02-18-963: Into the Spire!

Seizing upon the opportunity to get answers from someone who knew the Eight and One, Nexus joined Telahn in the Spire for the night. Over the course of the conversation, Telahn revealed that he is an Arcanaloth who isn't on good terms with the rest of his kind. He is a guest, of a sort, in the Spire but is confined within the magic circle inscribed in the center. He commented on Nexus being what he called a Seer, and explained that the Seers he knew were able to see certain aspects of the past and future, though imperfectly. When Nexus asked about the Spire itself, Telahn gave a quick synopsis, describing it as "an infinitely recursive set of supra-spatial, translenticular manifolds, anchored within an energetic well created by suspended motive flux." However, it appears there is something wrong with it, as those few others who have entered in the past centuries have reported that the hallways are locked into one conformation. Walking out of one door in the pantry will always lead to one place no matter the person's intent. However, the hallways of the Spire are not necessarily two-way. Trying to return to the pantry from wherever the aforementioned hall ended up would likely deposit you elsewhere. Simply put: A -> B is not the same as B -> A. This was likely an issue with the Potentiation Channels in the Flux Chamber, and could be fixed if they could but find their way to it. Although seeing these concepts put into practice was new to Nexus, he was able to understand what the Arcanaloth was saying with ease, and set about preparing to explain all of this to the party. Nexus also inquired about the curse put on Aerdi, and Telahn recalled what had happened, saying they got what was coming to them. If they wanted to find a way to cure Sinata and his people, the Circle generally kept their notes on things of this magnitude in the Ritual Chamber.

During his time talking with Telahn, Nexus cast Tongues on himself to communicate with the Puppet. As he went to draw on the arcane energies he wields, they seemed eager to assume the form required for the spell to function, and did so without taxing Nexus's reserves. Noted, he thought. Meanwhile, what had previously been incomprehensible gabble from the puppet resolved into fully comprehensible gabble. In a manic stream of words, the Puppet expressed elation at being understood and informed Nexus that he had to find his body. Mordenkainen and his lackeys had feared his power and tricked him, trapping him in the puppet and hiding his real body somewhere in the tower. The puppet explained in a perfectly reasonable manner that as soon as he got ahold of them, he would crawl down their throats and tie their innards into knots. Yes yes YES! Once Nexus returned his body to him, he would be restored to his rightful position and they could find those worthless worms and crush them! Telahn sighed and said that Nexus would have been better off not knowing what the Puppet was saying. For the rest of the night, the puppet would periodically start to mutter, burst out laughing then begin crying, and generally being totally bonkers.

In a private room at an fancy underground club in a non-descript plane of existence, Sinata, Luci, and Chedvah were having quite the night. After a few drinks, Luci began explaining about why he tried to punch his sister, and the feud between them over their family's inheritance. And so, Allison seems to be going off to earn her own title and prove herself. But what about Cedric? What role does he play in all of this? Oh he may think he'll get something, but he has a snowball's chance in the hells with Allison, its a whole thing with her.

What's with all this fate stuff? As a Bellestair, our sigil is a fox and we just met a foxman inside that doorway. Is that connected? How many things are connected around all of us? What everything is just connected in a big life soup? Ever think of that?

At this point, Chedvah joined in with a glass of wine as Sinata began. Look at how Nexus can just wave his hands and poof! magic. Look at Dendra, she has a God in her head and can just poof! heal people. Why did I just spend most of my life learning about treating diseases and fixing peoples' ills when someone else can just poof! do what I do? I can't even save one old lady who got stabbed, its never enough. They all just poof! and die and I'm stuck here not being able to do anything. Sure Rina was at peace, but that doesn't change it that much.

What about the spider? asked Chedvah. The spider? Yeah, when we first met we saved an old man from being eaten by a giant spider. You did great with that, you ran in there and got that guy out of there when there was no one else to help him. You didn't need magic or a God, you just needed you and the skills you have.

Well maybe, I guess now that I have the Key and the letter...Wait the Letter! Sinata tore open the letter that had been given to him along with the Waykey and began reading.  

