Session0011

Episode 0011 - I See Your Soul
Previous | Next

**Setting:**

The Alviren Kingdom - Paxeter - April 7th-10th, 211 AW
**Synopsis:**

* At the keep of Artoni Nightwind and his bandit gang, the party collects Nightwind's head, takes the surviving bandits prisoner, rescues the molefolk prisoners, and salvages gold and magic items from the bandits' belongings.
* Returning to the road, the party finds their companions are being questioned by Weavers Conclave magic enforcers. After briefly talking with Ilex and Harper Wood, and encouraging Harper to pursue a magic license, the enforcers depart.
* Over the following days, the party travels the rest of the way to Paxeter, encountering shadowy wolves and a strange fey sprite along the way.
* Arriving in Paxeter, the party turns in the captured bandits and the head of Artoni Nightwind and collects their bounty, before spending the evening shopping for magic items and relaxing in town.
* Meanwhile, Jack meets with the Free Arcanists Lodge, where he makes his delivery and collects the payment. He also meets Raakasi Sunmane - the de facto leader of the Lodge - who offers him another job, and asks him to bring the party to the Lodge the following day to learn more.
* Odell makes arrangements to meet with Grenfi Nackle, one of the nine mages of the Weavers Conclave.
* The following morning, Jack, XVIII, and Gragnok participate in a high-stakes exhibition fight at a local adventuring guild, narrowly losing to another group of adventurers.
* Later, Jack takes the party to meet with the Free Arcanists Lodge, where they are brought in to the Lodge's underground headquarters, and introduced to the guild's members.
* Raakasi Sunmane explains that the Lodge has heard accounts of Weavers Conclave inquisitors abusing their authority and harming magic users - much like the encounters experienced by Jack and Harper Wood.
* Raakasi reveals that the Lodge wishes to find out who is responsible for these acts of violence and bring them to justice, and requests the party's aid in doing so. Specifically, she explains that the inquisitors want something from the Luxturrim Obelisk, and the Lodge wants to retrieve it before the inquisitors do.
* To this end, Raakasi reveals that the lorekeeper orb - the magical device that was delivered by Jack - contains information about the Luxturrim Obelisk. She offers the party a choice: either to collaborate with the Lodge in a partnership, or to simply work for them for pay. The party agrees to partner with the Lodge, and together they activate the the lorekeeper orb.
* By interfacing with the lorekeeper orb, Gragnok learns that he is the descendant of an ancient elven hero, Alusfaen Orion, which allows him to access the orb's information.
* The party speaks with the lorekeeper orb, learning information about Alusfaen Orion, the Luxturrim Obelisk, the kingdom of Ayn Sitael, and other lost information from the Age of Arcana.

## April 7th

At the bandit keep of Artoni Nightwind and his gang, the party stabilizes the two surviving bandits - a half-elf and a konoko. They begin searching the keep for valuables, discovering some magic items, as well as currency and jewels stored within a trapped chest in Nightwind's chambers. On Nightwind's desk, the party finds a ransom note for the molefolk prisoners, addresses to Mayor Madison Mole of Molldorf.

Meanwhile, Frog releases the molefolk prisoners - a father and his three young daughters - and introduces himself as the Crown Prince of Mycorrhiza. The father introduces himself as Montgomery Mole (a.k.a. Monty), and his daughters as Nitra, Gliss, and Erin. Monty expresses his gratitude, and explains that he and his daughters were traveling to Paxeter to sell fireworks when they were ambushed by the bandits and captured. They share some of their fireworks with the party, and the party agrees to escort them the rest of the way to Paxeter.

Gragnok speaks briefly with the half-elf bandit prisoner, offering her a chance to join the party, or otherwise be turned in for her crimes. She is non-compliant, and the party eventually decides to turn her in, along with the konoko prisoner, in hopes of negotiating for an increased bounty. Rye offers to use a *detect thoughts* spell to help interrogate the konoko for information pertinent to Frog, but explains that he won't have the spell ready until tomorrow.

