Session 33: All Aboard the Wellmore Go Round Report
General Summary
32nd of Rolier 1524 Continued
After having some food Lily, Lyra, Xeldarix, Lila and Simone head for a bath while Fargrim and Karl have a chat while setting up the sleeping area.
In the bath area the girls discuss what they’ll do while they are in town for the next few days. This includes making sure Lila knows she can stay with them while they are in town, the shopping trip they are going on tomorrow, researching bloodlines, and the book heist. Those of Elven kind get a glimpse of the brand Lila mentioned.
Meanwhile the boys discuss Karl’s sister being a zealot, grandma, Reign and Felix, shopping, and the sleeping arrangements.
After this the group heads to bed for a good night's sleep.
1st of Haelynir 1524
The group has a small breakfast of porridge before heading out for a shopping trip. Xeldarix is given the codename ‘Grandma Cece’ to avoid using her name in public and drawing Fulda’s attention. Karl takes the group to some trusted jewellers to get their gems assessed and do a basic shop for clothing, components and general needs at 8am.
By 9am Karl takes the group to the Cobalt Edge. Xeldarix is quick to stir up Karl’s sister Saryea. Clara is happy to see her son is safe and well. Karl is quick to try and defuse any misgivings. Xeldarix gets her armour fitted she had commissioned last time they were in town, Fargrim gets measured for an armour commission, Lyra buys arrows for a shortbow and Clara takes the dragon scale armour to look at for repair. Clara mentions that Razlomov has some magical weapons when the group enquiries about magical items for sale. Karl promises to be back for dinner before he goes with an apprentice, Lily, Xeldarix and Saryea for the final fitting of Xeldarix’s armour. Lyra stays in the shop area with Simone and Lila, while Fargrim is measured for armour by Clara.
In the changing area with Lily, Xeldarix, Karl, Saryea and an apprentice there is tension between the group. Xeldarix tries on her new plate armour. Saryea does help Xeldarix into some of the armour but this starts a bit of conflict between the two. However before it could end in violence Karl and Lily stood up for Xeldarix and talked Saryea down. In the end, Saryea left and Karl went after his sister. Karl was able to reassure and help Saryea through some of things she was worried about with the group. Meanwhile, Fargrim and Clara had a calm chat while she measured him for armour.
After when everyone returns to the shop floor. This is where Fargrim said his goodbyes to the group and escorted Saryea to the Sailing Song of Neira temple. On the way to the temple Fargrim continues Karl’s work earlier with reassuring Saryea that things with the group weren’t what they seem or according to the rumours being spread. Once they reach the temple Fargrim speaks with High Paladin Salma.There he seeks advice about a few things causing him concern. After discussion they meditate for an hour.
Karl takes the group, minus Fargrim, to meet Razlomov at the Rusty Nail. The group leaves and Karl leads them to the Rusty Nail. A large Vos man that is very boisterous greets them. He makes a comment that Karl is very lucky to be escorted by so many lovely ladies and then shows everyone his wears. He has the usual and three magical items. Name: Mosquito's Belt of the Skulker Rare, belt Cost: 800 g A leather belt with a silver buckle that has delicate fine detail engraved into it. It has a small insect engraved into it. -The duration of negative conditions on you is reduced by 1 round. Clarification --This benefit has no effect on an actively maintained condition such as Grappled condition when you are being grappled by another creature or as a condition without a duration like the Petrified condition when gained from a medusa. This benefit cannot reduce a condition's duration below 1 round. -Once per day, you may grant yourself advantage on any Stealth skill check. Name: Bestial Breast Plate Armor Common, armour Cost: 500 gold A breast plate that has a lion and a bear fighting on it. When making a saving throw vs a beast creature you have advantage on the saving throw. Name: Dagger of the Seer Common, weapon, attunement required Cost 1500 gold A silver dagger that has beautiful Vos tribal engravings all down the handle. +1 dagger that while equipping this item, your Intelligence ability score cannot be reduced below 15. It doesn't increase your intelligence, just prevents the drop via magical or non magical means. Karl buys the Mosquito Belt of the Skulker.
When the larger group reaches the tower at 11am it becomes very clear Xeldarix cannot enter the tower at the moment. It reminds the group Xeldarix is still very unhappy about her stolen feathers. Steve comes up to see who is knocking on his wards. Karl suggests that Xeldarix practice forgiveness. This just annoys Xeldarix and Lyra volunteers to stay outside with her while Karl and Lily goes downstairs to talk with Steve. Lila stays in the reception area while Simone goes to do some drawing in the library.
Lily and Karl sit down to talk to Steve. They update Steve on their travels and their progress with quests so far. They request an audience with Sunnis. Before going down to see Sunnis they talk about their concerns with the Ghostly Trio known as Bad Luck, Wellmore, Xeldarix, the prophecies, Master Shyr, witches in the King’s court and Lily needing some components for new spells. When the pair are taken down to see Sunnis. There she reminds them of the path Anubis showed them and gives advice on where to take her children when they have been found. They also get some advice to help Xeldarix on her path. Afterwards they go back with Steve to his office. Karl goes to see Wellmore and Lily stays with Steve to get components.
At noon, Karl goes up to see Wellmore, with Lily’s bat familiar Xochitl. He is invited in for tea and biscuits, but doesn’t get to enjoy them much as the poison in the tea works it’s way through his system and the last thing he remembers is Wellmore grabbing his face to watch this process take hold and muse over how easy that was.
Meanwhile Lyra and Xeldarix have some quiet time before having a private conversation and plan shenanigans. However, just after noon Lyra notices some children nearby talking loudly and pointing at Xeldarix. Some question if she is the one, and if they should try and grab her. Lyra leads Xeldarix away, Xeldarix mentally letting Lily know they are leaving and where they are heading. Lyra gets a message to Lila via Xeldarix to trail those who follow them. As Xeldarix and Lyra move away Lyra double checks to see if they are being followed. However by the time she has checked she has lost Xeldarix. With Good’s keen senses he is able to track Xeldarix to an alleyway. A cloaked figure with a bird cage is walking to Xeldarix who has her wings up. She picks up the stranger and starts to take flight. Lyra calls out to Xeldarix, but there is no recognition or reaction from the immortal as she starts to fly away. Lyra attacks the cloaked figure with spells and arrows with the cloaked figure returning it’s own spell, but Xeldarix teleports away before the battle can be concluded. Lyra runs back to the mage guild, almost running into Lila. They go back together, Lyra making sure no one can take Lila as well. Lyra goes down to see Lily. Lily is panicked when she realises Xeldarix isn’t with Lyra. Lyra fills Lily in about the stranger. As Lily races upstairs and realises she should be able to connect with her familiar, with the intention of heading for Éla’s church, changes course to go to Wellmore’s office. After getting no reply at after knocking at the door Lily heads downstairs. Lyra follows the frantic and manic Lily. The receptionist had heard the commotion and met them halfway. Lily demands Steve and Lyra backs her up. The woman flees to go get Steve. Lily turns into an imp and then a spider, while Lila turns into a shadow to enter Wellmore’s office. Lila unlocks the door with Lily’s help. After that Lily turns into a raven to start flying in the direction she could feel Xeldarix was in. Northward, in the direction of Éla’s Suppression of Shadows.
Lyra, frustrated with the situation, talks to Steve when he comes up to see what is going on. Lyra fills him in on the fact that Xeldarix has been taken by an unknown party and Karl has disappeared. He explains that the receptionist said that Karl should be in Master Shyr’s office. He saw Wellmore out when she wasn’t feeling well before coming back up here. However, when Steve and Lyra check the office there is no sign of Karl. Good can tell Karl has not been in there recently. It is revealed through a conversation Wellmore left with a bird cage. Apparently something hit the window and Wellmore, someone rather familiar with birds, would be able to help. Lyra however thinks Karl was in the cage and Wellmore was the one who took her friends. Steve naturally is upset by the accusation and convinces Lyra to see Sam so they may message people across the city quickly rather than jumping to conclusions. Sam tries to send a message to Karl, but gets no answer. One is sent to Xeldarix instead and a reply does come back. It confirms she is with Wellmore and Karl at the abandoned church library, and that hurting Wellmore hurts Karl. Lyra sends out two more messages. One to Lily and one to Fargrim to fill him in on the situation.
