Session 33: A Clearer Picture & Loose Ends

General Summary

After a night of much needed rest the Shore’s Light were enjoying a breakfast at the large sideboard within the Ambassadors Commorancy when Gavain approached them.  Agitated and somewhat bleary eyed, he explained that he had been up all night and had brainstormed a possible way to contain the Blightstone Orbs.  He was working with Ridley the Endurant and Myriell Brimsbane on constructing boxes to dampen the necromantic effects.

Gavain further explained that he would soon be leaving for the Matrix Arcanum so he could report his findings to the High Council there.  Although he imagined he would soon return to Damarask, he thought it would benefit everyone to sit down and talk over their experiences with the orbs.  He was wary of overlooking any bit of information that might help complete the picture and unlock the mystery of what was happening.

Pouring over snippets from ancient tomes, discussing visions seen in nightmares with the Oni, and producing the journal they had discovered in The Melody's possession the Shore’s Light talked with Gavain.  During this discussion a number of potential connections were made and a theory began to take shape.  

The orbs were being activated by a diabolic representative of Koz Koroja, a pit fiend general in Dispater ’s army.  Somewhere within the ruined City of Drinn this representative (mentioned in the Melody’s journal as “Narun”) had activated the orbs to a degree that it set off a chain reaction across the continent.  Although Narun’s motivations remained a mystery, Gavain felt satisfied that they had at least found a direction to point their future investigations.  As for Narun’s identity, Aaura and Shadow offered that they had seen a tabaxi like figure in a red robe commanding the Oni in a dream they shared.  Since a passage from The Melody’s Journal referred to “Narun and his Oni pet” this led them to believe that this tabaxi must’ve been Narun.

Having formed a hypothesis Gavain bid them farewell.  He reminded them of the sending stone in their possession.  Should they come across any further information they should not hesitate to reach out.

With bellies and minds full our heroes made their way to the Wishbone, the prison island where most of Shadow’s clan toiled in return for food and shelter.  After a short ferry trip and checking their weapons the heroes were led into the inner courtyard and temporary home of the Cherished Slopes Clan. 

They were greeted once again by Coat of Many Clouds, who welcomed them with hot tea.  Coat of Many Clouds was overjoyed to hear that the tabaxi contracts had been effectively fulfilled through the heroes’ efforts.  With winter on its way and the current state of The Sentinel still unknown he agreed with Shadow that staying put (while far from perfect) was still the best option.

Within the courtyard the Shores Light also encountered Short Hops, a young tabaxi who had been working under contract with Faelyn's father and the Rogues Regent Resplendent.  Dismayed at his luck, Short Hops revealed that Faelyn’s father had been arrested by members of the Jasper Covenant and his theater shuttered. 

In an effort to break Short Hops from his tirade, Shadow produced the puppet theater and book of tabaxi folklore that she had discovered in the halls of the Red Shores Clan.  She told Short Hops that he should use the theater to create shows for their clan while they remained in the Wishbone.  Delighted, Short Hops tore open the chest to examine the many puppets and props contained within.  As he was descending into a reverie, one small puppet attracted Shadow in particular, that of an odd looking, red robed tabaxi.  Recognizing the figure from her dream, she thumbed through the book of folklore until she discovered its portrait.  The book identified this false tabaxi as a Rakshasa; a fiend from the hells who could take many forms. 

Armed with this new knowledge The Shore’s Light bid farewell to Shadow’s kin and took the ferry back to the City.  With the sun high in the midday sky they once again travelled beneath the city, to keep their appointment with Ms. Beadrix Plum, the hag who bargained with Faelyn for his eye and finger. 

The hag was busy in her hovel when the Shore’s Light returned.  Smiling through her shark’s teeth, she attempted to bargain with Faelyn once more, offering him magical gifts if he would let her keep his missing body parts.  Faelyn ultimately refused, and for the extra cost of a kiss, the hag returned his eye and finger. 

A strange change had come over the sorcerer’s eye.  In the time it spent disembodied its iris had grown darker, its pupil elongated to a slit, and it had taken on an overall draconic appearance.  It seems that Faelyn’s alligator skin eyepatch was going to have to remain in use if he wished to disguise himself.

The contract with the hag fulfilled, the Shore’s Light returned to the surface and headed to the Widow's Walk.  While there, Omori ushered them into a large store room where they took a moment to unwind.  Aaura pulled out the letter she had received from Ivanka days before and using powerful divination magic, she asked her angelic guide Bob to help unravel its cryptic message.  Through this meeting Aaura learned that the “Scarlett Cutlass” mentioned in the letter was a mistranslation, and it actually referred to a “Crimson Khopesh.”  Aaura was satisfied that she would be able to find an establishment known as the Crimson Khopesh in the Brasspot district, and from there would find more answers regarding Ivanka’s letter.

Having spent so much of the day on the move, The Shore’s Light decided to retire back to the Ambassador’s Commorancy for the evening.  On their way out of the Widow’s Walk they talked with Tiresius and told him that they could use his skills as a guide on the morrow. 

“For the right price, Tiresius is your man!”

The next morning, before heading to the Brasspot to search for the Crimson Khopesh, the heroes decided to head to the Aerie district and look for another of Shadow’s missing kin, Echoes of Thunder.  Having learned a long time ago that Echoes’ contract was purchased by a gnome jeweler, Tiresius led them into the Undernest Burrows in search of The Prime Facet.  When they arrived at their destination however, they were surprised to see a number of flowers and mementos had been placed outside the door.  It was clear that the jeweler had recently died.

A quick look at the doorjamb alerted Shadow that someone had forced their way inside and instantly the party was on alert.  Keokan stood guard at the door (keeping an eye on a suspicious fellow nearby) while the rest of the party entered.  A woman behind the counter greeted them and asked their business.  She explained that the shop’s owner Gorbin had passed away and that she was working with the city, taking measurements and reporting back so they could decide what was to become of the establishment.  Not believing this ruse for a second our heroes pressed further until the woman ran through a door behind the counter and down a flight of stairs in the room beyond.  The heroes within gave chase while Keokan confronted a man outside.