As the party finishes gathering their findings and preparing to depart, Gragnok finds a solitary place to pray to the Raven Queen and ask for her guidance. He expresses that he feels that his mission has gotten off track, and requests her aid in finding Orion's Key. Speaking through raven messengers, the Raven Queen encourages Gragnok that he is on the right track, and reminds him not to fear who he is when the time comes.

With their business at the bandit keep complete, the party begins their trek back toward the road to reconvene with their companions. Along the way, Rye and Odell discuss the Divine Gate, the Severance, and the roles of Pelor and Asmodeus in the Age of Arcana. Odell shares what knowledge he has, but admits that it is not his area of expertise, as his focus is on rune magic.

As the party approaches the road, they spot a group of soldiers - including a magic enforcer from the Weavers Conclave - questioning Ilex and Harper Wood. Eavesdropping on the conversation, they hear the enforcer speaking to Harper, encouraging him to get a sponsor and pursue a magic license. Harper seems surprised that he isn't in more legal trouble, but the enforcer says that Harper didn't do any harm, and won't be arrested or even fined. The enforcer assures Harper that the Weavers Conclave is not in the business of attacking or harming people, despite Harper's experience.

After briefly searching the party's wagon, the soldiers depart. After they leave, the party asks their companions what happened. They explains that the enforcers found Ilex using healing magic, and asked to see her license. Harper Wood, defensive and expecting violence, drew his psionic daggers, but the soldiers managed to deescalate the situation without any violence.

The traveler who had asked for the party's aid in retrieving his belongings from the bandits asks them if they found his belongings. Jack returns some of his possessions, but falsely claims that the rest were destroyed in a fire. Afterwards, the traveler departs.

After they regroup, the party continues their travel toward Paxeter. Along the way, Rye tries to use a *detect thoughts* spell to probe into his own memories in search of memories from his past life, but he doesn't find anything new.

Eventually, the party makes camp for the evening. Overnight, on watch, Jack asks XVIII about their name. When XVIII explains that they have always been known by that name, Jack asks if they would like a different name, but they seem uninterested. They further explain that all of Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel's other children were similarly named as numbers. When asked, they say that the highest number they remember was XXI. At Jack's request, XVIII once again recounts the story of how he ended up in his current situation, by imbibing a potion from Dr. Dippel's laboratory, and waking up in the desert an unknown amount of time later.

## April 8th

On their early morning watch, Odell asks Malkoth for to describe the feeling of the uncontrolled infernal magic that he occasionally channels. Malkoth describes the magic as feeling innate and natural, more akin to his innate tiefling magic than to his learned arcane magic.

Later during watch, Odell received a package delivered by a *galder’s speedy courier* spell, which contains a magic stone and a bottle of liquor, as well as three letters: one from his parents, one from his college friend Nuraval Silverstone, and one from the Paragon of Rune Carvers, Mordus Moonbeard.

In the morning, the party sets out for their day’s travel toward Paxeter. Gragnok leads the way, scouting ahead of the rest of the group. Around midday, reaching the Bastion River, Gragnok encounters a priestess of Ioun, and the two briefly speak about their respective travels.

Meanwhile, back on the wagon, Rye attempts to use his *detect thoughts* spell to help XVIII discover lost memories about their origin. The experiment isn’t very successful, as XVIII finds themself unable to recall anything earlier than his time spent assisting Dr. Johann Conrad Dippel with alchemical and medical experiments. Rye and XVIII discuss how they might find more clues to XVIII’s origin, and Rye suggests that they could search around Avallon, or even try to find Dr. Dippel himself. Odell reveals that he is scheduled to meet with Grenfi Nackle - a high-ranking member of the Weavers Conclave - in Paxeter, and suggests that she might have information about Dippel.

Odell shares with Rye a portion of one of the letters that he received from the College, which includes information about Louche, Israphel, and Mahadi. Rye confirms the veracity of most of the information, but also offers some corrections, including to his rank in the Hells. The letter includes information regarding a prophecy that one day Israphel will sacrifice himself in order to prevent a cataclysm, which Rye and Odell briefly discuss.

