C2 Session 23: Trials of All Sorts

General Summary

29th of Anarire 1545 Continued

The time is 8:30pm and the party has just beaten up one of the brothers and taken him captive. They have destroyed the plants in the greenhouse after taking some samples. They take a moment to heal up with Ana taking charge to do this a Beacon of Hope. They take the time to drink some potions and use their wands for healing.

Afterwards they make sure there are no hidden doors in the greenhouse before heading back out into the garden. After seeing that nothing in the garden is suspicious so they head into the main building. They're mindful of the wards around the place. Thankfully they find a key on their captive while gets them past the wards on the door.

Once inside they see the back area of the shop. There are lots of storage, stairs up and the front counter visible from here. Looking around Margaret can tell this room and the visible storage that the back wall is stopping short compared to how big the space should be, but doesn't look like there is a way to it from anywhere here.

They quickly start making their way upstairs. They hear movement on the other side of the door. They pause before opening the door. Margaret opens the door and a knife is held to her throat but she's able to prevent them getting a good hold on her. The figure is slightly translucent as a more solid saddle figure stand in the corner of the room with a crossbow aimed at her. The figure in the corner questions what they were doing here.

There is a tense stand off as Margaret tries to get around the translucent figure but it gets a hold of her. They propose a trade of brother for Uvory, with the idea both parties walk away from this. After the negotiations end, he takes them down to the secret basement from the second floor at the back of the bedroom with their echo walking behind the group.

Margaret subtly casts Detect Thoughts. She gets the sense that the person with the echo's main priority is about taking stock of the situation and preparing for what comes next after the party leaves. They get Uvory and the man gets his brother. She's alive but she looks like she's spent days in a desert left out in the sun. Her leg is healed and doesn't seem to gave any issues with the stump. Currently unconscious. The party quickly heads out with her. Ana suggests to the man that their two groups talk to ensure there are no issues, but the man immediately believes this to be a trap.

Afterwards they head out to meet with the other team and discuss going back in to attack the brother's and capture them before they can get away. Margaret and Bonsen will go with Uvory and the others back to the guild since she is low on magic and trade for Ubek who will stay with the majority of the party.

Ana and Brin lead Jamal and Ubek back to the building and use the key to gain entry as the doors had been relocked since they left. They hear faint sounds of movement upstairs. They quickly conclude the brothers are escaping and rush upstairs. The door is barricaded and they have to quickly force their way through the door. Once they do Ana notices the brothers have somehow managed to lay down some freshly made wards. Ana carefully rubs away some of the chalk but it takes time and allows the brothers to continue their escape.

Once done they rush downstairs through the secret door. At the basement Brin throws open the door and sets off a deadly fire trap that nearly downs Ubek. Looking into the room, Ana finds a trap door but no brothers. They stop the chase and instead search the room. Brin finds a lot of tools for mummification, two mummified bodies what have most of their legs missing and a large amount of pouches with some sort of powder in them.

Brin and Ana discuss how they don't trust the Khirdai priests with this and decide to go straight to the Sultana. Ana and Jamal will go to see if they can get help from her to secure the scene while Ubek and Brin hold the fort.

Margaret hurried with her group to get back to the guild before curfew. She gets Uvory to a bed and keeps watch over her with the others in the barracks.

Ana and Jamal hurry to the palace. They discuss how some of the Khirdai priests are involved with the Fading. Jamal's own investigation supports this but he wasn't sure the force some of them were aligned with.

They approach the guards at the palace, and report what has happened tonight and how it connects to the trial the Sultana had tasked their guild with investigating for. They agreed to secure the scene if either Jamal or Ana agree to stay at the palace to give a statement. Ana agrees to stay and Jamal will show the guards where they need to go.

Brin and Ubek hide while they wait in case the brothers come back. Jamal returns with guards, telling them that this is where the group found the mumia. He calls out for his friends who come out of hiding. The guards speak to them individually to get their statements. The guards press each of them about little details of their statements, ensuring they have a very full and detailed statement. When asked about the tip that led the team here, Brin eventually relents and admit it was a lady who was skilled with a tarot deck. They learn where the Dame is and who else was present here tonight, of whom they need statements from. Guards are sent to guild house to confirm the location of the Dame and get some of the remaining statements.

Other guards who inspected the area confirm the tunnel is long and heads towards the oasis. After the discussion here are finished, he and Jamal are allowed to return to the guild.

Ana is taking to a sitting room in the palace where she waits for ten minutes before a Khinasi woman enters with two drinks. Her hair is done up in a nice high ponytail with beautiful jewellery. Her clothing is expensive silk. Ana immediately realises that the Sultana Adara bint Reshoud herself has come to speak to her. She immediately removes her mask and curtseys, only sitting after the Sultana does. Looking the Sultana over Ana spots a fancy necklace with red beads that looks familiar to Ana. She's no doubt seen a necklace of fireballs before. There are hints of tattoos under the silk that have a purple/blue shimmer to them. Likely magical in some way. A ring that looks like it could store spells in it. Ana would have seen one of them before. One hand has an interesting hand style glove that looks nice. Could be magical.

Over drinks and later chocolate, Ana gives her statement. The Sultana questions her to probe deeper into the story. Ana, realising the difficultness of the situation, gives Lady Fikra's name when prompted. They discuss the fortune teller and those who made the connection between the tarot reading and the Threshed Soul Fragrance. The Sultana wants to meet with her to gauge the accuracy of her readings and to get a statement.

Eventually the conversation moves away from the investigation and to Ana's recent travels and the undead uprising that the party stopped. Ana offers to allow the Sultana to buy some of the relics they had found and would bring her a list when she is permitted to leave. As they talk about future adventures, Ana tells her about Tephu and the Sultana is very interested in the library. She is willing to supply the party with a cleric and is interested in being kept in the loop regarding their efforts to find the library with the possibility of a reward.

The conversation grows more serious as they discuss slavery and some of the issues plaguing the Southern area of the continent. She's even heard of the Golden Flame, but doesn't think much of him. Not long after this Ana is assigned a young woman named Aleen to look after her and ensure she has her needs met. Aleen escorts Ana away from the sitting room to a private bath area to allow her to freshen up. Ana requests black hair dye, but sadly Aleen has none in this moment to offer but promises to look into it for Ana.

Not long after 9:30pm, Margaret overhears someone talking to Oryn and demanding to know where Dame Uvory is. Margaret gets up to go and see what is happening. She learns that the Sultana has sent these men to confirm the location of the Dame Uvory and take statements of all who were present for the events tonight. Margaret takes her to see and inspect Uvory before they arrange to take Bonsen and Margaret's statements. Bonsen stays to watch over Uvory while Margaret gives her statement in the library.

The guard takes Margaret's statement and ask clarifying details about what happened. Margaret gives him the seed samples that she took from the greenhouse.

Brin and Jamal return to the guild to find guards from the Sultana standing out the front. They allow him inside since their job is not to stop people entering. Oryn is still at the guild. Brin asks him about the guards but sadly doesn't know much. He tells Brin that Margaret and Bonsen were being questioned about what happened tonight one at a time. Brin distracts Oryn a bit, telling him about the kookaburra they killed and Oryn suggests they get a painting made of it.

Ana and Jamal reveals she is at the palace. To be a baseline for the statements they provide tonight. Brin acknowledges this and believes that the guild needs a 24 hours watch given what has happened. Brin heads into the barracks with Jamal. They have a quick chat with Bonsen before heading up to the balcony to speak with the remainder of the guild. He updates them on the events of tonight, being a little light on some of the details. He arranges them into watches and even drafts Stormfang and Hamsey.

10-midnight: Brin and Kuroom
Midnight-2: Stormfang and Idorii
2-4: Azaz and Khelru
4-6: Worm and Oshwyt
6-8: Hamsey and Ustrad

Brin has a word with his old mate Stormfang, thanking him for his support. Then he finds out where Ana is and isn't as happy with that as he was about helping out with watches. They agree to go to the palace in the morning to make sure Ana is okay. Stormfang heads back to the barracks with Brin to see Jamal about what happened with Ana.

After a half hour soak in the baths, Ana is escorted to her room after changing into silk night clothes that are provided for her. During the bath Ana noticed her gills had finally started to separate. Aleen and a guard escort Ana to her room for the night. It's a large and comfortable room with an equally large and comfortable bed. Ana heads to bed and sleeps with her mask on.

Margaret returns to the barracks to find Stormfang and Brin had just started talking to Jamal. Jamal is explaining what led to Ana having to stay at the palace currently. Bonsen is taken for his turn to give a statement while Margaret stays with Uvory. Brin tells them all about the watches he has set up overnight. Brin catches Margaret up on what happened when they went back to the perfume store. Afterwards Brin heads out on his watch. Margaret is told to ensure the diviner will come to the palace and that guards are left at the front of the guild for their protection. Not long after Margaret gets some rest and after his watch, so does Brin.

30th of Anarire 1545

At 6am Ana gets up to do some yoga and meditate before she is collected at 7am by Aleen to be taken to breakfast after giving her back her freshly cleaned clothes to change into.

Margaret gets up at 6:30am and goes to find Jamal to see if he can communicate with Sehossep, a woman they helped during the undead uprising, about seeing if she can come by. Then she heads off to find Brin.

At 6:40am Brin is awoken by Margaret knocking on his door. She quickly asks about the details Brin gave about the tarot reading he and Ana recieved before running off. Brin follows, making sure the watches are still working while Margaret helps Uvory gets some water as she wakes up a little panicked.

After some breakfast and rest, Brin and Stormfang head off to go and see if they can see Ana at the palace.

Ana is taken to a conservatory where a beautiful garden surrounds a seating area with a small table and two chairs. The sultana is in beautiful pink and gold silks this morning as she is watering some of the garden while waiting and taking some clippings. They exchange greetings before sitting down at the table. They enjoy they some coffee as they talk and wait for breakfast. It's very pleasant until the Sultana reveals a Khinasi man unknown to Ana had tried to sneak into Ana's room overnight. The Sultana suspects he is a member of the fading that might have been sent to dispatch Ana overnight.

The Sultana reveals she is only waiting on one more statement before Ana will be free to return to her guild. They both agree that the Fading is a long term problem for the guild and the city. Their main backer is The Sphinx, and with any luck this issue won't go all the way back to her. Ana shares some information she knows about the Awnshegh's in the wider region and informs the Sultana about a map they have of the Awnshegh's movements. This leads to questions about the guild, it's origins and founding leaders like Lily, the Osprey, and the leaders of this chapter of the guild.

Food arrives as they continue talking. Near the end of breakfast at 9am, a messenger arrives to inform the Sultana visitors that want to see Ana. The Sultana is hopeful this is the diviner that has appeared in all her reports. Ana is taken to a waiting room while the Sultana goes to meet with the visitors.

Brin and Stormfang arrive at the palace at 9am. They're taken to a sitting room where they meet with the Sultana, much to her disappointment. Stormfang and Brin politely ask to see Ana to see she is well as they are concerned for her safety. The Sultana allows for a five minute visit.

By 9:30am Sehossep arrives at the guild to see Margaret. She offers Sehossep to work with her on a project starting today in exchange for a pair of the completed eye gems, which she agrees to. Her mourning leave ends and she returns to work on the 1st of Diesmir, but she is happy to help out until then.

Ana is summoned from her waiting room to meet with Brin and Stormfang under the Sultana's supervision. Ana reassures them to the Sultana has been a good host and promises Stormfang they can talk properly about business when she is able to return. Brin tells Ana about how people are fairing at the guild. Ana does inform them someone tries to kill Ana last night but the Sultana took care of it. Ana asks them to ensure that Fikra is directed to come and speak to the Sultana at her convenience. The boys are sent away and Ana is sent back to her room.

At 10am as Margaret and Sehossep gets to work, Oryn comes up to tell Maragret that Raillath's parents have arrived at the guild looking for Ana. Margaret quickly goes down to see the family, meeting Kareem and Fikra, Raillath's parents. Margaret confirms Fikra is the diviner before telling them Ana is being held at the palace until Fikra gives her statement, which upsets Fikra greatly. Margaret gives her directions and send a literal angry dragon at the palace. Satisfied, Margaret head back to work.

