Session 102
General Summary
Onward to Cahareth... or the Studio at Least
After depositing Aerope, Idalia, and Zephus at the Temple, the Deep End went back out into the city, heading towards Cahareth's Broadcasting studio. On the way, Moira noted a little tuft of hair moving through one of the sand lanes of the South Ward. After tugging on it, a familiar sand seal – Rolling Dune – emerged. He motioned with his body and began to move towards the Blue Sandstone Lounge. Once there, he sunk back into the sand and waited. Newt goes to pick the lock and find that the sheer intent to pick the lock was sufficient for this establishment. Inside, the Blue Sandstone Lounge has been trashed – tables broken, the bar smashed, and upholstery torn. Calling out, a young girl – Kleo – emerges. While she hasn't seen Tatya in a few days, she knows that the "new girl" in Tatya's life was a fellow TA named Tsolmona. She works for the new blond professor? Kleo then moved towards the Temple with Rolling Dune, reunited.
The Southern Market Square was much the same as it usually was... though why is there the sound of clocks on the wind? Did the artists here always use so much black and violet paint in their works? Was that pattern in the sand a six-pronged jagged star? Odd. Cahareth's broadcasting studio was much the same as it was previously: adorned with metallic pipes and red tapestries waving gently in the now cold breeze. Everyone got a very odd, unsettled feeling when the door opened without being locked or trapped. Inside, the front office was empty, though a buzzing sound could be heard from upstairs. Was the equipment on?
Entering into the red-light studio, the party found Cahareth... and then Ghilani quickly clarified that he wasn't real, merely an illusion. Cahareth stated that he obviously wouldn't be here. Want to tell us where you are? Absolutely not. Cahareth believes that he is the only source of entertainment that the continent needs. The Deep End scoffs. Rani departed as Ghilani damaged some machinery and Moira and Newt poked around... though the technology seemed to be a bit hard to understand the immediate moment. Denarya approached Cahareth and after a moment, tilted her head and then left. Regrouping downstairs, Denarya explained that she heard it... faintly. There are ticking clocks around her son's head. Please, when the time comes to confront Cahareth, don't kill him. This isn't him. Not completely at least.
The Deep End returned to the Temple. Newt persuaded some ghosts to let him get ghosty with it again. Rani taught a dispersal class to her swarm. Moira obscured herself in the moonlight and channeled her inner Calibird, feeling her twilight sanctuary return. Some information was also aquired:
After their rest and conversation and picking up Lollith, the Deep End moved towards the Palace... and found the gate to the Public Official's office open. Lexington did a sweep, triggering something over the Palace. Lollith, impatient, moved to the office building. With the knowledge of the right steps, the Deep End opened a secret entrance leading down... and into the Palace.
With Cahareth's announcements now bouncing off the halls of the Palace, the Deep End initially attempted to blockade off the guards at the library entrance, but ultimately decided to confront them in th second story hallway. Hiding away in the room, Newt begrudingly took an action to hide while Ezra and Lollith used bonus actions. Ghilani fireballed everyone and set the floor and carpet on fire. Moira was hit with Feeblemind, bringing her intelligence beneath that of a rat. Still, however, she trudges onward with shiny knife in hand. After a few rounds of combat exchanged, the Deep End takes down the guards and masked figures.
Moira doesn't take kindly to anyone attempting to touch her BOI, but Rani convinces her. Placing the Witer Titan band on Calibird, Rani activates Caliban's ability. As the sensation of moonlight settled over them, Moira felt her mind clear... as Calibird imploded along with the Water band. However, before the small Void pocket could take her bird friend, Moira's buddy and pal pulled the starry pieces of Calibird towards Moira. He will keep the bird safe. Moira thanks him and declares that "they will get his gal back".
Back downstairs, The Deep End briefly spoke with First Advisor Ignatia. Though, when asked about the Lady of Dread, something triggered and Ignatia immediately went unconscious. The rest of the offices were filled with the dead bodies of genasi. Upon closer inspection, they seemed to have taken poison... willingly? There are no signs of struggle or any other wounds. In the air genasi office, however, one of the figures was faintly breathing, exhausted. Rani concluded that this must be Zephus' mom. What do we do? We can't just leave her here. Declan offered to place them in the pool of water upstairs that Ghilani found. They can rest and perhaps heal there. The group takes the time to move both figures there, despite the threat of Cahareth's gaze.
