The Keys of Telku / The Temple of the Apocalypse pt. 5 / 3592 CE / 12-29-19

The Adventurers part ways with their companions from the night before and reach the temperate and prosperous village of Magepoint by late afternoon. Speaking with a local leatherworker named Naddy Tomlanoft, they learn a little of the history of the town and the nature of its protection from the arch-mage, Manzorian. After receiving directions to some prominent landmarks, the team splits up. Adrienne, Henry, and Bean head to the Old Trading Post, where the eccentric clerk provides a map and other goods, while warning them to stay away from the notorious Temple of the Apocalypse to the south. At the Inn of the All-Seeing Eye, Uli and Roisyll relax from their travels. Meanwhile, Coron and Moss attempt to access the object of their quest to Magepoint, the so-called Temple of Knowledge, but are rebuffed by the library's caretaker, Canon Terjon, and told to return in the morning. After resting in the well-appointed rooms of the inn, all but Roisyll return to the Temple of Knowledge, where there is no sign of Canon Terjon. Hearing a commotion in the town square, the party investigates. A servant from the estate of local lord Jamisar Baylon is decrying that his lord has been murdered. Adrienne suspects that the attack is related to the disappearance of the libary's carekater and heads off to investigate, much to the consternation of the local guard captain, Drace Kennit. Meanwhile, Roisyll takes a pilgrimage to the Grove, the home of the local religious leader, Jaroo Ashstaff. Jaroo, recognizing a fellow follower of the Green faith, gives Roisyll a token to aid in her investigations. After learning of the troubles and the party's location from Manzorian's second in command, Cymria of Celadon, Roisyll catches up with her comrades,who have travelled to the Baylon family estate along with Captain Kennit, who has insisted on tagging along. After Roisyll shows Kennit the token from Jaroo Ashstaff, the frustrated guard captain turns the investigation over to the party and returns to town. Entering the estate through a side door, the party finds evidence of a struggle in the kitchen that leads to the library, where they find the body of Jamisar Baylon. In his journal, the lord had written a warning to beware someone named "Lareth the Beautiful." The library also holds the marks from several small explosions. In the upstairs bedroom, they discover the corpse of Baylon's wife, whose restless spirit appears to still haunt the house. And the bedroom of the couple's young daughter is empty, with signs of a struggle. In the cellar, the Adventurers discover an underground stream leading to a recently excavated tunnel. While searching the escape route of the murderers, the party is attacked by dark creepers, strange dwellers of the Everlasting Night who explode upon death. After slaying them, our heroes must now search further if they wish to unearth the mystery of the Baylon's murders.