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Shopping with Charlatans

Claw Recap
2021-06-13

Lesotruth 13th, 989 IaC

  • Before heading to bed, Steve spent some time identifying some of the items the group found in the splintering halls, including
  • The group went to sleep, encountering various visions in their dreams
    • The entire party was plagued by visions of the Thousand King, as they all had witnessed his symbol in the Splintering Halls
    • The group witnessed the Prison of the Chained Flame, their visions brought deep into its bowels to a blackened sphere of pure hatred, and through a crack they saw the dark, emaciated figure of the Thousand King, who whispered to them, "Free me."
  • Caedali was visited by the awkward Zevian, who praised her for her perseverance, saying that by struggling against her curses, she was growing greater in power.
    • To ease her pain, Zevian imparted a boon that would allow her to attune to an additional item as long as she had 6 or more curses.
  • Merja once again was whisked to the volcanic island of Pelema, where she was able to ask her teacher more questions
    • Pelema admitted to having once been part of the Coven of Enama
    • Despite her origins using cruel magic under the tutelage of the Dreadwitch Enama, Pelema eventually began to gain an appreciation and love for the world after traveling beyond the desolation of the Poison Pits of Levilthan
    • She learned how to channel her unique magic, which gained power from death, into more productive and less vile applications
    • Pelema claimed that this was the very same magic that Merja was using
    • Pelema admitted to killing her former teacher, Enama, as she was about to accomplish some terrible evil by tricking her and abusing her trust
    • As part of the artifice, Pelema took on the curse of the Poison Pits, gaining immortality and becoming the curse's host
    • Despite the ire of the other witches, they could not kill her as they feared mortality more than they hated her
    • Pelema was later imprisoned on the island by the witch hunter Enshansa, trapped within a volcano
    • The former witch explained that the Pits require fuel to remain active, meaning that someone had been actively maintaining it all these years
  • Kel dreamed of a massive valley of teeth, with her goddess Patalir following her from behind
    • As Kel moved forwards into the teeth towards a looming figure in the distance, Patalir followed, egging her on
    • "I need that tooth"
  • Steve dreamed of his studies into the Black Book, working more and more on its puzzles as a familiar voice continually stated, "It's almost time"
  • Lambchop dreamed of his stomach, and felt somehow connected to it, feeling it being filled with icky things
    • He felt as if somehow, it was getting closer
  • Ilryn had a short conversation with her patron Avra
    • Ilryn had discovered the retromancer that the Ossuate was attempting to avoid was likely her mother, Elleryndel
    • She was about to communicate this fact to her friend before Avra began asking about the time magic, questioning if Ilryn believed it possible to travel back in time
    • Ilryn then decided to hide her information from Avra, somewhat perturbed by his focus

