Session0037

Episode 0037 - A Pile of Ashes
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**Setting:**

The College of Mimrinoth - May 21st-22nd, 211 AW
**Synopsis:**

* In the wake of the battle with Elrah Saevel, the party explains the situation to the Paragons of the College. After corroborating their story in a *zone of truth*, the party is released to go about their business, as the Paragons vow to fully investigate what happened and put security measures in place to prevent future occurrences.
* The party meets with Ursula Wolff and other members of the Weavers Conclave to review the ledger of Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's acquisition of test subjects, and discuss the reasons for his ousting from the Conclave.
* Later, as the party tends to various business throughout town, Jack meets with Binti Redroot and Raakasi Sunmane of the Free Arcanists Lodge, who reveal that they stole their Lorekeeper Orb from Thalien Omadithas of the Circle of Divines, and that they have reason to believe she is associated with the Inquisitors and the Morningstar.
* Elsewhere, Lane Coronato vows to fulfill his promise to help Malkoth control his infernal magic, and they make arrangements to rendezvous outside of town the following night so that Lane can lead Malkoth through an infernal ritual.
* Reconvening in the evening, Jack tells the rest of the party about his intel regarding Thalien Omadithas. Gragnok reveals that he already searched for her in her office based on his own suspicions, but that she was not present.
* Nuraval Silverstone contacts Thalien Omadithas via *sending* and tells her that Odell wishes to speak, and she offers to contact him via a *dream* spell overnight.
* That night, Odell meets with Thalien Omadithas in his dreams, and they discuss the Lorekeeper Orb and her true opinions regarding the Morningstar's ascension.
* In the morning, the party reconvenes to discuss their next plans and the intel they gathered about Thalien Omadithas.
* Immanuel Belder speaks with Malkoth about his past, and offers to perform a transmutation ritual to help Malkoth suppress and channel his infernal magic.
* Malkoth, recognizing that he must choose between the contradicting methods to control his infernal magic offered to him by Immanuel Belder and Lane Coronato, chooses to undergo Lane's ritual.
* Later that evening, the party meets with Lane Coronato in the foothills outside of Mimrinoth, where he prepares the ritual for Malkoth to confront his infernal magic.
* As the ritual begins, Malkoth's infernal magic manifests into physical avatar forms, and the party begins battling them.

## May 21st

In the office of Elrah Saevel, the party regroups and awaits the arrival of help, having sent for the Paragons along with Grenfi Nackle, Immanuel Belder, and Eridred Heskin. Concerned for their possible legal ramifications, Jack, Frog, and Gragnok decide to leave. Gragnok remains nearby to listen in on what happens.

Shortly after, Grenfi Nackle, Eridred Heskin, and Immanuel Belder arrive, along with a few of the Paragons: Ursula Wolff, Auvorix, and Jonas Lionwood, along with a lead templar defense golem. Seeing the aftermath of the conflict with Elrah Saevel, including the destroyed lead templar and the corpses of Midas and Stefaan, Jonas orders the lead templar to generate an *antimagic field* until they can discern what has happened.

The Paragons ask for an explanation of what happened. At their request, Grenfi Nackle generates a *zone of truth* outside of the *antimagic field* for the party to explain themselves. Malkoth steps into the zone and recounts what happened with Elrah Saevel from his perspective, explaining that Elrah invited him into his *magnificent mansion* under the false pretense of giving him his inheritance from Natalie Shaw, then imprisoned him in a *demiplane*. He omits the details of the Imlaq Amulet and the presence of Lane Coronato.

Next, within the *zone of truth*, Odell recounts what transpired from the party's perspective, explaining that they awoke to find Malkoth missing, and went to look for him with Elrah Saevel, which led to the ensuing conflict. Notably, Odell skips some pertinent details that could exonerate the party - such as the fact that Elrah attacked them first - seemingly intentionally framing the party's actions in a negative light. Louche steps into the *zone of truth* and fills in these details, making it clear that Elrah instigated the violence, and was responsible for the deaths of Midas and Stefaan, whom the party urged to flee.

After hearing the party's testimony, the Paragons send for a Scholar of the Circle of Divines, who provides a second *zone of truth* to corroborate Grenfi Nackle's own investigation.