Just after 10am Brin and Stormfang are approaching the guild. Brin recognises the fortune teller and the mute child he'd met with an unfamiliar Khinasi man. He double checks they are heading to the palace before allowing them to continue on their way. He senses Fikra's rage and doesn't get in the way of it. Upon their return to the guild, Brin checks in with Oryn to ensure Margaret is still at the guild before going up to check in with her while Stormfang makes himself at home upon Brin's insistance.

Aleen takes Ana back to her room and informs her that she was able to secure the hair dye Ana had requested last night. Aleen asks about it, commenting on the nice colour she can see peaking through. Ana gets serious with Aleen and explains no one outside the Sultana can know of a sea elf with red hair in Shoufal. Aleen promises her discretion. Aleen takes Ana to the baths to assist her with the application before taking a rest to swap items she is attuned to.

At 10:15am Brin pokes his head into the study to see Margaret and Sehossep. Maragret and Brin briefly talk about Fikra. They quickly compare what they told the guards about Fikra, which wasn't a lot. Afterwards Brin heads down to check on his store room with Darvin as Margaret continues to work.

Brin is impressed that at least Oryn and Darvin have managed to stay out of trouble while the party was gone on their travels and he compliments Darvin on this. They discuss the possibility of trying to sell larger priced items which Darvin is happy to try but only if he can be guaranteed a safe place to store them show them off to customers. Brin will look into this as he takes some time to rest and enjoy the peace of the day.

Just as Ana finishes her new attunement, Aleen comes to collect her to see the Sultana. She's escorted back to the sitting room to find Fikra is there with her family, giving the Sultana a cold regard. Raillath runs over to hug Ana when she enters, who immediately picks him up. Fikra makes her issues with Ana's captivity known and the Sultana tries once again to explain, but Fikra does not care. Ana tries to smooth things over but is having a hard time doing so. Fikra answers the Sultana's questions about the reading and Fikra's circumstances in town, but it's lacking detail much to the Sultana's frustration. Kareem gives a false address for where they are staying to avoid issues with the necropolis.

After getting as many answers as the Sultana can pry out of Fikra, she asks for a fire reading as a demonstration of Fikra's abilities. The Sultana accepts that the item offered might be lost if the fire is displeased with the question. The Sultana leaves to get the item. This gives Ana a chance to talk to the family. She catches them up on what has been happening. She mentions Tephu and Kareem really wants to go but Fikra shoots down the idea.

The Sultana returns and takes them to the conservatory where she has a fire pit for them to use. The Sultana takes great interest in Raillath gloves, but Fikra throws a few prickly comments at her for it and Ana runs interference. They arrive at the conservatory and the servants arrange the fire pit. Fikra instructs the Sultana about what to do with her item as she does her ritual.

There are small flickers of flames that seems to repeat. A red crown. It's very consistent. Once. Just once. A human head with subtle cat features devours one of the crowns.

Finally the flames take shape. The sultana appears in the flames, dancing as several red crown circle her. She is ducking and weaving around them beautifully.

"You balance the politics and responsibilities well for now." Fikra tiles her head. "Friend and foe often looking the same to you."

Fire moves and takes the shape of lightning, threatening to hit the flame sultana. She dances out the way but it hits her once and changes her colour to be darker. It hits her again and she gets darker again, stumbling. Ana catches the head return to nip at the heels of flame sultana.

"Supposed allies will strike you. Weaken you while enemies wait for the chance to strike."

The flames turn black around the flame sultana as hands reach up and drag her down before the flames go back to being normal flames.

"Plots will cause something to rise and pull you, and by extension this city down unless something changes." Fikra finishes.

The sultana stares at the flames silently. The comb inside melts slowly.

Ana tries to rescue the comb, but it is beyond saving from Fikra's fire. Raillath is disappointed in his mother for this since she is happy about the destruction of the comb. Ana tries to make a connection about the Sphinx is behind the Red Kings. The Sultana almost denies this but cuts herself off. Instead she explains the danger of the Sphinx to Shoufal, especially her army and how this might connect with the farm issue currently. The cultist trying to resurrect Hakotep I, the Sky Pharaoh is a big concern to the Sultana. Ana offers help with this and the Sultana is interested in this and wants to discuss it after the trial. The Sultana gets Fikra to write down what she can remember of the tarot reading to wrap this up.

As Fikra does this, a messenger comes in to talk about a fire at the temple of Khirdai and there are people trapped inside. The Sultana apologises but she needs to go. Ana volunteers to go and help with her, much to Fikra's disappointment since she does not want Ana going into such danger, so she too will go with the Sultana. They're taken inside and set onto a rug that quickly takes flight and heads out an open double window with the Sultana, Ana and Fikra onboard. There is a minor amount of bickering from the Sultana and Fikra but Ana gets them to focus on the problem.

Brin meets with Stormfang on the balcony and they reminisce about the past. Stormfang would traffic spices, merchandise of nobles and weapons through Ruorven. They discuss the scuffle they got into with the watch while moving a cutlass. As they talk, Stormfang smells smoke, but they both agree it wasn't their circus or monkeys.

As the Sultana flies Ana and Fikra in, they can see a mark with a strange symbol burnt into the front of the building. The Sultana lands and whistles, pulling Ana off the rug before it flies forward and hovers above the market. She lets go of Ana before running towards the building. The Sultana explains that is the symbol of the Fading. Using her magic, she starts to move water out of the Golden Lake and towards the building on fire.

Ana taps into some elven magic in her blood that has finally matured to make rain to put the fire out. The trio go into the building with Ana and the Sultana magically putting out the fire while Fikra ends up being the muscle, going through fire to find survivors and bodies alike. They send her to find and rescue the investigation team who have been attacked, tied up (with metal literally moulded around their ankles and wrists) and left to perish in the fire. They had strange marks cut into their foreheads. The bodies of death Khirdai priests are found with them in the same manner but they seem to have been dead for hours.

Ana inhales a lot of smoke and exhausts herself. She does as much as she can before she is forced to leave for her own health. Fikra is very firm about taking Ana back to her guild now and won't take no for an answer. Ana wisely complies. They escort Kuroom and Ustrad as well. They arrive back by 1pm. Stormfang comes down to greet Ana, but is stopped by a very overprotective Fikra. Stormfang has his heckles up and goes to find Darry while Oryn qucikly moves to get Ustrad and Kuroom to their bunks to rest before running off to get Margaret. Bonsen is very upset to see the state of his team and Ana fills him in while she waits.

After being retrieved and warned about Fikra, Margaret and Brin come down to see Ana and hear about what happened. After being filled in, Fikra and Ana leave to go see Selene, Margaret heads back to work and Brin stays in the reception area.

After taking some time to collect himself Brin checks in on Kuroom and Ustrad. They're coughing very badly and in need of rest. Bonsen runs around getting them and Uvory water. Brin and Bonsen discuss what's happened. They theorise what the city would do if the Khirdai temple wasn't able to recover. They also discuss how this might effect the court case in a few days.

Bonsen tells Brin about the lawyer they were working with, Father Iben Jalour. Khinasi man in his early 50s. Tall and lean. His face reminds me of a hawk. Has a silver beard, nicely trimmed but no hair under his headpiece. Tends to wear ivory and blue robes with a necklace of decorative keys. Brin heads up stairs to talk to Margaret about this. She's okay with him going to find the lawyer but puts a ban on anyone else getting kidnapped. Brin agrees and heads out.

By 2pm, Ana arrives at the Hall of Blessed rebirth. The reception is frantic with people running in and out. They request to see Selene and are asked to wait. While they wait, the family and Ana talk about the moon, it's connection to the group and Selene. A short wait allows Ptemnib time to come out and see them, taking them to Selene. Though he won't be able to stay with them as the Sultana herself has summoned all clerics and those of faith to lend support at this time. He stresses the fact Selene must stay in her true form due to her condition and is wearing a band that will prevent her from changing.

Ptemnib shows the group to a room with Selene in dragon form. Her scales are a mess. Some are completely missing and some are half lifted off, while others look infected. Date palm is with her, trying to gently put something on her scales and she keeps crying and pushing him away with tired roars of protest. Fikra immediately steps forward to help. The family talks to Selene and Date Palm (Jafar) to try and start diagnosing the problem. When Fikra suggests leaving this plane to get Selene back to her own moon, Selene grows violent with the idea of being separated from Date Palm. Fikra has to change into her own dragon form when Selene gets a little violent. Fikra and Selene hug it out while Kareem and Date Palm bond over having demanding and bossy draconic ladies in their lives.

Brin arrives at the shell of a building that was once the Khirdai temple. The fire is put out for the building. There is a strange symbol burnt into the top of the front side. It looks like it still stands so strong being made of stone, but it's very blackened. There are tents put up out the front as they are sorting through the injured and the dead. A woman that was at the lottery is giving out orders. She seems to have a lot of weight and power here, but she's not the sultana.

Brin waits patiently for the woman to finish and notice him which takes a while. She directs him to a tent if he is looking for family that might have been injured in the fire and another if they sadly passed during the fire for another tent. He heads to the injured tent and sees Mistress Everhand working with Ptemnib here to assisting the injured. Brin looks for a man with a key necklace but the amount of blankets covering the bodies here make it too hard. He goes over to see Ptemnib who helps him find Father Iben. Brin is permitted to see him but should be mindful he needs rest.

Iben and Brin talk about what has happened. Iben has healed himself some, but needs rest before he do more of this healing. He doesn't trust his fellow priests given the attack and the fact that some of the bodies were not his fellow priests that were found in the fire. Iben is worried about the evidence in the fire, especially as he has not been allowed back in to inspect the evidence. He is also concerned for his safety in a flimsy tent. Brin takes him back to the guild for a safer place to rest. They return to the guild at 3:30pm before Brin leaves again to try and get some of the evidence.

Kareem walks Ana back to the guild. Ana tells him about the Bride's gem heart and he is very keen to see it. When they return to the guild she shows it to him. He stays for an hour to work on it before leaving with the goal of picking up chocolate treats on the way back to the dragons.

Afterwards Ana goes to find Stormfang. She finds him sitting on the balcony with Hamsey watching Jamal spar with Idorii on the roof as she does her best to show him how to be more flexible with his strikes and get people on the forward and back swing. Ana sneaks up behind him, which scares him as he turns to slash at Ana with his hand turning into something more claw-like. Thankfully he sees it is Ana before he hurts her.

The pair sit and chat while sparing continues. Stormfang tells Ana about the oracle that he fed a magical sword to in order to get a hint of where Ana was. Hamsey was able to scry on Ana and see a tree which allowed them to teleport to nearby. Currently his ship is docked in Ariya. Stormfang shows Ana support with her carving out her own path in life, with the South being removed from the bay and her parent's influence. They also discuss the problem of slavery and Evie Shark-bait who is after Ana. Stormfang reveals Evie is an awnshegh. Stormfang allows Ana to tell him about Xeldarix and he asks some questions Ana can't answer yet and encourages her to commune with her goddess more.

At one point Stormfang makes a joke about Hamsey, who smacks Stormfang around the back of the head with his staff which causes a flower crown with strange little purple flowers. This causes Stormfang to hurry to get it off. He's already coming up in small hives where it sits. Ana helps him with her wand of lessor restoration against the poisonous flowers. Afterwards Ana lays down for a nap after summoning a celestial guardian to watch over her. A large spectral Kingfisher holding a sword and shield with Xeldarix's holy symbol.

At 4:30pm Brin arrives back at the shell of a temple of Khirdai. He tries to request access but needs direct permission from the Sultana herself to do so. As a result he changes tactics. After scoping out the place, Brin climbs an unguarded side to get up on the roof and climbs into the building through the sunroof that is now very broken. He drops down to start a long search of the building for the files.

At 6pm Sehossep and Margaret finish work for the day. It will take 8 days to get the eye gems to a stage of working. 4 days with two people working on them. Sehossep can come back and help for a few more days. Margaret goes looking for Brin and upon discovering he is out, she looks for Jamal instead. She finds Jamal sparing with Idorii on the balcony. When they finish, Margaret tells Jamal that she wants to go and take pies to Jonah and his siblings. Jamal offers to escort her and he accepts.