Great Healer,
You must forgive the unusual methods which this letter necessitates, I am limited by both time and location, though I believe they are one and the same
I have seen your coming and I give my grief for those whom none could save. I grant unto you this Key, for which I have ventured far and made my own use of. I trust the answers you seek will be found where it leads.
I merely hope that what had to be done to preserve your people thus far was worth the cost. Gaerta cannot be trusted. Preant discovered that the hard way. She seeks only Power, and will betray anything to gain it.
A confluence of fate swirls around your companions and you. The threads are too delicate and shifting to read with certainty, but what I know, I give you: Gaerta always has another plan. Tellemet's goals are sincere, yet I know not of how they will end. A great bell suffuses the path, I know not of its meaning, but you are tied to it with another. Mind the sword. I see it used for good or for ill. Much balances on it's edge.

I fear that not all that shall come is clear, but you will have guidance. Although much depends on you and your group of disparate strangers, I have hope. The key is time. From what I see, you still have it, and it will be of use.
Stay close to your friends, they will need you in the coming days, and you will need them.
I hope this letter will allow me to shroud this message from those who should not know of its contents, but I beg you to be wary.

Take care Fatewatcher, Hargun, Seer of Lives and Wanderer of Paths

PS. I suspect a piece of myself has crossed your path and will do so again. Be patient, learning to see clearly is no easy task.

PPS. Above the Pass of Ferreck lies many answers and a choice. Seek it with the Firstborn when the Dove calls at dusk.

Sinata took some time to process all of that, then had a change of heart saying that the letter came at an opportune time.

Before Sinata got too far into his existential crisis, Luci had slipped out of the room to spend some time in the common room. While there he recognized a few other nobles relaxing with some drinks and Pelas bark. They nodded to him, but mostly kept to themselves.

Emerging from the room, Sinata and Chedvah rejoined Luci and the three contemplated venturing out to find Dendra. Eventually Chedvah convinced the other two to return to Luci's Residence for the evening and look for Dendra in the morning. Upon returning, Dierdre and Declan greeted and informed them that Madam Dendra was out in the stable with her horse. Eventually everyone drifted off to sleep and got their rest after a long day of antiquing, committing B&Es, partying, and catching murderers.

But the night's excitement wasn't quite finished for Dendra. In trying to contact the being who had been in her dreams, she found herself in the same study she had been in previously. The figure seemed pleasantly surprised to see Dendra. Dendra asked his name, and he said that she could call him Starbringer. He explained that though they were currently in what he called the Cognitive Realm, he was an inhabitant of the Mundane World. There was some question of whether she should trust him, and Starbringer said that he would only speak the truth to her, though he reserved the right not to answer her questions. Though Dendra was skeptical at first, she seemed to warm to the idea once he asked how many times Mattathias had lied to her. Starbringer asked if she was happy being Mattathias's errand girl, and alluded to a means by which she could free herself of his power. Before he could elaborate on the topic, the entire room shook and a menacing voice echoed from beyond "You think you can escape me? You and your pitiful cabal of warlocks are nothing in comparison to the might I wield!" With that, Starbringer seemed fearful and disappeared as the roof tore off of the room, revealing a black sky with blueish mists. The voice continued to boom from above, seeking and taunting its quarry. Dendra then faded back into her own sleep.

In the morning, with everyone but Nexus in the Carnen Residence, Luci informed Deirdre that they would be leaving for a while. He brushed over the fact that they would be leaving through a door in the air into a magic spire from thousands of years ago.

Form there, the party entered the Spire for realsies. After having Nexus and ancient magical foxman attempt to explain the underlying principles of the spire, everyone crossed the foyer and passed through the first hallway.

Emerging into the sunlight on the other end, they found themselves beside a watering hole in the midst of a sea of grass. A massive heard of sheep and goats crested a hill, tended by mounted Goblins and Hobgoblins with massive sheepdogs. The unusual shepherds saw the party and approached with a sense of curiosity.