Session0034

Episode 0034 - Pillow Talk
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**Setting:**

The Feywild - Nakuloko Island - Mimrinoth - May 11th-19th, 211 AW
**Synopsis:**

* The party dispatches Princess Camellia, then reports back to the Court of Spring where they receive their promised favors from Queen Ostara.
* By traveling back through the Changewood and consuming magical change-causing fruits, the Material Plane denizens return from the Feywild to the Material Plane.
* Back on the Material Plane, Louche briefly reconvenes with the party and explains that several days will pass before the rest of the party's return. He then returns to the Feywild with Passeri to see him reunited with Primrose.
* In the Feywild, Passeri is reunited with Primrose; as promised, he gives Louche his book of magical psalms in return.
* Louche spends a year in the Feywild, taking advantage of his arrangement with Queen Ostara regarding time dilation, before finally returning to the Material Plane again.
* On the Material Plane, the party spends a week awaiting Malkoth, Gragnok, and Patches' return, during which time tensions flare between some of them.
* Eventually, once the full party is reunited, they teleport to the College of Mimrinoth.
* In Mimrinoth, the party discovers that bounties have been issued for all of them for the murder of Duke Vincent Mason.
* The party goes to Odell's family home and tells them about their travels and the events that transpired with the Duke. They make plans to convene a meeting of the Paragons of the College to discuss their discoveries.
* The party parts ways for the rest of the evening to accomplish various tasks and errands of their own.
* Odell meets with Mordus Moonbeard, Paragon of the Rune Carvers, where he shares his findings on rune magic, and is given an offer of promotion within the College.
* XVIII and Frog meet with XV, who explains that Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel would be willing to meet with them in exchange for a favor.

## May 16th (Feywild)

The party successfully kills Camellia and her ice trolls. Louche removes her head for return to Queen Yule as promised.

After the battle, the party spends some time collecting the treasure that is frozen throughout the cavern. The displacer beast and its kitten that were placated by Gragnok earlier also approach and begin eating the corpses of the fallen. Gragnok asks the displacer beast and its kitten to accompany the party on their adventures, but the displacer beasts don't seem interested.

After gathering all of the treasure, the party takes the magical sleigh from outside the cavern, and travels back down Mount Samhain. On the way down, they note that the traps that they set on the way up the mountain have been triggered, killing several more of Camellia's entourage.

At the foot of Mount Samhain, the party discusses how to proceed. Malkoth says that he can send the head of Camellia to Queen Yule with a *speedy courier* spell. He suggests that the party should travel to the border between the Realms of Winter and Spring, then send the head to Yule, before crossing back into Spring once their task in Winter is finished. The rest of the party agrees, with the exception of Gragnok, who says that he wishes to return to the Court of Winter and see Queen Yule again in person. Eventually, the party agrees to part ways with Gragnok, and meet back up with him again at the Court of Spring.

By the end of the travel day, the party reaches the Last Frost, and Gragnok reaches the Court of Winter. At the Court of Winter, Gragnok tells Queen Yule that their task of killing Princess Camellia was successful. She asks where the rest of the party is, and Gragnok explains that they had other pressing matters to attend to, but that he felt she deserved an in-person meeting. He also admits that he wanted to see her one last time before departing her realm. As they are speaking, the head of Camellia arrives, delivered by Malkoth's *speedy courier*. Queen Yule bids Gragnok to leave to the Realm of Winter.

Gragnok departs the Court of Winter and presses onward through another several hours of travel to reach the border of the Realm of Spring, pushing himself to near exhaustion before making camp for the night.

Meanwhile, the party crosses the Last Frost into the Realm of Spring, makes camp for the night as well. Over the course of the night, they notice that the Last Frost seems to be gradually receding back into the Realm of Winter.

## May 17th (Feywild)

In the morning, the party and Gragnok each set out toward the Spring Court.

As the party approaches the Court, they stop to hide their spoils from the Realm of Winter - including their magical sleigh. Tippiti rigs a trap around the sleigh to protect it.