Brin sneaks around inside he eventually finds the cabinet hidden in the room. The fact everything is blackened made it hard to find. Seeing how much information it hold, Brin takes a few key documents before leaving out a window and heading back to the guild. While it sounds easy, this process took many hours.

Margaret and Jamal pick up pies and arrive at the Insula Mater at 7:30pm. Auntie Anjet greets them and takes them up to visit the family. They're very happy to see Margaret. The children in particular are very happy to see the pies. Jonah is doing his best ensure boundaries with them so they adapt to town life, but it's clear that its tiring to be a sole parent of some many children as a young man. After an enjoyable bit of pie, the pair head back.

Brin returns to the guild at 8:30pm. He goes round to check on everyone and learns Margaret is still out. He briefly sees Stormfang on the balcony to learn Ana is asleep in her room. Stormfang asks about the dead smells around the guild. Brin lets slip that Margaret is in a moon cult that is connected to Jamal and the smell. Afterward Brin sneaks into Ana's room to sleep on the couch, mildly surprised by the spectral Kingfisher but doesn't allow it to stop him from sleeping when it doesn't react to him.

Margaret and Jamal return to the guild at 9pm. Stormfang and Hamsey are waiting for them and invite them up to the balcony for a drink. Stormfang asks Margaret about her magic and he shares a little of his history with her in exchange, including how Stormfang and Hamsey met. Eventually they end up talking about undead and Stormfang asks about Jamal's nature as he is concerned about him being a threat.

Margaret offers the pirates a deal. If they help her with an issue to do with the moon and her old group, she will tell them about Jamal since it would be necessary. She needs to go to Muden quickly to deal with a problem and wants to use Hamsey's transport via plants spell to do so. He would need to scry as he has never been to Muden but is willing to do so. When they arrive Jamal's nature will be revealed. Stormfang wants to confirm this with the Princess but is willing to entertain the idea.

Margaret contacts her friend Evelyn to hear they are travelling for a week and will have a week of set up before they start the ritual. They are travelling South in Muden. This gives them a week before the group heads underground and it might be hard to do the transport spell. They finish up their drinks and the pirates head off, giving Margaret and Jamal some privacy for conversation. They are both worried about what is happening. Margaret heads to bed at 10:30pm.

31st of Anarire 1545

At 6am Ana wakes up to find Brin just waking up on her couch, surprised to find him there. Brin accidently rolls off the couch and lands with a thud. He explains he gave his bed up to the lawyer and needed a place to crash, maybe less literally. He also fills her in about the trial and how the fire has maybe impacted it. Ana tells him a little about her time with the Sultana and how she wants to take a list of the expensive relics to see if she will buy any. Brin fills her in about what happened on the guild side while she was at the palace.

Ana questions Brin's name wants to know if it is Brin or if it's Darry. He admits his name is actually Brindarry. So they both are. They talk a little about his history with Stormfang smuggling in Ruovern. Ana shares the conversation she had with Stormfang and him finding her. Afterwards Brin heads to his room and Ana goes to find Margaret.

At 6:30am Margaret wakes up ready to do math with the shares and start handing some of the shares out.

Jonah - eye x1, 172.5 gp, 6 small gems worth 10 gp ea
Stormfang - eye x2,
Hamsey - eye x2,
Jeriam - eye x2, 182.5 g
Tarhun - eye x2, 182.5 gp
Jamal - Potion of Healing, eye x1, 182.5 gp
Ubek - eye x2, 182.5 gp
Brin - eye x2, 182.5 gp
Ana - eye x2, 182.5 gp
Margaret - eye x2, 182.5 gp

Guild - 3169

Jeriam - Gem of light, 2 charges, 2969 gp
Tarhun - +2 longsword, owes everyone else 102 gp
Jamal - scrolls (insect plague, protection from energy), jade/turquoise/gold bits, ever smoking bottle, 1214 gp
Ubek - +1 Breastplate (He has the forge, so hopefully can sell it easily), Gem of Light, 8 charges, 2 obsidian swords, 15 bead necklaces, 669 gp
Brin - idols of jaguars x2, mask, sceptre, ewer of fish, headdress of protection, gems of light, 5 charges, 3 charges, 769 gp
Ana - 3169 gp
Margaret - 3169 gp

Brin pokes his head into his room and is satisfied to see the lawyer sleeping and as unharmed as he was last night. He heads off to go find the girls.

While Margaret is doing math, Ana pops in. They talk about Stormfang and consider if they should trust him. Ana wants to and Brin joins them at this point. Margaret gives a vote of confidence for trusting Stormfang due to his willingness not to instantly kill Jamal for his nature. Ana and Margaret seem sure based on what they have seen that Stormfang is a werewolf or some other were-beast. Margaret tells Ana that she has offered the full truth about Jamal to Stormfang in exchange for help in getting to Muden. Stormfang will want to talk to Ana about this today.

Ana ensures everyone knows that she will take the Sultana a list of their relics for sale to try and move them. She really liked the Sultana despite being used as a hostage. Brin also wants to try and sell the relics through his storeroom. Though only if they can get enchanted display cases. Also they need to consider the caravan that needs to be arranged. While they talk, Margaret gives the pair their shares. Margaret reminds them Jamal is looking into recruitment currently.

Ana gets the groups blessings to give Kareem the heart of Azari's old bride. At 7pm Brin heads back to see the lawyer while Ana helps Margaret hand out shares.

Brin heads back to his room to see the lawyer awake and in the middle of praying. By 7:15am the prayers are done and they discuss the trial. They were starting to build formal arguments when they were attacked. Father Iben needs to assess the current team to see if they are fit to assist, but will neeed a minimum of three people. He is willing to go shopping to get the lawyer anything he needs. He goes looking for the others.

Ana and Margaret go round and deliver their shares to the other before heading to the reception area to wait for Sehossep. While waiting, Ana asks about Muden and they discuss realm magic.

At 7:30am Brin finds the girls in the reception area. He tells them about his shopping plans and gets some tips for where to get the sort of book type stuff the lawyer needs. He then heads off on his mission.

Brin finds Dame Uvory and Bonsen are resting in the barracks, just finishing up breakfast, Ustrad and Kuroom are here and look a little better but pretty bad. As they talk, it becomes obvious that they won't be up for being a representative in court, maybe just witnesses now. Suddenly realising how this situation is slowly getting worse for their guild with this trial, Brin takes the time to consider who he could ask to help them. He needs two other people to represent the guild. But who?

At 8am Sehossep arrives to see Ana and Margaret waiting in reception. A messenger from the Sultana also arrives. They deliver a not that reads:

Your guild member Jamal Silvermarch requested a meeting before the issue at the Threshed Souls Fragrances happened. If this meeting is still required I have a spot available at 12:30pm.

Margaret admits the point of the meeting is now moot but Ana could take advantage of it to sell the relics. Margaret originally wanted to discuss the case but considering everything that has happened that took care of itself. Ana writes a message back for the messenger to take that Ana will attend with a list of relics available for sale.

Afterwards Margaret and Sehossep head up to work on the gem eyes.

After much pacing, Brin goes to find Azaz and Khelru to approach with the offer of work. They agree to help and do their best. Azaz advises the shops Brin was after would be open at this stage. Then Brin heads off to get his supplies.

Ana gets some breakfast before heading up to the garden to work with Thistle for a few hours while waiting to head to the palace.

At 8:30am Brin returns to the guild to start working with the legal team. They're working in the library. They spend the morning going over the case to catch Brin, Azaz and Khelru up to speed before they starting building their court strategy.

Case Information for the Trial Against Lord Thamir ibn Jareed

The Farm in Al-Majd
Lord Thamir ibn Jareed owns a large estate just outside the village of Al-Majd, a rural settlement a few hours' ride southwest of Shoufal. The estate was known for its fertile soil and consistent yield of staple crops vital to Shoufal's food supply. Recently, however, the farm became afflicted by unnatural, aggressive flora. These plants, some of which bore necrotic vines, thorny appendages, or hallucinogenic pollen, began attacking and attempting to consume the farm workers.

Several workers were gravely injured or disappeared entirely, with evidence suggesting they were dragged underground or consumed by the vegetation. If not stopped, the plants would have spread via airborne spores and underground runners to surrounding farms, posing a significant threat to the agricultural infrastructure of the region.

Lord Thamir’s Business Holdings
Lord Thamir owns a network of businesses, both legitimate and shady:

Threshed Soul Fragments Co. An import/export operation dealing in dried herbs, spices, and alchemical reagents. It served as a front for trafficking drugs and distributing arcane substances provided by The Fading.

Two warehouses in the merchant quarter of Shoufal, one of which has been linked to hidden shipments of illegal goods (including Mumia).

A shipping contract with camel caravans that secretly transport packages for The Fading across desert routes under falsified manifests.

Ties to The Fading & Threshed Soul Fragments Co.
The Fading, a secretive gang operating in the underbelly of Shoufal, specializes in forbidden drugs and necrotic magics. Through the Threshed Soul Fragments Co., Lord Thamir received and distributed corrupted flora, magically-altered plants that were designed to seem like exotic but beneficial crops.

In reality, they were engineered to be predatory and necrotic, infecting the land and attacking those who worked it. Documents obtained by the guild tie these plants directly to labs run by The Fading. Payment receipts and coded letters discovered in Lord Thamir’s personal effects confirm that he funded and coordinated with the gang.

Motivation: Sabotaging the Farms

By orchestrating the failure of his own farm under the guise of an “unexplained affliction,” Lord Thamir hoped to:

Appear as a victim of the blight while secretly watching the infestation spread to rival farms.

Use the perceived crisis to sway local leaders into granting him more power and resources.

Enable his business to corner the food supply chain when other farms failed, positioning himself as the sole provider with “safe” produce.
Motivation: Supporting the Sphinx’s Invasion
Lord Thamir is believed to be in league with The Sphinx, a powerful Awnshegh who rules a neighbouring province and desires to conquer Shoufal. By weakening the city’s food reserves and demoralizing its people, Lord Thamir would:

Create the ideal conditions for a swift and minimally resisted invasion through famine or drained resources that tried to combat the famine.

Secure a powerful position under the Sphinx’s new regime, possibly as a vizier or governor of Shoufal.

Receive arcane rewards and protections promised by the Sphinx’s court in exchange for his betrayal.

At 11:30am Ana approaches Jamal to see if he wants to come with her. He's uncomfortable going to see the Sultana but is happy to escort Ana there and wait outside for her in cause the Fading try something. They also ask Stormfang and Hamsey to come. Jamal tries to take the opportunity to prove to Stormfang he isn't a threat. Stormfang and Hamsey happily accepts and Ana realises she will have to play referee as Stormfang takes a few verbal jabs at Jamal. Ana makes a comment about not everyone is human, a pointed comment at Stormfang. He doesn't shy away and only says he never claimed he was human. They talk around the point carefully as they walk to the palace.

At noon Brin and his team start to look at how they will present their case.

Opening Statement - Father Iben

Initial plot
1A) Show evidence of the Threshed Soul Fragments company purchasing the plants from the Fading - Investigation - Azaz

Motive
2A) Sabotage a business that has had troubled dealings with pay between himself, the workers, and the Sultana - Insight - Kherlu

2B) Undermine the stability of Shoufal by sabotaging it's food supply - Persuasion - Azaz

2C) All the while currying favor with an outside power - the Sphinx - in order to be installed as a person of importance. - Insight - Brin

Methods
3A) After obtaining the seeds, have them planted in farms - Investigation - Father Iben

3B) Hire fledgling guild to "solve the issue" so he could claim that he tried to stop the issue - Insight - Brin

3C) Let the plants take hold over the farms so food prices would go up and benefit him in the short term - Persuasion - Azaz

Overall Connections
4A) Highlight the warehouse and camel caravans being a major part of the Fading's illegal trade - Investigation - Brin (utilizing his knowledge of Smuggling)

4B) Show coded correspondence between the Fading and Lord Thamir to describe the depth of coordination between the two organizations. - History - Kherlu

Closing Statement Father Iben

This takes the rest of the day to consider, plan and set to ensure everyone plans to their own strengths for this case.

