Episode 21: Hook
General Summary
Waking up the morning after the party, everyone was a little hungover. Crawling out of their tents, they found that Callisto and Dahlia were already up and had cooked a small batch of oatcakes. Iravek joined them at the fire, passing out a round of hearty smelling broth. The brown, earthy drink tasted of pine needles with a twinge of iron and hint of alcohol was fermented gray render blood, naturally resistant to poison and the perfect hangover cure.
D̸͈͚̱͕͍̀̋͌̕̕ę̶̡̘̥̗̜̤̰̜̿̓ạ̷̖̖̭͓̺͍̣̟͕̅͋̾t̷̡̲̥̯̣̥̼̖̰͇̅̈́̏̇̐̇̀̎͒̎͘̚͜͝͠h̶̡̡̢̞̯̯̥̖͎̠͓̤̳̓̈́̈̋̋̀͂̈͂͐͊́͘͝ͅ’̴̼̜̥̥͈̤̯̬̣̭̮͋̊̌̾̍̂̏͂̚͜͜͠ͅs̸̨̛͙̭̣͙̥̩̺̗͕̜̼͈͖̣̜̅̃̂͑ ̷̮͐̅̎̿͂̿͆͝c̸̣̼̰͙͇̜̭̹̫̹̍͐̉̓̀͜͝r̶̨͙̲̟͍̻̍ṵ̶̭̣́̿̀̉͌̀͑̀͝͝e̷͙̞̓̊̂̄̉̋̋̓̍̚͘l̶͇̺̱̘̲̹̍̏̔̊͑̾̄̿͊̅̂́̚̚ ̷͎͙̟̰͕̰̮̰̥̗̠̊̔̾̋͗͌́̕͠e̷͚̥̣̠͖͍͎͕͒̀̀͑͐̇͜͝m̴̛̫̟̱͇͚̠̰̑̿̌̀͋̅̃̌̉̒̋̈́͝b̸̗̪̦̣͚͍̫͍̙̥̯̣̬̾̿͝r̶͎̳̗̜̤̘͐̾̉͊͐̊̍͊̉̒̓̕͘ą̴̧̛̜̝̱̩͎̻̼̖͈̫̭̭̫͕̄͗̂̒͘͝c̷͙̞̱̫͎͙͉̹̭͉̪͈̖̭̩̉̈́̔͑̓̍͋͠ȇ̵̡̛̬̣̣̝͖̺͕͍̺̃̐͂̽͝ ̵̟̮͓̮͓͖̗̪͇̤̝̫̼̻̀͘̕b̵͎̮̽̊́͂̊̀̎̓̇͊͛̚e̴̳̰̙̮̫̻̘̩̖̜͝ć̸̡̡͚̯͙̘̱͖͖̤͉͎͑̐̀͌́̇͋͘͠o̶͍͎̤͌̄́͂́̌͗̇́̚m̶̧̢̟̲͎͔͙̀̈́̊̂̒̎́̕͘̚͝e̸̡͚̬̜̜̯̳͗͋̑͌̆̐͝s̴͈̘̑̅̈́̓́̕͘ ̴̧̹̺̲̼̩̥͓̙̦̀̑̋͆h̵̛͚̜̗͚͔͓̳͈̆̇̂̾͐̇ì̵̻̣͕̘̙̳̽̾̂͊m̴̛̟̣̥̣̳͙̺̲͚̯̰̤͎͕̃͆͆̊̈́̒̀̉̍̌͐͝͝.
While eating breakfast, they were approached by Lady Bouclier, who asked if they would accompany her to a meeting that she had arranged with a woman named Lux. She wanted to get into the Inquisitor's fortress, set into the roots of the Silver Tree, in order to uncover what they had hidden. Particularly after what had happened to her daughter and the information that was uncovered on the road, she has suspicions that the house Deveraux and the rest of the Inquisitors were keeping something from the city.
