Conundrum's Thus Far (Episode Summaries)

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## EP. 1 - When One Door Closes

**We begin** in the town of Salt Marsh, where the Bard Demi Waters is giving a performance at the Snapping Line Tavern. Fighter Peach, Demi’s biggest fan, cheers from the crowd, Warlock Zahl watches quietly from a corner, and Druid Mortin Grumblebunk panics at the prospect of having to purchase a room. Seeing Mortin, a Salt Marsh council member by the name of Anders Solomor attempts to hire the druid for a mere two silver pieces to investigate an old “haunted” mansion a few hours out of town. After Solomor is scolded by Demi, Zahl, and Peach for attempting to take advantage of Mortin, the group agrees to investigate the mansion together. Mortin informs the party that he is the Will of the Fey Court.

 The party’s first foray into the mansion involves a brief exploration. Near-fatal encounters with giant weasels and rot grubs end with Zahl Eldritch blasting himself into unconsciousness. The party returns to Salt Marsh to recuperate. At the Snapping Line, Demi makes coin performing and Peach begins attempting to write poetry. The following day, tensions flare between Demi and Zahl, and Zahl reveals to the party that he is a Yuan-Ti. Mortin discovers that an ancient bridge in Salt Marsh makes him feel nauseous. The party encounters Captain Xendros, the Quartermaster of Iuz, for the first time. Upon discovering that Xendros is familiar with Captain Lyla, Demi’s adoptive maternal figure, the party is able to procure a healing potion without paying the 50 gold fee to view her wares. Supplies replenished, the party returns to the “haunted” mansion.

 Exploring the uppermost floor of the mansion, the party discovers a bound, gagged, and stripped man. Once freed, the man tries unsuccessfully to dissuade them from investigating ghosts before escaping the mansion. After being attacked by spider swarms, falling through rotted floorboards, and encountering spore-laden clothing, the party descends into the lower floor of the mansion. A trap door is discovered. When opened, an arrow thuds into the wood, narrowly missing the party.

## EP. 2 - Dangur Zone

**Zahl will never live the wall-licking down.**

We return to the party’s exploration of the “haunted” mansion. The party engages with the combatants on the other side of the trap door, quickly dispatching the ruffians within. It becomes clear that the mansion is not haunted, but rather functions as a hideout for smugglers.

Discovering cavernous tunnels hidden behind a bookshelf in the basement barracks serving as the smuggler’s base, the party briefly investigates. However, after Zahl falls unconscious via the corrosive flavor of green slime, the party opts to refrain from fully exploring the cave system tunnels. Returning instead to the basement barracks of the mansion, the party discovers a shuttered lantern and the smuggler’s code for a signaling system. They also learn that the smugglers are connected in some way to Iuz, though the specifics of that connection remain unclear.

Hearing shuffling behind a door labeled “Dangur,” the party worries that the smugglers may be keeping people trapped. Upon opening the door, they instead discover several skeletal combatants and a skeletal alchemist. Combat ensues, during which Demi is rendered unconscious for the first time. The party handles the skeletons and discovers a portal in the Dangur room leading to an alchemist’s laboratory. Retrieving Ye Secret of Ye Philosopher’s Stone and multiple golden objects, the party proceeds to visit Solomor’s mansion.

Once there, the party is greeted by Solomor’s butler, Skerrin Wavechaser. He attempts to glean what the party has discovered at the mansion, but is rebuffed. The party meets with Solomor and Salt Marsh council member Manistrad Copperlocks, revealing the presence of smugglers and undead in the mansion. Manistrad immediately doubles the party’s pay, arranges for the party to meet the Salt Marsh council the following day, and leaves to arrange for Salt Marsh guard to fully investigate the cave system below the mansion.

Solomor informs the party that, while the mansion went dark about 30 years prior, the previous owner was an alchemist and suggests that council member Ada Owland might know more about the situation. In the meantime, he agrees to cover the party’s board at the Snapping Line Tavern for as long as the party remains in Salt Marsh.

That night, Zahl communicates with a veiled figure he calls “Mother” for the first time. In answer to Zahl’s questions, Mother tells him that the party is to be trusted, that he is on the right path, and that he will be rewarded. In the morning, Mortin awakens with the sense that the Feywild has attempted to reach out to him. The party reaches Level 2.

The party to the Quartermaster of Iuz with Mortin in the form of an elk. After the party sells the golden items retrieved from the mansion, Captain Xendros offers to purchase Mortin. While the rest of the party rebuffs the offer, Zahl asks Captain Xendros out on a date to the Empty Net Tavern.

The party then proceeds to the council meeting. There, they are introduced to Ada Owland and Gellan Primewater alongside Manistrad and Solomor. There they learn that the Salt Marsh guard is dealing with the smuggler presence below the mansion, but need the party to deal with an offshore vessel involved in the smuggling. The council asks the party to complete the task of gleaning who is funding the smuggling ring. The party agrees. During the meeting, evidence of Loyalist and Traditionalist splinter factions within the council become evident. When questioned about the previous owner of the mansion, Ada Owland cannot recall his name, aside from the fact that it began with “A.”

## EP. 3 - The Wrong Choice

**Espionage goes poorly.**

Zahl visits The Empty Net in hopes of discovering Captain Xendros. Instead, he meets a ranger from Bruhl who is seeking aid in dealing with the Dreadwood. In the morning, Mortin informs the group that he is on a mission to seek out corruption in the land.

 At Salt Marsh armory, the party learns that a wizard, Sanbalat, was apprehended. Visiting Sanbalat in jail, Sanbalat immediately recognizes his coat on Zahl’s person. Baiting and wildshape antics ensue, leading the party to learn that Captain Sigurd Snake Eyes is smuggling weapons on The Sea Ghost. Discovering the Sea Ghost’s next shipment arrives in two days, the party verifies how to use the shuttered lantern to communicate with Captain Snake Eyes and that the weapons are being delivered to the lizardfolk. They are also made aware of Gellan Primewater’s connection to the smugglers.

 The party seeks out Loyalist Manistrad and confides their newfound information regarding Traditionalist Gellan Primewater’s connection to the smugglers. The party also learns that Solomor fits into neither faction.

 During two days of downtime, Peach meets a tanner named Kiorna, who they commission to create stylized fang-caps for Zahl. Training to absorb his staff into his wildshape, Mortin meets a halfling Druid named Ferrin Kastilir in a windchime-laden grove outside of Salt Marsh where he learns about aberrations and undead monsters coming out of the Dreadwood. Mortin is then overcharged for a healing potion by a halfling man named Winston. Demi studies the smuggler codes, performs each night at The Snapping Line, and accidentally attunes to a cursed luck stone. Exploring Salt Marsh, Zahl discovers an upscale establishment called The Wicker Goat and has drinks with Captain Xendros at The Empty Net. Cryptically, Xendros tells Zahl she “goes where she is told.”

 Provided by Aleander with Arnold and Palmer as a guard escort, the party heads to the mansion. On the way, Zahl learns from a guard that Crabber’s Cove is purportedly home to human-eating crabs. Some verbal sparring between Demi and Zahl ends with Demi throwing the cursed luck stone at the back of Zahl’s head, doing him a surprising amount of damage. Once at the mansion, the party retrieves an alchemy kit from the portal room for Mortin. Managing to accurately signal The Ghost Ship, the party and their guards row out to the vessel.

 A plan to pretend to be smugglers goes awry when Demi lets slip that Sanbalat was in prison. Informing the party that the lantern would not have signaled the all clear given Sanbalat’s state, Captain Snake Eyes attacks. In the ensuing combat, Mortin drops unconscious for the first time, Zahl lightning lures the Captain off of the vessel, and the rest of the party decimates the smugglers onboard.

## EP. 4 - Blood is Thicker than Waters

**Demi finds a sad hotboi.**

The party immediately hears panicked draconic behind a cabin door. Zahl’s attempt at diplomacy fails, and combat begins anew. A blue pseudodragon joins the fray. After dispatching the lizardfolk assailants, Mortin manages to communicate with the pseudodragon, learning that his name is Bimbz.

 The party finds a ledger logging shipments of “metalware” and “utensils.” When Peach suggests that these terms are similar to the word “cake” being used to describe explosives, Mortin reveals he doesn’t know what cake is. The party decides this needs to be remedied. Continuing to explore the ship, the party discovers regular goods for transport labeled with the symbol of Keoland. They also find a parrot, which Bimbz promptly eats.

 The party also hears sound behind a secret door. It leads to a small space containing a cage holding a sea elf who recognizes Demi: Oceanus, former deckhand aboard Demi’s childhood ship the Lady Lyla. When the party is unable to find the key to the cage, Peach manages to critically fail to break the lock twice, accidentally stabbing Demi and Oceanus before Zahl succeeds in opening the lock with a dagger.

 From Oceanus, Demi learns that The Lady Lyla was taken by the Pirate Prince Thereax Guldeer about a month ago. From what he can tell, the crew was either killed or sold into slavery. He is uncertain as to whether The Lady Lyla has been sunk. Stating that the ship the Lady Lyla is her family, Demi leaves The Sea Ghost. Travelling below deck, Zahl and Mortin discover more rot grubs. Above deck, Oceanus tells Demi that The Lady Lyla was too far from shore when they were attacked. Mortin informs the party that he has experience with losing a home.

 Zahl finds a bill of receipt negotiating the exchange of electrum ingots from the lizardfolk in exchange for weaponry, functioning as sufficient proof of Captain Snake Eyes’ guilt for the Salt Marsh Council. Peach also discovers a map with a rendezvous point between the lizardfolk and the smugglers.

 The party spends the night on the ship. When Zahl prays to Mother, she responds with the words, “You are on the right track. There’s something far greater for you in all of this. And what we seek is held by those pulling the strings.” Looking at the inscription Lyla wrote in the front of her journal, Demi allows herself to cry.

 The party reaches Level 3. Demi at the till, the group sails The Sea Ghost back to Salt Marsh. While the party waits for the council members to arrive, Zahl retrieves spell components for Find Familiar.

## EP. 5 - Let Them Eat Cake

**It's Mortin's unoffical birthday.**

The party informs the Salt Marsh Council that the lizardfolk south of the city are amassing weaponry via smugglers operating out of the mansion, noting that Gellan Primewater looks irritated upon hearing this information. The party is informed by Aleander that the wizard Sanbalat is to be questioned later that day. The council allows the party to use The Sea Ghost, provided they become privateers in service to the Crown. Gellan asserts that the party is meddling in “commerce.”

 Manistrad arrives at the council hall with news that the wizard Sanbalat has been murdered, along with the guards watching him. They ascertain that only the party, the council, and the guards were aware of Sanbalat, and note that the party has an obvious alibi. The party’s suspicion turns to Gellan Primewater. Dismissed by the council, the party speculates that they may now be targets of an assassination.

Returning to The Snapping Line, they move into a single room. Peach requests a cake for Mortin. Upon attempting to enter the kitchen, the cook by the name of Gordon Ramsay kicks the party out and bakes the cake himself. In the meantime, the party splits. With Peach as an audience, Zahl casts Find Familiar, summoning pseudodragon Ahshi into existence. Peach asks Zahl who Mother is, prompting a discussion of Zahl’s lonely childhood. On Demi’s errand to drop off a letter and coin for Peach’s mother Plum, Mortin explains to Demi that he was forcibly, permanently removed from his community in order to become the Will of the Feycourt. When the party reunites, Zahl shares that Mother provides him with his abilities.

The party visits Captain Xendros searching for information regarding Lyla. Xendros has none, but suggests that Old Mearle at The Empty Net might. The party then visits Aleander, who informs them that armaments - enough to fill his entire garrison - were also discovered aboard the Sea Ghost. With a temporary writ from Aleander, the party heads to the jail. It rapidly clear that the guards have beaten the surviving inmates in an attempt to glean information regarding the murder of their bretheren and Sanbalat. Mortin heals the inmates and chides the guards. The party investigates, discovering that whoever committed these murders was efficient and quiet. The exact means via which the murderer made it into the prison undetected remain unknown.

The party returns to The Snapping Line, and Mortin has cake for the first time. The party realizes that Mortin has never had a birthday celebration before, and decides today is his birthday now. Manistrad joins the party and updates them regarding a wait on utilizing The Sea Ghost. The party decides to head to Bruhl in the meantime, following Zahl and Mortin’s leads.

Before they leave town, the party heads to The Empty Net to speak with Old Mearle. Demi and Zahl bribe their way into a conversation with their quarry. In the dark, partially submerged home of the large loacath-like being Old Mearle, the two question him. Apparently already aware of Lyla’s situation, Old Mearle requires payment before they continue conversing. In exchange for two spellbooks, Old Mearle tells Demi to ask around for Mr. Dory in the Styes for information regarding Lyla.

## EP. 6 - Family Tree

**Mortin meets Wander Root.**

The party purchases horses to ride from Salt Marsh to Bruhl and begin traveling inland toward the Dreadwood. On the second day of travel, a dying figure staggers in front of the party’s horses with deep claw marks across his chest. The party follows the sound of combat, coming across a group of Bruhl rangers besieged by strangely affected owlbears. Mortin uses wildshape during combat for the first time, turning into a wolf and joining the fray. Peach notices a strange green glint in the eyes of the owlbears they are fighting.

The party learns that they have saved Kiarra Shadowfell, leader of the rangers of the Bruhl Outpost. She explains to the party that the forest creatures have been behaving strangely, traveling in packs and attacking travelers on the road. According to the rangers, the animals seem to be changing. The party helps the rangers return to Bruhl with their fallen.

Upon reaching Bruel, an enormous autumn-colored tree in the middle of summer in the center of town catches the party’s eye. This is Wander Root, treant protector of the Silver Wood. Spotting Mortin, he greets the Will of the Feycourt. When questioned about his companions, Mortin introduces the party as his family. Wander Root informs Mortin that his task of keeping the Dreadwood at bay is becoming impossible as the corruption of the Shadowfell seems to be seeping through to a far greater degree. He believes that something is pushing that corruption outwards.

The party offers to explore the Dreadwood in hopes of identifying what is pushing Shadowfell corruption outwards. Zahl asks Wander Root if he has ever heard of Mother, and is told that something has bound itself to him “so as to break its own bindings to this plane.” When what happened to the last Will, Wander Root tells the party that he joined the rangers of Bruhl for a time.

After speaking with Wander Root, Kiarra tells the party that no expeditions into the center of the Dreadwood have ever returned. Recently, three patrols have gone missing along the Narrowbend Creek. The party decides to head there the following day to investigate. Peach voices insecurities about their insignificance compared to the Will of the Feycourt, a child of an god, and a renowned bard.

Zahl tells Mother he wants to speak to her again. That night, after the rest of the party goes to sleep, Mother’s veiled form appears to Zahl. Upon hearing Zahl voice frustration at not being told she wanted his aid to return to the Celestial plane, Mother tells Zahl that she is not proud of the things she had done to him. She admits to using Zahl for his bloodline and gives him a concrete goal: he is searching for the Ostis Anchor. This anchor, she explains, is part of what holds her to this plane. Zahl also asks that the party be able to meet her.

## EP. 7 - Crystal Clear

**Mortin has a terrible vision.**

Kiarra guides the party east of Bruhl for two days before leaving them at the edge of the Dreadwood, cautioning them not to tread more than ten miles into the forest. Nearing the Narrowbend Creek, the party overhears a group of goblin rangers discussing a place called “the Mound.” After Mortin tries and fails to befriend one of the goblins, combat ensues and one of the goblins is directed to “tell the sister” that strangers are in the forest. After the goblin messenger escapes, the party follows their trail and sets up camp for the night.

During the night, Peach is marked for death by the Dreadwood and Mortin dreams of a malicious presence behind a pair of green eyes. The presence recognizes him as the Will and taunts him for keeping companions. Mortin tells the voice to leave the others alone, prompting the malicious presence to give him the following visions: Demi, standing aboard a vessel, hair iced over, and eyes filled with hate; Peach, kneeling over the corpse of a dark-haired woman, looking past Mortin at an unknown figure with rage in their eyes; and Zahl, staring proudly down from atop an altar at the form of a chained being of golden light. Mortin gleans that these visions are a possible future. The malicious figure tells Mortin that he will corrupt his companions. Waking up for his watch, Mortin summons his raccoon familiar ‘Boris’ to keep him company.

The following morning, the party travels up the creek. The presence of bone chimes heralds their discovery of the Mound. Sneaking in through a cavernous entrance over a thin creek. The party encounters greenish, glowing crystals that both consume and radiate light and a crevice in the cave. The crystals remind Mortin of his visions, which he shares with the party. Zahl shares his previous night’s experience with Mother.

Continuing to the crevice, Zahl peeks through to see a cavern with a black stone altar upon which a glowing green orb rests. A hag referred to as “Sister” discusses “Granny Nightshade” with a deep-voiced man, who insists that they need to spread Granny Nightshade’s reach beyond using the “catalyst.” Zahl sends Ahshi through the crevice, only for his familiar to immediately be killed by the hag. Combat ensues, and a troll joins the hag in combat. As Demi kills the hag and Peach keeps the troll at bay, it becomes evident to the party that the earth genasi is marked as the troll’s sole target. Peach is knocked unconscious twice by the creature before the troll is knocked unconscious.

## EP. 8 - O Captain, My Captain

**Mortin's staff gets an upgrade.**

Seeing the troll heal and begin to  rise, the party decapitates the creature. Exploring the altar, Mortin notes his staff begins to glow as it nears the orb. Lifting it to the orb, Mortin’s staff blossoms, glows purple, and absorbs the orb’s energy. The light of the formerly glowing crystals dims, and a greenish purple glow remains in the bulb of Mortin’s staff.

 On their way back to Bruel, Zahl resummons Ahshi and apologizes for putting him in danger. The party reaches Level 4. Back in Bruel, Mortin updates Wander Root regarding the “Sister” and the alterations to his staff. Explaining that this is energy from deep within the Dreadwood, Wander Root attempts to absorb the energy therein and Mortin has a vision of the seasons rapidly shifting. Wander Root returns Mortin’s staff, which is now the Staff of the Woodlands. Wander Root also explains that his own existence is the Feywild’s response to the Dreadwood. Kiarra offers Peach a magical familial longsword. With the promise it will be returned to her, the party returns to Salt Marsh.

Back in town, Mortin stables the party’s horses. Peach sends Plum money and a letter before picking up Zahl’s fang-caps from Kiorna. The party goes to The Wicker Goat for the first time, where they grow attached to a halfling named Heinrich and indulge in the inn’s bathhouse. In the morning, the party visits the Quartermaster of Iuz and purchases a Wand of Magic Missiles for Demi and the Staff of the Adder for Zahl.

 The party visits Winston’s, where they chide him for cheating Mortin and purchase his remaining health potions. At a meeting with the Salt Marsh Council, the party officially become Keoland privateers and are given the deed to The Sea Ghost. On the condition that the party investigate the lizardfolk lair, the council provides sailors for this single mission. Demi is named Captain by the party. Demi makes Oceanus her First Mate, Zahl her Bosun, and Peach her Cook. Mortin claims the crow’s nest. The party plots to steal Heinrich for the role of Quartermaster and sets sail for the lizardfolk.

## EP. 9 - Crocodile Fears

**Things get tense.**

Peach gifts Zahl his fang-caps. After a few hours of travel, the party disembarks for the swampland marked as the lizardfolk rendezvous point. With Mortin leading the way, the party moves inland and eventually comes to the Dunwater River. Heading further inland, the party fails to find an easy crossing point and decides to ride wildshaped crocodile Mortin across one at a time. After Peach is ferried across by Mortin, Demi and Zahl are attacked by the monster known as Thousand Teeth. After a brief skirmish on land, Thousand Teeth retreats into the water and Mortin ferries Demi and Zahl across the Dunwater River one at a time. Zahl takes offense at being last in the ferrying order.

 The party makes camp for the night, but are approached during first watch by bullywugs. After being informed that they are to be used as targets in a hunter’s competition, the party cuts down their would-be captors and gains 325 platinum, along with a Helm of Underwater Action.

 During watch, anxiety over his prior visions prompts Mortin to ask Peach if there is anyone who wishes their mother Plum harm. Mortin then suggests that the party check in on her soon. Still feeling left behind after the Thousand Teeth skirmish, Zahl takes out his ire on Demi. A tense conversation ensues, and Demi clarifies that the only party member she considers family is Mortin. Demi and Zahl have a tense argument about their expectations for one another.

## EP. 10 - Sneak, Talk, Knock

**The party makes a good impression.**

Choosing the path less taken, the party eventually reaches the lizardfolk home and realizes that the settlement is significantly larger than they had anticipated. Upon discovering a back entrance to the settlement, the party deliberates at length about how to approach its denizens. After scouting the space with Ahshi and Mortin’s spider familiar “Her Majesty Therisde,”  the party decides to knock. Utilizing Zahl’s fluency in draconic, the party is able to gain an audience with Queen Orthokan of the lizardfolk.

 The party learns that the lizardfolk have recently relocated to this land. Admitting that they have been sent by the town of Salt Marsh, the party offers their assistance. Despite Shaman Nash’s obvious dislike for outsiders, Ambassador Suarev suggests to the queen that the party might be able to aid in the lizardfolk cause, prompting the revelation that there is a Sahuagin threat within the ocean that has driven the lizardfolk from their home. The party is tasked with convincing the whole of the lizardfolk population that they are allies before any more information is provided. Queen Orthokan gives the party twenty four hours before she comes to a verdict regarding whether or not the lizardfolk will accept the party’s offered aid.

 The party decides to earn the lizardfolk community’s trust by slaying Thousand Teeth. With the assistance - or hindrance - of the lizardfolk hunter Jhank, the party locates the monster’s lair and draws the aquatic monster onland using a trail of bullywug corpses from the previous night. Combat ensues, and Demi lands the killing whisper on the monster. With Jhank as a witness and the head of Thousand Teeth as evidence, the party returns to the lizardfolk. Demi receives a thesaurus from Ambassador Suarev in exchange for her naval almanac. Exploring the town, the party sees evidence that the lizardfolk are preparing for war. A feast is held, with the party as guests of honor. Demi performs, merriment is made, and Queen Orthokan informs the party she will come to a verdict in the morning.

## EP. 11 - Dragonfly Effect

**The ship gets a name.**

In the morning, Queen Orthokan informs the party that the lizardfolk have agreed to accept the party’s aid, and that she will send Ambassador Suarev back to Salt Marsh with the party. Peach gives Ambassador Suarev a piggyback ride through the swamp. Upon reaching The Sea Ghost, Bimbz’s presence alerts Suarev to the fact that the party came into conflict with the lizardfolk acquiring weapons from the smugglers. They learn the name of Bimbz’s former owner: Rakash. Demi manages to smooth things over with Suarev. Grappling with the guilt of having killed the lizardfolk, Peach invites Suarev to “pour one out” for the departed. The two have a small ceremony for the fallen.

 Toward the end of the trip, Demi gifts Peach the thesaurus from Suarev and a book of erotic poetry. Using their new gift, Peach suggests naming the ship The Falling Star after Demi, “Siren of the Fallen Star.” From the crow’s nest, Mortin sees dolphins for the first time.

 The party introduces Ambassador Suarev to the Salt Marsh Council, where he asks for their aid in dealing with the Sahuagin. The party learns that the Sahuagin came into existence via magical elven experimentation with sharks. They also learn that the Sahuagin drove the lizardfolk from their fortress located within the Black Isle. Securing a guard detail for Suarev, the party leaves the council to discuss the finer details of dealing with the Sahuagin threat.

 Peach commissions a falling star bookmark from Kiorna and purchases a compass in the Green Market. Demi and Oceanus bond over a conversation about mutual social awkwardness. The party purchases a Ring of Waterwalking for Mortin and Boots of Striding and Springing for Zahl, before learning from Captain Xendros that they can make updates to their ship at Seaton. A frazzled Manistrad spots the party leaving the Quartermaster of Iuz and informs them that there has been another murder.

## EP. 12 - Shattered Plans

**The bad guy gets away.**

Manistrad informs the party that Gellan Primewater has been murdered. His distraught daughter Odephelia has locked herself in Gellan’s room with his corpse, and is accusing the Loyalists of his murder. The first assertion of “New Quartermaster?” is made when the party meets a pubescent townsguard named Carl.

The party proceeds to the opulent Primewater mansion, along with Solomor and his butler Skerrin. Peach comforts Odephelia through the barricaded door of her father’s room, eventually convincing her to let the party in to investigate. Skerrin escorts Odephelia away. As the party investigates, Mortin wildshapes into a cat and has a conversation with Odephelia’s pet cat Gerard. Gerard reveals the identity of the murderer: Skerrin Wavechaser.

The party dashes after Skerrin and Odephelia. They find Odephelia bleeding out on the floor, throat slit. Skerrin is nowhere in sight. The party heals and rallies Odephelia, setting Carl and his fellow guards to protect her before pursuing Skerrin with Solomor in tow. Mortin summons eight large owls for the party to ride. Scouring the town, Zahl briefly spots Skerrin. A tumble off of his owl into an alleyway keeps Zahl  from apprehending the murderer. Zahl does, however, find a pouch belonging to Skerrin which contains a red suede triangle.

The party regroups aboard The Falling Star with Solomor, Odephelia, Gerard, and the townsguard. Interrogating Solomor, the party learns that Skerrin has been Solomor’s butler for five years. Three months prior, Skerrin left to “visit his family.” Mortin learns from Gerard that Skerrin levitated into the Primewater mansion. The party decides to check Solomor’s home for Skerrin. Locating the entrance to the servant’s quarters, Mortin in wolf form locates Skerrin’s room. Upon breaking down the door, the party finds the room empty. Skerrin’s scent leads to a mirror, which  Mortin and Peach try and fail to walk through. Zahl uncovers engravings on the back of the mirror. Demi uses Comprehend Languages on the engravings and identifies the word Elmantha. Before the party can do anything else, the mirror shatters.

## EP. 13 - Smoke on the Water

**The Falling Star gets a crew.**

The party reels from their failure to catch Skerrin. Mortin discovers that Skerrin intercepted Salt Marsh Council mail, as well as the letters Demi and Peach intended to send to Plum. Peach also discovers an engraved lead box. When picked up, ghostly hands emerge from the box and begin to siphon away the earth genasi’s life force. The party convinces Peach to leave the box behind and takes Skerrin’s shattered mirror. Mortin takes all of Skerrin’s clothes.

 The party gathers the remaining members of the Salt Marsh Council, verifying that Skerrin attempted to murder Odephelia Primewater, and successfully murdered Sanbalat, the prison guards, and Gellan Primewater. The party also learns that Skerrin maintained a relationship with Naira, the elven woman in charge of Salt Marsh’s mail system. Worried about Mortin’s vision and Skerrin’s awareness of Peach’s mother, the party decides to head to Owen Oak via Seaton and the Styes. Peach promises Odephelia that if they don’t manage to kill Skerrin themselves, she can decide what happens to him.

Demi convinces Aleander to provide Daveth, Kent, and Carl as temporary crown sailors. The party then convinces Heinrich to become their Quartermaster. Demi changes the name of the ship to The Falling Star. After an overpayment debacle with Mortin, Zahl secures the sailors Kipp, Gut, Gug, Slaw, Slab, and Pigpen from The Empty Net. Peach has the compass they previously purchased engraved “Property of Oceanus.” At Alberte’s Alabaster Emporium, Zahl commissions outfits for himself, as well as gifts for the rest of the party. Demi meditates in the Salt Marsh harbor, directly beneath The Falling Star.

 In the morning, Mortin returns to Solomor’s mansion, where he dispels the magic on Skerrin’s lead box. Carrying the box back to The Falling Star, Mortin notices that Odephelia is following him. When questioned, she asks to accompany the party so that she may have her revenge on Skerrin. Demi allows Odephelia to join the crew, provided she does her part.

 Zahl reveals he has been wearing his fang-caps. Peach greets each crew member with an icing-labeled cupcake. The party reconvenes in private to investigate the lead box. They discover Skerrin’s Glamoured Studded Armor, which Demi takes, as well as a ciphered journal with an upside down triangle emblazoned on the front. Zahl paints The Falling Star onto the back of the ship, and the party sets sail for Seaton.

During their travel, Demi begins parsing out the key to Skerrin’s cipher. Peach begins training Odephelia to use a rapier. Zahl sets about learning how to become a Bosun by studying Kipp and the other sailors. Peach begins training Oceanus as well, and gifts him the engraved compass. During Mortin’s watch that night, he notes a strange fog rolling in and wakes the party. In the distance, they see a strange, dimly glowing, mastless ship drawing alongside The Falling Star.

## EP. 14 - Sea Legs

**Mortin loses his hat.**

Identifying the name of the strange vessel as The Emperor of the Sea, Demi recalls the Ballad of King Naeri and the Matriarch of the Pomarji. In the ballad, a King Naeri (a city on the eastern coast of the Azure Sea) is stolen away by a tribal chieftess of a matriarchal society. The King’s wife attempts to ransom her husband, sending several vessels. These, including The Emperor of the Sea, were lost at sea. The tale ends with the King falling in love with the Matriarch, while the Queen of Naeri nearly bankrupts her country in an attempt to bring him back.

Ghostly figures begin beckoning from aboard The Emperor of the Sea. After some deliberation, the party boards the ship. Following the figures below deck, the party is attacked by swarms of crabs led by a giant crab with a coffin inlaid in its back. Failing to discover anything within the coffin, the party continues following the ghostly figures into the hull of the ship. Discovering a heavy sealed chest therein, Mortin also discerns that there is illusion magic at work, and that there is some sort of entity attached by a tendril to the ship. As soon as he realizes this, the ship begins to descend into the ocean.

 After Zahl and Demi’s attacks have no effect on the being, Demi realizes that the party do not have the means to slay this creature. Mortin and Peach carry the heavy chest to Mortin’s summoned octopi as the creature speaks incomprehensibly with a thousand gutteral, strange voices into Demi’s mind. The octopi carry the chest to The Falling Star, which has begun sailing away upon seeing the water beneath The Emperor of the Sea begin to writhe. While the rest of the party escapes, Mortin begins being pulled downward in the undertow toward hundreds of rows of teeth as he identifies that the monster in question is an Angler Ship named Mogyagox. Turning into a dolphin, Mortin manages to break away and reach The Falling Star before Mogyagox’s jaws close around Mortin’s wizard hat.

 The next day, the party manages to open the chest. Within, they discover sixty platinum ingots and a ransom note from the Queen of Nairi. Demi continues studying Skerrin’s ciphered journal, uncovering the first layer of the cipher enumerating Skerrin’s goals: “1. Instability 2. Sow Dissent 3. Pitch Community against Crown 4. Establish Front. As my brothers have done. So shall I.” In her excitement, Demi seeks out Mortin and shares a hug with him. Conquering her fear of heights, Odephelia shares a watch with Peach in the rigging.

 Gathering the party in his room, Zahl invites the party to meet Mother. A beam of sunlight falling into the space, the entire party hears Mother’s voice. She introduces herself as Sophia, and thanks the party for taking care of Zahl. She informs Zahl that he is further from the Ostis Anchor than he was at the time of their last communication. Her presence fades, and Zahl shares that he believes Sophia is his birth mother. The party reaches Level 5.

## EP. 15 - Maternal Instincts

**The party gets a mom.**

Demi approaches Peach before bed and offers to cast Sending to check in on Plum. Upon being told that the party is heading to Owen Oak to visit, Plum notes that “the strange man was right.” Inferring that Plum is in danger of meeting the same fate as Gellan Primewater, Peach begs her to stay with Cato until they arrive and vows to kill Skerrin. Demi reassures Peach as best she can. Peach asks Demi if she is going to message Lyla now, but Demi is out of spells.