Meanwhile, when Karl comes to with something large licking his face. He’s had everything but his underwear taken from him and a lovely bangle secured to his wrist. When he opens his eyes he notices he is 2 inches tall and the white bat, Xochitl whose name is not known to Karl, is now much bigger than him. They’re in the bird cage. Inside the cage, Karl has no access to his magic or any of his abilities. He pulls up the material that covers the cage to see Wellmore was walking towards Xeldarix. He tries to reach through the bars to fire a spell at Xeldarix but nothing happens. When they reach Xeldarix she takes flight with them as Lyra can be heard calling out to Xeldarix. A short battle takes place, Karl makes his discomfort with the situation known. He starts to take cold damage at the same time that the bangle on his wrist pulses. Then he feels two sharp objects pierce and hurt him despite nothing being there. Wellmore tells Xeldarix to take them somewhere else and then with a pop they teleport away. However, coming through the rift are spectors. Wellmore takes the material off the cage in the fight so Karl can watch Xeldarix defend Wellmore against 6 spectors in the abandoned and cleared out library unde the Avani temple. Every time the spectors hurt Wellmore, Karl took the damage while Wellmore healed. Through the battle it comes clear that Wellmore intends to use Xeldarix for components. At the end of the fight, Xeldarix seems to come to herself and is furious with Wellmore. Wellmore is quick to make the situation clear that she cannot be hurt without hurting Karl. She is told to drop everything and disrobe. Reluctantly she does as she is told. A bangle is given to her to put on and then drops to her knees, unable to stand and shrunk to be the same height as Karl. Wellmore picks up Xeldarix and goes to put her in the cage. Xochitl uses that moment to make an escape through the open door with Karl running across the cage to jump onto the bat’s back and they take flight! The young wizard riding a bat while in his boxers enrages Wellmore as she casts spells at them. Karl has very few spells in his arsonal without his focus or material, is able to counterspell many of her spells as they slowly fly towards the exit. However, Wellmore decides she’s had enough of these games and Dominates Karl with a spell, forcing him to let go of the bat. She feather falls him to the ground and puts him back in the cage. From there a teleportation circle is drawn on the floor. Wellmore takes her captives and their gear with her back to her private sanctum.
Fargrim arrives at the Mage Guild at 12:30 only to receive a Sending message from Lyra via Sam filling him in on the details and the fact she would pick him up from the temple. He replies and starts to head back to the temple. Lyra quickly catches up with him and they redirect to the abandoned library. Together they set off for the library.
In the meantime, Lily catches sight of Galloway. She gets his attention, nearly causing the crippled man to fall over, before flying off. During the flight had lost the pull of Xeldarix’s location mid flight. Thankfully a sending from Lyra via Sam reassured her of where Xeldarix last was in the temple of Avani. Near the temple she meets Xochitl and gets a rough idea of what happened. There she waits for the rest of the group, found nothing in her search while she waits but a lone feather from Xeldarix.
Lyra and Fargrim meet up with Lily at the temple with Steve, Lila and Simone tagging along for safety in numbers just after 1pm. Good is offered the lone feather to try and track Xeldarix and does so down to the library. Lily tries to scry on Xeldarix using a piece of paper she pulls from her backpack, but the mirror she uses turns black before going back to normal. Fargrim instead tries to use the spell locate creature on Karl, but he does not sense Karl within 1000 feet of him. Lily is determined to go to Éla’s to look for them and Fargrim goes with her. Lyra stays as she is not certain that is the case. Steve, Simone and Lila stay with Lyra.
Meanwhile, Wellmore steps out of her teleportation circle within her laboratory with her caged individuals. Wellmore puts the cage down and addresses Karl, making her expectations clear for his behaviour and his role during his stay with her. He is to behave, be given a comfortable place to sleep with access to food and water. Perhaps even a shirt. He will be expected to care for Xeldarix in between Wellmore’s session of extraction. Reluctantly, with not other choices available, he agrees to the terms and is moved to a new, larger cage. However, Xeldarix is not moved with him. Instead she is taken and returned to full size. She struggles, but Wellmore seems to have no trouble manhandling her into chains that hang from the ceiling. With threats made, Xeldarix is forced to keep her wings out, and Wellmore starts the process of extracting blood and feathers from her. All the while Wellmore and Karl talk. Karl is investigating his new cage while talking, and Wellmore is busy pulling feathers. Karl sees in a little reflective bit of metal that he looks like a small orange sparrow. They discuss Xeldarix’s changing nature, Elaran, Wellmore’s motives, Fulda and Morningsteel’s desire to have Xeldarix, bloodlines, and the realistic demands when you’re the size of a sparrow. When Wellmore is done taking things from Xeldarix, she makes the immortal tiny again and dumps her in the cage with Karl. Xeldarix does not move from where she lands, the blood loss taking its toll. When Wellmore leaves, Karl moves Xeldarix to the bed and makes her comfortable so she may get some rest. Wellmore returns with supplies for Karl, including clothes that belong to toys that would better fit his new size. Karl goes back to caring for Xeldarix and thinking as he takes in his new situation.
Lily and Fargrim set their sights on some detective work at Éla’s Suppression of Shadows to arrive just after 1:30pm. Lily casts Pass without Trace on her and Fargrim as they sneak through, heading for Fulda’s office. Fulda herself is by the alter, giving money to children and thanking them for bringing her something. Fulda watches them go into her office, so Lily and Fargrim jam the door with a chair and start to search the room. Lily finds a hidden door with Xochitl’s help. Upon closer inspection it does have a trap, but Lily disables it before they continue. The hidden door takes the pair down some stairs and down to a long hallway. There are five doors on the left and one at the end. They are reinforced doors with grates that allow people to see in. They all seem empty but the one at the end is ajar. Looking inside the end room, it is a much larger space. Small cages, five in total, with manacles on one of the walls. There is a circle carved into the floor with holes in certain points and thin silver swords locked in a case on the wall. Lily, from her research, can tell the circle is designed to get the most out of blood theft committed on someone. This enrages Lily and she tries to damage it, but Fulda makes her appearance, stopping any real damage. From a discussion it becomes obvious Fulda does not have Xeldarix, but does want her. Lily is willing to work with Fulda but Fulda wants a conversation before they work together. She demands they drop their gear so they can talk about things. Seven priests back Fulda up and Lily uses the spell Dimension Door to take her and Fargrim to an outside alleyway. Unfortunately, three cloakers come out and attack them. The fight is long and hard. Lily and Fargrim use the majority of their spellcasting ability to try and keep themselves up. Their day is made worse when Fulda and her priests finally make it out of the church and this sends the duo running. A chase across the city as they head for the mage guild. While running through middletown Fulda and her people seem to be in their element of ducking and weaving through the crowd. However in the Longrove the pair pull ahead again as the collectors of fruit and vegetables briefly block the priests. Their lead continues to grow in Northgate as Fulda is knocked over by a cart but they manage to get sight of the pair again in Storm gate. Just as Lily and Fargrim cross the threshold into the mage tower, Fulda and her people stop in the square. The pair are safe within the mage guild, for now.
Back in the land of the small, Karl sits beside Xeldarix as she shivers in her sleep. He takes in the cage and all of the bird toys inside. A bell catches his attention. Upon closer investigation he finds it has copper wire holding the ringer in place. Karl tries to do magic again and while it does not work, a rune appears on the lock. Looking at it, Karl was able to piece together which one was preventing him from doing magic. An idea starts to form. The ringer could be used to scratch and damage the rune disabling his magic. He takes the time to practice putting it on and off quickly. The click and clack of Wellmore’s heels can be heard approaching as he returns the ringer in place one last time. Karl hurries back to Xeldarix’s side. Wellmore has brought food for Karl. While she cleans her equipment she talks with Karl. She reveals that she was spying on Steve and has been since the group last left Brechlen. She reminds Karl to look after Xeldarix while she goes to do some real work. Karl looks over Xeldarix and notices how high her temperature has become and wet the rags left in the cage to use as cold compresses. He leaves her to sleep as he detaches the ringer again and then starts to scratch at the rune on the lock in hopes of disabling the anti magic rune.
