Session: June 12, 2023

We are lucky the Captain is a forgiving man. He barely questioned Saanes and I on our foray below decks, and gave back Saanes his magic, so long as we promised not to go back below decks, which we did. As much as I want to find out what else is ever further below, it doesn't seem like we'd be able to any way. I'm happy we got that over with before anything else happened during the day, and luckily, the rest of the party doesn't need to know.
 
I must say though, the group is making short work of getting Cor'nan to dislike us. I was trying my best to subtle at breakfast, since "Kyra" wouldn't know any of the history there. I'm hoping I can "innocently" weave in some dissention between the two of them. Corin and Zun on the other hand seem determined to make our stance incredibly clear. Which, I'll be honest, seems way more fun to just be openly antagonistic, but I don't think that approach is going to get us what we want. That's why I asked Ny'ell if she'd be willing to just have some "girl talk" with me later in the day. As much as possible, I don't want Ny'ell to get hurt in this. I just want her eyes to be opened to the condescending, hot headed prick that is Cor'nan. Plus, I'm honestly just looking forward to talking to another woman, much as I have a bit of an agenda going into it. I want to make sure that she's okay. It can't be easy dating Cor'nan, nor can it be easy being nearby to the man who broke her heart. I legitimately hope that, even though I can't tell her my actual identity, we can become friends in this.
 
Especially since we're going to need all the help we can get going forward, I think. Our first casting of Scrying for the day opened up yet another can of worms, showing that not only is Malzod still after Mud, but he's also giving up Zun to his former "master". I didn't even know that Courmivoun was a problem we had to solve until today. But if he's part of the organization Tilly mentioned, who are overseeing/making/handing out(?) those terrible bracelets that she'd been subjected to, that's bad news. On top of that, I had no idea one of the people who had caused some torment to Zun was still alive. Despite the tension between us, I'm always open to killing someone who's hurt one of my party. But it's just another wrench in the works. Malzod wants to talk to Count Peyton before we arrive. Even though he mentioned it was mostly about some servant who'd passed away, I have very little doubt in my mind that if he has any inkling about where we're headed, he will tip off Count Peyton. This party needs to go without a hitch. We need to be invited to play at my Mother's house. We cannot do that if we're trying to keep ourselves, or at least Mud and Zun, from getting caught.
 
And speaking of my Mother...words cannot describe how much I hate her. I saw Father. He's got some kind of necklace, or collar. It seems similar to the bracelet that Tilly had. It's controlling him somehow, or maybe just cutting off his connection to his patron. But she was so awful to him. It's like everything I hated as a child that she did was shoved into a ten minute span in front of my eyes. The condescension, the violence, the taunting, the cruelty...it was painful to watch. It hurt to see him that angry, though I am glad that he has a fighting spirit. I was worried he'd be a broken man when we found him, but it would seem that he's determined to thwart her somehow, and for that I am thankful. I just hope he doesn't end up getting too hurt in the process. It sounded like she was talking about bringing Father to a party where Dan'or'avil would be (she mentioned a male 'friend' that Father would 'just love', who had info about me - who else could she be referring to?). Rubbing their affair in his face is just cruel. I cannot wait for the day I get to talk to Dan'or'avil again and punch him in the face for that. I'm also grateful that Saanes was willing to give me a casting of Sending so I can talk to Father. I never thought that could be an option.
 
But that isn't where things ended. I had been...doubtful...that Mortalis was telling the full truth about not knowing where he came from. So we used Legend Lore to learn more about him. Turns out he was made by the gods to be the ultimate weapon of destruction, intended for Cor'nate. That's the very same Exemplar that Ahzek is following, and the one we know to be one of the absolute worst - the Exemplar of Slaughter and Ruin. Apparently they tried to destroy Mortalis when they realized that Cor'nate was crazy and Mortalis was too powerful, but because one of the gods was dead, the unmaking was corrupted, and sealed away some of Mortalis's powers while also making him sentient.
 
This is all fascinating, but of course, immediately turned the party against him. Even Saanes, who has always been in my corner, was no longer. They tried to get me to agree to never let Mortalis take control again, and seem more determined than ever that he needs to be destroyed eventually. But they don't understand! I am a warlock. Without a patron, I am useless. And I REFUSE to be useless in the fight against my Mother. I am not going to sit idly by, while having the power that could get me what I want, while they all become stronger and more powerful. I NEED Mortalis to become more powerful so I can become more powerful. I need to make sure my party members don't die in my fight. I need to make sure that Father (and Chompy's family) get out safe. I need to make sure my Mother, and G'Vath'Haz if possible, die. I CANNOT do that if I am not actively making Mortalis as powerful as he can be. YES, he's evil. YES, there is risk involved. But I am not giving up for the sake of risk. I don't care what happens to me afterwards, so long as all my goals are achieved. I don't even care if I'm as powerful afterwards. I just need to keep everyone safe. This is for THEM. And they don't seem to understand that. This isn't just some power-hungry revenge quest. This is a quest to save the one I love most, while keeping my friends safe, and ending the life of a lynchpin in the Cult of Nar'canus. When we are successful, they will understand that. Sometimes you must become a monster in order to defeat one.