At 12:30 Ana and her team make it to the palace. They are taken to a sitting room to meet with the Sultana. They show the list to the Sultana and she considers it carefully. She will take the Ring of Mind Shielding off their hands and writes a not to allow for a bank transfer to occur in order to pay the guild. The Sultana also checks in to see how the investigation team is going given they were caught in the fire.

Afterwards Ana leaves, giving Jamal the bank letter once they get outside. Stormfang and Hamsey take Ana to lunch while Jamal goes to the bank. They discuss Raillath and Fikra, Ana hinting there is more to the family then meets the eye, but her father respects Fikra so they should too. They agree and check in at the guild in case Raillath had gone to the guild looking for Ana.

At 1:30pm they arrive to find Oryn calming himself with his lute. Raillath left a note for Ana:

I'm sooooooo boooorrrreeeeedddddd! Where did you go now?
— R

She heads to her room to find Raillath with her disguise kit materials. He's got one of her wigs on as he tells her all about his boredum, how immature Selene is and how he doesn't like her. They talk about Raillath's home life and his sister Mahdia, Raillath's egg donor and the usual protective of Fikra over Raillath, before Ana invites him out to lunch which he accepts. He's very curious about Hamsey, the frog person and he wants cake for lunch. They go to a cafe.

Café Zaytun – Midday Menu
Flavors of the Sun, Spices of the Sands

Small Plates & Starters
Saffron Lentil Soup
Slow-cooked red lentils with saffron, garlic, cumin & lemon oil. 2 sp

Stuffed Date Leaves
Vine leaves filled with seasoned rice, pine nuts & dried fruits. 3 sp

Desert Flatbread with Spiced Labneh
Oven-warmed flatbread served with mint yogurt cheese. 2 sp

Camel Jerky & Pomegranate Chutney
Thin-sliced cured camel meat, smoky and sweet. 4 sp

Main Dishes
Khirdai Market Platter
Roast lamb, grilled vegetables, olives, pickled onions & fig glaze. 9 sp

Zaytun Spiced Chicken over Pearl Couscous
Chicken marinated in preserved lemon & Ras el Hanout spices, served on saffron couscous. 8 sp

Vegetarian Harissa Tagine
Slow-braised seasonal vegetables with apricots, chickpeas & chili. 7 sp

Desert Fisher’s Delight
Smoked river fish from the oasis trade routes, served with tahini sauce & lentil pilaf. 8 sp

Sweets & Refreshments
Honey-Rosewater Baklava (2 pieces)
Flaky pastry with crushed pistachios and golden syrup. 2 sp

Almond Coffee (Hot or Iced) Strong Khinasi brew with almond milk and cardamom. 1 sp

Chilled Tamarind Mint Tea
A cooling sweet-sour infusion popular in the midday heat. 5 cp

Desert Cream Custard
A cool, sweet saffron custard dusted with cinnamon. 3 sp

Midday Special
"Sun & Spice" Meal Set – Choose a starter, main, and a tea. Includes a seat in the shade and fresh fruit to finish. 1 gp

Raillath gets the Khirdai Market Platter, Stormfang gets the Desert Fisher's Delight, Ana and Hamsey gets the Harissa Tagine. The baklava gets ordered for after the meals. Ana jokes about Raillath being older then her, Stormfang plays along, not realising it's true and Raillath drops the bomb that he saved her as a baby from being stolen by harpies when they attacked the tower. Turns out it happened when she was only a month old. This leads to talk about the seer Simone and Stormfang making a few comments that upsets Raillath. Ana calms the situation down and they talk a little about Ana's childhood before food arrives. Stormfang confirms that it wasn't the cutlass Brin and he smuggled back in the day that he gave up to the oracle. He went treasure hunting for the one he gave up. Stormfang and Hamsey have known each other five years, with Hamsey becoming First Mate a year ago.

After eating they head out to go shopping for a bit, starting with a bookshop. Down a sunbaked alley in the Tanners' Quarter, behind a crumbling wall with a hand-painted sign that reads "The Dusty Page: Books & Other Words." The windows are fogged with grime, and the door creaks ominously when opened. The interior of the shop reveals an overcrowded wooden shelves that bow under the weight of books. Ceiling fans spin lazily above the dry, papery air. A sand-crusted rug sits near the counter. A sleepy three-legged cat guards the front counter. A leathery old khinasi can sits behind the counter. The place smells of ink, mold, and forgotten knowledge.

Ana talks to the owner and learns he has some picky sand timers that only work at noon, a bookmark that talks, an inkwell that makes words appear in the air and a cursed book. Ana is naturally drawn to the cursed book. He shows her a fragile looking, tattered grimoire. She can tell it's old. Like pre-deismaar old. Ana believes it's to do with necromancy and transmutation. Looking over the bindings suggest its just a piece of the grimoire but that are symbols to suggest it can be locked together if the other pieces are found. It's got to be at least worth 80 gold. 150 to anyone that knew its true potential. Worth thousands or hundreds of thousands more perhaps if assembled.

She makes him an offer of 110 gold if he also tells her where he found it. He agrees and tells her that he found it in the necropolis when he was a young man. Afterwards they head out to find a shop of shiny things to make Raillath happy. Their next shop is located on the edge of the Copper Dunes Market District, The Scorpion’s Sting occupies a narrow adobe building with faded turquoise tiles along its arched doorway. The sign is very shiny. They head inside. A small brass bell chimes with a sharp, unnatural note as they enter. The air inside is thick with the scent of burnt incense and ozone. The shop is dimly lit by glowing crystals suspended in mesh baskets. Shelves are crowded with scroll tubes, chipped glass bottles, cracked gemstones, and curious trinkets. A black desert scorpion naps in a terrarium behind the counter.

Ana goes over to the terrarium to ask the scorpion if it owns the shop, which amuses the actual owner, a Khinasi woman. She shows Ana some of her interesting trinkets for sale.

Consumables & Common Magic Items:

Potion of Healing (minor) – 50 gp
Dust of Dryness (1 pellet) – 75 gp
Scroll of Feather Fall – 40 gp
Scroll of Detect Magic – 35 gp
Lantern of Revealing (cracked, flickers unpredictably) – 120 gp
Oil of Slipperiness (half-used flask) – 60 gp

Curious Items:

Brass Medallion of Whispering Winds – 75 gp
Whispers faint desert winds when rubbed. Grants +1 to survival checks in desert terrain while worn.

Ring of Boldness – 25 gp
Grants +2 to Charisma checks.

Enchanted Scorpion Tail Spike – 85 gp
A dagger fashioned from the tail of a giant desert scorpion. Deals 1 extra poison damage once per long rest.

Djinn’s Tooth (fake) – 10 gp
Supposedly grants wishes. Ana doesn't believe it would sell for so little if it worked. And it is not magically warm to the touch.

Bag of Holding (looks very worn) – 200 gp

Ana sees if the owner can buy any of their items as well as she considers her options. She doesn't have the coin for a trade like that but would be happy to pay instalments over time if they would allow. Ana just buys Raillath the medallion. Afterwards they head back to the guild and arrive at 4:30pm.

At 4:30pm Ana and Raillath comes up to where Margaret and Sehossep are working. Ana excitedly tells Maragret about the grimoire. Margaret looks it over quickly and promises to look at it more closely when she is done working for the day. Raillath and Ana amuse one another in lining up things in patterns while the pair work.

At 5pm Sehossep leaves for the day. She will return tomorrow. 6 days remain to work on the gems. Ana and Margaret head to the library.

Margaret, Raillath and Ana find Brin, Azaz, Khelru and Iben working in the library when they come in at 5pm. They realise there is not enough room in here for everyone, but the trial group will be done my 6pm. The girls are a little concerned about Brin as he tries to explain what they are working on and check him for signs of a stroke. They get Brin to take a snack break. Margaret and Ana will head down to Maragret's room to work instead. Brin comes with briefly as he gets a snack. Ana explains that the woman at The Scorpion's Sting could buy some of their big items but would need to pay off through instalments and the Sultana bought the Ring of Mind Shielding.

Margaret conducts a ritual of comprehend languages. Looking it over Margaret realises that out makes no sense and that's because every 2nd and 3rd letter is missing. Curious, Margaret does an identification ritual next. Though not fully readable, Margaret recognizes pieces of a ritual involving void displacement. Possibly related to delaying or deflecting banishment effects, or even rending the veil between planes. There are hints that the spell (if reconstructed) might allow the caster to temporarily hide a soul from detection or divine judgment.

Margaret conveys this to the group. With this to think on with maybe looking into tracking down the other parts of the group, Brin goes to find Jamal, Margaret goes to get some dinner and Ana joins Brin before she will takes Raillath back to check in with his parents.

Brin, Ana and Raillath head to Jamal's room and find him in there packing it up. Turns out he's moving into what will be the old barracks when the new barracks is finished. He shares that things went well at the bank and that he'll just need to arrange everyone getting their shares. Jamal has not delivered the ring as he thought Ana was doing that. She promises to do so and leaves while Brin follows up about sorting the caravan for Arinn.

Maragret enjoys a peaceful meal on the balcony.

Ana gets the ring, a box from Oryn and heads off to the palace.

Jamal and Brin discuss the caravan and Jamal says they need to recruit more guild members before they can arrange the caravan due to their limited members and how long they would be gone for. Interviews would need to happen and these interviews should happen after the trial. Brin kind of apologises for letting Jamal's unique nature slip with Stormfang. Brin heads off for a walk to the fighting pits.

After dinner Maragret goes to find Stormfang who is up by Ana's garden, watching the remains of the moon. They discuss who is the moon to one another. They stargaze together for a while before Margaret does to look around for others in the guild.

Ana drops off the ring with the guards, getting assurances that it will go straight to the Sultana, which they do assure her will happen. Ana heads to the Hall of Blessed Rebirth to check on the dragons.

In the barracks Azaz, Khelru, Idorii, Tarhun, Jeriam, and Bonsen look to be packing up the beds and areas not in use under Jamal's supervision as he also helps. Margaret comes in and gives they a hand with this. Jamal reveals tomorrow that people will come in to install and secure the furniture with the move being complete. Margaret also checks in about the caravan and Jamal explains the process that he's undertaking to recruit people and consider the spacing of the caravan timing and route. Jamal was worried the case is getting Brin to overthink and stress himself a little.

Afterwards Margaret looks for Ana, but finds she isn't here. Margaret talks to Jamal about using the last of their Seer's Tea. Jamal agrees to keep her company and scribe anything she says during the process.

Margaret goes to her study to do this, and begins brewing the tea over a little Bunsen burner. She inhales the fumes as it gets ready, then once it has steeped she drinks the tea and asks:

“How will we find information about the remaining portions of the twice-split ritual that Ana found a part of?”

The answer:

"Follow the shattered crown of a forgotten Pharaoh and faded prayers; close by and hidden around, the secrets of fragmented rituals slumber."

Margaret takes the time to relax while waiting for Ana to return.

When Ana and Raillath arrive, they find Fikra in human form carefully cleaning Selene's scales. They tell Fikra about their day and show off Raillath's new medallion. Fikra reveals they'll be staying at the Hall of Blessed Rebirth instead of staying in the necropolis, which upsets Raillath. Ana offers to have Raillath stay with her. With this settled they discuss how Kareem is doing and how they found a grimoire he might be interested in and ask after Selene. Selene has scale rot, but that's only a recent affliction. They head off back to the guild.

At 7pm Brin arrives at the fighting pits that are just starting to set up. Brin will take a bet on an early match, which Brin sadly looses. He notices the crowd is slightly smaller then when the lottery was running with a relaxed curfew. He relaxes with a glass of wine. At 8:30pm Brin heads out, noting others are not doing so. Obviously they do not seem concerned about the curfew.

At 7:30pm Ana and Raillath return to the guild. They get some dinner.

At 8pm as Ana and Raillath finish up dinner Margaret comes to find them in the kitchen. Ana explains that Raillath is staying here tonight as Fikra is focused on Selene. Maragret asks Ana to get her some spell copying supplies and to look into a scroll of divination for her. She gives Ana 1000 gold for this. She also tells Ana about the use of Seer's tea and the results. They discuss it a little before Margaret heads to bed and so does Ana. Raillath sleeps in cat form to curl up with Ana and Ana locks her door.