Moving down the halls, the Deep End takes note of locked and barred doors... leading to a kitchen? Is Cahareth trying to keep us out? Or are the servants trying to keep the bad people out? Entering the entrance hall, Ghilani took note of arcane sigils on some of the statues. They corresponded to a modified scrying spell. Is that how Cahareth is being so annoying? Ghilani defaced a bunch of statues to shut him up. After some discussion of what to do, the Deep End decides to head to Cahareth. He seems to be the type of person to put on a performance.
And what better place than the Throne Room?
The Southern Market Square was much the same as it usually was... though why is there the sound of clocks on the wind? Did the artists here always use so much black and violet paint in their works? Was that pattern in the sand a six-pronged jagged star? Odd. Cahareth's broadcasting studio was much the same as it was previously: adorned with metallic pipes and red tapestries waving gently in the now cold breeze. Everyone got a very odd, unsettled feeling when the door opened without being locked or trapped. Inside, the front office was empty, though a buzzing sound could be heard from upstairs. Was the equipment on?
Entering into the red-light studio, the party found Cahareth... and then Ghilani quickly clarified that he wasn't real, merely an illusion. Cahareth stated that he obviously wouldn't be here. Want to tell us where you are? Absolutely not. Cahareth believes that he is the only source of entertainment that the continent needs. The Deep End scoffs. Rani departed as Ghilani damaged some machinery and Moira and Newt poked around... though the technology seemed to be a bit hard to understand the immediate moment. Denarya approached Cahareth and after a moment, tilted her head and then left. Regrouping downstairs, Denarya explained that she heard it... faintly. There are ticking clocks around her son's head. Please, when the time comes to confront Cahareth, don't kill him. This isn't him. Not completely at least.
The Deep End returned to the Temple. Newt persuaded some ghosts to let him get ghosty with it again. Rani taught a dispersal class to her swarm. Moira obscured herself in the moonlight and channeled her inner Calibird, feeling her twilight sanctuary return. Some information was also aquired:
- Darwish – One of Tatya's friends. He's worried about Khalfani, who might know a way into the Palace.
- Krisha – A member of the earth genasi royal family and a tattooist. She has a terrible gut feeling about Phaedra, but she's not certain if that means Phaedra's in trouble... or she's the cause.
- Cyrus Lark – He may not see eye-to-eye with his mother, but please... make sure she's alright. He knows there's an entrance through the Public Official's Office, but he's not gone in so long he doesn't remember how to access it.
- Idalia – While loathe to believe that Ignatia is behind this, she also suspects she may be consorting with outside forces.
- Aerope – She was able to teach The Deep End the steps of a dance to access the entrance through the Public Official's office into the library.
After their rest and conversation and picking up Lollith, the Deep End moved towards the Palace... and found the gate to the Public Official's office open. Lexington did a sweep, triggering something over the Palace. Lollith, impatient, moved to the office building. With the knowledge of the right steps, the Deep End opened a secret entrance leading down... and into the Palace.
Better Late Than Never
Entering into the library, the Deep End heard noise through one of the doors leading deeper into the Palace. Rani sent her arcane eye through the keyhole to be on the safe side. Good choice! On the other side of the door, Rani noted 10 guards positioned near a series of closed doors. Moving her eye down the hall, she took note of a dining room off to the side... with a macabre display. A set of bodies were arranged around the dinner table. Upon initial glance, they appeared to be a mixture of races, though a few were genasi. There was a ticking clock set up in the middle of the table. Red thread had been tied to the necks and wrists, pulled taunt to keep the bodies positioned as desired.Multiple glasses have been arranged around one body. The arms have been suspended by red thread so the hands are over the glasses. There are evidence of wounds long dried... as if blood once dripped into the glass. The bowl has been filled with coagulated, dried blood. The figure is somewhat androgynous with long dark hair partially braided and golden markings painted on the face. The fluid in the glass... it's paint?
A lithe, male genasi figure has been covered with flowers, primarily in red and pink (many of them roses). Their tunic has been slashed and ripped open. Whoever did it, clearly did so without care as there are knicks and scratches upon the figure's chest. Their arms are spread wide, suspended by the threads. A knife has been plunged through the figure's heart, dried blood cascading downward.
A small figure has been covered by an old tablecloth. The fabric is far from the finery ost of the residents of the Palace would wear. Still, it has been fashioned to vaguely resemble robes. A beaded necklace and an old key have been crudely strung up around the figure's neck amidst the red thread. The hands are clasped and bound by thread in a position of prayer. Blood pools around the figure's cheeks... a remnant of when her eyes were gouged out.
Patterned green drapes have been wrapped around a larger, broader female figure. They are arranged in such a way to suggest elegant robes, though it is merely a suggestion of elegance. Green paint has been crudely applied to the figure's hands and face. The red threads suspend the hands in a meditative position with the face tilted slightly upward. Blood drips down the face, mixing with the green paint. Someone has crudely carved a moon and stars into the forehead.
