Session 36

* Absolute Alchemy
* The Clocktower Inn
* The Tower HQ of the Heirs of Timmoran

Greyhaven University

* Library
* Detention Centre

* Master Gredon Windsley (Head Librarian at Greyhaven University, terse, with no time for fools)
* Grand Archmage Rufus Ostramus (Head of Greyhaven University)
* Archmage Isabet Brideswell (Former Head of Department at Greyhaven University, in actuality, a minion of Waiquir. Undead)

**Previously...**

## And Now...

### Solly’s Story

*(overlapping in part with last session)*

   Solly’s alcoholic vision finishes on a vision of 3 assassins - The Vulture, the Scorpion and the Crocodile - entering Greyhaven and stalking and killing the other party members. She recognises them (by reputation) as three famous former Pirates from Ishem. Consulting with Giana and Agatha (one of Giana's new ‘mute’ followers), she is advised against warning the rest of the party of the assassins until it is absolutely necessary, as it may warn the assassins.

Solly follows them from Absolute Alchemy to the docks and observes The Vulture spying on them from afar. She also manages to spot two Beggars who've been paid to follow the group, and pays them off to leave and go about their business. Attempting to slow The Vulture down, she curses his vision momentarily and continues to follow the party, keeping an eye out for the Vulture's partners.

As the party enters the University, she spots the other assassins waiting outside the gates in a park. In response, she discretely alerts university security. Several mages approach the trio who realize they've been spotted and attempt to break off and flee. The Vulture and Scorpion are able to get away, but The Crocodile is detained and brought into the University Grounds.

### Meetings and Greetings

   Goldie decides to stay at the Heirs' tower so they can chase down some leads and research, but the other members would rather find somewhere else rather than run the risk of having to give up their bed for a full member in the middle of the night. Stepping back outside, they run into Solly and introductions are made. Initially, Gar is skeptical/suspicious of Solly, due to her connections to various prophecies.

The three head to the nearby ‘Clocktower Inn’, a vertical inn built into a tall clocktower and filled with gears and pulleys and working elevators. The Inn speciality food is ‘flatbread’ (basically a Nahn). Meanwhile, Goldie does research at the HQ, managing to find a four promising leads to the locations of Runebound Shards. One in particular - A rune of Fate - is very close by.

Over the course of the rest of the day, it becomes increasingly clear that any and all beggars in the city are now looking for the party. A reward has been offered for locating them.

In the morning, Gar, Dandy and Solly decide to head to the Uni and reunite with Goldie along the way.

### Back at the Uni

Back at the university, they talk to the Head of Security who seem a little hesitant to allow access to the prisoner (Croc), but word comes down from on high and it is decided to allow two of them in to see the prisoner. Dandy and Solly are escorted through the corridors by an owl-guardian (Who is offered some pocket bacon by Dandy, but decides to enjoy some of the Nahn instead) and one of the security team. They use teleporting portals to make it to a floating platform and are lead to the cells. There, they find The Crocodile’s cell empty. Security is dumbfounded as escape is ‘impossible’.

Solly uses her Heroic ability to copy her animal companion's ability (scent). She spots that Croc left through a wall and that another scent was in the room; the ‘Ghost Gekko’ Who spied on them during their last visit. The party theorises that the Gekko is either one of the assassins or on their team. The campus goes into lockdown, restricting anyone from leaving and the rest of the party is given permission to enter the main grounds. They all reunite and decide to go to the Library while the University is busy. They have stuff they want to look up and figure it must be a very safe location to wait out the lockdown.

At the library, they meet the head Librarian - 'Master Greden Windsley' a terse Dwarf. He goes over the rules of the Library and helps guide their searches before leaving them, however, he seems to become less gruff when he overhears some of their exploits. He seems especially interested in hearing any stories about dragons. While there, they:

* Look up the prophecy - Finding 2 relevant books ‘The 4th Darkness: Waiqars return’ and an ancient book talking about the Elven War of Shadows, This second book discusses a crown looking much like the one drawn in the Prophet's chamber.
* From those books, they learn about a ‘mythical’ Dream cult called ‘The Sandcasters of Ormlens’ who guard the Circlet of Canneth in Archaut (the Capitol). The Artifact only works for ‘pure’ elves and turns them into the ultimate leader. It also makes them immune to corruption.
* They also learn some more specifics of the prophecy. That Kellios will return, but be killed by ‘one of his own’ turned traitor. Waiqar wants to find and corrupt the ‘keys’ to prevent Kellos’ return, but also to free himself. One has been found by his forces already ‘Encased in an ornate egg, and stolen from under the watchful eyes of a Baron’.
* The last and most immediate sign Waiqar has returned will be him ‘Shattering the Barons at their Conclave’ (the next Conclave is 5 weeks time).
* Solly also finds some useful information on Tailoring materials and patterns.

After hours in the Library, they are met by 'Grand Archmagus Ruffus Ostramus', the Head of the University. After performing a series of perfunctory tests on the party, he declares they have not only passed their entrance requirements, but all of them have been made ‘Masters’ of the university (i.e full members, not apprentices). They proceed to share with him what they smelt and that a Gekko is linked into the missing assassin. Ruffus concludes the Gekko is a familiar and determines that the assassin could only have escaped with help of an ally inside the uni.

Accompanied by magical security, Ruffus and the party confront 'Archmage Isabet Brideswell'. Gar asks Fluffy if she is a threat and the sword replies simply that ‘She has no blood’. Rather then denying the allegation, she admits her complicity and, sneering, tells them that their victory is hollow and that her master will still win in the end.

As soon as she finishes this short monologue, Gar leaps forward to strike her with Fluffy.

### Gar’s soliloquy

 *“As Gar swings the Cursed blade, hoping to end their assassin trouble right there and then, frenetic thoughts race screaming through his brain meats.'."What the Hells am i DOING?? Attacking an Arch-Mage who's already arrested??? FUCK! I believe in the Fucking Prophesy!?!"*