 Demi makes headway on the “Persons of Interest” section of Skerrin’s journal, identifying the names of every Salt Marsh Council member, Old Mearl, Mr, Dory, King Kimberto Skotti, and the names of the party. Upon arriving on shore, Zahl and Peach manage to convince the gung-ho Odephelia to stay behind after invoking the uncertain state of Plum’s safety. The party pays their crew an extra ingot and disembarks for the muddy, rundown, formerly grand town of the Styes. After a significant amount of math, the party rents horses after determining they cannot use Mortin’s owls to fly all the way to Owen Oak.

 In the Styes, Ahshi spots a statuette of Sophia in which she is chained and seems to be staring up at someone, which Zahl purchases. Zahl learns that it came from the jungles to the south. A town crier announces that 1) Styes community members are vanishing, 2) the Lady Lyla, flying red sails, attacked Keoland naval forces off the coast of Fairwind Isle, and 3) press-gangs are conscripting citizens to serve aboard vessels. The party gleans that red sails denote alliance to the Sea Princes.

 Purchasing more horses, the party opts to take the shorter, more dangerous route to Owen Oak. On their journey, they encounter the Cyclops Butt, and his tollbooth “Butt’s Stuff.” The party almost manages to sneak past him before being spotted at the last minute. The party runs rather than opting to stay and fight. Butt’s attempt to crush Mortin with a baby grand piano fails, and the party escapes and makes it to Owen Oak. Upon opening the door to the Waystone Inn, Peach is greeted by a surprise Welcome Home party.

 Upon recognizing Demi, Plum makes Peach’s already obvious crush painfully clear. The party spends some time being doted on by Plum before a letter for Peach is revealed. It is from Skerrin. In it, Skerrin taunts Peach with the knowledge he possesses, revealing that he has been watching the party since the events of Session 2. Skerrin explains that Plum lives as leverage, and will continue to do so unless the party continues pursuing him, the Brotherhood, or the Sea Princes.

 Plum goes searching in the basement for Peach’s old poetry, followed by the panicked earth genasi. The rest of the party mulls over the letter. Demi fears she cannot stay away from the Sea Princes. Mortin suggests that, for now, the party follow Skerrin’s instructions until they can find a means of keeping Plum safe. The party learns from the Kalashtar innkeeper Cato that Skerrin was “off”; the “spirits around him didn’t sit right.”

 Zahl spends the night studying his newfound statuette of Mother, which is eerily reminiscent of Mortin’s Dreadwood vision. Demi finally uses Sending to communicate with Lyla. She finds Lyla, but something about her seems broken, twisted, and strained. Communicating she has found Oceanus and begging for a reply, Demi receives the response, “Stay away. You’re not safe. Don’t be a fool. Let us suffer.” Demi refuses outright. She then messages Oceanus to let him know she’s learned something of their ship’s fate. He promises Demi that they will fix this.

 Peach spends the night attempting to convince Plum to return to Salt Marsh with them. Plum is hesitant, stating that she has never left Owen Oak - not even for Peach’s father. She refuses to tell them anything else about their absent parent. Peach gives Plum the ultimatum that they will give up adventuring and not leave Owen Oak unless Plum leaves as well.

## EP. 16 - A Giant Wake

**Mortin has a no good very bad thoroughly awful night.**

The party opts to spend a few days in Owen Oak. Mortin spends his time making a Lesser Restoration herbal tea for Plum’s arthritis. He also tries and fails to convince the rest of the party to try to convince Butt to relocate in order to make the quick route safer. Touched by Mortin’s thoughtfulness, Peach gives him a haiku. The two share a moment of mutual admiration.

Still viewed as an ‘other’ and an outsider in Owen Oak, Peach tries and fails to find someone to replace Plum at The Waystone Inn. Demi continues deciphering Skerrin’s journal, learning the remaining names from the Persons of Interest: 1) Mardet Ostrim - Scarlet Brotherhood, 2) Father of Obedience - Scarlet Brotherhood, 3) Thereax Guldeer - the Gnasher, 4) Duke Merrik Feldren - young, hotheaded, raises taxes, and 5) Obertus Feldren - deceased, older brother of Merrik.

Demi also deciphers the Credo, which reads: “To the Kingdom of Purity all other nations will fall. The Father of Obedience will spread the tendrils beyond the Kingdom of Shar and break Flanaess to the Scarlet Brotherhood’s will. We are his hand. We are his Will. All others will bend.” Additionally, she learns that The Father of Obedience plans to bend Lyla to his will. There are also notes that “the spider weaves her webs at Niole Dra. King Skotti will fall under our sway, Salt Marsh is a good foothold”; “The Smugglers have unearthed a lizard folk settlement that requires weapons. This is interesting. Requires further investigation”; “Seaton is problematic. Agents have been rebuffed and heavy military presence makes it difficult to sow dissent among the population. This may be their own undoing. The populace feels oppressed.”

Peach gives Demi a haiku. Demi begins training Bimbz to communicate with her via songs. The first person she trains Bimbz to find is Mortin using the song “The Shire.” Mortin presses her regarding what is wrong, and Demi confides in him regarding her conversation with Lyla and her inability to immediately seek her family out. Demi then messages Lyla again to let her know that she will be coming after her adoptive family as soon as she is able. There is no response.

Throughout the day, Zahl studies the statuette in his free moments, but gleans nothing. That evening, he spends time with Cato, hitting on the shy innkeep. Mortin gives Plum his Ring of Waterwalking, and the group has Cato draw a bath so that she can walk on water. As night approaches, Zahl asks the party if they can head to the Amedio Jungle to seek out answers about Sophia. Demi reminds him that the party cannot head south without incurring the Brotherhood’s wrath, and Peach vows that they will find a way to keep Plum safe without keeping the rest of the party from doing what they need to do.

 Demi proceeds to message Skerrin to let him know that the party has chosen to listen. He replies, “It’s so delightful to work with people who can understand reason. Stay safe, Demi.” She does not tell the party about the message. Spending the night in the woods, Mortin dreams of a familiar malicious presence. He asks if the presence is Granny Nightshade. Green eyes and a wide grin appears. As Mortin awakens, the bulb of The Staff of the Woodlands glows purple and he is attacked by black, roiling beasts made of shadow. After combating these shadowy beasts, Mortin wildshapes into a horse and escapes. The following morning, Mortin updates the party regarding Granny Nightshade’s reappearance and the party travels to the Styes with Plum.

 On the trip back, Demi teaches Bimbz to find Peach using the song “I Will Tell My Ma.” Reaching the Styes, horse Mortin catches sight of a press gang kidnapping a man and follows the group with Demi riding on his back. Demi dissuades Mortin from engaging the men, but Zahl manages to find the press gang on his own. After a brief spat, Zahl fails to redirect the press gang’s attention to himself and they escape with their victim. The party heads toward Seaton.

During their travel, Peach shows Odephelia Skerrin’s letter and tries to convince her to return to her mansion in Salt Marsh with Plum. Odephelia refuses, explaining that her childhood home feels haunted by the vision of her father’s corpse. She insists Peach continue training her in combat and offers Plum free reign of her mansion. Zahl continues learning his Bosun duties. Demi trains Bimbz to identify Oceanus with the song “The Maiden and the Selkie,” and learns that Slaw, a mute sailor, plays the concertina. She sings a duet with Slab accompanied by Slaw’s playing. Investigating his staff, Mortin detects not only the schools of magic therein, but also underlying sources. He senses both the Fey presence of Wander Root and something much darker from the Dreadwood. As he examines the staff, the Summer Court Eladrin “Vethzerios” appears and warns Mortin that the more he uses his staff, the more the Shadowfell corruption within will negatively influence the people around him. Vethzerios suggests that this is why the Will is exiled from his community.

Upon reaching Seaton, a long queue of ships await entrance into the harbor as a heavily damaged warship - the Pride of Keoland - is towed to the city’s drydocks. As The Falling Star waits in the queue, the storm giant Vjolnir emerges from the sea and immediately begins insisting that Seaton allow him past the seawalls. Mortin starts a conversation with Vjolnir in giant and convinces him to wait in line with The Falling Star. He also learns that Vjolnir followed The Pride of Keoland all the way from Fairwind Isle. When pressed, the storm giant explains that he would like to help the humans kill the pirates.

## EP. 17 - Heights and Hearts

**Mortin gets thrown.**

Bored after waiting for two hours in the queue to enter Seaton, Mortin asks Vjolnir to see how far the stormgiant can throw him. Before the rest of the party can stop him, Vjolnir obliges. Mortin is thrown 700 feet. Unable to wildshape into a creature with a fly speed, Mortin wildshapes into a dolphin instead and nearly drops unconscious as he hits the water at terminal velocity. Upon returning to the ship, he is rallied by Peach and put in a Silence time-out by Demi.

 Upon entering Seaton alongside Vjolnir, Demi convinces harbormaster Jack Smithington-Fuggoffsean to allow Vjolnir to take up residence on the tidepools to the north side of the bay. The party is also provided a missive with a seal of the crown of Keoland requesting The Falling Star sail for The Black Isle in their role as privateers alongside Admiral Hawk’s HMS Acadia. There, they will be expected to address the Sahuagin threat. They are provided 2,000 gold, with the promise of another 4,000 gold upon completion of their task.

Visiting Vjolnir at the tidepools, the party learns that he is a shipwright. He offers the party an upgraded Blink Hull in exchange for the favor of killing the two water elementals Mon and Soon. At the Seaton shipwrights, the party purchases two arcane cannons and speak to Kevin Smithington-Fuggoffsean, learning that they unwittingly walked past Admiral Hawk on the way in. Hawk has expressed indignation over being sent to war with no assistance aside from a small privateering vessel.

The party visits Ottel’s Oddities, the magic shop belonging to Triton husbands Corvus and Issen. They purchase Kelp Armor for Zahl, a pair of Sending Stones, and commission an anti-detection amulet for Plum. Part of their payment for this item is Queen Naeri’s ransom letter from The Emperor of the Sea.

Before the party leaves for Mon and Soon, Peach enlists the reluctant Oceanus to babysit Plum. The party travels southward down the coast and camps overnight on the cliffside overlooking Mon and Soon’s lair. During watch, Zahl and Peach discuss Zahl’s discoveries. Asked by Peach if he thinks Sophia is in the Amedio Jungle, Zahl ruminates on whether or not Sophia is his birthmother and what it could mean if his bloodline originates in the Amedio Jungle. During her watch, Demi checks in with Oceanus and learns that Plum has gotten drunk in Seaton.

In the morning, Mortin becomes a giant wolf spider for the first time to transport the party down the cliffside to the water elemental lair. There, the party briefly explores the subaquatic cave before alerting Mon and Soon to their presence. Combat ensues, during which Mon and Soon trap Demi and Peach within their watery forms. As Peach kills Mon, the two hearts of the elementals merge, turning into Monsoon. A powerful moonbeam from Mortin kills Monsoon, releasing Demi and Peach.

## EP. 18 - Midnight Maneuvers

**There are organic bombs.**

The party discovers nothing of note in Monsoon’s lair. The party returns to Seaton and proceeds to The Drydock Inn. Zahl finds a drinking competition and, using his Yuan-Ti immunity to poison, handily beats every other participant to win the pot. Peach realizes their mother has a hangover, prompting Oceanus to sprint out of the bar alongside Mortin. The two head to Vjolnir, where Mortin gifts Monsoon’s hearts to the storm giant and spends the night out on the tidepools. Catching up with Mack, proprietor of The Drydock Inn, Demi laments her newfound role as captain of a privateering vessel, enlists Mack to seek out information regarding the Lady Lyla, and gives her the go-ahead to make a move on Zahl before performing on the Drydock stage with Bimbz accompanying her for the first time.

 Seeking out Odephelia’s rooms, Peach finds her attempting to treat a stab wound. They learn that Odephelia has been seeking out information regarding Skerrin on her own. She makes Peach promise not to tell the rest of the party about her excursion. They do, making her promise in turn that she won’t go seeking information without someone accompanying her in the future. The two tend to Odephelia’s wound together and begin comparing scars. Back at the Drydock Inn, Oceanus makes brief mention of his aquatic childhood home to Demi. Mack beds Zahl.

 The following day, Vjolnir etches runes into The Falling Star using the hearts of the elementals, enchanting the vessel with a Blink Hull. The party picks up Plum’s anti-detection necklace. Using fishing line, Mortin makes necklaces to hold the previously purchased Sending Stones for Peach and Plum. Demi learns from Mack that the Lady Lyla didn’t attack the Keoland navy on its own: there were multiple pirate vessels involved in the attack. Mack also tells Demi that Mr. Dory has been mentioned as a source of more information, but that he “isn’t right.” The Styes political figure has, apparently, made an ancient pact with an abyssal creature.

 The party begins traveling back to Salt Marsh. Mortin gifts Peach and Plum the Sending Stone necklaces. Zahl, Odephelia, and Oceanus continue training with Peach. Odephelia gains proficiency with her rapier. Zahl changes Ahshi’s form into that of a sprite, allowing the rest of the party to converse with the familiar. Mortin immediately tries to glean more about Mother from Ahshi, but the familiar only knows that she is Celestial in nature. Continuing to train Bimbz, Demi begins picking up Bimbz’s own musical signature.

 During the last night of travel, Demi spots shark-riding Sahuagin attacking The Falling Star. Waking Oceanus, his investigation is cut short when three explosions send the first mate hurtling and rip massive holes in the vessel. Combat ensues. Demi leads ship combat for the first time. Odephelia makes her first kill while manning a cannon with Pigpen. Mortin manages to retrieve one of the Sahuagin scouts using his two conjured giant octopi. The party restrains the Sahuagin on the deck of the ship while the crew begins to bail water from the damaged vessel. Oceanus discovers a strange mollusc affixed to the vessel. Zahl licks the mollusc, determining that it seems sulfuric in nature. Mortin throws it off the ship, detonating what turns out to be a Bomb Mollusc.

## EP. 19 - Celestial Secrets

**Zahl's relationship with Sophia strains.**

The Falling Star limps back to Salt Marsh. Mikash, the captured Sahuagin, calls Zahl “betrayer,” suggesting there is some degree of alliance between the Yuan-Ti and the Sahuagin. Upon interrogating Mikash, the party discovers the xenophobic perspectives perpetuated by Sahuagin culture. They also learn that the Sahuagin have been attacking vessels along sailing lanes with the intent to claim the aquatic region as their territory. Mikash claims that the god Sekolah himself is present in some capacity alongside the Sahuagin leaders. Mikash recognizes Zahl’s statuette of Sophia as Yuan-Ti craftsmanship, and the party learns that there is a truce between the Yuan-Ti and the Sahuagin. Frustrated with Sophia, Zahl snaps Ahshi out of existence.

 Returning to Salt Marsh, the party hands Mikash over to Aleander. Demi and Peach move Plum into the Primewater mansion. Casting Locate Creature, Mortin scours the town and verifies that Skerrin Wavechaser is not present. Zahl picks up the clothing he commissioned from Alberte’s Alabaster Emporium, gifting Mortin a hooded bear cape, Peach a military jacket, and Demi a captain’s coat. The party then meets with the Salt Marsh council, Admiral Hawk, the lizardfolk leadership, Coalinth leader Gupper, and Loacath leader The Claw King. There, they learn that the Sahuagin emerged from deep sea trenches to claim the lizardfolk home. Admiral Hawk suggests a blockade of every available ship culminating in a siege, provided the party is able to scout the Black Isle fortress via a secret entrance suggested by the lizardfolk. The party is provided with Potions of Waterbreathing, which they dispense amongst their crew. Plan confirmed, the party visits the Quartermaster of Iuz. They purchase a Bag of Tricks for Mortin and a Helm of Comprehend Languages for Zahl. Peach sets up a spa day for Plum and Kiorna. Every member of the party slips Plum obscene amounts of gold.

 Bringing Ahshi back, Zahl has a tense conversation with him regarding Mother’s intentions. Ahshi reveals his fear of Mother and, when pressed, tells Zahl there are things Mother has done that she doesn’t want him to know about: things that have resulted in her becoming and remaining chained. If Ahshi reveals these things, Mother could take away not just Zahl’s magic, but Ahshi as well. Zahl vows he will not let Mother take Ahshi.

 Demi learns from Oceanus that the Sahuagin were creations of the Sea Elves. She also learns that Oceanus does not hail from the Azure Sea, but from Wayceraith in the Aerdi Sea. Zahl informs the party that he is on bad terms with Mother, and confides in them that they are the first people he has cared about. Demi mentions in passing during this conversation that she messaged Skerrin in Owen Oak. Zahl gives Mortin the statuette of Mother.

 Continuing to train Bimbz, Demi begins to sense a tether forming between her note and Bimbz. Seeking out Peach later that day, Demi asks how they learned Primordial. The two confirm that both innately know the language, despite the fact that neither know their elemental parent(s). Noting that Marids are described in tales as natural-born storytellers, Demi expresses distress over the possibility that her bardic abilities might be passed down from the parents who abandoned her. Peach insists that Demi’s magic is her own.

 The fleet sets sail for the Black Isle. The journey is mostly uneventful. The last night, Peach receives a message from Skerrin: “So you’ve decided to hide her from me. That was a brave decision. I hope you don’t regret it.” Peach replies that the party is doing what Skerrin wants, and that he doesn’t have to know everything. They do not tell the rest of the party about the message. The Falling Star arrives at The Black Isle.

## EP. 20 - Blood in the Water

**The party infiltrates the fortress.**

Beginning the blockade, Admiral Hawk requests two representatives from The Falling Star. Demi and Mortin head to the HMS Acadia, where they are informed that the Black Isle has begun to sink into the sea. Noting the maze-like quality of the fortress, Queen Orthocan provides Jhank as a guide to the party. Gupper offers to provide the party cover as they sneak into the fortress. They also learn that the Sea Elves are not present in this combat because the Coalinth are present. Tasked with identifying Sahuagin numbers, fortifications, weak points, weaponry, and disbursement throughout the fortress, Demi and Mortin return to The Falling Star.

 Meanwhile, Peach gifts Odephelia a haiku. Odephelia compliments the poem, prompting Peach to compliment the poem’s subject. Realizing it’s about her, Odephelia grows embarrassed and Peach hides underneath an upturned rowboat.  That evening, Demi learns from Oceanus that the sea elves worship Deep Sashelas, who has been known to sink cities. Oceanus expresses prejudice toward the Coalinth. The party awakens to learn that the Sahuagin have swarmed and sunk one of the vessels on the edge of the fleet.

The party sets off swimming toward the Sahuagin fortress. Thinking Jhank can breathe underwater, Zahl excludes him when casting Underwater Breathing on the party members who need it, as well as Odephelia and Falling Star crew members. This results in Jhank having to abandon the mission before the entrance into the fortress is uncovered. Mortin catches a glimpse of Fort Clack Clack, an enormous crab siege engine manned by The Claw King. Sneaking past Sahuagin patrols, the party muscles their way into the hidden entrance identified by Ambassador Suarev. Within this slender crevice entrance leading into a fully submerged level of the fortress, the party finds the large corpse of a giant eel crushed against a broken slab of wall. On the other side of this wall are prison cells. Using the Helm of Comprehend Languages, Zahl learns that these cells hold prisoners meant to battle to the death in a coliseum-like Sahuagin arena. Attacking the Sahuagin guards, the party realizes that their enemy becomes frenzied, improved combatants upon drawing blood in combat.

The battle is close, but the party manages to dispatch the guards and release the imprisoned Loacath Borgus and Triton Kish. They learn that the arena has held at least 200 Sahuagin, and that the four Sahuagin leaders are easily identified as four-armed individuals. They also learn that the island will occasionally shake violently before sinking further below sea level. Speculating that Sekolah may be beneath the island, the party sends the two freed individuals back the way the party came on Borgus’s sea lion steed Silver. Dodging frequent Sahuagin patrols, the party begins making their painstaking, stealthy way through the sunken Sahuagin fortress with Mortin disguised as a Sahuagin and the rest of the party invisible. The going is difficult and slow, as the party can only communicate via Demi’s Message cantrip. Bypassing rooms full of Sahuagin mages, the party discovers a secret door in a room full of shark mounts. Mortin converses with the sharks, but is unable to glean how to open the secret door.

Continuing through the fortress, the party ascends stairs leading upward into the second level of the fortress. This level is also submerged entirely in water. Hiding from patrols in an alcove, the party meets a telepathic lobster named Shern.

## EP. 21 - Beneath the Blood

**Zahl finds something precious.**

The party learns from Shern that this level of the fortress is the home of the Sahuagin leadership. The party brings Shern with them and continues their cautious reconnaissance. As Zahl scouts ahead looking through Ahshi’s eyes, a regal vision of Sophia appears. She leads Zahl to a barred room decorated with a mural not matching the rest of the Sahuagin decor. The mural depicts Sophia chained, towered over by an enormous serpentine man. On an altar in the mural room rests a broken rod, made from white quartz marred with smoky streaks. Telling Zahl she will continue to trust him, Mother motions for him to take the rod. Zahl sends Ahshi into the barred room to retrieve the rod. As soon as the familiar lifts the rod, thudding begins on the opposing wall. Peach manages to grapple Zahl out of the way before an Avatar of Sekolah crashes through the wall and attacks the party, alongside a Sahuagin priestess.

 During the ensuing combat, Mortin is briefly banished into the watery realm of Sekolah by the priestess, catching a glimpse of the Sahuagin god before damage to the priestess brings him back to the party. As Demi dispatches the Sekolah priestess and Peach lands the killing blow on the Avatar of Sekolah, Zahl insists that they just killed a god and investigates his prize. The rod turns out to be a Rod of the Pactkeeper and a portion of the Ostis Anchor.

 The party takes a short rest in the mural room before exploring the larger temple in which the Avatar of Sekolah was held. Unable to identify the purpose the avatar served, the party does discover a number of health potions, luminescent paint, and serpentine statuettes suggestive of the Yuan-Ti.

 The corpses of the Avatar and the priestess are discovered. After utilizing Mortin’s fish wildshape and Zahl’s invisibility to manage a tense, stealthy escape from the investigating Sahuagin, the party continues their slow progress through the fortress. They eventually locate the quarters of the Sahuagin leaders. Zahl is able to use his Helm of Comprehend Languages to learn that the Sahuagin are aware of the intruders, that the fortress is 500 strong, and that the Baron has disappeared with a High Priestess.

 The party continues to the topmost level of the fortress, which is not submerged. They emerge to find themselves surrounded by numerous Sahuagin, as well as enslaved orcish, hobgoblinoid, and lizardfolk noncombatants. The ensuing combat brings the party close to death, but they manage to dispatch the Sahuagin slavers by the skin of their teeth.

## EP. 22 - Blood in the Black Mane

**Peach finds a mentor.**

The party limps through the topmost level of the fortress with the now-freed orcs, hobgoblins, and lizardfolk, seeking out an entity affectionately referred to as “the big one.” Learning that he is imprisoned, Mortin disguises himself as a Sahuagin and pretends to bring the “captured” Peach into the cage of “the big one.” Mortin, muttering and unable to speak the language of the Sahuagin, is briefly able to pass as “Heartripper’s kid” before the guards catch wise and are rapidly dealt with by the party. They are then able to rescue “the big one”: the Leonin Paladin Didasko, or “Teach.” Teach nearly attacks the still-Sahuagin disguised Mortin, but is stopped and freed by Peach.

 After healing the party and the noncombatants, Teach locates his gear and the gear of his deceased companion. Teach convinces Peach to take his former ally’s Mithral plate and shield. The party continues toward the causeway entrance to the fort. As they progress, Mortin discovers the armory and sets it on fire before releasing a number of animals from his Bag of Tricks, setting them running as a distraction.

 The party locates the fort’s causeway exit, only to find it gated and blocked by a number of guards. Some of these guards pursue Mortin’s animals. Noting a cauldron of boiling oil, Teach scales the wall and empties the oil over the heads of the guards, immediately killing three. Chaotic combat ensues. Demi utilizes the mechanized gate to damage a guard and Peach rides on invisible bear-Mortin’s shoulders as the party escapes a charging flood of Sahuagin soldiers. They lead the noncombatants across the causeway and into the relative safety of the blockade, covered by the cannonfire of Admiral Hawk’s marines. Teach passes the refugees on to Admiral Hawk and the party invites the paladin back to The Falling Star. There, the party learns that Teach worships the mysterious Cerdwyyr or “Voidwalker,” who allows Teach visions of what lies beyond the stars.

 Impressed by Teach’s abilities as a healer and a melee combatant, Peach expresses a desire to become like him. Teach casts ceremony and the pair look into the constellations lighting the void, losing themselves until they find Voidwalker. They look up to see an array of strange, otherworldly constellations backlit by a deep purple milkyway. Teach tells Peach that Voidwalker has found them. Peach speaks to Voidwalker for the first time, saying “I think I’ve been looking for a light to guide me. But if looking into the dark is what I need to do, then I’ll do it.” As Peach closes their eyes, Voidwalker gives them a brief vision of a map in the stars.

## EP. 23 - To the Last Drop

**Victory for the Heroes of the Black Isle.**

Demi updates Oceanus regarding the party’s reconnaissance. Seagull-form Mortin poops on Oceanus’s shirt, “forcing” him to take it off. Using their Sending Stone necklace, Peach learns that Plum and Kiorna have been seeing each other regularly. Demi and Teach travel to the HMS Acadia to update Admiral Hawk regarding the information gained during their reconnaissance mission: numbers, floorplan, armory, presence of Sekolah’s avatar, etc. They also discover Borgus and Kish made it out of the fortress safely. Hawk informs them that a strike team located a weakness in the fort’s submerged portcullis fortification which could be sieged by Fort Clack Clack, and requests that the party act as bait to help cover Fort Clack Clack’s approach.

 The party prepares for the siege. Peach gifts Demi the falling star bookmark made by Kiorna. Teach summons a purple and silver sea lion steed named Oscar. Zahl casts water breathing on the party, who dive in as the HMS Acadia opens fire on the fort. Skirting Fort Clack Clack as it begins to attack the portcullis, Demi casts a Major Image of the Avatar of Sekolah, managing to draw out some of the Sahuagin forces while others head toward Fort Clack Clack. Peach and Teach pretend to attack the Major Image, redirecting the Sahuagin who had been heading to Fort Clack Clack. Punctuated by Loacath ballistas carving through the enemy and Fort Clack Clack tearing down the portcullis, the party shreds through the Sahuagin.

 The party charges the Sahuagin forces awaiting behind the broken portcullis. Mortin, Teach, and Peach charge the Sahuagin blademaster leader as Demi and Zahl ride Fort Clack Clack. Before the blademaster can kill Peach, Teach manages to land the killing blow on the Sahuagin leader. The tide of the battle turns and the Loacath forces charge into the fortress. The party stays behind on Fort Clack Clack. Peach joins Mortin and Zahl for the first time in healing the wounded. Questioning Queen Orthocan regarding the presence of the Ostis Anchor in her reclaimed home, Zahl learns that the mural room was either uncovered or brought to that location by the Sahuagin. Demi continues training Bimbz, who speaks into her head for the first time.

 A hero’s welcome greets the party as they return to Salt Marsh. They are given the title “Heroes of the Black Isle.” Teach is reunited with his wife Amelia and his son Luthor. Hawk-wildshaped Mortin steals Admiral Hawk’s hat. Solomore gifts the party the deed to Conundrum Isle and it’s lighthouse. Additionally, they are all made citizens of Salt Marsh. Zahl releases Shern into the shallow waters around their island. Teach gifts Peach the silver and purple feathers he wears in his hair before departing with his family.

## EP. 24 - Putting Down Roots

**The party nests. Then shit hits the fan.**

Both guided and hindered by Cletus the housekeeper, the party explores their new lighthouse home. Odephelia discovers a trap door in the kitchen, which leads to a basement. A candelabra lever opens one of the walls, revealing a wide cavernous space with a caved in entrance to the sea. Peach has a conversation with an animated skeleton tasked with manning a cannon, should anyone come through the caved-in entrance. The skeleton is unable to remember why he is manning the cannon. Assured that his task is finished, he requests he be laid to rest beneath the sky. Peach carries the skeleton into the ocean, where he comes apart in blue-gold motes before disappearing.

 As Demi, Odephelia, and Plum play cards, Odephelia informs Demi that Plum cheats. The two speculate about the person she was before she had a kid. True to her word, Plum shows Demi and Odephelia Peach’s poetry. Meanwhile, Mortin and Zahl discover a freshwater pool in the basement room, which makes no sense given the water table. At the bottom of this pool is a flat marble slab covered in arcane runes. Tabling this discovery, Mortin and Zahl continue to explore a strange seam in the wall. Mortin stoneshapes the seam away to reveal a metallic door. Detecting Magic, Mortin finds that each magical signature emits its own musical note. He also learns that the marble slab in the bottom of the freshwater pool radiates a magical blue glow in a perfect circle that extends upward through the entirety of the pool. When Peach casts Detect Good and Evil, there is a distinct lack of any such presence.

Demi plays “The Parting Glass” upon the door, which readily opens. In the room, there is a teleportation circle, ever-burning candles, and a well-stocked library. In the bookshelves, Demi discovers A Brief History of the Keoshi Heartlands, Factions of Flaeness by Nolan the Kobold, and Now You’re Cooking with Fish by Mearle Groveson. Zahl discovers decades worth of journals belonging to Theodore Solomore. Demi gives Peach the cookbook. When Peach touches the teleportation circle, blue light pulses before flickering out. When Mortin steps onto the teleportation circle, there is a flash and an arcane explosion before the light all but subsides. Immediately, a voice that knows Mortin’s name instructs him not to touch the circle.

Demi promptly messages Solomore asking why Theodore Solomore is talking to Mortin. The party learns that Theodore Solomore has been dead for 40 years. He then gives the party the confusing news that he buried Theodore himself. It turns out that Theodore Solomore’s remains were only recently “returned.”

 Peach stands on the teleportation circle. Immediately, the voice of Mordenkainen fills the heads of the party, demanding that they stop. Informing them he is the leader of Greyhawk’s Circle of Eight and that there are hundreds of these circles, Mordenkainen warns that he cannot be held responsible for whatever transmutation might occur. Peach steps off and Zahl asks Mordenkainen how to use the circle. In answer, the teleportation circle immediately snaps in half. Mortin speculates that Theodore Solomore was a member of the Circle of Eight. The rest of the party asks to be taught to open and close the magical door by Demi, but she declines.

 The party explores the tower of the lighthouse. The rooftop light fixture itself is made from a series of mirrors on a rigging system controlled by brass gears that allow for the mirrors to be shifted, set within a glass and wrought iron metal casing. Mortin claims this rooftop as his room. The rest of the party, along with Plum, Odephelia and Oceanus, claim the remaining floors.

 Over the course of a week, the party settles into their home. Mortin airdrops supplies to the island over the course of the week and stoneshapes one of the larger rooms into two bedrooms for Peach and Plum, and later does the same for Ahshi and Zahl. Demi convinces Oceanus to take one of the lighthouse rooms. Zahl makes miniature beds for Ahshi and Bimbz. Peach deep-cleans the lighthouse and creates individualized garden window-boxes for each member of the party’s aesthetic. Upon seeing that Oceanus and Peach have furnished their rooms with cots, Demi and Mortin sneak proper beds into their rooms. Zahl paints the symbol of Cerdwyyr onto Peach’s shield. Zahl also discovers the text Savage Sects of the Amedio Jungle in the basement library. Mortin constructs himself a wooden structure atop the rooftop fixture. At the Quartermaster of Iuz, the party purchases Gauntlets of Ogre Power for Peach and the Cloak of the Manta Ray for Mortin. Reading the journals of Theodore Solomore dated as early as 491 CF, Demi learns that the Circle convinced Keoland’s king to allow them to erect the lighthouse, which he calls the “listening post.” He questions the Circle’s decision to put the post here, believing nothing here could harm Greyhawk. In 502 CF, Mordenkainen himself visited the island to inspect the listening posts. In 524 CF, an unexpected shipment arrived from the Circle containing training dummies, rigging, and stashes of weapons. Theodore is uncertain as to their purpose.

