May 31st, 2024
Iustitia, Custodia 24th, 1194 (Continued)
Ty visits the Temple of Expeditions (Kel’Quey) about her vision. The priestess there listens to Ty’s description and is certain that it’s not the city of St. Serena. She thinks that it could be one of the earlier versions of Crestfall. Back when it was a major entry point to the region, the city grew around the Temple of Expeditions there.
Sigmund and Ishtar visit the Temple of Enchantment (Adira) to talk with Archmage Sandoval. Ishtar describes his aura sight and Sandoval knows this to be the ability to see mythic auras. She has has this ability and is what made her concerned about Ralzer originally.
Ishtar also confides about how he is from another time and was kidnapped by cultists of Kaajh’Kaalbh. Sandoval wants to investigate the area where Ishtar emerged in this time.
Sigmund notices that he cannot hear any thoughts from Sandoval and asks about that. With training he can learn to tune out the noise.
Sandoval is interested in meeting the others regarding their experiences with their “new powers”.
Back at Ralzer’s, we discuss out next moves.
Two people hired by the Temple of Salvation (Madri) arrive and ask Ralzer about the statue that has been commissioned to commemorate the killing of the Gilarabrywn.
Mors, Custodia 25th, 1194
Overnight Commune confirms that the powers came from Kaajh’Kaalbh and that Crestfall is not involved.
Do these new powers we have inherited come from Kaajh’Kaalbh? — Yes.
Is the entity that is watching Graynor Kaajh’Kaalbh? — No.
Is the cathedral of Kel’Quay that once stood within the city of Crestfall still exist within the depths of the city? — No.
Is there an active cult dedicated to the worship of Special K within Crestfall? — No.
Is the city of Crestfall important to Kaajh’Kaalbh? — No.
Is Ral’s red aura the result of multiple spiritual individuals (himself representing the blue aura, and the other representing the red aura)? — Unclear.
Ty, Ralzer, and Ishtar go visit Sandoval. Ty and Ralzer tell her about their abilities and ask her about Graynor’s as well. She doesn’t believe that these seem dangerous to us, but can help us remove them, if we are interested.
Ralzer tells her about his lineage as a clone. She thinks that could be a factor if there is another soul trapped within him. There could also be a brand on his soul, someone else that is claiming it.
Graynor heads to his meeting with Jarveth. Jarveth takes him to the basement archives and leads Graynor to a side room; his feeling of being watched dissipates in here. Jarveth also stops acting like a feeble old man. After Graynor tells Jarveth that he has felt like he was being watch, Jarveth retrieves a staff and casts a spell to confirm that Graynor is not cursed. He explains that this room protects against divinations.
The obfuscation is designed to make it difficult to gauge the power of leadership and who they really are, which is why this department appears like a dead-end for promotions. This is also probably the reason that Ralzer is getting a statue and not Graynor; they need him to attract less attention.
Jarveth says that the fey realm has been compromised and it is related to Kaajh’Kaalbh. The city has been contacted by fey, who came from a portal near Short Rock Pass, who are asking for help. Not long ago, the Sword of Dawning Light was found to be active again and determined to be within the fey realm. The sword is a relic of the church that has been lost for many years. There is an inscription about it on the Veilstone, beneath the Temple of Salvation:
“One shall come from the light but not return to it. In the last hour before unbeing, they shall wield the sword that remembers the first dawn. By its edge shall truth be revealed, by its radiance, the lie undone. And when the blade sings no more, the world will forget the name that saved it.”
There will be an excursion into the realm and he wants our group to join it. Agents have already returned from the fey realm and reported the presence of Kaajh’Kaalbh and it’s focal point around cysts that have formed. Jarveth wants the sword retrieved and says that it’s dangerous, but will provide some gear to make it safer to handle. He also says something is exerting influence on Ralzer and that he may not be entirely trustworthy. He wants us to leave tomorrow.
We all reconvene and discuss our options. We decide to go on the expedition and to visit the local monolith today.
As we approach the monolith there is a very subtle sound that only Ishtar notices. Once we are closer, we can all feel the bass. Ishtar checks it out underground and finds nothing interesting. We then enter and do not hear the hum inside. Everything looks just how we left it.
Vita, Custodia 26th, 1194
Overnight Commune:
Is Ralzer missing part of his soul? — No.
Does another entity have claim over Ralzer’s soul? — No.
Will the Sword of Dawning Light hurt Graynor if he touches it? — Yes.
… Carries it? — Yes.
… Uses it in combat? — Yes.
We meet with the expedition force in the morning. Jarveth introduces us to the following members:
Protector Lt. Durnan Keldross, dwarf inquisitor. Worships both Barnabas and Madri. Enforcer and interrogator.
Guardian Caelia Varn, human oracle. Magical researcher and investigator.
Defender Solen Thorne, half-elf warpriest. Front-line defense and craftsman.
Purifier Lys Elandra, aasimar cleric. Support and spiritual guidance.
Defender Quenral “Quen” Veyne, elf magus. Arcane support and mental warfare.
Jarveth then explains our mission—Destroy the cysts and find the sword. The sword acts as a beacon, and something may be using it to attract things. He gives each group a different type of refuge item to break in case of emergency. Our group has items keyed to Caelia, while her group has items keyed to Graynor. He also gives Sigmund the fork for the material plane to use with plane shift.
We then disembark for the portal near Short Rock Pass to enter first and take point.
At the portal, the plants around here are very vibrant. We find the strange goat-like creatures that we fought on the Plane Out of Time coming out of the portal, 19 in total. We kill them and enter the portal.
The sky is bruised.