Having heard the party's testimony, Auvorix expresses his regret that such a thing could happen at the College of Mimrinoth, and that Elrah Saevel could have been corrupt without them knowing. Malkoth also expresses concerns about the lead templar which Elrah was able to use for his own nefarious purposes without the College having a mechanism to override it. Jonas Lionwood agrees with this shortcoming of the templars, and says the Circle of Architects will work to develop some type of remote deactivation or control function. Jonas and Auvorix also offer a generous reward for the recovery of the lead templar, jointly funded by the Circles of Architects and Templars. Malkoth also gives Elrah's book of teleportation sigils to Ursula Wolff, to return it to College property.

After some discussion between the Paragons and Grenfi Nackle as a representative of the Weavers Conclave, they decide that the matter should be handled internally by the College of Mimrinoth, rather than being reported to the Alviren Empire - in part to avoid possible legal ramifications from the party's other criminal charges.

XVIII asks Ursula Wolff about Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's ledger, which they had arranged to meet today to look over. Ursula says that she has retrieved the ledger, and that she is prepared to review it with XVIII and XV in the Paragons' council chamber when they are ready, along with a few other members of the Weavers Conclave. With XVIII's permission, Jack, Pepper, Frog, and Odell agree to accompany them for this meeting.

Meanwhile, Immanuel Belder speaks briefly with Malkoth and Louche. He thanks Louche for his aid in rescuing Malkoth, insinuating that he has earned some of his trust. Malkoth asks Belder about his younger-looking appearance, and Belder explains that it a simple transmutation effect caused by his transmuter's stone. He asks about Malkoth's wellbeing and says that he has matters that he wishes to discuss, but recognizing that Malkoth is still not entirely recovered from his ordeal, he says that it can wait until after Malkoth gets some rest. They make arrangement to meet at tomorrow's Zenith to talk further. Malkoth also offers Belder some of his *longevity dust*, explaining that it will prolong his life. Belder declines it, stating that he's lived a full life and has no need of it.

The party disperses for the remainder of the day's events, agreeing to meet back up the following morning at the Zenith.

XVIII, XV, Jack, Pepper, Odell, and Frog go to the Paragons' council chambers to review the ledger of Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel. There, they are met by Ursula Wolff, Auvorix, Grenfi Nackle, and another member of the Weavers Conclave, Alvoril Shukura. Ursula produces a magically-created copy of Dr. Dippel's Acquisition Ledger, which the party reviews. Reviewing the ledger, the party makes some notable conclusions. They note that not all of Dippel's test subjects were Pale Death victims - some were afflicted with other terminal illnesses, while some others had suffered other types of injury or misfortune that Dr. Dippel deemed as causes of "inevitable death." They note that XX was acquired by Dippel at a much older age than any of the other test subjects, having been sentenced to death for the murder of another child. They also discover that the map includes marked locations of where all test subjects are acquired, and they find that XVIII was acquired from an orchard in a remote area of the Emerald Highlands: Hackett Family Orchard.

As the party reviews the ledger, Ursula Wolff notes that according to XX (who referred to himself as Valomir Quinn)'s version of events, the experimentation done to the test subjects by Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel suppressed the memories of the test subjects and made them more compliant. The party asks about how the Weavers Conclave acquired all of this information, and Ursula explains that Valomir brought the ledger to Immanuel Belder and Natalie Shaw after he escaped from Dippel's keep. The Conclave has not had any other survivors from Dippel's experiments to corroborate Valomir's version of events, but they did check to veracity of his story in a *zone of truth*. They explain that they would like to hear more about XVIII and XV's version of events and perception of Dr. Dippel.

XV, responding to the Weavers Conclave's questions, characterizes Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel as kind and gentle, and calls XX a traitor. However, when pressed for details, XV stops short, saying that he is forbidden from speaking of Dr. Dippel's business, for fear that he could be betrayed again.

With the Weavers Conclave's permission, the party makes copies of the ledger for their own keeping.

Alvoril Shukura asks what XVIII intends to do with this information. XVIII says that they want to return to Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel, and implies that they also want to bring XX. Auvorix says that the Weavers Conclave would love to speak with Dr. Dippel, or to hear the party's insights on him if they do meet him. XVIII says that he believes the Conclave made a mistake in ousting Dippel.