Shortly thereafter, the party arrives at the Spring Court, where they reconvene with Gragnok. They find that a celebration is underway at the Court. They are brought inside to meet with Queen Ostara, who praises their successful quest, and has them each step forward one at a time to receive their promised rewards.

Dan D, as requested, is transformed into a centaur-like creature, such that he has thumbs as requested.

Patches is granted protection from the time dilation effect of leaving the Feywild, and is also given an animated bush to take home with him.

Tippiti's lost dog, Tap, is returned to him, and granted a supernaturally long lifespan.

Brook is given permission to court Primrose, as requested by Konohana.

Gragnok is given a magical beetle-shaped charm, which Ostara explains will grant him some time manipulation magic. The charm also causes fragments of Gragnok's soul to float outside his body in the form of motes of white light.

Malkoth is given permission to safely travel the Realm of Spring, and protection from the time and memory altering effects of leaving the Feywild. He tells Ostara that he would love to accomplish more favors on her behalf in the future, to which she seems amenable.

Louche is granted protection from the Feywild's memory-altering effects, and control over the amount of time that passes on the Material Plane while he is in the Feywild. At his behest, Passeri's curse is lifted, and he is granted freedom to return to the Feywild.

After receiving their rewards, the party spends the rest of the day resting and enjoying the festivities at the Spring Court.

Malkoth tries some bumble - one of the many fey drugs that he's gathered from the Spring Court - which he finds leaves him incapacitated and euphoric for hours.

In private, Brook uses her mother's magic mirror to learn about the history of Malkoth's Imlaq Amulet. In the mirror, she sees visions of Mahadi crafting the amulet and using it to operate the Imlaq Colossus with Louche's aid, before the Colossus falls and Mahadi and Louche are killed. She sees Mahadi reborn as a devil, giving the amulet as a gift to the reborn Louche. She then sees Louche meeting with Natalie Shaw, who subsequently steals the amulet from him after a night spent together, and later gives it to her son - a young Lane Coronato. Finally, she sees Lane leaving the amulet with Miriam Arkin after a night spent together, and sees her giving it to a young Malkoth.

Gragnok attempts to summon Elnorath, who was killed at Mount Samhain. He discovers that he is unable to summon her. Louche asks him about it, and he explains that he has felt his connection to the Raven Queen waning as he has used divine magic less, and that he thinks he has lost access to some of the magic granted to him by her.

## May 18th (Feywild)

After their rest, the party retrieves their hidden sleigh and spoils, then begins traveling back through the Changewood toward the pond through which the arrived from the Material Plane.

## May 19th (Feywild)

Arriving back at the pond, the party bids farewell to Brook, Konohana, Dan D, and Tippiti. Brook reminds Malkoth of the deal that they made, wherein Malkoth owes Brook a yet-to-be-determined favor in the future. Louche explains to the fey denizens that he intends to return shortly, as he plans to accompany Passeri back to the Court of Spring.

Juniper explains to the party that they each must eat a piece of fruit from the glade in order to cross back into the Material Plane. Before she can finish her explanation, Gragnok takes a piece of fruit and eats it. When he does so, he collapses to the ground and is encased in a wooden cocoon - very similar in appearance to the effects that has overcome Patches on a number of occasions. The fey denizens push Gragnok in his cocoon into the pond, wherein he disappears in a flash of pink light.

Afterwards, Juniper explains to the rest of the party that eating a piece of fruit will cause certain changes to take place, ranging from minor changes such as swapped tool proficiencies, to major changes such as altered racial traits. She explains what changes will be caused by each different kind of fruit that is available.

Louche eats a piece of fruit that causes alteration of racial traits. Like Gragnok, he is encased in a cocoon, and disappears in a pink flash when pushed into the pond.

Malkoth eats a fruit that grants a damage type vulnerability and resistance, and is similarly encased and pushed into the pond.

Patches has a brief conversation with Juniper, wherein she recognizes that he has eaten similar fruits before. He explains that he is acquainted with her father, the Changing Tree. After their conversation, he eats a piece of fruit that causes alteration of physical and mental attributes. He is similarly encased in a cocoon, and pushed into the pool.