The second week, Mother appears to Zahl and explains to him that the Ostis Anchor is what binds her to this plane. She wants it assembled, describing it as “the chains and the key.” When Zahl asks for greater transparency, Mother asserts that Zahl’s companions have caused him to question her. Zahl replies that his companions have shown him the world is not against him. Mother tells Zahl that Sseth is her captor and the god of Zahl’s people. She also reminds Zahl that if he knew what she had done to him, he would not help her. Zahl learns in this conversation that the second half of the Ostis Anchor exists beyond the Sea of Dust.

Bimbz begins communicating occasional words to Demi, making Demi worry that she is losing her mind. Demi convinces Plum to show her Peach’s artwork, and Plum tells her about the earth genasi’s father: that he was a being of enormous power, trapped where he didn’t belong. Plum describes Peach as “his final gift to me.” Plum also asserts, despite Demi’s protestations of nothing between them, that Oceanus will never make a move on his own.

 Hoping to visit Wander Root and intent on returning Kiarra’s familial sword, Peach and Mortin in the form of a giant eagle set off for Bruhl. As they approach Bruhl, they see smoke rising from the settlement. Closing the distance, they see the spot where Wander Root once stood - as well as the settlement itself - demolished and smoldering in purple flames. They discover upturned earth where Wander Root once stood, as well as the bodies of Kiarra and all the Bruhl rangers. A trail of purple flame leads into the Silver Wood. As Mortin and Peach put out the fires in the settlement, Mortin says that he did this by bringing back energy from the Dreadwood to the treant. Peach insists that Wander Root chose to absorb that energy and uses the sending stone necklace to contact Demi and Zahl. They set off on horseback with Oceanus toward Bruhl. Summoning two giant eagles while Peach messages the others, Mortin leaves one as a mount and sets off flying the other into the Silver Wood without the earth genasi. Realizing they’ve been left behind, Peach follows. They find the elven homesteads there burning and destroyed as well. Mortin reaches Wander Root first.

 A purple blaze emanates from Wander Root’s core, where his face once resided. Seeing the gargantuan treant and two awakened treants engaged with a shifter riding a griffin, Mortin engages as well. Before Peach can catch up, Wander Root knocks Mortin unconscious, causing him to lose a death saving throw and Peach to fall out of the sky. The griffin-rider heals Mortin, and Mortin summons Giant Owls for himself and Peach to ride. The three manage to draw Wander Root away from what seems to be his intended path and toward the Dreadwood. The shifter recognizes Mortin as the Will of the Feycourt and introduces herself as Moon.

## EP. 25 - Uprooted

**Mortin loses someone precious.**

Zahl, Demi, and Oceanus ride through the night toward Bruhl. Mortin, Peach, and Moon fly to the Silver Wood to search for survivors, the burning Wander Root trailing far behind. Seeing a figure disappear into the trees, Mortin sends an owl after them. As the three pursue the figure, Mortin and Peach learn that Moon is affiliated with the Grey Mists - a fey faction in opposition to the Summer Court. They learn that Umeris Grumblebunk, the last Will, is still alive and working with the Grey Mists after not agreeing with how the Summer Court handled the issues with the Shadowfell. While the Summer Court attempts to absorb all of the negative Shadowfell energy into a single entity - the staff belonging to the Will - the Grey Mists distribute the Shadowfell energy all around the world in “small doses.” After Umeris had a “similar experience,” he joined the Grey Mists.

 Moon explains that the Shadowfell is a twisted mirror image of this plane, and that in places where the veil is thin, energy seeps from the Shadowfell into the Material Plane. The Dreadwood is a permanent rift between these planes. She also explains that Granny Nightshade is trying to harness this Shadowfell energy. Mortin decides that Granny Nightshade needs to be dealt with.

 The figure is located with a group of Silver Wood survivors. Moon sets off to continue drawing Wander Root off his path while Mortin and Peach accompany the refugees back to a riverside near Bruhl. Mortin and Peach put out the flames and bury the dead from the Silver Wood and Bruhl. Burying Kiarra, Peach promises to return her blade after Granny Nightshade has been dealt with. Demi and Zahl fill Oceanus in on their plight, and Zahl sends Ahshi flying ahead. Mortin uses his staff to create a Hearth of Moon and Shadow for the first time, creating a cherry blossom tree to sleep beneath.

 Zahl, Demi, and Oceanus come across refugees on the road. Learning that a gargantuan treant destroyed the refugees homes, Demi instructs them to seek out Solomore in Salt Marsh. Moon returns, and Mortin expresses the desire to go after Wander Root alone. Peach objects and Ahshi arrives. Giving the Silver Wood ranger Liara among the rest of the refugees the rest of their gold, Peach asks her to keep an eye out for Demi and Zahl. Seeing Peach distracted, Mortin takes off without them a second time on the back of a giant owl, leaving no mount behind. Peach pursues on foot.

 Reaching Wander Root, Mortin ascertains that the treant continues recorrecting his course toward the northwest. Mortin attacks Wander Root with his eight summons, which are rapidly dealt with by the treant. Peach gets lost in the Dreadwood as they run. Once the owls are gone, Mortin wildshapes into a giant ape and fights Wander Root.

 Ahshi returns to Zahl, relaying that Peach is running after Wander Root. Via Sending, Demi asks Peach to explain themself. Lost, Peach is only able to tell her that Mortin is a giant ape. Ahshi tells the riders that Mortin left Peach behind, but that Moon and her griffin might be able to help them get to Mortin. Wander Root knocks Mortin unconscious and begins to head toward the northwest once more. Peach manages to locate Mortin and heal him. As Mortin expresses the intent to go back after Wander Root, Peach begs him to wait. Mortin yells that his home is in that direction and turns into a giant eagle, leaving Peach behind a third time and pursuing Wander Root alone.

 Mortin continues trying to redirect Wander Root. Peach runs underfoot trying to catch up. Zahl and Demi make it to Moon. After a tense exchange, Moon agrees to let Demi ride with her while carrying Zahl in the griffin’s talons. Making it to Wander Root and giant eagle Mortin, Demi sees that he has no rider. Zahl casts Sickening Radiance underneath Wander Root. Mortin and Moon begin drawing the treant back and forth through the sickening radiance. Peach manages to catch up underfoot and attacks Wander Root in melee, where Mortin promptly polymorphs them into a giant ape. Seeing Wander Root awaken two more treants to join the fray, Demi uses Major Image to create the image of a second giant ape, drawing away some of Wander Root’s attacks. Using boulder attacks, Wander Root manages to drop Peach out of giant ape form and to knock Zahl unconscious. Before he can kill Zahl, Peach lands the killing blow on Wander Root using Kiarra’s blade.

 Approaching the purple, blazing remains of Wander Root, Mortin absorbs the Shadowfell energy back into his staff. The bulb catches ablaze, and Mortin sees in the purple flame a flicker of Wander Root’s pained face. It grows smaller and smaller until Wander Root vanishes. Mortin tells Wander Root he’s sorry. A purple bud manifests on the staff. The party returns to Oceanus and the refugees and rest.

## EP. 26 - Called to the Throne

**The party agrees to transport a strange artifact...**

The next morning, Mortin discovers a face upon the cherry blossom tree form of his staff who he believes is Wander Root. Liara informs the party that, while some of the elves want to come to Salt Marsh, others want to stay and rebuild. Turning Ahshi back into a pseudodragon, Zahl, Demi, and Bimbz play with the elven children. Mortin spends a day awakening two treants to protect the remaining elves. That night, Peach sees lines begin connecting in the sky, forming unknown constellations. Mortin sends Jasper the owl to tell the rest of the party that he is sleeping in the Silver Wood. Demi and Zahl bond over their shared experience as orphans.

The next day, Mortin introduces the awakened treants to the Silver Wood survivors. Though afraid that these treants will end up like Wander Root, the remaining elves ultimately accept them as protectors. Peach fills in Demi and Zahl on the influence of Shadowfell energy on Wander Root, and expresses concern that the Shadowfell energy in Mortin’s staff will corrupt the party. The party leaves their horses with Liara and heads back to Salt Marsh with the refugees. On the last day of the journey, Issen messages Peach to say a strange person came by Ottel’s Tower asking about recent anti-scrying magic purchases, showing the party’s faces to the shopkeep. Assuming the strange person to be Skerrin, Peach warns Issen to be wary of the Brotherhood.

 Returning to the council, the party learns that Solomor is housing the Silverwood refugees. They update the council about the events at Bruel and Mortin continues expressing a sense of responsibility for Wander Root’s demise. The party is also given a letter with the seal of the Crown of Keoland. Zahl and Demi say goodbye to the Silver Wood children and the party rides in a WaterWalking Mortin-horsedrawn rowboat back to Conundrum Isle. On the way, they open the letter to learn that the presence of “The Heroes of the Black Isle *has been requested at the castle in Niole Dra by King Kimberto Skotti.*

 The party adjourns to the music room. Perusing the shelves, Demi notes that there are tomes whose texts seem to be constantly shifting before one of the books casts Poison Spray on her. Peach tells the party about Issen’s Sending and accidentally tells the party about Skerrin’s last Sending to them. Demi considers messaging Skerrin, but Peach dissuades her with the reminder that Skerrin would be tipped off that Issen contacted them. Mortin scours the town for Skerrin using Locate Creature and does not find him. Fearing that Granny Nightshade will send more entities toward Mortin’s home,  Peach presses Mortin for information and learns that he is from the Hornwood. Rereading Skerrin’s journal, the party notes that an entity called “the Spider weaves her web in Niole Dra” with the intent to manipulate the king. They decide to answer the summons. Demi informs the crew that they will be sailing north and Peach learns that Skerrin has never messaged Odephelia. Odephelia presses the subject and Peach explains that they have received messages from Skerrin. The two bond over their Skerrin-related anxieties, and Odephelia convinces Peach to let her come with the party to meet Manistrad.

 At the Snapping Line, Manistrad informs the party and Odephelia that the king’s court has requested a throne discovered in a vault deep beneath the mines. Explaining that the crown is offering 4,000 gp for the discreet delivery of this object via barge, Manistrad hires the party.  They are informed that the throne was guarded by dwarven-shaped constructs that killed a number of Manistrad’s men, and that it is not to be touched. They are also informed that the identity of the court member requesting the throne’s delivery is unknown.

Returning Odephelia to the island, the party and Manistrad fly on Mortin’s Giant Owls to the mines. Descending into the closed-off depth of the mines below sea level, the party hears the sound of rushing water. Trying to investigate the water below the broken bridge leading into the vault, Zahl falls, but is able to keep from landing in it by casting Fly. He sees that the water continues rushing downward out of sight. He flies around the moat surrounding the vault, noting the remaining constructs and a stone arch. The party attempts to follow Zahl by jumping across the broken bridge, and Mortin falls. Upon touching the water, he is electrified before Peach is able to pull him out.

Investigating, Zahl notes that the iconography differs from contemporary dwarvish art. Manistrad speculates that this was a prison for whatever had been enthroned and informs the party that the iconography is duergar: “dwarves who dug too deep until they discovered something they shouldn’t have, and were enslaved by it.” Mortin speculates that touching the throne may have caused Manistrad’s men to kill the others.The party is unable to recall what sort of entity enslaved the duergar. Mortin notes nothing strange about the arch, the party returns to the surface. Peach purchases a hand crossbow for Odephelia. Taking a look at the crate containing the throne, Mortin uses Detect Magic to discover Abjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Conjuration, and Necromancy radiating from the throne. The party laments that the throne was discovered at all and worries over who requested it. As Demi and Zahl consider contacting Mordenkainen regarding the throne, the party learns that the Free City of Greyhawk is the center of the free world and a bastion against extraplanar forces. Peach and Mortin argue against sharing this information with Mordenkainen, worrying that he would not utilize it for good. The party decides against contacting the archmage. When Demi suggests that is probably for the best and refers to herself as a bard from a backwater town, Mortin insists that she is the captain of the Falling Star and tells her to stop calling herself a bard.

The party is informed by Manistrad’s men that a court-appointed wizard located the throne using Detect Magic. When he sat on the throne, the wizard became encased in obsidian. The constructs shattered the obsidian-encased wizard and attacked the remaining miners until the men escaped the vault. Learning that only two constructs attacked the miners, the party speculates that the other two constructs are protecting the arch.

 Returning to Conundrum Isle, Manistrad tells the party she knows someone who can assist in transporting the throne. As she leaves, one of the trees on the island splits in half and two fey entities step out, requesting a conversation with Mortin. The summer eladrin introduces himself as Vethzairos, King of the Summer Court, and asks why they live in a giant penis. Sarka, archfey of the frost fey, asks Mortin to come with them for a conversation. Mortin gives Demi the Staff of the Woodlands. The fey warn the party that the staff is dangerous and head back through the tree. Despite the party’s protests, Mortin leaves.

## EP. 27 - A God's Grasp

**Zahl meets his match.**

Worried about the Staff of the Woodlands, Peach spends the night outside Demi’s door listening for trouble. Discovering them in the morning, Demi chews them out and Oceanus sees the pair standing outside Demi’s door. When asked by Oceanus if he thinks the two could have “a thing,” Zahl assures him no. Peach, Zahl, and Pigpen retrieve the cannon from the basement. Demi messages her mute crewmate, Slaw, for the first time. Manistrad takes the party to her contact: Dreavosi Anuril, an aasimar cleric who keeps hundreds of birds in her boathouse on the north side of Salt Marsh. Zahl is instantly smitten.

 The party learns that Dreavosi is a follower of Rau, greater deity of peace, reason, and peace through reason. From Dreavosi’s library, Demi takes The Stars of Gods and the Stars of the Seas by Zaetros. Bimbz calls Dreavosi “friend” in Demi’s head. With Dreavosi and two of her birds in tow, the party heads to the mines with The Falling Star. Peach gifts Odephelia a crossbow to distract her from the party’s trek into the mines. Seeing this, Zahl calls Peach “smart” - something the genasi has never been told before.

 Entering the vault, Dreavosi fails to leap across and reveals her wings to the group in order to keep from falling into the electrified water. With a broken understanding of Duergar, she then identifies that the symbols above the archway read, “A God lost. A God found. Pride in craft keeps the vault closed.” The archway itself radiates Abjuration, while the word “closed” also gives off Radiant energy. Touching the text, Zahl identifies the complete translation: “A God was lost. He who sought to replace him was found. Our craft keeps relics of this time sealed away.” The party realizes that the waterfall is salt water pouring in from a fissure above the vault, and that the moat is nevertheless not rising. Peach posits that there is something deeper. They also express anxiety over delivering the throne to a king and suggest feeding the relic to Mogyagox. Dreavosi agrees, stating that those with power who seek more power always give her pause. Despite this, the party loads the Throne onto The Falling Star and they set off to Tyrant’s Landing.

 Peach accompanies Dreavosi to inspect the Throne, confiding in her their anxieties about the presence Shadowfell magic may have on the party. Dreavosi tells them that the narrowminded views of those who brought her up have shown her that there are infinite ways of helping and harming people with the available magics at hand. Casting Detect Magic on the throne, Dreavosi reads the same Abjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Conjuration, and Necromancy, as well as an oppressive darkness that is familiar to her. She confides that she hopes the party is “an answer to her prayer.”

 Demi reads The Stars of Gods and the Stars of the Seas, learning about the constellations the Anchor and the Belt. The stars weighed anchor at the very beginning, and the Anchor dropped into the night sky and never moved again. The stars then began to wade across the night sky with the Belt, for they had much to carry. Peach continues training Odephelia, using Skerrin’s mirror as target practice. Zahl tells Mother about what he perceives to be an angel on the ship and is met with uncertainty.

 A storm moves in, which Dreavosi believes to be magical. Despite Demi’s attempts to circumvent the storm, it draws The Falling Star in closer. Demi activates  the Blink Hull with the word “fuck” in Giant and The Falling Star appears five hundred feet out of the storm. As the ship lands, Odephelia loses her footing and falls into the sea. Peach dives in after her, managing to bring her to the surface. Demi uses Dimension Door to retrieve Odephelia, scold Peach, and bring Odephelia back to The Falling Star. Dreavosi heals Odephelia and Zahl retrieves Peach. In conversation, mention is made of Mother being capable of such things and Dreavosi asks Zahl more about his background. Finding himself a stammering mess, Zahl says they can talk about it tomorrow and leaves. Demi tells Oceanus that Zahl was acting like the sea elf First Mate, prompting a brief, halting discussion of their growing feelings for one another. Bimbz’s capacity for language continues to grow, though Demi still doubts he is actually speaking to her.

 The following day, lifeline hijinks ensue to make Odephelia feel better. Dreavosi sacrifices one of her songbirds to cast Divination, asking “Is the transport of this item a worthy action? Will it disturb peace?” Rau is unable to answer her question. Zahl and Dreavosi have a discussion regarding their shared golden features. Dreavosi explains that there is a reason she hides her heritage: it leads to a deification in which she is not interested. Zahl insists that Dreavosi’s abilities are godly, despite her protestations. Zahl shows her the broken piece of the Ostis Anchor and explains that his purpose is to free Mother. Dreavosi asks Zahl what the purpose of the party is, and he replies that it is to achieve peace.

 Dreavosi brings the party together and admits to them that she has a greater understanding of the inscription on the archway: Errigal, scribe keeper of the god of death Wee Jas, has been killed. Less than an hour before Manistrad approached the group regarding transporting the Throne, the god Wee Jas granted Dreavosi a vision: a jet black hand with a scarlet triangle reaching for the skull and scroll symbol of Errigal and crushing it. The hand then reached for the figure of Wee Jas. The party concludes that the Scarlet Brotherhood has killed a god, and speculates as to whether or not the Father of Obedience wants to become the god of death or destroy death altogether. Zahl and Demi speculate that bringing the Throne to Niole Dra where “the spider weaves her web” is walking directly into a trap. Peach asks if death is different now that Errigal is gone. Dreavosi explains that Errigal ushered souls to the afterlife. Without him, she is uncertain as to where those souls end up. Demi asks Dreavosi if there are any followers of Errigal, and wonders what would become of clerics who once accessed magic via the now deceased god. Dreavosi tells the party she can introduce them to a priest of Wee Jas in Niole Dra.

## EP. 27.5 - Mortin and the Fey Court

**Mortin takes a trip.**

Traveling through the Feywild, Mortin encounters landscape after landscape encapsulating each of the seasons. He is led to the center of a ring of feyfolk, four of whom seem to be eladrin leaders. Vethzairos prompts Mortin to tell the feyfolk what he has recently learned. Mortin informs the feyfolk as to the “bad chair” the party recently discovered deep beneath the earth. When asked if the chair was related to the Shadowfell, Mortin realizes what they want to hear about. He recounts them with his adventures in the Dreadwood: the affected owlbears, the name Granny Nightshade and the visions she gave him of his friends, the burning of Bruel, the corruption and death of Wander Root, and the residual Shadowfell energy now present in his staff. He also tells the feyfolk about Moon. The feyfolk are unfamiliar with the title “The Gray Mists.”

 Mortin then asks what happened to the last Will of the Feywild. He learns that they have not heard from Umeris in 200 years. He also learns that the Feywild felt Wander Root pass. Upon asking why a new Will was chosen when Umeris had not died, Mortin learns that a new Will is actually chosen when the Staff of the Woodlands is abandoned and grows into a tree. This, it turns out, is the origin of the Dreadwood. Insisting that the Shadowfell energy cannot be returned, a fey named Veneris tells Mortin that the corruption cannot be stopped, only slowed, and that the planting of the Dreadwood is a means of slowing this corruption. Mortin informs the feyfolk that Umeris is not dead, but leads the Gray Mists operating under the belief that they have better methods of dealing with and distributing Shadowfell energy.

 The court requests to speak with Mortin on their own and immediately begin bickering. One wants to head straight to the Shadowfell to deal with the issue, while another calls it a fool’s errand; one posits the issue is growing worse because of Umeris’s meddling. Mortin learns that some of the court have met Granny Nightshade: Xaneris sports a purple gash down his shoulder as evidence. She is not of the Shadowfell, but she wields its energy. They state that either she found the Dreadwood, or the Dreadwood found her. They speculate that the center of the Dreadwood may no longer be the Material Plane - a massive wound ripped in the plane itself.  Sarka suggests getting into the Shadowfell proper to see what it looks like on the other side and Vethzairos suggests walking straight through the Dreadwood into the gaping wound there.

 Mortin tells the Feycourt that the Will doesn’t have to work alone and proposes that the remaining Wills, the Grey Mists, and any of their allies be allowed to work together. He also insists that anyone he works with be fully informed of the situation into which they are getting themselves. The eladrin agree to go to war with the Shadowfell. Mortin is returned to the Material Plane via a pool of water, where he witnesses The Falling Star escaping the arcane storm before he is dropped near Tyrant’s Landing.

## EP. 28 - Torn Asunder

**CW: kidnapping and (temporary) character death.**

 Mortin waits in Tyrants Landing as a hawk until The Falling Star arrives, glimpsing 20 foot, sloth-like mammalian river-faring creatures called “Tugs” in the process. These harnessed creatures appear to pull barges up the river. Approaching Tyrants Landing, the rest of the party learns that the area was named for Cymberot the Tyrant, a dragon who was chased into the sea at this location by the Skotti ancestral line. Informed by Dreavosi that the dragon retreated into the sea, Peach speculates that the dragon is being a tyrant underwater now. Now spotting The Falling Star, Mortin flies to the  vessel. Demi returns Mortin the staff and he is introduced to Dreavosi. The party updates Mortin as to the state of Errigal and the Scarlet Brotherhood’s involvement.

 The party arrives in Tyrants Landing. Demi, Zahl, Mortin, and Dreavosi secure a barge with a tug, leaving Peach alone to watch the Throne. Their passive perception catches nothing out of the ordinary and the party offloads the box containing the Throne onto their transport piloted by Ernst, Gust, and their Tug Molly. Peach says goodbye to Odephelia, gifting her one of Didasko’s feathers. Demi says goodbye to Oceanus and sends The Falling Star to find work in Gryrax while the party heads on their trek up the River Dra.

 Dreavosi messages her contact, Mavenon, letting him know when the party will arrive in Niole Dra. Zahl learns that Bimbz has begun speaking into Demi’s mind and offers her his incense for a casting of Find Familiar. Zahl also asks how Demi can stand not to confess her feelings to Oceanus, citing his own desire to do so with Dreavosi. Demi confesses that their mutual awkwardness has led to her feeling she does not need to put on a front with Oceanus. Zahl insists that, given the state of the world, playing games is a waste of valuable time. Demi concedes she will consider acting on her feelings for Oceanus.

For several days the party continues up the River Dra, passing rolling hills as they make their way northwest en route to the Capital. The weather begins to turn, rolling banks of fog filling the river valley and obscuring vision as the group continues their journey. During a particularly dark night Zahl finds himself on watch over the Throne. Leaning against the very crate carrying the throne, the warlock suddenly feels a knife plunging into his throat. Shadowy assassins had slipped onto the boat, promptly killing Zahl and Ahshi.

Mortin, hearing the sound of something moving loudly on deck, rises from where he had been resting. His eyes fall upon a figure attempting to push the throne towards a massive hole magically imbued in the deck of the ship. Unaware of Zahl’s condition, Mortin joins the fray as more shadowy figures come aboard. Mortin drops a bolt of lightning from the sky onto one of the enemies, waking the rest of the group.

Peach coming awake first rushes to where they find Zahl dead. Picking him up, they call for Dreavosi and run towards where the cleric is sleeping. Demi steps from the cabin to face down the threat as Dreavosi rushes to heal the warlock. Calling upon her incredible healing powers, Dreavosi revivifies the Yuan Ti - who in death had found himself in some strange glowing purple and silver void filled with countless souls. Dreavosi successfully pulls the warlock back to the prime material plane, but not before he notices the husk-like nature of the beings sitting in the strange space.

Meanwhile Mortin, Demi, and Peach engage the shadowy figures, several of whom successfully push the Throne into the hole. Mortin polymorphs into a giant ape and dives into the hole, pushing the crate back out. The assassins fighting on all sides panic and one of them grabs the portable hole with Mortin still in it. They attempt to take off with the druid trapped as the party engages with their companions.

A wild fight ensues as our party fends off the assassins and chases after the one carrying Mortin. The evasive shadow creature manages to elude them and even as the party slays the remaining enemies, the assassin slips into the darkness with the trapped Mortin. Demi reaches out with Sending as the two share a heartfelt moment, the firbolg attempting to conceal his panic as he is dragged further from his friends sharing the final words “Never call yourself just a bard again.” As the fog begins to clear the party finds themselves scattered and panicked, Demi and Zahl confused aboard the barge as Dreavosi and Peach futilely try to uncover their lost companion.

## EP. 29 - Reassembly

**The party reels.**

 Peach and Dreavosi swim to shore, where they search for Mortin. Back aboard the ship, Zahl is the first of the party to take a proper look at the throne, the top of which features a claw-like obsidian hand with an inverted triangle in the palm. He turns to ask Demi what is going on, only to find her sobbing on the deck. Demi informs Zahl that Mortin was taken. Zahl immediately begs for Sophia’s intervention. Though he feels her remorse and sorrow, Sophia does not intervene. Demi grieves on the deck while Zahl continues to beg for Sophia’s intervention. On the shore, Peach searches for Mortin for hours, getting lost in the process. Casting Augury to determine whether or not the search for Mortin will bear Weal (good fortune) or Woe (bad fortune), Dreavosi is shown the face of Wee Jas: the symbol of Woe, indicating that the search will be fruitless.

Aboard the vessel, Demi sends a message to Skerrin: “You and your organization have made a terrible mistake. I’ll find you. We were listening. I’m not anymore. Not until your brotherhood gives Mortin back.” Skerrin replies that this is interesting information Demi has given him, implying that he was not involved with the kidnapping. He goes on to say that last he checked, the party was headed towards Niole Dra. He suggests it is “time we met.” Zahl remains begging Sophia for intervention. When the party regroups, Demi tells the party about Mortin’s message and Dreavosi recommends the party continue on their intended path. Peach heals Zahl’s hand and tells him they’re glad he’s alive. Demi keeps an eye on the throne while Peach gets the Tug Molly back on track up the River Dra. Continuing his burgeoning mental communication, Bimbz tells Demi she is strong.

 After resting, Dreavosi and Zahl share a conversation about death. Zahl tells her about what he saw: the stars, the strange liminal dark space, the sense of his soul ripping apart: and then he saw Dreavosi. Zahl thanks her, insisting he owes Dreavosi his life. That day, Dreavosi scrys on Mortin. On an endless plain of red dust, a robed figure leads Mortin, who is chained  with a pair of glowing manacles. They are stepping from a shattered mirror. Demi speculates that the Brotherhood will attempt to use Mortin as a bargaining chip.

 Zahl informs Peach that he thinks he met Cerdwyyr and posits that Cerdwyyr protected his soul until the party could bring him back. Peach tells Zahl not to go seeing Cerdwyyr again anytime soon. Zahl then resummons Ahshi as a sprite. Bimbz watches as Zahl does so, seemingly interested in the process of finding a familiar. Zahl tearfully apologizes to Ahshi for letting him be killed. When Ahshi learns that Zahl died, the sprite insists that Zahl is a good person, so he would have ended up with Ahshi anyway. Zahl then introduces Ahshi to Dreavosi. When the two speak alone, Dreavosi tells the sprite that she is over 100 years old.

One night, Peach prays to Cerdwyyr, admitting that they weren’t sure their god was good until Zahl told them about the afterlife. They go on to say that when they die, they would like to shelter souls alongside Cerdwyyr. A single shooting star crosses the night sky, falling behind the horizon in response and they learn about a fourth constellation: the Rock. As the Belt continues its journey across the night sky it passes above a constellation that shifts drastically throughout the year. Starting as a pillar shape consisting of 8 stars it slowly crumbles into a flat array of 9 stars before refroming. The story tells that as the stars stepped upon the mighty rock it began to crumble beneath them and the stars lept from the rock. This constellation consists of 8 or 9 stars (depending on the season)  that shift from a pillar shape to a flat spread of stars and then back to the pillar throughout the year.

 Zahl admits to Dreavosi that he is an angry person and asks how she deals with anger. Dreavosi tells Zahl that she spent the first 60 years of her life in a town called Balwind in a monastery to the god Rau. She left the monastery because she felt that Rau’s teachings meant nothing if they were not shared, and found herself seeing things that made her wish she hadn’t left. These things brought her anger. But if you allow that anger to overtake you, you bring more harm into the world. She could not help others when she let anger overtake her. If there is a choice to be made between anger and protecting a life in front of her, Dreavosi will always choose the life. Dreavosi teaches Zahl the breathing exercises she had learned at the monastery.

 When Demi informs Oceanus of Mortin's kidnapping via Sending, he offers to turn the ship around. Demi tells him to continue doing his job, and tells him not to inform the rest of the crew. Demi then receives a Sending from Skerrin. He tells her that he will be joining the party in Niole Dra and suggests she “avoid the schoolteacher.” Demi messages Mortin each night, updating him as to the party's movements and sending him 25 words of a story. The Sending makes it through the first two nights - after that, Demi’s attempts are thwarted by powerful magic.

 Demi informs the party of Skerrin’s plan to meet them in Niole Dra, and of his warning against the schoolteacher. Peach insists that the party has to think like Mortin now, and Demi disagrees, suggesting that they need to think like Skerrin. Dreavosi warns against playing evil men’s games - that such an exercise ends in the game becoming your own. Zahl suggests sitting Skerrin in the throne, and Peach worries that Skerrin might not turn into obsidian.

 Five days after losing Mortin, the party arrives in the massive city of Niole Dra. Dreavosi informs Mavenon of their arrival, and he tells her he has sent members of the clergy to greet them. Demi is asked for the vessel’s certificate of ownership while docking. She admits the vessel is not hers, and Peach explains that the vessel’s captain was killed en-route to Niole Dra. To Demi and Zahl’s dismay, this results in the city guard being called. Captain Gaston is called to investigate the murder and the kidnapping of Mortin, while Gaxibald Gearhammer arrives to have the Throne transported to Castle Dra. After an attempt to bribe Gaxibald fails, Zahl successfully casts Suggestion to allow the party to keep the Throne. Demi and Dreavosi then follow Mavenon’s clergyman to the Temple of the Catacombs. There, they are greeted by the bone-white, frail tiefling figure of Mavenon.

 Within the cave-like, humanoid-carved Catacombs, Salvator waits. The Dragonborn Wizard, who has been waiting for days to access the Catacombs library, reacts with outrage upon being passed up by the leader of the catacombs. His demand to access the archives is granted by Mavenon. Traveling briefly with Demi, Dreavosi, and Mavenon, Salvator recognizes Demi from the stories of the Heroes of the Black Isle at court and introduces himself as Tythus Salvator Kalvernius Charlemagne VII before parting ways.

 Moving on to Mavenon’s office, Dreavosi recounts her vision of Errigal’s death via a hand similar to that reaching upward from the top of the Throne. Mavenon, with Dreavosi’s consent, casts Detect Thoughts and sees her vision for himself. Demi informs Mavenon of the Scarlet Brotherhood’s attack and attachment to the symbol of the inverted triangle, and Mavenon in turn informs Demi and Dreavosi that “the Machine of Death” has felt wrong since before his lifetime. Explaining that “the signs have been there,” Mavenon does not go into what those signs may have entailed or suggested, but upon learning of Errigal’s death, he claims that “the world may come apart” and demands the Throne be brought to the Catacombs despite Demi’s warnings that it was meant to be delivered to King Skotti. After some hesitancy on Demi’s part, she agrees and heads to the archives. Alone with Mavenon, Dreavosi asks where the clergy of Errigal can be found. He tells her that they became recluses after a schism in the faith thousands of years ago. Dreavosi asserts that she wants to find the clergy of Errigal. In the archives, Salvator researches pre-Circle nations and literature discussing Flanaess “pre-Great Empire.” Using a ghost named Tybalt to retrieve materials from the stacks, the librarian Agatha retrieves materials on the subject of the elves of Wayceraith. Dreavosi messages the two guarding the Throne to inform them of Mavenon’s plans.

