites.  Waterfalls tumbled from the sky, giving off mist that blanketed the area.  A life-sized statue of Alyxian, armed with a spear and shield, stood on a white stone pedestal in front of them.  Dorlen observed that their situation did not seem too bad, but the rest of the party advised caution.

They were interrupted by Alyxian’s voice, which came from the statue.  The Apotheon was relieved that he could finally communicate with them.  Given what they saw of his actions and who he had become, he asked them to act as judges and determine whether he could leave.  Kaeko thought he should be allowed as she did not feel it was fair to keep him imprisoned.  Dorlen was not sure, while Sabina wondered if Alyxian’s home even existed.  When asked, Alyxian explained he had been trapped since his epic battle with Gruumsh.  While he had absorbed or deflected most of the damage from the Destroyer’s spear, he feared that Marquet had still been devastated from the conflict.  Dorlen assured him that he did his best.  Sabina pointedly looked at her friends and added that everyone could not be saved.  Alyxian went on to say he had spent a lifetime protecting the helpless, but now he simply wanted to rest and asked whether he had earned that reward.  Kaeko, Xarria and Dorlen felt he had earned such a reward.

When Alyxian pressed the point and asked whether they would let him go, Dorlen was still willing.  Kaeko, however, asked whether he would go on a murder spree upon his release.  Alyxian replied that he had dreamt of freedom for so long, he did not know what he would do.  His only thought was that he simply wished to walk through the streets of a city without facing fear or loathing.  Sabina asked what he would do if he did encounter such a reception.  Alyxian told her he hated Gruumsh for condemning him to his prison.  He was also furious at the people who would take his essence—manifested in physical form as ruidium—for their own ends, looking at the ruidium-laced weapons that the party carried.  When Kaeko suggested that he could seal the Netherdeep upon his release to prevent any more ruidium harvesting, Alyxian went further to declare he would destroy it.  He then told the party he needed their unanimous agreement before he could leave.

Dorlen was confused on why Alyxian would be bound by such a requirement, but Kaeko guessed it was because he had been cursed by the gods.  The Apotheon’s voice grew more agitated, telling them that he had been imprisoned in solitude for so long with nothing but his dreams to give him hope... but now the Echoes of Valour were here and could grant him release.  Kaeko quietly warned Dorlen they needed to appeal to the Apotheon’s good side, not make him angry.  Dorlen took this as a prompt to ask Alyxian what made him happy, which momentarily broke the growing tension.  Speaking for the first time, Zenada told Dorlen that he made them all happy.  The gnome then remembered the locked box he had found and opened it.  Alyxian identified the rings as his parents and lamented that they did not deserve their fate.

The Apotheon then admitted he had reviewed his memories during his imprisonment.  He had also witnessed the party as they relived his past—and was overjoyed at some of the outcomes as they suggested that things could have gone differently.  Kaeko told him that suffering could lead to joy.  Alyxian took exception to that statement, as the party had only seen a glimpse of his past.  He told them that he was born during the Calamity, grew up in an environment of fear and saw the Betrayer Gods ravage his home.  He regretted the lives he could not save and how all his sacrifices did not free him from his fate.  Curious, Dorlen made an inquiry and learned the Apotheon had tried to leave his prison on his own to no avail.  Recalling the Luxon and the practice of consecution, Sabina wondered if Alyxian could be reborn.  The Apotheon repeated his plea, asking the adventurers to release him. As the conversation continued, the more insightful members of the party began noticing various layers of emotion woven through the Apotheon’s voice—including frustration, anger... and a fear of leaving. Sabina also sensed that Alyxian was growing increasingly impatient at how the party was judging his actions and words.

Choosing her words carefully, Sabina told Alyxian that they came because he called out to them and they wanted to help.  However, they required time if they were to make a judgment on his release—particularly when their decision would impact countless lives.  The Apotheon was not pleased.  Dorlen asked if therapists were available during Alyxian’s time as a mortal and repeated Sabina’s request for time, adding that a few days wouldn’t hurt if he had been imprisoned for centuries.  Zenada facepalmed and edged away from Dorlen and his lack of tact.  Alyxian grew increasingly angry, especially when Dorlen advised him to rein in his fury.

The Heart of Despair began to rumble.  As the water churned and the sounds of breaking glass and cracking stone rang out, Alyxian’s impatience and anger turned to hostility.  He declared that he would not wait any longer and would claim what was owed him.  As Kaeko and Zenada chastised Dorlen again, the statue melted into a mass of pulsing black ichor that smelled of iron and rotted meat.  Thunder boomed as crimson storm clouds covered the sky overhead.  Looking at the prayer sites, the adventurers saw they were now covered in tendrils of ruidium that glowed with a malevolent, bright red light.  After a moment, a milky-white monster with dozens of arms, countless eyes and a hide adorned with blades burst out of the ichor.  It reared back before crashing down onto the lake and howling.