Entering the city, they came across none other than the High Inquisitor himself, standing in front of the Arcane Sanctum. Olette disguised herself as one of the Inquisitors, and crept closer. She found that they had made an attempt to shut down the Arcane Sanctum, in accordance with international ban on teleportation magics. This shop was available in multiple locations at once, and was therefore in discord with the Accords. A small trail of smoke bleed out from under the door, and the message "Temporarily Closed" was projected over the glowing prismatic symbol of the Sanctum, a six-fingered hand holding an arcane eye.
̵̤̤͉̐͘Ḙ̷̡̲͎̞͚̞͙̎͜͝v̴̡̨̝̖͎͎͓͍̟̳͚̪̦̻̻̄̓͒ă̸̡̛̺͚̥̘͓̣͗̃̕d̸̹͔̺̺̯̗̤͚͓̺̭͛͂͌͐̏̑͗̋̈ě̸̲̜̺̃̂̌̍͆͐̑̀s̵̛̖͖̙͓̞̣͍̘̝͋̀̈́̂̚͝ ̷̢̰͕̳̼̅̈́̌̈́̀͠ͅh̸̡̫̪̹̭͍̣̙͔̭̺̋͒͂̑͐̍̈́̔̊͝͝i̸͎̲͎̽̂͐s̴̨̧̩̖̯̦̺͖̤͚̩̞̲̑̆͛͜ͅ ̷̡̥̝̪̻̱̦̈́͊̽t̸̡̯̩̦͉̘͎̻̼̞͍̣̖̯̓͂͆͋̓͑͌͑̊͂͜͝͝o̶̧͇̱̭̼̳̔̀͌̓̈́̀͜͝͝u̴̡̞̲̣̼̣͚̿̓̾͝ͅc̷̢̜̦͙̝͚̯̬̱͗͆͊h̷̡̧͉͕͚̯̠͇̜̜̝̙̜͖̟̣̿́.
They made a brief stop to spend a large amount of gold purchasing an airship, meeting the best used airship dealer this side of the Aurelian Empire; Greasy Derek. 7-foot three and mostly hat, Derek cut them a deal on a mechanical airship with the open offer to upgrade it, if they have the materials to. He is holding it until they're ready. A Ship Kobold, Vlask, also came with the ship. He is willing to run any errands that the party needs, so long as they keep him fed and don't kick him off of the ship. It's part of the contract. No take backsies.
Meeting Lux at sundown, Lady Bouclier is ready for them in Siren's Hall, a remodeled Church to the Silver Blade before the Inquisitors shut it down. The gothic church proper had been converted into a brothel that one must walk through to get to the basement. Incense burned in braziers at every entrance and gentle firelight glowed in candelabras caked in melting wax set at each doorway. The candles bloomed with multiple colors, some flickering red and others an inviting purple; lithe elves in scant silk garments stood in these arches, but no one entered their rooms.
Descending the steps at the far end of the hall, the party entered a lively club scene. Music emanated form the walls themselves as unseen servants carried platters of drinks and tapas to the patrons. Enthralled by the music, Callisto began to loosen up, pulling his shirt collar open and revealing a patchwork of scars that circled his torso. After the rest of the party got him under control, they met with Lux and Lady Bouclier in the corner of the mezzanine.