Brin arrives back at 9:30pm, having avoided the guards. He heads to bed in the barracks.

32nd of Anarire 1545

Everyone is up at 6am, though Brin and Ana with a Raillath in cat form are down into the kitchen first. Brin cooks up pancakes and teases the cat a little, nearly getting his nose bitten for his efforts. Margaret joins them as Raillath in cat form tries to play with knives and Ana uses her telekinesis to keep them away from him, which seems to have become a game in itself.

Margaret gives Raillath some of her pancakes and he helps clean up any she drops by 'mistake'. They discuss the trial that's happening tomorrow over breakfast and the idea of going North either tomorrow night or the day after. Brin suggests they leave Jamal behind to manage the guild, but Margaret informs him that he needs to come since this is about him. Brin thought she meant it was about the library, not about her cloister. After breakfast Brin heads to his room while Ana and Margaret stay in the kitchen.

Brin finds the lawyer deep in prayer. He waits patiently for the man to finish at 7:45am. They confirms the time and date of the trial. It is tomorrow, 8am start. Today is committed to practice and tightening up arguments. Brin offers to get the man some breakfast and he ducks back to the kitchen to do so.

Ana talks about her new magic of making a guardian with Margaret, but she's lost some of the ability to read all the rituals in her book. It seems the power has converted into a new spell, but left her with less rituals that she can hold in her head at anyone time. Brin briefly returns to give them to details of the trial before leaving again. After he leaves Margaret shares the new spells she has been working on and developing that could help them with hypnotizing people with light in battle or psychically incapacitating someone.

Ana stops Raillath from getting too curious in the kitchen cupboards, as a result he changes back to his human form. They decide that the pair will head out shopping while Margaret waits for Sehossep.

Brin brings the lawyer his bread and fruit. Iben has been using Khirdai's blessing to excellerate his healing. They head to the library, collecting Azaz and Khelru along the way. They strap in for a busy day of practice and Iben doing everything he can to ready them for the trial.

Ana and Raillath head into the reception with the goal of leaving, but are stopped by someone knocking on the guild door just a little earlier then the guild was going to open for business. Ana opens the door to find a rabbitfolk creature that Ana has never seen being. This rabbit humanoid with mottled brown-and-white fur, wide eyes the color of polished brass, and ever-twitching ears that reflect his moods. He wears a layered desert cloak (complete with stitched-in pouches), and his merchant’s pack seems larger than he is. He has tightly rolled, large scrolls strapped to his back like a quiver.

He greets them before letting out many questions in very quick succession. The rabbitfolk creature and his mule Tincture are looking to head to the city of Aftane and were looking for an escort if one was available. They don't have much gold but are willing to pay in charms. They direct him to Oryn to sort out the finer details. Ana asks if his scrolls are spell related but sadly are only map related. Ana keeps ahold of Raillath who is trying to leave and scolds him for being rude. Afterwards Ana and Raillath leave the rabbitfolk creature with Margaret and Oryn as they head out.

Maragret waits for her working companion and Sehoseep arrives as Oshwyt, Worm, Date Palm and Idorii are assigned to the job. Before heading up to start work, Maragret gets a map of the area they're going to get passage to Tephu in.

Raillath spots the mule waiting outside and is curious. Being young and full of bad ideas, Raillath pokes the donkey and gets bitten for his troubles. He changes into a dragon to try and scare the donkey but without much luck. The mule keeps a surprisingly strong hold on Raillath as Ana gets him to turn into something small as she telekinetically pry the mouth of the donkey open. Raillath turns into a mouse and the mule closes it's jaw around him but Ana is able to pry it open and allow him to escape. He scurries up Ana's boot and climbs her pants and blouse until he reaches her shoulder.

Ana hurried away with Raillath. Raillath declares the animal isn't natural and it even managed to cut through his scales. Raillath believes the mule and rabbitfolk creatures must be monsters in disguise who might hurt Oryn! Ana immediately messages Maragret through her book with this concern.

As Margaret sits down to get to work, she gets a message of concern for her and Oryn being eaten by the mule outside. Margaret suggests in her reply that they see if the mule is magical. She apologises to Sehossep before heading out to the balcony. Ana sends a new message that she can detect magic and explains what happened to Raillath. Margaret reassures them that she will identify the mule for them. She has Luna do and flyby and uses her connection to her familiar to make the spell work.

The Donkey identifies as having an unusual amount of protection and enhancement magic on it. Increased resistances, AC with increased strength and the ability to use natural weapons (bite and hooves) as magical weapons. The flavour of the magic is similar to the archfey in the tent but not the same.

While Margaret does this Ana tells her that they are coming back.

Ana relays Margaret answers and they decide to head back and want to make sure nothing bad happens to Margaret while she is identifying. When they return they see if the mule will talk but will not respond. Margaret messages them with it having a lot of enchantments and fey connection. This is relayed to Raillath.

Margaret detects the thoughts of the donkey. The thoughts aren't animalistic but aren't human. They are something else. She gets the sense of amusement and annoyance at the same time. Almost daring the loose skinned creature to try again.

Seemingly satisfied no one is in danger, Raillath and Ana head off while Margaret gets back to work once more.

By 8:30am Ana arrives at the temple and is able to arrange for a scroll to be commissioned for Margaret for the divination scroll for 2000 gold. She notifies Margaret and uses all the coin given for scribing supplies to put a down payment for the scroll. The scroll will be ready at the close of business on the 1st of Diesmir. Afterwards they head down to check in with Raillath's parents to learn they are resting after a sleepless night. Kareem is happy to learn he can have the red jade heart.

After wishing Kareem some good rest, Ana and Raillath head out to get 500 gold worth of scribing supplies for Margaret and do some shopping of their own. They start off in a tent for the A Silk-and-Shadown Tent called Shifting Veil. They enter the tent and find a veiled elf lighting incense. "Welcome." She says. Her voice is soft and barely able to be heard. There are many cases of items to look at around the tent. Raillath finds an obsidian mirror that shows hints of Raillath's true form. Half of Raillath's face has draconic features similar to his dragon self.

They consider their options for the mirror. They learn it is called the Devil's eye and costs 350 gold.

Other items of note:

Gleaming Moonstone Ring (price on request): Radiates faint enchantment. The sign claims it "brings clarity in dreams."

Whispering Pendant (350 gp): When worn, the wearer hears whispers of nearby speech if focused for 10 seconds.

Eye of Glass (100 gp): A monocle-like lens that shows minor illusion traces left behind in the area.

Silver Feather Quill (200 gp): When used with any ink, writes in shimmering script that can only be seen in moonlight.

They only get the mirror. The next stall is called "A Stall of Refined Trinkets and Curiosities". It has a silver-bearded gnome who wears a monocle etched with divination runes is at the stall. He has a dagger, a clockwork device that moves on its own and can record people. Raillath is interested in an amber crystal orb that faintly glows and has bubbles that move inside. Ana buys the dagger .

The last stall they stop by is the Fineworks Smithery with a stoic, dark skinned tiefling standing at it. There seem to be three main items on display with prices and a short description.

Polished Mithril Bracers (450 gp): Engraved with a hawk motif. Light and gleaming.

Desert Rose Blade (750 gp): A curved sword with a rose-gold shimmer. Made from a rare alloy, it never rusts and cuts clean.

Scale-etched Copper Shield (120 gp): Decorated to look like a stylized dragon's wing. [Railath signs, “Tasteful.”]

Ana is very interested in the blade for Stormfang. The blade is forged from damascened steel with a subtle, rose-like swirling pattern across its surface. Its edge gleams faintly with a sand-gold hue, and the fuller glows softly when exposed to direct sunlight. The guard is shaped like a blooming rose, its petals crafted from red-gold and tinged with delicate flecks of pink sapphire dust. The grip is wrapped in desert viper leather, supple yet firm, with a pommel shaped like a droplet of crystalized sap.

It's not enchanted but the Mistress of the Forge can enchant it if they want to follow up for that service. It would take a week. Ana buys the sword and will think about if they want to get it enchanted. Afterwards the pair gets some lunch. They finish eating at 1pm. Ana makes the mistake of asking Raillath what he wants to do. He pitches checking out the sphinx in the oasis or an adventure in the necropolis and talking to the crystal dragon. After a large discussion they settle on the necropolis.

By 2pm they fly over the wall of the necropolis and head towards the bauble shop with the sink hole. They go and meet Shardizhad who takes a bit of persuading but eventually she agrees to go on an adventure with them. She finds Raillath very strange. But then again, she also finds the idea of spending gold to get different shiny things also very strange.

They go off to explore somewhere they haven't been before. At 3pm they arrive out the front of a U shaped building. Faded and damaged statues of Anubis flank the double doors at the front of the building. There are single doors on the end of each U, but they look more study and rusted. They have a go at a few doors, but they're very difficult to open but eventually they get one open.

Looking around the building that has some cells, a meeting space and a stage. They find a brochure written in Masesian and a secret trap door in the stage. They open it from a distance and see dust appear in a heavy cloud in a 15 ft diameter around the door. There is something shiny in the dust that reminds Ana of glass before it dissipates. A trap of some sorts. They look down when it's safe and see a ladder into the crawl space beneath the stage. They head down, Raillath turning into a cat and Shardizhad turns into a small, sand coloured fox with unusually large ears to ensure they don't have to crawl like Ana has to in the confined space.

Ana looks around to find another trap door in the floor. She can't find the way to open it, so she does her Detect Secret Doors ritual to find the mechanism to open it. It reveals stone stairs. They head down the stairs, the dragons taking human forms once more, carefully stepping over traps before eventually reaching some door at the base of the stairs.

As Ana tries to pick the lock and successfully opens it, a blast of thunder hits the group. Looking into the room, they see there is less sign of age down here then there had been in the building above. She can see it has been used somewhat recently. Hard to say if it was a few weeks or a few months ago though. The two dragons rip the tops off two crates to look inside. Shardizhad finds shiny stuff and Raillath finds cool stuff.

Shiny

A velvet pouch.
A silver-plated goblet with a cracked ruby inset.
A bundle of costume jewelry: six beaded necklaces, a tin ring with a large purple glass “gem,” and a tarnished bracelet of mirror-polished copper.
A mirror-backed hairbrush inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
A bag of glass shards mistaken for gems
A cracked crystal doorknob.
A small obsidian cube etched with swirls.
A gold-plated buckle in the shape of a falcon—very shiny, but the plating flakes easily.
A folded brass fan with delicate cut-outs of desert flowers—decorative and surprisingly elegant.
A silver-plated dagger with a dulled blade, once ornamental, now somewhat useless in combat.

Cool Shit

Thieves’ Tools Set, well-worn but high quality, with an engraving on the case: “To Veshar – Silent as Shadows.”
A folded black leather cloak.
A vial with dust in it.
A worn map of the necropolis, with faded markings that seem to point to a deeper sealed chamber.
A deck of marked cards—can be used with Sleight of Hand to cheat at games.
A leather-bound journal, locked.
A stoppered bottle of black glass containing a syrupy green liquid.
A small lead box.
A single throwing knife.
A withered desert rose.

Ana looks over the map to see it is a map of this building for getting into this chamber. At this point Raillath can detect magic, but only as a ritual as his gloves are not good enough for verbal components and confuse somatic components of spells. He learns the cloak, dust, bottle, dagger and rose are magical. Nothing from Shardizhad's crate is magical. They take their two crates and leave.

At 5pm Maragret and Sehossep finish for the day. It is the last day of them working together. There are four days Margaret will need to continue working on the gems. After seeing her companion out she gets some dinner.

By 5pm Ana and the dragons arrive back at Shardizhad's lair. There is an argument over splitting of the loot. Eventually Ana allows Shardizhad to keep the shiny crate while she takes the cool crate with Raillath. Ana does her best to sooth Raillath's ruffled scales over the affair. He admits he thought she was pretty when they first met, but now knows the crystal dragon is just pretty annoying and stuck up.