One of the prayer sites crackled, then sent wisps of energy towards Dorlen.  However, he shrugged off its effect.  Alyxian stared down the party and demanded that they free him.  The void in his eyes dealt a blow to Dorlen and Sabina. Kaeko summoned her Spiritual Weapon and begged him to see reason.  Alyxian shuddered as if trying to shed his bulk.  He told her it was easy for her to say such things when she had so many friends, family, allies and party members.  Sabina told Alyxian that forging and maintaining collections could be worth the pain before casting her Hexblade’s Curse on his connection to Corellon and summoning a bow.  Having doubts on whether Alyxian could be saved, she prayed to Corellon for guidance.  After a moment, one of the ruined temples melted into the sand and vanished.  Confused, Alyxian asked Sabina what she had done.  The adventurers sensed that Alyxian had lost the support of Corellon.  As more of the Apotheon’s pale flesh sloughed off, he snarled at Sabina for turning the god against her.  He launched some of the embedded blades from his back and sent them flying around her. As Zenada took damage from the blades, Alyxian asked how he could forgive them for all of his suffering.  Guessing that he was talking about the gods and the mortals who lived, she told him it was not their fault for being born free of such a fate—just like it was not his fault for having endured so much.  However, he had to find the good inside him and rise above his resentment.  Alyxian begged them to destroy the monstrous form before it, as he could feel its hatred tearing at his spirit.  Zenada silently manifested her echo.

Xarria took damage from the blades and offered her sympathy, as she knew what it was like to be alone and abandoned.  She knew what it was like to be passed from person to person or group to group.  Xarria encouraged him to overcome his anger and move forward, promising him the same support that the party had shown her.  She was about to cast a Healing Word as a gesture of support, but held back when the Apotheon begged her to free him from this form before its hate consumed him.  Instead, she hit him with her own Spiritual Weapon.  Alyxian shambled forward, grabbed Xarria—despite Kaeko’s Silvery Barbs—and squeezed her.  Dorlen took some damage from the blade before moving out of their reach.  He yelled at Alyxian to release Xarria before pulling out his Bag of Holding and opening it—releasing the high-pressure water he had previously collected.  The blast of water caused more of Alyxian’s flesh to slough off and allowed Xarria to free herself.  A tendril of water snaked out from the ruined temple of Avandra and wrapped itself around Dorlen. After taking damage from the blades, Kaeko hit Alyxian with her Spiritual Weapon.  She tried to retreat, only to be hit and grappled by the Grasping Hands of Alyxian.  In response, she cast a Gravity Sinkhole against the Apotheon. The whirling blades flew back and embedded themselves into Alyxian’s wounded form.  He cast his baleful gaze on Zenada and Kaeko, hurting the adventurers.  After crushing Dorlen, he grabbed Zenada and began to squeeze her as well. Thinking that the gods had ample opportunity to free Alyxian, Sabina gave a plea to Sehanine before striking the Apotheon with a Witch Bolt.

His body collapsed onto the water and split open like a cocoon.  A radiant figure with angelic wings, wreathed in a halo of spears, emerged from the husk, holding another spear in his hand.  Looking down on the adventurers as if in judgement, Alyxian coldly proclaimed that their words meant nothing as he was the Apotheon—born of the blessing of three gods—and he would kill them as he had killed countless thousands.  Dorlen pointed out that Corellon had apparently abandoned him, so technically he only had the blessing of two gods.  Alyxian stabbed Dorlen with his spear as punishment for his impudence, asking what crimes he had committed other than his desire for freedom and why the party did not condemn those who left him to languish.

Sabina sent Dax to help the grappled Dorlen. Zenada told Alyxian that fatalism would not help anyone and he should not lower himself to those who thought the worst of him.  As pain registered on his face, and some of his wing feathers fluttered down into the water, the Apotheon told her she had a way with words.  Zenada replied that she had experienced hatred herself.  Turning to Sabina, Alyxian told her that she was beneath him and thus could not judge him.  He tried to strike her with chains of celestial magic, only to be thwarted by Zenada’s echo, which teleported in and shrugged off the attack.  Leaning around Kaeko, Sabina mouthed her thanks to Zenada. Xarria told Alyxian that they had come all this way to save him and they would not stop now.  She asked him to trust them before performing a Vital Sacrifice.  Wincing, Alyxian asked what would happen if the world did not pay for the hurt it caused him.  Xarria replied that responding with more suffering would only cause more pain, which would not help in the long run. Dorlen managed to free himself.  After wondering how they were fighting on the surface of the water, he raised his shield and taunted the Apotheon.