Lyra continues to try and investigate the abandoned church. She considers the fact they may have gone out the sewer exit, but it doesn’t seem to be the case. Good can’t smell any sign of the beyond the library. Lyra is growing distressed and desperate. Simone tries to assure Lyra and offers to do a reading. Lyra agrees and asks: "How can I protect my friends if I can't find them?" Simone replies: “In your search for those taken you had made mistakes but you are strong enough to overcome them. Fear is your enemy here. The fear of missing something has led you to overlook the facts you have. Who do you know was involved? Those you seek need you, but at the same time those who search have followed a false trail that will lead to them ending up in a similar situation to those you seek. Now you must choose who to save.” As Lyra muses out loud, she mentions the cage which gets Simone’s attention and she reveals a picture she had drawn. The page lyra is shown is a picture of Karl looking into a mirror that is hanging from beads above it. In the mirror looking back is a bird in the same pose as Karl. Lyra asks Lila about what she had seen when she was following Lyra and Xeldarix who were being followed. She reveals someone had paid them to be seen talking about Xeldarix. Through a discussion it comes back to Wellmore. Lyra convinces Steve to take her there with the idea that Wellmore is either responsible or in danger. Reluctantly, he agrees with the idea that he will get a chance to talk to Wellmore rather than have her falsely accused of the kidnapping. At 2:30pm Lyra arrives at Wellmore’s house with Steve, Simone and Lila. Simone has her hood up so she can’t be seen. Lila and Lyra go round the side while Steve knocks on the door.Lila and Lyra go round and investigate the house. Several rooms are searched. She finds a small brown sparrow in a cage with a broken wing in the kitchen. It does not seem to be Karl. Steve convinces Wellmore to leave to help him look for Karl and Xeldarix. Lyra finds a cellar and Lila unlocks it. They pass through a wall of shadow and enter into the hallway that leads to the laboratory. Lila stays by the door on watch with the instruction to whistle if she needs to warn Lyra.
After an hour of hard labour scratching the rune on the lock Karl can feel his bloodline powers coming back up. He raises the copper wire to his mouth and casts whisper to Xeldarix. It works and he receives some talking sleep back that shows Xeldarix is not in a good place. With this given back to him, he messages Fargrim. “Wellmore kidnapped me and Xeldarix. Very bad. In her house, in Brechlen. Scry-proof room. Shrunk, in cage, no magic. Be careful, she’s frighteningly prepared.” Before reattaching the bell and tending to Xeldarix. He notices the area near her horns connecting to her skin is raised and the skin looks angry like it's infected. A gentle tug on the horns results in a very distressed, upset and ill Xeldarix struggling and screaming with him. Her words feverish and not connected with the situation. Karl stops and tries to comfort her while tending to her. She falls back into uneasy sleep. Karl examines their bangles and sees they are different. His connects his health to Wellmore while Xeldarix’s affects her strength and coordination. Both of them have shrinking magic on them and permanency attached to them.
Back at the mage guild it is nearly 3pm. Lily and Fargrim look at one another, puffing. They inquire about Steve and Wellmore, but they have not returned to the tower. They end up resorting to see Sam. However, as Fargrim reaches Sam’s door, he receives Karl’s sending message. He replies with “Thanks, will inform the team, stay strong. Stay safe." and gets Lily to come away from Sam’s office to inform her of the message. They discuss the fact that they need to get Lyra and get the others back to the mage guild in order to make a plan. Fargrim wants to try diplomacy and while Lily agrees she is ready to fight this out. They return to Sam’s office. Lily negotiates a sending message to Lyra in exchange of the promise of Lily going for a drink with Sam.
Lyra looks into the room and sees a laboratory with a medical set up. There are chains hanging from the roof with manacles. There is a small bird cage with a small orange sparrow in it on the far side of the room. As Lyra moves further into the room she can see Karl's glass staff on the wall on display. As she comes further into the room she can see the orange sparrow is next to another black sparrow that is lying on its side on what looks to be a bed. The orange bird is chirping wildly and is jumping, flapping it's wings by the door. The black one doesn’t move. Lyra’s natural ability with animals doesn’t seem to work with the distressed bird. The orange bird hops over to a small bell and seems to shake the bell violently for a few moments. It then turns toward Lyra with a bit of wire on its wings and she hears Karl’s voice in her head “It’s an illusion, I’m the orange bird. Think you can get us out of the cage?” Lyra grabs some nearby gloves and uses Ray of Frost on the lock. The frost starts to cover half the cage. You can hear the crack of the metal as parts of the lock fractures under the force of the spell. After checking the gloves for spiders, she puts them on and pulls the door off, the illusion dropping and revealing Karl and Xeldarix. They are both 2 inches tall. Xeldarix is laying on a bed, slightly curled up shivering from time to time. She made a small noise at the loudness around her but didn't wake. Karl is so happy to see Lyra. Xeldarix is in her undies with most of her feathers missing from her wings that are out and Karl looks like he is wearing clothes made for toys. Lyra carefully removes both Xeldarix and Karl from the cage and takes Karl over to where his and Xeldarix’s bags are hidden in a locked cupboard. Working together, the pair freeze the cupboard door and break it to reveal the two bags. Karl is quick to ask for his wand and to have it back. They dress Xeldarix in the toys clothes instead while Karl is put on the floor with his wand. Lyra reveals Steve is with Wellmore right now and Karl tells her she has Xeldarix’s blood and feathers. In the next moment Lila comes running, whistling and swearing as something large and shadowy chases her into the room. He dispels the bangle with the wand and is returned to his normal size, grabbing the bangle and storing it while getting his knotted iron cross and circlet he turns to face the shadow. Lyra puts Xeldarix in the cupboard and draws her swords. Exchanging a few blows, Karl banishes the creature. They quickly get their things, put Xeldarix in a pocket and try to leave but the door had disappeared. Karl sends a message to Steve. “Wellmore betrayed us. Poisoned me, kidnapped and tortured Xeldarix. Spied on you and Sunnis. Lyra found us, we are trapped in Wellmore's sanctum right now.” The reply he gets back is "Also trapped. She has me in a mirror. Tomorrow can plane shift. Will try to get out. She's coming back. Don't worry about me.” This starts Lyra worrying about Simone who was with Steve at the time. At this point Lyra gets a message from Lily via Sam. "Sam on Lily's behalf. Bring everyone back to the mage tower, but watch out for Fulda's goons."
Sam tells Lily that Lyra said "Wellmore kidnapped Karl. Trapped in her home sanctum. She has Steve in a mirror and feathers and blood from our friend." Sam reacts badly and starts trying to prepare himself to do something, but is called out for having no plan. In the end he decides Galloway needs to know crimes have been committed. Lily suggests that Galloway meet them here and Sam seems to agree. Fargrim goes downstairs to wait while reading a book and Lily goes to the druid area to meditate.
Karl and Lyra meanwhile discuss how they will make their stand in the room. They dispel Xeldarix’s bangle to consult her, but the toy clothes are destroyed when this happens and she is made large. Karl wakes her and explains the situation. Xeldarix is not in good shape but she does say she could plane shift them. Lyra grabs a healer's kits nearby. Xeldarix claws through the fabric of space and they are sucked into another plane. Only Lyra can see when they are in their new plane. They’re in a cavern and Xeldarix has lost consciousness. The stench of burning flesh and burnt hair fills their noses, the area is uncomfortably warm. The cavern has two exits and Lyra decides she needs more eyes on the situation, casting Darkvision on Karl, allowing him to see. They move Xeldarix over to the nearby wall, Lila clinging to Lyra. Lyra comforts Lila with a hug the best she can while Karl ritually makes his dome. The dome makes things slightly better. Lila can see what’s in the dome and it’s cooler in there. Karl tries to make Xeldarix comfortable and talks with Lyra, thanking her for finding and rescuing them. Lyra patches Xeldarix up the best she can, taking note of the signs of trauma. Karl explains that he thinks Xeldarix’s horns might need to be removed as her body is rejecting them. It would have to wait until they were in a safer space with more healing supplies. Karl gives Xeldarix a healing potion which wakes her up. She complains of headaches, feeling unwell and cold. Karl gets her cloak for a blanket while his is her pillow. Lyra makes Xeldarix have some water for her fever, then Xeldarix goes back to sleep with Lila curled up together. Karl is quick to follow, worn out after a hectic day. Lyra stays up on watch.
