Session 73: Nan Seeks the Troof

In the past Disiver’s archives, Cho tries to find information about the Reticent Butcher, a legendary axe, but the records are too many centuries out of date to be useful. Vojta researches the Lake of Myriad Stars and finds that it has long been a sentient nexus of spiritual power, previously known as the Eye of Mereteth's Heart. Nan researches Ti’ireth and finds that he interacts with mortals more than other demon lords, simply because he likes to impede ambitious people. Victims have been able to shake him off by going into hiding for years, but direct confrontation usually hasn’t worked. She also researches the demon assassin from Seagate and finds that it’s called a Relentless. It could have been summoned as a killer or have incidentally taken the guise of an existing one. Cho figures it’s the latter.

When Disiver returns, he confirms that a later version has altered the vault, so that he can’t open the recent compartments. Nan asks what would happen to this Disiver if the current dies. He answers that he will still remain, but warns that he is hard to kill. Nan then speaks to him in private and asks to keep one of the books she found. He is hesitant but offers to read her thoughts for knowledge in return for the book. She accepts, so one of his helpers extracts something from her brain. She then hides the book from the others.

As the group leaves the observatory, Nan suggests destroying the current Disiver’s palace to make him come back more quickly. Vojta worries that they may end up fighting multiple Disivers that way, but agrees they can try it when the deadline is closer at hand. Vojta plane shifts them back to Seagate. Cho informs Derek of where he’s going, so that if the killer shows up looking for him again, Derek can point him to Cho instead of getting people killed in his stead. They then fly to Watershade, which is a thriving metropolis. Cho leads them to the church, a huge cathedral containing compartments for multiple gods, and secures them some lodging where they rest for the night.

In the morning, Nan splits off to do some research while Cho and Vojta go to meet with Oluchi, the head of the order of Yane in this city. Cho asks to speak in private, since their information could cause panic, so Oluchi gets another cleric to create a magically-warded private space for them. He then explains the situation of Cerebarieth, Gyrraleth, and the invasion of Kadoma to her, and asks for a meeting with the leaders of Watershade. She agrees to arrange this, but it will take time.

When they reunite, Nan wants to speak in private, so they head outside the city. She then shows the book she got from Disiver, which relates the ruins near her hometown to a legendary figure blessed by Anaereth. She thinks this may be the truth she was searching for, but it remains too unclear, so she must know more before returning home. The others agree to search for more information at the Ashen Archives in San’edhe.

Vojta then takes the opportunity to explain what Dosek told him in private. He predicted that there are two possible outcomes to this quest. If they rally the continent against Cerebarieth, they will win and Vojta will return to live contently with his tribe, but the members of his tribe will die out before their time. If the group faces Cerebarieth alone, they will also win, but Vojta will be unable to return home. For reasons yet unclear, he will have to stand watch at the Glacial Stream for the rest of his days, but his tribe will survive without him. Vojta doesn’t know which option he prefers, but figures that they should be pragmatic and take the path that seems most likely to succeed. Nan voices that Dosek can’t be truly omniscient and that they might be able to find a third path. They also question whether rallying the continent against the dragonborn invasion is different from rallying them against Cerebarieth.

Lastly, Cho stresses that they must soon go to war and likely kill many soldiers. He asks if they are willing to accept this burden. Nan and Vojta both express that they’re willing to do what is necessary. The group then teleports to San’edhe. Nan searches the Ashen Archives and soon finds a valuable book, which she buys. She returns to the others and explains that she found information about Sa, the predecessor of her people and blessed one of Anaereth. It doesn’t answer all her questions, but she thinks this might be enough for her to return home. They decide to fly to her village, across the Lifeless Valley.

First, they rest for the night.  In the morning, Nan finds a note in her book from Disiver, saying that he spoke to his old self. He commends them for being resourceful but warns them that his bark is worse than his bite. They agree to deal with him after reaching the temple. They start flying north in cloud form, cutting straight across the Lifeless Valley, flying low to avoid the toxic gasses. During the day, they pass over some dragonborn-like demons and some huge demons swimming in a lake of lava, but are not attacked. At the end of the day, about halfway across the valley, they land among the obsidian rubble to rest. As they set up camp, Vojta shrouds the area in a magical mist that doesn’t hinder them but blinds intruders.

Early in the night, Nan hears Infernal voices nearby. She sends her dragon to inspect and finds two four-legged howler demons and a large hyena-like one. They’re mumbling that they were told the group would be here and that they have to confirm their presence so the hooded man can take care of it. The group decides to take out the demons before they tell their master, so they wait for them to get closer. When they approach the edge of the mist, Cho grabs the hyena from inside while Vojta encases one of the howlers in a stone cage. Nan tries to psychically stun the other howler, but it resists and screams, stunning Cho. The hyena breaks away from Cho and flees alongside the untrapped howler.

While the remaining howler thrashes inside the stone cage, the group quickly gathers their things and transforms into clouds again. As they take to the air, they see a steel predator teleporting next to their campsite. Despite exhaustion, they proceed to fly all the way to the north shore of the Lifeless Valley in one go.