Alyxian railed against the party, declaring them imperfect judges who had not experienced his suffering, and hit them all with a radiant flare.  Sabina and Xarria responded with twin Hellish Rebukes.  Alyxian marveled at how they dared to judge him when they employed infernal magic.  Sabina retorted that he asked them to pass judgement. Alyxian used the power of Sehanine’s ruined temple to create a watery replica of Sabina and bid it to attack.  Sabina deflected her copy’s attack with a Shield and replied that she was not frightened, having faced similar trials before.  The copy dissolved into the water below. Kaeko told Alyxian that, if he truly wanted to prove his might over the adventurers and the world, he should forgive them as any responsible parties had died long ago.  The Apotheon cried out, wondering how fate and the gods that blessed him could allow this to happen, and implored the party to grant him an honourable defeat.  The Echoes of Valour noted that his wings looked increasingly threadbare.  Kaeko then moved her Spiritual Weapon to attack the ruined temple of Avandra.  Somehow, she sensed the Change Bringer smirk before the temple dissolved. Alyxian flew to the side of the party and unleashed a cone of Heavenly Destruction.  While everyone took damage, Kaeko and Dax were grievously hurt and were knocked prone.  The Apotheon then teleported into their midst with a brilliant flash of light and stabbed Kaeko with his spear.  The bard fell into unconsciousness, her husband’s name on her lips.  Alyxian then turned to strike Sabina as well.

Sabina Misty Stepped to Sehanine’s ruined temple and made a plea to the Moon Weaver.  Just as the adventurers had accepted the best and worst parts of themselves through their trials, she asked Sehanine to release Alyxian of the darkness that fuelled his power.  In response, the last temple dissolved and Alyxian’s wings became almost bare.  Alyxian declared that he would send them home before assaulting everyone but Sabina with radiant energy.  Xarria and Dax were overwhelmed and fell down.  Sabina ran back to her friends, coming to a stop beside Kaeko. Zenada bent down and took the healing potion from Kaeko’s belt.  As she fed it to Xarria, she challenged Alyxian to prove he was better than his detractors by not letting them bring him down.  She said he deserved joy and happiness, but that would not be possible if he let himself be poisoned by their hate.  Hearing her words, Alyxian’s angelic form fell down and struck the ground in a golden starbust.  As his gleaming feathers crumbled to wash, an old, grey-haired, haggard man rose up.  Alyxian was now hunched and weary, but snarled at the party as he readied his spear and shield. Xarria gasped as the potion ran through her and cast a Mass Cure Wounds to heal her friends.  Alyxian lamented that the world had moved on and there was no room left for him.  Xarria tried to hit Alyxian with her Spiritual Weapon, which he deflected with his shield.  The Apotheon glared at her before summoning a ruidium shard, which materialized next to Xarria and exploded.  Dorlen’s ruidium corruption grew to the point that crystal protrusions began poking out of his skin.  He pondered the idea of becoming a ruidium golem before he registered Alyxian’s words.  Scolding the Apotheon for thinking the world had passed him by when the party had come to free him, he punched him—with a Thunder Fist—in an effort to bring him to his senses.  Dorlen then raised a Defensive Shield and retreated, moving away from his friends so they were not clustered together. Alyxian chastised Dorlen for his naivete, claiming the omens of Ruidus still haunted him, and threw a stone dagger.  The blade lodged itself in Dorlen’s body and petrified the gnome.