Finally, Patches' animated bush, Succubush, eats a fruit that grants a damage type resistance and vulnerability, and is similarly encased and pushed into the pool.

## May 11th (Material Plane)

Back on the Material Plane, only a few minutes after Louche, Malkoth, Patches, and Gragnok departed for the Feywild, Louche reappears floating in the pond as a cocoon. The remainder of the party recognizes the cocoon as similar to the effect that occasionally overcomes Patches, and speculates that it's one of the party members. Based on their prior experiences with Patches, they speculate that the cocoon should hatch in roughly an hour.

Meanwhile, Frog starts searching through Louche's belongings in his absence. Jack objects to looking through the others' belongings, but Frog seems dismissive of Jack's concerns.

After about an hour, Louche emerges from the cocoon. Due to the magical fruit, he is slightly shorter and has grown a set of pixie-like wings.

Louche briefly tells the party about what happened in the Feywild. He explains that the remainder of the party should reappear in either a 8 hours or 8 days, based on the arrangements that they made with Queen Ostara. He also says that he plans to go back into the Feywild briefly, to accompany Passeri back to the Spring Court, and will return again in a few hours. He asks for permission to bring the Elemental Devastation Orb - one of the relics retrieved from the Luxturrim Obelisk - with him for study, to which the party agrees.

Louche returns to Passeri's hut, where he is still seated outside near the statue of Primrose. He gathers Passeri's belongings from his hut and packs them for the journey. While looking through the hut, he finds some coinage and miscellaneous adventuring gear, including a spellcasting license belonging to someone named Ulrik Raske.

Back outside, Louche tells Passeri what has happened, and that he is free to return to the Feywild. The two rush off together, using the pond to return to the Feywild.

## May 19th (Feywild)

Arriving back in the Feywild, Louche and Passeri head through the Changewood toward the Spring Court. As they are traveling, Passeri reassures Louche that he will write down his Book of Psalms as promised. Louche requests that he does not record the Psalm of Assimilation, to which Passeri agrees.

That night, at their campsite, Passeri writes down all of his Psalms, other than the Psalm of Assimilation, in a book, and gives it to Louche as promised.

## May 20th, 211AW - May 20th, 212AW (Feywild)

The following day, Louche and Passeri arrive at the Spring Court. Passeri is reunited with Primrose. Primrose notes that Passeri looks different than she remembers and seems to be mentally unwell, and asks Queen Ostara to fix him. Ostara asks Passeri if he has learned what it means to love, and he offers a poetic reply, wherein he explains that the only true meaning of love for him is Primrose. Afterwards, Ostara apologizes to him for his banishment, explaining that she only intended to protect her daughter. She then uses her magic to restore Passeri to his former self, prior to his banishment.

Restored to his former self, Passeri no longer recognizes Louche. Ostara explains that Louche is his friend, and sacrificed a great deal to bring him back to the Feywild. Louche briefly explains to Passeri that he tutored him in his Psalms, alongside Israphel. Passeri seems to only vaguely recognizes Louche, as if from a dream, but is still grateful to him.

Afterwards, Louche asks Ostara for permission to spend a year in the Feywild, working with Passeri on new psalms and his own studies. He expresses concerns of losing his memory of the Material Plane if he stays too long, and asks her to protect him from this effect. Ostara grants him permission to remain in the Feywild without memory alteration for the purposes of relaxation and enjoyment, but says that as long as he is working and being productive, his memory of the Material will fade.

Louche spends the following year in the Feywild. During this time, he develops a new friendship with Passeri, with whom he works to develop a new Psalm - the Psalm of Absolution, designed to cleanse a creature from corruption. Notably, Passeri seems to have no memory of the Psalm of Assimilation.

Louche also spends some time studying rune magic, studying the Elemental Devastation Orb, and designing a weapon that can be powered by the divine magic of a god.

For the remainder of the year, Louche relaxes and enjoys the festivities of the Realm of Spring, before finally departing to return to the Material Plane. Before departing, he asks Passeri about when he will marry Primrose, and he says that it will likely be several years of courtship.