A few hours into remaining aboard the vessel with the Throne, armored figures in the tabards of the Catacombs arrive, led by a white tiefling named Bertram. After some discussion, Captain Gaston concedes to Mavenon’s men. Peach drives the cart carrying the Throne through the city of Niole Dra to the Catacombs, where they watch with Zahl as it is brought hundreds of feet into the caverns past dozens of armed guards. The party is reunited in the archives. Demi learns that the sea elves of Wayceraith are fighting a losing war with the human population in the Lordship of the Isles, Dulstrand, and Sulward. Demi also reads a speculative text on the summoning of Familiars and a text concerning the exploits of fey beings, both in the Feywild and on the Material Plane. Zahl researches the Amedio Jungle and gods of the yuan-ti, coming across the name Sseth for the first time. Peach begins studying historical poetic epics. Salvator discovers an ancient tome written in Ganothian, a language only few can read. The text refers to the “Keys to Downfall" and provides a description of a suspiciously familiar throne.

Called back to Mavenon’s office, Dreavosi is officially tasked with seeking out the followers of Errigal. Zahl expresses fear for Dreavosi’s safety, to which she responds that she is unafraid. The party says their goodbyes, and is then asked to discover who among the king’s court was asking for the Throne. The Throne remains kept in the Catacombs.

## EP. 30 - Of Lore and Libraries

**A session-long loredump ensues.**

The party regroups in the Catacombs archives. Noting that Salvator is writing in a language that seems to refuse to be legible, Peach engages the dragonborn in conversation. Salvator explains he found the Ganothian language in his travels and introduces himself to the party. Demi asks if Salvator has ever heard of a throne that could turn people to obsidian, prompting a suspicious Salvator to ask if the party can read his tome. Zahl attempts to do so using the Helm of Comprehend Languages, but all he gleans is a terrible high-pitched squealing. Learning that the Throne is here in the Catacombs, Salvator requests to see it. Demi acquiesces despite Peach’s protests. Salvator makes a pinky promise with Peach not to sit on the throne, explaining that these are binding in Greyhawk.

 The party finds Mavenon and convinces him to let Salvator view the throne. During this time, Salvator learns that the party pissed off Mordenkainen. This perturbs him greatly, and it rapidly becomes evident that Salvator is a fan of Mordenkainen. The party descends deeper and further downward into the Catacombs, where Salvator notes that the stone seems to change in some way. Learning about the Throne’s connection to the death of Errigal, Salvator informs the party that he was tasked with researching an empire that existed before the Great Kingdom called the Empire of Ganoth. In his research, he has come across items called the Keys of Destruction. The Keys of Destruction are the Nox Throne or “Absence of Existence” Throne, the Guide or “the Map”, the Sceptre of Dominance, the Crown of Command, and Death’s End (which is described as a weapon or a tool). These items were said to have brought about the downfall of the Empire of Ganoth. The Ganothian language Zahl could not read does not exist within time; Salvator can only read it because he touched an item in a Ganothian ruin. Salvator informs the party he intends to use his knowledge of Ganoth and this Throne to become a member of the Circle of the Eight.

 Recalling the phrase “to the Kingdom of Purity all other nations will fall” in Skerrin’s journal, Peach asks if Salvator has ever heard of the “Kingdom of Purity.” Salvator knows this to be another name for the Empire of Ganoth, thereby connecting the empire in some way to the Scarlet Brotherhood. Demi hands over Skerrin’s journal for Salvator to decode. Attempting to cast Identify on the Throne, Salvator becomes aware that this part of the Catacombs - the bedrock - nullifies magic.

 Mavenon expresses the concern that the Scarlet Brotherhood may be looking for the other Keys, and Peach suggests they may have them already and asks who populated the Empire of Ganoth. Unfortunately, the demographics of the Ganothian Empire are unclear. Mavenon also informs the party he has secured the Throne by enacting the “Tome Accord,” which grants the Catacombs autonomy from Keoland and which the Skotti line has respected in the past. Perusing Skerrin’s journal, Salvator expresses concern as to the Father of Obedience. Demi speculates that the Father of Obedience is the god of the Ganothian Empire, and Zahl surmises that these artifacts are being collected for him. Asked by Demi as to any schoolteachers of note, Salvator recalls Lady Ainsley Grazia of Gran March, tutor to the five year old Prince Whitby Skotti. Mavenon recognizes the name and warns that King Skotti is fond of her, suggesting that the Tome Accord may be in peril if she insists on accessing the Throne. Demi surmises that Ainsley is the Spider.

 Testing the anti-magic space, Zahl finds he cannot think telepathically to Ahshi and asks the sprite verbally if Mother can see them. Ahshi responds in the negative, saying it’s as if there is an empty spot inside of him. Not being watched seems to please Zahl. As the party leaves, the party passes two unarmed combatants sparring. Zahl learns that these are the Order of the Unmarked.

 Salvator takes the party to a magic shop called Siphons and Souls, which is run by a ghost named Humphrey Tabor. Humphrey and Salvator bond through punning and Zahl buys enough incense for multiple castings of Find Familiar. They also learn that, for 10,000 gold, Humphrey has the Doss Lute. The party tries to get him to lower the price, but it appears he cannot, as his soul is trapped in the store and cannot be freed until he sells his items for their listed price. The party then heads to the Dapper Dandy to purchase clothes for King Skotti’s court.

 Salvator then takes the party to the Gobly Inn: an inn run by goblins. One of the goblins recognizes Demi, and gives the party rooms half off for her to perform. A goblin child asks Demi for her autograph on a Claw Wine poster. The party buys Salvator dinner and he peppers them with questions, learning about their connection to Mordenkainen. Salvator also delves into Zahl’s backstory, learning about Mother and Zahl’s piece of the Ostis Anchor. Casting identify on the piece of the Ostis Anchor, he notes both Celestial magic and a vaguer, darker magic. The party learns from Salvator that Ganoth existed approximately 3000 years ago - roughly 2000 years before the founding of the Circle of the Eight. Demi ends the night with a performance.

 The next day, the party meets at Nani’s Curious Pastries (and More). Nani is a small halfling woman wearing a dress whose train perpetually extends out of sight. The “and more” turns out to be magical items. The party ends up purchasing a Frostbrand longsword for Peach along with magic bread, surprise cupcakes, a fate cake, and shortbread cookies. The magic bread turns out not to be magical, Zahl’s surprise cupcake turns a crowded street of people invisible, and the fate cake hits Demi with a wave of exhaustion. Chaos in their wake, the party heads to the magic shop the Invisible Key, where Salvator purchases a spell scroll for Unseen Servant before the party heads back to the Catacombs.

Demi researches the elemental planes, seeking out information on marids. She learns that the marids of the Water Plane are considered “driven by ego, but masterful storytellers;” efreeti of the Fire Plane, “warriors who consider themselves to be the masters of all;” dao of the Earth Plane, “greedy hoarders of wealth and knowledge;” and djinn of the Air Plane, “hedonistic aescetics who understand the finer aspects of life.”  Peach researches Duergar history. Duergar broke from surface factions around 6000 CA, spending 500 years delving deeper until they disappear from the record. They reemerged 3500 years ago, sporadically interacting with the surface dwellers. Salvator reads a text from the dragonborn perspective of their historical clash with the yuan-ti, which ended in the eruption of the Hellfurnaces after the yuan-ti gained control of both the Amedio Jungle and the Kose Jungle. These events tie back to a dragon named Narcissus. He does not come across any record of the Ostis Anchor. While the others research, Zahl asks Bertram to train him. He watches others train, and then the two spar. Bertram proves a grueling instructor, and by the end, Zahl feels more confident in his stance.

The next day, Demi and Peach read The Prime Material Mirror, which speculates that the Feywild, Prime Material Plane, and Shadowfell all exist in the same point in space, and that events in one plane can have ripple effects across the others. Contact between these planes is, despite this connection, difficult. The Feycourt is referenced as leadership of the Feywild, while the Shadowfell has no leadership referenced. Zahl discovers a text in a strange dialect of Draconic called “the Sibilant of Death.” It defines Sseth as a chaotic evil deity solely worshiped by the yuan-ti. His symbol is a flying snake with bared fangs. Zahl looks for potential information on a pantheon or yuan-ti civil war, but finds none. Peach begins composing The Ballad of the Black Isle. Demi messages Vethzairos, informing him that Mortin has been taken and imploring him to help. Vethzairos responds that he will look into it and asks how the penis house is doing.

## EP. 31 - Court Education

**The plot thickens.**

After Demi and Peach say goodbye to the sprite form in which Ahshi can speak, Zahl resummons his familiar as a snake. After watching this occur, Bimbz sneezes and disappears. Zahl talks Demi through his method of resummoning Ahshi from the Celestial Plane. Following those instructions, Bimbz is resummoned as Demi’s familiar. Meanwhile, Salvator heads to court.

 On the way to pick up formalwear, the rest of the party hears a town crier announce that the Sea Princes have attacked Seaton, with Monmurg himself upon his vessel The Maw. The stormgiant Vjolnir is said to have aided the Keoshi marines in pushing back the pirate forces. They also learn that the Great Kingdom has petitioned the Grand Alliance of Keoland, Ulek, Gran March, and Idee for aid against “northern aggressors.. Demi immediately messages Oceanus to make certain that the Falling Star did not encounter the Sea Princes. She learns that The Falling Star is safely heading back from Gryrax to Tyrant’s Landing. Meanwhile, Peach reacts poorly to hearing the town crier praise the Heroes of the Black Isle, prompting a conversation in which Zahl learns of the fighter’s guilt at the deaths they have caused, given the broken state of the Wheel of Death. Zahl reminds the earth genasi that those deceased souls are being protected by Cerdwyyr. At the castle, Salvator notes tapestries depicting the tale of the Skotti line alongside the Catacombs military force pushing the blue dragon Cymberot out of the Keoshi Heartlands, culminating in the dragon’s arm being severed before he is driven into the sea.

 Zahl and Peach pick up their outfits from the Dapper Dandy, and Demi uses Skerrin’s Glamoured Armor to create a ballgown. They then head to Castle Dra, where they are announced as the Heroes of the Black Isle to some fanfare and are introduced to King Kimberto Skotti. After a brief conversation, the king leaves and Salvator educates the others in court manners. They are then approached by Captain Robvir Youngsteam, who is at court to request Keoland’s aid on behalf of Admiral Ulress Helmgast and the Lordship of the Isles. Youngsteam unsuccessfully petitions the party for aid, after which Demi informs the party that Oceanus hails from the Aerdi Sea, where an ongoing forty year war wages between the Sea Elves of Wayceraith and the Lordship of the Isles.

 The party then meets Lady Ainsley and her charge, Prince Whitby, sole heir to the Skotti line. The party regales the prince with tales from the Black Isle and Demi instructs Bimbz to play with Whitby. The party learns that Lady Ainsley is the benefactor at court seeking the Throne. Quizzing Zahl, Ainsley successfully reads his mind, forcing him to envision the Duergar vault where the Throne was recovered. Using the Battlemaster ability Know Your Enemy, Peach gleans that she is significantly more powerful (Level 14) than the Level 8 party. Zahl attempts to cast Suggestion on Ainsley in retaliation, she Counterspells and leaves. Oblivious, King Skotti offers the party a suite in the castle and announces a feast will be held in their honor this evening.

 In the party’s suite, Salvator casts Mordenkainen’s Private Sanctum and a panicked conversation ensues. Zahl shares Ainsley’s magical intrusion and surmises that Ainsley was interested in the Arch as well as the Throne. Peach shares knowledge of Ainsley’s heightened prowess. Positing that Ainsley and Skerrin may be enemies, Salvator and Zahl suggest sharing information with Skerrin in order to join forces against Ainsley. Peach reacts with skepticism. Demi messages Manistrad, warning her to protect the Arch. Zahl resummons Ahshi as a sprite.

 Waiting for the feast to begin, Zahl is confronted by the formerly enchanted Gaxibald Gearhammer. The party then falls into conversation with Lord Corvir Orikis of the Great Kingdom. He tells them that “creatures” are coming out of the Adri Forest to the north and attacking the Great Kingdom. When pressed, he elaborates: there is an army within the Adri Forest that does not seem to die. King Skotti arrives with Lady Ainsley, and the feast begins.

## EP. 32 - Falling for the Gambit

**The bad guy gets away. Again.**

The feast celebrating the Heroes of the Black Isle commences. Peach reads The Ballad of the Black Isle for those assembled, ending with the words, “A home is what you make it, / and ours will be made whole. / No member of our company / will be left in the cold” - a promise to rescue Mortin.

 Zahl asks Lady Ainsley to dance, hoping to interrogate her. Demi and Peach join the dancefloor with the intent to keep an eye on Zahl. Lady Ainsley, using her abilities as a Glamour Bard, enchants Peach. Just as Demi is realizing this, she receives a message from Skerrin informing her that he is present in the castle. He tells her to join him in Ainsley's quarters. Lady Ainsley, meanwhile, begins asking Peach pointed questions about the party.

Demi agrees to meet Skerrin, bringing Zahl with her. After some deliberation and slapping theatrics in the castle gardens, the two notice that the guards to the royal wing are asleep at their posts. Making their way past unimpeded, Demi and Zahl come face to face with Skerrin. Skerrin dangles Mortin’s location in exchange for helping him break into Lady Ainsley’s chambers. They agree. Meanwhile, Salvator babysits Peach who, much to Lady Ainsley’s irritation, is too busy singing the Glamour Bard’s praises to provide her with useful information about the party.

With Demi and Zahl unable to open the door to Lady Ainsley’s chambers, an irritated Skerrin does so, unwittingly triggering a magical alarm. Alerted to the intrusion, Lady Ainsley brings the prince with her to investigate. Peach and Salvator follow. In Ainsley’s chambers, Demi discovers what appears to be a blank book and burnt pages in the fireplace. Skerrin discovers a chest locked with a chesspiece puzzle. The lock opens when the pawn, a metaphor for Prince Skotti, is placed between the King and the Queen. It is then that Ainsley confronts the intruders, a threatening hand on Prince Skotti’s shoulder and a confused Peach following behind. Salvator waits outside the chamber doors. Taking advantage of Demi and Zahl’s unwillingness to confide in their fighter ally, Ainsley enchants Peach into believing that they are working with Skerrin. Peach levels their sword at Skerrin as Zahl turns himself and Demi invisible. Combat ensues.

 Demi and Zahl attempt to engage Ainsley in combat, but her Unbreakable Majesty makes it nearly impossible to attack her. Meanwhile, blows between Skerrin and Peach manage to do enough damage to break the fighter from Ainsley’s enchantment. The fighter joins their allies attacking Ainsley, and Skerrin disappears into the room with the chesspiece chest. Salvator Banishes Prince Whitby, removing him as a potential pawn for Ainsley to use against the party. He then uses his cane to barricade the chamber doors. Demi lands the killing whisper “still a better bard” on Ainsley just as Skerrin leaps from the balcony, casting Fly on himself. Peach leaps off the balcony behind Skerrin, grappling him in midair. Dropping Fly, Skerrin casts Dimension Door and the two reappear 500 feet away from Castle Dra, with the River Dra 200 feet below. The grappled pair begin to plummet. Skerrin manages to break free from the grapple, but takes a slash to his arm from Peach before casting Fly again and escaping.

 Back in Ainsley’s rooms, Demi investigates and realizes that Skerrin has escaped with the contents of Ainsley’s chest. Salvator unbars the chamber doors and convinces the guards to remove Ainsley’s corpse before the Banishment ends on Prince Skotti. Demi then distracts the distraught prince using Bimbz. Meanwhile, Zahl tries to Fly to catch Peach, but does not make it in time to stop the fighter from crashing into the river below. Miraculously, Peach does not fall unconscious despite a slew of broken bones. Still flying, Zahl carries them back to the castle.

## EP. 33 - The Scarlet Menagerie

**The party is under arrest.**

Skotti's men pour into the suite. Peach attempts to have forces sent after Skerrin, but their efforts are unsuccessful. When the party is ordered to divest themselves of their magical items and weapons, Zahl has a strong negative reaction to being separated from his arcane focus: an ouroboros bracelet.

Demi informs the king that Lady Ainsley is in fact Mardet Ostrim, member of the Scarlet Brotherhood. The party is removed to the castle’s holding cells, where the king’s cook Kirik Bonemeal casts Zone of Truth on the party. The party shares their reason for traveling to Niole Dra, sharing that the Scarlet Brotherhood killed Errigal. During this conversation, it is revealed that both Zahl and Demi grew up in orphanages in Gryrax. Demi gives the king Skerrin’s journal and its cypher and Salvator explains the significance of the Throne. Ultimately, the party convinces King Skotti of their innocence. The king uses Peach’s sending stone to contact Plum, informing her that her child was arrested.

The following day, Mavenon is then summoned to the castle. Investigating the materials retrieved from Mardet’s rooms, Salvator mends the burnt pages found in Mardet’s fireplace, revealing the following messages:

*“The vault is not empty. The duergar stumbled upon two. The Rat has gone silent. Send the wraiths. Look to the arch. - the Spider”*

*“The wraiths are sent. Watch for the Rat. - the Crow”*

The party deduces, using the animalistic code names of the Brotherhood, that Skerrin is “the Rat” and Mardet is “the Spider.” They further deduce that Mardet used the Crow’s wraiths to kidnap Mortin in an attempt to steal the Throne, and that Skerrin seems to no longer be working with his Brotherhood compatriots. Armed with this knowledge, the party puzzles how to get back to the Copperlocks Mines quickly. Mavenon offers a means of transport, so long as the party gives him an hour to prepare. In that hour, the party sells gear in order to earn the 10,000 gold to purchase the Doss Lute for Demi.

The party then returns to the Catacombs, where Mavenon uses the gifts Peach has given Demi and Zahl to cast a Divine Intervention to teleport. The party is pulled through multiple planes: one, greenish and hazy; another, a silvery astral space; the last, an inky black space. In each, the party sees hundreds of thousands of lost souls phasing in and out of existence, trapped. In a rush, the party finds themselves on a circle set into a little island just outside of Salt Marsh. Resting there, Demi attunes to her lute and the party reaches Level 9.

Feeling invigorated, the party heads to Manistrad’s mines. Approaching stealthily, the party notes a jet-black vessel just offshore, with a crow-like flag flying. They also begin to hear a disturbance in the settlement outside the Copperlocks Mines.

## EP. 34 - With Map in Hand

**Salvator touches something.**

The crew begins stealthing into the Copperlocks Mine, utilizing Pass Without a Trace. As the group approaches, they notice pirate-like individuals in long coats and leathers standing near the entryway to the palisades. Salvator and Demi go invisible as Zahl and Peach move quietly along the mine’s entryway, spotting dwarven miners as well as Salt Marsh guards bound and huddled together past the palisades under the watchful guard of more of these strange, pirate-like figures.

Demi offers a distraction via rock throw as she and Salvator breach the entryway to the
mine, hostages and captors in sight. Zahl perches with Eldritch Blast readied and Peach stealths to an outcropping over the entrance of the mine. Through investigation and listening into the invaders, the party hears about the Captain of the ship, “Vesh”, and his Wraith companions. There is mention of doing a number on the Dragonborn fellow, causing concern in the group about Salt Marsh guardcaptain Aleander.

Upon their investigation and moving further into the Mine, the party hears that a Dragonborn and Dwarf were taken back to the Crow mantled ship. Upon hearing this information, Peach initiates the assault on the men inside the mining compound. Combat with these individuals ensues as the party aims to aid the 30 individuals being held captive. Two of the pirates dash to inform the Captain and First Mate of the party making their way towards the mine. One heads towards the mine itself as the other goes for the ship. As Peach dispatches the pirate attempting to warn Vesh, Wraiths attack the earth genasi, seeming to siphon the paladin’s strength with every attack. Salvator manages to banish an assailant a second before what could have been a deadly blow. After Peach casts Command for the first time on the pirate heading to warn the ship, Demi quickly dispatches the man, ending combat within the compound. All the while, Zahl finds himself facing down a single pirate outside of the compound itself.

Demi finds the key to free the hostages as the party assesses the situation. After some questioning, the party learns that the band of pirates arrived less than a day ago and sieged the mines. Aleander and Manistrad were both taken in the siege. A man in a floppy hat - Vesh, the party deduces - entered the cave with wraiths in tow. The crew opts to take a short rest after getting everyone unchained and into the buildings on the compound, waiting and watching for potential patrols from the ship. Zahl disguises himself as one of the pirates and manages to convince them to forgo a round of patrols. Zahl may have a date with a Pirate as well. Zahl then convinces the mine guards to wear the pirate's garb and assume their posts in order to keep the deception going.

Upon moving into the mines and seeing the large central shaft/crane mechanism, Peach spots a wraith perched on the crane. Zahl and Peach quickly dispatch the entity before it can attack. Reaching the vault, Peach uses their Divine Sense and manages to clock a singular undead presence within the Vault itself. Zahl sends Ashi forwards to investigate and he sees the man with the floppy hat described before. The half elven captain mutters that “it should be working.”

The party quickly dispatches the last wraith and Salvator uses his splendiferous talon to hold Vesh in place. Zahl casts Suggestion on him, making them friendly. Meanwhile, Salvator uses his talon to throw the Duergar Machines into the water around the vault, causing a large feedback of electricity. Captain Vesh formally introduces himself to the party, claiming to be the Crow. Under the friendly suggestion of Zahl he’s revealed that he’s learned nothing regarding accessing the remaining Key of Destruction. Even charmed, Vesh is cagey at any line of questioning.

Salvator opts to investigate the Duergar archway, finding a cryptic message spelled out in an undercommon variant. It reads: “A God lost, a God found, pride in craft keeps the vault closed.” Upon investigating the archway further, Salvator finds a hammer icon hidden on the backside of the archway. The party grows impatient with Vesh’s unwillingness to share any information and Peach knocks him out.

Salvator uses the hammer to hit the door as it begins to shift into an undulating blue surface. The party, carrying Vesh, walks through to see a stone laid room almost exactly the width of the vault, filled with etchings. In the center of the room there is a structure with a skeleton upon it. As the party walks through the shimmering blue entrance, water wraps around the space creating standing water walls, the stone ceiling and floor remaining. With Detect Magic still up from earlier in the journey, Salvator feels a powerful surge of arcane power
from the skeletal hand of the body occupying this space. The pitch black hand radiates not Necromancy, but Divination magic. Salvator shares this information and immediately reaches forward to touch the hand. He experiences a sharp pain as it begins to ‘become’ Salvator’s hand. Divination magic filling the dragonborn as a brief bright light encapsulates the room. As the light settles, a red pattern begins to fill the entirety of the space, revealing a map of the planet. A horrified Peach asks Salvator if he is one of the Keys of Destruction now, and the party comes to the conclusion that Salvator is the new Guide. He is the map itself.

As Salvator asks where the Throne is, the map shifts to Niole Dra where the party knows the Throne resides. He next attempts to locate Death’s End, but the map simply warbles and Salvator feels ill. They learn that the Crown of Command is located in the Tylanvault Peninsula, and the Sceptre of Dominance is “to the north.”

## EP. 35 - Deeper Still

**Demi and Peach blow shit up.**

The party brings Vesh back to consciousness. When the pirate is unwilling to answer the party’s questions regarding the Brotherhood and Mortin’s whereabouts, Peach threatens him with what awaits on the other side of death. Vesh insinuates he is well aware of what awaits, and suggests with a wink that there are horrors on this side as well. Peach asserts that there is about to be "one less" horror before killing Vesh outright. Zahl approves, while Salvator and Demi react with horror.

Heading back topside and verifying that the mine workers are still safe, Zahl casts invisibility on the party and the gorup makes their way onto the vessel. Using their blind sight, Peach navigates the party below deck, past numerous shiphands. Below deck, the party notes a sulphuric, tarlike, iron-scented liquid falling through the floorboards. Zahl licks the liquid and immediately feels sick.

Locating Manistrad suspended in chains below deck, the party fails to free her from her manacles. Manistrad awakens, however, and informs the party that the kenku jailer with the keys is upstairs with Aleander. Investigating further in the hopes of finding the jailer, the party discovers roughly forty flame bellows and kerosene, along with mounting for vessels, being transported below deck. Peach manages to fit one into Demi’s bag of holding before the party makes their way into the captain’s quarters. There, they find the kenku jailer performing some variety of surgery on a restrained and near-death Aleander. The party leaps into combat with the jailer and a horrific undulating figure affixed to the ship itself. A wild fight ensues in which Salvator shields a cannonball, Demi kills the kenku, the ship figure absorbs the soul of the kenku, Peach falls unconscious as they are gored by the ribcage-like maw of the ship-affixed figure, and Salvator kills the undulating monster.

With the cannonball combat having damaged the vessel, the pirates abandon ship. Salvator and Zahl evacuate Aleander and Manistrad. Still aboard the vessel, Demi and Peach use the cannons and the flame bellow accoutrements to blow up the hull of the vessel. Before diving into the water, Demi tells Peach to let Oceanus know she had feelings for him if she dies, and says she will do the same for Odephelia. The two jump, and, struck by debris, Peach falls unconscious again. Demi manages a successful medicine check while dragging the earth genasi back to shore, bringing them back to consciousness. Meanwhile, Salvator in the midst of casting Detect Magic on newly acquired items spots a magical tumorlike signature coming from Zahl. The party reconvenes and Salvator casts Tiny Hut. While Zahl grabs a moment alone to thank Sophia for her aid in the fight, a second consciousness slips into his head and tells him there is other power to be had. In the morning, Peach gets a better look at the extent of Zahl’s aberrant tumor using Divine Sense. They also see that a similar, much larger tumor has taken root in Aleander, with vein-like protrusions extending outward through his entire body.

The party opts to explore the vault further before seeking out clerics to heal Zahl and Aleander. On their walk through the mine, Peach asks Demi *not* to tell Odephelia about their feelings, in the event of their death. Demi agrees, and realizes in the ensuing conversation that she wants to confess her feelings to Oceanus. Reaching the vault, the party reenters the watery vault to investigate.

## EP. 36 - The Illithid and the Odyssey

**There are sentient mushrooms.**

The party finds themselves in the Underdark, toppling through a cavernous space, tumbling on what appears to be a landing platform now broken. Larger than life dwarven statues run the length of a hall, disappearing into darkness. Demi swings the hammer upward, attempting to reopen the portal to return to the Prime Material Plane. It does not work. The party instead delves deeper, discovering an abandoned, crumbling city inlaid into an enormous cavernous space. In this city, the party meets “Bap,” a michonid who uses his spored to communicate telepathically. Bap immediately adopts the party as his “tribe” and  tells them of the dwarves long departed, of his former tribe who ousted him for his violent ways, of fishead creatures, and of monstrous wyrms tunneling through the underdark. Salvator provides him stonework from the broken teleportation circle, which Bap recognizes. He begins to lead the party through the collapsed ruins of the city.

The party finds themselves traveling through a partially submerged street through which strange creatures swim. These end up being crablike illithid creatures. Combat ensues in which Zahl uses Wall of Fire to cook several of these creatures to a crisp, Salvator decimates the creatures with lightning, and Bap reveals himself to be a Rogue as he joins the fray. Zahl’s Wall of Fire allows the party to run away from the remaining creatures, and Bap leads them to what he calls “Statue Room,” which leads to “Water Wall.” The party finds themselves on a catwalk, looking down at rows upon rows of hundreds of metallic “statues” that Salvator rapidly identifies as constructs. Peach and Salvator investigate, realizing that each construct is unique and personalized. Each construct is conspicuously missing its power source.

Meanwhile Bap takes Demi and Zahl to “boring room,” which has surface furnishings and a war table with strange runes and quick scrawled text. Using his Helm of Comprehend Languages, Zahl manages to read the smudged words “Illit\_ Front.” Salvator mends this area of the desk, identifying the words “Illithid Front.” He informs the party that the drow stories of illithid are thousands of years old and the party continues onward. They are led to a series of almost office-like spaces, ultimately discovering a door labeled General Ginrum in Undercommon. Within, the party finds a safebox with stacks of gold bars, a letter, and a strange glowing blue stone. Demi immediately takes the stone and the gold bars, while Salvator reads:

*“Final orders:*

*The forward forces have taken the extraplanar landing. The civilians are through. It’s time for the rear guard to follow. Let us pray our halls hold for the return. We have run out of “torka karid” - Soul Stone. The final forces will remain behind.”*

Speculating as to what might have met the duergar on the other side of the extraplanar landing and wondering where precisely they went, the party makes its way to a mechanical door. Fitting the glowing blue soul stone into the door, they are able to open it, and make their way to the Wall of Water.

## EP. 37 - One Long Night

**Sophia saves Zahl.**

In the abandoned underdark city, the party finds themselves facing a pillar at the edge of a cave entrance leading to the Wall of Water. Within, Salvator discerns black and red tiling similar to those in the war room. He also notices a latticework of bronzed metal framing the edges of the wall of water with wiring and cogs that appear to be dependent on Soul Stones. Beyond the wall of water, a faint blue glow is visible.

At the top of the pillar, the party finds a platform. Demi swings the hammer upwards, opening a portal that brings the party and Bap back to the Duergar vault. The party travels back to the surface, where Manistrad informs Zahl that Aleander seems to be running a fever. Using Divine Sense, Peach gleans that while Zahl’s tumor is the same size, Aleander’s has grown enormous. Demi messages Issen to inquire after any clerics in Seaton and learns that the sole cleric to Pelor has traveled onward to the Styes. The party plans to begin sailing Aleander to established clerics in Gryrax in the morning when the Falling Star returns.

The party returns to Conundrum Isle. Plum greets the party with a hearty meal, where they reluctantly break the news of Mortin’s capture to Plum. She scolds Peach over their arrest at the hand of the King and instructs them to be more like Demi.

Peach moves Bap into the basement and begins reading the poem “Argus and the Tyrant.” Demi gives Zahl a copy of *The Illithid and the Odyssey*. Salvator discovers that thinking of a book while scanning this bookshelf will bring the most relevant text forward. This leads him to a spellbook containing, among other things, Teleportation Circle, Disintegrate, and Mirror Spell. Peach borrows Dreavosi’s copy of *The Stars of Gods and Men* from Demi. That evening, Zahl confronts the parasitic entity in his gut. Showcasing incredible will, Zahl stands strong against the creature even as his mind is pulled into a demiplane’s black expanse. Zahl’s stalwart refusal to “embrace” the parasitic entity summons forth a 15ft tall version of Sophia from her bindings. With a radiant spear in hand, she cuts the malicious entity from its tether within Zahl and ultimately frees the warlock. Zahl begins to suspect that the spear is the Ostis Anchor, though without the dark quartz marbling. Embracing Sophia, Zahl finds himself back in the lighthouse.

Peach feels something call them outside. They head to Mortin’s room at the top of the lighthouse, where a silver light descends toward them. Embracing the light, they find themself hurtling into a silver and purple expanse filled with souls and dark, darting figures that seem to pull souls from the space. They then find themself staring up at an astral being resembling a dragon, assembled from thousands of silvery stars. They learn that Cerdwyyr is being hunted by these shadowy figures. Cerdwyyr shows them an enormous silvery door marred with black and red cracks. When they ask if their god wants them to open this door, the dragon indicates this is an impossibility and asks Peach to explore, engage, and to “find the way.” Peach accepts, and finds themself transported back to the lighthouse.

