Aarcanii

**Aarcanii** is an NPC on *Another Bad Side Quest*. She is an Erevantu, described as an a dark elven woman, with a spider abdomen attached to her, with a large, white, crescent moon that goes down the back of it, that she could choose to walk with rather than on her humanoid legs.

**Ep. 3 - Down the Hatch**

The party first met Aarcanii after they had been thrown into *The* *Underdark* and had started making their way in the tunnels that moved through it. The party had come to a fork in the road where they could choose to go into the dark, or follow a light that led them into a tunnel layered in webs, and were soon met a dark elvish woman with a spider abdomen. On sight of us, she suggested they follow her to her home, and when the party declined, informed them they would probably die if they didn't and claimed she intended no harm. Though the majority of the party was wary, Killian believing she was being honest managed to convince the others of so and paved the way for introductions, learning her name and also her position as an exile, as they went to her home. When they arrived at her home she offered food, although some were less trusting than others of it, as well as rest to the party, making it clear they could stay or leave if they preferred, before saying it was time for her her to go to bed and offering more information after rest. She also showed her more cheeky side when she adorned the sleeping Tabernacle in a silk net as a blanket to keep him warm, but knowing due to his fear of bugs would be a funny reaction when he woke.

**Ep. 4 - Howls in the Dark**

The next morning, Aarcanii discussed much with the party over breakfast, including their original goal and why they were now in *The* *Underdark*. The party learned that the *Large Book* that had been taken from the desk of the strange ghast in "Down the Hatch" was not only written in Undercommon, but was also a necromantic spell book, and the *5 Notes* Alaerith had taken were adjustments to the spells to make them more like a resurrection. Aarcanii then explained the book had been her grandmothers, but had been a part of the reason for why she was cursed to be part spider. On hearing Nomzyo's name, revealed his full name as "Nomzyo Gilbrianto", that he was from *The Underdark*, specifically from *Still Geyser*, was a bit of a sociopath and was an exile who found his way out. When asked of his father, she mentioned his name was Terrik Gilbrianto, that he was formerly enslaved to a beholder, and lost his life when Nomzyo escaped. She also suggested that the books RX took could have belonged to the beholder or his father.

Aarcanii also explained the reason for her exile, starting with a bit of history on her people. During the time of the Varimathus, her people were greedy for power and used a summoning area to bring demons forth, but they made mistakes and a demon cursed them to have these half-spider forms, and the new species were called Erevantu which was Undercommon for "abomination". The demon's curse also gave them a special connection to the Æther and through using this power for good, Aarcanii's family convinced people they were good. But something dark has taken hold of her sisters and they used a situation in *Quarry Hold* to get her banished and prevent their actions being brought to light.

The conversation then turned to the party wanting to leave *The Underdark* and Aarcanii's vague knowledge of a possible exit through *Quarry Hold*, also revealing her ability to *Wild Shape* into creatures. Aarcanii agreed to help get them as close to the city as she could, even lending her *Driftglobe* and *Spider Druid's Gemstone* to them, and Killian promised her she would be free of her banishment if there was anything he could do to help. Aaracanii told him to find Masq at *Cutter's Shop*, an old friend of hers that might be able to help. With that in mind, Aarcanii led them through the tunnels and past a lake she had not crossed in a very long time, making mention of the different ways they could take to leave *The Underdark*, leading them further to the chasm. The chasm was where the boundary of her banishment was and she herself would not be able to cross it, but she had an old home near it where they could rest and try in the morning.

The next morning while everyone still rested, she showed Alaerith the full functions of the *Driftglobe.* Later on in private Quincy showed Aarcanii the books she took from Nomzyo's library, and after translating them, discovered them to be old notebooks of King Alis Venscar in *Quarry Hold*. Aarcanii suggested returning them to him, then quickly wrote a note to his wife, Queen Venterri Venscar, who had been sympathetic to Aarcanii's cause when she was banished, asking her to pass it in hopes of the Queen possibly helping her now, which Quincy agreed to. She also gifted Tabernacle a *Component Pouch* when he asked if she had any spell components that he could borrow, and let him know that she guaranteed he had something to find in *The Underdark*.

