KiRin and the Shadow Woman

*Hired by*: Rinqaz

*Mission Request*: Request the Ki-Rin purify Sohtanna's heart

*Rewards/Loot*: Access to Sohtanna's Cloud Tower demiplane, 45,000gp (in platinum)

*Discovered Places*: Mount Serenity

*Caravan Allies*: Gromlo (antiquarian), Caliban (cook)

*Monsters Encountered*: Shadow Sohtanna, Shadow servants

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## Summary

The party camped for the evening, then wandered the island the next day to find the Ki-Rin. Eventually they stumbled upon a temple by a lake and waterfall. A tall deer-like creature with coppery-gold scales and flowing (almost firy) mane of white was traversing the area. The flora grew where each hoof-print would have been if the 15-foot long creature were not hovering above the ground. Deducing this mystical creature was the Ki-Rin, the party showed reverence to Eoa and asked for its aid. It agreed as long as the group was willing to protect it while it performed the cleansing ritual.

Once the cleansing ritual started, a clone of Sohtana emerged from the blue gem. This clone had the deep black eyes that Sargeant Teft had described and an eerie distant smile perpetually plastered on her face. The Dziyiri Nakkar Consortium fought hard against the creature. She summoned shadow spirits and even had a second full shadow form once Sohtana's clone body perished. Eoa took a few hits, but ultimately the party was able to hold the shadows back until the cleansing ritual was completed, erasing the dark flaw from the blue gem.

Eoa voiced its concern that the last time it saw magic this dark was during the Eclipse of Aphotis (eh-fah-tus), roughly 3,000 years ago. Aphotis the Enucleator is Azra's lesser known moon (the more common one being Luna). It's actually a dormant sentient creature. The moon is completely dark and only observed by the absence of stars in the sky as it blocks their light. It seems that someone or something may be taking power from Aphotis; the closer it gets the more power it can give off. Considering djinn are inherently good creatures, Sohtana likely was corrupted by power from Aphotis turning her into a "lunatic."

The party rested on Mount Serenity for a week after getting Eoa to telepathically inform Rinqaz of their delayed return. During this time Arco spoke to Eoa about Onema and learned Onema is really just an aspect of The Allbeast, comprised of Ionaru and Atu, two progenitor beings of the multiverse. Aster brewed potions with the herbs on the island. C2 developed a fascist regime among the koi fish in the pond - Spot was an asshole but became the leader. The party also was given a history lesson about the Ages of Azra and learned that the return of Apothis is considered a sign of the apocalypse, which is something that strangely kind of fits in with Arco's beliefs regarding Onema...

After returning to Yondergarden, the party presented Rinqaz with Sohtana's purified heart. He joined them in her demiplane prison to return her heart. Sohtana mentioned she had memories of the mountain and that The Dziyiri Nakkar Consortium and Eoa were there as lights guiding her. As promised, Rinqaz gave the party access to the demiplane Cloud Tower and a 4,500pp (platinum pieces). Eira received the platinum flute needed to summon and unlock the tower and its air elemental nexuses.

### The Ages of Azra

1. The First Age
2. The Forging
3. The Cosmogonic Epoch
4. The Age of Light
5. The Age of Darkness
6. The Diluvian Epoch
7. The Dawn Era