Odell also works with Pepper to help him refine and finesse his magical technique. Pepper expresses his gratitude, and explains that he and Jack have spent a lot of time studying how to control his magic, revealing that he was once almost completely unable to control it.

After catching up with Gragnok and traveling into the evening, the party makes camp for the night. Overnight, their campsite is attacked by shadowy wolves, which they manage to defeat. During the fray, Rye transforms into a bat-like devil form; apparently, the form of Louche.

## April 9th

In the morning, the party continues their travel towards Paxeter. Around midday, they briefly encounter a strange fey sprite called Thimble, who offers them magical water from a tiny cup. The water causes some of them to grow weary and exhausted, while others gain magical boons from drinking it. Notably, Gragnok gains truesight, allowing him to see the true form of shapechangers. When asked, he declines to tell the party what Frog or Patches true forms look like.

During the day's travel, the party interrogates the konoko bandit prisoner, using a combination of *detect thoughts* and *zone of truth* spells to ensure the veracity of the information. Frog asks the konoko why he is in the Alviren Empire, and the konoko says that he escaped Kameshima to start a new life, expressing resentment toward the strict dictatorship of King Daimao. He also expresses animosity toward Mycorrhizans and Princess Porcini, although he doesn't seem to have any personal knowledge of her, and doesn't have any knowledge of her current status.

Around sundown, the party approaches Paxeter. Before entering the city, Rye plays the psalm of awakening, so that the party won't need to sleep for the night. The party also stows most of their magical equipment within Jack's trunk for safekeeping.

Within the city walls, the party parts ways with Montgomery Mole and his daughters, who once again express their gratitude to the party. The town guards offer the party directions to some of the city's sites of interest, including adventuring guilds and lodging. Odell asks where to find Grenfi Nackle, and the guards point him toward the Weavers Conclave's local headquarters.

The party turns in the head of Artoni Nightwind and the captured bandits to Miravin Cloudhunt, the Lady of Paxeter. They receive the reward, as well as a small bonus for bringing back the prisoners. Afterwards, the splits up to explore the city and relax for the evening.

A few members of the party visit the city's local adventuring guild, Golden Legacy, as well as the local chapter of the Pathfinders Alliance, to inquire about magic items. At the Golden Legacy guild grounds, Gragnok observes a battle between a konoko and a human in the guild's fighting pit. Afterwards, Gragnok and XVIII ask about signing up for a fight, and the konoko, Okk-okk, offers to fight them in the morning.

Odell visits the Weavers Conclave headquarters and inquires about Grenfi Nackle. The Conclave receptionist tells him that Grenfi was in town the previous day, and is planning to return tomorrow for a meeting. Odell says that he is the individual with whom Grenfi is scheduled to meet, and gives the receptionist the name of the inn where he's staying - the Harvest Cup - to foward to Grenfi.

Rye goes to a seedy tavern to party and perform music, bringing XVIII along with him. He uses magic to enhance his music, drawing a large crowd and earning significant tips. However, the crowd also draws the attention of magic regulation enforcers from the Weavers Conclave, who fine him for his use of unlicensed magic, and advise him to get a license.

Jack, accompanied by Pepper and Harper Wood, travel to the lower-income side of town in search of the Free Arcanists Lodge. Eventually, after asking around, they find a tavern called Snake Eyes, with a yuan-ti bartender by the same name. Based on the information the party received from Pravi Redroot in Avallon, Jack tells Snake Eyes the passphrase to the Free Arcanists Lodge: volo noscere. In theives cant, Snake Eyes ushers Jack to meet him at the tavern's side door. There, he is met in the tavern's kitchen by Binti Redroot - the individual that hired him to bring his delivery of magical contraband to the Free Arcanists Lodge. Jack hands over the delivery - a magical orb of some sort - and Binti brings him his payment, then invites him to come inside and talk, informing him that the Lodge has another job for him.

