Session 60

* Secret Daqanite League Safehouse
* The Steward's Estate
* The Cathedral of Kellos

* Preceptor Anton Sylastri, Preceptor Naema Tusid (High Ranking Members of the Church of Kellos)
* Archpraetor Lucian Kalmides (Head of the Church of Kellos in Archaut)
* Aidde Bankart (Gnome, Personal Assistant to Baron Gilliam Xarles)
* Captain Rhett Marlowe (Captain in the Citadel Watch)

**Previously...**

## And Now...

The midnight bell has rung, and the day has come at last. There are mere hours to go before the Conclave is declared open and there are still many, many things left to be done. The heroes begin to gather their resources and make their final preparations for a decisive series of strikes to cripple the many heads of the Conspiracy before they can shatter the Conclave and bring about The Fourth Darkness...

### A Final Meal and Secret's Reveal.

Invoking the powers of Leshrac's Plate of Communion, Bea prepares a meal for the party, an aromatic spiced fish dish from an enchanted tome 'Forgotten Recipes of Mennara'. Dandy shows an interest in the recipe, perhaps with an eye to presenting it as a gift to Barnabus and Henrietta DeConneau, while Gar and Goldie seem more fascinated with the book itself.

In accordance with the powers of the Plate, all who are invited to eat offer a part of themselves to the group:

* Nyarduke granted the ability to deliver a crushing blow capable of shattering bones and turning shields to splinters.
* Dandy granted the ability to recall important and helpful information in times of need.
* Leshrac granted the ability to exert your willin order to deflect damage from offensive magic.
* Goldie granted the ability to see more clearly in near-complete darkness.
* Gar granted the ability to meditate before a battle, enhancing your own abilities, and possibly those of your allies as well.
* Harper granted a connection to his familiars, allowing them to enhance cast spells.
* Bea granted the ability to enhance warding or barrier-related magic.

After this, Dandy suggested that she consult the Tome of Secrets to see what the secret message was that Baroness Sephone had left. The message was recorded magically into an enchanted communications device resembling a seashell. Unfortunately, as the message is only capable of being played once, our heroes hadn't wanted to listen to it for fear it might contain vital information which needed to be played before a larger audience. After a few torturous stops and starts, mostly involving translating the Draconic, the Tome was able to give a fairly complete answer. *(Missed writing down a lot of details here, too.)*

### An Unexpected Guest.

While investigating the Runeshard confiscated off Vaelcum, Goldie discovered the command word which could cause it to release Eliza Pelbrutt, the kidnapped wife of the Steward of Archaut. Hoping that she could be a valuable source of information, Goldie released her, only to be confronted by an incredibly angry woman who has some sort of prejudice against Catfolk (not the best characteristic in a room where three people have a degree of Catfolk ancestry). She is immediately suspicious and hostile, but is eventually convinced by having a chance to eavesdrop on Vaelcum confessing his misdeeds. As an additional bonus, while Vaelcum is railing against his imprisonment and making threats, he lets slip the names of two additional conspirators, a Captain in the City Watch, and the Steward's own seneschal, certainly the means by which Tovric's forces were able to invade his household. After this, while she expressed a great deal of apprehension about her husband and his safety, she agreed to remain in the safehouse.

### A Deal with the Douchelord.

With time running out, the heroes agree to Vaelcum's offer to guide them to where Tovric's Gnome Artificer is preparing his Doomsday weapon. At this point, their main choice was between this and attempting to reach Steward Pelbrutt and inform him of his wife's release. With time running short, they reasoned that, even if they manage to convince the Steward, it'll still leave Tovric's Plan B in effect, so they seek to disable that first before seeking out the Steward.

An air of mistrust hangs over everyone as they wind their way by circuitous routes through the post-midnight streets and alleyways of Archaut. As they're proceeding, Nyarduke begins to notice Vaelcum scanning the skies periodically. Upon being alerted to this, the group's magic-users scan the area and detect a powerful scrying spell. Goldie and Leshrac both spot Tovric's flying eyeball spies sweeping the skyline. Sensing imminent danger, Leshrac is able to act quickly as a void rift opens and a swarm of bloody tendrils lunges out towards Vaelcum. He interposes himself and uses his ability to shut down magic to cause the tendrils to recoil as Gar and Nyarduke sweep Vaelcum out of the way. It appears that Tovric is attempting to tidy up loose ends.