Alyxian charged forward and stabbed Zenada with his spear.  Kaeko told Alyxian that the world had not forgotten him and that the party came because they heard his call.  She asked him to show his wisdom, share his experiences and help guide the world to a better place—adding that he had the power to defy omens if he chose to.  Years of negative emotions seemed to drain from him, as he recounted the echoes of laughter, music and joy that he heard from the surface.  He expressed a desire to see and know them again.  Kaeko assured him that he would and gave him Bardic Inspiration in the form of the lullaby her mother used to sing to her as a child. Sabina summoned a Healing Spirit at Dorlen’s feet.  Drawing energy from the remnants of the ruined temples, she then struck Alyxian with three Eldritch Blasts. Railing at Sabina, Alyxian threw his spear.  As the weapon pierced her body, Sabina responded with a Hellish Rebuke.  Speaking to Alyxian as a soldier, Zenada told him he needed to open his heart to accept the good that he desired.  If his heart was clouded by anger, fear and hate, he would never receive the love and joy he deserved.  Looking at the Apotheon, the party saw his knee tremble, his grip on his spear slacken and the anger in his eyes fade.  As tears well up, he said that there must be a reason for his survival over the centuries.  Zenada vehemently agreed with him and extended her hand in a gesture of goodwill. Another shard of ruidium materialized above their heads and exploded.  Xarria and Dax became exhausted due to the ruidium corruption. Xarria extended her own hand, assured Alyxian that there was good in the world and invited him to see it for himself.  He reached back, paused, then looked back at Dorlen.  The dagger returned to his hand—removing the petrification.

Sheathing his dagger, Alyxian held out his hand.  With misty eyes, he asked what was left of the world he once knew.  Zenada admitted there might be very little of the past, but it echoed in everything going forward.  Xarria added that there were many things to discover and enjoy.  The Apotheon looked up towards the sky and took in a long breath.  As he did so, the thunderclouds faded away.  The party found themselves back on the lake with waterfalls pouring down.

The Apotheon shuddered as tears streamed down his face.  He whispered that his soul felt so light.  Looking at the adventurers one by one, he asked if they could leave.  Kaeko pulled him towards her and gave the first hug he had felt in centuries.  Zenada, Sabina and Xarria joined them in a group hug.  Dorlen looked around and asked what had happened.  As the adventurers stood there, the ruidium in their bodies and weapons cracked and turned to dust.  Xarria silently walked over to Dorlen and brought him back to the group.  Alyxian apologized for everything he did, lamenting how hard it had been.  Kaeko sympathized with his plight, acknowledging that reliving his memories over and over again would make anyone lose faith in the gods and the mortal races.  The Apotheon admitted he should not have wavered and acknowledged that the gods had sent the adventurers to him.  Dorlen cheerfully agreed that the party consisted of good people. Alyxian warned that they should leave while they still had time.  Seconds later, the Heart of Despair began to shake.  When Kaeko asked how they could escape, Alyxian advised that they ‘run like hell.’  Realizing that they were no longer protected by the ruidium, Dorlen cast Water Breathing on everyone and welcomed Alyxian to the buddy system.

As they began to run, the statue of Alyxian crumbled behind them.  The Apotheon thrust his spear forward and tore a hole in the membrane surrounding the Heart of Despair.  Bursting through, they found themselves surrounded by a field of carnage.  Dead slithering bloodfins lay at their feet—along with Maggie, Irvan and Galsariad—while creatures struggled to break through the barricaded southern wall.  As they looked around, the golem of Alyxian the Hunter crumbled into dust as the ruidium faded from each member of the Warring Destinies.  A tense Ayo asked if they had succeeded and asked who their new companion was.  Kaeko confirmed they were victorious, introduced Alyxian and urged them to flee so they could enjoy a well-deserved drink.  Ayo told them that Irvan had found a door during his scouting, which he wedged open with a dagger.  Xarria cast Mass Cure Wounds to heal the wounded and rouse the adventurers who had fallen.  When Irvan opened his eyes, he was relieved to see that Xarria had survived.  Galsariad suggested that the lovers make up later as they had to leave before the water pressure killed them.  As Dorlen cast Water Breathing again, Maggie rose to her feet and commented that the slithering bloodfins were a challenging opponent... before realizing she had lost her left hand in the fight.  Dorlen, along with Kaeko and Xarria—assured her that he could make a new one.  Irvan urged them to run.

Kaeko and Zenada led the way to the door and worked together to push it open, revealing a glimmering portal.  On the other side, they could see the twin statues of Alyxian at the front of the Netherdeep where the adventurers had first entered.  However, the adventurers began succumbing to the water pressure, with Sabina, Dax, Dermot, Maggie, Irvan, Galsariad and Dermot going down.

Ayo scolded her party for sleeping on the job, told them to get up so they could leave and exchanged jokes with Kaeko.  They began to swim to the surface when Dorlen reminded them that Galsariad could access the teleportation circle.  Galsariad agreed that they should take a shortcut but asked the Echoes of Valour not to immediately tell the Consortium of the Vermillion Dream that they destroyed all the ruidium.  Dorlen pointed out that the Echoes of Valour were technically responsible for that act.  Galsariad admired Dorlen’s cleverness but lamented the lost opportunity to study the Netherdeep.  Alyxian reassured him that he had not missed anything.  Galsariad commented that he did not expect to be so happy to return to Ank’Harel before activating the teleportation circle.