Aarcanii then helped see the party across the chasm, which included a quick cast of *Spider Climb* on Seren to help get across the chasm, which all was going well, until she heard the howlers in the distance. She ended up ushering those who were using the bridge to make their way across quickly, while telling them she would be able to get through the howlers. Nothing more was heard or seen from her as the bridge crossers soon noticed the howlers tailing them on the bridge.

**Ep. 6 - A Few Things for the Road**

Aarcanii's name was mentioned by RX accidentally in conversation with Bolton and Ob, which Seren tried to discreetly get him to not mention again.

**Ep. 7 - Quarry Hold**

Aarcanii was mentioned by the party a few times in conversation. She was more focused in conversation by the majority of the party, minus Killian, Alaerith and Tabernacle, when they met Masq when they reached *Quarry Hold* at his store, *Cutter's Shop*. After quickly gaining his trust through the *Spider Druid's Gemstone* she had given Seren, which Masq noted he made for her, they explained her situation, which seemed to surprise Masq who had not heard from her in 60 years despite sending her magical messages. After some discussion, he asked the party to watch his shop for 2 days while he is left to the chasm to find her.

**Ep. 8 - Memories**

Aarcanii was mentioned by Quincy to the group when she brought up the Kings notes she had found in Nomzyo's library, and the letter they had received from her to give to the Queen. She also brought up how Aarcanii claimed the King seemed to have a blank expression, the last time they had spoke. There was discussion into the worry of the situation, and the possibility of not being able to tell who was speaking the truth out of her, her sister or those in charge, but relented to the idea of fulfilling the promise to deliver the letter as well as fulfilling Killian's oath to help her.

When Masq returned, with help from Ob, he noted that he couldn't bring her past the chasm, but had an idea while he gave a little more information to them. He mentioned that Kind Alis Venscar, the King who had been responsible for her exile, his memory had been modified by Aarcanii's sister, Kelaa, the advisor to the King, and that his intent was to use the black diamond on Aarcanii's staff, which he made for her mother, with some adjustment to possibly disrupt the modification to him. Masq also mentioned that his memory was modified to justify Aarcanii's exile, based on an accident in the tunnels that she had been blamed for, and even though it been proven not to be her fault, he had not undone the exile, against the Queen's wishes, that time had passed since then, and that he believed the people had forgotten. (At that point there was a technical issue in the stream, but Masq revealed that in in *Still Geyser*, in *Sogo Castle*, the adopted son of the Sogo Family, Dobrio, was the illegitimate child of Aarcanii and King Alis Venscar).

**Ep. 9 - Deliberations**

Aarcanii was mentioned briefly in discussion to their plans to help her, with one of the main idea being to visit Dobrio of the Sogo Family, in *Still Geyser* who was the illegitimate son of her and King Alis Venscar of *Quarry Hold*. When the plan relented to remain where they were, Seren made mention of contacting her when he could.

She was mentioned again by Masq, when RX enquired on his magical knowledge, stating that after his education in the academy in *Still Geyser*, he learned from Aarcanii's mother and grandmother.

**Ep. 10 - The Spider Dragon**

Aarcanii was mentioned very briefly when Masq confirmed that the crime she had been blamed for was a cave in caused by the Spider Dragon, which she had been blamed for bringing or creating.

**Ep. 12 - Forewarned & Forgotten**

Aarcanii was mentioned when Killian asked Masq to let her know that they would return to *The Underdark*, despite having to leave and Masq hesitated but agreed, which Quincy thought was strange, but Masq assured them he had no reason to lie to them. And again when he noted that when he visited her they found a way past the chasm, even if she couldn't return home yet. When they finally had made it out and were seeing the sun, when the party heard a voice behind them and turned, they saw Aarcanii behind her, and realized she had been waiting for the party to emerge from the exit tunnel, which explained Masq meaning of getting her past the chasm, and his little hesitation, which Aarcanii called him having fun. Aarcanii also showed the ability to conceal her spider abdomen as she followed the party to *Kra'Kash*.

