01-22-963: What the Saints Know

Having slain the hag responsible for the death of Bishop Maynard Tessel and the theft of a page bearing prophecy of the savior from a great calamity, it was time to head back to Stenbalan.  Sensing the Fae nature of Granny Preant's hut may have left them somewhere other than where they were before, Nexus borrowed Barnabus and flew up to take some bearings.  Meanwhile, Luci questioned Dr. Venma as to why he did what the hag asked. He explained what happened to his village and that he had made a deal with Preant to prevent the village from dying. In fighting Granny Preant, he went on, another hag by the name of Grandmother Gaerta had offered him a deal to protect his village if he made sure Preant was done away with.  Now that this was complete his end of the deal was fulfilled, his village was safe, and he had no favors due to anyone.  Once Nexus returned from his flight, he was questioned and explained that Granny Preant knew him because he did some late-night reconnaissance the night before, but wasn't able to recover anything useful since she asked him to go against the Palanaeum.

As they returned through Ritten and into the city, they decided to avoid guards who might recognize them until they could explain things to the Church, but some disagreement was had over who exactly they should go to.  Money was exchanged and a great number of goods were bought from Daegor Beck at Arcane Goods and More.   From there, they headed out of the North Gate to see about buying a carriage and a team of horses.  Much dickering was had about design, pricing, refurbishing, and whether it was okay to have Chedvah walk or if that was unfair. Eventually, they decided not to buy a team of eight horses and two carriages, and that they would manage to get to the Gold Tower one way or the other. Chedvah purchased a fine new suit of armor and went to get it inscribed with protective runes at Daegor's shop.

It was decided that the time had come to return to the Cathedral and explain things to the Archbishop. Once they got there, Brother Leonte spotted them and broke off a conversation with a nobleman to pull them aside.  He asked a few questions trying to get events straight from the day previously. Things turned south when he didn't buy a few half-truths, and he began to grow suspicious. Knowing the perfect way to distract him, Nexus carefully pulled out the Second Page and explained how they recovered it in short.  At a loss for words, Leonte carefully took the page and nearly ran out toward the Archbishop's study. 

As a few guard walked over to keep an eye on the newly suspicious group the noble Leonte had been talking to came over to them, greeting Luci as "Theo's Boy." Luci seemed lost for a moment, but quickly recognized the man as High Lord Serrio Raitan, Margrave of the Valarin.  Luci made introductions, then made polite conversation with the Margrave about his sister going off to seek her fortune, and about Luci's own time away from home, and the like.  He bid them farewell and Sinata asked why Luci seemed a bit on edge during the conversation, which Luci explained as not wanting to embarrass his father in front of High Nobility. Shortly after, Leonte returned to escort them up to meet with the Archbishop. 

Her Holiness stood behind her desk, looking over the page. She asked for an explanation as to what happened, and Nexus obliged. He carefully omitted certain parts, mainly about Nora and the sword they found. Dendra explained her directive from St. Mattathias, which left her understandably surprised. She thanked them profusely, expressing that the Twelvefold Sanctuary owed them an enormous debt. She stated that she had to speak with the Council of Bishops and that she would send a messenger the next morning with any news. As they are about to leave, Luci remembered the ticket that Nicodiemas Elothar gave them and handed it over to the Archbishop, who seemed confused but somewhat intrigued.  

Once they left the Cathedral, Luci suggested they have an extravagant dinner and stay the night in a nice in as opposed to a priest's dormitory.  Heading over to the Ballow Hill district, the party enjoyed a decadent meal at The Phoenix's Rise with fine wines, succulent dishes, and imported delicacies from across two different oceans.  As desert wines and a tea from the Westerlands were being served, Dr. Venma decided that it was best to pry into the mysterious black energy that emanated from Chedvah's back.  She claimed to have no knowledge of it, but as the group continued to ask questions she be got increasingly uncomfortable. Eventually it got to be too much and she ran out of the restaurant.  

After walking around for a little while and calming down, Chedvah found an upscale Inn and sent a messenger to inform her friends. When he asked for a few coins for his trouble, she gave him several gold, much to his shock.  Then, when he delivered the note, the rest of the group gave him still more, making him the richest 13-year old in the city.  Later that night, Sinata tried knocking on the door to Chedvah's room, but the door was locked and she didn't answer.

Once Dendra fell asleep, she felt the familiar glow of her meeting place with St. Mattathias.  He was greatly pleased by her success, congratulating her on bringing an end to a Hag, and admonishing her to do so whenever she had the opportunity.  He also pointed out that Rasen was floating beside her, and shared a little information about the sword.  When Rasen was forged, it was imbued with the task of destroying evil.  Being a sword, it isn't much for nuance or thinking of other things beside its one goal. He did say that it was a good sword, that he missed using it, and he hoped she used it well. Furthermore, he said that she should work on teaching it a thing or two about what evil is, and the proper responses beyond destruction.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Saint was alive around the time of Aerdi's fall, Dendra asked what he knew of the place and those that ended it.  He proceeded to explain that the Archmages of the city had been enemies of a circle of mages of incredible power, even in those days where magic could do incredible and unimaginable things by current standards.  They called themselves the Circle of Eight and One, were led by Mordenkainen himself, joined by such names as Bigby, Otto, Otiluke, Rary, Tenser, Nystul, Leomund, and Drawmij.  It appeared that they had meddled in mysterious magics that ought to have been left alone, causing many to turn on them. In retaliation they destroyed both Aerdi, and the city of Van'roq. Van'roq once lay on a verdant plane, but all that remains there now is the desert bearing the same name. After consulting some of his Vicars, St. Mattathias said that they might be able to find a way to unravel the curse on Constag by speaking with the Catfolk who now inhabit the desert, and who frequently trek across it, still fishing out old bits of the city from the endless sands.  

As the party sets these last few pieces of business in order new information seems to abound. But far from bringing closure, it seems to keep asking new questions.  Perhaps more robust answers lie to the north, within the ancient walls of the Gold Tower.