At 3:30pm Galloway arrives and summons Fargrim and Lily to talk to him. Sam has been dramatically explaining his part in the day's events by playing messenger, Karl and Xeldarix being captured with Steve by Wellmore. Lily and Fargrim fill Galloway in the best they can about Steve, Karl and Xeldarix. Simone’s location at this stage is unknown. Galloway wants to do a raid on the Wellmore property but Fargrim and Lily convince him to delay until morning. He reluctantly agrees. Galloway leaves with promises of returning in the morning. Fargrim is asked by Galloway to keep an eye on Lily to ensure they do not get into trouble. Fargrim and Lily discuss the situation a bit, including prophecies as they try and figure out Wellmore’s motive for her actions and taking everyone. They decide to investigate Wellmore’s office. In the office Fargrim disturbs what he believed to be a stuffed bird but was actually a live eagle that took flight. Fargrim managed to get hold of it before it can escape out the window. The pair calm it before Lily kills it, confirming it was a familiar. Continuing to look around they found many components Wellmore had on display. Afterwards Lily finds runes cut into the underneath of the table. The desk has conjuration and abjuration. The door has Abjuration and Transmutation. The window has Abjuration. Under the couch was an old feather of Xeldarix's from a few weeks ago. They go downstairs to speak to the receptionist. They talk about Wellmore a little, but don't find out much. They have dinner with the druids and get some rest.
During Lyra’s watch while the others sleep. She observes a little too late what might have been a lava snake come through and continue out of the room. However, seven hours later a swarm of bats come through. Lyra wakes Karl and thankfully nothing happens as a result. Lila is terrified. Karl starts to fill Lyra in on more of the details of what happened to him. Lyra confirms the parts where she likely attacked Wellmore that nearly killed Karl. He explains his escape attempt. Lyra explains what she was up to trying to find them. Lyra shares that Lily and Fargrim went to Fulda which alarmed Karl. Karl needs to recast the dome and Lyra gives him more Darkvision. Karl discusses his concerns with Xeldarix’s new change and how it’s making her sick. He explains that some wizards see outer planar beings as things and components, and this is where Wellmore is. Lyra helps Lila escape Xeldarix's clutches before going into a trance. Meanwhile Lila and Karl have a discussion while on watch. After some time had passed Xeldarix finally woke up. She seemed very unwell, but does get dressed and ready to take them back. Karl gives her the sigils for Jarvis' tower mentally. However, upon arriving at Jarvis' tower Xeldarix's condition worsens. Jarvis greets them and assists them the best he can. Karl sends a message to Lily. “Safe at Jarvis’s tower with Lyra, Lila and Xeldarix. Recovering. Find Steve, be careful of Wellmore, she is dangerous and can’t be trusted.” 2nd of Haelynir 1524 Upon waking the next morning Fargrim helps Sam put Steve's daughters to bed before going up for a nap himself. Fargrim makes breakfast for everyone before going to try and talk to an angsty teenager about his dad being missing. Steve's son becomes the God of the Tower. Lily wakes up to a letter from Sam. Apologising for his behaviour and giving Lily and orchid. She goes and helps a little here with breakfast. Then she feels the pain Xeldarix goes through. She's able to overcome it, but is very distracted by it. Not long after this Lily gets a message from Karl. She replies "What just happened to Xeldarix?? It hurt so much? And Simone?! What the fuck did you do?!" At 8am Galloway comes with concerns about Simone still being missing. Steve returned to explain how Wellmore captured him, what happened and that Simone wasn't with him. Fargrim and Lily volunteer to go back to the inn to see if Simone went there. As Lily and Fargrim leave Karl sends another message. "Wellmore stripped Xeldarix's feathers and drained her blood. Lyra helped us escape. Planeshifted away, back today. We'll get back to Brechlen." Lily simply replies with "You better be wearing plate mail when I see you." As Fargrim and Lily make their way to the Broken Wand. Lily noticed that they were being followed by some of Éla’s Suppression of Shadows Priests. Fargrim notices he is not doing very well with being quiet so goes off to provide as a distraction. Which works. Lily heads off to the inn. Unfortunately for Fargrim the priests prove to be too much for him to handle alone. He's knocked out.
At 8:30 am Lily makes it to the Broken Wand where Ealded complains about the earful she has coped from the Dire Wolf that is protecting Simone in their sleeping area. Lily collects Simone and takes her back to the mage guild. However, just before reaching it she is overcome by an extreme pain and blacks out. More priests jump them. Good tries to fight them off but in the end has to flee with Simone to the safety of the guild.
Karl does what he can to comfort and care for Xeldarix. She's no longer coherent and her condition is deteriorating. However, Lyra confirms she is not getting better. In the end they ask for Jarvis' help to remove the horns. Xeldarix resists, but in the end Karl pulls them both off. This causes Xeldarix to pass out. The corruption and illness no longer contained is able to come free. However, her condition does not improve but it does not get better. Afterwards Karl sends a message to Galloway. "Edlin Wellmore is dangerous, kidnapped me. I escaped, safe outside of Brechlen. If possible apprehend her with help from guild. Is Simone safe?" Galloway replies with "Simone safe. Scared. Someone took Lily. Maybe Fargrim. Wellmore place secured. No sight of her. We will have words about this later." Karl spoke with Lyra about this. In the end they sent a message to Lily. "Xeldarix is resting and recovering. When she is well enough I can teleport us to Wellmore's house. Galloway assured me it is safe. Stay safe."
At 10 am Lily and Fargrim wake up under the temple of Éla’s Suppression of Shadows. They find themselves tied to chairs with their stuff gone. They are in white acolyte Monastic Server Albs. Lily gets a sending message from Karl and replies with "Fulda has me and Fargrim. May be able to escape without Fargrim if magic is possible. Hopefully Simone and Good are safe." Hearing approaching footsteps Lily apologises to Fargrim before using Dimension Door to leave. On the other side she appears in the alley that is near the church with two Wrights. However, the sunlight sends them running. Lily changes into an imp before becoming a raven to fly back to the guild.
Fargrim stares as Lily leaves him and in her place is a very beautiful Drow woman in a white spider web dress. She smiles at him before placing a finger to her lips and vanishing from view. Fulda enters the room and is very disappointed to see Lily gone. She talks with Fargrim as unseen hands play with his hair. Fulda claims she will release Fargrim once she has her bloodline back. She is even willing to revive the devil or allow Fargrim to do so if he can get her here and willing for the ceremony. Fargrim agrees to some of it, suggesting a communication stone go to Galloway for the negotiation. Fulda has him taken to a cell and when he is alone he hears clapping. The woman becomes visible again. They talk and she introduces herself as Cassandra. They strike a dear. She will help him escape and he won't tell the Watch she is here. To get him out of the cell she turns him into a spider and takes him out, webbing Fulda to the ceiling of her office. Upon getting close to the exit, Cassandra turns him back into Fargrim. Fargrim mentions his things and she helps him find them. Once he has them he takes off running through the streets of Brechlen until he reaches the Mage Guild.
After receiving Lily's reply, Karl is quick to send a message to Steve. "Fulda captured Fargrim and Lily. Lyra, Lila, Xeldarix and I are safe in Jarvis's tower. Are you safe? Galloway said Wellmore has left." Steve sends back a message "Five minutes. Stay out of trouble for five minutes please. I'm safe. I'll see if I can't get them back. You coming back soon?" Karl curses Steve as he is tempted to use the limited resources he has to send another message. Thankfully Sam beats him to the punch. "On behalf of Steve. When are you coming back? Can you get back now? I could really use some help here." Karl got the sense that both Sam and Steve really needed him. "Planning to teleport to circle in Edlin's house on second floor. Let me know when circle is secure and I will return with friends." He replies. Karl makes the hard choice that they need to transport Xeldarix before she is well or conscious due to the events going in Brechlen and make preparations to leave.
Lily arrives back at the Guild at 10:40am. She sends an animal messenger to Galloway before healing herself and waiting in the reception area.
When at the circle and ready, but waits to hear from Sam again. When he hears "On behalf of Steve. We found the circle. It's clear. We are waiting." from Sam, they complete the spell and step through to the teleportation circle in Wellmore's home. Sam and Steve are waiting, but are then astonished by the sight of Xeldarix who is hornless and has wings in tatters. After a small matter of proving Steve is the Steve they know. They take her to a nearby bed and after some debate they allow Steve to use Heal on her. It removes the diease and manages to heal a lot of the damage done. Xeldarix wakes up, confused and doesn't seem to remember a lot of what has happened in the last 24 hours. She trusts Lyra and Karl as they leave the house together. Karl reveals that the house was Wellmore's once they are out and Xeldarix keep a blank face on the matter. They head back to the mage guild and arrive at 11:00am where they meet up with Lily and Fargrim. Lily punches Karl in the face and hugs Xeldarix. They share what they had been through in the Druid area.