In order to return to the Material Plane, Louche eats another piece of magic fruit at the pond in the Changewood - this time, a fruit that grants a damage type resistance and vulnerability.

As he is transitioning out from the Feywild into the Material Plane, Louche has a vision of a memory, wherein Asmodeus and Mahadi are discussing his fate, seemingly shortly after his death and rebirth as a devil. The two discuss Asmodeus' future plans for Louche to fulfill the prophecy, and Asmodeus assigns Mahadi to be Louche's keeper, and prevent him from derailing the prophecy.

## May 11th-16th (Material Plane)

Back on the Material Plane, Louche reappears only a few hours later. When he emerges from the cocoon, he has gained resistance to lightning damage, but vulnerability to cold.

As the party awaits the return of Gragnok, Malkoth, and Patches, they spend the next several days working on various downtime activities. They also report the situation to Buttonsworth and Lo back at their campsite on the coast of Lake Ryne, so that they know how long they will be waiting.

Odell continues working to develop a rune for the Star Road. Louche and XVIII assist in this endeavor, and Odell notes that Louche picked up some basic rune magic knowledge during his time in the Feywild.

Odell and Jack also work with XVIII to try to help them understand and master their magical abilities. They discover that XVIII's magic seems to be innate, like that of a sorcerous bloodline. However, it seems not to be magic that he was born with; rather, magic that he was granted via necromantic alterations.

## May 17th

As their days of downtime progress, the party notices that XVIII is seemingly withdrawing themselves from the rest of the party, keeping a safe distance from them. They notice that XVIII seems physically unwell, having not consumed humanoid blood in several days, barely subsisting on animal blood.

The party approaches XVIII and asks if there is anything that they can do to assist. Frog says that he might have an idea, and asks XVIII to accompany him back across Lake Ryne to the campsite to check in with Buttonsworth.

Frog and XVIII take their rowboat across Lake Ryne back to the campsite. There, Frog offers to milk Baps - Louche's highland yak mount - and takes her off a distance into the woods with XVIII. There, Frog draws his rapier, and prepares to butcher kill Baps, saying that the party needs food to survive. XVIII questions and pushes back against this assertion, and Frog admits that he's actually angry at Rye, and wants to punish him, upset that he didn't suffer any consequences for going into the Feywild. XVIII insists killing Baps is wrong and that Frog should not do so. Frog agrees, but says that he is going through with it anyway.

When Frog attempts to kill Baps, XVIII grabs him and bites into his neck, knocking his weapon away before he can kill her. Baps begins to flee, but Frog casts a *shatter* spell and explodes her.

Hearing the explosion, Buttonsworth and Lo come rushing to Frog's aid. When they discover the mayhem at hand, Frog explains what happened, insisting that XVIII is not at fault, but he doesn't explain why he did it. XVIII, clearly upset, says that Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel was right, and walks away alone to return to Nakuloko Island.

XVIII arrives back at Nakuloko Island, where he reconvenes with Jack, Odell, and Louche. When asked, XVIII explains what happened with Frog and Baps. They then say that no one can be trusted, and then they use their magical *warp whistle* to teleport away to the former keep of Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel. After XVIII disappears, the rest of the party finds a *paper bird* amongst their belongings from XV, which reads as follows:

> XV is pleased to learn that XVIII is well. XVIII’s erratic movements were confusing to XV. XV is heading to Mimrinoth, and will arrive no later than May 20th. XV will meet XVIII there.
>
>
> Dr. Dippel is adamant that XVIII should not under any circumstance return to the former keep. XVIII will only find lies, danger, and confusion there. XV regrets his disobedience at Grimm Manor. XV should not have divulged any information about Dr. Dippel’s former keep, as instructed.
>
>
>
> XVIII is correct. The outside world is filled with lies and uncertainty. Dr. Dippel alone can be trusted. No other.
>
>

XVIII arrives in the Emerald Highlands, on a hillside overlooking the former keep of Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel. From the distance, the keep appears largely the same as XVIII remembers, though clearly overgrown and abandoned. After briefly lingering and considering investigating further, they begin traveling toward Mimrinoth, using their *invisibility* magic to stay safe from dangers along the way.

