Act 2, Scene 1: Opening the Floodgates

General Summary

A strange prophet awaited the party as they landed at Fort Floodgate docks. He named himself Cilash Mazo, and claimed to be guided to the party by god of knowledge (Brittanis). Cilash’s mission was to deliver unto Aemon a scholarly treatise dedicated to the geometry of planes, titled “Planar Topology and Points of Hybridity.” Haunted by dreams of the Fisher, the Preserver, and the Weave of Fate, it soon became evident that Cilash’s interests aligned with the party, so they proposed a probationary partnership (contingent on the continued cohesion of aims). After a lengthy evening of intelligence sharing, the party made plans to depart for Cyrecuze.   Cash-strapped, our “heroes” resorted to their wits and skills to procure transportation. Professor Tybalt Musehornswoggled some swamp dwellers out of a wagon, and Tiberius (not to be confused with the OTHER Tyberius, who dynamited the rock mine in ’84) simply requisitioned a steed from Fort Floodgate’s stables. Thus supplied, they made their way south via the road from Paludis Oppidum.   Not long into their journey, the party was bushwhacked by a group of mercenaries disguised as a family in distress. The mercenaries, who seemed to be from Ard Almiead, were hired by the Brotherhood of Ignorance to “silence” the party and keep the world in ignorance. It remains to be seen what knowledge they seek to quell—is it about the Archive, the Fisher, the Preserver, or the Tapestry? Perhaps all of them? But if so, what does the Brotherhood know (and hide) about these things?   The party made short work of the mercenaries; after hewing, shooting, burning, and sonic blasting the two leaders (disguised as “Mom” and “Dad”) into goo, the remaining mercenaries surrendered. They weren’t exactly forthcoming with information and nearly convinced a passing patrol that the party were kidnappers. But thanks to Tybalt, the truth (ironically) won out. The lancers arrested the remaining mercenaries and escorted them to jail. The party did not get off unscathed, though, as they were summoned to appear in court in two weeks’ time. Professor Muse has other ideas…   Coop, in entrepreneurial spirit, advocated selling the goods (olives) and a cart to start a small merchant enterprise as the group traveled to Cyrecuse. After all, what could a couple of more days hurt along the way? The Preserver has been missing for centuries…