Jack follows Binti Redroot through a secret passageway hidden in the tavern's kitchen, which leads down into an underground guild headquarters. There, he is introduced to Raakasi Sunmane, who reluctantly identifies as the de facto leader of the Free Arcanists Lodge, if not formally. Raakasi says that she has another job for Jack if he's interested, and Jack expresses his interest in possibly taking the job, as well as trading magic items and researching Orion's Crypt. Raakasi invittes Jack to bring his party back to the Lodge in the morning, after he assures her that they can be trusted not to reveal the location of the guild. She suggests that the Lodge and Jack's party might have mutual interests, and that the upcoming job will require a full party to complete.

After their evening's events, the party regroups at the Harvest Cup Inn and retires for the night.

## April 10th

In the morning, Gragnok, XVIII, and Jack return to the Golden Legacy adventuring guild, where they challenge Okk-okk to a fight, wagering a large sum of gold. Okk-okk agrees to a three-on-three fight, and gathers two companions: a myconid samurai named Matsutake, and a bullywug ranger named Gertrudd. After the guild spends some time gathering a crowd, the fight begins. Gragnok, Jack, and XVIII are narrowly defeated by the other group of adventurers, with Matsutake the last man standing. The guild leader thanks the party for drawing so much attention to the fight, and offers them each a small consolation prize, and welcomes them to join the guild for free if they wish.

Afterwards, Jack explains to the rest of the party that the Free Arcanists Lodge is interested in hiring them for a job. The party agrees to meet with them to hear the details of the job, and Jack takes them to Snake Eyes Tavern. Before departing, Odell leaves a note for Grenfi Nackle at the Harvest Cup Inn, informing her that he will return shortly.

At Snake Eyes Tavern, the party is brought through the secret passageway and into the underground guild headquarters. They briefly meet with some of the guild's members and share a meal with them. Afterwards, they're ushered into a private meeting with Binti Redroot, Raakasi Sunmane, and an elf by the name of Ylstin Aeydark.

Raakasi Sunmane explains to the party that the Lodge has received multiple reports of Weavers Conclave magic regulation inquisitors overstepping their authority, including going so far as to injure and kill magic users, even outside of the Alviren Empire. Jack says that he is aware of some such cases as well, vaguely insinuating a personal encounter. Ylstin expresses skepticism that the Weavers Conclave would actually commit such crimes, for fear of being found out by divination magic, suggesting that someone else is impersonating them.

Raakasi explains that the Lodge has learned that the inquisitors -whether they are actually Conclave members or not - have an interest in getting something from the Luxturrim Obelisk. According to Raakasi, the Lodge wishes to find and acquire whatever the Lodge is after before they do, and ultimately take down whoever is responsible for the attacks. She further explains that the item that Jack delivered - a Lorekeeper Orb - contains information regarding the Luxturrim Obelisk.

Raakasi offers the party a choice between two options of how they might collaborate with the Lodge. First, she says that if the party wishes to maintain a strictly business relationship, the Lodge will listen to the information contained in the Lorekeeper Orb, and then pay the party handsomely to travel to the Luxturrim Obelisk and retrieve whatever the inquisitors are after, and bring it back to the Lodge. Second, she offers a more mutual partnership, wherein the party listens to the Lorekeeper Orb's information along with the Lodge, and they work together to decide how to best address the inquisitors. In this arrangement, the party would not be paid, but they would be outfitted with magic items from the Lodge's collection, and they would get a chance to listen to the Lorekeeper Orb's information.

After some discussion and negotiation, the party eventually makes a tentative agreement to a partnership with the Lodge. In the interest of full disclosure, Odell divulges that he's a student at the College of Mimrinoth, and has a working relationship with the Weavers Conclave. Gragnok also insists that he can't promise that he will bring back whatever is recovered from the Obelisk to the Lodge, since he has his own divine calling from the Raven Queen. Raakasi accepts these stipulations, insisting that her primary interest is the safety and secrecy of the Lodge.