At 5pm Brin and the legal team wrap up, heading out to dinner to destress before the big trial tomorrow. Brin shouts them all for food. They also gets Brin some fine clothing to ensure he can look his best for court tomorrow.

Just after 6:30pm Ana and Raillath return to the guild. As they pass through the kitchen with their crate, Margaret see them. Margaret makes them some sandwiches while they tell her all about their adventures today. Looking over the box and journal, they see one is trapped and one is not. Ana opens the non-trapped box to find a scroll inside. They dispel the magical trap on the journal before also unlocking it. At a very quick glance it seems to be a journal from likely someone high up in whatever operation was being run down there. The girls and Raillath head up to Margaret's study to continue looking things over.

When Brin and the legal team return, he leaves them to go and find Ana and Maragret. He checks the library before heading up to the study to find them there with Raillath. They seem to be identifying some of the items. Maragret is working on a scroll while Ana works on a cloak. The scroll is a spell called passwall. The cloak is interesting.

Cloak - Devil's Advocate (uncommon)
Grants resistance to radiant for 1 minute a day. Can be activated as a BA or reaction.

When done they ask Brin about his day and discuss the upcoming trial a little. Margaret explains she really wants to head North with Hamsey's help tomorrow night, so she is hopefully the trial doesn't require more then one day. Raillath is really upset to learn that Ana is leaving again so soon. Brin offers Raillath to come with them without really thinking it through, which he has to walk back. Raillath is really upset and doesn't even think they'll notice he's gone when they're so busy focusing on their new dragon. Ana reasons with Raillath and gets him to accept he can only come if Fikra says he can.

The girls go back to doing some more identification. They find a rose enchanted to never crumble and a dagger with a minor enchantment. A +1 dagger when thrown and will return to the throwers hand once a day. They gift the dagger to Raillath as a part of his share from the day's work. There is also a vial of dust of disappearance with only one use and a potion of mind reading. They tell Brin about their adventures. Ana gives Margaret the 500 gold worth of supplies she picked up. At 8pm the party splits up to do their own things before bed.

Ana finds Captain Stormfang on the roof as Raillath trails behind her. She gives him the sword she bought today as a gift, much to his delight. She also confirms that Hamsey will be ready to send them North tomorrow night. Stormfang clarifies Hamsey will not be able to come with since on this occasion the staff will have to become the tree to cast the spell as Shoufal has no useable trees. Afterwards Ana and Raillath head to bed under the watchful eye of a spectral kingfisher.

Brin heads to the barracks to find the room very different to this morning as Jamal is setting up his own bedroom here. Brin clarifies that the new barracks is set up and ready to go. Jamal invites Brin to take his bed if he needs it. He has a pillow corner set up for the nights he doesn't want to lay down when he rests. Once the discussion is done, Brin takes Jamal up on the offer and crashes here for the night.

Maragret settles in to do some light reading before bed in her study. As Margaret settles back into the unsettling rhythm of reading The Black Maw, this section of the book drifts deeper into experiential records. Notes from previous scholars and mad mystics who attempted to reach, commune with, or bind what dwells in the Devouring Dark. The text grows increasingly erratic, the author occasionally slipping into first-person horror.

What She Finds:

Echoes of Consciousness: Descriptions of voices "heard without air," minds speaking through shadows that bleed, and dreams that do not end upon waking. Several accounts suggest that once a mind begins to truly understand the Black Maw, it starts to be known in return.

A Shifting Glyph: A diagram of a binding circle appears to shift when viewed out of the corner of her eye. On closer inspection, it appears to be a non-Euclidean seal, designed to attract rather than repel entities from the Void.

The Nameless Whisperer: A passage references a creature or entity known only as "The Nameless Whisperer," described as the voice in the Maw. Those who name it are said to forget all other names they know.

At one point while reading, Margaret's shadow detaches slightly from her body, only for a heartbeat, and points toward something Margaret doesn't quite catch. She's not sure why a chill runs down her spine. When she looks back at the page, it has shifted. A previously blank section now bears a single, handwritten line:

"You have seen too much. But not enough."

The ink is not the same as the printed script. Maragret writes in the book herself, questioning the statement. This seems to cause three things to happen.

Any lit candles in the room start to bed towards Margaret and the book.
The paper under Margaret's touch changes texture. It grows warm, then cool. The fibres of the page thicken under her touch.
In a faint, silvery ink (not the black text of the rest of the book) appears under Margaret's.

"You will. One page at a time.”

Then dark blue ink appears and the hand writing looks familiar to Margaret unlike the writing that appeared before.

“Do not ask what watches you, unless you are prepared to be seen. Be careful.”

Margaret recognises the latest handwriting as Azari's. At this point she stops and does her usual preparations before bed.

1st of Diesmir 1545

Margaret dreams of a library with no doors or windows. It doesn't look familiar. There is a shadowed figure at one of the tables writing in a book. She tries to sneak up behind the figure. As Margaret starts to move towards the figure, the figure moves away at the same speed as Margaret's approach. There is no transition from them sitting to moving away from Margaret. They just are. The space between them doesn't shift.

Changing tactics, Maragret sits down at another table. The figure stops running and is now browsing a nearby shelf without moving. It's book remains on the table it was working on. Margaret frowns and tries to imagine herself simply being at that table with the book without moving there. She does move and as she does so, there is a strange scream that sounds like nails on a chalk board as she ends up sitting opposite the book. Some of the chairs are now distorted around her. The figure itself has maintained the distance but seem to now be in half. One part remains where Margaret last saw it and the other half is now the new equal distance away in the same direction Margaret teleported.

Margaret pales a little at the sight, then glances at the book across from her to see if she can tell what’s on it. She can clearly make out writing. There is a list of what look to be names, a circle of some sorts and on the page opposite a full of paragraphs. Even from here she can see Brin's full name. Grimacing, she reaches out and turns the book towards herself to read it better. As Margaret starts to read, she finds the text echoes in her mind. The circle, full of runes seems to be a ritual that appears in front of her eyes like an after image as she reads the text. She is unable to stop reading. She goes to turn the page to continue, as her actions are no longer in her control like a puppet on strings. A gauntleted hand grabs her wrist while another covers her eyes. There is a sigh, that breaths cold air on the back of her neck.

Azari has arrived and starts talking to someone else in the room, claiming they cannot have Margaret. A distorted voice replies, calling Azari a child and that Margaret will be theirs's just as the others are. Names flash in Margaret's mind as the discussion continues.

Erin Lamvin
Brindarry Traghetti
Krexli "Sparkwhistle" Tindlefuse
Zirasha Al-Majir

Margaret fights and is able to force her own eyes closed, but the circle and the names seem to be carved into her eye lids as she can't help but see them. Azari continues to be protective of Margaret, pulling her close, telling the voice Margaret will not belong to them as she is her own person. The voice mocks Azari for his false noble actions and reminds him about the fact he has literally branded Margaret with his magic and intentions. The voice calls Azari the Forgotten Light, Orphaned Star Born Beyond the Veil, and Birther of the Veil. It taunts Azari with knowledge he has long since forgotten or been hidden from him.

Maragret in her own small way, helps Azari to ground himself. He warns the voice not to try this again as he tells Maragret to imagine a place within his kingdom and hold it strongly in her mind. As Azari takes them away, the voice gets in one last jab. Reminding Azari he risks his own small moments of sanity for a mortal and wonders how long it will take to have it return or if he will even regain it. Margaret feels the chair beneath her vanish, and the book gone under her hand, but the grip on her remains strong. She feels ill as the circle, the name and the words still have a faint echo in her mind. Azari is now breathing heavier then before.

Margaret opens her eyes and tries to thank him, but something is different about Azari now. The gauntlet in front of her eyes in still resting on her face but no longer are cupping with the purpose of blocking her view. She can make out Azari's library in front of her. There is a grunt from the figure holding onto her when she thanks him. He steers her out the library as the hand on her face moves to the back of her neck. She doesn't fight him on this. She's taken to a nice looking bedroom. A large bed, a writing desk, bookshelves, a bathroom and sitting space with couches. Margaret feels a push from the person holding her to enter the room.

Margaret moves inside the room, but he doesn't follow. She looks back in the room, but he looks very different to when she last saw him. His eyes are unfocused, he's extremely tense and has almost an animalistic presence to him. He closes the door roughly with a grunt. Frowning, Margaret looks for paper and a quill to write Azari a note.

Regardless of who you were, you can be as noble as you want to be.

My curiosity may yet be my undoing, but I think the entity revealed more than it should have. Some of the puzzle is coming into place. But I will not touch the pieces again for some time. I need to be better prepared.

She leaves that on the desk, then looks around at the room before laying down on the bed and closing her eyes, hoping to fall back into a normal sleep.

At 5am, Ana is very suddenly awaken by her bed helping around under her, nearly throwing her into the wall. She immediately jumps out of bed and tries to find Raillath. Thankfully he's not hard to find as his dragon form was the cause of the disruption to the bed as he probably went under it in cat form before changing into his dragon form for whatever reason. Ana wakes him up. Raillath opens his eyes and whimpers loudly as there is a sudden knock at the door with a faint whisper of Ana's name. Raillath is looking around wildly and is terrified.

At 5am Brin wakes up and gets himself ready to start the day when he hears banging coming from Ana's room. Brin grabs his bowl of oatmeal and heads over to her room to investigate. He knocks on the door and whispers Ana's name. When Ana hears it is Brin, she invites him in and apologises that Raillath's nightmare might have woken him. Raillath tries to talk but he has the shakes so bad he can't sign properly. Seeing that nothing dangerous is happening, Brin has to get going due to trial today. He apologises that he can't stay to help and heads out to get on with his morning. He is positive Ana has this well in hand.

Margaret lays down to rest and finds herself falling into a resting feeling similar to sleep, but when she wakes up, she finds she is still in the room in Azari's manor. She's even in her sleepwear. Some strange looking fruit were brought in while she slept to the coffee table. Margaret gets up to try the fruit. A strange mix of sweet and sour. Like someone mixed a pineapple and a lemon together. She checks out the bookshelf before getting changed into a green dress she finds in the armoire before grabbing a book to read.

Ana and Raillath sit for a while as he calms down. He apologises and Ana gets him to open up about his bad dream. He dreamed Fikra didn't want him anymore with her new baby and his egg donor came for him and ritually sacrificed him. They talked a little about the egg donor. Ana's father never told her much about Raillath's history. Raillath tells her about her clone magic that helped her escape true death at the hands of her father and his group of friends. They never found her and she's still out there. At 5:30am Ana takes Raillath down for breakfast as he takes on his cat form. She makes him pancakes.

Brin finishes breakfast, gets the team together and heads out at 6:30am.

At 6:30am Ana takes Raillath to go and find Margaret. She knocks on the bedroom door and gets no answer. So she uses her book to message Maragret. She learns she's in the shadow world since Azari rescued her from the void. Ana keeps her cool at this news and sees if Margaret will be back today. Margaret doesn't seem to know how.

Raillath turns back into his human self and goes to investigate Margaret's room, finding her asleep in the bed. She's in a new but old looking green dress. It looks like she was crying blood at some stage overnight. There is dried blood that leaked out of her ears. There is also blood on the back of her left hand with a semi circle line cut into the back and blood on and under the nail of her finger nail on her right hand.

Ana quickly informs Maragret with the book that her body is still here. Ana identifies the body to learn she is under a strange version of Astral Projection. It doesn't seem to be something Margaret cast, so she cannot end the effects herself. There are hints of binding effects that are half finished but due to the half finished nature there isn't enough detail to say what it would have done. Ana tries to dispel the magic but is very unsuccessful.

Hearing Ana wasn't able to dispel the magic, Margaret tries to dispel the magic herself after returning the book to the shelf. She didn't want to accidently steal another one. As she tries and feels the magic keeping her here unravelling, she hears an animalistic roar as the world around her fades and she feels herself laying down. Her eyes are itchy, her ears feel blocked and the taste is blood is in her mouth. Her left hand aches.

She sits up and opens her eyes to see Ana and Raillath. Ana is a little panicked by the whole situation as Margaret calmly explains mistakes were made. Maragret tells Ana a little about her dream but doesn't go into a lot of details. She would rather go into later when Brin is here for it as well. She just wants to start work for the day and go shopping. Ana offers to go shopping for Maragret and is given a list.