Meanwhile, back on Nakuloko Island, Frog returns to the island and explains what happened. Jack questions Frog's motives, but Frog is evasive, eventually isolating himself in his tent. Discretely, Jack attempts a *dispel magic* spell on Frog, suspecting he is under some sort of mind-altering influence, but the spell is unsuccessful.

Louche, saying nothing, leaves to take the rowboat back to the campsite with Buttonsworth. There, he finds the destroyed corpse of Baps. Using a magical *sending* spell, he sends a message to Kamm, stating that Frog has wronged him and offering to feed Kamm information.

Odell sends a message to XVIII on a *paper bird*, telling them to look for Nuraval Silverstone when they arrive in Mimrinoth.

Later that night, as the party rests, Louche has a dream that he is in the office of Titivilus in the Hells. Titivilus tells him that now that he has retrieved the Psalm of Assimilation, the prophecy can move forward. He explains that the next step is to rendezvous in Sigil, and tells Louche that his orders are to report to Sigil as soon as he can. When Louche asks how to get to Sigil, Titivilus suggests either using the River Styx, or taking advantage of Malkoth's conjuration abilities.

Louche asks Titivilus if Lane Coronato has made it to the Hells. Titivilus says that he is not at liberty to answer. Louche also requests a new infernal talisman, which Titivilus says could be provided in Sigil. Louche asks if the Psalm of Assimilation will need to be played in the Outer or Inner Planes, but Titivilus claims not to know. Titivilus also says that Mahadi has been reassigned.

## May 18th

In the Emerald Highlands, XVIII continues traversing the wilderness toward Mimrinoth. During the day's travel, they receive the *paper bird* message from Odell.

Meanwhile, back on Nakuloko Island, the party awaits the return of Gragnok, Malkoth, and Patches.

## May 19th

In the morning, XVIII arrives in Mimrinoth. Outside the city gates, he sees a wanted poster with a sketch of Gragnok and Malkoth, and the following text:

>
> WANTED,
>
>
> BY ORDER OF HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY ROSLYN ALIVRA,
>
>
> For the murder of Vincent Mason, the Lord Duke of Hartwell: Gragnok Blackburn of Hartwell and Malkoth Arkin of Hillenbrook, depicted, along with 7 accomplices matching the following descriptions, all male: a dwarf of bronze hair and green eyes, a tabaxi of tan fur and strong build, a gnoll of below-average stature, a khenra of pale fur and slight build, a wilden with a head resembling a pumpkin, a tabaxi of grey and white fur and average stature, and a thri-kreen as found in the Golden Wastes.
>
>
> For the capture of these individuals for questioning and trial, the Treasury of the Alviren Empire guarantees the following
>
>
>
> REWARD: 5,000 gold pieces for each returned alive, and 1,000 gold pieces for each returned dead.
>
>

XVIII continues into the city, which they find to be a dwarven mining and farming town, with no obvious sign of a magic college anywhere nearby. He notes that there are several more wanted posters posted throughout the town. Using an *invisibility* spell to remain hidden, they climb to the top of a church bell tower, where they await XV.

Meanwhile, back on Nakuloko Island, Malkoth, Patches, and Gragnok all reemerge in the crossing pond as cocoons. Upon emerging from the cocoons, Malkoth has gained resistance to cold damage and vulnerability to poison, Patches has lost intelligence and gained constitution, and Succubush has gained resistance to acid damage and vulnerability to poison.

When Gragnok emerges, he has lost his pointed elf-like ears, and has gained the traits of a fallen a aasimar, including jet black eyes and the ability to summon black-feathered raven wings.

Patches and Gragnok emerge having no memory of what occurred in the Feywild. Gragnok also discovers that he has no reflection, due to having killed his reflection on the party's first day in the Feywild.

Louche recounts the events that transpired in the Feywild for Gragnok and Patches, including telling Gragnok that he can no longer summon Elnorath.

The party begins making preparations to teleport to the College of Mimrinoth. Odell explains that the teleportation sigil at the College is monitored by a ledger-keeper who records whenever people arrive through the sigil. Concerned about the possibility that they could be in legal trouble due to the events that transpired with Duke Vincent Mason, some of them decide to don disguises and use false names.

