Session 42 - You Should Have STARTED With That!

Never before has the group slept while within the clutches of the miasma's twisted memory. Although the bed were comfortable... it certainly doesn't feel like they were waking up. Milo (not Aiaoue) remembers he knows how to use a disguise kit and helps finesse Dhavanti's disguise. She can certainly pass for a small shifter or perhaps a wererat now. Meanwhile, Yenush begins to move about town, though is critically UN-perceptive in the morning it seems. Still, he notes that there are more guard patrols then there was yesterday. They are incredibly timely, always move in pairs, follow a strict route, and seem a bit happier than normal.

Cadence, Teagan, and Milo head to the Silverlit Refuge, a relatively modest shrine that offers depictions to all Night domain deities and to Solva, believed to be Kesar'Arrat's counterpart of the Day. The statue of Caliban seems to change its appearance to match an individual's perception of the Dremoran moon god. After looking around the shrine briefly, they ask a few simple questions to the elderly man in prayer before departing.

Arkyn and Aiaoue mingle with the people of the Full Moon. Aiaoue follower her nose to a kitchen, which is primarily preparing various meat dishes using a variety of crystalline spices (perhaps bougie salts). Arkyn ends up briefly talking to a guard about the Silverlight. Does she never agree with the Warden? SHE? The guards have a good laugh. Arkyn then finds Tulimaq and Nyoodel who seems fully capable of escorting himself to the kitchen (Aiaoue offers him some morning snacks). As the rest of the party reconvenes, Tulimaq asks what exactly the plan is. He still is resolved to see the Silverlight and if going in he's happy to go with them. 

The Plan: Arkyn will waltz into the Moonlit Tower – as his current status as Keeper would permit. And he will polymorph 2 people to go with him. The first candidate is Tulimaq who seems averse to being polymorphed. After some convincing (and a suggestion of "why not a cat" that he seems to scoff at), he falls into an aspect of his lunar form, becoming a rat that scurries up and hides on Arkyn. Nyoodel follows and now considers Arkyn as the person responsible for carrying his bulk. Teagan is turned into an Stone-Eater Baboon and Aiaoue becomes a Kingfisher. With that, the party splits with half headed to the Moonlit Tower and half remaining in the Full Moon... but the group chat active.

With Detect Magic up, Aiaoue is easily able to detect that large amount of abjuration, divination, and enchantment magic on and around the main door. After Arkyn knocks, Miss Lucinda Corrine answers, permitting them into the small hallway where she can see them. Behind Miss Lucinda, the entire room is either lined with weapons or covered in various gadgetry that seems odd in contrast to the town around the Moonlit Tower. Miss Lucinda – happily – presents Arkyn with the needed paperwork. She'll need your referral number from the Temple in Solva (if you're really from the South), your mandated path (if you really were taking woes and burdens), and all of your animal companions will need to be registered. Are they up to date on their vaccinations?

Aiaoue uses all her knowledge of aarakocra courtship rituals to perform an enticing dance for Miss Lucinda, who is briefly distracted, but not enough to let her guard down. However, Aiaoue is able to detect copious amounts of magic in the room where Miss Lucinda is. The mechanisms she has seems to be the center point a large amount of magical operations... and the "screens" projected behind her seem to display various rooms in the Tower. Meanwhile, growing a bit suspicious of Arkyn's responses, Miss Lucinda agrees to let them enter, but calls for a guard escort to take them to The Warden. The trio remaining in the Full Moon debate whether or not they should try picking a fight as a distraction.