̴̼͆̔L̴̛͈͉̋̾͒̀̅͗́̓́̿̇͘ẽ̵̛͖̜̺̖̏̿͌̓͊́̊̐ă̷̲̘͂̏̃̈̍́͘d̸̜͚̪͕̬̪̺̫͉͓̤̎̿̒́̀̄͂̊͜͠s̴̢̧̛͙̬̳̮͎̮̙̣̗͎̥̝͕͋̓̆͌̾͆́̃̈́̋̿͑͊͗͜ ̸̛̥͖͒̀̋̎̄̽͗ḩ̴̞̱͎̣̦̭͍̑̌̔̈́̈́̎͒̾̓ĩ̶̧̯̊̈́̉̚͝s̷̖͓͈͓̞͕͖͈̥̺͚͖̦͌̿̔͗̊ ̴̨̛͔̣̲͖̼̮̫̩̠̼͗̇̌̇s̵͈͇̫̦͕̪̉̽̽̑̇͋͠ẁ̵̘̆̾͊̀́̽̌͐͋̊̔́͘̕ơ̴͚̻̘̭̱͍͈̩͚̗̌̃̏̈́͝r̴̙̤̈́̇͝ḑ̷̧̫̭͕͈̤̻̱̠͈̈̓̆̽̾̚̕͜
Lux interacted with the party fairly little, only alerting them to the deal that she had made to get them in to a meeting of the Black Sun. After guiding them to a secret door, she left. The secret door lead back to a beautiful hall. The grand ceiling seemed to stretch up infinitely, with floating chandeliers suspended in a faux Aurora Totalis. There is a large, round table broken into fourths so that a speaker could make their way to a platform built into the center of the room. Everything is framed in a very gothic, vampire chic style.
Immediately, Lord Baron Octavian Spencer yells at the party, telling the room that they are not to be trusted and should not be allowed in. As a matter of fact, they should be shot on sight. The Baron is as he was last we saw, but now has a Lichtenberg scar that runs up his arm, across his exposed chest and up his neck to cover the right side of his face. His right eye shines out an electric blue in its socket, juxtaposed to the amber brown eye in the other.
However, his anger was quelled by the a woman who gave off a familiar aire of calm superiority. A women dressed in a black slip dress holding a glass of deep red wine stepped back from the balcony that overlooked an illusory replica of the city. She has white hair tied back in intricate braids, cold blue eyes, and the ice white skin of a dark elf. She introduces herself as Valentina Wraith, head of the Black Sun, a host of barons who control the Undercity. She took a moment to introduce the rest of the barons.
̴̨̨̨̲͖͍̰̯̫̬͍̺͇͍̊́̌̃͠
Ą̷̛̛͍̥̻̪̗̫̦͓̭͖͈̣̤̃͛̇̈́͂̄̎͋͜͠͠ͅṱ̸̛͍̤̞̦̹̱̂̀̆̌́̔̕͘͘ǒ̴̧͉̤͕̠̥̺̠̪̌̀̑́̒̓̾͐̍̈́̐́̏͝ņ̴̧̭̩̣̼̘̟̺͇̫͕̪̼̣̜̀̓̈́͛̃̽̉̾̄̅e̷̛͈̟̓͒͗̍̃̆̈́̒̓͒̿̉̚̚m̴̧͙͚͉͚̰̯̯̖̫̱̝͈̐͋̎͒̏̒̌͆̀͊̃̆̄̕̕ė̴̦̩̽n̸͚̼̯̖͉̙͇̜̳̥̋̓͆̍̿͗͘t̶̢̛̜̗̺̘̖̠̣̻̖͖̝̻̝͕̟̄̽̈́̓͒͒͗̄͐͋̒̒́͝ ̴̨͔̫̳̭̗̭̻̭͓̥̘̦͇̽̿͂͜͠f̵̝̬͇̘̿̄͐̌̓͊o̶̡̧̧̟̟̱̯̝͙̤̫̭͆̏̕͜ṛ̸̡͓̘̬̊̊̉̂͛͒̋͐͛͂̂̕̕ ̷̛̣͎͚̬̣̱̬̹̝̥̳̉̀͋̐͐̃͂̿̒͂͛̚͝h̸̨̞̠͎̤̰̏͆͑̓̏͛̚̚͝į̸̨̳͙̼̤̠̮̯̌̑̄͂͗̈̾̓͜͝ͅs̸̨̯̈́ͅ ̴̧̛̬̫̐̒̓̂b̶̟̝͉͋̾̐̈͊̈́̈́̂̋͛̐̀̿͘͘̚ã̷̢̡͇̹̻̑͑l̷̳̅̽͒̈́̎̑͐̈́̇́͘̕̚͝a̴̧̡̨̡̬͉̪͚͓͙͎͕͙̮̜͗͋̈́̔̃̒̂̒̏̅͜n̴̛̩̜͇̣̠͉̩̹͖̎̈́́̀̿̍̃̇̒̚͝c̷̛̯̯̐͊̅̋i̴͓̪̇͝ǹ̷͎̥̍̀͛̋̕͝g̴̛̛͚̠͖͐̾̄͌ ̵̛͔̞̪̎̒̓̋̌̃a̶̛̛̳͙͍̘̞͔̖͔̖͈̱͓̰̙͐̒̍̔̀̈́̋͛̌́̆̌̕͝c̴̻̖̗͂́̇̈́̓̾̚ṫ̴̩͉͕͖̻̘̬̟͉̜̣̫͌̈́̈̈́̐͝ͅͅ
Baron Afinaz, a copper dragonborn in a high throated blue robe
Baron Inno Rudon, a dwarf with vastly overgrown hair and a shaggy beard
Baroness Sviral, a dark skinned elf in a black robe and shaved head, looking very severe with steepled fingers.
