Session 70: Quorum of Acreomond

General Summary

Last Days in Palhas

52nd-54th of Spirende 22nd year of the Second Era
The night of Echo's encounter with the Cormanthor Gisiae her meditation was filled with of flashes of the Queen of Shadows' life, before she found herself in another lucid interactive vision. When the queen felt her presence she attacked, and echo stayed out of the queens reach without turning her back on her. She noticed a strange warmth on her back, and when she glanced over her shoulder she noticed a bright amber star in the sky that somehow seemed to be in her reach. Unlike Alaric, she reached out for the star and found an amber crystal glowing in her hand. She instinctively aimed it at the queen. The queen recoiled but was pulled towards the crystal and turned into black smoke that wrapped echo like armor before she woke from her meditation.
The Regulators spent their last days in Palhas were spent acquiring and preparing supplies for breaching the Quorum of Acreomond building. Malcolm sought out the help of Sonny Jepsen in creating a dart gun. Zuko acquired a potent sleeping poison. Before departing, they stopped by Al-Hai's Bazaar looking for a way to magically seal a room from the inside, and were provided with a consumable crystal that would make every exit in a room put the person walking through it back in the room through another door.

The Imperial City

55th-56th of Spirende 22nd year of the Second Era
The Regulators used a new key they were given on the Wizard's Door and found themselves in an tight alley in Fuen. Following the directions they were given they made the way to the The Grey Gauntlet a tavern and inn that took up two city blocks. In the building's foyer they saw an old smoke damaged painting with a child that looked suspiciously like a young Ethed. They realized that this was a reconstruction of the inn that her parents built and was burned down when one of her enemies took their revenge on her family.
They found Ethed in one of the 4 separate pubs of the inn and she purchased drinks for them while they waited for Rupert Wasser to arrive. Ethed told Malcolm he should have Serenity dock at the city, because Wasser would need the ship for something he needs to do before the Quorum. A fight almost broke out between a drunk patron and the bard, Malcolm intervened by offering the patron a drink laced with the sleeping poison; which was only  noticed by the bard.
They went to a rented room in the inn as Wasser and Alexandra Nordheim. Sebastian Braun also arrived a few moments later. They discussed their plan for getting into the Quorum and what would need to be prepared ahead of time. Sebastian had a report on the people who lived in the area where Serenity would be secretly parked the night before. Most could be payed for their silence but a few would be better off if they were tricked into being elsewhere that night.
Wasser asked for transportation to an area out of view from the city. There he used the crown for the first time and raised the massive stone army from the ground below. He ordered the commander of the army to surround Fuen and when given the signal march on the gates, but do no harm to defending soldiers.
Malcolm decided on a plan to purchase theatre tickets, an inn stay and a carriage ride for the locals that couldn't be bought off to make sure they were on the other side of the city. His new bard friend agreed to pose as actors from the show promoting it as an excuse to give the complimentary tickets to the residents. Malcolm and Zuko hired a carriage to go to the theatre for the tickets, but shortly after leaving, Malcolm was overcome with a strange sensation, and Reaper's Hand glowed purple as a woman passed the carriage the other direction.
Malcolm asked Zuko to complete their task and jumped out to investigate the woman. He followed her for a while and could tell she was well known in the area. Striking up a conversation with a local, he learned the woman's name was Belle. Her husband was a laborer and she was hardworking homemaker and mother. She was recently very ill but made a miraculous recovery. She was the glue that held her family together, and her husband's foundation for stability. Beginning to understand what may be happening, Malcolm continued to follow her. When he closed the distance he began having visions of Belle's illness and death. She then saw her husband using a strange artifact on her, her resurrection, and a random individual somewhere in the city dying on their feet. 
It became clear that Reaper's Hand was telling him that she was living past her time, and it was his responsibility as Champion of Death to set it right. He followed her home and attempted to enter through a side window, but with Reaper's Hand  in his grip it allowed him to step through the wall. She was alone in the house and seemed to sense his presence. She did not immediately understand what was happening but was not unduly frightened. Malcolm introduced himself as death, and explained what her husband had done. She understood what had to happen, and asked only that she is allowed to write a letter to her husband to give him closure. Malcolm agreed and also left enough money to help her husband and children while they adjust to life without her. She laid in bed and Malcolm used Reaper's Hand to painlessly and cleanly take her life, before returning to the tavern. He informed his compatriots of what had happened, and what his new responsibility was.

The Dive

57th of Spirende 22nd year of the Second Era
The following day, Wasser showed Malcolm a crystal ball he carried in a leather sack. He explained that He and Alexandra would be inside, and would know to come out when the crystal is removed from the bag. They were absorbed by the crystal, and the Regulators headed to Serenity. The ship flew them above the Quorum building and the gangplank was lowered. Malcolm shot the glass dome several times before they dived in one by one, activating the crystal to seal the room as they fell. They put the guards to sleep and chaos ensued as the representatives of the five nations tried to leave the room in a panic. Malcolm called for calm as he pulled out the crystal and Wasser appeared on the Quorum floor. 
To Be Contiunued...

Report Date

10 Jan 2023