Session 39: Keeper of Forbidden Knowledge

General Summary

The Holy Regulators

31st of Wintercrest 22nd year of the Second Era Ethed entered Jarl Rupert Wasser's dining room, he asked her identify herself and purpose for being there. She gave him her name and said her first purpose was to meet the The Regulators to give them something. She gave them a Leviathan skull that was sealed shut with metal. Malcolm used the Magnifying Glass of Identify on it and determined that it was magically sealed shut. Alexandra Nordheim touched the skull and determined it was the son of Klizmir the Undying. Malcolm assumed it would help them when they go to look for Klizmir's tomb.
The Jarl asked her second purpose in being there. Ethed explained that she wasn't sure, but the Fyra said she should arrive here to speak with him for reason. She explained her "knight apparent" title was something she made up to explain her unique situation. She knew she was destined to be a knight, but that she was the first of her order ( the Hellige Riddere ) to exist in thousands of years. To everyone's surprise, Alexandra revealed her identity to Ethed and convinced the Jarl to knight her; it would be the beginning of the new Palhas Province army.
The Jarl had Ethed swear an oath to the Fyra, The Regulators, and Palhas itself, as the first of a new knightly order:The Holy Regulators and told her she could use Fort Anexa as a headquarters as she discreetly increases their ranks.

Keeper of Forbidden Knowledge

Returning to Serenity Malcolm ordered the ship back to the Palhas City spire to pick up the shipment going to Boheim. Malcolm worked on his plans for his new rifle and went to sleep. Zuko wandered the city and discovered a bakery: Irresistible Indulgence and it's proprietor Rosili Seiden. He engaged in small talk with the owner while enjoying a fresh oversized bear claw, which he purchased extras to go for the crew. She also threw in a unsweetened bacon donut for Wulffric which Zuko used to bond with him later.
Meanwhile Meara and Ethed discussed their personal relationship. Ethed admitted that after seeing her for a second time, she could help but hope for something romantic between them, and Meara agreed. Ethed then wondered if he being sworn to Meara's service as a knight would change their sexual dynamic, to which Meara said she didn't see why it should.
When all of them had fallen asleep, Zuko was the first to wake and realize they had been teleported somewhere. They were buried in snow near the peak of a mountain, possibly on the other side of the world since it was now noon based on the sun's position. They spotted a structure not far above them on the mountain and made their way towards it. The metallic double doors were embossed with a representation of the cosmology of Firnormond. Base on the divine realms missing from the representation, Zuko estimated the structure was at least 2139 years old, predating human civilization.
They forced their way in and found an emptied library on the first floor, with the symbol of Udal engraved on the floor. Sneaking upstairs they found themselves in a large circular room with a giant lens for a ceiling. The room was filled with thousands of stone seats facing the center of the room. There, an aged man with so many books strapped to his person Zuko mistook him for a pile books, stood basking in the sunlight pouring through the lens. Even facing away and Zuko being invisible he still knew Zuko was there and called him by name, inviting the rest in by name as well.
The man introduced himself as the manifestation of the Archives of Udal myth: Keeper of Forbidden Knowledge. But he said they could call him Salyavin. He welcomed them to Orosta explained that he was destined to return when Mantus to open every Ark of Forbidden Knowledge, revealing the secret history hidden by the Hellige Riddere. Since they had prevented Mantus from returning but were still wearing to bear the mantle of the champions of Fyra, the goddesses decided to allow both to proceed.
A few moments later four women appeared in the room wearing diamond shaped crystals; on e of white, black, amber, and green. They were confused about their arrival since they knew Mantus had not returned. Salyavin explained the situation and brought the Regulators up one by one to accept the crystal associated with their order. Malcolm officially became the champion of death, Meara the champion of Life, and Zuko the champion of light and order. Each received boons and a magic mount. Salyavin then revealed that Alaric was the last of his bloodline, since his unborn son died with his wife. So Alaric's sister in law handed over the crystal for the champion of darkness and chaos, seeming guilty as she did so, and the four women were sent away.
Zuko asked Salyavin about the "god killer" weapons, and he explained that each was hidden by the champion that owned it, so they would need to work out how to find them. He suggested that they look for the "Reapers Hand" first as Malcolm's ancestor still lived. Before they left, Meara asked Salyavin if he knew where her parents were. He confirmed that if she wished to see them, she should look near Medno.  

Burial in Boheim

32nd of Wintercrest 22nd year of the Second Era
After being returned to their beds, The Regulators slept through the night and departed for Boheim the following morning. When they arrived, they were immediately greeted by a procession of Cerulean Guards, the Lord Mayor, and horse drawn carts. The Lord Mayor Enyon Argall paid them for the delivery and announced that the guards would unload for them.  
Malcolm asked for the location of Alaric's ranch and the Enyon managed to find a guard familiar with it. A short time later they revealed that Alaric had passed, and Enyon told them Alaric's Baron would meet them at the ranch to discuss the future of the property. Before Departing with Alaric and Octavia's bodies, Kaylee gave Malcolm Alaric's personal belongings. Included was a letter bequeathing the ranch to Malcolm and his growing family if he wanted it.   
When they arrived at the ranch they were greeted by Jeshiah Beller, a neighbor who had been running the ranch in Alaric's absence. He gave them Alaric's share of the profits and offered to check in town for anyone who would like to attend the graveside service. They first checked inside the house. It was put in good order before Alaric abandoned it. Based on the size they assumed that it had been in his family for generations and from ta time when the ranch was bringing in much more money. One of the smaller bedrooms appeared to be prepared for the arrival of his unborn child, answering the question they had all wondered; Alaric knew. 
Behind the house was a hill with a solitary tree, and a family cemetery going back a few generations. They found the headstone for Josephine, Alaric's wife, and shifted it over, adding Alaric's name. Meara gathered stones and created a Cairn style headstone for Octavia. A small crowd gathered by the time the graves were dug, and Kaylee allowed townsfolk and Malcolm to say a few words about him. They learned from the various statements that his wife was well liked by everyone,  and that Alaric was a quiet man but people still enjoyed his presence. Kaylee said blessing from both Nallula and Enki. The caskets were then buried and the crowd dispersed. Malcolm wrote a message to Arget Ethyn asking how she would feel about raising their child at the ranch and she said she was open to the idea, so he made arrangements with the Baron to take responsibility for the ranch and have Jeshiah continue running the property in the mean time.   
Kaylee requested they stayed at the ranch for the night since she had been cooped up in the ship for a long time. They set up a fire outside to cook dinner. As the sun set and the party prepared to retire inside for the night, Kaylee started awake and said she sensed something terrible had happened. Screams could be heard from the town and fires began to glow. One of the fires appeared to be coming form inside the local Temple of the Black Star. 

To Be Continued...

Report Date

08 Nov 2020