Narrative

Day 30 was Wednesday, 2nd Tan 107 AT, with 4 days to Timnor and 5 days to the auction. A margin note also recorded “+2 days 4pm” and [uncertain: Lathlie].

The party received Town Crier information on the laptop. The Basilisk had sent a message saying he wanted to meet them and was coming in. News also said Lady Elissa Hartwall had been injured after deciding to take the fight against the giants into her own hands, though she was recuperating normally. Soldiers from Goldenswell had retreated.

Hucan’s ship had been attacked and rummaged in the night, and the party’s cart had also been rummaged through. Messages were being intercepted. The notes connect this to a blue dragon, leaked battle plans, and a magical attack at Craters Edge. The cart guards had been found in a mess, pointing toward a betrayer.

The moon shard had gone into the sea. Invar retrieved it and tried to take it back to the ground towers, while Xinquss had been tasked to retrieve it. Huan survived, but the ship was missing, with Census / Hydratrox noted beside that thread. Council members were on their way to Highden. Wrath was connected to Valentinhide, and Xinquss was connected to the shield crystal.

Benu was staying in Dunensend and would build a temple in the city. The party’s father had sent feelers to the army and could spare 100 troops: 30 skilled fighters and 70 conscripts. The Huntmistress also provided 5 healers. Transport was obtained for everyone, along with 10 cavalry. Scouts reported a similar-sized army at the barrier.

Benu could message Cardenald and ask her to meet at 09:00 in Dunensend. Cardenald would meet them at the shrine, and the party saw her glinting in the sun. She had sent them a message that they had not received. She thought somebody was trying to get into her thoughts, though she had kept them out so far. She could also fix Errol.

Salinus was sealed, and the barrier energy was depleted. Valentinhide was identified as the cause. The Betrayer would be working on another body and would take 20-30 days.

The party asked Cardenald about resurrecting Rubyeye. She said yes, and the party was also leaning that way, so they agreed to do it. Both eyes glowed red, the skull floated and animated, and Rubyeye came back to life and made a beard. Geldrin had a flashback to a room with a floating skull. The party also learned that Enwi’s gloves were in the Goliath Tower in the Oasis, meaning Enwi died and went there, but nobody knew, so Enwi had not been released.

Browning had made a bargain to rid fishes from the barrier in return for a peace treaty. Enwi had also made some sort of pact involving rings. The phrase “The Guilt is an excellence!!” was recorded. Browning’s lab was near Craters Edge. The party discussed magical defenses against Valentinhide, especially Counterspell.

A message was sent to The Basilisk saying that the Guilt was Excellence and asking for mage help with Wrath. Benu could create a hero’s feast. The party went to the Cheese shop looking for mages or scrolls. There were no mages or scrolls there, but someone could speak to [uncertain: Proloknight] for them about Counterspell and Polymorph. Counterspell cost 500g, with an additional 10g [unclear]. A finder’s fee was noted only for two scrolls, though the party wanted three. Polymorph was estimated at 3-4kg, and Morgana could do it.

The party tried to see what the automaton, Galatrayer, was doing. Cardenald tapped into the one guarding Valentinhide’s prison and saw a stone room, with somebody there and out of focus. Valentinhide might still be imprisoned, but Geldrin was not convinced. Groll wondered whether somebody was in Galatrayer’s head: the overseer or the explorer.

The party returned to the palace. Cardenald and Rubyeye went back to Cardenald’s lab to study and gather supplies. Geldrin searched the library for Valentinhide or the Goliath city. A scholar described Goliath people from about 900 years ago and said Goliaths helped build Dunensend. Master Shined glass was noted. The Goliath capital was Ashktioth, and Tradesmall was a Goliath town. In a book of fables, Valentinhide should have been one of the 12 and was given the undesirable job of looking after dust; the apprentice became the god instead, connected to darkness.

The army left at 16:00. Invar received a message back saying the Lady was unavailable because she was fighting on the front lines. They counted their money back. News that morning mentioned a village, but there was no other news, and the battle was going badly. Soots bones were being inspected by a scholar from Dunensend on behalf of Lady R. Beauchamp?!?, with “Blue Dragon?!?” written beside it.