Demi attempts to cast Sending to Mortin once more, but finds the attempt blocked. Demi then casts Sending to Lyla, and is able to make contact. She apologizes for not reaching out again sooner, and tells Lyla that she may be able to come get her soon. Lyla responds with the information that there are eight or nine vessels among the captains themselves, and more beyond that. She also learns that “the crew is safe, but at a cost.” Something is being done to Lyla and the vessel itself. Demi tells Lyla she sank the Black Wing and promises to come get her. Demi then spends the rest of the night contemplating the source of her magic. The brief respite provided by her room provides Demi with a chance to delve deeper into the strange harmonic plane of sound that seems to connect to her potent magical abilities. She turns in for the night but soon found herself rising from bed as the sounds of moving furniture upstairs.

Salvator, who has spent some time studying the glowing red map embedded in his hand, checking in on each of the Five Keys. Their positions appear unchanged. As Salvator prepares to turn in for the night, he notes that the flowers in the vase on his table, fresh only hours ago, now appear to have wilted and died. Concerned by this development, the wizard heads to the flowerbox outside his door. Touching one of the flowers with his map hand, Salvator watches with horror as it decays. Rearranging his room in a panic so that he can sleep with his arm outside of his Tiny Hut, Salvator wakes Demi. The bard investigates, and Salvator explains what he had discovered. Attempting to assess Salvator’s hand using the harmonic plane, Demi sees a remarkable absence of anything radiating from Salvator’s hand. Explaining that void over tea and shortbread from Nani’s, the two immediately have Reduce cast upon them and find themselves shrunk to half their normal size.

The following morning, Zahl gives the party Radiant Resistance for the first time. They all update each other as to the previous night’s events, and Zahl attempts to cast Greater Restoration on Salvator’s hand. This results in the hand attempting to pull Zahl’s life force from him, prompting the warlock to drop the spell. Peach makes Salvator a green sock puppet for his map hand. Learning the information shared by Lyla, the party decides to set their sights on the Pirate Princes. Planning to reach out to King Skotti, Admiral Hawk and Vjolnir in hopes of gaining allies against the Sea Princes, the party then heads to the Quartermaster of Iuz, where Captain Xendros sells them healing potions and a folding boat invented by Nystul of the Circle of the Eight.

## EP. 38 - Missing Pieces

**Revelations and kisses.**

The party returns to Manistrad’s mining compound, where Zahl casts Greater Restoration to successfully rid Aleander of his parasite. The party then delves amongst the wreckage of the recently sunken pirate vessel the Black Wing.

They recover canisters for their flame bellows and a watertight chest. Demi casts Knock for the first time, revealing 4000 gold and a letter which reads:

*Monmurg,*

*Your frustration is noted, as is your wish to press harder. You shall trust me when I tell you that Keoland can have all the time in the world to prepare its Navy. It is irrelevant once our agents begin their political machinations. They will be helpless without support from the East. Rest assured that the Keoshi heartlands will be yours. All we ask is for your continued patience. It would be unfortunate if your little princedom were to fail in its reclamation. Recall the boons and resources you have been granted and consider what it might mean if they were turned against you.*

*In regards to your second request. You will find the funds amongst the Deliverables Captain Creighton is holding. Aid him in whatever he asks.*

*The Father of Obedience*

The party recovers several canisters of kerosene before returning to the strange island where Mavenon had teleported them earlier that week, unearthing a centuries-old teleportation circle. Solving a puzzle there, they manage to reactivate the circle. Then, seeing the Falling Star returning to Conundrum Isle, the party heads home. Demi learns that Oceanus and the crew had picked up work transporting a strange menagerie of creatures. Peach asks Odephelia on a date, unaware that Zahl is spying on the entire date through an invisible Ahshi.

Intending to confess her feelings to Oceanus, Demi finds herself broadsided by a lengthy confession in which Oceanus reveals himself to be the kidnapped Lord of Wayceraith, raised by humans until his birth family attempted to reclaim him. He reveals that he was, for a time, a happily married man and a father. However, when the sea elves demanded Oceanus kill his father-in-law - a high ranking human - he did so. Fighting broke out between the humans and the sea elves, culminating in a tidal wave that killed a majority of the city. His wife passed 30 years prior, but his  daughter, still living, fights as a captain in the war against the sea elves.

At the Snapping Line Inn, the Odephelia and Peach trade stories of their adventures apart. After much lighter conversation, Peach apologizes for letting Skerrin get away again, and renews their promise to get justice for Gellan Primewater. Later, on the shores of a Salt Marsh beach, Peach and Odephelia share a kiss.

## EP. 39 - We'll Talk About It Later

**Demi's lute gets a makeover. So does Skerrin.**

Demi avoids Oceanus after their emotionally charged conversation, while the others guide Pigpen and Heinrich through installing the newly acquired flame bellows on the Falling Star. Odephelia sneaks a note into Peach’s pocket. In Salt Marsh, the party is excited to see a drydock being built. The town is, it seems, growing into a port city. They move on to purchase paper for Salvator, a diamond for Demi, and a component pouch for Peach from the halfling Winston. It is there the party learns that Solomore may have the sort of mirror Zahl needs for a spell.

 The party heads to Solomore’s mansion and learns that he has taken charge of resettling the displaced elven population from the Silver Woods after Wander Root’s devastation of their homes. Demi trades Theodore Solomore’s diaries in exchange for a gilded mirror which will allow Zahl to Scry. Outside of the estate, Zahl scrys on Skerrin. He sees the party’s enemy is lying upon a slab, undergoing what appears to be some sort of torture at the hands of a multi-limbed entity.

Shaken by the vision and what it may mean, the party heads to the Snapping Line Inn. Upon being queried about their date, Peach casts Pass Without a Trace and hides. Demi performs, and during her performance, the Doss Lute becomes Demi’s Lyre, improving the already wondrous item. Zahl attempts to Scry on Sophia, and is instead greeted with the sight of Sseth’s eyes gazing back at him. This prompts a conversation between Zahl and Salvator about the historic conflict between the dragonborn and the yuan-ti. Salvator relays the story of Narcissus, an historical white dragon who was the progenitor of the dragonborn.

That night, Demi and Oceanus renew their previous evening’s discussion. Oceanus proclaims himself a monster, and explains that he saved his family, but was unable to face them and immediately left. Demi grapples with her own feelings of abandonment, and asks Oceanus if he regrets leaving them. Hearing his affirmative, she implores him to attempt to face his fears and attempt to mend things between himself and his daughter. She then tells Oceanus she likes him, As Oceanus cries, he returns the feelings and the two embrace. Meanwhile, Zahl trains in combat with his spear. The next day, Peach gifts Salvator a salad fork and paints constellations on Odephelia’s ceiling with the glow in the dark paint reclaimed from the Black Isle. The party teleports to Castle Dra.

## EP. 40 - A Secret's Price

**Sal sells secrets by the seashore.**

 Having just been teleported to Castle Dra by Salvator, the party convenes with King Skotti in his chambers. Catching a glimpse of a stained glass window depicting Argus Skotti battling the blue dragon Cymberot, Peach remembers the story of Argus and the Tyrant in which the blue dragon was driven into the sea. With the poem in mind, Peach suggests that Cymberot might not be dead, but rather might be aligned with the Pirate Princes.

 A tense negotiation with King Skotti ensues. Ultimately, King Skotti is unwilling to commit to war after recent losses without assurance of further external support. However, he does promise to inform the Admirals of the Keoland Navy that they should support preparation for an offensive on Monmurg, provided other contingents promise aid to the Falling Star.

 Visiting a seedy magic shop called “Shek’s Shack,” the party meets the Nothic Shek. Learning that the nothic provides large discounts on magic items in exchange for secrets, Salvator reveals that he betrayed his noble mercenary family. In exchange, Shek sells the party the Ring of Spell Storing and the Robe of Eyes.

 The party then returns to Salt Marsh via Teleportation Circle. Demi casts Sending, calling upon the Coalinth, Loacath, and Lizardfolk for aid in an attack on Monmurg. All agree to travel to Salt Marsh, and a meeting with the Council is scheduled for the following day.

## EP. 41 - The Eyes Have It

**Salvator becomes a tour guide for a Beholder.**

 On Conundrum Isle, Salvator tries and fails to remove the curses from his two items. Equipping the Ring of Spell Storing, it casts Fireball on him. This leads Salvator to realize that the next person to put on the Ring of Spell Storing will have the most recently stored spell cast upon the new wearer. Salvator also attunes to the Robe of Eyes, learning that its curse is that a beholder named Agrax is looking through the eyes.

 Demi greets Gupper, the party’s ally from the Battle of the Black Isle. The party meets their remaining allies at the Salt Marsh Council Hall. The Loacath, Coalinth, Lizardfolk, and Salt Marsh council all agree to joining the attack on the Pirate Princes. Fort Clack Clack will join the party at Fairwind Isle, before the entire siege party travels to Monmurg. In the meantime, the party will attempt to secure the allyship of Admiral Hawk and his ilk at Seaton.

During travel, the party encounters three vessels. Seeing one appear to fly Keoland colors, Demi instructs The Falling Star to approach. Interestingly, Salvator believes the vessel to be flying Greyhawk colors. It turns out that the vessel is utilizing enchanted sails as the party finds themselves engaging with the vessel The Hound and its ally ship the Huntsmaster, pulling the attention of those vessels away from a sinking galleon. Zahl casts fly on himself and Peach, and the two begin to close distance between themselves and the Hound. Unfortunately, when Zahl casts Wall of Fire on the vessel, he and Peach drop into the ocean. Demi and Salvator enter combat with the ship as Peach manages to climb aboard the Hound, but Zahl finds himself swimming for the remainder of the combat. The Huntsmaster engages, and another round of combat ensues. Peach falls unconscious just as Zahl reenters the fray, and he quickly brings them back from the brink. Demi polymorphs Peach into an ape, and the party lays waste to the Huntsmaster. The session ends with the Salvator using his Splendiforous Talon to drop the captain of the Huntsmaster off her vessel as the nearby galleon continues to sink.

## EP. 42 - Surface Tension

**Demi casts Revivify.**

 The party recovers the Huntmaster’s sails; Salvator recovers a remarkable sum of treasure by utilizing Leomund’s Secret Chest; Peach saves a sheep. Seeing Oceanus swimming to the sinking vessel that had fallen victim to the Huntmaster and the Hound, Peach joins him in searching for victims while Salvator, Demi, and Zahl (polymorphed as an octopus) return to the deck of The Falling Star. Oceanus and Peach recover a hobgoblin family from the wreckage. One among them, a little hobgoblin girl, has drowned. Demi casts Revivify for the first time, finding the girl’s song and bringing her back from death.

 When the hobgoblin patriarch Bohnar awakes, Demi informs him that the party will be paying for his family’s relocation to Seaton and returns his sheep to him. Odephelia finds a moment to comfort Peach, who fully reckons with the implications of death being broken for the first time. After another day of sailing, the party arrives in Seaton, where they implore their storm giant ally Vjolnir to assist in their fight against Monmurg. Despite Demi’s attempt to sway the giant with news of Mortin’s kidnapping, Vjolnir refuses. The session ends with the party heading toward Oddel’s Tower.

## EP. 43 - Best Laid Plans

**Another member of the Menagerie makes itself known.**

The party visits Oddel’s Tower, purchasing the ship in a bottle and confirming that there has been no further communication with Skerrin. They then  meet with Admiral Hawk, Admiral Scillin, and Admiral Clark. Together, they hatch a plot to draw out and isolate enemy vessels from Fairwind, with the hopes of depleting the Pirate Prince’s forces before reaching Fairwind for the initial siege. Demi adds the Huntmaster’s magical sails to The Falling Star and Odephelia sneaks off the vessel, prompting Peach to search her out in Seaton. They learn that Odephelia had been information gathering, independently learning much of what the party already knows. Peach reminds Odephelia of the promise she made not to go off alone last time they were in Seaton, but she brushes the promise aside.

The party then visits Duke Merik Feldren. The dialog between the party and the duke reveals that the Brotherhood had seemingly been involved with the death of the Duke’s brother, whose name had been listed in Skerrin’s journal. They then glean that the duke himself had been feeding information about Seaton to the Brotherhood in an missguided attempt to avenge his Brothers murder. With his new Robe of Eyes, Salvator notices a Scrying censor floating in the room. Learning that Duke Feldren had been receiving instructions through a magical book much like that belonging to Mardet Ostrim, Demi instructs the duke to write:

“Hello Skerrin. Was that you watching us? Signed, Demi Waters”

The ink fades into the book, and new ink seeps up onto the blank page as if placed there by an unseen hand. The response reads:

*“Demi, you say? What a pleasure to meet you. So excited to see Skerrin has been making friends. Tell me, how did you come across the duke? I do hope he is behaving?*
Stay in touch, won't you?

The Eel”

## EP. 44 - Troubled Waters

**Demi nearly falls unconscious via boulder and Salvator eats his first soul.**

 The party leaves Duke Feldren. Demi and Salvator go to inform the Admirals of Duke Feldren’s treachery while Peach and Zahl continue into town to shop. Hearing a commotion, the latter pair see cloaked figures on horseback dash away from Feldren Manor, evading guards in the process. Zahl casts Fly on the pair and they pursue the figure. Managing to pull ahead as they careen north of town, Peach realizes that the figure is not Duke Feldren, but the duke’s butler and a stuffed scarecrow. They inform the pursuing guards that Feldren must have fled elsewhere, and the guards head back to Seaton. Zahl chastises Peach for allowing the butler to get away.

The party then boards  a bait ship intended to draw out the enemy so that the party can begin destroying the vessels in the Pirate Prince’s fleet. A few days travel in, a fog rolls over the fleet. The H.M.S Oberon works just as the party intended as the enemy closes on the ship. It is a swift and deadly strike that sweeps everyone but Peach off of the ship. Peach promptly dives in after their party members, all of whom look up to see a massive vessel constructed from living vegetation crashing into the Oberon. Combat breaks out,and both vessels are lost. Demi is struck with the full force of a boulder, but manages to remain conscious as Peach evacuates her safely away from the druid ship. Salvator lands the killing blow on the druid, and for the first time his map hand absorbs a soul.

The party falls to the waves as the strange ship disintegrates around them, attempting evacuation via Loacath sealions. A second ship, however, looms, closing in on the party. Zahl throws out a sickening radiance in front of the ship and the party begins to descend on the sea lions, the ominous sound of an organ echoing over the water behind them.

## EP. 45 - Vital Organ

**CW: (temporary) character death.**

 The ominous organ-playing ship approaches. Riding at the back of the squad of escaping sea lions, Peach finds themself struck in the chest with a strange ghostly hook that yanks them off of their sealion. They find themself dragged onto an elegant, worn vessel, greeted by a beautiful woman named Ineca. Falling prey to an enchantment, Peach finds themself unable to fight her. As the rest of the party scrambles to retrieve their fighter, Ineca is revealed to be a vampire. Just as her teeth are about to sink into Peach’s neck, the cloudy sky parts enough for Peach to see a single star. There seems to be an offer in its appearance: in exchange for something, Cerdwyyr will give them the strength to survive this encounter. Peach accepts, and the deck is suddenly flooded with silver light. Peach’s abilities as a Paladin become greatly enhanced as their Fighter abilities largely wane. The silver light seems to injure Ineca, who hisses and calls upon wraith reinforcements.

During the combat, Zahl falls unconscious and Peach follows suit, dying outright as they are swarmed by wraith attacks. The earth genasi finds their soul, as Zahl did on the River Dra, floating unmoored in the Astral Sea. The familiar sight of dark shapes dart nearer. Thinking their soul will be turned into a wraith, Peach faces down the shadowy entities only to feel a presence beside them: it is the starstudded, draconic form of Cerdwyyr. With a spout of starry fire, their god eviscerates the shadowy creatures headed toward Peach’s soul. Demi revivifies them and The Falling Star, along with the flagships of the fleet, join the party at the enemy vessel. Admiral Hawk’s men board the ship and begin driving the vampire below deck back.

 Things fall into a stalemate, the powerful vampires difficult to actually kill. However, they give themselves up - seemingly in an attempt to bide time. Confined to a holding cell within the H.M.S Grace, the vampire Ineca Sufocan shares some details regarding fairwind hold and even the Brotherhood with the party. She also reveals a personal connection to the Bone March. The party, concerned that the vampires might try to attack or flee, reluctantly turn in for the night. Fortunately, the vampires appear to continue to bide their time aboard the Grace. The fleet continues, arriving at Fairwind Isle. Oceanus shares that the Admirals’ intent is to not to engage but instead position the flotilla so that no enemies can flee. The session ends with Demi catching a glimpse of Fairwind on the horizon.

## EP. 46 - A Fairwind Blows

**The siege on the Pirate Princes begins.**

The fleet arrays itself outside of a massive cave nestled into the cliffs of Fairwind Isle. There the flotilla comes into contact with an enormous force of pirate ships. The enemy, well fortified, lets out a warning shot from one of their lead vessels “The Dreadnought,” taking a smaller Keoland Navy vessel to the depths in a single shot fired from the strange iron vessel.

 After much debate, the party decides to begin their own reconnaissance as the Keoland Navy sets up a Blockade. Utilizing Zahl’s Water Breathing spell and Peach’s Pass Without a Trace, they dive beneath the waves and break the enemies line, bypassing mines and other traps. They reconnoitered the huge lead vessel in the bay before moving onwards into the cave itself.

Even from beneath the waves, Demi is able to recognize both the Gnasher, and more importantly, the Lyla, Demi’s childhood home captured by the pirates and forced into servitude by the Brotherhood. Casting invisibility, the party stealths underwater into the grotto hoping to save Demi’s family from the clutches of their enemies. The session ends with the party breaking the surface of the water inside the Fairwind Isle cave.

## EP. 47 - Approaching Dread

**Demi gets justice.**

 The party decides to board the Lyla first. While the others scout aboard the vessel’s deck, Peach climbs up the vessel’s stern and catches a glimpse of a strange milky white substance covering the windows of the captain’s quarters. Aboard the vessel, Demi recognizes childhood figures held at bay by the pirates. She manages to tell one, a roguish figure named Benji, of her plans to free Lyla and he sets about informing the others. The party reunites and manages to slip undetected into the room above Lyla’s captain’s quarters. Opening a trap door, they find the entrance covered in the same white ooze. Slapstick shenanigans ensue in which each party member shoves the other through with a running start, and the four tumble onto the floor of the captain’s quarters.

 There, they find Lyla fastened to the wall much like the Crow. A strange creature speaks through her, recognizing Zahl as one who had rejected it and Salvator as someone “chosen” by Nox just before combat breaks out. Zahl and Peach, using radiant magic, manage to slice the white ooze away from Lyla, freeing her from the wall to find that she has lost the use of her legs, the muscles completely atrophied. Nevertheless, Demi is reconnected with her adopted mother and is immediately informed by Benji that he’s begun killing the pirates aboard the Lyla. The party jumps into action, slaying the rest of the pirates aboard before those aboard the nearby Gnasher are any wiser.

 Quickly getting the Lyla shipshape to sail with a skeleton crew, the party uses Demi’s Dimension Door and Salvator’s Mirror Spell to land on the deck of the Gnasher. A wild combat ensues wherein Demi and Zahl take down a dozen pirates while Salvator uses a literal cannon to blow away the vessel’s tanks and Peach slays Thereax Guldeer, the woman who first kidnapped Lyla. They promptly sink the pirate vessel, robbing the Pirate Princes of a flagship, before sailing from the cave on the Lyla in an attempt to break the pirate line and return to the Keoland Navy.

Leaving the cave, they are greeted by the sights and sounds of open combat. The party locks their gaze on the hulking Dreadnought at the center of the pirate fleet. Sending the Lyla on the fastest line to safety, the party dives beneath the waves and secretly close on the Dreadnought, where Salvator Disintegrates a hole in its hull. The group breaches the massive iron vessel and begins considering ways to sink it. Exploring the massive hollow interior, they discover magic merged with the machine. As they puzzle over how to break it, a strange mechanical face peers down a hole directly at Peach.

## EP. 48 - A Fair Win

**A battle is won.**

Peach attacks the strange mechanical face peering below deck and combat ensues. As the party makes their way to the deck of the ship, they encounter the large metallic construct, as well as flying swords and a strange figure manning the ship-destroying cannon. Salvator dispatches the figure and the party abandons ship as the Dreadnought continues to sink.

The Falling Star had escorted damaged vessels of the Keoland Navy and the recently freed Lyla back to the Keoland Naval Stronghold at Seaton. Demi’s mother Lyla remains unconscious, the toll caused by the parasitic entity that had inhabited her body seemingly placing her in a deep slumber.

 Demi questions whether or not the admirals need help with taking on Monmurg. Now that she has Lyla back, the party contemplates heading toward Count Sufocan or the Tylanvault, both of which seem to be sites where Keys of Destruction are located. However, they ultimately decide to take Lyla’s vessel to Seaton for repairs before heading back to Monmurg, after which they will head with Keoland forces on an expedition to the Tylanvault Peninsula.

Zahl asks Benji to train him in becoming a better Bosun, and spends the day improving. Salvator offers Odephelia Mardet Ostrim’s bracelet of Spiderphase Venom and Peach objects, prompting an argument in which Peach expresses concern over her wanting the object they watched kill Mardet. The party takes Odephelia’s side, and Odephelia proclaims that Peach does not trust her before leaving the earth genasi alone. On the bow of the ship at night, Peach is given a vision by Cerdwyyr in which four stars: a blue one like Demi, a gold one like Zahl, a white one like Salvator, and a purple one like Peach, travel across the night sky. The purple star separates from the group, falling behind the horizon as the others continue on their journey.

The party arrives in Seaton, which is abuzz with festival activities. Demi reconnects with Mack and performs at the Drydock Inn before the party heads to their rooms to rest. In the early hours of the morning, Odephelia finds Peach to tell them that while she is angry with them, she still wants to celebrate Richfest with them. Peach quietly tells her they would never say no to spending time with her.

## EP. 49 - When Pigs Fly

**The party celebrates Richfest.**

In the early morning, Peach sets out to find priests of Pelor who might be able to heal Lyla, ending up doing temple chores for a few hours. Meanwhile, the party discusses plans and decides to spend a day celebrating before heading to Niole Dra to reassess plans with King Skotti. Peach returns with a priest, who heads with Demi to visit Lyla. Demi spends much of her time with the healers Bluebell and Topit as they attempt to awaken and heal Lyla. While their efforts are to no avail, they indicate that more powerful healers might be able to help her and suggest heading towards a larger city like Niole Dra. Meanwhile, Zahl organizes the repairs of the Pale Prow.  Salvator spends the morning with Vjolnir attempting to learn more of the giant's ancient and eclectic knowledge.

Peach spends some much needed time with Odephelia, winning a catch-the-flying-pig game with her before rejoining with the party. Salvator wins a find-the-mimic game and the party manages to win a human tetris tower game together. Demi snags some alone time with Oceanus. The following morning, Salvator whisks the party away to Niole Dra, impatient to be about some very important business. Upon arrival at Castle Skotti, the party is greeted by the King. A meeting is arranged and Mavinon is called for. Salvator excuses himself, wanting to get to the Catacombs as quickly as possible. As Demi, Peach, and Zahl discuss the plight of Lyla with the healer Kiurk Bonemeal, Salvator approaches Mavinon for a private meeting.

Expressing that he wishes for more information regarding his arm and the plight of the Duergar, Mavinon helps Salvator to call forth the spirit of the duergar whom the party had found locked in the vault. The spirit shares his people’s fabled history with the artifacts of Nox. Salvator’s fears regarding his arm are confirmed and the plight of the elves and Duregar fleeing Flanaess is revealed. After this revelation, the spirit’s hold on the prime material plane is unfortunately not strong enough to keep him from being pulled back to his chained existence. With the spirit gone, Mavinon promises to keep Salvator’s secret for him as the Dragonborn ponders over how to share his plight with the party. He then passes on the missive regarding the summons by the king and with that the two begin to make their way back to the castle.

## EP. 50 - A Fallen Star

**Cerdwyyr has a job for Peach.**

The party meets with King Skotti, updating the monarch on what they have learned of the Scarlet Brotherhood before offering him a trade: they will aid in the final push against Monmurg at his fortress if the crown will offer support on an expedition to the Tylanvault Peninsula. The king readily agrees to provide four expeditionary ships to travel with the party once the business with the Pirate Princes is complete. Plans are also laid to assure that Kiruk Bonemeal would join the party in attempting to help Lyla recover.

With the crown’s aid once again secured, the party elects to spend some time in the city, visiting the Nothic Shek. Zahl buys a text from Shek in exchange for personal information: he reveals to the party, and to the Nothic, that his greatest fear is that he is a demigod. He also reveals that his initial intention was to use the party. The party reassures him that they knew.

The party then stumbles across a Mayhemmancy competition. Zahl and Peach find themselves filling in for a wounded player and end up winning the complicated gravity game. The party spends the rest of the day shopping for components. As they walk through the streets of Niole Dra, they are accosted by a strange dwarf who tells the party he recognizes the back of Peach’s head. The party finds themselves being dragged out to a strange camp outside the city walls, where they are introduced to the wandering artisans of the Llosgi Dyn and the air genasi painter Sunshine. Apparently the strange Genasi, also a follower of Cerdwyyr, had unwittingly painted Peach on their travels. As the two speak, some pieces begin fitting together. Peach, who has been receiving strange signs from Cerdwyyr for weeks, understands what is being asked of them as this final clue falls into place: Cerdwyyr is calling them away from their friends, as there is a task that they need to complete….*alone*.

As this realization dawns on Peach and the rest of the party, a somber mood falls upon them all and Salvator imparts surprisingly fond words of wisdom to the earth genasi. The party then spends the remainder of the night mingling amongst the Llosgi Dyn, processing what they have learned and considering what is to come. Sunshine’s interest in the group being piqued by this interaction, they inform the party that it is nearly time for them to begin their six month roaming pilgrimage: a yearly period of travel during which Cerdwyyr sends them journeying into the unknown. Securing an invitation to join the party’s travels, Sunshine and their husband Bicker promise to meet the party at Castle Skotti in the morning.

## EP. 51 - Where It All Began

**Lyla gets some much needed attention and Peach leaves on their journey.**

In the morning, the party regroups with Sunshine and Bicker at Castle Skotti. There, Kiruk Bonemeal arrives to accompany them to Salt Marsh, where the cleric promises to attempt to restore some of Lyla’s use of her legs. Salvator teleports the party to Salt Marsh. There, the party await their vessels returning from Seaton with Lyla and the crew. Peach breaks the news of their god-directed departure to their mother. Plum, in turn, shares the story of the earth genasi’s father: a dao trapped in a ring which she had purchased from a traveling salesman. The two eventually developed a strange connection despite the dao’s apparent evil, and when she released him from the ring, the dao gave her Peach. “No wish required.” Meanwhile, Zahl and Demi show Sunshine and Bicker around Salt Marsh. They learn that Solomore is dating one of the elves from the Silver Wood, and Demi admits to being in a relationship with Oceanus.

The following day, the Falling Star arrives and the party quickly goes about working with Kiruk to heal Lyla. Between Zahl’s Greater Restoration and Kiruk Bonemeal’s casting of Regenerate, Lyla finally regains consciousness, and her legs begin to regain muscle mass. For the first time in months, Demi is able to properly speak with her adopted mother. The two talk for hours, and Demi learns that Lyla worked for decades as a smuggler. During this time, Peach says an emotional goodbye with Odephelia and the two confess their love for each other.

With Lyla healed and safely regaining her strength on Conundrum Isle, the party sends Kiruk and Bicker back to Niole Dra before setting about preparing for their next venture with their new member Sunshine. As the sails of the Falling Star unfurl, Peach summons a steed and departs for their adventure alone.

## EP. 52 - Light 'Em Up

**Salvator saves the day.**

The Falling Star makes its way to Fairwind Isle, where the party will restock supplies before heading to Monmurg. Odephilia had slipped from the ship during a resupply stop at the recently captured Fairwind Isle. While moored at Fairwind, Sunshine catches Odephelia sneaking off the ship. Without impeding her, they ask why she is leaving. Odephelia replies that she needs answers and leaves.

Meanwhile, Demi attempts to message Mortin. Though he responds, Demi senses that something was amiss: Mortin doesn’t seem like himself in the brief exchange and the conversation ends with the party concerned for their lost companion. Upon arriving at Monmurg, they are greeted by the sight of ancient Elvish ruins situated upon towering cliffs and he remainder of the pirate fleet laid out between them and the hold. The party had spends the following day scouting the pirate stronghold, Zahl leveraging Ashi as Salvator utilized powerful divination magic. Salvator identifies a man he believes to be Monmurg himself and the party speculates on Peach’s belief that the prince might in fact be the dragon Cymberot. This speculation is only granted further support when they manage to reconnoiter the castle atop the cliff, discovering what appears to be a clutch of dragon eggs and a captured woman.

The party shares all they have discovered with the Admirals before turning in for the night. Disaster strikes during Sunshine’s watch when the pirates begin a surpise assault on the Keoland Navy under cover of night. Spotting magical portals opening up on the decks of several ships, Sunshine calls the rest of the party to arms. As the group surveys the conflict, Salvator notices a truly dire threat. A ship, completely invisible to the naked eye, quickly approaches Admiral Clarkson’s vessel. Just as the concealed vessel opens fire, Salvator casts Wall of Force, blocking the entire barrage of enemy fire. The party springs into action, flying to the invisible ship where Sunshine casts Faerie Fire to expose the formerly invisible ship to a return barrage from Admiral Clarkson’s vessel.

Between the party and the admirals, the tide of the fight turns and the enemy vessel is captured before it is sunk, though not without it taking some severe damage. The following hours are spent plugging the holes in the newly captured ship so as to keep it afloat. A quick check of the ship reveals several magical items: a lethal looking longbow and some seemingly enchanted armor. The party spends the rest of the night tense, but are pleased to learn that Demi may add the vessel to her growing fleet.

## EP. 53 - The Tyrants Fall

**Peach's suspicions about Cymberot are confirmed.**

 After some deliberation, the party decides to scout Monmurg by flying invisibly over the pirate fleet. Landing on the roof of the scryed-upon building, Salvator gets the briefest glimpse of the prisoner and her eggs before triggering an alarm spell. Noting bells ringing on the vessels below and hearing the magical arrival of a man within the building, the party sneaks toward the front of the building as the newly-arrived figure tells entities within to investigate the cause of the Alarm. Demi manages to retreat stealthily from the roof using Mardet Ostrim’s Spider Venom Bracelet, but the remaining party members descend noisily. Two young bronze and blue dragons emerge from the seaside entrance of the building and begin to scan the space for intruders. catch wind. Ahshi distracts the dragons, buying the party some time as Demi and Salvator Dimension Door the party into the building. There, they find themselves in the gated egg room identified by Salvator the previous day, alongside the chained woman.

 The blue dragonborn man within, missing an arm much like the Cymberot of yore, commands the woman to attack the party. Combat ensues. Sunshine spots a strange tattoo on the woman which, once pointed out to the group, Salvator is able to Dispel, freeing the woman from Monmurg’s mind control. Furious, the blue dragonborn man transforms into a dragon: Cymberot. The battle is hard-won, with Zahl, Sunshine, and Salvator falling unconscious and one of the young dragons turning against Cymberot only for him to slay his child. Demi lands the killing blow on Cymberot, with the Dissonantly Whispered question, “Was it worth it?”