They felt the dry heat and heard the hustle and bustle of the nearby market.  When Kaeko realized they were close to Bodhi’s shop, she immediately began running.  When Dorlen suggested going for drinks, Kaeko shouted over her shoulder that she would meet them later. Alyxian looked out at the sprawling city of Ank’Harel.  In a whisper, he told himself that all his trials and suffering had been worth it. As they walked along, Dax pulled Sabina over to a small set of cages from an exotic animal vendor.  The noise Dax made was echoed by a similar noise inside one of the cages.  Hearing the sounds the vendor walked over and, after talking to Sabina, asked if she wanted a mate... or a friend.  Sabina was briefly repulsed before realizing he was talking about Dax.  The vendor quoted a price and she began rummaging through her pockets.  After a minute, he offered to keep the moorbounder on hold for Sabina as he felt she had an honest face, he recognized her coming and going from Bodhi’s bodega and Bodhi owed him favours for bringing in some dire parakeets.  Sabina slowly took off the Periapt of Health that she’d worn for so many years and was pleasantly surprised to find she felt somewhat lighter.  The vendor accepted the periapt—and her friendship—in exchange for the moorbounder.  Opening the cage, Sabina saw the moorbounder was an adolescent female around the same size as Dax.  She eventually named the moorbounder Val, in memory of Valas.

The Echoes of Valour and the Warring Destinies would eventually meet up in a tavern, where they enjoyed drinks and food and camaraderie.  A new beginning was well underway.  As they slept, each of them received a vision that ended with the sound of a squalling child, somewhere near the sound of orcish drums.

Time passed and the seasons changed.  Many events came to pass, though stories were vague on the exact order of the following events:

* Bodhi and Kaeko would indeed open their own series of shops, though the location of their first shop stories would vary.
* Xarria returned to the Dwendalian Empire to reclaim her birthright—and use it to make some wise investments with the right people in certain franchises.
* Dorlen returned to Hupperdook—with Zenada and the rest of his friends—to confront his brother, who was still masquerading as ‘Professor Dorlen Wildrock.’
* Dax and his mate welcomed their kits into the world.
* Kaeko and Bodhi welcomed their children into the world.

However, they would face more trials and tribulations... as their time as heroes had not yet ended.

END

## Personality

* Perky
* Enjoys seeing (new) things and people-watching, particularly given her isolated upbringing

## Appearance

Like many halflings, Sabina appears like a young child.

## Character Build

* Eldritch Invocations: Eyes of the Rune Keeper, Grasp of Hadar
* Pact Boon: Pact of the Blade
* Favoured Enemy: Aberrations, Fiends
* Natural Explorer: Swamp
* Fighting Style: Archery
* Known ASIs/Feats: +1 Dex/+1 Cha, +2 Wis
* Known Spells:
	+ Cantrips: Druidcraft\*, Eldritch Blast
	+ 1st Level: Animal Friendship, Cure Wounds, Ensnaring Strike, Entangle\*, Hellish Rebuke, Hex, Hunter's Mark, Shield, Speak with Animals, Wrathful Smite, Zephyr Strike
	+ 2nd Level: Beast Sense, Healing Spirit, Summon Beast
	+ 3rd Level: Lightning Arrow

*\* = Lotusden Halfling*

## Trivia

* Claims to have been abandoned as a child and raised by moorbounders in the swamps of Xhorhas
* Accompanied by her moorbounder companion, Dax
* Dax 'won' the Medal of the Meat Pie at the Festival of Merit in episode 1
* Won Medal of Horizonback in episode 2
* (Reluctantly) accepted the nickname of 'Beanie' from Kaeko's husband, Bodhi
* After Valas's death in episode 10, Sabina became intent on seeking vengeance by killing Aloysia.
* Grows visibly uncomfortable when the subject of sex comes up
* In episode 20, Dax went down for the first time during a fight with an aboleth.
* In episode 22, it was revealed that Sabina had made a pact with Gruumsh after the murder of her parents and friends, who scarred her flesh as part of their bargain. Shortly after that, she unknowingly gained the protection of Corellon as well.  She subsequently made a (Hexblade Warlock) pact with Corellon.
* In Episode 33, Sabina bought and freed a moorbounder, who would become Dax's mate. She named the moorbounder Val, in memory of Valas.
* In episode 9 of Dreams of Arkos, Dorlen and Sabina made their way to the Witchlight Carnival, where they took part in a cupcake-eating contest.