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Rings of Joy and Ennui

Summary

Several rune rings connect Joy, Ennui, Dirk, pacts, souls, sacrifice, and Ennui’s attempts to return Joy’s soul to cloned bodies.

Known Details

  • Joy’s teddy ring was hidden in Mr Snuffles and read: a pact in darkness made in sorrow to bring back Joy.
  • Dirk’s similar ring read: A Bargain struck in shadows for souls to be held in infinity.
  • User clarification establishes that Dirk found his ring in a fish while travelling to Grand Towers, before meeting Geldrin there and travelling with him to Everchard.
  • Dirk’s ring glowed when placed on a statue with another ring.
  • Ennui wore five rings.
  • Ennui’s small ring was described as a sacrifice made to live eternal, father & daughter.
  • Day 6 establishes that Joy died six times, and that Ennui kept cloning her and used the rings to put her soul back into a body.
  • On day-42, Anastasia gave Dirk Ennui’s fifth ring; by 15:00 the party could attune to three of the rings.
  • In Ashkelon, a voice addressed Invar as wearing the ring of the betrayer, and a featureless woman took damage in the ring’s reflection.
  • Ruby Eye said the rings activate in the Barrier so Joy cannot leave and taught the party ring lore as proof of identity.

Timeline

  • day-05: The party finds Joy’s teddy ring and Dirk’s similar ring becomes significant.
  • day-06: Geldrin tries a ring on a nondescript statue, Dirk adds his ring, the rings begin to glow, and the ring, pact, clone, and Joy grave clues converge around Ennui’s repeated attempts to put Joy’s soul back into cloned bodies.
  • day-16: Ennui’s ring and five-ring history deepen the sacrifice theme.
  • day-42: Ennui’s fifth ring, three-ring attunement, the ring of the betrayer voice, and Ruby Eye’s Barrier activation explanation become active clues.

Open Questions

  • Who was the other party to the bargain?
  • Why do the rings activate in the Barrier, and why does that prevent Joy from leaving?
  • Who is the betrayer named by the ring voice?