As the party makes preparations, Gragnok asks Odell about the possibility of moving the enchantment from Orion's Key to his longbow. Odell explains that normally such a feat would be far beyond his capability, but due to the fact that the enchantment is based in the Orion bloodline, it could be accomplished more easily - perhaps with the assistance of the Circle of Architects at the College.

Their preparations complete, Malkoth teleports the party to Mimrinoth. They arrive at the College of Mimrinoth, in a teleportation chamber within the College's administrative building. A pair of students with ledgers ask for the party's names and their business at the College. Odell introduces himself first, saying that he's a student of the Circle of Rune Carvers and the rest of the party are his entourage. The rest of the party introduces themselves as well, though several use false names: Frog introduces himself as "C.C. Marshmallow", Malkoth as Varrius Quince, Gragnok as "Orion Blackbird," and Patches as "Tiddies." As they are speaking with the ledger keepers, the party takes note of a wanted posted at their desk - the same one seen by XVIII earlier.

On the way out of the College administrative building, the party notes that the building is guarded by a metallic construct that Odell identifies as a lead templar - the College's anti-magic defense golems.

Exiting the building, the party finds themselves in an underground city, located within a massive subterranean cavern. Odell explains that the city located on the surface in the mountains, known colloquially as "the face," is in fact only a small portion of the whole city, most of which is hidden underground.

The party discusses their plans for the remainder of the day. They agree that traveling all together is likely unwise, given that they are being searched for as a party. Louche discretely says that he needs to speak privately to the party, preferably somewhere warded against divination magic. Odell explains that his mother discovered the *private sanctum* spell, and that his family home has a room warded against divination. The party eventually decides to briefly split up for a few errands, before meeting back up at Odell's family home.

Louche sends a *sending* message to XVIII, asking them to meet the party at the stables to talk, to which XVIII agrees. With that, a portion of the party heads through the underground city to the exit, which opens into the surface level city - "the Face" of Mimrinoth.

In the Face, the party finds their way to the stables to drop off their mounts and carts. XVIII meets them there.

As the party is headed back through the mining quarter into the underground, Gragnok spots some thieves cant markings inscribed on a covered mine cart, which indicate that the carts are being used for smuggling. He approaches to talk to the apparent foreman of the operation, and says that he's in the market for magical contraband. She tells him to head underground and look for Fudge Alamo.

Back underground, the party reconvenes outside Odell's family home. Before entering, Jack privately tells XVIII that everyone is equally confused by Frog's behavior on Nakuloko Island, and thanks XVIII for coming back. He offers to allow XVIII to feed off of him, which XVIII does.

Inside the house, the party finds Odell's father, Brottor Heskin, in the kitchen preparing food. He warmly greets them, excited to see Odell, and explains that Odell's mother, Eridred Heskin, is at the Circle of Templars studying. Brottor welcomes the party in and prepares food for them, while filling Odell in about the events that have transpired in Mimrinoth since his departure. He says that the College has found and begun excavating the Imlaq Colossus - a discovery apparently attributed to the Circle of Architects. He also mentions the murder of Duke Vincent Mason. Notably, Brottor does not seem to recognize Malkoth through his disguise, despite having met Malkoth on one occasion before.

After providing the party with food, Brottor Heskin goes to the College to tell Eridred Heskin that Odell is home, and bring her back. While he is gone, the party heads to the room of the house that is warded by a *private sanctum* spell. Here, Louche explains that he asked Frog to do something heinous and terrible to him while he was gone to the Feywild. Frog corroborates this, showing the party a note written to Frog in Louche's hand. He explains that he has messaged Kamm and offered to feed them information, hoping to manipulate them by giving false leads, and that he needed it to seem genuine.

Louche also tells the party about his dream conversation with Titivilus. He says that he plans to attempt to kill Asmodeus, showing them an arcanomechanical device that he created during his year in the Feywild which can be imbued with divine magic by a god. He also says that he would like to try to get Zariel on his side, given she was formerly an angel.

