Session 32: A Mage and a Mystery

The gang wakes up at the Inn in Skipton. Following the discovery of the rift, the group returned to Skipton and rested for the evening at the inn. The next day, Thia immediately heads down into the tavern room to celebrate their progress, ordering a hefty breakfast, and settling in with the others to discuss their plans. Therei and Thia think they should assist the town if they can, while Melios insists that they don't have enough power to close the rift, and Brottor cautions against the risk involved. At an impasse, they finally agree to depart town and leave things to someone more capable for now.   Gear and equipment are packed on the horses. As the group begins to pack their things onto the horses, a half-elf man rides up and begins to tie up his own. He inspects the group and asks if they're also travelers, before introducing himself as Zaquivir. He is searching for the Mayor, and though hesitant to say what it's about, they quickly discover that it's due to the rift. He is open about having mixed feelings about the rift and lets it slip that “We were worried we wouldn’t find any-” before catching himself, and covering his mouth.   Therei escorts Zaquivir to the Mayor’s house. Interested in this mage, Therei leads him to the Mayor's home so they can meet, as the rest of the group follows behind. He leaves them outside but promises to follow up near the horses when he's finished sorting out details. Therei makes a final stand to stay until the rift is closed, so the group agrees to wait, and then take the half-elf to the rift.   Zaquivir leads the group into the cave. Arriving back at The Crystal Cavern, Zaquivir inspects the area and focuses intently on the scar in the cave. He finally explains that the rift is “a wound” in The Weave. It is torn open, allowing another plane of existence direct access, with the overlapping energies beyond able to leak into this world. He is unable to repair the damage to the weave by himself, but channeling intense magic, he slowly but surely causes the rift to shrink and disappear, the cracked earth around it settling somewhat back into place.

The Weave is a living network of energy that wraps around the world. It’s the underlying source that magic relies on.

  They return to Skipton Worn out by the experience, Zaquivir returns with the group to Skipton. He goes to have a rest, promising to spend some time with Therei afterward as partial thanks for their assistance. Feeling unwell, Ana goes to rest as well. During this time Melios, Therei and Thia head to the bazaar in search of something interesting, while Brottor goes to see Duergath one more time before they leave town. Melios is distracted by an elderly merchant peddling magical trinkets, who sells him a magical looking glass, and nearly some kind of holy oil lamp before Therei suggests it may not be a worthwhile purchase. Meanwhile, Brottor chats with Duergath Loderr and picks out a strange cloak she just recently bought from someone, spending no small sum to acquire it.   The Rift is closed for now, and more of Mystra's followers will be coming for the wounded weave. Where will the party go next...?