January 4th, 2026
Bellum, Itinerantur 14th, 1194 (Continued)
We head back to the Lonely Hearth Inn and discuss our options. We could allow Tolm to succeed and help shape his godhood, allow him to become a god and then kill him, or figure out a different way to defeat Kaajh’Kaalbh.
Iustitia, Itinerantur 15th, 1194
The overnight commune results:
1) Are the things that we learned about the coming of Kaajh’Kaalbh from the Tolm we talked to accurate, outside of whatever he personally believes? — Unclear.
2) Are the things that we learned about “Tolm Prime” from the Tolm we talked to accurate, outside of whatever he personally believes? — Unclear.
3) Are the things that we learned about Tolm Prime, and the other Tolms, accurate, outside of whatever he personally believes? — Unclear.
4) Does Tolm Prime possess the T’llax Blades? — No.
5) Is there actually a way to kill Kaajh’Kaalbh? — Yes.
6) Is there a way to imprison or contain Kaajh’Kaalbh? — Yes.
7) Does the knowledge of the method for either or both of these options exist in a way that we might find? — Unclear.
8) If so, would this information be stored on an archive made by the Architects? — Unlear.
9) If so, would this item be held in the Vault of Ages? — No.
During the day, Ishtar makes magic items and Ty does some oblivion meditation.
In the afternoon we receive a message from Orvelle that he has secured access to the vault in Derth and will be waiting for us.
Mors, Itinernatur 16th, 1194
Ishtar finishes his crafting and in the evening we head to Derth. We meet with Orvelle at the Gilded Reed and he takes us to the vault.
Although inside it looks as if it’s been used relatively recently, according to records, no one has accessed this for a very long time. It looks to be a combination lab and living space, and is very dusty. Nothing detects as magic. There is a painting of an old man labeled, Master Archivist Valden Harrow, 4th Era, that is leaning face down. There is nothing recognizable in the painting. There are ledgers full of predictions; when certain shipments will be late, when guild members will die, when noble houses will fall, etc. We take the ledgers and the painting. Ralzer takes some alchemical books and diagrams.
While investigating, we start to hear a light thumping noise. A passageway opens in the back of the room as the stone there moves unnaturally. It leads to a similar looking room. We feel a change in air pressure as we enter this room. Inside are some surgical tools and instead of a thumping, we hear a humming. A cloak rests on a peg in the corner; based on its fashion, Ralzer believes it to be centuries old. There is a strange crystal plate growing out of the floor, it’s some kind of quartz known as Aeon Fract. It could be Null Crystal that is mentioned in some of the Architect books that we have. It has something to do with collapsed timelines and extinguished universes. They referenced it as material of the last solution, something not to be used unless as a last resort.
A shimmering starts at the end of the room and begins to take the shape of a person. It looks like Tolm Prime. He looks at the crystal and breathes an annoyed sigh, greeting us with, “You’re early”. He refers to the Null Crystal as a solution to a problem that we do not yet understand, and to not touch it again or it could be catastrophic.
He is aware that Kaajh’Kaalbh knows of his plan and he explains what he needs from each of us. From Ishtar he wants controlled ignition, a fixed thread from Sigmund, access to Ralzer’s designed memory, Graynor’s judgement, and from Ty, he wants Xhal’ith to observe Kaajh’Kaalbh when he is intersected.
He says that he did not create the Gilarabrywn under the citadel and that the monoliths are not his, but are instruments of the Architects. If they are from the Architects, then why is Kaajh’Kaalbh concerned with their destruction?
Sigmund and Ishtar want something from him to prove that we can trust him, and he will return to us in a week. In the meantime, he wants us to get him a spot on the outer planes strike team. He then asks us not to deviate anymore from the timeline or risk correction. As he states this, his voice and demeanor change subtly.
On the way out, Ralzer steals as many gems as he can fit in his backpack. We then tree stride to Ironwald Downs.
Vita, Itinernatur 17th, 1194
We go to find Lt. Keldross and ask about the mission to the outer planes. He says that the raiding party is scheduled to be ready within ten days.
In the meantime, we have some magic items made. Sigmund and Ty visit Nadal, after he requests an update via sending. He seems pretty on edge. It turns out that the baby is gone; it’s box exploded about 11 minutes before we got his sending. He wants to know if Ralzer still has the baby power, which we don’t know for sure and have to ask.
Back at Ralzer’s, Ty and Sigmund fill everyone in on what happened with the baby. Ralzer states that he tried to use his baby power during the Azhrak fight, but it was gone.
We discuss what to do in the ten days leading to the outer planes excursion and settle on going to Crestfall and backing Rupman investigating the leyline node at the Ice Cave.