Louche and Frog apologize to XVIII for the fact that he got involved in their deception. XVIII seems unreceptive to their apology and leaves, saying that Frog and Louche still lied to them.

Odell follows XVIII out, and tells them that they should still talk to Nuraval Silverstone, and pick up an item that Odell asked Nuraval to find for XVIII. He tells XVIII to look for Nuraval at the Circle of Divines.

Frog also follows after XVIII, using his shapechanging ability to become an inconspicuous dwarf and stealthily tail them.

Meanwhile, everyone else stays at the Heskins' home to talk to Odell's parents, as they both return home shortly thereafter. Eridred Heskin seems to recognize Malkoth despite his disguise, referencing the wanted posters and asking for an explanation. Within the *private sanctum*, the party explains that Duke Vincent Mason was working with the Inquisitors to try to ascend the Morningstar to godhood, and that the Inquisitors have acquired the Raven Queen's rites of ascension. Hearing their story, Eridred says that for their safety they shouldn't tell anyone about what they've discovered. But as a scholar of the College, she recommends that they should tell the Paragons - the seven leaders of the Circles of the College. She believes that if they explain the truth of what happened within a *zone of truth*, the Paragons would keep their secret. Odell agrees, and Eridred offers to introduce them to Auvorix, the Paragon of the Templars, in the morning. The party expresses some possible misgivings, based on the fact that a few of the Paragons are also members of the Weavers Conclave. But Odell and Eridred assure them that the Paragons keep the academic interests of the College separate from their Conclave business.

Odell also tells his mother about all of his findings in rune magic in his journeys.

Meanwhile, Jack overhears Pepper and Lo discretely talking about sex.

Afterwards, the party decides to split up and part ways for the evening to run their own separate errands.

Patches and Succubush stay the Heskins' house for the night, sharing stories of their adventures with Brottor Heskin over drinks. Later in the evening, Patches sneaks out to a nearby alleyway and shapeshifts into a merfolk.

Outside, Jack privately talks with Pepper, warning him that their enemies do not want him to have children, and that he needs to be careful, referencing his overheard conversation with Lo earlier.

Malkoth visits each of the city's adventuring guilds to check on their magic item inventories. At Pathfinders Alliance, he sees an adventure board that lists a few interesting leads: a missing lead templar belonging to the College, a pit of bodies located near Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's former keep, and the same wanted poster that the party has seen throughout town.

Meanwhile, Gragnok searches the city, eventually finding Fudge Alamo at his safehouse. He asks about magical items, and purchases a set of *dimensional shackles* from him. Afterwards, he returns to meet up with Lo, and takes her to a high end tavern to spend the night drinking and celebrating their arrival at the College. She is grateful to him for bringing her to the College as promised, and excited to start her studies.

Meanwhile, XVIII heads to the Circle of Divines, where they ask around about Nuraval Silverstone. The students there point them towards the library. Frog continues following them discretely.

Arriving at the library, XVIII finds a number of students. Amongst them, they find an individual that they recognize as Immanuel Belder - Malkoth's tutor, and the former friend of Natalie Shaw and member of the Weavers Conclave. Notably, Belder seems to look the same as he did decades ago in the paintings that XVIII has seen of him. Asking around, he finds Nuraval Silverstone.

When XVIII tells Nuraval Silverstone that Odell sent them to pick up an item, Nuraval is excited to hear that Odell has returned, but says that the item in question is not ready. He explains that he commissioned the Circle of Architects to craft the item, and that it should be nearly finished. Mistaking XVIII for a courier, Nuraval tips them, and asks them to tell Odell that he would love to talk.

Afterwards, XVIII returns back to the Face to wait for XV. Frog follows him out.

Meanwhile, back at the Heskins' house, Louche talks to Odell about the possibility of using his new psalm, the Psalm of Absolution, the cleanse XVIII of corruption. Odell pushes back against the idea, suggesting that they don't know how it will effect XVIII, or even fully understand the nature of XVIII's necromancy. Louche says he plans to try the Psalm on himself first.