Lesotruth 14, 989 IaC

  • The group awoke to a nicely made but somewhat cold meal from Jora, who was busy at work
    • Jora reminded the party to come by later, as she and Nathaniel were still in the process of digging up information and supplies
  • Heading out, the party saw a grimy-looking man that introduced himself as Unknown, Servant of the Seen and Devoted of Unrirnu
    • Sholtan offered to show the group around Adalhast for only 10 gold, promising them the best in service for their money
    • Kel noticed that Sholtan was wearing a strange, mirror-like necklace, which she associated with the god Unknown
    • He managed to convince the group and they set off to a temple of Patalir
  • The party arrived at the massive, historical temple of Unknown in Arcshield, and Kel immediately entered with her massive tooth
    • Despite the efforts by the temple attendants to stop her, Kel moved the Unknown to the back of the temple beneath the statue of Patalir's Chrysalis
    • The statue began to move as color emerged beneath the stonework and frosty mist began to fill the air, and Patalir spoke, whisking the tooth away
    • The temple watched in awe as Patalir spoke directly to Kel, asking her relationship advice as she had become enamored with the goddess Cavaesi
    • Kel learned that Patalir had long been manipulating her followers into collecting artifacts related to Cavaesi in a weird, kinda creepy-stalker way, unable to confront her crush directly
    • Kel, who was just as inexperienced in love, resolved to get her own girlfriend so that Patalir could witness how to do it
    • Patalir seemed content with that, claiming she knew Kel was a kindred spirit as Kel resolved to keep her terrifying memories of the Splintering Halls in order to attain greater power
    • Kel began to exit the temple, but was swarmed by priests that began to refer to her as a prophet
    • Steve nudged Kel into using her newfound fame to lift an expensive crystal ball from the temple, worth 20,000 gold
    • The party escaped from the temple, with Sholtan leading them down maze-like alleys to lose any followers
  • The group headed for a magic shop suggested by Sholtan
    • Sholtan was forced to remain outside of the shop by the shopkeeper, who graciously met with the party
    • The group bought a number of health potions, as well as some magical items
    • Caedali purchased an Unknown
    • Steve purchased a crystal and some magical paper & ink
  • Sholtan then led the group to the district of Darkwell, and showed them a local monument, the Unknown
    • Unknown is the goddess of Luck and Skill, and the massive crystal suspended above the street was often touched by the residents of Darkwell as a good-luck charm
    • The party all climbed up to touch the charm, and were beckoned by a stranger running a gambling table beneath the stairs
    • Steve decided to take the gamble to test his luck, winning the first two bets but losing out on 100 gold on the third
    • Refusing to take a double or nothing bet, Lambchop stepped in instead when the stranger tried to sweeten the pot with a pair of magic dice
    • Lambchop eked out a victory against the man, who had Lambchop roll the magical dice, known as Unknown
    • Lambchop's muscles bulged and his strength increased, but his intelligence took a hit as he he began to drool
    • When the group turned back to the man after checking on Lambchop, the stranger and the table was gone
    • Steve used his special eyes to look back in time, discovering that the stranger seemed to exist in a sort of quantum state, both there and not
  • Sholtan led the group to a small alley down to a curio shop with the promise of showing Kel something she'd like
    • In the shop, Kel purchased Unknown, a unique breastplate that featured a massive set of iron teeth in the center
  • The group was led to an alchemy shop, where Sholtan was once again made to stay at the entrance
    • The group looked at various potions as Lambchop bought a gas bellows and a bunch of glass vials
    • The alchemist, Unknown, put some of the exhaust smoke and gas into Lambchop's vials, though the effects are a mystery
    • Lambchop got an Alchemy Jug
    • Caedali bought a potion of giant's strength
    • Kel bought a "potion of hate"
  • The party was led further into the pit of Darkwell to a magical shop known as Unknown
    • The shop was filled with interesting magic items, and was looked after by a sentient wall that puppeted a seemingly undead tiefling
    • After looking around for a while, the group got a few items, including the Unknown, the Unknown, and the Unknown
    • Steve pre-purchased an Amulet of Proof Against Detection and Location, and the clerk provided him with a token that would swap places with the item upon its completion
  • As the party exited the shop, they all received a message from Eliza to meet them at Unknown
    • The group headed out, following Sholtan through shortcuts and winding passages
    • Sholtan noticed something in an alleyway, and told the group to hang tight while he handled some "business"
    • The party waited in a seedy alley, and were soon approached by a cloaked figure headed straight toward Steve
    • The figure dodged around the party and stabbed Steve with a dagger before escaping down a side street
    • The dagger began to sink into Steve's flesh, and despite efforts to pull it out, it was completely absorbed, leaving only a strange spiral mark
    • After making sure Steve was okay, the group chased the cloaked figure to a dead end alley, where five figures stood
    • The first figure stepped out and introduced herself as Enshansa, claiming it was an honor to meet Steve as all five figures bowed
    • The figures each introduced themselves as Vetten Ninefellows, Unknown, Unknown, and Nettleberry
    • While they were terribly cryptic, the group belonged to an order known as the Pageseekers that seemed to follow some prophecy involving Steve
      • Enshansa admitted that the Pageseekers were responsible for planting the Black Book in the Lunar Referent, resulting in Steve's study of it
      • The purpose of this was to find "the heir", and Enshansa hinted that the group had done the same thing at many other libraries
      • The library was burned as Enshansa believed this experiment to be another failure, but later realized that Steve's survival and continued study of the book made him "the one"
      • Enshansa apologized for destroying the one place Steve cared about, kind of
    • The Pageseekers made comments about "events set in motion" and "inevitability"
    • They seemed to care little about current events, dismissing the Ossuate and the Thousand King as "ultimately inconsequential"
    • Ilryn recognized Belora as the former leader of her troupe, surprised to find out that she had faked her death
