The Keys of Telku / The Final Key pt. 21 / Kahn the 10th, 3593 CE / 4-30-23

The Adventuring team consisting of Not by Choice and the Ronin have entered the city of Baali on the Day of Power disguised as merchants in order to locate a legendary Key of Telku which is being held beneath the great Cathedral of Baal. As they make their way through the crowded merchants section of the city, a space set aside by the Baalites for outsiders to come in and conduct trade on the Day of Power, Nari is recognized by another merchant, Hyram the halfling potion seller, whom she and Adrienne rescued from the den of the Viper Clan goblins on a previous adventure. Hyram, mistaking Nari for just another traveler looking to do trade with the Baalites, gives her some tips on navigating the city on the Day of Power, advising that though foreigners are relatively safe within the confines of the massive market square, those who have gone exploring deeper into the city do not always return. Unfortunately, deeper into the city is exactly where the party must go in order to locate the safehouse indicated to them by their contact Ephraym, the bakery known as The Bread and Butters. After coming up with a plan, it is decided that the druid Moss, who was reluctant to engage in thievery no matter how noble the cause due his increasingly lawful nature, will stay with the wagon and the horses in the market square and keep up the ruse of a traveling merchant. It is also decided that the fire troll Coal will be too conspicuous, and so will stay and assist Moss. The rest of the party makes their way out of the relative safety of the merchant after some curious inquiries by the guards about the newly purchased bag over Lulu's head. Following Ephraym's directions, the party makes their way to The Bread and Butters, where they are greeted at the door by a young man named Tork. Lulu and Nari and shocked to discover that the proprietor of the bakery, Bertram Butters, is the father of the lost companion Milton. Bertram is distraught at the news of his wayward son's passing, but Tork lets the party know that they are indeed in the right place, and that he is an acquaintance of their companion Hush. Tork then reveals an even more astonishing secret, that he is in fact a half-orc living in Baali, disguising his heritage with the use of magical tattoos, and that others like him have formed an underground resistance to the Baalites known as the "Glorious Bastards." After Hush arrives at the safehouse, he confirms that his father, whom he came to rescue from the Baalites before they can divulge the secret of Bolton's pelletbows, is also being held under the Cathedral, and the combined team comes up with a plan. Though there is a secret route into the Cathedral through the sewers, Tork advises that the Baalites keep it stocked with monsters, and no one has ever returned. The party decides to instead brave the great ceremony of Baal being held in that night while in disguise. Nataliya casts a magical shadow over Idra, hoping to keep mostly out of sight, and at nightfall the party begins making their way to the Cathedral. Along the way Night is accosted by a drunken Baalite, but with the assistance of Taavi and Nari, she fends him off. At the Cathedral, the party bears witness to a grand benediction delivered on the Cathedral steps by the Daughter of Baal, the religion's high priestess. As they enter the Cathedral with the fantatical throng of Baalites, they are horrified to witness the sacrifice of heretics as part of the celebration. Making their way to the door that Tork indicated would lead to the Cathedral's catacombs, Nari casts a spell of invisibility over most of the party while the Amita K'un work on unlocking the door. Unfortunately a Baalite over hears Nari's spell, and though he can no longer see the young caster, he knows that arcane magic, forbidden by the Baalite religion is being used, and calls over a guard. With moments to spare before they can safely get through the door, one of the Amita K'un causes a distraction to draw away the guards, no doubt sacrificing himself in the process, as the rest of the party slips unnoticed into the Catacombs. As they descend, they reach a large open area with a walkway circling to another door, a pit at the center of which may lead to the sewers. As Strev the lockpicker once more goes to work get through this door, he sets off a trap which drops the platform beneath him, sending him tumbling into the pit where he is accosted by a swarm of venomous snakes which had been hiding below. As Nari works quickly to put the snakes to sleep using magic, the others help Strev back up onto the platform. Steeling themselves, they prepare to go through the door and confront whatever other horrors the Catacombs may contain.