Cardenald and Rubyeye returned with 2 orbs and 2 scrolls of Counterspell. Errol went to Crater’s Edge to see if it was actually ash. He returned reporting that Crater’s Edge was intact and very quiet. It was late at night, around 24:00, and one person was looking out of a window: a tiefling child, possibly Joy. The note questions whether this was a trap.

People, Factions, and Places Mentioned

The Basilisk, Lady Elissa Hartwall, Goldenswell soldiers, Hucan, Invar, Xinquss, Huan, Census / Hydratrox, council members, Highden, Wrath, Valentinhide / Valentinhide, Benu, Dunensend, the party’s father, the army, the Huntmistress, Cardenald, Errol, Salinus, the Betrayer, Rubyeye, Geldrin, Enwi, Browning, the Guilt, [uncertain: Proloknight], Morgana, Galatrayer, Groll, the overseer, the explorer, Master Shined glass, Lady R. Beauchamp?!?, Joy, blue dragon, giants, guards, scouts, troops, skilled fighters, conscripts, healers, cavalry, mages, Goliaths, and a tiefling child were all mentioned.

Places mentioned include Dunensend, the shrine, the barrier, the sea, the ground towers, the shield crystal, Highden, Craters Edge / Crater’s Edge, Browning’s lab, the Cheese shop, the palace, Cardenald’s lab, the library, the Goliath Tower in the Oasis, the Goliath capital Ashktioth, and Tradesmall.

Items, Rewards, and Resources

The party had Town Crier information on the laptop. The moon shard was retrieved by Invar after going into the sea. The available army support consisted of 100 troops, made up of 30 skilled fighters and 70 conscripts, plus 5 healers from the Huntmistress, transport for all, and 10 cavalry. Benu could create a hero’s feast.

Counterspell scrolls were priced at 500g each, with 10g [unclear] also noted, and the party wanted three though a finder’s fee was only available for two. Polymorph was estimated at 3-4kg, and Morgana could do it. Cardenald and Rubyeye ultimately returned with 2 orbs and 2 scrolls of Counterspell. Enwi’s gloves were identified as being in the Goliath Tower in the Oasis. Enwi’s pact involved rings. Rubyeye was restored from a floating skull with glowing red eyes.

Clues, Mysteries, and Open Threads

Messages were being intercepted, including a message from Cardenald that the party never received. Hucan’s ship and the cart were rummaged, guards were found in a mess, battle plans were being leaked, and a betrayer was suspected. The blue dragon may be connected to the attack at Craters Edge, the leaked plans, and the inspection of soots bones by a Dunensend scholar for Lady R. Beauchamp?!?.

The moon shard, Invar’s attempt to take it to the ground towers, and Xinquss’s task to retrieve it remain important. Huan survived, but the ship was missing, with Census / Hydratrox recorded uncertainly. Cardenald believed someone was trying to enter her thoughts, though she had resisted so far.

Salinus was sealed and the barrier energy depleted, with Valentinhide named as the cause. Valentinhide may still have been imprisoned in a stone room, but Geldrin was not convinced by what Cardenald saw through Galatrayer. Groll’s question about someone being in Galatrayer’s head, possibly the overseer or the explorer, remains unresolved. The Betrayer’s next body would take 20-30 days.

Enwi died and went to the Goliath Tower in the Oasis, but because nobody knew this, Enwi had not been released. Browning’s bargain to clear fishes from the barrier in return for a peace treaty, Enwi’s pact involving rings, Browning’s lab near Craters Edge, and the note “The Guilt is an excellence!!” all remain linked but not fully explained.

Valentinhide’s fable says he should have been one of the 12, was given the undesirable task of looking after dust, and the apprentice became the god instead, connected to darkness. Crater’s Edge appeared intact and quiet at 24:00, with a possible Joy-like tiefling child looking from a window, raising the question of whether it was a trap.