      • Belora apologized to Ilryn, stating that her family had shouldered the responsibility for centuries to keep the "loop" intact
      • Belora urged Ilryn to keep her shoulder safe, as it was terribly important for some reason
      • Despite having manipulated Ilryn, Belora seemed to care for her
    • Nettleberry claimed that her involvement was also part of an attempt to move events along the right track
      • Apparently, Caedali had killed one of Nettleberry's "vessels", but it didn't seem to bother the necromancer much
      • Lambchop refused to part with his momulet when Nettleberry asked for it back
    • Vetten Ninefellows was starstruck when he found out that Steve had read his book on time magic and Adred Flayamar's magic, and ran away
    • Eventually, each of the Pageseekers took their leave in various ways
  • The party returned to where they were waiting before and caught up with Sholtan, who had a bit of white powder on his nose
    • Sholtan began leading the group towards Copperkeep, and told the party a story about two gods, Unknown and his sibling
    • Unrirnu was the god of Mirrors and Duplicity, and had been borne the son of Durzick
    • When Unrirnu's mother gave birth to him, her tears formed into a second child, born from pain and torment
    • Unrirnu was constantly harassed by his sibling, who caused him suffering at every turn
    • Unrirnu was eventually married to Unknown, the goddess of moss, and the two led a happy life until the sibling killed Ayaten to torment Unrirnu
    • As punishment, Unrirnu took his sibling and trapped him in a mirror world, only able to look in through its reflections
  • Sholtan had positioned himself close to Ilryn, and upon finishing his story, moved to stab her
    • Lambchop attempted to stop him but Sholtan dodged past him, stabbing Ilryn with strength and fury
    • Kel used her abilities to prevent a critical injury, and the group quickly incapacitated Sholtan, bringing him to his knees
    • Sholtan stated it was his duty as a devoted of Unrirnu to undo the god's sworn enemies, especially those working for Unknown
    • Sholtan didn't wish to attack anyone or die, but stated that he could not defy the will of his god, and accepted his death
    • Ilryn removed Sholtan's mirror necklace as the group debated on what to do with him
    • Seizing an opportunity, as the mirror turned in Ilryn's hand, Sholtan escaped into it, running away down the reflected street
  • Frazzled after two surprise attacks in one day, the group cautiously headed towards Copperkeep to meet up with Eliza and the Iron
    • The group found the Iron waiting outside and soon entered to meet with Eliza, who had organized a meeting with Copperkeep's leader
    • The party made their way through the massive, bustling halls of the Copperkeep, climbing a large staircase up to the office of Unknown, Talon of the Copperkeep
    • Entering the office, the group met with the large, intimidating leader of the hall, also finding a small, spry old man and studious-looking tiefling waiting for them
    • Denthranor seemed more interested in listening to the party than Eliza, and had them recount the events that had unfolded in Atherdale, questioning why they required the help of the guild
    • Despite the group's efforts to relay the gravity of the situation, Denthranor stated he was constantly battling multiple "world ending" threats simultaneously, and had few resources to spare
    • While he had no people to offer, after some prodding from the old man, Unknown, Denthranor allowed the group access to the armory of the keep and the facilities normally reserved for higher ranking members
    • The tiefling, a historian named Unknown, offered some historical context on the Great Colossus, claiming that it was a powerful construct created by the gods to battle the primeval dragons at the beginning of the Age of Gods
  • Desperate to catch up with Cloverhall, Eliza and the group headed towards some communication crystals and phoned in to their old base
    • The party learned that the Grey Wings had declared martial law weeks before their escape, and were now claiming that they did it because of the threat posed by the dragon (likely the one they released in the Splintering Halls) that attacked Bucktuck City
    • As the Claw of Arali and the Bronze Aegis had been declared enemies of the state, the guild had holed up in Cloverhall behind a defensive spell woven by Darrod Lightvane
    • At some point, Merilann and Glutagg had snuck out to kidnap the mayor, Tunban Fetterly, but only Glutagg managed to make it back, leaving Merilann's fate unknown
    • The group tasked the members in Cloverhall with heading out to the Singing Bloodkeep and procuring some Singing Steel, an apparent weakness of the Ossuate
  • The party then headed down to the armory of the Copperkeep, meeting with Unknown, the nervous, emotional kleptomaniac tiefling
    • As Noose was loathed to part with any of the magical items, he simply began listing them off, refusing to repeat himself or allow the group to procure something he had already spoken about
    • Each member managed to get something out of Noose despite his difficult nature, and he promptly closed up shop
  • Tired after a day of ambushes and shopping, the group headed out to leave Copperkeep when they were approached by yet another hooded figure that handed a letter to Lambchop, who had currently lost his ability to read
    • Caedali instead read the missive, which turned out to be a letter from Rorug Fletsworn, who had somehow gotten a hold of Merilann and was holding her hostage, inviting the group to a "tea party" to "catch up"
    • The letterhead for the note was the same that the group found in the Splintering Halls
  • The party headed back to the Silver Shepherd, electing to get some rest ahead of an impending battle with Rorug
    • Nathaniel and Jora offered the group some information they managed to collect about the Ossuate, including:
    • When her flesh is removed, she is effectively undead and has such strengths/weaknesses
    • The flesh suit is a source of power, as she gains strength when she feels pain
    • Movement causes her pain and strengthens her due to her armor
    • Another witch named Unknown stiches together abominations from corpses that are resistant to magic and do not feel pain. They are susceptible to fire.
      • Many of the bodies were likely sourced by Unknown
    • The Ossuate displayed particular rage towards a field agent that nearly struck her with a sword containing purifying magic
      • Such purifying weapons are few and far between. Can get weapons blessed, but it is costly.
    • The two also gifted Lambchop some Unknown, Unknown, Dust of Sneezing and Choking, and 3 Arrows of Enetar
  • Preparing for a confrontation with Rorug, the party headed to bed