In the changing area with Lily, Xeldarix, Karl, Saryea and an apprentice there is tension between the group. Xeldarix tries on her new plate armour. Saryea does help Xeldarix into some of the armour but this starts a bit of conflict between the two. However before it could end in violence Karl and Lily stood up for Xeldarix and talked Saryea down. In the end, Saryea left and Karl went after his sister. Karl was able to reassure and help Saryea through some of things she was worried about with the group. Meanwhile, Fargrim and Clara had a calm chat while she measured him for armour.
After when everyone returns to the shop floor. This is where Fargrim said his goodbyes to the group and escorted Saryea to the Sailing Song of Neira temple. On the way to the temple Fargrim continues Karl’s work earlier with reassuring Saryea that things with the group weren’t what they seem or according to the rumours being spread. Once they reach the temple Fargrim speaks with High Paladin Salma.There he seeks advice about a few things causing him concern. After discussion they meditate for an hour.
Karl takes the group, minus Fargrim, to meet Razlomov at the Rusty Nail. The group leaves and Karl leads them to the Rusty Nail. A large Vos man that is very boisterous greets them. He makes a comment that Karl is very lucky to be escorted by so many lovely ladies and then shows everyone his wears. He has the usual and three magical items. Name: Mosquito's Belt of the Skulker Rare, belt Cost: 800 g A leather belt with a silver buckle that has delicate fine detail engraved into it. It has a small insect engraved into it. -The duration of negative conditions on you is reduced by 1 round. Clarification --This benefit has no effect on an actively maintained condition such as Grappled condition when you are being grappled by another creature or as a condition without a duration like the Petrified condition when gained from a medusa. This benefit cannot reduce a condition's duration below 1 round. -Once per day, you may grant yourself advantage on any Stealth skill check. Name: Bestial Breast Plate Armor Common, armour Cost: 500 gold A breast plate that has a lion and a bear fighting on it. When making a saving throw vs a beast creature you have advantage on the saving throw. Name: Dagger of the Seer Common, weapon, attunement required Cost 1500 gold A silver dagger that has beautiful Vos tribal engravings all down the handle. +1 dagger that while equipping this item, your Intelligence ability score cannot be reduced below 15. It doesn't increase your intelligence, just prevents the drop via magical or non magical means. Karl buys the Mosquito Belt of the Skulker.
When the larger group reaches the tower at 11am it becomes very clear Xeldarix cannot enter the tower at the moment. It reminds the group Xeldarix is still very unhappy about her stolen feathers. Steve comes up to see who is knocking on his wards. Karl suggests that Xeldarix practice forgiveness. This just annoys Xeldarix and Lyra volunteers to stay outside with her while Karl and Lily goes downstairs to talk with Steve. Lila stays in the reception area while Simone goes to do some drawing in the library.
Lily and Karl sit down to talk to Steve. They update Steve on their travels and their progress with quests so far. They request an audience with Sunnis. Before going down to see Sunnis they talk about their concerns with the Ghostly Trio known as Bad Luck, Wellmore, Xeldarix, the prophecies, Master Shyr, witches in the King’s court and Lily needing some components for new spells. When the pair are taken down to see Sunnis. There she reminds them of the path Anubis showed them and gives advice on where to take her children when they have been found. They also get some advice to help Xeldarix on her path. Afterwards they go back with Steve to his office. Karl goes to see Wellmore and Lily stays with Steve to get components.
At noon, Karl goes up to see Wellmore, with Lily’s bat familiar Xochitl. He is invited in for tea and biscuits, but doesn’t get to enjoy them much as the poison in the tea works it’s way through his system and the last thing he remembers is Wellmore grabbing his face to watch this process take hold and muse over how easy that was.
Meanwhile Lyra and Xeldarix have some quiet time before having a private conversation and plan shenanigans. However, just after noon Lyra notices some children nearby talking loudly and pointing at Xeldarix. Some question if she is the one, and if they should try and grab her. Lyra leads Xeldarix away, Xeldarix mentally letting Lily know they are leaving and where they are heading. Lyra gets a message to Lila via Xeldarix to trail those who follow them. As Xeldarix and Lyra move away Lyra double checks to see if they are being followed. However by the time she has checked she has lost Xeldarix. With Good’s keen senses he is able to track Xeldarix to an alleyway. A cloaked figure with a bird cage is walking to Xeldarix who has her wings up. She picks up the stranger and starts to take flight. Lyra calls out to Xeldarix, but there is no recognition or reaction from the immortal as she starts to fly away. Lyra attacks the cloaked figure with spells and arrows with the cloaked figure returning it’s own spell, but Xeldarix teleports away before the battle can be concluded. Lyra runs back to the mage guild, almost running into Lila. They go back together, Lyra making sure no one can take Lila as well. Lyra goes down to see Lily. Lily is panicked when she realises Xeldarix isn’t with Lyra. Lyra fills Lily in about the stranger. As Lily races upstairs and realises she should be able to connect with her familiar, with the intention of heading for Éla’s church, changes course to go to Wellmore’s office. After getting no reply at after knocking at the door Lily heads downstairs. Lyra follows the frantic and manic Lily. The receptionist had heard the commotion and met them halfway. Lily demands Steve and Lyra backs her up. The woman flees to go get Steve. Lily turns into an imp and then a spider, while Lila turns into a shadow to enter Wellmore’s office. Lila unlocks the door with Lily’s help. After that Lily turns into a raven to start flying in the direction she could feel Xeldarix was in. Northward, in the direction of Éla’s Suppression of Shadows.
Lyra, frustrated with the situation, talks to Steve when he comes up to see what is going on. Lyra fills him in on the fact that Xeldarix has been taken by an unknown party and Karl has disappeared. He explains that the receptionist said that Karl should be in Master Shyr’s office. He saw Wellmore out when she wasn’t feeling well before coming back up here. However, when Steve and Lyra check the office there is no sign of Karl. Good can tell Karl has not been in there recently. It is revealed through a conversation Wellmore left with a bird cage. Apparently something hit the window and Wellmore, someone rather familiar with birds, would be able to help. Lyra however thinks Karl was in the cage and Wellmore was the one who took her friends. Steve naturally is upset by the accusation and convinces Lyra to see Sam so they may message people across the city quickly rather than jumping to conclusions. Sam tries to send a message to Karl, but gets no answer. One is sent to Xeldarix instead and a reply does come back. It confirms she is with Wellmore and Karl at the abandoned church library, and that hurting Wellmore hurts Karl. Lyra sends out two more messages. One to Lily and one to Fargrim to fill him in on the situation.
Meanwhile, when Karl comes to with something large licking his face. He’s had everything but his underwear taken from him and a lovely bangle secured to his wrist. When he opens his eyes he notices he is 2 inches tall and the white bat, Xochitl whose name is not known to Karl, is now much bigger than him. They’re in the bird cage. Inside the cage, Karl has no access to his magic or any of his abilities. He pulls up the material that covers the cage to see Wellmore was walking towards Xeldarix. He tries to reach through the bars to fire a spell at Xeldarix but nothing happens. When they reach Xeldarix she takes flight with them as Lyra can be heard calling out to Xeldarix. A short battle takes place, Karl makes his discomfort with the situation known. He starts to take cold damage at the same time that the bangle on his wrist pulses. Then he feels two sharp objects pierce and hurt him despite nothing being there. Wellmore tells Xeldarix to take them somewhere else and then with a pop they teleport away. However, coming through the rift are spectors. Wellmore takes the material off the cage in the fight so Karl can watch Xeldarix defend Wellmore against 6 spectors in the abandoned and cleared out library unde the Avani temple. Every time the spectors hurt Wellmore, Karl took the damage while Wellmore healed. Through the battle it comes clear that Wellmore intends to use Xeldarix for components. At the end of the fight, Xeldarix seems to come to herself and is furious with Wellmore. Wellmore is quick to make the situation clear that she cannot be hurt without hurting Karl. She is told to drop everything and disrobe. Reluctantly she does as she is told. A bangle is given to her to put on and then drops to her knees, unable to stand and shrunk to be the same height as Karl. Wellmore picks up Xeldarix and goes to put her in the cage. Xochitl uses that moment to make an escape through the open door with Karl running across the cage to jump onto the bat’s back and they take flight! The young wizard riding a bat while in his boxers enrages Wellmore as she casts spells at them. Karl has very few spells in his arsonal without his focus or material, is able to counterspell many of her spells as they slowly fly towards the exit. However, Wellmore decides she’s had enough of these games and Dominates Karl with a spell, forcing him to let go of the bat. She feather falls him to the ground and puts him back in the cage. From there a teleportation circle is drawn on the floor. Wellmore takes her captives and their gear with her back to her private sanctum.