Hello There Mister Warden Sir

  The trio enters a pristine office laden with additional gadgetry and a piece of religious artwork that feels... different than the other depictions of Kesar'Arrat. As the office door closes and locks, The Warden grins an unsettling grin and immediately clocks the polymorphed and shifted individuals on Arkyn's person. Immediately, Arkyn attempts to backtrack out of the situation: he's new, he's from the South, he really needed to follow the Path and he needs his friends for that. And you thought that was excuse enough to break all my rules? The Warden is not impressed, but he is amused. This whole thing has certainly made this morning entertaining! Gripping the shovel with determination, Arkyn throws out that silver sight is fading and its urgent. The Warden immediately looks to the now humanoid Tulimaq who looks aghast at Arkyn's admission to the Warden of all people.
  The Warden's tune shifts ever so slightly as Aiaoue returns to humanoid and dons the regalia of a huntress, but he is still adamant against sending them to see the Silverlight. In the group chat, Aiaoue notes that a really good option might be to kill this guy as he's already dead anyway. Teagan is taken aback by the smooth jazz playing around the Moonlit Tower – these were not the vibes he was expecting AT ALL. Aiaoue notes that keeping the Silverlight here is pretty selfish of the Warden and he notes that if she doesn't like his rules, she is welcome to leave. Exasperated with the "robot" man's word vomit and remembering that they've likely seen Brito's corpse, Arkyn sighs and admits that he is returning from the Wildlands and helping with Otsana. Why didn't you OPEN with that? The Warden's entire disposition shifts. Paired with Teagan's plea to see the Silverlight to reconnect with himself after the loss of his god, the Warden agrees to take them to the Silverlight and to inform Miss Lucinda of their additional "guests".
  Prior to excusing them, the Warden emphasizes that higher-level magic is forbidden in his Moonlit Tower and he'd rather not catch them stepping out of line. He trusts they'll be on their best behavior while in his Tower. He is empowered to act on the absent Woeful Traveler's behalf. As the trio exits, the door locks behind them and a pair of guards escort them back downstairs.
 
   

Speaking with Silverlight Santa

  The entire group steps into the Silverlight's office. Behind the desk, a large, middle-aged man with silver hair and silver eyes sits. He introduces himself as Enyeto, the current Silverlight. Why have you sought me out? The group pushes Tulimaq forward first. In regards to his failing silver sight, Enyeto notes that he received a prophecy that he would be the last Silverlight. He fears that Tulimaq's diminishing sight may stem from that. Though, don't fret, Enyeto is doing everything in his power to divert and alter the current Silver Path. Though he is nowhere near as skilled as Kesar'Arrat.
  Regarding the Warden, Enyeto has attempted to resist his influence, but usually when the Warden seriously oversteps... it is Kesar'Arrat himself who intervenes. The Tower Doors, however, have remained closed and sealed. In the past, this wasn't a problem for Enyeto as the doors would open to his will. Now, however, the Warden has the key and an odd projection of a starry sky has obscured the doorway beyond. Why not depose the Warden? Enyeto, while a werebear, is older and his Keepers are not trained to fight. Further, he would prefer to avoid a violent solution. Though as the group notes THEY are skilled in combat, he does offer his support if a violent solution is deemed the only way. 
  Regarding the Tower Door, Enyeto notes that – while currently obscured – there is a keyhole and The Warden has the key (either on his person or in his office). Enyeto believes that there is more to opening the door than the key nowadays. The starry projection may be able to be resolved with the Chamber of Stars, but the Warden shut down that chamber a while back. Further, Enyeto believes he received a message from Kesar'Arrat, but allowed a Keeper to receive it, hide it, and then depart the Tower to keep the Warden from confiscating it. While it has ensured the message hasn't been destroyed or obscured by the Warden, Enyeto also has no idea where it is.
  The group then pushes Dhavanti forward... and Enyeto's disposition sours. Dhavanti begins to pitch her case, but is cut off by Enyeto's firm stance. All contracts are null and void with the fall of O'Lycaon, but he does admit that Moonstones are diminishing and while the Prosperan resident may view them as a commodity to give to Ira Xand, they are important to his people. Ah, like Villám. Like what? Aiaoue notes its just something she saw in the West. With some negotiation, and the groups agreement to seek a solution to the Tower Door, Dhavanti and Enyeto reach somewhat of a compromise. 
  Enyeto reveals a map of the Moonlit Tower, identifying some key locations. He notes that the Warden has eyes everywhere and if he moves with them, the Warden will take note. What if you move opposite to us? Enyeto laughs. Don't underestimates how intelligent the Warden is. He'll clock something is up. Still, he can be called to be a distraction if the group needs it. Arkyn apologizes to Sayah as he removes her from the group chat and adds in Enyeto.
 