**Ep. 13 - No Rest For The Wicked**

Aarcanii admitted she had never been to the surface and, despite her drow heritage and sensitivity to sunlight, was fascinated by the world around her. Aarcanii was a quiet travel companion, and studious as she took notes from information that Seren passed to her on the way there. When they made it to the city of *Kra'Kash* and to Killian's home, Aracanii spent some time in the home picking out new clothes from Samara Rouge's wardrobe to replace the worse for wear clothing she had been wearing in *The Underdark* for so long, and remained there while the party searched for information.

**Ep. 14 - Magical Markings & A Misty Moon**

Aarcanii was left at the Rouge residence, while the party departed to look for leads and when *Kra'Kash* was set alight. Alaerith and Yashani dashed to Killian's home to retrieve her, having her *Wild Shape* into a regular spider and climbed onto Alaerith's for speed and ease, before she joined the the party boarded *The Misty Moon* and left.

**Ep. 15 - Desmars & Drake Hunting**

Aarcanii was seen in her *Wild Shaped* spider form after she had gotten off Alaerith's shoulder and made a web for herself in the upper corner of the room. She was later noticed by Seren in the Mess when he noticed a spider with a familiar white crescent moon on them.

**Ep. 16 - Tales from a Dead Man**

When Quincy's crewmates left the Mess, Aarcanii revealed herself to the party, and after being informed what a boat was, as she had no idea, graciously ate while Seren and Tabernacle both explained as much of what a boat was as they could. She pointed out that she had nowhere to go and no plans and heard their topic of destinations to go to. She was also present for Tabernacle's tale of his past, and his realization he wasn't "quite alive", and though slightly confused and shocked, told them that he reminded her of a story from *The Underdark,* of a man who died protecting the people there from something called the looming shadow, and was revived and came to be known as the "champion of the undead". After confirming that the black sand that came from his magic was the same that was representative of Vaust, noted that there was a statue of the champion in *Still Geyser*.

**Ep. 17 - Krapjess**

After spending a week on the ship as the group travelled away from *Kra'Kash*, Aarcanii befriended the crew and the girls from *The Wandered Eye*, particularly Tink. During that week she also taught Tabernacle about magic, gifted him a 1 1/2 foot tall wooden totem shaped like a mushroom, with a beetle on top and in return was likewise gifted a scroll of *Comprehend Languages* that Tabernacle had made with assistance from his spirit crewmate. Aarcanii soon departed from the party when they disembarked from *The* *Misty Moon* in *Krapjess* and shared a heartfelt good-bye the day before reaching the *Krapjess* docks. When offered the Driftglobe back that she had given in *The Underdark*, she declined as she had no intention to return back to *The Underdark* for awhile and would not be in need of it. She also made mention of her excitement for having befriended *The Wandered Eye* girls as she had never had friends before.

**Ep. 18 - The Drunken Lantern**

Aarcanii was mentioned in the briefest conversation by the group in their conversation with Jelly Bean, when Tabernacle told him on *The Misty Moon* would have a friend on the ship and in *Vayilcor* in her and noted she was also strange individual who could help him and Jelly Bean looked forward to having a friend.

**Ep. 21 - Departure**

Aarcanii was referenced, though not by name, when the group were parting with Jelly Bean and Tabernacle reminded him there was a "very scary scary lady" on *The Misty Moon* and asked him to say hi to her for them, which he agreed to do.

**Ep. 36 - The Icy Heart & Hasted Horses**

Aarcanii was briefly referenced later when Flamecannon noted that Quincy's friends had arrived in *Vayilcor*.

**Ep. 53 - So. What Now?**

Aarcanii was mentioned briefly when the party discussed getting friends as allies and Kaz revealed she was now in Vayilcor and taken up residency at the *Clockwork Castle.*