Arc 2, Episode 10 - "Shades of Grey"
General Summary
When last we left off, the party had just arrived in Highkeep Heathersage, getting a lay of the land and learning of the various factions that affect the city. They discovered that Zigismund Mox, the former Cardinal of the Raven Queen in Sal Senin and current custodian of the Queenspire, had unnaturally prolonged his life through an adaptation of the same stasis spell he used to end the Shatterjaw Plague in Sal Senin many years ago. However, he had remained ever loyal to the Raven Queen, expressing deep resentment for the ethical compromises he had made in the pursuit of immortality.
Curious if the grey mist that plagued the miners of the Highkeep was at all related to the mist that afflicted her Grove, Ehre suggested that the party stop by the Gravel Hammer, a tavern on the outskirts of the mining district known to be frequented by those exposed to the sickness in the mines. While unable to locate any with outward signs of the grey mist, Ehre was able to glean that several shipments of ore have gone missing, a fact very likely known to the Lady Nenogith Wyvernbrow, the foreman of the mines who occupied an office across the street.
After securing lodging and assisting Daymon with a ritual spell, the party, except Daymon headed downstairs to prepare to meet with Lady Wyvernbrow. At that moment, Isadora appeared in the window, back from her scouting mission, curious about Daymon’s ability to see spirits of the dead, and expressing concern about Everett’s trustworthiness. Daymon recounted the tale of Everett and Muck the Imp in Biggityburg, where Everett later indicated his inclination to kill the infernal being according to the texts he had studied, only to discover that the creature had fallen under the control of a demon, compelled to terrible actions against its will. The cognitive dissonance within Everett had troubled him, and had asked Daymon to hold him accountable for his actions.
During Daymon’s conversation with Isadora, he noticed that Periwinkle had an emaciated spectral monkey spirit clinging to it. When Daymon asked Isadora about it, she seemed confused, saying that she didn’t think Peri even had a spirit.
The two rejoined the party downstairs, where Isadora met Ehre for the first time, her offhand mention of her homeland of Tetros being “logging county” drawing a look of deep discomfort from the elven woman who made her home in a grove of crystalline trees.
Traveling to Lady Wyvernbrow’s office, the party offers to assist her in investigating the issue of the grey mists and the infected miners. Looking tired, Lady Wyvernbrow explained that the grey cough doesn’t seem to be curable, its seemingly arcane nature resisting traditional means of treating or healing its effects. She explained to the party that miners, delving a new vein of silver, noticed the grey mists for the first time. One miner located a black, shiny object which looked almost like a mirror, which he picked up and immediately walked on into the mists, almost unresponsive.
Sensing her sincerity, Everett takes a chance, relaying to Lady Wyvernbrow all they had transpired, from Ar’Ginog and the Emerald Wings, to Shazok and her machinations. Lady Wyvernbrow takes this news in stride, indicating that she would send word to Baron Oakthane about the potential extra-planar threat, as well as promising to keep an eye on Nambra Danelis and the College, should they take any ensuing chaos as a chance to seize power in the city.
Before the party heads off to the mines, Isadora suggests the party use a collective name for their group rather than making individual introductions. Daymon considers the outsized influence of the Raven Queen on the party’s mission, and suggests “The Queen’s Gambit”, to which everyone agrees.
Descending into the mining caverns beneath the Highkeep, the party quickly encounters a deep cloud of swirling grey mist. Isadora and Everett work together to fashion a set of crude masks to protect themselves from the mist, and also discover that fire seems to negate the effects of the mist as well.
The party eventually emerges into a vast chamber, field with conveyor belts which seem to route dwarven stone coffins along a series of rooms, from construction to filling with (presumably) bodies in stasis, to a kind of storage room, where they are readied before sending them down lower into the mines.
While investigating the area, the party notices a bunch of thin, bony barefoot marks tracked through dried blood in a waiting room, and, beyond, a series of tunnels leading up to the various birdhouses at the surface.