Meanwhile, Gragnok meets with Lo, and takes her to the College of Mimrinoth to enroll as a student, as was their promised arrangement. Along the way, they discuss whether the College is really what Lo wants to do, and she explains that she wants to join the Circle of Architects, and find a way to protect herself and the people she cares for.

Along the way to the College, Gragnok receives a few messages written on *paper birds*. When Lo asks, he doesn't reveal who the messages were from, or what they entail.

After getting Lo's enrollment started, Gragnok bids her farewell, and also starts a bank account for her so that she can pay for her future studies.

Meanwhile, Malkoth visits the Circle of Architects, where he commissions a magic item to help him detect and prevent poison.

Later, Louche meets Malkoth and Jack at the Pathfinders Alliance, and casts a *catnap* spell on them so that they can recover from their ordeal with Elrah Saevel. While they are asleep, Lane Coronato appears within the room from the ethereal plane. He and Louche discuss how Lane ended up in Elrah's prison demiplane, and what happened between Lane and Israphel. Louche asks Lane why he wants to go to the Nine Hells. Lane evades the questions somewhat, instead asking why Louche left the Hells. Louche explains that he wanted freedom from the authority structure of the Hells, and admits that he burnt all of his bridges when he left, and expects that he will not be welcomed back without punishment. Hearing this, Lane insinuates that perhaps he doesn't need Louche any more, and that Louche might in fact be a liability for him in his plan to get to the Hells. He suggests that given Malkoth's talents for conjuration magic, Louche is not longer necessary to his plan.

Malkoth and Jack awaken, and Lane Coronato explains to Malkoth that he still wants to get to Sigil, and ultimately to the Hells. He says that he would like Malkoth to help in this endeavor, but agrees that he will first help Malkoth learn how to control his infernal magic, as promised. Malkoth agrees to this arrangement, and says that perhaps they could later strike another deal to reach Sigil together.

Lane Coronato explains that he knows a ritual that will allow Malkoth to confront his infernal magic in physical form, and in doing so gain the ability to master it. He explains that he underwent a similar process himself at a young age, and says that the ritual will be like an extreme version of the times that Malkoth has previously lost control of his infernal magic. Noting that both he and Malkoth could still use more time to recover, Lane asks him to meet outside the city gates tomorrow night, where they will perform the ritual outside town.

Afterwards, Jack heads to the mining docks to meet with Binti Redroot. Arriving, he finds that Binti is accompanied by Raakasi Sunmane and Harper Wood. Binti and Raakasi speak with Jack, while Harper is seemingly conducting some sort of smuggling business with some miners.

Binti Redroot and Raakasi Sunmane ask Jack about his findings at the Luxturrim Obelisk, and if he was able to discover what the Inquisitors were after. Jack explains what the party has learned about the Morningstar, and the Inquisitors' acquisition of the Raven Queen's rites of ascension. In response, Binti explains that the Lorekeeper Orb which Jack delivered to the Free Arcanists Lodge in Paxeter was originally stolen from the office of Thalien Omadithas, after she tailed a group of Inquisitors to Mimrinoth, and found some apparent connections between Thalien, the Inquisitors, and the Luxturrim Obelisk. She says that she was aided in stealing the orb by a student of the College, though she doesn't offer the student's name.

Based on all of the information that they've acquired, Binti Redroot suggests that Thalien Omadithas may in fact be the Morningstar. Raakasi Sunmane expresses some reservations about this conclusion, but ultimately agrees that the evidence is incriminating. They discuss their next steps and how to proceed. Jack says that, given recent events at the College, they could try to check in on Thalien and do some investigation into their suspicions.

Jack asks for some form of payment to help cover the party's expenses undertaking Free Arcanists Lodge business. Raakasi Sunmane agrees, they give Jack one of the crates that Harper Wood has been working to smuggle, which Jack discovers is filled with Material Chaos - seemingly implying that the Free Arcanists Lodge is smuggling Material Chaos from out of the mines.

Meanwhile, Malkoth goes to the Circle of Arcanists to explore their catalogue of wizard spells and begin scribing some spells. Looking through the spells, he discovers that for the most part they are not as high-leveled as he was expecting. After spending some time looking through and scribing spells, he goes to look for Ursula Wolff to ask her about higher-level spells.