Fargrim arrives at the Mage Guild at 12:30 only to receive a Sending message from Lyra via Sam filling him in on the details and the fact she would pick him up from the temple. He replies and starts to head back to the temple. Lyra quickly catches up with him and they redirect to the abandoned library. Together they set off for the library.
In the meantime, Lily catches sight of Galloway. She gets his attention, nearly causing the crippled man to fall over, before flying off. During the flight had lost the pull of Xeldarix’s location mid flight. Thankfully a sending from Lyra via Sam reassured her of where Xeldarix last was in the temple of Avani. Near the temple she meets Xochitl and gets a rough idea of what happened. There she waits for the rest of the group, found nothing in her search while she waits but a lone feather from Xeldarix.
Lyra and Fargrim meet up with Lily at the temple with Steve, Lila and Simone tagging along for safety in numbers just after 1pm. Good is offered the lone feather to try and track Xeldarix and does so down to the library. Lily tries to scry on Xeldarix using a piece of paper she pulls from her backpack, but the mirror she uses turns black before going back to normal. Fargrim instead tries to use the spell locate creature on Karl, but he does not sense Karl within 1000 feet of him. Lily is determined to go to Éla’s to look for them and Fargrim goes with her. Lyra stays as she is not certain that is the case. Steve, Simone and Lila stay with Lyra.
Meanwhile, Wellmore steps out of her teleportation circle within her laboratory with her caged individuals. Wellmore puts the cage down and addresses Karl, making her expectations clear for his behaviour and his role during his stay with her. He is to behave, be given a comfortable place to sleep with access to food and water. Perhaps even a shirt. He will be expected to care for Xeldarix in between Wellmore’s session of extraction. Reluctantly, with not other choices available, he agrees to the terms and is moved to a new, larger cage. However, Xeldarix is not moved with him. Instead she is taken and returned to full size. She struggles, but Wellmore seems to have no trouble manhandling her into chains that hang from the ceiling. With threats made, Xeldarix is forced to keep her wings out, and Wellmore starts the process of extracting blood and feathers from her. All the while Wellmore and Karl talk. Karl is investigating his new cage while talking, and Wellmore is busy pulling feathers. Karl sees in a little reflective bit of metal that he looks like a small orange sparrow. They discuss Xeldarix’s changing nature, Elaran, Wellmore’s motives, Fulda and Morningsteel’s desire to have Xeldarix, bloodlines, and the realistic demands when you’re the size of a sparrow. When Wellmore is done taking things from Xeldarix, she makes the immortal tiny again and dumps her in the cage with Karl. Xeldarix does not move from where she lands, the blood loss taking its toll. When Wellmore leaves, Karl moves Xeldarix to the bed and makes her comfortable so she may get some rest. Wellmore returns with supplies for Karl, including clothes that belong to toys that would better fit his new size. Karl goes back to caring for Xeldarix and thinking as he takes in his new situation.
Lily and Fargrim set their sights on some detective work at Éla’s Suppression of Shadows to arrive just after 1:30pm. Lily casts Pass without Trace on her and Fargrim as they sneak through, heading for Fulda’s office. Fulda herself is by the alter, giving money to children and thanking them for bringing her something. Fulda watches them go into her office, so Lily and Fargrim jam the door with a chair and start to search the room. Lily finds a hidden door with Xochitl’s help. Upon closer inspection it does have a trap, but Lily disables it before they continue. The hidden door takes the pair down some stairs and down to a long hallway. There are five doors on the left and one at the end. They are reinforced doors with grates that allow people to see in. They all seem empty but the one at the end is ajar. Looking inside the end room, it is a much larger space. Small cages, five in total, with manacles on one of the walls. There is a circle carved into the floor with holes in certain points and thin silver swords locked in a case on the wall. Lily, from her research, can tell the circle is designed to get the most out of blood theft committed on someone. This enrages Lily and she tries to damage it, but Fulda makes her appearance, stopping any real damage. From a discussion it becomes obvious Fulda does not have Xeldarix, but does want her. Lily is willing to work with Fulda but Fulda wants a conversation before they work together. She demands they drop their gear so they can talk about things. Seven priests back Fulda up and Lily uses the spell Dimension Door to take her and Fargrim to an outside alleyway. Unfortunately, three cloakers come out and attack them. The fight is long and hard. Lily and Fargrim use the majority of their spellcasting ability to try and keep themselves up. Their day is made worse when Fulda and her priests finally make it out of the church and this sends the duo running. A chase across the city as they head for the mage guild. While running through middletown Fulda and her people seem to be in their element of ducking and weaving through the crowd. However in the Longrove the pair pull ahead again as the collectors of fruit and vegetables briefly block the priests. Their lead continues to grow in Northgate as Fulda is knocked over by a cart but they manage to get sight of the pair again in Storm gate. Just as Lily and Fargrim cross the threshold into the mage tower, Fulda and her people stop in the square. The pair are safe within the mage guild, for now.
Back in the land of the small, Karl sits beside Xeldarix as she shivers in her sleep. He takes in the cage and all of the bird toys inside. A bell catches his attention. Upon closer investigation he finds it has copper wire holding the ringer in place. Karl tries to do magic again and while it does not work, a rune appears on the lock. Looking at it, Karl was able to piece together which one was preventing him from doing magic. An idea starts to form. The ringer could be used to scratch and damage the rune disabling his magic. He takes the time to practice putting it on and off quickly. The click and clack of Wellmore’s heels can be heard approaching as he returns the ringer in place one last time. Karl hurries back to Xeldarix’s side. Wellmore has brought food for Karl. While she cleans her equipment she talks with Karl. She reveals that she was spying on Steve and has been since the group last left Brechlen. She reminds Karl to look after Xeldarix while she goes to do some real work. Karl looks over Xeldarix and notices how high her temperature has become and wet the rags left in the cage to use as cold compresses. He leaves her to sleep as he detaches the ringer again and then starts to scratch at the rune on the lock in hopes of disabling the anti magic rune.
Lyra continues to try and investigate the abandoned church. She considers the fact they may have gone out the sewer exit, but it doesn’t seem to be the case. Good can’t smell any sign of the beyond the library. Lyra is growing distressed and desperate. Simone tries to assure Lyra and offers to do a reading. Lyra agrees and asks: "How can I protect my friends if I can't find them?" Simone replies: “In your search for those taken you had made mistakes but you are strong enough to overcome them. Fear is your enemy here. The fear of missing something has led you to overlook the facts you have. Who do you know was involved? Those you seek need you, but at the same time those who search have followed a false trail that will lead to them ending up in a similar situation to those you seek. Now you must choose who to save.” As Lyra muses out loud, she mentions the cage which gets Simone’s attention and she reveals a picture she had drawn. The page lyra is shown is a picture of Karl looking into a mirror that is hanging from beads above it. In the mirror looking back is a bird in the same pose as Karl. Lyra asks Lila about what she had seen when she was following Lyra and Xeldarix who were being followed. She reveals someone had paid them to be seen talking about Xeldarix. Through a discussion it comes back to Wellmore. Lyra convinces Steve to take her there with the idea that Wellmore is either responsible or in danger. Reluctantly, he agrees with the idea that he will get a chance to talk to Wellmore rather than have her falsely accused of the kidnapping. At 2:30pm Lyra arrives at Wellmore’s house with Steve, Simone and Lila. Simone has her hood up so she can’t be seen. Lila and Lyra go round the side while Steve knocks on the door.Lila and Lyra go round and investigate the house. Several rooms are searched. She finds a small brown sparrow in a cage with a broken wing in the kitchen. It does not seem to be Karl. Steve convinces Wellmore to leave to help him look for Karl and Xeldarix. Lyra finds a cellar and Lila unlocks it. They pass through a wall of shadow and enter into the hallway that leads to the laboratory. Lila stays by the door on watch with the instruction to whistle if she needs to warn Lyra.