With an agreement reached, Odell identifies the Lorekeeper Orb. He learns that it contains information about the ancient elven kingdom of Ayn Sitael, which was recorded in the Age of Arcana. He also learns that the orb will not divulge any information to anyone other than the royal families of Ayn Sitael. While Odell is studying the orb, it identifies itself as Lorekeeper Golu, and requests a blood sample to verify the identity of its user. Gragnok offers his own blood. Ylstin Aeydark expresses some skepticism that Gragnok could be of royal blood, as family lineages are of utmost importance to elves, but Lorekeeper Golu accepts Gragnok's sample and grants him access, stating that he is a descendant of Alusfaen Orion, a High Councillor of Ayn Sitael.

Before continuing, the party points out that without Gragnok, the Lodge would be unable to access the orb's information, and insists that this should grant them more leverage in their negotiation for magic items. When asked by Raakasi Sunmane, Ylstin Aeydark says that the only other clue she has toward finding another royal descendant would be a geneaology book that is in the possession of Federico Tinelli, a reclusive wizard that lives in Paxeter.

Gragnok asks Lorekeeper Golu where he can find Orion's Key. Golu says that Alusfaen Orion keeps the key on his person at all times. Gragnok asks where Alusfaen is buried, but Golu informs him that Alusfaen is still alive, and reminds him that he was created centuries ago, and is incapable of learning new information - therefore, his information is outdated. When asked, Golu says that it was created in year 749 of the Age of Arcana - roughly 1,000 years ago.

Odell asks Lorekeeper Golu for information about the name Wasanthi. Golu reveals that it knows of an Avara Wasanthi, a member of the High Council of Ayn Sitael, and advisor on matters of divine magic. Golu begins to explain that Wasanthi is a figure of some controversy in Ayn Sitael, but it seemingly glitches and is unable to continue. Studying the orb, Odell discerns that some information about Avara Wasanthi that was previously stored in the orb has been removed. He asks when the orb's information was last changed, and it answers year 760 of the Age of Arcana. Regarding Avara Wasanthi, Golu says that she resides in Volus, the capitol of Ayn Sitael, and is 588 years old.

Odell goes on to ask what Lorekeeper Golu knows about rune magic. Golu begins to describe rune magic as a newly-developed form of magic, but it once again glitches and is unable to continue, seemingly having had this information removed.

When asked about its creator, Lorekeeper Golu says that it was created by Alusfaen Orion, along with the other members of the High Council, to record Ayn Sitael's pertinent history. Gragnok asks for the identities of Alusfaen's children, and Golu says the only descendant of Alusfaen is Daepetor Orion.

Jack asks Lorekeeper Golu if it knows of any organizations that oppose to rampant use of magic, or specifically opposes the existence of conduits. Golu responds that arcane magic - including conduits and other sorcerers - are considered heretical and unholy in Ayn Sitael, and are forbidden in all forms.

Rye asks Lorekeeper Golu what it knows of the names Louche, Israphel, and Mahadi. It does not recognize the name Mahadi, but recognizes Israphel as a commander of the armies of Pelor, and Louche as a villainous follower of Asmodeus.

Gragnok asks about the Luxturrim Obelisk. Lorekeeper Golu describes the Obelisk as a vault for the safekeeping of forbidden items and artifacts deemed too sensitive, heretical, or otherwise dangerous to the common good. When asked, Golu refuses to divulge any information regarding the specific contents or security mechanisms of the Obelisk, at the behest of its creator. It does, however, reveal the location of the obelisk: within a region of the Golden Wastes once knows as the Calen Valley, but now colloquially known as The Scar, where the battle between the deities in the Gods' War took place. Jack says that he knows the area and its dangers well, and Binti Redroot hints that this was part of why the Lodge chose him for this job.

Rye also asks what Lorekeeper Golu knows about titanhearts. Golu says that they are devices creates to channel divine energy from the gods themselves in order to power large constructs. Rye asks if such a device is contained within the Luxturrim Obelisk, but Golu again declines to answer regarding the specific contents of the Obelisk. Odell asks how many colossi exist in Lorekeeper Golu's time. Golu lists five colossi: the Imlaq Colossus, the Anselmo Colossus, the Titan of Sapphrius Bay, and two unnamed colossi that battle on the warfront between Ayn Sitael and Aerzen.