Brin arrives at the palace at 7:30am. They're shown to where they can set up and prepare for court which starts at 8am prompt. As 8am draws near, Lord Thamir and his lawyer are escorted to their own bench. Thamir looks in poor condition with many burns but alive. The Sultana and her grand council also enter and take their positions.

Father Iben tries to give a meaningful opening statement, but the court views it as overly dramatic. Azaz steps up to present evidence around the plants being planted on the farm were purchased from the Fading by the Threshed Soul Fragrance by the Fading. He states how dangerous these plants are and there is no way they could have been mistaken for typical farm plants. This shocks to tribunal and one council member presses Thamir on his merchant's seal as his defense visibly weakens.

Khelru follows this to discuss the dispute of pay between Thamir and his workers that even the Sultana herself had to order to be resolved, and as he was unable to turn the heights of the profit he desired, he turned to sabotage of his business and Shoufal's main provider of food. Khelri notices that Thamir's body language shows signs of guilt, personal resentment or deliberate selfishness, as the tribunal begins to question Thamir's credibility and character. Azaz follows up with the justification of why Thamir would sabotage his own farm in order to gain potential allies while removing a minimal profit farm from himself. The tribunal nods along as they can see the connection.

Brin steps up to discuss how the Sphinx and the Fading were connected to all this, since they would have much to gain from turmoil in Shoufal. However, this leap seems to be too soon for the court and Thamir's lawyer argues very effectively against the guild for their fearmongering. They take a lunch break.

Ana and Raillath get some pastries when they arrive at the market at 9am. They talk a little bit, Raillath is feeling better but mostly in reflection that at least he could wake up from his nightmare. Though it worries him a little that his egg donor might do something similar to him that happened to Margaret, like not even sleeping is safe. Afterwards, they search the market for all the things on the list and head back to the guild for 1pm.

The trial team bond and reflect over lunch. When they return, Father Iben takes the lead again. Going back to the farms and the planting of the seeds, they go into more detail about this as he describes it as agricultural warfare. He calls forward a farmer to confirm the orders came from Thamir's steward and a court clerk takes records of the company that took part in this. Thamir's defense starts to fracture as suspicion becomes the consensus.

Brin follows up with how his guild became involved in this incident with the idea that an unproven guild that was understaffed at the time would struggle to deal with the problem, but to the noble's surprise they were very successful. This led to Uvory's kidnapping and Brin links the events together for the tribunal. While it looked like Brin might flounder, the Sultana herself stands up to testify about what her guards saw in her recovery and the aftermath of what of Uvory's health. She reminds the council of the connection between the Fading and Mumia, assisting Brin in linking this cause to what almost befell Uvory. The tribunal starts to see how the pattern of behaviour from Thamir is more deceptive then negligent.

Azaz, feeling the pressure of the case, is a little flustered as he stands up to discuss what would happen if the farms had been destroyed and how Thamir prepared for such an event by stockpiling inventories in his warehouse. This could lead to a large price hike during the shortages. The facts presented disturb the callousness of the logic, the economic clerks and merchants present nod grimly in understanding. One of the Sultana's advisors begins taking notes for an audit. The mood in the courtroom tilts against Thamir, not only is he guilty, but cruelly opportunistic.

Brin follows up by once again linking this to the Fading and Thamir's activities with his businesses. The presentation of maps, manifests and sighting while trade officials present recognise the discrepancies in Thamir's reported cargo volumes as a caravan master is persuaded to testify. A clear material link to The Fading is established, strengthening the case for conspiracy or aiding criminal enterprise.

The Sultana brings this case to a close at this point. She and the tribunal leave to discuss the case. Everyone else returns to their lunch chambers for afternoon tea.

At 1pm, as Margaret finishes lunch, Ana and Raillath return. They spent 145 gold getting the items Margaret needed. Margaret is very grateful as she takes the items and gets back to work.

Over afternoon tea, the group reflects on how they went, hoping things land in their favour. At 3pm they're invited back into the court. Lord Thamir ibn Jareed is stripped of his lordship and will be imprisoned for his crimes. The court is asked to watch what they say outside of this room in relation to the Sphinx and plot here to avoid unnecessary panic while she looks into if any of these ploys have taken root in her city. The ex-Lord is removed as he screams profanities at the Sultana and at the guild, promising this is not over as he is dragged away. The guild is rewarded for their work, giving them the confiscated farm lands, as well as 500 gold to each investigator and representative involved in the case. 500 gold is also given to the guild and Dame Uvory is invited to the palace when she is well enough to assist her on getting back on his feet more firmly with a magical item from the Sultana's personal collection.

As Brin leaves, he ensures Khelru, Azaz, Uvory, Bonson, Ustrad and Kuroom are listed. He and Father Iben omit their names as they do not wish to take the gold. Father Iben promises to help the guild should they ever need it. He'll return to his own home now the case is over and hopefully it is safer. The guild has earned a faithful ally this day. Brin, Azaz and Khelru head back to the guild.

Ana persuades Raillath to go and see his parents. She grabs the red jade heart to give Kareem. They arrive at 2pm at the secret area of the hall of Blessed Rebirth. There Fikra is in human form, putting some type of cream on dragon Selene who is sighing loudly like an impatient child wanting the current thing to be done. Ana does Fikra a favour of talking to Selene to try and help her being more patient. Ana tells Selene about Cora and the magic bees with special honey, and how Cora had trapped the Ghoul's knights and described the battle with them. Selene raises a good question about if the honey would help her pain go away and Ana does not believe so.

Fikra tells Ana about a sage to the far Northwest that might have information. However, it should only be considered after requesting help from Cora given how close she is by comparison. Fikra isn't sure if either will be necessary as she needs to clear the scale rot which is behaving very strangely. Ana changes the subject to tell Fikra about the travel she will be doing to Muden to see if Raillath can join her. Fikra requests more details and Ana tells her what she can but doesn't have all the details.

In the end Fikra decides that she needs time to consider this. She writes her name in Ana's book to allow Ana to send her messages about this. She leaves the heart for Kareem before leaves and Raillath stays behind.

At 3:30pm Ana returns and tells Margaret about how it went with the dragons while doing her best to get some of the information Fikra was after. They consider the fact there are no trees for Hamsey to use in Shoufal. He'll still be able to get them there but won't be able to come with. As they discuss the Highest Light's desire to do the ritual to summon Jamal during a new moon, Ana ponders what is watching if it is not done when the moon can watch. Margaret is sure that nothing or perhaps the void is watching.

At 4pm Brin returns and after seeing that Azaz and Khelru back to the barracks, he head off to find the girls. He comes into the study just as their conversation lolls. He comes bearing bad news, he has no idea on how to run a farm. With a bit of humour, Brin explains how the trial went and what the success earned them. They consider getting Jamal to talk to Thistle Bramblethorn about going to the farm to look into it for them.

Ana tells them she needs to go back and see Fikra and Kareem to tell them about the trip to see if Raillath can come given she has more information now. Brin wishes to come as well to learn more about the family. They head off to leave Margaret to her work.

By 5pm Ana and Brin arrive in the secret area of the Hall of Blessed Rebirth to find Kareem is working on making dinner. Ana makes formal introductions between Kareem and Brin. They talk about the issue a little before the pair are directed to where Raillath and Fikra are. It turns out Fikra tried to divine more information to help her make a decision but it was smoky at best. Ana explains the extra information she has recieved to try and help with the decision making. As soon as they bring up the possibility of the void, Fikra gives it a hard no. Brin tries to explain it would be better for Raillath to experience the void with friends rather then alone.

Fikra doesn't budge as she doesn't think anyone should encounter the void regardless of group sizing. Brin tries to argue the point with setting your own terms on when you first encounter the void, but Fikra tells them every day there are less planes because of the void. This shocks them a little. Fikra continues saying she risks enough allowing Raillath to talk to those who are tainted and apologises to Ana about this and explains its a risk no matter how you put it. This brigs Ana to the realisation that her father is actively working against the void. Fikra confirms it. During the conversation it comes out Brin is also one of those people. Learning this pushes it more into the 'no' camp. Brin leaves the conversation at this point despite being invited to stay.

After finishing work for the day, Margaret has three days left on the gems. She heads off to get some dinner.

Fikra apologises to Ana as she didn't mean to offend her friend, but she has to look out for her son now he's been interacting with two void tainted individuals. She considers taking Selene back to Muden just for safety sake. The pair discuss Ana's family and the void while also sharing what she knows about Brin's void seed. Eventually Raillath storms out, giving Fikra and Ana a moment to discuss the necropolis trip (that Raillath lied to Fikra about) anddream Raillath had over night. Fikra is saddened to hear about this. Raillath growth hasn't been straight forward due to his trauma which makes it hard for herself and Kareem to parent him. She will talk with Raillath about the situation and ensure to be a little more attentive to his needs even with trying to deal with Selene. Ana wishes her well as she heads out to see Brin.

Margaret finds Captain Stormfang on the balcony with Hamsey. The captain is impressed with Margaret's stolen dress. She sketches a picture of Evelyn for Hamsey as she explains the plan to them. Afterwards Margaret sends a message to Evelyn to get to a tree and her friend promises to try. Stormfang gets them glasses for drinks while they wait. Stormfang wants to hear the story but the dress and instead ends up telling a story when she can't tell him.

After the story Margaret checks in on Evelyn to learn she has been captured and the Highest Light is looking to pass judgement for attempting to run away. They quickly scry while Margaret gets Jamal to make arrangements about the farm before he and Ubek mobilise themselves to be ready to go.

Ana comes out to join Brin about 20 minutes after he left. She checks in on her friend who settles for disparaging the abilities of the fortune teller as they head back. They get back at 6:30pm and barely have time to start dinner before Margaret comes in and tells them about her friend. Ana grumbles about dinner but follows after she and Brin grab food to take with them. Margaret makes them some goodberries to sooth Ana's hunger. Hamsey writes his name in Ana's book for communication purposes.

Hamsey takes them outside and slams his staff into the sand and dirt of the street as it grows into a mighty mangrove tree with the smell of sea salt as it opens. He ushers them through where they run into a tent constructed around a tree. A woman in ceremonial robes raises her staff defensively as all the acolytes around step back in surprise. They have come face to face with the Apogeal Listeners' Highest Light. Margaret demands they stop what they're doing.

The Highest Light is confused at Maragret's appearance with her friends and at the announcement that the Moon's champion is here, so the leader should stop her plans to try and continue to summon him. The Highest Light, engaging in a discussion with Margaret calls for a celebration feast for the arrival of the champion. Not trusting it, Margaret tries to read the mind of the Highest Light and ends up collapsing. The Highest Light has the acolytes help Margaret and her friends to a tent to rest in. She does try and get the Champion to come with her, but Jamal stubbornly stays with Margaret and is not challenged on this. They're taken to a private tent and left in piece.

Ana tells Brin about what happened to Margaret this morning with being pulled into the shadow world, fearing it was the same thing. Brin is not impressed to hear this. Ana messages Margaret to try and get an idea of what is happening to her and if it is the same as this morning.

Margaret finds herself enclosed in a glass sphere in the night sky. Far from any light, in the darkest point between stars. As she struggles to orientate herself, a chuckle echoes around her after a long period of silence. The voice is deep and almost musical. It introduces itself as Bolo. It seems they are in the place between stars, between light and life. Bolo was born in this place and cannot leave. However, he could help Margaret return to her plane for a price. He tries to take her ability to cast magic, but Margaret resists him. She tries to bargain to give it to him temporarily, but he is unwilling to have her light, or magic on a temporary basis.

After a while Maragret gets a message from Ana. She does her best to tell Ana where she is. The next message that comes through is in pieces and hard to decipher, Margaret does her best to answer and mitigate her message being taken into pieces on the return. They want to know about Bolo and if they can bring Margaret back. Learning about Margaret's friend's Bolo offers to take some of their light instead, which Margaret refuses. She takes her chances on her friends getting her out of this predicament.