After an hour of hard labour scratching the rune on the lock Karl can feel his bloodline powers coming back up. He raises the copper wire to his mouth and casts whisper to Xeldarix. It works and he receives some talking sleep back that shows Xeldarix is not in a good place. With this given back to him, he messages Fargrim. “Wellmore kidnapped me and Xeldarix. Very bad. In her house, in Brechlen. Scry-proof room. Shrunk, in cage, no magic. Be careful, she’s frighteningly prepared.” Before reattaching the bell and tending to Xeldarix. He notices the area near her horns connecting to her skin is raised and the skin looks angry like it's infected. A gentle tug on the horns results in a very distressed, upset and ill Xeldarix struggling and screaming with him. Her words feverish and not connected with the situation. Karl stops and tries to comfort her while tending to her. She falls back into uneasy sleep. Karl examines their bangles and sees they are different. His connects his health to Wellmore while Xeldarix’s affects her strength and coordination. Both of them have shrinking magic on them and permanency attached to them.
Back at the mage guild it is nearly 3pm. Lily and Fargrim look at one another, puffing. They inquire about Steve and Wellmore, but they have not returned to the tower. They end up resorting to see Sam. However, as Fargrim reaches Sam’s door, he receives Karl’s sending message. He replies with “Thanks, will inform the team, stay strong. Stay safe." and gets Lily to come away from Sam’s office to inform her of the message. They discuss the fact that they need to get Lyra and get the others back to the mage guild in order to make a plan. Fargrim wants to try diplomacy and while Lily agrees she is ready to fight this out. They return to Sam’s office. Lily negotiates a sending message to Lyra in exchange of the promise of Lily going for a drink with Sam.
Lyra looks into the room and sees a laboratory with a medical set up. There are chains hanging from the roof with manacles. There is a small bird cage with a small orange sparrow in it on the far side of the room. As Lyra moves further into the room she can see Karl's glass staff on the wall on display. As she comes further into the room she can see the orange sparrow is next to another black sparrow that is lying on its side on what looks to be a bed. The orange bird is chirping wildly and is jumping, flapping it's wings by the door. The black one doesn’t move. Lyra’s natural ability with animals doesn’t seem to work with the distressed bird. The orange bird hops over to a small bell and seems to shake the bell violently for a few moments. It then turns toward Lyra with a bit of wire on its wings and she hears Karl’s voice in her head “It’s an illusion, I’m the orange bird. Think you can get us out of the cage?” Lyra grabs some nearby gloves and uses Ray of Frost on the lock. The frost starts to cover half the cage. You can hear the crack of the metal as parts of the lock fractures under the force of the spell. After checking the gloves for spiders, she puts them on and pulls the door off, the illusion dropping and revealing Karl and Xeldarix. They are both 2 inches tall. Xeldarix is laying on a bed, slightly curled up shivering from time to time. She made a small noise at the loudness around her but didn't wake. Karl is so happy to see Lyra. Xeldarix is in her undies with most of her feathers missing from her wings that are out and Karl looks like he is wearing clothes made for toys. Lyra carefully removes both Xeldarix and Karl from the cage and takes Karl over to where his and Xeldarix’s bags are hidden in a locked cupboard. Working together, the pair freeze the cupboard door and break it to reveal the two bags. Karl is quick to ask for his wand and to have it back. They dress Xeldarix in the toys clothes instead while Karl is put on the floor with his wand. Lyra reveals Steve is with Wellmore right now and Karl tells her she has Xeldarix’s blood and feathers. In the next moment Lila comes running, whistling and swearing as something large and shadowy chases her into the room. He dispels the bangle with the wand and is returned to his normal size, grabbing the bangle and storing it while getting his knotted iron cross and circlet he turns to face the shadow. Lyra puts Xeldarix in the cupboard and draws her swords. Exchanging a few blows, Karl banishes the creature. They quickly get their things, put Xeldarix in a pocket and try to leave but the door had disappeared. Karl sends a message to Steve. “Wellmore betrayed us. Poisoned me, kidnapped and tortured Xeldarix. Spied on you and Sunnis. Lyra found us, we are trapped in Wellmore's sanctum right now.” The reply he gets back is "Also trapped. She has me in a mirror. Tomorrow can plane shift. Will try to get out. She's coming back. Don't worry about me.” This starts Lyra worrying about Simone who was with Steve at the time. At this point Lyra gets a message from Lily via Sam. "Sam on Lily's behalf. Bring everyone back to the mage tower, but watch out for Fulda's goons."
Sam tells Lily that Lyra said "Wellmore kidnapped Karl. Trapped in her home sanctum. She has Steve in a mirror and feathers and blood from our friend." Sam reacts badly and starts trying to prepare himself to do something, but is called out for having no plan. In the end he decides Galloway needs to know crimes have been committed. Lily suggests that Galloway meet them here and Sam seems to agree. Fargrim goes downstairs to wait while reading a book and Lily goes to the druid area to meditate.
Karl and Lyra meanwhile discuss how they will make their stand in the room. They dispel Xeldarix’s bangle to consult her, but the toy clothes are destroyed when this happens and she is made large. Karl wakes her and explains the situation. Xeldarix is not in good shape but she does say she could plane shift them. Lyra grabs a healer's kits nearby. Xeldarix claws through the fabric of space and they are sucked into another plane. Only Lyra can see when they are in their new plane. They’re in a cavern and Xeldarix has lost consciousness. The stench of burning flesh and burnt hair fills their noses, the area is uncomfortably warm. The cavern has two exits and Lyra decides she needs more eyes on the situation, casting Darkvision on Karl, allowing him to see. They move Xeldarix over to the nearby wall, Lila clinging to Lyra. Lyra comforts Lila with a hug the best she can while Karl ritually makes his dome. The dome makes things slightly better. Lila can see what’s in the dome and it’s cooler in there. Karl tries to make Xeldarix comfortable and talks with Lyra, thanking her for finding and rescuing them. Lyra patches Xeldarix up the best she can, taking note of the signs of trauma. Karl explains that he thinks Xeldarix’s horns might need to be removed as her body is rejecting them. It would have to wait until they were in a safer space with more healing supplies. Karl gives Xeldarix a healing potion which wakes her up. She complains of headaches, feeling unwell and cold. Karl gets her cloak for a blanket while his is her pillow. Lyra makes Xeldarix have some water for her fever, then Xeldarix goes back to sleep with Lila curled up together. Karl is quick to follow, worn out after a hectic day. Lyra stays up on watch.
At 3:30pm Galloway arrives and summons Fargrim and Lily to talk to him. Sam has been dramatically explaining his part in the day's events by playing messenger, Karl and Xeldarix being captured with Steve by Wellmore. Lily and Fargrim fill Galloway in the best they can about Steve, Karl and Xeldarix. Simone’s location at this stage is unknown. Galloway wants to do a raid on the Wellmore property but Fargrim and Lily convince him to delay until morning. He reluctantly agrees. Galloway leaves with promises of returning in the morning. Fargrim is asked by Galloway to keep an eye on Lily to ensure they do not get into trouble. Fargrim and Lily discuss the situation a bit, including prophecies as they try and figure out Wellmore’s motive for her actions and taking everyone. They decide to investigate Wellmore’s office. In the office Fargrim disturbs what he believed to be a stuffed bird but was actually a live eagle that took flight. Fargrim managed to get hold of it before it can escape out the window. The pair calm it before Lily kills it, confirming it was a familiar. Continuing to look around they found many components Wellmore had on display. Afterwards Lily finds runes cut into the underneath of the table. The desk has conjuration and abjuration. The door has Abjuration and Transmutation. The window has Abjuration. Under the couch was an old feather of Xeldarix's from a few weeks ago. They go downstairs to speak to the receptionist. They talk about Wellmore a little, but don't find out much. They have dinner with the druids and get some rest.