One figure has hunched over, face in the bowl in front of him. Yet, although his face is not visible, the jacket is... unmistakable. The pattern and the wear and tear. Tatya's jacket. But... the hair isn't quite right. It's been too recently cut; too nicely styled. The skin tone of the hands is just a bit off. This cannot be him, yet the jacket is his... and its soaked in blood.Rani moves the arcane eye back towards the individual rooms. While most of the rooms contained a handful of bodies slumped over in their chairs, one room contains a single individual: an older fire genasi woman. Meanwhile, Newt opened a door upstairs... and decided not to enter the theater space. Moira, however, had no such reservations. Upon entering, a glyph in the room activated, triggering an illusory image of Cahareth to appear in the theater room. Now you have a chance to ask the interviewer some questions! Where are you? No.
With Cahareth's announcements now bouncing off the halls of the Palace, the Deep End initially attempted to blockade off the guards at the library entrance, but ultimately decided to confront them in th second story hallway. Hiding away in the room, Newt begrudingly took an action to hide while Ezra and Lollith used bonus actions. Ghilani fireballed everyone and set the floor and carpet on fire. Moira was hit with Feeblemind, bringing her intelligence beneath that of a rat. Still, however, she trudges onward with shiny knife in hand. After a few rounds of combat exchanged, the Deep End takes down the guards and masked figures.
Moira doesn't take kindly to anyone attempting to touch her BOI, but Rani convinces her. Placing the Witer Titan band on Calibird, Rani activates Caliban's ability. As the sensation of moonlight settled over them, Moira felt her mind clear... as Calibird imploded along with the Water band. However, before the small Void pocket could take her bird friend, Moira's buddy and pal pulled the starry pieces of Calibird towards Moira. He will keep the bird safe. Moira thanks him and declares that "they will get his gal back".
Back downstairs, The Deep End briefly spoke with First Advisor Ignatia. Though, when asked about the Lady of Dread, something triggered and Ignatia immediately went unconscious. The rest of the offices were filled with the dead bodies of genasi. Upon closer inspection, they seemed to have taken poison... willingly? There are no signs of struggle or any other wounds. In the air genasi office, however, one of the figures was faintly breathing, exhausted. Rani concluded that this must be Zephus' mom. What do we do? We can't just leave her here. Declan offered to place them in the pool of water upstairs that Ghilani found. They can rest and perhaps heal there. The group takes the time to move both figures there, despite the threat of Cahareth's gaze.
Moving down the halls, the Deep End takes note of locked and barred doors... leading to a kitchen? Is Cahareth trying to keep us out? Or are the servants trying to keep the bad people out? Entering the entrance hall, Ghilani took note of arcane sigils on some of the statues. They corresponded to a modified scrying spell. Is that how Cahareth is being so annoying? Ghilani defaced a bunch of statues to shut him up. After some discussion of what to do, the Deep End decides to head to Cahareth. He seems to be the type of person to put on a performance.
And what better place than the Throne Room?
Report Date
17 Nov 2023
Primary Location
Secondary Location
Playing Soldier
A set of children appear to be making play at being soldiers, wielding wooden swords and battling one another. Though, it seems unfair: 4 vs. 1. As the group of four push the girl down, they pretend to stab downward, swords embedded in the sand. It is simply play–
Die Queen Zephyra! Traitor! Traitor! Betrayer!Just... completely normal play.
Studying Student
A teenager dressed in decently fine garb is hunched over on a bench. The sound of them muttering under their breath can be heard, words not quite intelligible as they scribble on a pad of paper. When approached, you begin to make out words.
Not enough. Not enough. Never enough. No more time. No more time. Tick, Tock. Tick Tock. Oh. I'm not enough..."
They look up, eyes black, a single black tear rolling down their face.
You're not enough.
And they continue as if you were never there.
A Monologue
Perched on a small stage in the streets of LIMA, a student appears to have gathered a small crowd, though it's easy to hear even from a distance given how well they project. While their eyes don't appear to be black, their veins appear to be slightly darker and the black mirage seems to dip and twist around them.
There were once five desert rats. One courted pleasure and sought to break rules. Never enough, never enough. One chased bounties and death he pursued. Never enough, never enough. One dabbled with blood and flowers he killed. Never enough, never enough. One tried to weave fate and was never decisive. Never enough, never enough. One chose materials, items, trinkets. Doomed their family. Doomed their friends. Never enough, never enough. Soon there will be no desert rats.
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