24 Thunsheer 835

You accompanied Question and Benedict through Questions teleportation portal directly into the Cobalt Soul Archive in Rexxentrum. There, you were led to meet with an empiricist, Tormund Galleth, who mentioned that Benedict was using a 10 year old signature to get in today. Benedict offered information to Tormund that he found in the Verstglade, looking into a dark magic that’s thrived there for centuries. He believes that this power has become malevolent, reaching subtle tendrils into the world, possibly creating this strange inter-dimension that he’s discovered; If he can be allowed to study in the Verstglade, he’s happy to discuss that dimension more. Additionally, Benedict explored some ruins there, which led Tormund to gasp, and he found some interesting items that Provost Anguin might be interested in. Tormund looked at Benedict’s notes and agreed to pass it up the chain and he would summon you back this afternoon.

Leaving the Archive, you found yourself in the Shimmer Ward of Rexxentrum, a vibrant and artisan district filled with affluent neighborhoods, restaurants and museums. Benedict and Question left to discuss the library’s approval structure, and Scrum took the chance to go visit her family’s farm, leaving the rest of you to explore Rexxentrum on your own. While winding through the streets, Katerina ran into a figure from her past, a young baker named Lionel and though he invited her on a date later that evening, her exact relationship with him was kept a secret…and he didn’t seem to know her name.

Later, after lunch, Della’s coin purse was stolen by a pickpocket who led you on a chase through the streets that led up onto the rooftops, most of which are connected by boards and detritus to create what’s known as the Thieves Walk. During the chase, the bag was split and shared with other thieves who went in different directions, splitting the party. Applethorn managed to knock down the one while he and Della pursued it, leaving Della to deal with the crownsguard as Applethorn caught up with the other thieves and the rest of the party. The two remaining thieves seemed to be leading you in a certain direction … right into a trap. Three mages activated gargoyles to attack you while archer’s pinned you down. It went south quickly, with all but Applethorn going down, until Della caught up with Question and Benedict close behind, finding them after a tag she placed on Amira “to keep an eye on her”. With Question and Benedict’s help, you managed to get back up while Della asked the leader of the attack to make a deal. The leader, a bald, female wizard, said they would let the rest of you go if they could have “the spy”, after a look to a figure in the shadows behind her. Choosing to run rather than stay in the ring, Della used her connection to the strange rift to teleport behind the leader and put a knife to her throat. Benedict followed behind her, taking the first strike from the shadowed figure as they moved for Della, dropping her unconscious, grabbing her as she fell, revealing a scarred, bearded face and telling Katerina he looked forward to their next meeting. Shortly after, the wizards, who claimed to be from Tal’Dorei, teleported away and the archers disappeared.

Regrouping, you all questioned what the bounty was they were hunting. It was clear it’s from the Assembly after Katerina recognized Della’s description of the man as Joffrey Vesstar, but is this open to everyone in the assembly or just given to Joffrey; no matter what, the Assembly’s bounties are kept inside and secret. You decided the most likely option was that Lionel sold you out to the Cerberus Assembly, who most have been watching him, waiting for Katerina’s return and the Assembly is the only ones who would have a reason to put a bounty on her. Question agreed to use other contacts in Rexxentrum to see what the details of the bounty are.

Soon after licking your wounds with a short rest, you were summoned back to the Archives, where a meeting with Sandrius Anguin was waiting; a shock to Benedict and Question. The Provost let his other meeting attendees speak; two Regius’ named Marken DeMare and Ithen Cent, both of whom offered Benedict a job. Marken wanted to explore what Benedict found in the Verstglade, specifically the red Ruidus stone there. Based on Benedict’s notes, it may be the biggest piece of the asteroid ever seen on Exandria. Marken believes it’s a powerful spellcasting focus, but is also a piece of Ruidus, fallen to Exandria and would provide more insight into the cosmos and Ruidus itself.

Ithen also wanted to hire Benedict, but for much more selfish and personal ambitions. Like Della’s mother, Ithen is a traveler between realms, but unlike Della’s mother, who calls herself a Planeswalker, Ithen calls himself a traveler, which is typically known as someone who seeks to find and exploit resources of other planes of existence. Ithen spoke with a fervor for the empire and it’s dominion, implying that it’s his right to explore the new dimension or plane that Benedict has discovered. Ithen wants to lead the expedition to explore this dimension with Benedict’s guidance.

With their offers made, Sandrius dismisses them. As they leave the room, Sandrius speaks for the first time, beginning an interrogation into your group, asking if you’ve ever moved against the empire, how you feel about the Cerberus Assembly, what would it take to buy you, your trust, your secrets… Eventually, getting fed up with his questions and his attitude, you snapped back and asked him to come right out and say what he wants. Sandrius attitude changed and he opened up. He has been working in secret to investigate the leader of the Cerberus Assembly: Vellis Thorwind, a 400 year old mage who has stayed in power through unknown necromantic magicks, running the assembly in secret and using his High Arcanist’s to do his bidding. In the last few years, Sandrius has become convinced that the next stage of Vellis’s plan is to seek out the process of lichdom, an ancient dark art that all records have been lost.

