Episode 27

The group compares what they saw in their respective visions. Later, Osei discloses she saw when she was captured by her vampire cult masters. But behind their faces was really Lady Ilmarrow, the vampire queen. Their land was lush and green again and she had slain all of the cult.  Osei also saw an army of chromatic and coloured dragons together, flying above her and using their gifts to combat enemies unseen in the distance. Thulrom remembers a babbling crazed dwarf pirate who had spoken of the Queen being on an Isle in the far north at Ilmarrow Castle, but made no more comprehensible discussion on her to further inform his knowledge on Osei.

Aulix confirms his intention to leave, advising he is waiting on his brother to arrive first. Barclays assures he will send word to Aulix’s new location once his ‘big project’ is ready for him.

Rook, Thulrom and Barclays go to see Amenides the armourer to check on his welfare in addition to seeing his progress with making dragonscale armour for the party. Gunner, Amara and Osei remain to try and make sense of the notes found in Byeilu’s desk. Only some are legible, the rest being damaged. They decipher and compare the following

* *They have just escaped the Lord of Blades’ stronghold. We let them uncover a green gem for our master  Frazzrblue to see if they can unlock the secrets,  and we let them escape.*
* *Count Bavvy was an easy target, we just had to lure her with promises of contributions to House Vidalis. She was caught unawares and I almost perished, but my master saved me and now she is mine and I am her.*
* *He seeks the staff, I must have leverage so I am hiding it under his own spells. So he does not suspect that I found it, but where is the missing piece, it evades me like these dragon prophecies that float and disappear if they are not pleased with their owner.*
* *The blacksmith Amenides has been a thorn for too long, but what to do with him. He no longer serves me, stubborn as they are. I wish only death upon that kind.*
* *Thulroms’ Five is what they call themselves now, it was so simple bringing them together. With subtle but effective means I have fast tracked their demise. Frazzrblue has bestowed on me the power to rewrite what is to come. He requires nothing more than this mundane staff which is beautiful but powerless.. He teaches me writings while he grants me secrets from the dragon queen herself with a soldier devil my guide and frustratingly my guard. For my own goals it starts with just a rumour, a secret let out of a demon to behold in a small town and the charming of that stupid undead girl. She resisted but of course did not speak to them of me lest her family be destroyed. Granted the attack on this town was mistimed and they did not die there, the powerful guardian watching them, protecting them. But I will succeed under his nose, I will have my time.* Osei realises she may have been unwittingly used to manipulate the group, but is assured they do not blame her.
* *I have tried countless times, they will not be destroyed. Made from simple parchment but protected with magics even my master cannot fathom, they can be manipulated slightly but not burnt. I have written something small, the untimely death of Ulian of the Venerables. I am now the first, the head and ruler and no one knows the wiser.*
* *The self-titled Lord of Blades thinks he is Tiamat’s champion. She uses him to simply escape and then destroy him. He binds his kind to a cause of domination for which is rightfully theirs but no one sees inside his metal heart. A weakness, something I and a few others have discovered, a secret he killed to keep. Not more sorrowful than Agnorak of course, he plans to march on Sharn, perhaps taking it before making a move to free her. I must deal with him to keep the fair city intact, I have need of it.*

Gunner messages the rest of the group to warn them there may be danger given the note about Amenides. They continue their journey but remain alert. Not far from Amenides’ workshop, they come across a corpse lying in the sand. Rook investigated and found that the body had been tortured before succumbing to injuries. While surveying the damage, he also found a dart lodged in the back which appeared to be a custom made and illegal weapon. The body had been deceased for sometime, but the other proprietors had not disposed of it.

Barclays suggests they keep moving onto Amenides workshop and come back to the corpse on the way back. On arriving at the workshop, Rook saw it was closed up but had the smell of death and sound of insects from inside. Entering the group saw the forge had been cold for days and pieces of armour hung throughout the work room. Alas, Amenides was also hanging. Inspection confirmed he had been tortured, his legs removed and his body left to bleed out. The group, dismayed at their findings, were able to work out this happened before they battled Byseilu and was not retaliation. Deciding to cremate their friend, the workshop, they looked through the workshop to find the resources to bring the forge back to life. During this a note was found which had a list of names, some crossed off like Sejival and Ulian, but Byseilu isn’t crossed out which confirms he died before she was slain. At the bottom is *“I have talked to and discussed with the Boromar Clan and House Tarkanan, a House of which I am a member, and they have agreed that the Venerables are to be disposed and as such the targets have been named and we seek them for death. Amenides”.* The trio realise that if The Venerables try to increase in power again, they would have potential allies.

Barclays informs Rook and Thulrom that Boromar Clan are nomads that came from a plane that was the home of halflings. They have slowly accrued power and fiercely oppose others who do not operate within their belief system. Most of their current members are still halflings and some sit on the Council of Sharn. The clan itself specialise in gambling, smuggling and theft having subgroups within that oversee different parts of Sharn and Corvair.

Barclays also knows of House Tarkanan due to discussion in his current House as well as his background. He tells the others  it is not recognised as a legitimate House by the others who are part of the conglomerate, but they do have their own Dragon Marks. The House is effectively a thieves and assassins guild, specialising in assassins. They have an elite force of thieves and assassins which they hire out to the highest bidders as mercenaries.

Going through the armour, they find the red dragon scale armour Amenides made for them and they take it, wearing it to honour his craftsmanship.

We go back to the Cog and Fresh, where Amara, Gunner and Osei continue to read further notes, piecing together some that appear to refer directly to particular members of The Five.

* *I have felt pain and fear for the first time. It came to me without sound nor sight and I trembled. This man, simple in appearance, but behind kind eyes a power, evil beyond thought and I believe no one to be my equal. This person called himself Abra, but he did not destroy me however. He was simply looking for someone, a small boy. He described him a key, a tool. I promised I would look, he said he’d be watching. I have no doubt.* The group realise this appears to reference Gunner, but the group do not know who Abra is.
* *The Quori ask for too much. I protect myself from their siege of my mind when I meditate, but they are strong. Why must they insist on testing their strength? I understand it, they need to take over me. We will not work together, be allies. It is impossible for them to fathom this. But it is this Amara they are after. This name I know not but my men are scouting. They are putting their enemies' temples to flame, driving her out, killing their folk. Not subtle enough for me, they could learn a thing or two from the drow. They are patient however, and intelligent, I must be cautious.*
* *It is not perfect for this concoction, but it will be more distraction for these sorts.  Too long they have infiltrated my kind, too long they dig and scour for treasures that belong to us. It is the ultimatum to these folk that we have been waiting for. Countless dead for the endeavour, the Red Death. These creatures, their headless bodies living between life and death, harmless, defenceless. We will take the affected ones out to sea and leave them. The prison will be a fine place to test the final product. None can stop us, the Sisters of the Red Death Long May She Reign*.
* *If there is a name I do know and can find this person easily it is Barclays the Viper. A strong name, boasting fame and so easy to find. Flotch, I’ve done well I think, coming to an agreement with Soloy, a simple yet effective deal. One that grants me a dragon prophecy for simply a way to have Barclays tricked into going back home and he knows none the wiser. Pity*
* *I need to keep it from him, see through these illusions. The monocle, see through the illusions.*

The group decide to take some time for themselves before their next step and rejoin to compete in aerial jousting. While there, they come across a rival of Barclays from when he went to College of Swords, Barvolo. He tells the group he makes money jousting, but loses to Rook after the group wagers on the joust. He invites Barclays back to the real games with the promise of money to be made.