 Though gravely injured, Oki flies through the moon door. Demi messages Admiral Hawk to let him know an allied dragon is approaching, and the party listens as Oki sets fire to Cymberot’s fleet. Salvator, Zahl, and Demi investigate Cymberot’s treasure room, uncovering a number of artifacts including a spellbook that seemed to belong to Leomund of the Circle of the Eight. Sunshine uses Speak With Animals to have a conversation with Opi. The party learns that a strange crowned figure gave Monmurg control over Oki and speculate that it was the Father of Obedience. The dragons retreat, and the party returns to see Oki has set the pirates’ vessels irrevocably ablaze.

With Monmurg/Cymberot dealt with, the Keoland Navy sprang into action, taking advantage of the turning tides to press the pirate stronghold. Over the course of two days, the Marines manage to take Monmurg Hold. Over these two days, the party coordinates their efforts and prepares for their next venture to the Tylanvault.

## EP. 54 - Creeping Quandaries

**A month of downtime = the biggest lore dump ever.**

The party departs Monmurg for Fairwind. Sunshine rides Fort Clack Clack before they do so, making note that the Coalinth’s living siege engine seems to be excavating the cliffside site of the old elven city. Upon reaching the town within the Fairwind cavern, Salvator and Sunshine head into the town. In search of a spell component, Sunshine finds a pirate denizen to lead them up through tunneled caves, where they find an acorn in a cliffside grove above Fairwind cavern. In town, Salvator finds a nurse with access to medical tomes. She agrees to have them delivered to the Falling Star in exchange for a hefty sum. Salvator also discovers a breadcrumb trail of conjuration sigils which lead into the bowels of the cavern. These “breadcrumbs” lead to a Sea Hag selling spell components. In exchange for 300gp worth of vellum, the Sea Hag requests that Salvator help her leave Fairwind. Salvator agrees, provided she provides the chalk and waits until his party can view her wares.

Back aboard The Falling Star, Demi and Zahl are approached by goblin Professor Owlball Stinkcheeks and his cudgel-wielding companions. Stinkcheeks claims to be sent by King Skotti and presents a letter marked with the Keoland royal seal. The letter states that the party is to be provided with four vessels led by Professor Stinkcheeks as subject matter expert on their expedition to the Tillenvault Peninsula. It also reads that the expedition believes itself to be documenting flora and fauna on the peninsula. Demi infers that King Skotti is sending these explorers to their deaths. She also catches a glimpse of Stinkcheeks stabbing and devouring a seagull. Demi and Zahl leave to find a blacksmith, who informs Zahl that he will need a magically inclined smith to fix the broken chain mail found at Monmurg.

Leaving the blacksmiths, Demi and Zahl run into Salvator. The three return to the Sea Hag, where Zahl finds a metallic placard decorated with vines originating from an outer plane which the Sea Hag refers to as the Dominion of Arvindore and Demi purchases incense. Salvator then, with Demi’s blessing, sends the Sea Hag to Salt Marsh through a teleportation circle. Demi tells the hag to seek out Old Mearle.

Returning to The Falling Star and finding their traveling companions absent, Sunshine heads back into town and discovers a bar in the tatters of a wartorn, now-landlocked pirate ship. Sketching the rowdy patrons, they discuss the presence of the Keoland navy with the bartender, who seems to think the occupation will not last. The next morning, Salvator casts Psionic Tether for the first time, enabling a private telepathic conversation between the party in which they fill in Sunshine on the Scarlet Brotherhood, the Keys of Destruction, the effects of Salvator’s hand upon the dying, the death of Errigal, death’s broken wheel, and the party’s belief that the Father of Obedience is attempting to become the new god of death. When told that the Father of Obedience controls people to do his bidding, Sunshine reacts with anger. Salvator reveals the map, honing in on the Crown of Command situated in the Tylanvault. The party hopes that they will be able to locate the Father of Obedience by following the Map to the Crown.

Professor Stinkcheeks invites the party to dinner aboard his vessel. The party learns that Stinkcheeks is a professor in name only, having been unassigned his classes at the Ulekian Roseford University due to his hyperfixation on the Tylanvault Peninsula and the creatures and resources that might dwell there. Dissatisfied with his situation, Stinkcheeks founded “The Explorer’s Guild.” Reviewing a map of the Tylanvault, Stinkcheeks and the party decide to land at the abandoned fort erected by Keoland decades ago. Sunshine lingers after the rest of the party departs, questioning Stinkcheeks about previous adventuring guilds he may have approached and warning him to prepare to protect himself upon reaching the Tylanvault.

Sailing downtime commences. As the vessels pass the Amedio Jungle, Zahl spends a day attempting to commune with Mother by expending all of his spell slots. The process is arduous and Zahl becomes exhausted, but eventually Mother’s translucent, golden, silent form manifests in his room. Zahl speaks with Sophia for hours, recounting his adventures over the past month until another presence appears: Sseth. Sseth calls Zahl Sophia’s champion and remarks, “Sad, the things she has done to you” before yanking Sophia back from whence she came. Seeing Ahshi afraid, Zahl promises him that he will move heaven and earth to save her and goes to Demi. He confides that Sseth called him Sophia’s champion and worries that once he is farther from Mother, he will lose the connection.

Zahl also begins reading *The Vrael Olo: Those Before* by Cathis of Inalbar. Using Eyes of the Runekeeper to read this largely Sylvan text, he notes that *Vrael Olo* is Yuan-Ti for “Favored Ones.” He learns, among other things, that elves are not native to the Prime Material Plane, but rather to the Astral Dominion of Arvindore, who turned their sights on conquering the Yuan-Ti. They, in turn, looked to Sseth in desperation. The author speculates based on pre-elven accounts that Sseth existed as a primal, powerful entity in peace on the Prime Material Plane for eons, “more a force of nature than an evil entity.” Upon learning this, Zahl tells Sophia he believes in her.

Demi successfully crafts a thumb piano she intends to use as a spell component to bring forth echoes of lost songs from her musical demiplane. On each of the keys, she engraves a marking denoting the people in her life and stories they have been a part of. Enlisting Oceanus and explaining that Peach isn’t around to stand in front of her anymore, Demi begins training to become tougher. She insists that Oceanus not wear a shirt during this training. Zahl joins in during the training, and, taking off his shirt, it is revealed that tattoos detailing each spell he casts are now inked across his back: Fly, Find Familiar, Flame Strike, and Eldritch Blast. When he casts Eldritch Blast, the spell listing lights up to a degree that would make stealthy behavior more difficult. He deduces that this is a Skinscription curse from the Dexterity improvement book purchased from Shek.

Salvator begins reading Leomund’s Tiny Book, locating what seem to be Leomund’s personal notes in the margins. In the back of the text, written over the original thesis in Leomund’s hand, is an entirely new spell: Leomund’s Labyrinthine Locker. He sets about using the door connecting his two rooms on The Falling Star as his spell component. After a day of etching runes, arcane fire carves the door out of the doorframe and Salvator enters his private 25 by 25 space surrounded by shelving. He immediately goes into the shelves and is lost in labyrinthine shelves for three hours before returning to his 25 by 25 foot space. He deposits the Duergar skull in one of the shelves, which shifts to exact specifications to hold it.

Sunshine sets up a lounge in Odephelia’s old room for the crew and begins painting The Battle at Monmurg while Umak reads H. Saucer’s *The Og-Guguk Tales*. During this time, they learn that Umak died somewhere between 200 and 300 years ago. They inform him that their quest to release him to the afterlife is paused, given the broken state of death. Umak informs Sunshine that his soul was trapped in the lantern by powerful people in Iuz after mucking about with powers to which the Imperial Court had access, citing his people’s deep spiritual connections to the world as a driving force behind his curiosity. He doesn’t know exactly who killed him or how. Sunshine tells Umak about the Father of Obedience, saying “he can do what Jor can do, but better.”

Later, Zahl uses his placard from the Dominion of Arvindore to cast Tasha’s Otherworldly Guise for the first time with the words, “Gone, gone is the form I love. Release the demon up above.” As he transforms into a scaled, horned, fanged demonic form, another tattoo appears on his back. Once Salvator discerns that he cannot copy down these tattoo spells, he agrees to remove the curse. Salvator also takes this opportunity to show the party his new door. Salvator also uses Fabricate to melt platinum into a figure that seems to hold the dragonscale from Monmurg as a shield.

Demi messages Mortin to say she hopes he’s still okay, she misses him, and that a lot has happened since they last talked, she misses him, she hopes they will be together again, she found part of her family, now she needs to find him, and she loves him. Mortin responds that he would like to see her and asks for the party’s location. Demi replies that Mortin isn’t good at lying, whoever is talking isn’t Mortin, and she’s going to find both entities. Zahl is immediately scryed upon.

Salvator begins studying his medical tomes, applying his own knowledge of arcane theory until he becomes able to cast Cure Wounds and manifest protective wings. He then attempts to activate his mottled hand. As Salvator attempts to tap into this power, he discerns that he is not “complete.” He must become complete before he can utilize the Map’s darker abilities. He continues pushing, causing the decay and cold to spread across all of his body, sans face.

During the third week, a scouting vessel begins to drift sideways as it is pulled out of alignment. A strange, barely visible shape appears on the horizon. Whatever it is, it’s massive.

## EP. 55 - Patchwork Circle

**Salvator meets an idol.**

Ahead of The Falling Star is a towering, bulbous shape atop a glowing blue tower-like structure and surrounded in mist encircled by an enormous whirlpool pulling all of the vessels downward. The Falling Star and the S.S. Magnificent manage to escape the pull, but the two scouting vessels The Tankard and Carlotta’s Curse are sucked in. Sunshine evacuates The Tankard before the ship is sucked into the depths while Zahl investigates the source of the blue glow. Salvator and Demi approach the bulbous shape, discovering a patchwork-clad mage. He provides the party with flying potions, which they distribute among the crew of Carlotta’s Curse. The crews of the Tankard and Carlotta’s Curse now deposited safely aboard the remaining vessels, the party returns to the hot air balloon. There they are formally introduced to Archmage Nystul of the Circle of Eight. Salvator is overwhelmed with excitement and Sunshine invites the archmage to dinner aboard The Falling Star. He takes them up on the offer.

The Falling Star prepares for the archmage’s visit. Heinrich cooks, Demi and Zahl dress up, and Sunshine paints Salvator’s nails for the occasion. As the two talk, Salvator confesses he worries the physical deterioration caused by the Map may not be “worth it.” Asked what *would* be worth it, the excited wizard speculates, “what indeed?”

Dinner with Archmage Nystul involves a thorough discussion of each party member’s abilities, which Nystul takes in stride. He reveals he is the jack of all trades among the Circle of the Eight. Sunshine gifts Nystul a Magician tarot patch for his patchwork robe and Zahl asks the archmage to identify armor acquired from Cymberot, much to Salvator’s chagrin. The dragonborn quickly redirects the conversation to the Brotherhood and to the discovery of Leomund’s journal amongst Cymberot’s hoard. The archmage is hard to read, but later discusses the threat the Brotherhood poses one on one with his fellow wizard. Before leaving, Nystul tells the party to reach out if they are ever in Greyhawk.

Sailing onwards for another week, the party reaches the shores of Tylanvault and now finds their fleet of two remaining ships just outside of the old abandonment settlement of Theodrid's Stead. It appears, as they sail inland toward the abandoned settlement, that they are interrupting some sort of conflict between Grung and Kobold forces.

## EP. 56 - Out of Thin Air

**Mortin sightings and Jurassic threats.**

The Grung and Kobold combatants scatter as The Falling Star and the S.S. Magnificent make berth. Investigating the grung settlement, Demi and Zahl enter a sauna-like worship room for what appears to be a giant spider. The humidity has no effect on Zahl; it poisons Demi. Sunshine and Salvator scout the remaining buildings, making use of Salvator’s flying carpet and Sunshine’s echo avatar. They discover numerous boobytraps set up by the kobolds, as well as their hoarder-like living space. Most importantly, they discover a larger-than-life, worshipful mural of a blue firbolg in dark robes wielding a corrupted purple staff: Mortin.

 The party devises a plan. Not wanting to endanger their sailors, they opt to travel a few days outside of the fort before making contact with Mortin. Zahl flies skyward in an attempt to scout the Tylanvault for an ideal meeting place. He sees strange raised pillarlike outcroppings to the east, but altitude sickness prevents him from gleaning more information. The party ultimately opts to travel a few days north into the peninsula. On this trek, they find themselves being stalked by packs of raptors in the tall grasses. Using his Splendiferous Talon, Salvator picks one up to give the party a better view of one of the creatures. This provokes the raptor’s ire. Flying away, the party witnesses dozens upon dozens of these raptors attacking the talon, overwhelming it as they lose sight of the entities hunting them.

 Having traveled far up the peninsula, Demi messages Mortin in an attempt to organize a rendezvous in the peninsula. Mortin refuses, insisting the party travel south down the river to meet him. The party decides to acquiesce. When discussing the plan once they encounter Mortin, Demi informs the party that she will not attack him. Salvator suggests that, if that is the case, she should hide while the rest of the party fights. The party heads back southward, stopping by the Theodrid’s Stead before setting out once more.

## EP. 57 - Getting Warmer

**The party deals with hostile environs.**

 Zahl Scrys on Mortin and witnesses the firbolg performing a strange ritual on a massive spider: the one that is depicted on the wall of the toxic Grung shrine. The next day, the party travels southward down the river toward the Canyon Lands of the Tylanvault Peninsula, Salvator and Sunshine atop the flying carpet pulling the rowboat in which Zahl and Demi sit. Spotting an enormous aquatic monster tailing the group upriver, Sunshine levitates the boat and Demi uses Major Image to create the illusion of Sekolah’s Avatar, which the river monster engages with while the party escapes.

Once the party reaches the walls of the canyons, they fly to the top of the plateau rather than remaining at the bottom of the ravine. However, their travel plans are stalled by noticeably rising heat at the top of the plateau. The party opts to fly through the topmost portion of the ravine where the weather is more mild, stopping to rest on the plateau in the temperate safety of the dome when Demi and Zahl are no longer able to cast Fly and Polymorph spells.

One such rest, Salvator and Sunshine scout a few feet into the plateau. Salvator is promptly attacked by a Sand Mimic. Salvator escapes the mimic on his flying carpet, onto which Sunshine teleports by swapping places with their echo. In an impressive display, Zahl then baits the Sand Mimic into chasing him to the edge of the ravine before thunderstepping to break away the edge of the cliff and send the creature plummeting.

Over the next couple days, the party continues flying up the ravine for days until they come upon the site where Zahl scryed on Mortin. Landing to investigate, the party is greeted by the giant spider now under Mortin’s control.

## EP. 58 - The Other Side

**CW: (temporary) character death.**

 The spider attacks Sunshine and combat ensues. Demi manages to hide a distance away as Mortin, under some sort of compelled enchantment, appears from within the ground. Saying, “maybe you can help me,” Mortin touches his staff to Salvator’s head and attempts to control the wizard. Unsuccessful, Mortin then attempts to control Sunshine as Salvator traps the giant spider in a Wall of Force. Mortin’s attempt fails on Sunshine as well, and the air genasi unsuccessfully attempts to wrest the staff from his grip. Mortin turns his attention to Zahl and manages to take control of the warlock, sending Zahl’s chained consciousness to a bleak purplish grey replica of their surroundings. Zahl realizes he is in the Shadowfell. It is here that he spots a chained, exhausted version of Mortin.

 Back on the Prime Material Plane, a Shadowfell version of Zahl attacks Demi while Salvator and Sunshine battle Mortin and the Shadowfell spider. Both Sunshine and Salvator fall unconscious during this combat, but quickly heal each other back to consciousness. Things take a deadly turn, however, when the Shadowfell spider turns Salvator to stone. Sunshine attempts to float the petrified dragonborn away, but Zahl’s Wall of Fire sets the flying carpet ablaze and the Shadowfell Spider lands a blow that shatters Salvator. Sunshine catches all that remains: the scarred black hand holding the Nox Guide.

 Back in the Shadowfell, Zahl manages to restore Mortin and ferry him back to the Prime Material Plane. Facing off with the compelled version of Mortin, Zahl tells him he’ll “watch him burn” before managing to return to the Prime Material Plane himself. The mood is somber as Demi and Zahl are reunited with their friend. Sunshine sculpts a memorial to Salvator, inscribed with the words “Tythus Salvator Kalvernius Charlemagne VII, the Undying.” The grieving party elects to take shelter in the small ruins carved into the side of the canyon. Mortin, whose behavior has been erratic since being freed, continues to be plagued by visions of what his compelled Shadowfell self has been up to.

## EP. 59 - Warded Woods

**There are strange pink crystals and more dinosaurs.**

The party, still reeling from having saved Mortin and Losing Salvator, elects to continue Southwards towards the strange stone circle that Mortin has recalled during the night. Upon arriving at what appears to be a pyramid cupped in an open palm-like earthen structure, they uncover a series of strange massive obelisks surrounding the pyramid which seem to be a part of some mechanism intended to block their path forwards. Recalling that Mortin had been holding a smaller version of one such obelisk on his person when the party had rescued him, Sunshine levitates themself up the side of one of the obelisks and discovered a slot where an object could be set on a weighted plate. Upon testing it and finding that miniature obelisks of different sizes are required for each of the four large obelisks, the party realizes that the small objects acts as some sort of key to this stone gateway, and that more would be needed to open whatever door may be hidden here.

The party forges out into the wilds of the Tylanvault in search of the strange creatures with whom they believe Mortin to have hidden the keys. From here, the party travels in Mortin’s Cloud Forms which manage to travel 500 miles in a day, heading toward the swampland in Mortin’s memory. The swampland is scattered with glowing pink crystals. Sunshine gleans that the crystals are Abjurative in nature and manages to sever one from the ground in the hopes that someone somewhere - maybe Bicker - could make use of its magical properties.

Tracking through the swamp and making further use of Mortin’s Cloud Forms, the party eventually comes across their first target: a massive Spinosaurus upon which one of the obelisks has been stored. Combat ensues, during which the furious Spinosaur targets Mortin heavily. Sunshine eventually slays the beast, making their first kill of the campaign. Mortin retrieves the obelisk and Demi reveals a new form of magic she has been working on: reaching into the harmonic plane, she casts the party back across the great expanses of the Tylanvault, teleporting them back to their ship. As they step from the harmonic plane onto the deck of the Falling Star, the party is greeted by their crew fixated on something in the distance: strange figures mounted upon large armadillo-like beasts beginning to confront the guards positioned around the camp at Theodrid’s Stead.

## EP. 60 - Baldur Roll

**The party makes a friend.**

The party comes face to face with the Kazaka Goliath Tribe of the Tylanvault peninsula. The tribe, who has apparently been in search of Mortin, somehow learned of his presence at Theodrid’s Stead. They immediately demand that the party hand the firbolg over to them for judgment. Demi, formerly intent on negotiating, immediatley refuses and tensions begin to grow between the two groups. Fortunately, the strange half-orc Baldur Metsk steps in to mediate. Seemingly also in pursuit of Mortin, Baldur offers to help the party, along with the Goliath Kazaka leader’s daughter Redlos, to undo what Mortin’s compelled Shadowfell self has done to the Tylanvault flora and fauna. The party sets off atop the pair’s two Ultuks.

Making a detour, Redlos takes the party to an ancient ruin where they discover a fresco that seems to tell of the rise and fall of Ganoth and the Kingdom of Shar. The party, still with the goal of gathering the small obelisks which Mortin had stored amongst the beasts of the Tylanvault in mind, uses Demi's teleport to move southwards. The Teleport drops the party a few hundred feet in the air, but the group easily maneuvers their way safely to the ground with many days of travel saved. Upon landing, the group  immediately sets off aboard the strange armadillo-like Ultuks guided by Baldur. Making fast work across the open desert expanses aboard these strange but handy mounts, that party arrives at the Petrified Strand.

## EP. 61 - Baldur Toss

**The party traverses a continent.**

Having made their way to the geographically odd southern reaches of the Tylanvault, the party sets about finding the second Obelisk. Following Baldur’s lead, the party navigates via Ultuk through the strange pillars of the Petrified Strand until coming upon the apparent nest of the strange bird beast said to hold the obelisk. After conversing with the local fauna, Sunshine determines that the best course of action would be to head south toward the shoreline where the bird beast is said to hunt.

Taking to the air, the party travels towards the southern shore, eventually coming upon the beast they have been tracking. Mortin attempts to free the creature from the Shadowfell corruption placed upon it, but the enchantment is too powerful for him to break. A raucous combat ensues in which Baldur retrieves the obelisk and is temporarily swallowed before Sunshine slays the creature mid-flight. With another key in hand, Demi teleports the group back to the Northern reaches of the Petrified Strand where Redlos waits with the Ultuks.

## EP. 62 - Baldur's Late

**Time gets wonky.**

Using the Ultuks and Mortin’s Cloud Forms, the party continues forging ahead across the open expanses of the Tylanvault, encountering ancient footprints of civilization as they made their way to the Western Reaches of the Peninsula. In one such ruin, the party discovers Ganothian temperature-controlled armor for Zahl and a pink-crystalled abjurative Ganothian warhammer for Sunshine. Upon retrieving these, Baldur and Sunshine find some spare time to get better acquainted (wink wink nudge nudge).

Under the guidance of Baldur, the party then finds their way to the lair of the final beast: a strange giant sabertooth creature with wings. Ahshi and Sunshine’s Echo Avatar scout the lair, revealing the creature to be asleep. The party quickly completes their objective of retrieving the last obelisk, Zahl and Mortin managing to free the beast from the Shadowfell corruption it had been placed under without slaying it.

With this objective complete, Demi then successfully teleports the party to the pyramid surrounded by obelisks, but the time of day seems...off. Messaging Oceanus, Demi learns that she has teleported the party two months into the future.

## EP. 63 - In Hand

**The party discovers the Kingdom of Shar.**

Uncertain of what may have occurred over the past two months, the party forges ahead. With each of the small obelisks collected, Baldur maneuvers the levitated Sunshine via rope to each of the larger pillars. As the last obelisk is set in place, the stone palm opens to reveal a tunnel leading beneath the Tylanvault, along with elemental guardians blocking the party’s way. Quickly besting the creatures guarding the tunnel, the party hurries down into the strange human-made caverns.They note a lack of evidence of life, with only a single pair of footprints - Mortin’s - left in a thick layer of dust.

Electing to rest, the party settles into a small warehouse space devoid of life. During her watch, Demi notices a quiet weeping sound. Following the source, she encounters the spirit of a young girl. The girl seems unresponsive but non-threatening and eventually vanishes. Upon waking, Baldur, Mortin, and Sunshine find themselves feeling more worn and beaten then they had anticipated, as if their long rest had not fully healed them.

The party continues deeper along the tunnels, finding themselves in some sort of long-abandoned residential area. An eerie feeling of being watched falls upon the party. Using Sunshine’s echo avatar as a scout, the party reaches the end of the tunnel to find a floating bridge spanning the gap between a floating stone island and the inner walls of a giant pink geode. All around them for thousands upon thousands of feet pink abjuration crystals run up the walls of the cave, circling all around the floating rock. Within, they find a massive fortress complex still guarded by the spirits of those who had once lived there.

Meanwhile, something is happening to Salvator. Trapped within the void where he had found himself after death, the dragonborn finds himself caught in some sort of haze. As he sits in a space much like his extradimensional office, the voice of Agrax becomes his sole form of company. Eventually, the voice claim that he is in fact Mordenkainen, Archmage of the Circle of Eight, who has been using the enchanted Robe of Eyes to learn more of what the party was unearthing. It seemed that whatever the party is doing on the Prime Material Plane is drawing Salvator nearer to something that the Archmage greatly wants to witness. Salvator, not entirely certain that the voice is being honest, nevertheless elects to aid the mage.

Back on the Prime Material Plane, the party navigates the spirits of the ancient fortress who seem to be locked to their ancient home. Stepping briefly into the Ethereal Plane, Baldur finds himself face to face with legions of these ghostly figures. He quickly shifts back to the Prime Material Plane, shaken. Approaching the fortress, the party notices that the strange crystals dotting the area have pierced the main building from the inside and glow a sickly arcane blue. Venturing into the fortress, the party finds the place abandoned. A massive hall filled with shattered mirrors fills one room, prompting the party to speculate that the Brotherhood once used this place as a travel hub.

Another space contains dorms or barracks, while another was filled with strange arcane medical equipment. The latter Zahl recognizes from his Scrying spell: the room in which Skerrin had been operated upon. The party discovers a note, which reads that the Blood of Errigal has run out. An air of urgency hangs over the party. The session ends with the group standing amongst the strange glowing glass containers filled with crystals, pondering what is going on here.

## EP. 64 - You Are Not Your Darkest Moments

**Alternate Title: Salvator's Big Day.**

As the party stands amongst the ruins of what they have come to believe to be the Kingdom of Shar, something strange begins to happen. The eerie blue glow of the crystal punctuating the structure has begun to change color. Little does the group know that outside of the Machine of Death, Salvator finds himself face to face with a conflict of gods: Wee Jas locked in combat with some strange entity that continuously reaches through glowing amber portals, clearly reaching for the slumped corpse of Errigal.

As Salvator watches, barely standing against the immense force of the conflict around him, another figure joins the fray, similar in size and stance to Salvator while the gods tower over them. The figure, wielding a black blade seemingly made for Wee Jas, attacks the goddess. As Wee Jas is distracted, the portaled hands lurch for the corpse of Errigal. Salvator, thinking on his feet, Disintegrates the corpse of Errigal from existence. As the true remnants of a god are wiped from the null, the fading corpse of Errigal drops a scroll from its mouth and leaves a small floating blue core of magic. The figure with the sword heads toward the scroll and a contest to reach it begins between him and Salvator. Spells are exchanged, but Salvator reaches the scroll first with the aid of Wee Jas. With Wee Jas focusing on the wizard, the portaled hands grab the damaged blue core and begin to retreat. The Goddess of Death calls out, beckoning the dragonborn to get the scroll to Nerull. With that, Salvator is ejected back onto the Prime Material Plane. The Dragonborn finds himself in the midst of combat.

While Salvator had been in combat, the crystals in the Kingdom of Shar had begun to change color on the Prime Material Plane. The party, electing to get out of the collapsing building, finds themselves under assault by a strange monster consuming the remnant souls of Shar to form some sort of avatar. Giant arms like those attacking Wee Jas sprout from the sickly amber crystals, striking at the party. As the party fights, Salvator appears amongst them, though his physical form has been diminished into a pallid dead monstrosity. Shouting that he is immortal, a hand immediately lashes out at the weakened wizard, knocking him unconscious.

The party fortunately is able to retrieve the wizard, Demi breaking away from the beast attacking them as the party covers her escape. Once outside of the geode fortress, Demi Teleports the party back to the Falling Star. There, Baldur informs the party that Salvator is a lich. The party elects to wait until the dragonborn is awake before discussing what to do next.

Baldur, recognizing that the party is likely to leave the region, prepares to make his farewells. After sharing an intimate night with Sunshine, the air genasi invites him to travel with the Llosgi Dyn some day. During his farewell with Mortin, the Firbolg shares that he wants to stay with Baldur to help repair the Shadowfell damage he has done to the Tylanvault. Mortin and Baldur bid the group farewell as the remaining four contemplate if they should meet with Mordenkainen or take care of other business first. Baldur tells Mortin, “you are not your darkest moments,” and the two depart on their own quest to rectify the Scarlet Brotherhood’s damage to the Tylanvault.

## EP. 65 - Follow Your Thoughts

**Salvator meets Mordenkainen. Properly.**

Having said farewell to Mortin and Baldur, the party takes Mordenkainen up on his offer to meet. The Archmage promptly appears on the deck of the Falling Star and Teleports the party directly to the top of the Circles Stand, the massive citadel from which the mages of the Circle of the Eight hold dominion over the Free City of Greyhawk.

 Eventually, Rary, Nystul, Dwarmidge, Bucknard, and Otto are assembled, with Tenser and Bigby unable to currently attend. Mordenkainen fills them in on the party’s activities, and informs the party that Leomund has long defected from the Circle. This leads the party to suspect that the figure Salvator faced may have been Leomund. Otto, after gaining Salvator’s consent, casts a spell akin to Programmed Illusion and Detect Thoughts in which he is able to project Salvator’s memory of his battle with Leomund, the disintegration of the body of Errigal, and the gifting of the Scroll on behalf of Wee Jas to the entirety of the room. Learning that Mordenkainen himself could not be present in the Null space where the battle over Errigal’s corpse took place as he is not “outside” of the Machinery of Death like Salvator, Sunshine suggests that Leomund must now be a lich as well.

The party shares all they had learned and the Circle adds pieces to the puzzle, providing info on the war that the Great Kingdoms had apparently started in the past two months with the Grand Alliance. Mordenkainen suggests that they keep the relationship between the party and the Circle under wraps, believing that it might give them an upper hand in the brewing conflict.

Granted access to the Circle’s library and rings to keep the Circle’s constructs from attacking them, the party begins considering all that they knew and how they might proceed given their new found knowledge. Utilizing a library much like that at Conundrum Isle where patrons thinking about a keyword find themselves guided toward answers, Salvator comes away with info on the nobles of the Great Kingdoms and on his mysterious hand. Sunshine dives into the Seekers of the Arcane and the Sorcerer's Nexus. Zahl takes time to study the Archons and Sophia with the aid of Demi, learning that Mother’s official title is “Pistis Sophia.”

The party then elects to head into the city to acquire supplies, visiting several of Greyhawk’s preeminent stores. During an escapade in which Sunshine and Zahl pretend to be angels named “Aubade” and “Salvator,” the two unearth the name Thali Merryweather: a dwarf who has apparently been researching the involvement of the Archons on the Prime Material Plane. A little sleuthing gave the group a home address for the researcher. Demi, Zahl, and Sunshine eventually bid farewell to Salvator for the evening before heading for the dance hall where the archmage Otto had alluded to possibly helping Zahl with his hunt for the other parts of the Ostis Anchor. Salvator made his way out into the snow to work on a new spell in the snow outside of the temperature-controlled city.

## EP. 66 - Curiosity Abounds

**Salvator makes a Simulacrum and Otto makes an Ostis Anchor detector.**

 Demi, Zahl, and Sunshine reach Otto’s Irresistible Dancehall. The goliath hostess Diamond Eyes informs them that Otto is not currently present and settles them into the space. The party dances in Otto’s zero gravity dancehall until he arrives and asks Zahl what he has brought to surprise the Archmage in exchange for assistance in locating the remainder of the Ostis Anchor. Zahl offers the magical gimmick potions from Richfest, which Otto regards with disinterest. Demi steps in, putting on an impressive show in the gravityless dance hall. Sufficiently impressed, Otto leads the trio to a private room where he enchants a strange compass with a fraction of magic from the Ostis Anchor that should lead them to their goal.

Objective completed, the party heads for bed, waking the next day to find two Salvators waiting for them in the entryway. Initial surprise quickly reconciled, they head out into the city to scout the Embassy of the Great Kingdoms before settling in for some shopping. During this shopping outing, Sunshine spots a theatre whose blue mask iconography is apparently familiar. Splitting away from the party, they head into the building and are immediately drawn to a poster for an upcoming balletic performance featuring a drow dancer named Taleena. They have an emotional response to the sight as they recognize this dancer as a figure from their childhood: Aubade. After sketching the poster, Sunshine investigates the theatre’s auditorium and meets Bertie, the theatre’s proprietor. Sunshine purchases tickets to the upcoming balletic performance and makes brief inquiries into the theatre’s other locations, citing a theatre in Irongate as having similar iconography. Bertie seems suspicious at Sunshine’s line of inquiry, and they rejoin the group.

Salvator and Demi sell equipment and purchase a Sunblade, while Zahl and Sunshine head to The Flesh Quill, where a horned devil named Curiosity tattoos Sunshine with constellations and Zahl with golden scales over scars where he had once removed actual scales. The party ends their spree at the Final Market with the intent of seeking out Thali Merrybringer.