As she waits, she sees fainting a moon with a darkness on it. A tiny amount. Just before she is pulled back to her plan, she sees a transparent image of Jamal and Ana, with Ana's image being slightly smaller. Bolo seems delighted with the gift.

Ana has her back and forth with Margaret, and asks Jamal to identify the effects on Margaret. However, as he does so the pearl crumbles in his hand and jamal falls to his knees, grasping the arm that held the pearl in great pain. He gasps the word "Bolothamogg" as his nose starts to bleed. He tells the others not to touch Margaret as he struggles to focus.

Brin asks about how this fixed this this morning, and Ana tells him about dispelling the magic. She detects magic first and sees Maragret has conjuration and adjuration on her. The adjuration is specifically on one finger. She tries to dispel all effects on Margaret. Ana feels the ability to dispel is forcibly ripped from her, like an organ has been ripped out, which brings her to her knees. However, Margaret does wake up to find herself in a tent with it getting dark outside.

They discuss a bit of what happened and the little they know from both sides of the event. Seeing how bad this all is, Margaret heads out of the tent. The party rushes after her. She approaches the Highest Light and the Highest Light is delighted to see Margaret has recovered. Maragret asks the Highest Light if she is a lair or a fool as she confronts her and declares for all to hear about Bolothamogg and the Highest Light's connection to him. The Highest Light calls on her sisters and new friends to join her. Ana and Jamal feel a compulsion to join her but are able to resist it. All the acolytes stop what they're doing and look at Margaret and her party. Their eyes go black.

The party prepares for a fight as this group moves towards them agreesively. The Highest Light demands they hand over the Champion and will be permitted to leave. The fight is a little more overwhelming then the party expected, but they're able to keep the Highest Light from acting for a while until she is forced to flee. As she does, a wave of psychic energy hurts the party as she disappears, leaving behind a crater as all the acolytes collapse to the ground.

Maragret runs over to check on her friend Evelyn while Ana checks on Stormfang and Brin checks on Jamal. Stormfang reassures Ana he's alright while Jamal is less reassuring as he is just here and can't really add anymore then that right now. Ana heals Stormfang a little as Brin support Jamal the best he can. Looking over Evelyn, Margaret can see she has received a bit of punishment with some bruises obviously from earlier. She's just unconscious and already looks to be coming round. From the light groans, that looks to be others are coming around too except for those who were knocked out.

The acolytes are all very confused as they come round. They don't remember the fight at all. Margaret asks them about what has changed since she left and if anything weird had been happening. Apparently the sermons have changed to be less about the moon's light and more about enacting change, being worthy of attention and acknowledgement. There has also been the offer of private prayer sessions, but no one ever remembers attending. Ana goes over to the crater and is able to get some blood from it that isn't contaminated.

Margaret reveals this is not the cloister location, but just a camp since they were on their way to a place of power. The acolytes aren't super sure on their location. They're about two days from home, but every time they went to bed, their camp seemed to be in a new location which confused them. All their spells have been taken from them and can now only cast cantrips. The party goes to inspect the Highest Light's tent for clues.

They can see a lot of magical traps in here. They're able to disarm every trap with tools except for the one on a large chest at the foot of the cot in the tent. Margaret dispels that last trap. Ana unlocks the chest. Inside is a blackened book, a moonstone mirror that is cracked, a large scroll, a bowl of some fine powder, a statuette, a locket wrapped in a bloody thread, a wind chime of stars made from silver and bones, and a half burned book. Maragret has a closer look to see if any of it is familiar. The blacken book is one of the lunar hymn books for the cloister. Looking closer it looks to have been changed and vandalised. The mirror is familiar. A holy item that is now broken. The scroll is a star map but normally they have the moons path in them and a legend of phrases throughout the year, but this one is missing out entirely.

Margaret tries to mend the mirror. As the mirror starts to mend, a new crack forms going in another direction. The party discusses what they find, Margaret clearly dejected and sad at all this. She takes a closer look at the altar which has a bowl with silver liquid in it and a black leather scroll case. Looking it over, Margaret believes the liquid to be mercury with the bowl have runes of reflection and concealment on it. The black scroll case and scroll is opened to reveal it is blank. She holds it over the reflective liquid metal to see the night sky. Confused and frustrated, Margaret asks Ana for help with a ritual to become the Keeper of Secrets.

Margaret tells the group a little bit about what happened to her last night with the void kidnapping her and Azari saving her, and how she wants to become the Keeper of Secrets to help them access certain knowledge. She also reveals the names she saw in her dream in the void book:

Erin Lamvin
Brindarry Traghetti
Krexli "Sparkwhistle" Tindlefuse
Zirasha Al-Majir

Maragret now believes that either the void or Bolothamogg, maybe even a combination of the two, are connected to Azari's original identity and self. She summons the little ghostly figure from the pyramid to discuss the ritual. He confirms she has all the items and now just needs to be in the desert for it to take place. They also need a priestess connected to Basaia. At first Margaret thinks she's out of luck, but the figure reveals Ana has some of that spark of Basaia's magic within her. He scans her and confirms the source of her magic is a secondary tier source of Basaia's magic.

As the party comes out they see the acolytes have finished setting up for dinner. Margaret speaks privately to Evelyn to offer her a chance to come to Shoufal with them when they head back. She isn't sure and needs time to think about it. Ana goes around to help with the food and be social with the acolytes. Brin tries to get Jamal to talk through what has happened. When Margaret is done talking to Evelyn she speaks to other acolytes to see if they could navigate back to the cloister. A few have a general sense of direction that might be okay to get back but they seem a bit disorientated, like something deliberately wanted to make it hard for them to find where they were going to again or to run away. They know they have to head North and if they could get back to the plains, they would probably be okay.

Afterwards when the acolytes are done eating, the party ensures they settle into their tents before finding a place to set up their dome. The acolytes have lots of questions about what happens next and what has happened to their connection to the moon and the Highest Light. Maragret does her best to reassure them.

Brin and Stormfang have the first watch. Brin takes the opportunity to see if Evelyn is still up, which she is. Having a bit of a quiet cry and prayer. He tries to inspire her to see this as an opportunity and the darkness doesn't have to be scary. Evelyn struggles with this but does listen. As much as she doesn't agree with Brin, it does prompt her to want to take Margaret's offer of a fresh start in Shoufal.

Stormfang and Margaret are up next for their watch where Margaret answers some of his unanswered questions about Jamal to complete her end of this deal. He posses some good questions to Margaret about Jamal's nature and if he would be vulnerable to resurrection spells. He also learns Ana's mask might pose an issue for him if they lost it to the enemy, so they need to ensure she keeps it.

2nd of Diesmir 1545

Overnight Jamal and Ubek who take the next watch stumble across something surprising...

Ana is woken up for her watch with the fact that Ubek has found a new friend who was stone and then not stone. Jamal was watching this new friend and Ubek takes Ana over to meet him before he returns to getting some rest. In the tent they had used when Margaret was forcefully removed from her own body, Jamal is sitting with a Brecht man, a blanket over his shoulders and a hot beverage. A tall, gaunt man with unnaturally smooth, ageless skin. His dark eyes glow faintly with violet light. His hair is matte silver, braided in a way that Ana has not seen before. His body has scars that look ritualistic and he has tattoos as well. He looks a little startled when Ana enters the tent.

The man spoke very old Brecht, but was able to communicate with Ana. His name was Vareth Thorneveil. He's a man displaced in time. He was fighting giants and rested against a tree at the end of the battle when the world seemed to change in the blink of an eye. The mountain range remained the same but the forest changed. Through conversation Ana learns that he had recently celebrated a 1000 years since the battle of Deismar, which for Ana was over 1500 years ago.

Ana invites him to rest here and to discuss this more in the morning. She goes about her watch which is peaceful.

Maragret was the first one up aside from Ana and Jamal. Ana waves Margaret over to ask if she had met Vareth yet, this not so human human who showed up outside of camp overnight. Margaret informs her she had not and they walk over to observe the sleeping Vareth, noticing a purple gem embedded in his forehead that his hair had covered when Ana spoke to him earlier. Ana tells Margaret what she knows and is sure he's not a secret dragon as he did not understand Draconic.

They leave him in peace and get some breakfast. The acolytes are up and preparing the camp for breakfast already.

Breakfast is ready at 5:30am when Brin wakes up. He does some morning calisthenics to show off for the ladies and give them bit of a show. As Brin finishes up, Vareth is exiting his tent and the two of them meet.

Brin enquires as to who he is and Ana introduces them. After a brief exchange about neither one seeing the other in the last fight they had each had, they carry on to breakfast. He tells them about a war with giants and how in a moment he rested against a tree, everything had changed. As they talk it becomes obvious that Vareth is familiar with psionic magic and power.

Margaret asks Vareth permission to cast identification on him to see if there is any lingering magic about why he had slept for so long. He is reluctant but she's able to convince him to allow it after breakfast. Looking over a map, Margret is able to figure out roughly where they are in relation to the cloister's home base.

Then they consider where Vareth might be from and are able to get a general idea of where, but it's very broad.

They inform Vareth they are not heading that way but instead to Shoufal after seeing the acolytes back to their home. He tries to contact three different people from his monastery, but has no luck so he decides to go with the party. They will search the area to see if any others of Vareth's troop were nearby. Margaret talks with the sisters to ask them for help with the search and they agree to help.

Before helping, Margaret quickly tries to identify Vareth.

This creature radiates no active magical auras. However, there are deep residual traces of psychic transmutation. You sense that this humanoid was once something else (human, maybe Brecht perhaps) before undergoing an irreversible transformation. The process is beyond conventional arcane classification. The energy is ancient, deliberate, and not of this plane. It is not a spell effect, nor a curse. It is... chosen.

There are faint petrification magics on him as well that are fading.

Maragret is puzzled as she tells him of the petrification as it is normally permanent and isn't sure what reversed it. They look around for other statues and find evidence of some that have been destoryed over time. The vines that covered Vareth's form likely hide and protected him from the same fate. The party discusses if they really need to head back to Shoufal today or not. They decide they will stay with the acolytes and help them get home. The acolytes start to pack up the camp with the search done.

Margaret goes over to ask Vareth about the crystal in his forehead. He explains how it allows him to access his psionic powers as a part of a transformation. He and his monastery was called upon to fight the giants and defend the area. To the North, Anuire and Brecht forces were too busy fighting over land to care for the plight of the area to the South in Muden. Neither one of them wanted to defend the space until they officially claimed the land. Margaret tries to connect Vareth's gem to the place of power, which he denies. The colour represents the type of psionic power he possesses. There was a similar place of power close to the monastery that they used for the transformation he undertook.

By 8am the camp is packed up and get going. Brin and Margaret help with navigation with Jamal at the while the acolyte caravan in the middle while Ana, Vareth, Ubek and Stormfang bring up the rear. Their travel is uneventful. There is concern at a river, but fallen trees make it easy to cross. By the end of the day of travel they reach the edge of the forest where it becomes plains. They can see the mountains in the middle, which act as a good navigation point for them.

They set up camp and have ready dinner by 7pm. Ana sends Hamsey a message to update him that they won't be returning today. She then spends a lot of time telling Vareth all about Xeldarix, and he seems to enjoy taking in this new knowledge about this new Goddess.

The night seems peaceful as Brin and Margaret take on first watch. Margaret opens up on how she came to be at the monastery. She'd been left there as a child it seems. She doesn't know who her parents were or anything like that. Evelyn has a similar story as they grew up together. As they talk, some deer approach the camp. However, as they get closer, they see something is off with the deer. They move slightly strangely and when they get close, their appearance is off. They're imitation deer. As Brin goes out to see them, they open their mouth as if it happens at their chest was the face so the top half of the deer folds back as it tries to eat him.

Margaret quickly wakes the others. It's a hard fight with Vareth showing off his psionic powers, but he and Jamal are nearly killed a few times. However, they manage to keep all the acolytes safe.

C2 Session 23: Trials of All Sorts

General Summary

29th of Anarire 1545 Continued

30th of Anarire 1545

31st of Anarire 1545

32nd of Anarire 1545

1st of Diesmir 1545

2nd of Diesmir 1545

Anastriel Breeze

Jamal Silvermarch

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