Finally, descending a set of steps, the Queen’s Gambit enters a lower level, partially filled with grey mist. Among the fog are 3 inhabitants milling about after having emerged from broken coffins. One of them notices the party’s approach, and begs for aid, as a number of snake-like hound creatures and Shadowborn assassins stalk towards them, the rush of combat now inevitable.
Curious if the grey mist that plagued the miners of the Highkeep was at all related to the mist that afflicted her Grove, Ehre suggested that the party stop by the Gravel Hammer, a tavern on the outskirts of the mining district known to be frequented by those exposed to the sickness in the mines. While unable to locate any with outward signs of the grey mist, Ehre was able to glean that several shipments of ore have gone missing, a fact very likely known to the Lady Nenogith Wyvernbrow, the foreman of the mines who occupied an office across the street.
After securing lodging and assisting Daymon with a ritual spell, the party, except Daymon headed downstairs to prepare to meet with Lady Wyvernbrow. At that moment, Isadora appeared in the window, back from her scouting mission, curious about Daymon’s ability to see spirits of the dead, and expressing concern about Everett’s trustworthiness. Daymon recounted the tale of Everett and Muck the Imp in Biggityburg, where Everett later indicated his inclination to kill the infernal being according to the texts he had studied, only to discover that the creature had fallen under the control of a demon, compelled to terrible actions against its will. The cognitive dissonance within Everett had troubled him, and had asked Daymon to hold him accountable for his actions.
During Daymon’s conversation with Isadora, he noticed that Periwinkle had an emaciated spectral monkey spirit clinging to it. When Daymon asked Isadora about it, she seemed confused, saying that she didn’t think Peri even had a spirit.
The two rejoined the party downstairs, where Isadora met Ehre for the first time, her offhand mention of her homeland of Tetros being “logging county” drawing a look of deep discomfort from the elven woman who made her home in a grove of crystalline trees.
Traveling to Lady Wyvernbrow’s office, the party offers to assist her in investigating the issue of the grey mists and the infected miners. Looking tired, Lady Wyvernbrow explained that the grey cough doesn’t seem to be curable, its seemingly arcane nature resisting traditional means of treating or healing its effects. She explained to the party that miners, delving a new vein of silver, noticed the grey mists for the first time. One miner located a black, shiny object which looked almost like a mirror, which he picked up and immediately walked on into the mists, almost unresponsive.
Sensing her sincerity, Everett takes a chance, relaying to Lady Wyvernbrow all they had transpired, from Ar’Ginog and the Emerald Wings, to Shazok and her machinations. Lady Wyvernbrow takes this news in stride, indicating that she would send word to Baron Oakthane about the potential extra-planar threat, as well as promising to keep an eye on Nambra Danelis and the College, should they take any ensuing chaos as a chance to seize power in the city.
Before the party heads off to the mines, Isadora suggests the party use a collective name for their group rather than making individual introductions. Daymon considers the outsized influence of the Raven Queen on the party’s mission, and suggests “The Queen’s Gambit”, to which everyone agrees.
Descending into the mining caverns beneath the Highkeep, the party quickly encounters a deep cloud of swirling grey mist. Isadora and Everett work together to fashion a set of crude masks to protect themselves from the mist, and also discover that fire seems to negate the effects of the mist as well.
The party eventually emerges into a vast chamber, field with conveyor belts which seem to route dwarven stone coffins along a series of rooms, from construction to filling with (presumably) bodies in stasis, to a kind of storage room, where they are readied before sending them down lower into the mines.
While investigating the area, the party notices a bunch of thin, bony barefoot marks tracked through dried blood in a waiting room, and, beyond, a series of tunnels leading up to the various birdhouses at the surface.
Finally, descending a set of steps, the Queen’s Gambit enters a lower level, partially filled with grey mist. Among the fog are 3 inhabitants milling about after having emerged from broken coffins. One of them notices the party’s approach, and begs for aid, as a number of snake-like hound creatures and Shadowborn assassins stalk towards them, the rush of combat now inevitable.
Report Date
30 May 2025
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