Afterwards, Odell heads to the library to talk to Nuraval Silverstone. He finds him there, poring over stacks of notes that seem to be about Louche and Israphel. Nuraval is excited to see Odell, and asks him about how his rune magic studies have gone. Odell explains that he has been able to decipher Halimath Wasanthi's journal, but says that he can't say much more outside of a *private sanctum*.

Odell asks Nuraval about his studies. Nuraval explains that he is researching valkyries - the agents of Aedra of which the party learned in the ancient temple in Aerzen. He says that he speculates that Louche and Israphel may themselves be valkyries, and that he wants to prove it in order to earn his scholarship. Odell says that he can confirm Nuraval's theory, but once again says he can't provide more detail outside of a *private sanctum*. They make plans for Nuraval to meet Odell in the morning at the Heskin home. Odell explains that he's arranging a meeting of the Paragons, and that he would like Nuraval to be present.

Nuraval starts to explain what he learned about Syntithenai, but Odell interrupts to explain that he has to sword in his possession. Nuraval expresses his surprise, saying that the sword was used in an attempt to kill Asmodeus, and had never been seen again.

Afterwards, Odell heads to the Circle of Rune Carvers to speak with Mordus Moonbeard.

Meanwhile, Jack takes Malkoth and Louche to Fudge Alamo's safehouse - a location that he knows of for discrete, underground lodging. Speaking with Fudge Alamo, Malkoth asks about developing a business arrangement to distribute his fey drugs. Fudge says that he will have to upchannel the request to Potpie, but advises Malkoth against selling his drugs in the meantime on Potpie's territory.

Meanwhile, on the Face, XVIII heads back to the church bell tower, and turns invisible. Frog sends them a magical *message* and asks them to wait, saying that he wants to talk. XVIII explains that they are waiting for XV. Frog asks if he can wait with them, and XVIII agrees, leading Frog up to the bell tower.

Atop the bell tower, Frog apologizes to XVIII again for everything that happened on Nakuloko Island, and says that he understands if XVIII is going to leave. XVIII says that they'll wait to see what XV has to say.

A short while later, XV arrives, climbing up to the bell tower, seemingly having no trouble finding XVIII. After brief greetings, XV explains that he has come to return XVIII to Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel. He explains that Dr. Dippel has given permission for XV to bring the rest of the party along, but first, he needs the party to do two favors to prove their trustworthiness:

First, Dr. Dippel has requested that the party go to his former keep and retrieve XX - a former test subject of Dr. Dippel who, according to XV, betrayed him, and has taken the keep for himself. He says that Dr. Dippel wants to talk to XX to learn about why he was betrayed.

Second, Dr. Dippel has requested that the party bring him Tamrius Grimm. According to XV, Grimm is alive somewhere, but he doesn't know where. Dr. Dippel needs to speak with him about matters regarding necromancy and alchemy.

XVIII explains that they were just at Dr. Dippel's former keep, and regrets not going inside while they could. XV quickly assures him that it was the right choice, explaining that the keep is not safe for XVIII, and XV is tasked with protecting them while they are there.

Tentatively, Frog agrees to this arrangement, though he is unable to speak for the whole party. He goes to reconvene with the party, leaving XVIII and XV to themselves.

Meanwhile, Odell arrives at the Circle of Rune Carvers to meet with Mordus Moonbeard. He shows Mordus his findings on rune magic, including the new runes he has discovered, the one that he is developing, the deciphered journal of Halimath Wasanthi, and the Wasanthi treatise from the Luxturrim Obelisk. He shows him the passage in the journal which indicates that a copy of Avara Wasanthi's Tome of Rune Magic still exists somewhere in the fallen city of Volus.

Hearing all of Odell's findings, Mordus Moonbeard says that if Odell returns the Tome of Rune Magic to him, he will retire and name Odell the new Paragon of Rune Carvers.

Odell also tells Mordus Moonbeard that he means to gather the Paragons for a council. Mordus explains that the Circle of Architects are excavating the Imlaq Colossus.

On his way out of the Circle of Architects, Odell picks up the item that Nuraval Silverstone commissioned for him.