During Lyra’s watch while the others sleep. She observes a little too late what might have been a lava snake come through and continue out of the room. However, seven hours later a swarm of bats come through. Lyra wakes Karl and thankfully nothing happens as a result. Lila is terrified. Karl starts to fill Lyra in on more of the details of what happened to him. Lyra confirms the parts where she likely attacked Wellmore that nearly killed Karl. He explains his escape attempt. Lyra explains what she was up to trying to find them. Lyra shares that Lily and Fargrim went to Fulda which alarmed Karl. Karl needs to recast the dome and Lyra gives him more Darkvision. Karl discusses his concerns with Xeldarix’s new change and how it’s making her sick. He explains that some wizards see outer planar beings as things and components, and this is where Wellmore is. Lyra helps Lila escape Xeldarix's clutches before going into a trance. Meanwhile Lila and Karl have a discussion while on watch. After some time had passed Xeldarix finally woke up. She seemed very unwell, but does get dressed and ready to take them back. Karl gives her the sigils for Jarvis' tower mentally. However, upon arriving at Jarvis' tower Xeldarix's condition worsens. Jarvis greets them and assists them the best he can. Karl sends a message to Lily. “Safe at Jarvis’s tower with Lyra, Lila and Xeldarix. Recovering. Find Steve, be careful of Wellmore, she is dangerous and can’t be trusted.” 2nd of Haelynir 1524 Upon waking the next morning Fargrim helps Sam put Steve's daughters to bed before going up for a nap himself. Fargrim makes breakfast for everyone before going to try and talk to an angsty teenager about his dad being missing. Steve's son becomes the God of the Tower. Lily wakes up to a letter from Sam. Apologising for his behaviour and giving Lily and orchid. She goes and helps a little here with breakfast. Then she feels the pain Xeldarix goes through. She's able to overcome it, but is very distracted by it. Not long after this Lily gets a message from Karl. She replies "What just happened to Xeldarix?? It hurt so much? And Simone?! What the fuck did you do?!" At 8am Galloway comes with concerns about Simone still being missing. Steve returned to explain how Wellmore captured him, what happened and that Simone wasn't with him. Fargrim and Lily volunteer to go back to the inn to see if Simone went there. As Lily and Fargrim leave Karl sends another message. "Wellmore stripped Xeldarix's feathers and drained her blood. Lyra helped us escape. Planeshifted away, back today. We'll get back to Brechlen." Lily simply replies with "You better be wearing plate mail when I see you." As Fargrim and Lily make their way to the Broken Wand. Lily noticed that they were being followed by some of Éla’s Suppression of Shadows Priests. Fargrim notices he is not doing very well with being quiet so goes off to provide as a distraction. Which works. Lily heads off to the inn. Unfortunately for Fargrim the priests prove to be too much for him to handle alone. He's knocked out.
At 8:30 am Lily makes it to the Broken Wand where Ealded complains about the earful she has coped from the Dire Wolf that is protecting Simone in their sleeping area. Lily collects Simone and takes her back to the mage guild. However, just before reaching it she is overcome by an extreme pain and blacks out. More priests jump them. Good tries to fight them off but in the end has to flee with Simone to the safety of the guild.
Karl does what he can to comfort and care for Xeldarix. She's no longer coherent and her condition is deteriorating. However, Lyra confirms she is not getting better. In the end they ask for Jarvis' help to remove the horns. Xeldarix resists, but in the end Karl pulls them both off. This causes Xeldarix to pass out. The corruption and illness no longer contained is able to come free. However, her condition does not improve but it does not get better. Afterwards Karl sends a message to Galloway. "Edlin Wellmore is dangerous, kidnapped me. I escaped, safe outside of Brechlen. If possible apprehend her with help from guild. Is Simone safe?" Galloway replies with "Simone safe. Scared. Someone took Lily. Maybe Fargrim. Wellmore place secured. No sight of her. We will have words about this later." Karl spoke with Lyra about this. In the end they sent a message to Lily. "Xeldarix is resting and recovering. When she is well enough I can teleport us to Wellmore's house. Galloway assured me it is safe. Stay safe."
At 10 am Lily and Fargrim wake up under the temple of Éla’s Suppression of Shadows. They find themselves tied to chairs with their stuff gone. They are in white acolyte Monastic Server Albs. Lily gets a sending message from Karl and replies with "Fulda has me and Fargrim. May be able to escape without Fargrim if magic is possible. Hopefully Simone and Good are safe." Hearing approaching footsteps Lily apologises to Fargrim before using Dimension Door to leave. On the other side she appears in the alley that is near the church with two Wrights. However, the sunlight sends them running. Lily changes into an imp before becoming a raven to fly back to the guild.
Fargrim stares as Lily leaves him and in her place is a very beautiful Drow woman in a white spider web dress. She smiles at him before placing a finger to her lips and vanishing from view. Fulda enters the room and is very disappointed to see Lily gone. She talks with Fargrim as unseen hands play with his hair. Fulda claims she will release Fargrim once she has her bloodline back. She is even willing to revive the devil or allow Fargrim to do so if he can get her here and willing for the ceremony. Fargrim agrees to some of it, suggesting a communication stone go to Galloway for the negotiation. Fulda has him taken to a cell and when he is alone he hears clapping. The woman becomes visible again. They talk and she introduces herself as Cassandra. They strike a dear. She will help him escape and he won't tell the Watch she is here. To get him out of the cell she turns him into a spider and takes him out, webbing Fulda to the ceiling of her office. Upon getting close to the exit, Cassandra turns him back into Fargrim. Fargrim mentions his things and she helps him find them. Once he has them he takes off running through the streets of Brechlen until he reaches the Mage Guild.
After receiving Lily's reply, Karl is quick to send a message to Steve. "Fulda captured Fargrim and Lily. Lyra, Lila, Xeldarix and I are safe in Jarvis's tower. Are you safe? Galloway said Wellmore has left." Steve sends back a message "Five minutes. Stay out of trouble for five minutes please. I'm safe. I'll see if I can't get them back. You coming back soon?" Karl curses Steve as he is tempted to use the limited resources he has to send another message. Thankfully Sam beats him to the punch. "On behalf of Steve. When are you coming back? Can you get back now? I could really use some help here." Karl got the sense that both Sam and Steve really needed him. "Planning to teleport to circle in Edlin's house on second floor. Let me know when circle is secure and I will return with friends." He replies. Karl makes the hard choice that they need to transport Xeldarix before she is well or conscious due to the events going in Brechlen and make preparations to leave.
Lily arrives back at the Guild at 10:40am. She sends an animal messenger to Galloway before healing herself and waiting in the reception area.
When at the circle and ready, but waits to hear from Sam again. When he hears "On behalf of Steve. We found the circle. It's clear. We are waiting." from Sam, they complete the spell and step through to the teleportation circle in Wellmore's home. Sam and Steve are waiting, but are then astonished by the sight of Xeldarix who is hornless and has wings in tatters. After a small matter of proving Steve is the Steve they know. They take her to a nearby bed and after some debate they allow Steve to use Heal on her. It removes the diease and manages to heal a lot of the damage done. Xeldarix wakes up, confused and doesn't seem to remember a lot of what has happened in the last 24 hours. She trusts Lyra and Karl as they leave the house together. Karl reveals that the house was Wellmore's once they are out and Xeldarix keep a blank face on the matter. They head back to the mage guild and arrive at 11:00am where they meet up with Lily and Fargrim. Lily punches Karl in the face and hugs Xeldarix. They share what they had been through in the Druid area.
Rewards Granted
They lived!
Missions/Quests Completed
Itsy Bitsy Spider - Taken to do something about Cassandra
Created Content
- Cassandra
- Gehenna Plane
- Wellmore residence
Notes
| Name | XP | Running Total | Level at the end of Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargrim | 3,800 | 60,110 | 9 |
| Karl | 3,800 | 60,110 | 9 |
| Lily | 3,800 | 60,110 | 9 |
| Lyra | 4,800 | 53,270 | 9 |
| Simone | 3,800 | 36,400 | 8 |
Karl Moller
Level 7
Human (Brecht)
Neutral Good Wizard
(Sage)
(Sage)
46 / 46 HP
Lyra Ulvendatter
Level 8
Elf
Chaotic Neutral Ranger
(Outlander)
(Outlander)
/ 53 HP
Lily Wulfsdotter
Level 7
Rjuven Half Elf
CN Druid
(Urchin)
(Urchin)
72 / 72 HP
Fargrim Hammerland
Level 8
Dwarf
Lawful Good Cleric
(Soldier)
(Soldier)
59 / 64 HP
Report Date
11 Apr 2021
Primary Location
Secondary Location
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