Meanwhile, Frog spends some time at the College library researching information about the Abyss.

Odell heads to the Circle of Rune Carvers along with Nuraval Silverstone, and begins directing other students of the Circle on developing a rune magic powered engine for the Imlaq Colossus. XVIII and XV accompany Odell.

After his conversation with Lane Coronato, Louche purchases some fiction novels and takes them to the Circle of Rune Carvers. He gives one to XV and one to XVIII, explaining that they are gifts. He also gives them an extra book, which he says is a gift for XX.

Meanwhile, Malkoth meets with Ursula Wolff at the Circle of Arcanists. He agrees to accompany her for dinner at a tavern in the mining district called the Iron Stamp. There, they discuss the College's catalogue of spells, and Malkoth expresses his surprise at the low spell levels available, asking if there are higher level spells available to scholars. Ursula seems surprised to learn that Malkoth has already achieved such a high level of spellcasting in his limited time of practicing magic. When Malkoth shows her some of the spells that he has discovered and written, Ursula in impressed, and says that his current level of spellcasting would warrant being made a Scholar of the Circle of Arcanists. Malkoth explains that Immanuel Belder was his mentor in magic, and she seems surprised to hear that he is living in the small farming town of Hillenbrook, as she had no idea where he was living. She explains that he left the Weavers Conclave because the organization had become too political, in his view, and that no one really knew what had happened to him since.

Gragnok, based on the correspondence that he received on the *paper birds*, goes to the Circle of Divines and sneaks his way in to the office of Thalien Omadithas. He finds the office dark and empty, and Thalien nowhere to be found. Using a *wand of secrets*, he finds a secret compartment within her desk, but when he picks the locks and opens it, he discovers that it's empty. He places a drop of his own blood in the secret compartment before closing it. Before leaving the office, he notes a holy symbol of Ioun sitting on the desk, which he takes.

Back in the main area of the Circle of Divines, Gragnok asks some students about Thalien Omadithas' whereabouts. He learns that she comes and goes from the College often, due to having other political positions elsewhere, and that no one is sure when she'll return. Next, he goes to the Circle of Rune Carvers to find Odell, and tells him that he needs to speak privately. The two step outside, and Gragnok asks him about Thalien, saying that he has reason to believe the party needs to find her. Odell doesn't know much more about her than the other students that Gragnok spoke with, but corroborates what they said about her coming and going often. When he asks why Gragnok is looking for her, Gragnok won't say specifically.

After this conversation, Gragnok sets up a stakeout outside the Circle of Divines to watch for Thalien Omadithas to potentially return, and also pays a few other people to scout for her on his behalf.

Shortly thereafter, Jack come to the Circle of Rune Carvers and meets with Odell, Nuraval Silverstone, XVIII, and XV. Jack tells them about his meeting with the Free Arcanists Lodge, and suggests that the party should try to speak with Thalien Omadithas. Odell explains that Gragnok is looking for her as well. Nuraval fills in the details about Thalien, explaining that as a high councilor of Shaeserin and a member of the Weavers Conclave, she comes and goes from the College often. He also confesses that it was him who helped Binti Redroot steal the Lorekeeper Orb. He explains that she said it would be returned, and he simply thought that such knowledge should not be kept locked away.

After some discussion about how to proceed, Nuraval Silverstone sends Thalien Omadithas a magical *sending* message, saying that Odell would like to speak with her, and asking when she will be back at the College. She replies, and says that it will be a couple of weeks before she returns. He sends to her again and says that it is a somewhat urgent matter, and asks how long a *paper bird* would take to get to her. She responds that she is in Shaeserin. Afterwards, Odell receives a *sending* from her, and she says that she will appear to him in his dreams to discuss his business.

Later in the evening, Odell and XVIII talk. XVIII notices that Odell seems heavily stressed and affected by the events of the day. Odell asks what XVIII expects to find at the keep of Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel, and XVIII says they are unsure, other than in the literal sense he expects to find XX. Odell expresses his disappointment in the death of Elrah Saevel, and the shortsighted impulsiveness of the rest of the party. He says that he hopes XVIII doesn't do anything rash at the keep, and promises to support them.