## EP. 67 - Reacquainted

**Sunshine reunites with an old flame.**

Shopping excursion complete, the party searches for Thali Merrybringer, a dwarf with an intense love for the celestial. The enthusiastic individual shares what he knows about Archons with Zahl before the warlock grants him a brief flight with his very own pair of golden wings. The party then spends the night at Windward Lodge, where plans are made via the newly acquired Sending Stone Family Plan.

 In the morning, the party heads to the Blue Visage Theatre. Once outside, Sunshine casts Animal Messenger on a stray cat. Using the name “Paprika” and telling Aubade they are alive, Sunshine then wildshapes into a cat themself and follows the messenger. The stray leads them to a figure in a room on the top floor of an abandoned building overlooking the Great Kingdom Embassy: “Taleena,” formerly Aubade. After a few questions at crossbow point, Sunshine convinces Aubade of their identity and the two share embraces and information: Sunshine learns that Aubade killed Mattim, one of the captors responsible for Sunshine’s missing memory. They also learn that Jor, the other man responsible, was recently at the Embassy of the Great Kingdom. Aubade appears to be a member of a mysterious group called the Blue Masks. After this brief but emotional reunion, Sunshine rejoins the party so that they can begin the process of tracking down Zahl’s Mother.

In a brilliant move, Zahl has Salvator and Demi utilize Teleport to travel to different points across the Azure Sea, using the compass to get a more exact bearing on where the anchor might be. After several days of teleporting and a few minor hiccups, the group uncovers two specific locations as leads. A short stop at Conundrum Isle found Zahl organizing a party celebrating Demi’s missed birthday before the gang returned to Greyhawk. They spent the rest of the day researching in the library: Zahl looking into Yuan Ti society, Sunshine into the Blue Masks, and Demi into Chronomancy. Near the end of the day Demi elected to cast Legend Lore on the Ostis anchor, revealing Sophia’s fall from the Celestial Plane. Taking a breather after this information, Zahl confesses feelings of guilt at the prospect of having factored in keeping Sophia imprisoned. The party leaves the library far more informed in all aspects and heads for the Stable of Kings for a long rest.

## EP. 68 - Echoes of the Past

**Zahl gives Sunshine a trip down memory lane.**

 The party attends Aubade’s balletic performance as Taleena, Sunshine growing emotional at the sight of their former partner seeming to have achieved a fraction of her dreams. At the end of the performance, Demi notices a man who refuses to clap during the standing ovation. Messaging him that he is being rude, she receives no response. While Zahl and Sunshine excitedly discuss the performance, Demi, Salvator, and Talvasor investigate and quickly surmise that the man - Bertie, the head of the Blue Visage Theatre - is dead. Demi messages Aubade, informing her of the situation. Aubade quickly returns to the atrium and she assesses the corpse. Zahl notices that, as she does, something seems to transfer from Bertie’s face to hers.

 Aubade asks that the party help her bring the corpse upstairs, where a secret room formerly belonging to Bertie is revealed. It seems that whatever enchantment passed from Bertie’s corpse now allows Aubade to access the room. Tensions mount as Demi and Salvator question Aubade’s motives, going so far as to suggest that Aubade killed Bertie to take his position. Sunshine appears not to give credence to the notion. Perusing the information Bertie had compiled, the party learns of some sort of plot the Seekers of the Arcane had been planning in which they planned to use something called the Tournament of the Foul to get close to the demigod Iuz. Their end objective, it seems, is to access some sort of artifact in Dorakaa.

The mood still tense, the party separates from Aubade to discuss how they intend to proceed. Zahl, at the suggestion of Salvator, offers to try and help Sunshine attempt to delve into their lost memories from their time under the sway of Jor. As their painful memories came crashing back in, apparently somehow connected to their echos, Sunshine relives the night after they had been captured. They witness Jor holding a strange obsidian rod and remember the instant he used it to first gain control of them. Sunshine speculates that this is the Sceptre of Dominance, one of the five Keys of Destruction.

The party returns to Aubade and Demi taps into a new magic for the first time as she casts Demi’s Harmonic Hall: a place for the group to rest safely for the night custom tailored to each member of the party. The following day, Sunshine shares a heartfelt farewell with Aubade before Demi attempts to Teleport to the South Western Temple of the Amedio Jungle. The jump took them a bit of course, but a casting by Salvator lands the party within a mile of their destination. To their west, the towering black peaks of the Hellfurnaces reaches for the skies, spewing smoke into the air. Flares of volcanic eruptions dot the horizon. Up a mountainous trail, a temple front can just be made out against the smoke and brimstone.

## EP. 69 - Hot Blooded Serpent

**The party goes anchor fishing.**

The session begins with Salvator having just Teleported the party to the first temple in the volcanic reaches of the Amedio Jungle. Sunshine casts Pass Without a Trace on the party and they sneak to the temple’s entrance, where they come upon river-like lava flows and a strange contraption requiring answers to three riddles. The party correctly answers the three riddles, all of which have to do with the elements (in this case, water, fire, and air). This causes the lava to shift, lowering to reveal the temple proper. Unfortunately, the temple is populated with yuan-ti priests going about their business. Combat ensues in which Sunshine uses Cymberot’s Staff of Thunder and Lightning for the first time, Salvator uses his Gift of the Metallic Dragon reaction for the first time to protect Zahl, and Talvasor uses his spell slots for the first time. Dispatching the yuan-ti priests, the party begins to investigate the space. They come across a crypt filled with treasures, including a Blue Chromatic Rose, a Chest of Equivalent Exchange, and a Hook of Fisher’s Delight.

Concealed in a downpour of lava, Sunshine identifies what appears to be the second part of the Ostis Anchor. Some quick ingenuity between Zahl and Sunshine has Ashi retrieving the anchor via constellation fishing line. However, as the tiny celestial imp makes his way out of the lava, he finds himself pursued by a terrifying lava elemental. Salvator jumps into action, banishing the creature and giving the party time to flee with this new piece of the Ostis Anchor.

On their way out, the party locates a final locked room. As they enter, they find an imprisoned Yuan Ti woman named Mek claiming to be a rebel leader. Mek begs the party to take her with them and the party obliges, Demi polymorphing the woman into a ferret to free her from her chains as Salvator begins casting Teleportation Circle. Unfortunately, the banishment on the strange lava beast runs out and the monster begins bearing down on the party. Talvasor creates a Wall of Force between the party and the creature, giving Salvator enough time to finish his Teleportation Circle. Teleporting thousands of miles to the island circle in Salt Marsh, the party steps into the cool crisp evening air to catch the year’s first snowfall.

## EP. 70 - Swallowed Whole

**Zahl gets eaten. Briefly.**

The party brings Mek to Conundrum Isle, where they are welcomed and fed by Plum. Mekt provides the group with a greater understanding of the resistance and the Yuan-Ti empire as a whole. It turns out that Sophia led the resistance, falling to Sseth three decades ago. Zahl notes this, informing the group that he is 29 years old. Zahl spends the remainder of the evening learning about the Yuan-Ti from Mek while Demi catches up with Lyla, Sunshine paints with Bap, and Salvator reads in the Conundrum Company library.

In the morning, the group teleports to the Yotsahleiss temple and immediately engages in combat with the Yuan-ti cultists and a giant guardian snake. During this combat, Mek reveals herself to be a Celestial monk, imbued with some of Sophia’s radiance. Zahl manages to charm the snake, resulting in it consuming two of the Yuan-ti cultists. Sunshine summons eight giant owls to join the fray. Demi uses Steel Wind Strike for the first and last time, accidentally winding up in melee with four of the cultists.

Seeing Demi take a remarkable amount of damage, Sunshine commands a giant owl to carry Demi away from the fight, removing her from melee. Zahl’s charm fails, and the warlock is promptly swallowed by the giant snake and knocked unconscious in the process. Turning into a giant ape, Demi manages to pull Zahl out of the creature’s mouth before Salvator Banishes it. Seizing the moment, the party piles into the temple. Sunshine leaves their giant owls behind to deal with the Giant Snake once Salvator’s Banishment ends. The session ends with the party hearing the sound of roaring water echo up the spiral staircase of the temple.

## EP. 71 - Snake on a Water Plane

**Zahl reassembles the Ostis Anchor.**

 Sunshine sends their echo avatar to scout the interior of the temple, discovering a whirlpool at its center. Descending the stairs, the echo spots three yuan-ti priests at an altar. Two are sent to fight the echo, which the priests dispatch after a couple rounds of combat. The third priest is nowhere to be seen as Salvator, Sunshine, Mek, and Talvasor renew combat with the priests, Salvator trapping them inside of a Wall of Force. Deducing the priest must have disappeared into the whirlpool, Zahl dives in and emerges in an underwater cavern in time to see the priestess throw the last piece of the Ostis Anchor into the water. The water forms a liquid visage of Sophia around the anchor. Demi polymorphs into a giant crocodile and follows Zahl below.

Above in the temple proper, Mek recognizes one of the yuan-ti priests as a member of the resistance via an eagle tattoo. She reveals herself as the resistance leader and the resistance fighter turns on the remaining priest. Sunshine summons an echo inside of the Wall of Force and together the two dispatch the enemy. Retrieving a potion, a pair of bracers, and a spell scroll from the altar, the remaining party members dive through the whirlpool.

A chaotic battle ensues in which Sunshine briefly levitates water Sophia to keep her from regenerating health, Sophia briefly banishes Zahl to the Water Plane, and Mek and Raptor Sunshine ride on the back of Crocodile Demi. Salvator regains spell slots from his phylactery for the first time, leaving him with only one charge.

Ultimately, the strange water angel is defeated, allowing Zahl to retrieve the last piece of the anchor from within its form. The following morning, Zahl attaches the three pieces of the rod of the pactkeeper together, reassembling The Ostis Anchor in its spear form. Noting the dark marbling still present in the spear, Zahl focuses on it, attempting to rid the spear of Sseth’s presence. As he focuses, Zahl finds anger taking him over. He fights this anger, refusing to let it take him over. The session ends with Zahl hearing Sseth hiss, “there you are" into his mind.

## EP. 72 - Birthrite

**Zahl gets some clarity about his history.**

Zahl informs the party of Sseth’s voice in his head. Using his now completed Ostis Anchor, Zahl scrys on Sophia. He is able to glimpse a cavernous space with an enormous, incredibly lifelike “statue” of Sophia. As he watches, a woman enters this chamber wearing regal attire. As Zahl watches the regal woman observe Sophia’s statue, he begins to realize this woman’s features are a mirror of his own, a couple decades older. Zahl surmises this may be his birthmother.

 Demi casts Legend Lore and the party watches Zahl’s life in reverse: their adventures, his first meeting with Demi, Mortin, and Peach at the Snapping Line Inn, his childhood in Gryrax, his adoption, a blank void, and then his yuan-ti birthmother’s cesarean section. There, the party sees that Zahl and a twin brother were born. Considering what the party has just seen aloud, Sunshine asks Mek if there are any tales of a lost yuan-ti prince. At Mek’s affirmative, Zahl curses, realizing he is the lost prince in the stories.

 Salvator teleports the party to Narsiban. Using Zahl’s Invisibility on the non-yuan-ti party members, the group is led safely by Mek into smuggling caves utilized by the resistance. There, she introduces Zahl to Arbass, a yuan-ti abomination who appears to be tending to the resistance’s wounded.

The party begins discussing what happened to lead to Mek’s capture, and Sunshine expresses a suspicion that there may have been a mole in the rebel ranks. The party begins to discuss how they might sway the elder council of Narsiban to their side. The council eventually arrives, three individuals led by a Naga known as Uhei. Zahl impresses Uhei with an exhibition of his abilities and the pronouncement that he is the lost Yuan-Ti prince. Sunshine suggests that Demi’s smuggling connections can be made available to the Council, if they are amenable to assisting Zahl. The members present promise a more formal meeting later. Arbass seems nervous at this exchange. Noting Arbass’s nervousness, Sunshine determines he may have been the mole. Together with Demi and Salvator in the role of “bad cop,” they glean that Sseth’s Empire caught wind of Arbass’s involvement in the resistance and leveraged the safety of Arbass’s partner to get him to reveal the resistance’s movements, resulting in Mek’s capture and the injuries to which he has been tending. Sunshine suggests to an upset Mek that she use Arbass’s role as a mole to her advantage by feeding Sseth’s Empire false information. Mek agrees.

The topic of birth is brought up and Mek reveals a painful truth regarding the curse connecting them and Sseth. Yuan Ti are not created through a partnership. Young simply form within a host and must be cut away. In other words, pregnancy occurs at random across the gender spectrum via the yuan-ti connection to Sseth. This seems to be a result of the betrayal at the hands of the elves posing as yuan-ti allies millenia ago. This horrific truth and lack of agency rocks the party and further deepens the group’s understanding of Zahl’s connection to Sofia. Propelled by this information, Zahl attempts to Scry on his twin and finds his sensor floating above himself and his companions, honing in on an invisible presence on his shoulder: Ahshi. Demi casts Legend Lore once more and the group learns that Ashi had been separated from Zahl at birth, cast somehow into the Celestial Plane until eventually being called forth when Zahl needed him. Ashi is dumbfounded by this information. The party reaffirms their intent to Free Sophia, Break the connection between Sseth and the Yuan Ti, and learn more about Ashi.

## EP. 73 - Lie in Wait

**Salvator puts his lichdom to use.**

The party begins asking Zahl what next steps should be taken, and he realizes that leadership currently falls upon his shoulders. He decides that he wants to help the yuan-ti rid themselves of Sseth’s influence. Until then, Zahl considers negotiating a new political structure to be premature.

The party meets with the Narsiban Council in a formal setting, where Demi agrees to an exclusive trade partnership with two of her vessels in exchange for: an object from the yuan-ti capital, a map of the capital itself, information regarding the capital leadership, and a disinformation campaign. The elders oblige, and the party learns that the royal family lives in the Heart of the Empire. Zahl surmises this is where Sophia is being kept. The party says their goodbyes to Mek, and Demi creates her Harmonic Hall for a night’s rest.

In the morning, Salvator uses Zahl’s ouroboros arcane focus to teleport, hoping it will bring them to the capital. Instead, the party is teleported to a forge in the Hellfurnaces. Demi then teleports the party to a brewery in the capital, where Zahl and Demi promptly turn the party invisible. Using Salvator’s thought lobby, the party navigates through the yuan-ti city to the Heart of the Empire. There, Salvator tells the party to protect each other and departs to create a distraction. He then, disguised as Mek, casts Disintegrate on an enormous guard tower in the name of the Resistance and Sophia. The tower topples onto the guards below, prompting the temple to go under lockdown. As guards pour out of the Heart of the Empire, the remaining invisible party members sneak past. Ahead of Demi on a broom, Zahl and Sunshine fly past the initial interior kill zone. Zahl manages to pick a lock leading deeper into the temple. In an unstealthy moment, Sunshine manages to pass off the sounds they’ve made on a giant rat plucked from their bag of tricks. The two fly upward into the temple, with Demi following behind at a dash.

 Outside, Salvator (disguised as Mek) has barricaded himself inside a Wall of Force. Outside of this, dinosaur-like creatures amass alongside the legions of yuan-ti guards. Channeling the necrotic magic in his hand, Salvator unleashes an incredible Lich’s ability, killing 40 guards in an instant and absorbing 27 of their souls into his phylactery. The remaining legions, stunned and terrified, do not immediately attack. Salvator uses this moment of hesitation to turn invisible and fly to catch up to the party.

 At the apex of the temple, Zahl sees the chained statue of Sophia from his previous Scry. A red line denotes a partially anti-magic space surrounding the statue of the Archon. Sunshine attacks the chains while Zahl attacks the red line. As he does so, Sseth speaks tauntingly into Zahl’s mind, seemingly pleased at the warlock’s arrival in this space. Zahl continues his attacks, breaking the anti-magic seal and thus allowing Sunshine to break Sophia’s chains. However, Sophia remains a statue, even after Zahl attempts to cast Greater Restoration. Demi arrives, informing them that the temple is on a giant snake. Zahl asks Sophia for guidance. Her voice enters Zahl’s mind, reiterating that the Ostis Anchor is the key. Zahl stabs the Ostis Anchor into Sophia’s chest and this time, Greater Restoration is successful. Stone cracks away and Sophia is released. Thanking Zahl, she tells him they have work to do as the temple continues to rise on the top of Sseth’s head.

## EP. 74 - Severing the Tether

**Zahl frees Sophia.**

The party rises hundreds of feet into the air, perched on top of the giant snake god Sseth’s head. Sophia, freed, infuses the party with her power, her blessing enabling them to see dark magical tethers connecting the god to countless Yuan Ti. One such tether even connected to Zahl. The party went about severing the trunks of these tethers, fending off the massive snake god and his avatar as they worked their way down the beasts back using flight gifted by Sophia. The progress was slow, as the party slowly worked to overcome the fear instilled by the god’s presence. As the party fights, the city falls into disarray as panic spreads at the sight of the god towering over the people below.

After a hard fought combat, more chase than anything else, the party eventually severs the final tether. As they do, Sseth immediately begins to come apart: its mortal form turning to stone and crumbling into the lake below. The group jumps into action alongside Sophia, swooping into the city to help fend off a growing tidal wave heading toward the island city. Moving quickly, the group manages to stop the growing waves from causing too much damage. As the party works to shelter and evacuate the population, Sophia performs miracles, revivifying countless fallen Yuan-Ti.

An uneasy truce begins to develop between the Yuan Ti and the party, culminating in Zahl coming face to face with his biological Mother the Empress Otli. There is an awkward introduction, and the two have a hug and a conversation for the first time, after which Empress Otli tells the gathered populus that the party is not to be harmed. Zahl, noting Sophia slipping away, approaches the Archon. An intimate conversation follows in which Sophia apologizes as Zahl simultaneously thanks her. Sophia shares that she will go before the Hebdomad as they review her case now that her recompense is done.

Seeing Sophia about to leave, the party quickly asks what she knows of the Machine of Death. The ever-cryptic archon shares that Nerull is the Reaper of Souls: one of the few deities who can operate on the Prime Material Plane without breaking the order of the world. Asked why the Archons or Celestia do not intervene and attempt to fix the machine of death, Sophia shares that to do so would likely only make things worse, further damaging the order of the universe.

She promises to ask for a boon to help Ahshi at Zahl’s behest, then with a final tender goodbye, leaves the Prime Material Plane for Celestia. Demi conjures her Harmonic Hall and  offers it up as a meeting place for Zahl, his parents, and the group to set about getting to know each other a little better. That evening, Sunshine runs the emperor through some basic sex-ed while the Empress Otli shares with the rest of the party that she had gazed upon the captured Sophia when she had first arrived, and eventually had begun to hear Sophia’s voice even after the Archon was chained. Small boons had begun to be granted, but the Archon’s radiance had seeped into Otli in some way and one of her children had been born with radiant powers. Sophia offered to protect them but the cost had been dire: Ahshi lost from the Prime Material and Zahl shipped across the world by smugglers. After some bonding time, the empress and emperor return to their duties, helping the city recuperate from the earlier battle and the party heads to bed.

## EP. 75 - Giant Leap

**Demi's magic surprises her.**

The party joins Empress Otli at the Temple of Fire in Zhaskuss to discuss next steps. As they speak, the empress shares her thoughts on unifying the Yuan Ti once more before wishing her son farewell. The party teleports back to Greyhawk to do a little research and nab some spell components. During their research, they uncover a little more about Nerull, the god whom Salvatore had been tasked with finding. During this research, Talvasor is sent out of the library, only to be immediately killed by the constructs protecting the Citadel of the Eight. With components in hand, the party is about to depart when Sunshine mentions it is their birthday. The group elects to have a relaxing picnic, taking a moment to enjoy some cake and do a little magical fishing.

Eventually, with a newly acquired singing fish in tow, Salvator attempts to teleport to the Llosgi Dyn, who have traveled to Hookhill in the independent region of Bissel. The first attempt landed the party a bit off-course, in a dimly lit frozen forest. Demi attempts a second teleport, which seems to place the party on mark. However, as they land, they realize something had gone awry. Somewhere during their journey, the party picked up a very angry frost giant.

Sunshine tanks the giant’s swings as the casters jump into action, managing to gain the group a few minutes with another casting of Salvator’s Maze spell. The party elects to try not to kill the giant, as his presence was an accident. The giant is released from the maze and the party jumps into a strange diplomatic encounter, ending with the giant agreeing to be teleported back to its home. That minor inconvenience over, the group joins the befuddled Llyosgi Dyn. Sunshine reunites with their spouse Bicker, while Salvator and Zahl set about reconstructing a replacement for Talsavor. As the squad settles in for the evening, Demi receives a Sending from Mavenon. He tells her that figures have been gathering in the Ethereal Plane around the catacombs. Demi tells Zahl, who tries and fails to Scry on Skerrin. Demi reaches out to Peach, warning their friend of what was going on.

## EP. 76 - Line in the Snow

**The Brotherhood rears its head again.**

In the morning, a new Talvasor is brought into existence. Demi and Zahl share their previous night’s discoveries with the rest of the party. Sipping coffee by the Llosgi Dyn fire in the cold morning, they learn of Mavionon’s alert regarding strange glowing-limbed figures watching from the Ethereal Plane. The party says farewell to Sunshine’s family and teleports to Niole Dra. Arriving without incident, the party immediately begins to move towards the Catacombs. Upon reaching the ancient structure, they are greeted warmly by their old friend Mavenon and quickly provided updates via the wizened tiefling regarding the location of Nerull and information regarding Salvator’s recent encounter with Wee Jas.

Eventually the party turns to the matter at hand, coming up with a couple of plans regarding the Brotherhood's presence on the Ethereal Plane. Demi reaches out via Sending to Skerrin and attempts to use the strange journal belonging to the eel, though these efforts appear fruitless. Planning complete, the party threw that out the window and Salvator went outside to yell at their enemies. Sunshine, Demi, and Zahl take up defensive positions just inside the Catacombs entry as the Dragonborn addresses their enemy, who he manages to spot using his Robe of Eyes. He then spots a strange floating fetal creature joining those with the strange glowing limbs. The two speak at a distance before beginning to summon several wraiths, who vanish into other buildings surrounding the Catacombs. The strange floating figure then begins to leave, heading west out of the city.

Salvator takes chase and Sunshine, summoning an Echo avatar, covers him from the air. Hearing screams began to ring out from the buildings entered by wraiths, Demi and Zahl jump out to engage with the creatures who were clearly attacking civilians. With the strange floating fetal figure on the Ethereal Plane showing no signs of stopping as it heads westward, Salvator decides to break his pursuit to return to the group. Sunshine’s avatar remains with him, still covering his return. Chaos breaks out as Demi stumbles across a body from which a wraith emerges attacking her. She and Zahl are quickly surrounded by wraiths. Back in the plaza, a strange figure with ghostly blue transparent appendages similar to those seen on Skerrin jumps Salvator and Sunshine’s avatar. Combat overtakes the square as the group fights tooth and nail against the agents of Nox, eventually turning the tide and slaying their enemies.

## EP. 77 - Living in the Lost

**Sunshine meets Cerdy and Zahl goes to Heaven.**

 The party convenes once again within the catacombs to discuss the conflict they experienced in the square. The group discusses next steps before heading out into the town to visit the various vendors of Niole Dra. Stopping by Siphons and Souls, Salvator notices something interesting regarding the Ethereal Plane: a spike of the stone that makes up the catacombs existing only on the Ethereal side juts up from the ground, rending the back half of the shop. The strange shard seems to be tied to the ghost tied to the store. The party returns once more to the Catacombs, still speculating upon what all of this new information means and deliberating on where they want to go next.

That night, Sunshine receives a dream as they come in contact with Cerdwyyr for the first time, the deity attempting to convey its origins and purpose in its traditionally cryptic way. A scene is painted out by the two explaining that the foundations of three cities - Greyhawk, Niole Dra, and the Kingdom of Shar - are in fact the fallen husks of Cerddwyr’s peers trapped upon the Prime Material Plane  This all seems to somehow be related to the broken Machine of Death.

In the morning, Sunshine shares everything they dreamed with the party, and a few more pieces of the puzzle click together. Mavenon joins the group, sharing what he had learned of Nerull: the odd deity seems to be most powerful when ignored or considered nonexistent. The party begins contemplating locations where Nerull might be least worshiped, and Demi recalls a tale of the Theocracy of the Pale: a strange monotheistic nation far to the east. The group elects to teleport to this natio. As they step from the catacombs to do so, a strange orb descends from the sky above them, relaying a summons requesting that Zahl travel to the Celestial Plane for the hearing of Archon Pistis Sophia. Zahl bids farewell to his companions before agreeing to the summons, which immediately whisks him away.

## EP. 78 - Delving for the Deal

**The party goes on a proper heist.**

As Zahl vanishes with the celestial messenger, the rest of the party elects to teleport to the Theocracy of the Pale. Arriving a little off target, they begin making the trek towards the glistening marble citadel. Before long and with minimal disdain for godhood expressed aloud, the party successfully enters the city and finds themselves speaking with a few of its residents. They quickly learn of the city’s strange monotheism and its police state tendencies. With little to go on, they begin to make their way to the city’s main temple and seat of power, the Hold of Oridian. As they walk, a strange individual collides with Sunshine. Introducing himself as Xan, the young man asks if they would like a tour of the city. It quickly becomes apparent that Xan was no tour guide. As the four individuals speak in a secluded alleyway, Xan reveals that he knows Nerull. He offers to act as an intermediary for the group, provided they help him out first. Xan shares that he is a collector of artifacts and needs help getting into a magically warded estate which holds a strange infernal contract connected to the Devil Curiosity who tattooed Zahl and Sunshine back in Greyhawk. The party agrees to help and the gang heads to Xan’s home to plan.

The following morning the group sets out for the estate, which seems to exist on grounds completely devoid of snow despite the time of year and region. The residents safely away, Xan, Sunshine, and Demi quickly infiltrate the home while Salvator distracts the city guard. As they move through the building, strange sounds are heard from empty rooms. Demi notes that a few of the plants seemed to shift now and then, and upon addressing them a voice teases back. Sunshine locates the door to the concealed basement of the home and Salvator joins the party, having trapped the estate’s gardener in an extra dimensional maze.

They soon find themselves in an underground sanctuary where a buried tree stump is being kept alive. More importantly, a Dryad, seemingly the voice from the plants upstairs, greets the party upon entry. Past the stump, the party spots a large metal vault door siting on the far end of the room. A female form standing about seven feet tall hovers next to the group, her skin formed from bark and moss. Learning that the Dryad is the source of the estate’s perpetual spring, the party puzzles how to get her out of the basement and settled in a place where her tree can properly grow.

## EP. 79 - Sold Souls

**Salvator meets the Reaper.**

 Despite Zahl returning from the celestial plane mid-heist, successfully raids the Belston Parsonage vault. As guards pour into the basement, Demi/Salvator teleports the party safely back to Xan’s home. Together, Xan and Sunshine pour over the infernal contract while Salvator, Demi, and Zahl divvy up stolen magical items. Verifying that his request was completed, Xan fulfills his end of the bargain and brokers a meeting between Nerull and the party.

Salvator finally comes face to face with Nerull, the Reaper of Souls: a clipped, irascible god taking the form of a halfling. The odd deity upon arriving at Xan’s home is almost immediately handed the scroll. Expressing reluctance to take it, Nerull explains that accepting the scroll likely means he will take Errigal’s place. As the god sits with the group, the party queries after what that would mean for the position of Reaper. Nerull admits to being uncertain and the topic moves to what he sees regarding the others. The oddly cryptic and yet blunt individual alludes to Demi’s elemental origins, stating that her birth was the result of a force of nature: two elemental forces combating each other and colliding. He also reveals that Sunshine’s scar is Cerdwyyr’s divine protective barrier between the air genasi and the invasive influence of Nox, and that Salvator’s unnatural removal from the Machinery of Death leaves him exceptionally vulnerable to those who know to target a Lich’s phylactery.

Revelations given, Nerull makes his exit. The party turns their gaze back to the odd infernal contract, which seems to connect the signer to the Nine Hells as a sort of agent in an evil pyramid scheme. Xan locks it away and the group turns their attention to next steps. As they speak, Nerull reaches back out to Xan, warning of a strange event somewhere in the Great Kingdoms. Tens of thousands of individuals seemingly lost their lives in a very short window, but as the souls had manifested, they disappeared from the Reaper's vision, seemingly lost.

Xan offers to look into the disappearance and makes his goodbyes. The group then teleports back to Conundrum Isle. Demi broaches the painful topic of her origins with Lyla, Sunshine and Salvator discuss what to do with Bap, and Zahl taps into the boons granted him by the Celestial plane. As the group reconveenes in the evening and prepares to address Sunshine’s missing memories, Zahl reveals that he and Ahshi convinced the Celestial plane to grant Ahshi a mortal form when he desired it, allowing Ahshi to regain a semblance of the life he had lost while still assisting his twin. The celestials had also agreed to give Zahl a little more time on the Prime Material Plane in order for him to assist in cleaning up the political mess in the Amedio Jungle.

## EP. 80 - Unshattered

**Sunshine's memories are returned to them.**

Zahl sets about unlocking the remaining memories secreted away in Sunshine’s echos. Casting a Greater Restoration requiring his concentration, Zahl begins the ritual and the echoes manifest back around Sunshine. Proceeding where they had last left off, Sunshine faces down one echo after another, embracing the emotion trapped within and unlocking the memories that had been sealed away.

A narrative of Sunshine’s years under the Scepter of Dominance begins to manifest, offering a deeper insight into how the artifact functions. As the memories of their captivity unfold, Sunshine learns that the scepter itself not only controls its targets but also slowly corrupts them, bending individuals to Nox’s will. It was revealed that Jor and Mattim had been pursued by the various factions of Flannaes, all eager to obtain the sceptre. It is revealed that in a last ditch effort in the Pomarj, Jor attempted to discard Sunshine by commanding them to leap from the Drachenkopf mountain. In that moment, the ever growing corruption of Nox broke Sunshine from Jor’s command, urging them to kill him.

Just as this instant occurred, however, another external entity had engaged the Genasi. Cerrdwyr offered them a chance to seal away those corrupted memories and emotions, saving them from becoming a minion Nox. Sunshine remembers agreeing, and relive the experience of Cerdwyyr sealing away those emotions and memories in the star-like astral scar trailing their neck and sternum.

Back in the waking world, a strange shadow begins to form behind Sunshine and their echoes. The shadow seems to grow with each emotion embraced, and as Sunshine engages with the final memory, the growing shadows take the form of two strange Noxian beasts who attack the party. Trapped in the small confines of Oceanus’s bedroom in the lighthouse, the odds do not look great as the beasts blind Demi and control Salvator, setting the wizard’s magical prowess against his allies. However, as Sunshine embraces the final echo, their past becomes unlocked and the power of Cerdwyyr that had been focused on holding back the corrupt versions of Sunshine now floods into them. Sunshine snaps from the memory back to the waking world, their form completely consumed in the astral starry scar that had before only marred their neck and sternum. With Sunshine joining the fray, combat continues and the tides quickly turn with Sunshine’s newly-found healing powers in hand. Within moments the party had destroys the strange beasts.

Beaten, tired, and confused, the party briefly addresses Sunshine’s new form before turning in for the night. The following morning, they discuss what happened and how to proceed. Before convening, however, Zahl slips away into town to take a look at all the new stores in the ever-expanding Salt Marsh. Demi takes the opportunity to slip away from the group and delve deeper into her origins, using Legend Lore on the tale of  a falling star that was believed to have caused a massive storm on the coast of Gryrax some 27 years ago. Furstrated, Demi has a difficult conversation with Lyla about her lack of birthparents. Salvator, Sunshine, and Ahshi spend the morning finding common ground regarding their unique transformations, culminating in the creation of “The Change Club,” complete with matching jackets. The day ends with the party discussing next steps, leading to Zahl preparing to Scry on Jor.