Sandrius believes that the Assembly’s attempt to bring war between the Empire and Kryn Dynasty is the result of a plan of Thorwind’s to seize Dynasty artifacts and discover the magic that they’ve kept hidden for centuries. One of these artifacts appeared, several years ago, and Sandrius sent Ezekiel (Stassie’s body) to search for it. This artifact was a strange, dodecahedron-shaped object that the Assembly was very interested in. Ezekiel tracked it to Errenis Antiquities in Nicodranas, preparing to take it when it was taken to the docks. That was the last night Sandrius heard from Ezekiel.

Now, Sandrius wants to hire you to act in Ezekiel’s stead; find the beacon and, once you’ve secured it, finish Ezekiel’s job and return it to the Kryn Dynasty. At this point, Amira revealed the Luxon Beacon you’ve had from day 1 and Sandrius confirms it’s the same design and model Ezekiel was after, though it’s unlikely to be the same one. With this in hand, Sandrius asks you to deliver it to the Kryn Dynasty and find out more about it. This should also answer more about Stassie’s incident as well. While he was quiet about his expectations, Sandrius also offered a continued arrangement after the Dynasty: become his own investigators, and explore the secrets of Thorwind’s plan in a way Sandrius can’t. Sandrius must maintain an appearance of loyalty and service to the empire, but he will continue to look into Thorwind’s plans and pass it to you. He will set you up on the coastal city of your choice and grant you access to a ship and his personal inquisitor. To start, he has three sites of ancient liches that should be explored to determine if Thorwind has been there already or not.

Sandrius left you then to discuss and decide; if you agree, he’ll meet you here tomorrow to teleport to Felderwin and find the person to lead you into the dynasty. After Sandrius left, Amira asked Benedict his thoughts under the zone of truth, revealing that he was surprised but not upset or jealous of the offer Sandrius made. He was excited about the excursion into the Verstglade though, and he plans to take Marken up on that. Della, meanwhile asked Question how she feels and she said she was fine with what Sandrius was after and wished you luck.

Finally, Cassie decided to look into the beacon to see what it showed her about the future, now that she knows all the people involved. Looking into it, though, she didn’t see the spreading tiemlines and ghosts of possibilities. She only saw thrumming lights, getting faster and faster as she seemed to fall through space before she returned to herself. And the glass of the beacon cracked. However, Della was able to cast mending, repairing the crack, though it’s unknown if it repaired any magic within it.

You continued your research in the library, looking for information on the strange artifacts in your dreams, Alyxian, the Kryn Dynasty, and the Assembly’s purpose with these windmills. Most of your searches were successful with the exception of Alyxian, who did not appear in the records of Ruidus born or really any history of Exandria you could find. He appears to be a ghost, in more ways than one. However, the other information was interesting and you even found some interesting bonus content, including pirate movements in the Lucidian Ocean, while Cassie found information on the extensive history of one Captain Amira or, the Hollow Corsair.

Returning to the inn for the night, Della was visited by a dream of Alyxian. Still being chased by the Crawling King, he was pulled into a large room filled with huge crystalline rocks of green, red, and blue hues. Avandra asked if he only prayed to her to save him, but he responded that he would be a powerful and incredible champion for her. His only response to her question that he was already pledged to her “sister” Sehanine was to promise that he could be greater with her.

Player Notes

Oh boy, did we have a bad day in Rexentrum.

At the cobalt soul archive - we meet with Marken Demaire and Ethan Descent (and we assume Sadrius) in a room with a zone of truth spell. Cassie stayed outside since Sadrius knows the Owlen whos body she how inhabits with Stone. Sandrius wanted Casssie here, so she comes in. Marken says he is an artificer and is interested in the red stone he found in the Verstglade. Benedict tells about his travel to the verstglade where he has been making trips while on the sabatical. He found a large red stone while lost and starting to feel dereanged. the stone made him feel less lost and more stone. Marken thinks this red stone is from Ruidus and the one in the verstaglade might be the largest of the ruidus stones discovered. Sadrius custs Marken off before he can describe any implications. Marken wants Benedict to continue to investigate the Ruidium in the verstglade. but Marken says Ethan wants something different. Ethan says he is the first of his kind, a “master traveller”, which is similar to what Della’s mother is (a planewalker), except master travelers don’t travel to protect, but rather for discovery and power. He’s a pawn of the Empire. He talks about how travel to other planes connects us to the gods which helps us understand our power and the limits of our power. He clearly wants to explore this new plane attached to Ruidium and wants Benedict to help lead an exploration. Sandruis dismissed Marken and Ethan when they finish saying what they each want from Benedict.
Sandrius then asks Cassie why she is here. Cassie says to pursue knowledge. He then asks Applethorn what he wants here in Rexetrum and why he is in the city instead of the woods. He then aggressively and rudely questions what our life purposes are, if we have any goals in life. Sandrius asks a bunch of hypothetical questions to try and suss something out. Della says lets just be direct.
Sandrius then becomes more open and friendly. Then says he wants to offer us a job. Sandrius says that what happened to Ezekiel, Cassie, and Stone was not Della’s fault. He says that he wants to make sure that we dont sympathize with the Cerbeus Assembly or the Empire.