Meanwhile, Patches spends the day at the Heskins' house. In the evening, he shapeshifts into an ettercap. Afterwards, he uses one of *Patches' Matches* and becomes temporarily absorbed into the flame of a candle.

Malkoth stays up for the whole night scribing spells at the Circle of Arcaninsts, using his *wakeup pin*.

Gragnok stays up for the whole night keeping watch at the Circle of Divines, but sees no sign of Thalien Omadithas.

During the night, Odell has a dream of meeting Thalien Omadithas in her office. Odell tells her that he was the one that stole the Lorekeeper Orb from her office, and says that the party gave it to the Free Arcanists Lodge. When she asks why, he says he did so to protect Nuraval Silverstone, who he suspected what going to do it himself. She asks Odell if he can get the orb back, saying that it contains dangerous information that should not fall into the wrong hands, and he says that he will try. He claims that he doesn't know what the Lodge wanted with the Orb specifically, but speculates it had something to do with the Morningstar. She speculates that their goals could actually be aligned.

Odell asks if Thalien Omadithas really wants to stop the Morningstar's ascension. She repeats what she said at the council, that she does not view the ascension as a major threat to the Material Plane. Odell asks about the Raven Queen's ascension. Thalien says that the event is shrouded in mystery, and that even the Raven Queen's former name was stricken from history, not by mundane means, but magically. Odell asks if she knows anything more about the Morningstar. She claims not to, but Odell gets the sense that she is either lying, or at best withholding information.

Finally, Odell tells her about the rune magic obelisk that the party found in the Golden Wastes, and says that he wants to change the world for the better. He implies that he knows that Thalien Omadithas is the Morningstar, and insinuates that he does not oppose her ascension. She seems not to deny these accusations, and says that there could be a place for Rune Magic in the world she intends to build - a sentiment that the Morningstar shared with Odell at the Luxturrim Obelisk. The dream then ends.

## May 22nd

Upon awakening in the morning, Odell recalls his dream perfectly, and recognizes that it was a *dream* spell. He notes that the *dream* spell is not typically accessible via divine magic.

The party convenes at the Zenith for Louche to play a psalm. Immanuel Belder joins them as well.

The party discusses their plans moving forward. Jack emphasizes that it is important for the party to start being more transparent with each other about their plans, and asks to discuss what their plan is at Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's keep, especially if the situation becomes violent. XVIII says that XX was never violent before, and they don't expect that he will be now. The party agrees to defer to XVIII's judgment on how to handle the situation when they get there.

Malkoth tells the group about Lane Coronato's planned ritual for the evening, and asks for the party's assistance. Hearing about this ritual, Immanuel Belder asks to speak with him more privately. Louche insists on joining for the conversation as well, to which Immanuel agrees. As they are speaking, Louche activates his truesight goggles and spots that Lane Coronato is nearby, watching from the ethereal plane.

Malkoth asks Immanuel Belder about the situation in Hillenbrook pertaining to the mayor Deena Sarlin and her son. Belder somewhat cryptically says that Malkoth will no longer need to worry about that situation. Louche asks if he has made some sort of deal, but he evades the question, simply stating that he plans to take care of the situation.

Immanuel Belder apologizes to Malkoth for concealing the truth of his ancestry, explaining that he had hoped to protect him from the complications of his parentage. He tells Malkoth that he has developed a transmutation ritual that will allow Malkoth to channel his infernal magic through arcane spellcasting, and in doing so prevent any further outbursts of his uncontrollable infernal magic. Malkoth notes that this ritual would accomplish essentially the opposite of what Lane Coronato has promised, and that he can only do one or the other. He thanks Belder, but says that he is going to proceed with Lane's plan. Belder urges him to be careful, and to come to him if he changes his mind.

Back with the party, Louche asks Immanuel Belder about his trip to Sigil with Natalie Shaw, Elrah Saevel, and Ruby Rainsong. Belder explains that they went to Sigil in search of a magical device called a Conjuration Anchor, but they never found it or even made much progress, because an argument broke out amongst them about who would keep it, in which Elrah accused the rest of the group of taking advantage of him. After the events that then took place between Natalie and Louche, their relationship as a group quickly disintegrated, and they returned back to the Material Plane and no longer adventured together. Louche asks why Natalie took his amulet, and Belder says that it was simply an impulsive decision. Notably, as Louche watches Lane Coronato in the ethereal plane, he seems to be hearing all of this information for the first time.