## EP. 81 - Soul Searching

**The party prepares for Iuz.**

With Salvator having successfully delivered the Scroll of Errigal to Nerull and Zahl having released Sunshine’s hidden memories, the group turns to scrying on Jor. A successful scry by Zahl reveals that Jor has made it to Dorakaa, the capital city of Iuz. In preparation for a pending trip to Iuz for the Festival of the Foul, the party sets about doing some research and getting in a little relaxation. They stop by the strange crab hut, meeting with the sea hag they had met in Fairwind. Speaking druidic to the strange crabs in the dilapidated hut, Sunshine discovers the sea hag’s new roommate: an ancient vampire druid, who has somehow managed to turn himself into tens of thousands of crabs. Sunshine pledges to help the vampire return to an uncursed humanoid form. After procuring a Rod of Alertness for Salvator, the party moves on to  meet with Captain Xendros to query her about Iuz in preparation for their travels. Learning of the party’s intent to go to Iuz, Xendros offers a trade: she will provide an object from her homeland if the party brings her on their journey. The party agrees and sets a date to meet a few weeks out.

With a plan to travel made, the party begins spending their free time. Zahl elects to show Ahshi the joys of mortal life, helping out his companions when not showing his brother around. Salvator sets out to teach Ahshi how to become a wizard, beginning with literacy instruction. Sunshine delves into researching Cerdwyrr and their new vampire acquaintance. Learning of the spell True Polymorph, they contact Nystul and manage to wheedle his promise to assist the vampire in a few months’ time. Demi digs into the tale of the falling star outside of Gryrax and the Plane of Elemental Water, learning that she may not be as bound to the Prime Material Plane as she had previously assumed. Discussing her discoveries with Nystul, he cautions Demi not to trust any of the Circle of the Eight with this information.

The party then reconvenes with captain Xendros. Demi casts Teleport, utilizing an empty Soul Coin provided by Xendros. The party finds themself in a massive tent-like structure built from an odd bone white lumber and thick hides extending out around and above them: the bustling Soul Exchange of the capital city of Dorakaa.

## EP. 82 - Meltdown

**Skerrin's back.**

The party finds themselves in the bustling Soul Exchange of the city of Dorakaa. After some uncomfortable conversation and toll paid to the infernal beings manning the Soul Exchange, the party is able to traverse the strange Devilish City and make their way to the Headquarters of the Grand Quartermaster of Iuz: the holding of Xendros’ father. The party speaks with Grand Quartermaster Verrullun about the city, his role as a provider of foodstuffs therein, and the source of demigod Iuz’s power. Learning of the food scarcity in the region, Sunshine offers a trade: fertile land in exchange for a magical item. Verrullun happily agrees and within a few hours has some land secured. The group sets about clearing the snowy earth so that Sunshine could begin the eight hour druidic process of enriching the land.

The following morning the group reconvenes to find the land successfully prepared for an orchard. Contemplating next steps, Zahl scries on Jor. As the spell sets in, the warlock finds himself looking in on Jor quickly packing his bags, clearly located somewhere in Dorakaa based on the architecture. A form passes through the wall behind Jor, the shadows clinging to what is very clearly Skerrin Wavechaser. With incredible silence, the eerily glowing assassin drives a knife into Jor’s back, killing him in a single blow. The body begins to disintegrate, and as the glowing blue soul of Jor passes into Skerrin, the rogue assumes the now-dead figure’s form. A shocked Zahl shares this vision with the party and our four heroes jump into action, electing to pursue Skerrin. Taking flight on Sunshine’s giant owls back towards the city, the air genasi sends an animal messenger in pursuit of Skerrin with the hopes of following the messenger. The ploy works, and they manage to catch the assassin in an alleyway by surprise. Demis fires off a spell, and with Salvator's aid Skerrin is polymorphed into a turtle. Knowing that Skerrin is incredibly slippery, the party attempts to figure out what to do next with the trapped man.

In a bit of a panic, Salvator teleports the party and turtle to Niole Dra, landing just outside the Catacombs. Zahl calls for Mavinon, who joins in as the group deliberates on next steps. Electing the lethal route the group, along with Mavinon, teleports to the forge under the Hellfurnaces. Slipping past the forge’s denizens, they fly to the top of the volcano, pausing for only an instant before hurling the turtle into the lava below. The turtle hits the surface, driven below by Salvator’s Splendiferous talon, and Polymorph breaks. Though Skerrin takes incredible damage, the fall and the lava do not kill him. In a panic, the assassin uses his ability to shift into the Ethereal Plane. Mavinon, using Plane Shift, helps the party to chase after the assassin. The session ends as the five figures stare down the assassin on an Ethereal shore.

## EP. 83 - Wave Chasing

**CW: character death.**

The party finds themselves on a beach in the Ethereal Plane, staring down Skerrin Wavechaser. As he seemingly completes a Sending spell. The party leaps into action, not wanting to miss the opportunity to end the assassin who has plagued them since Session Two. As the fight ensues, it becomes apparent that Skerrin is focused on Mavinon, prompting Zahl to prioritize keeping the fragile being from the rogue as Sunshine and Salvator continue their barrage on Skerrin. The environment itself turns against the party as denizens of the ocean rising up to attack Demi after she touches the strange surface. Still, things look to be in the party’s favor as several blows seem to take their toll on Skerrin. However,  as severe wounds take hold, Skerrin begins to mutate into a strange ethereal giant with a swirling eye reminiscent of Nox. The rejuvenated monstrous form of Skerrin redoubles his efforts and tragedy strikes for the first time as Skerrin drives an ethereal spike through Mavinon’s chest, the bone white tiefling disintegrating into dust as the strange monster seems to obliterate his very soul.

The party redoubles its efforts, but the beastly form of Skerrin manages to land another lethal blow, this time against Salvator. Even lichdom is unable to protect the Dragonborn, whose very existence is ripped from his Phylactery. Overcome with grief, Sunshine lashes out, finally overcoming the monster and attempting to coax Salvator’s soul into Umak’s lantern. Instead, an orange glow suffuses the lantern.

As the final spirits chasing Demi were slain, the party finds themselves at a loss, with two companions gone. A bitter sadness falls upon those remaining as they take stock of the situation. Gathering their friends' belongings, Sunshine reaches directly out to Mordenkainen through the Robe of Eyes. The Arch Wizard promises to retrieve them from the plane but warns that it will take him some time. Something was happening in Niol Dra. Zahl calls on Hebdomad, attempting to call in the favor promised to him in Celestia. His call goes unanswered and Demi chastises the gods for their inaction.

An hour later, the Leader of the Circle of the Eight arrives. Offering his condolences, he explains that Niole Dra had been attacked by an army of the undead pouring in from the West. The attack seems to have started around when the party engaged Skerrin. The group agrees to travel to Niole Dra along with Mordenkainen. Arriving, they are greeted by the sounds of conflict rising from the city below. Mordenkainen offers them a chance to rest, indicating that the conflict will not be a short-lived one and that the group will better serve Niole Dra after having rested. The three retreat to their rooms in the castle, haunted by the sound of open combat echoing up from the city. Sunshine, inspecting the newly orange lantern, calls upon the Guide to open. It does. Map unfurled, they check the locations of the remaining Keys of Destruction and learn that the Crown of Command and Death’s End are in Niole Dra as well, suggesting that Leomund is with the army of the undead.

Demi reaches out to Mortin, calling upon their old friend to join them in defending Niole Dra. Mortin happily obliges, bringing along with him another ally in the form of Balder Metsk. Journeying by plant and wind walk, the two cover a month's worth of travel in a single night arriving with the sun. In the early morning hours of Sunday the 23rd of Sunsebb 591CF, the party arises to see Mortin and Baldur stepping from their cloudy forms onto the balcony attached to the parties rooms at Castle Dra. The party reaches Level 16.

## EP. 84 - Cymber Rot

**The party reunites with old friends and goes to war.**

The party finds themselves reunited with their compatriots Mortin Grumblebunk and Baldur Metsk. Sunshine seems especially pleased at Baldur’s arrival, much to Demi and Zahl’s irritation. The reunion is short-lived, as Mortin immediately takes off to provide healing aid to the wounded within the city while the others join Mordenkainen and King Skotti in the primary command tent at Castle Dra. A battlemap is laid before them and the dire situation is made clear. Despite the aid of several Greyhawk mages, the armies of Keoland are barely holding out with the lines against five to one odds. With all of the city gates under the enemy’s control, the party is informed that priority is being given to evacuate civilians from Niole Dra via river barges. Complicating the matter, a Dracolich has been sighted fighting alongside the Noxian forces. Reports indicate that a push by the enemy had isolated Commander Gaston and his cavalry within the northern walls of Sky Watch hold, further dividing ally forces.

Baldur tells the party that dragons would not become liches of their own accord, suggesting that a powerful caster has created the Dracolich. Opening the Guide, Sunshine confirms that Death’s End and the Crown of Command are in the city and suggests that Leomund wields both. Zahl voices the suspicion that the Dracolich is Cymberot and Demi reaches out via Sending to Oki, entreating her for aid. Oki agrees, but will not be able to reach Niole Dra for a few days. Scrutinizing the battlemap in the meantime, Sunshine points out Gaston’s proximity to the Northern Gate and the party elects to kill two birds with one stone. They plan to reunite and support the Northern Forces, led by Nystul, making a push to liberate Sky Watch Hold and in doing so hopefully draw the ire of the Dracolich. Meanwhile, Mortin plants his staff among the wounded, sprouting his cherryblossom tree. Expending a casting of Cure Wounds, he stabilizes a number of wounded civilians and soldiers. Bystanders watch in awe as the firbolg calmly reunites with the rest of the party.

The plan is a success. Mortin and Baldur in his shifted form engage in combat first, quickly joined by the remaining party on Sunshine’s summoned owls. The five heroes engaged the undead forces plaguing Sky Watch Hold and, in doing so, caused the lines facing Nystul to reroute. With the aid of Keoland troops on horseback and archers along the fortress walls, the undead are quickly decimated. As the remaining Noxian forces fall back, the corpse of none other than Cymberot himself arrives in the form of the Dracolich. The blue chromatic rose in Demi’s hair saves her from the brunt of the undead dragon’s breath weapon, and while the remainder of the party finds itself battered by the dragon’s lightning abilities, the polymorphed Mortin and Enlarged Baldur keep the Dracolich immobile the entire party lays into the monster until finally Baldur slays the undead creature, severing its skull from its body. A cheer rises from the walls of the fortress and the few remaining cavalry. Gaston’s forces are reunited with the rest of Niole Dra’s army.

## EP. 85 - Shades of Grey

**The party stops an evil ritual.**

Having successfully liberated Sky Watch Hold, the party turns their attention westward within the besieged city, their goal to gain control of the Northern Gates. Sunshine takes a moment to warn Mortin that the person wielding the Crown of Command - the figure responsible for trapping Mortin in the Shadowfell - is in the city. The party forges ahead toward the north, noting with trepidation that they face no resistance as they slip through the haze-obscured streets. Eventually they arrive at the northern gates, which seem to have been completely abandoned by both sides of the conflict. Though neither Noxian nor Keoland forces can be seen, there are clear signs of violence with blood spattered everywhere across the cobblestones and buildings. Disturbingly, there is a complete lack of bodies despite clear signs of conflict. Investigating the space, the party discovers that the bodies seem to have been dragged further to the West. Pausing to destroy a barricade blocking the gates, the group then continues following the bloody trial westward.

As they creep through the city, the sound of soft weeping catches Mortin’s attention. Mortin follows the sound to the entrance of a collapsed basement. Baldur, Sunshine, and Zahl clear the debris and Demi slips down into the space. Hidden away in the back of the basement, she and Bimbz find a small girl cowering. The little girl holds a doll of Mortin, and reveals to Demi that there are dolls of all the Heroes of the Black Isle being sold. Demi comforts the little girl and the party pulls the child from the wreckage. Clinging to Mortin, she shares that her parents had been dragged away to the West. Demi makes a quick detour, dropping the child off at Castle Skotti before the party returns to the Fetam’s Side District and the trail they were following.

Sunshine’s echo avatar and Zahl under invisibility scout on ahead, discovering the demolished and desecrated temple of Pelor, where they spot the strange floating fetal creature Salvator had spotted during the party’s last visit to Niole Dra. The creature seems to be using the site as a ritual to fuse the corpses of the city's residents into strange twisted undead Behemoths - two of which circle the temple’s perimeter, watching for enemies. Also trapped in the desecrated temple are a small collection of citizens still alive and under guard. The rest of the party joins the scouts and Sunshine sends their echo avatar sprinting down an abandoned street, waving its glowing sunblade. This draws one of the undead behemoths away, allowing the party to jump into action.

Prioritizing the safety of the living, the party splits up and surrounds the temple. Mortin and Sunshine coordinate to evacuate the citizens, each summoning a swarm of owls for the citizens to ride. The group went to work distracting the larger monsters as Demi interrupts the ritual near the center of the temple while Baldur and Sunshine destroy the strange fetus-like creature. With the citizens away (minus a one-armed barbarian named Allo, who punched several wraiths and behemoths in the face), the party turned to dismantling the undead-spewing behemoths before the creatures managed to vomit out too many zombies. The session ends with the party taking control of the temple as Demi's spiritual weapon kills the last zombie and the owls of Sunshine and Mortin begin to fly away.

## EP. 86 - Dethroned

**Baldur makes an (arrow-shaped) impression on Leomund.**

Finding their resources drained after having liberated the northern sector of the city, the party elects to take a much needed rest within the decimated temple of Pelor. During their watch, Sunshine admits to Umak that they worry about bringing the Nox Guide anywhere near Leomund. The two share a heartfelt goodbye and, in an attempt to contact Nerull, Sunshine gets a Sending from Xan informing them that Nerull has entered the Null in Errigal’s stead. Xan now bears the tools of the Reaper on the Prime Material Plane. When the party finishes their long rest, Zahl sends the Ghost Lantern - with the Nox Guide and Umak inside - to Xan.

In the cover of night, Demi then teleports the party into the catacombs with the intent to liberate the stronghold and retrieve the Nox Throne hidden within. The party arrives in the teleportation room to find it overrun with mercenaries working for the Noxian forces. The party jumps into action, pushing the mercenaries back into the hall. As they enter the fortress proper, the group finds their magically empowered abilities failing to take. The party realizes the powerful latent energy of the structure nullifies the magic used by both sides. Spotting a talisman used by the denizens of the temple around one of the mercenary’s necks, Sunshine takes the object from him and discovers they can open and close the hallways of the strange fortress. They close one such hallway with a number of mercenaries standing within, immediately crushing the forces. Zahl recovers Mavenon’s talisman and the party pushes the mercenaries back toward the room holding the Throne using their control of the doors and their own combat prowess to fight their way to their goal.

There, they find Talsavor holding his ground with the few remaining members of the Order of the Unmarked. Baldur, guarding the rear for the gang, comes face to face with Leoumund, who stands in wait just outside the antimagic field staring at the conflict. The brave bloodhunter looses an arrow from the Oathbow, shooting the archmage in the chest as the pair exchange threats.

The party defeats the mercenaries, who Baldur then intimidates into helping the group haul the Throne. Meanwhile, Zahl sorrowfully informs Talvasor of Salvator’s fate at the hand of Skerrin Wavechaser. As the group hauls the Throne to the teleportation room, Leomund calls out in outrage, threatening to burn the city to the ground if he is not given the Throne. The party points out he is already doing so and refuses his demands, Mortin telling Leomund to “come take it.” Leomund instead turns to the city, leaving a rearguard to defend the fortress.

Back in the teleportation room, Sunshine reaches out to Mordenkainen, informing him the party has retrieved the Throne. He tells them to send it to Greyhawk and informs the party that something is happening in the city. The party sends the Throne, along with Talsavor and Ollo, to the Circle of the Eight’s Citadel in Greyhawk.

Taking stock of their surroundings, Mortin and Sunshine notice a secret tunnel leading back towards the entrance. Along with the remaining members of the Order of the Unmarked, they creep down the tunnel. Casting Find Traps, Sunshine locates a trap door. Opening it, the group finds themselves gazing upon the entry hall to the catacombs, guarded by a strange floating skull and a few battalions of undead soldiers.

## EP. 87 - City in Snow

**The whole party meets the Father of Obedience.**

In the early hours of the morning, the party and the remaining members of the Order of the Unmarked ambush the wraith and demilich vanguard of the Noxian forces left to guard the Catacombs. Zahl decimates nearly half of the wraiths using his Sickening Radiance and Baldur clears the line of foes guarding the entrance of the Catacombs while Demi, Mortin, and Sunshine deal with the demilich and wraith captains.

Having made short work of their enemies, the group exits the underground Catacombs to find some sort of spell being cast above the city by Leoumund and his mages: a massive blue arcane orb thousands of feet up, obscured by clouds and a growing snowstorm. Tiny figures darting back and forth can barely be made out as the party begins to approach. The flashes of spellcasting in the distance suggests conflict has already broken out in the sky.

As the party flies upwards mounted upon owls summoned by Mortin, they begin to make out the figures of Mordenkainen, Tenser, and Nystul directly engaged with a line of mages defending the figures who were casting the orb. Circumventing the larger spell forming into the giant arcane orb, the group leaps upon the Noxian mages engaged with their allies. Mortin takes enough damage to lose concentration on the owls, prompting brief freefalls quickly circumvented by the party. Combat ensues with the Noxian casters and Baldur takes another opportunity to shoot Leomund with the Oathbow.

Reunited with three of the Circle of the Eight members, the group makes short work of the combatants blocking the archmages from engaging with the giant arcane orb. The group now turns their attention to Leomund and the remaining Noxian forces. Far below, the Greyhawk and Keoland Forces are being overrun by an immense army of the dead. The sounds of the conflict rise upward from below, all but lost to the raging winds that whip around the party. The session ends as the airborne party turns to face down the four Noxian mages focusing on the orb, overseen by Leomund: the Father of Obedience.

## EP. 88 - An Arm and a Leg

**Leomund's in the Sky with Death's End.**

We rejoin our heroes floating above the besieged city of Niole Dra. Having handled the enemies beleaguering Circle of the Eight members Mordenkainen, Nystul, and Tenser, the party turns their attention to the enormous arcane orb that Leomund and his lich allies have been creating in the sky above the city. Leomund maneuvers the arcane orb, swallowing Mortin and Baldur in its wake. Without context, the remaining party members fear their friends have died. It becomes apparent to Baldur and Moritn, however, that they have been absorbed into some sort of Mind Scape Spell, transported to Leomund’s own mental existence. In this purplish mindscape lair, debris and whole fragments of cities long destroyed seem to be at Leomund’s disposal. The mage himself manifests in an enormous mental avatar of himself throughout the years, flickering through iterations of Leomund at different ages. Beyond this avatar, a massive rend seems to tear the purplish skies. Through this rend, a glowing orange eye stares down at the mind scape. Noting with worry that the space seems to barrage them with constant psychic damage, Mortin and Baldur engage in combat with the mage’s mental avatar.

Back in the skies above Niole Dra, Demi takes a hit that drops her concentration on her fly spell. Sunshine summons astral owls to catch the falling bard while Zahl flies skyward, attempting to draw the attention of Leomund and his arcane orb. Deciding to take a leap of faith, Sunshine chases after Mortin and Baldur by diving into the orb. Catching sight of the rend through which the glowing orange eye stares, Sunshine shouts a greeting to Nox before diving into the fray with mental avatar Leomund.

Back in the skies above Niole Dra, Tenser is nearly killed in the fray. Zahl’s distraction works, prompting him to be swallowed by the arcane orb. Demi utters a final word of inspiration to the Circle of the Eight before diving in after Zahl. Together in Leomund's Mindscape, battle wages on as the party is reunited. Mortin attempts to dive into melee with Leomund using his teleportation abilities granted by the Fey Court, but is batted away by the debris of what appears to be a belltower while the rest of the party is swallowed in damaging psychic darkness. Rallying and escaping the darkness, the party manages to do enough damage to Leomund to break the mage’s concentration on the spell dealing the party volley after volley psychic damage.

However, Leomund proves a force to be reckoned with as he wields two artifacts of Nox against the group. Managing to hit Baldur with Death’s End, Leomund severs an arm and a leg from the bloodhunter. Sunshine transforms Baldur into a giant bear with astral missing limbs and the bloodhunter wrestles the towering mage, allowing the party to take final blows against the mental avatar. In making their attacks, Demi takes Death’s End and Sunshine takes the Crown of Command from the avatar. As the avatar is defeated, the party finds themselves returned to the skies above Niole Dra. There, Mordenkainen is holding an unconscious Leomund by the collar. Wind and snow whips around the party but a far greater cold seems to seep into Demi and Sunshine from the strange artifacts they now possess. Thousands of feet below, the battle for Niole Dra continues to wage.

## EP. 89 - If Someone's Gotta Hold a Key

**...it should be a guy who doesn't understand doors.**

Looking to the streets below, the party realizes that the Noxian undead combatants seem suddenly disorderly. They surmise that the unconscious Leomund no longer wields control over the forces. Seeing that the tide of combat seems to be swaying in Niole Dra’s favor, the party flies back to Castle Skotti with the members of the Circle of the Eight and the two artifacts in tow. There, Baldur is escorted to a medical tent for aid by cleric Kiruk Bonemeal. The remainder of the party head with Mordenkainen and Nystul to the subterranean holding cells within the castle, bent on interrogating the rogue member of the Circle of the Eight. Kiruk attempts to regenerate Baldur’s limbs as he once did for Lyla. However, the cleric’s efforts reveal that it is as if Baldur’s arm and leg never existed. Undaunted, Baldur utilizes a combat wheelchair and heads off to rejoin the rest of the party.

 After some deliberation and warding of the space by Nystul, Mortin casts Greater Restoration to rouse Leomund from a state of dazed, incoherent muttering. It appears the archmage is still under some Noxian sway, despite the fact that the two artifacts of Nox have been removed from his person. He does note that “the quiet is nice.” The party interrogates the mage, learning that he came upon Nox by accident in his wanderings, whereupon he was partially convinced and partially compelled into Nox’s service. Leomund expresses a disdain for the gods and a hypocritical leniency toward Nox’s negative impact on the world, citing his admiration of the mortal man’s ability to kill a god. He furthermore reveals his belief in the legitimacy of his own godlike rule over the Material Plane due to his proximity to it: “I have walked these lands.” Zahl goads Leomund into sharing more regarding the Keys of Destruction, and the party learns that the five artifacts assembled are what Nox needs in order to access the Material Plane. Sunshine asks if Leomund has been to the Halls of Nox, prompting a further revelation: he has, and wishes to return. His desire to return is bound up in a horrifying fact: anyone who attunes to a Key of Destruction forfeits their soul to Nox, effectively rendering them Nox’s pawn in perpetuity.

 Mordenkainen continues this line of questioning, learning of the location where Leomund gained access to the Halls of Nox: the ancient Ganothian temple Shar Menoth, located on the landbridge between the Tylanvault Peninsula and the Great Kingdom. This location is the site of Nox’s original slaying of Errigal. It was after this event that he waged battle with Wee Jas, who sealed him within his prison. In order to access the Halls of Nox, one must wield Death’s End in this temple where Nox first “pierced the void.” That said, Death’s End was apparently left behind when Leomund was transported to the halls, making his journey a one way trip until Nox decided to release him from that space. Stunned by this information, the party deliberates over how to access the Halls of Nox without binding one of their members to Nox. Posing that someone less capable with a blade should wield Death’s End in the event that they are made to do Nox’s bidding, Zahl suggests Ahshi. This suggestion is met with resistance, as is Mortin’s suggestion of himself: “if someone’s gotta hold a key, it might as well be the guy who can’t figure out doors.”

 Turning in for the night, the party takes the Crown of Command and Death’s End. Mordenkainen, surprisingly, does not object. During the night, Mortin hears murmuring in the corridor and discovers Rary casting a spell on the party’s room. They chat, and she reveals she has a Mortin doll. A long rest is had, and the party levels up.

 In the morning, Demi teleports the party to the Circle of the Eight’s Citadel in Greyhawk. After a brief conversation with Mordenkainen and some information gathering, the group heads to the Thungfrind Adventurer’s Academy to purchase a prosthetic leg and an Arcane Arm for Baldur. Zahl and Sunshine offer to help Baldur break in his new prosthetics, and the three engage in a brawl where Baldur learns his Arcane Arm has a reach of 20ft. Sunshine accidentally concusses Baldur and the combat quickly draws to a close. As the others laugh over the incident, Mortin soberly reminds the group of the dire situation in which they find themselves. The session closes with the group somberly making their way to the Academy’s biergarten.

## EP. 90 - Vile Implements

**The party prepares.**
The party begins the session planning at the Windward Lodge. After much deliberation, they decide to utilize Sunshine’s divination powers to seek out direct guidance from Wee Jas. The party sells a number of items and has various conversations. Zahl sends Dreavosi a letter, Mortin and Sunshine discuss his fey magic, and Baldur gifts Sunshine a small sculpture of Cerdwyyr he has carved during his travels. The two spend an intimate hour in the sky.

The next day, the divination process begins. Over the course of five days, Sunshine, Mortin, and Baldur travel to the Greyhawk temple to Wee Jas, gaining more clarity regarding the artifacts in their possession and learning of three possible routes to the Halls of Nox: wielding Death's End in Shar Menoth, repairing the gate on the Astral Sea, or joining Wee Jas in the Null and leveraging Nox’s own assaults on the space. During this time, they also discover that the complete sway of the artifacts of Nox take some time to set in and that likely the blade would be needed in some way to complete this task. As Mortin and Baldur aided Sunshine in their endeavor, Demi and Zahl set about finding a way to get into the Astral Sea. Zahl figures out a new spell that would allow him to shift into specific planes. However, this would require a tuning fork connected to the target plane. Zahl asks Demi, the resident expert on harmonics, to help and the two of them travel to Demi’s Harmonic Hall. Focusing on the sounds around her, Demi is able to shift the location of her hall so that it could see countless masses of harmonics, each seemingly coinciding with a plane. Using this new vantage point, Zahl is able to tune forks for both the Prime Material plane and for the Astral Sea.

Reconvening on the fifth day, the group sets about preparing for an exploratory trip to the Astral Sea - though not before pausing to take part in the Needfest celebrations springing up all over the city, for the year has come to its end and the weeklong celebration of feasting and giving have begun. The party sets out into the city, completing their own acts of giving as Mortin sets about preparing the group a Heroes Feast to bolster them for the planar travel and fight to come.

## EP. 91 - Bumble Through

**The party meets Cerdwyyr.**
 The session begins with Peach, Dreavosi, and Didasko escaping a temple full of members of the Scarlet Brotherhood. Having secured a piece of the Door to the Realms Beyond on their adventures, Dreavosi manages to utilize Divine Intervention to send the piece to Zahl. Peach sends Zahl a hurried message, warning him that they are sending something his way for safekeeping. Moments later the strange stone tablet manifested in front of him.

A little confused, Zahl reconveenes with the rest of the group, sharing what he had been told and showing them the strange piece of stone. The gang quickly identifies it as the missing piece of the door seemingly absconded with by Leomund. With the last piece of the door in hand, the party moves ahead with their plan. Using the fork recently tuned by Demi, Zahl casts Plane Shift and the group is pulled into the Astral Sea. They find themselves standing upon a never ending bank of silver fog. Every direction they look is layered in the fog, and above them a purple and silver span of stars flickers and winks.

Mortin and Sunshine spot a direction where lost souls seem more densely populous, determining that the stranded would be more attracted to the door itself. And so the group begins to walk, traveling for hours until they eventually come across a strange settlement called the Corpse Hague. A floating mass seems to have been affixed to the hard surface obscured by the fog. Pale green skinned figures go about their lives amongst the structures erected on the floating orb. The party stops only briefly trading for a few supplies, Sunshine and Mortin discovering a new wild shape in the form of the strange skittering insect-like mounts of the plane's denizens. Having been informed that the door was several days' ride from where they currently stand, the crew elects to teleport the rest of the distance using the stone as a guide.

Upon arrival, they find the massive door swarmed by the souls of the dead. The souls immediately shift, giving the group a wide berth as they set about trying to place the pieces of the door back in place. Mortin, Baldur, and Zahl set about lifting the shattered stones into the door under the direction of Demi. Sunshine meanwhile keeps vigil for Cerdwyyr. As the group watches, the strange Astral Dragon arrives, meeting with Sunshine in the air before joining the others on the ground.

The door now reassembled, a series of icons matching the navigator's tale of the Greyhawk Stars is made visible on the door’s surface. As Sunshine tells the story and traces the constellation story from one icon to another, Mortin goes about preparing his companions for combat, doling out Foresight to Sunshine and Freedom of Movement to Baldur. Zahl reaches out to the Hebdomad, calling upon his owed favor to grant his companions their blessing. As the tale of the stars concludes, the group finds themselves gazing upon a shimmering silvery open door. Cerdwyr stands behind the party, ready to fend off any hostile creature that may try to enter the Astral Sea.

## EP. 92 - Halls of Hard Nox

**There were no Nox Nox jokes made.**
The party steps through the Door to the Realms Beyond, led by Mortin into the Halls of Nox. Upon arrival, they find a seemingly endless expanse of columns, the tops of which vanish into the darkness above. Horrible dim light spreads out a short distance around them, created only by their own items and the small dancing orange lights that seemed to float within a strange black smoke. The obsidian stone floors have been etched almost as if with acid in spots and smoke resides within these trenches.

As they begin to move through the halls taking care to avoid the smoke, Demi notes a small glowing light flitting through the columns, pursued by a horrifying chorus of voices with no visible form. As the rest of the party scouts ahead, the bard reaches out to the orb, which after a moment darts towards the group, leading whatever pursued it along. A towering amalgamation of roiling black tar with orange pupils and a voice consisting of thousands emerges from the dark. It comes to an abrupt halt as it notices the party, its attention immediately fixating on how they had arrived in the halls, reaching into the group's mind with the hopes of learning more.

The group attempts to persuade the creature to help, Sunshine offering to show it the exit if it did. Unfortunately the being does not take the bait, electing to attempt to consume the party and gain their knowledge that way. The gang springs into action, Demi offering a hiding spot to the blue orb. The strange floating light responds with a particularly familiar indignation that reminded Demi almost immediately of Salvator. The strange mass of tar is no match for our heroes, who fights off the monster valiantly with Mortin taking the final blow against the creature as it was melted with whips of flame. As the group pauses, Demi presents the group to the floating orb, explaining whom she thinks it to be. Sunshine offers up the blackened hand of the Dragonborn Wizard and the small flitting soul darts about it, seeping into the hand after a moment's hesitation.

As the party had fought, the strange flickering orange lights had grown, watching from the smoke until many of them were five feet in diameter. Now the lights begin to move, creating a path for the group to follow. Knowing it was likely a trap, the group elects to proceed nonetheless, knowing they have few better options. Following the trail of lights, they arrive at a strange column from which an intense orange light glows. As they deliberate, the light begins to shift closer and closer until the party finds themselves inside the room they had moments before been staring into. Before them is a figure seated upon a throne of obsidian. Nox, faceless except for a swirling orange circle. Nox demands the return of the blade and circlet which Demi has secured away in her bag of holding. The party, unwilling to back down from the monster, finds themselves in a game of keep away. Demi retreats to anti-magic areas while Baldur and Sunshine waylay the god, Mortin and Zahl firing from a distance. As the brutal conflict ensues, the lights begin to gather above the group, growing larger as the smoke seems to begin to take shape. As the monster grows, the party does everything in their power to defeat Nox. Baldur finally shattering the three armed obsidian avatar, the growing figure that had come to tower above the group manifests fully. There is no reprieve, as the party realizes the combat will continue with Nox’s true form.