The Age of Worms/ The Spire of Long Shadows pt. 3 / Kahn the 29th through Bris the 1st, 3593 CE / 7-23-23

In an abandoned church in the Corwynian countryside, Not By Choice are defending themselves from an attack of devils and their pet hellhounds. However the team proves more than capable and soon all the devils have been slain or repulsed, with the exception of the bone devil Imaxian, whom Rados pursues into the stormy night sky to no avail. With the attack over, attention turns to the source of the devils' ire, Lulu's fragment of the legendary Rod of Law, with Rados offering to take the artifact off of Lulu's hands for safekeeping, to which the oracle readily agrees. The party then returns to the subject of the mysterious box inscribed with runes which they found in the abandoned church of Vespera. Rados notes with interest that some of the devils also showed a desire to acquire it, and resolves to open the box, albeit from a safe distance using magic. When the box opens, each party member hears a strange wind whistle past their ears, but the box itself appears to contain nothing more than a few odd bone fetishes. However, the interior is enchanted with powerful magic to contain some evil presence. As Rados once more detects for evil in the area, he is surprised to sense a powerful evil aura emanating from Nari's companion Idra, but it then disappears, leaving the party with more questions about the box than answers. The next day they continue their journey, completing the first leg of their expedition a day later at the mighty walled city of Strafferg. Here Nari has connections with the merchant's guild which she intends to utilize, but first, fearing something evil may have been released from the mysterious box, she seeks the aid of a local priest of Thurn, Father Kwinn. After Kwinn examines the box and hears the story of the party's encounter with it, he deduces that the box was a trap for a supernatural being called a dybbuk, an evil spirit which can possess and hide inside the living, and which Kwinn fears is most likely inhabiting Idra. Nari seeks guidance from her small gods, but they seem to confirm that the best course of action is to allow Kwinn to confine Idra while he works on the ritual of exorcism for her. Nari agrees to return in three days to retrieve his companion. In the meantime, Rados has struck out for the seat of power in Strafferg, the castle of Duke Benlek, the city's appointed ruler. However, when he states his intention to attempt to sell the Duke magical items, not only is he rebuffed by the Duke's guards, it attracts the attention of spies working for the guildmaster of Strafferg, Marquis Alphonse Duphain. Rados is quickly rounded up by some of the Marquis' thugs and taken to the Merchants Trading Hall, arriving coincidentally at the same time as Nari, who has her own business to conduct with the Marquis. As the doorman deduces that Nari and Rados are acquainted with each other, he sends them in together to an audience with a non-plussed Marquis, who is quick to chide Rados for attempting to conduct business outside of the guild. However, when the Marquis learns that Rados is capable of creating magical items, he agrees to a test buy of one, a headband of charisma, with the condition that Rados be sequestered to the Merchant Hall while crafting the item. Nari meanwhile asks for a land grant to begin construction of her stronghold in Four Trails, and is surprised when the Marquis Reveals that the person of power she must bring his writ to is not the nominal mayor of the village but her own father, Jin Ashida. With Rados out of commission for 8 days, Nari heads back to the inn to prepare for a day trip to Four Trails, hoping to return in time to retrieve Idra from the Temple of Thurn.