Spurred on by this close call, the group hurries their pace as Vaelcum leads them to The Steward's Estate, at which point, they bid him as somewhat less than fond farewell.

### The Belly of the Beast.

Using Gar's Censer and Harper's Shadow Shard, the group assumes Shadow Form and slips past the gate to cross the lawns. Halfways between the fence-line and the house, the whole party is slammed by a wave of unnatural terror. The party are eventually able to struggle through it, with some who've been able to shrug it off helping others who've crumpled under the barrage. Eventually, they reach the front door, as a disembodied voice from no particular direction moans, "More..."

Once inside the walls, the group sees the building inhabited by hollowed-out, seemingly lifeless attendants and the walls crawling with crimson, fleshy, root-like tendrils running from room to room and floor to floor like immense, pulsing arteries. Everyone can sense a foul, burned-copper taste burning their nostrils. Gar is able to identify it, given his familiarity with Fluff. Instead of the aura of undeath he was expecting, the whole place is drenched in the Ynfernael.

### Interlude: A Formal Meeting Room in the Cathedral of Kellos, Archaut

As this is happening, Baroness Harriet of Frest and Giana have returned to Archaut and convened an emergency meeting. In attendance are:

* Arch-Praetor Lucian Kalides, the Head of the Church of Kellos in Archaut
* Preceptor Anton Sylastri, a High-Ranking Cleric of the Church of Kellos
* Preceptor Naema Tusid, another High-Ranking Cleric of the Church of Kellos
* Aidde Bankart, Baron Gilliam Xarles' Personal Assistant, a Gnome
* Captain Rhett Marlowe, a Captain in the Citadel Watch

With precious little time left, Giana and Harriett present their case for intervention on the part of the Church of Kellos. The Arch-Praetor, having been awoken in the middle of the night, is short-tempered and has little patience for talk of prophecies. He is initially dismissive of the concerns of Giana and the Baroness, suspecting this plea to be some sort of political machination to shore up the Baroness against her enemies, to elevate Giana's status, or possibly both.

Preceptor Sylastri, a longtime rival of Giana, tends to agree, and ascribes selfish, if not actively malignant motives, while Precetor Tusid seems more willing to listen to the evidence presented before making a final decision. Aidde Bankart is in attendance as an observer. While Baron Xarles is not especially close to his niece, he has a keen interest in Baronial politics; even moreso when those two things intersect.

Captain Marlowe, on the other hand, has responded to reports that the fugitive Giana Delakin has reappeared in the city, and is waiting to see what happens next. A keen investigator, he has dispatched underlings to check on information being presented with instructions to report back immediately.

Despite initial misgivings, reports and evidence continue to emerge from the ruins of the Silver Crescent Safehouse and the tunnels beneath (Session 51), from the Guardhouse on the border of the slums and the Daqan District (Session 52), from the Marketplace incident - including Tovric's sword (Session 54-55) and the sewer hideout of the Dwarven Alchemist (Session 53), from the abduction from The Prince's Garden of Vaelcum Sephone (Session 59), and even the recent attacks on the Citadel itself (Session 58). Despite any skepticism as it relates to Prophecies, the Arch-Praetor is forced to admit that *something* untoward is happening.

In response, he signs an order allowing the use of a squad of Chosen of Kellos, and an Inquisitorial team. These agents of the Church are allocated to Captain Marlowe, but placed under the command of Preceptor Tusid, who is to act as a liaison between the forces of the Church and that of the Citadel. She is also granted the use of a Praetor's Seal on extremely strict instructions to use it with discretion, and only under conditions of direst emergency. He explains to Preceptors Delakin and Sylastri that, while both have made invaluable contributions, they are too close to the situation to act with the clear-headedness and discretion required. Both are, however, encouraged to submit advisory reports and to present relevent suggestions and evidence as may be of use to the task force.

At this point, the meeting is adjourned, however, he calls for Giana to remain a moment. He compliments her on her outstanding work, but encourages deliberation and restraint in her actions. While there are many who admire her for her principled service, diligence and pursuit of excellence, there are many who consider her impulsiveness a black mark against her. She is not without powerful enemies who would like to see her silenced.

Afterwards, Giana and Baroness Harriett confer. While the outcome is more than they expected given the conditions, they both fear it may be too little, and too late. It may be that further desperate action could still be required...