April 6th, 2025
Terra, Custodia 14th, 1194 (Continued)
We perform a thorough search of the floor and find no secret doors. We find some strange items in the clockwork mage room and leave them.
We proceed to the next floor down. This room is holding the iron cube that Thyrr told us about. There are a lot of statues here—according to Thyrr, we must find the statue with the empty eyes to deactivate the defenses. The iron cube has a combination of symbols and words in multiple languages; they all have a theme of creation and destruction. Setting the rings in a certain order will unlock it.
Ralzer, with Sigmund’s assistance, is able to decipher the puzzle. It opens a small hole that looks like an extra dimensional space, and we enter it.
This area has a cool, crisp scent. We enter from the ceiling and float gently down. There are several large podiums with books on them and there are also some books that are suspended by chains from the ceiling. One chain is missing it’s book.
The guardian then attacks us. When we finally kill it, many purple-black tentacles emerge from the ground and take it.
Ralzer begins a list of the books that are here, so we can figure out what was taken with Thyrr. We then head back up and deactivate the defenses. We alert the hiding group of guards, then gather the bodies and bring them all to the first floor—there are about 70 total bodies. Ty stays behind to make sure that no one else enters, while the others alert Thyrr of our success.
We then take Thyrr on a tour to see if there is anything else distorted that shouldn’t be there. None of the haunts, the hounds of Tindalos, the oozes, the dread wraith, or the spawn of the dark tapestry are supposed to be here. She also confirms that the only book missing is the Keening Runes of the Architect Kings. She gives us the coin purse that Tolm had paid with as evidence.
Sigmund uses sending to Olaf to ask for some castings of legend lore. Olaf suggests that we contact Morvin Threll, here in Vallyn, for this service and he will be at a local tavern tomorrow.
Ty practices for her oblivion training in the meditation room.
Forte, Custodia 15th, 1194
Ty continues to meditate and Ralzer works on his spell.
The other three visit the Lantern’s Wager to meet with Morvin. In a smoky back room they find him; a gaunt, pallid-fleshed man with black stained fingers, a stark contrast to his skin, holding a pipe billowing a gentle smoke. He agrees to assist us with legend lore at the Mysterium.
They head to the library and the spell is first performed in the room with the iron cube. He sees a taint that recently went through here. Tolm worked on the puzzle box and then disappeared. He did not return. There was no vision of Garrick or Brad.
Then gain permission to take Morvin into the Soul to cast legend lore and Elder Lythlin opens the box for them. Morvin sees Tolm meet with the guardian, changed something about him, and steal something from the ceiling. He left via some kind of magic. The taint that is with him is quick acting, Morvin’s never seen anything like it before.
Bellum, Custodia 16th, 1194
Ty’s oblivion meditation is successful and a return to Xhal’ith‘s shrine will reveal more.
Through commune, Sigmund learns Gilarabrywn are constructs, immune to fire, and have supernatural, but not spell-like, abilities.
We teleport back to Ironwald Downs. the swords that we commissioned will be ready in three days.
Sigmund and Ty visit Mikhail and fill him in about Tolm’s break-in at the Mysterium. We ask him if he’s heard of the book that Tolm stole, the Keening Runes of the Architect Kings. He’s heard a little bit about it; one thing that it has to do with is bridging gaps between emptiness.
Sigmund asks about his confirmed patron, Ilythia. He doesn’t know much, but will look into it. There is supposed to be some worshipers in the city.
On the topic of Xhal’ith, Mikhail has similar advice as the Madri Gallant had—he advises against any contracts.
Ty and Mikhail then chat about Investigator Vale and Mikhail directs Ty to a book club in town.
Sigmund then gathers information on the Ilythia worshipers in town and Ty tags along. He gets a lead on a fortune telling lady known as the Dreamer, who works out of a place called the Rivenspire. Her building has very strange architecture and looks very unstable. She introduces herself as Aurelia and welcomes us.
Sigmund asks about strengthening the bond to his deity and she suggests burning dream lotus incense and reciting lullabies before sleeping. There is also seam-speaking, a kind of meditation that bridges the gap between the dream realm and the waking world.
Ishtar visits the temple of Namas and speaks with Morvathe. Ishtar is interested in his past, from before he was reincarnated as an infant. Morvathe will find him a spiritual advisor to commune on his behalf.