Louche asks Immanuel Belder about Natalie Shaw and Lane Coronato's relationship. Belder says that Natalie could never accept that Lane was a devil, and always wanted him to be a normal child. After Lane accidentally killed another child with his uncontrolled infernal magic at age 11, he ran away from home and never returned. XVIII notes that this was the same time at which XX allegedly killed a child and was sentenced to death, according to Dr. Dippel's Acquisition Ledger. Louche asks if this was the case, and Belder corroborates the timeline, but says he was unaware of the details of the event. Belder further explains that Lane Coronato later came to him asking about how to get to Sigil, but he refused to tell him, out of an effort to protect him.

Malkoth and Immanuel Belder bid each other farewell, and Belder departs.

Lane Coronato appears from the ethereal plane and praises Malkoth's choice, and they agree to meet outside the city gates around sundown.

Inside the *private sanctum* within the Heskins' house, Odell tells the rest of the party about his dream of Thalien Omadithas, and about telling her what happened to the Lorekeeper Orb. Jack says that he can talk to the Free Arcanists Lodge about getting the Lorekeeper Orb back.

The party discusses breaking into Thalien Omadithas' office, and Gragnok says that he already did so, and only found a holy symbol of Ioun. They ask why Gragnok searched the office on his own, and he cryptically says that he had his own suspicions.

After some discussion and speculations about what Thalien Omadithas knows, whether she's in league with Avourel Orion, etc., the party asks Patches - who is still currently absorbed into a candle flame - if he can do some divination magic to try to find out some concrete answers. He says that once he is no longer in the candle, he will do so. About an hour later, he emerges from the candle, and shapeshifts into a bullywug.

Using a *divination* spell, Patches asks if returning the Lorekeeper Orb to Thalien Omadithas would advance the goals of the Inquisitors. The answer is no, because the Inquisitors have already gotten everything that they needed from the orb.

Next, using a *commune* spell, Patches asks if Thalien Omadithas is working with the Inquisitors, and the answer is yes. Next, they ask if she is in contact with Avourel Orion, and the answer is also yes. Switching topics for the last question of the spell, he asks if Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel would be exonerated if the Weavers Conclave knew the full truth of his experiments, and the answer is no.

The party spends the remainder of the day on various errands around town, awaiting sundown to rendezvous with Lane Coronato.

Jack talks to Pepper about eventually joining the College. He expresses an interest in joining the Circle of Naturalists. Jack expresses some misgivings based on the corruption that they've already found at the College, but Pepper is more optimistic. They also talk about Lo, and Pepper expresses his affection for her. Jack promises to bring him back to see her again.

Later, Jack tours the Circle of Naturalists and learns some information about its history and leadership.

Meanwhile, Frog does some research at the library about Lo'ihi Island and the Erdehalt Peaks, the locations of the two remaining druid circles from the Fable of the Thousand Year Door.

Odell continues his work with the Circle of Rune Carvers. During his day's work, he ponders if rune magic could be used to take power from other gods and channel it to the Morningstar.

Malkoth spends the day scribing spells at the Circle of Arcanists.

Around sundown, the party reconvenes outside the city gates to meet with Lane Coronato. He leads them a short hike away from the city into the foothills of the Silverslate Mountains, where he says he has found an appropriate location for their ritual, where the ley lines are believed to cross. Along the way, Malkoth asks him how he came up with this ritual. Lane says that he learned it from his readings as a child on infernal magic, and went through the ritual himself as a child in Avallon. Malkoth asks him about his killing of the child in Avallon as a boy, and he says that it was unrelated to this ritual.

Arriving at the location, Lane Coronato begins setting up a circle of infernal glyphs on a hilltop surrounded by stones that mark the location as a ley line crossing. Once the circle is complete, Malkoth starts a fire atop the hill at Lane's instruction. Lane explains that the ritual will summon physical manifestations of his infernal magic, which he will need to battle and subdue, eventually consuming them. Once the party is prepared, Lane carves infernal glyphs into Malkoth's wrists using a silver dagger, and as his blood drips into the fire at the center of the ritual circle, infernal manifestations appear from the fire, and the party begins battling them.