   

How to Open the Tower Door, Part I

  Aiaoue and Dhavanti skirt underneath the second story balcony, looking nonchalant as they slip into the Chamber of Stars. Meanwhile, Yenush knocks on the door to the security office. Miss Lucinda opens a little window in the door. Yes? Yenush notes that he would LOVE a tour of the security gadgetry. He's fascinated by it and he's realizing he's on such a LOW level. Opening the door, Yenush notes that the gadgetry here is different from what is developed in Nacheevi. While both have a unification of the mechanical and the arcane, the balance is different leaning more towards magical. Each piece of "tech" is connected by silver wires that seem more like the threads of a Silver Path than actual wire. Miss Lucinda flips a dial and the projected screens change and Yenush is able to clock a potential blind spot in the Chamber of Stars. 
  Yenush also clocks that Miss Lucinda CLEARLY wants to ask something. You're a werewolf aren't you? Could you be a dog? Agreeing, Yenush immediately receives scritches and a "Who's a good boy". Until paged by the Warden, she seemed very distracted. She seems to be a dog person. Yenush slips across the Main Hall and joins Aiaoue in the Chamber of Stars.
  Meanwhile, Arkyn and Teagan head downstairs and are permitted entry into the Rehab center. There, a young lycanthrope is in prayer. Shirina just seems really sad. She explains that she seems to be the only Keeper still trying to help Vilkas. She offers them an explanation of Lunar Madness when Arkyn tries to offer his help. While a Keeper's "suppression" abilities may be useful for certain stages of lunar madness (and while specific spells may immediately cure it), these remedies fail when it progresses beyond a certain point... and the unique strain of lunar madness that Vilkas' has seems to have gone beyond it. When asked about a lullaby, Shirina confirms that Vilkas does sing and does try to commune with the Moon. 
  Vlikas comes to the bars - a scarred middle-aged man "stuck" between lycanthrope and humanoid forms. He laughs maniacally, spouts some nonsense about the moon and false gods, and then moves about his cell dragging his claws against the stone and humming. Arkyn offers his help to Shirina who notes that, while she appreciates the reprieve of conversation and his offer, their Path's do not overlap... though perhaps following his path will cross hers in a way she cannot yet perceive. When Arkyn confesses he feels he's really screwed up today, Shirina notes that it is one day in the grand scheme - a single thread in the broader path. Teagan is momentarily taken aback by how young Shirina is... perhaps only a few years older than Teagan's oldest daughter. He offers her reassurance before trying to hum the lullaby Vilkas was singing. Nothing happens, but Shirina doesn't seem willing to try as well... there are many cautionary tales about the moon. And she doesn't know who is responding to Vilkas in Otsana's supposed absence.
  Cadence and Milo head up to the archives to do some research. Unfortunately, there is nothing about Caliban here and there a notable gap over recent history. Looking into Lunar Madness, there are copious records of people treated for extreme lunar madness in the Tower (Vilkas' presence is not out-of-the-ordinary). Symptoms include a decline in intelligence, a general preference for the night and bestial form, and bouts of rage. It culminates in a complete loss of higher though, an inability to return to humanoid form, and bloodlust. It seemed to primarily be a condition of the Wildlands. Vilkas' condition doesn't perfectly align with the cases of the Wildlands. Was he going mad as Otsana died and so he's stuck not able to be completely mad??
  Cadence takes a look at rituals and finds one lengthy one that reads more like a story-laden recipe than an actual ritual. Meanwhile, Yenush notes that the machinery in the Chamber of Stars is... missing an important piece. Consulting with Aiaoue's Detect Magic and Arkyn's arcane knowledge, it seems to be missing a magical conduit or focus. Perhaps a core.