Baron Tomas Lancster, a human lounging in puffy bard's clothes and a tangle of long black hair.
Baronesses Cameron Contrarez, Vivian Avila, and Kai Murez, olive skinned women with slender green eyes who shared a purple orb between them.
̵̘̔̾̑͐̊̊͆̓̀̓Ŕ̵̡̨͎̤̰̭̠̳̼̘̯̘̠͋͜é̷̡̝͓̻͖̫̭̝̮͆́̋̇̑̓̾͂ͅg̵̨̡̫̙̬̤̙͖̹̳̖̞̭͎͖͛̀͊̈́͂̆̅͋͒̐̕̚͘͝͠͠ŗ̴̢̨̫̥͇͚̻̜̯̻̝͒͛̑̋͛̚͜e̷͓̬̠̠̼̭̟̲̬̠̗͇̽ţ̷̥̰͎͕̩̪̬̤̗͖̳͈̤̉̏̓̾́͠ ̵̡̧̥̗̭̞̝̦̜̑́͒ả̷̧̧̬̲͇̹̞̖̮̳̥̟́̅̊̿̕͠ͅn̵͕̳̣̈̔̍͊̅̾̌͆̇̐͑̏͠͝ͅd̷͉̎͑̂͐̏͑́ ̵͈̪̪̟̭̜̗͖͙̼̼̘̠̿͑̾̍͗̅̒̏̽̚͜ͅr̶̡̨̤̝̦͉̟̗̻̓̎͛̋̈͐̎̈̾̎͊̏̓͘ͅẽ̸͔̟͚̿͐͐̓͛̉͑͛̇̈́́m̶̞͚̫̑ơ̷̢̬̘̬͉̳̤͎̜̖̫̇͐̀̈́̈́̈́͒̇͊͊̆̚͝͝ŗ̴̨͎͓̳͉̖͈̽̃̄̽̎͝͝s̴͍̯̣͈̲̟̥͖̘̜̼̺̍̓̀̆̓͜͠e̸̦̔̃̉̍͂́̿̔̒̈́͑̇͘͘͘͠
Baroness Navyri, an aarakocra with finely preened blue-black feathres and a golden chain crown sporting the symbol of the Many Handed Devil, who gave the rest of the party a narrow stink eye, but fluffed her crown at Pharos in a gesture only a bird would understand.
And Baron Yorik, a man that at first appears just to be a skeleton swaddled in a black robe. Valentina scolded him, and he perked up, two sparks of purple green flame igniting in his eyes, and he waves a bejeweled hand at the party.
̴̧̛͙̪͉̣̦̦̲͇̹͓̟̊̍̒́̉̅ͅͅI̵̺̝̙͖͊̃̔̓ͅn̷̦̥͇͉̖͉͍̺̺̬̖͓̟͈̲͐͑͐̓͘̕ ̸̤̲̭̍ḩ̸̛̺̝̌i̴͇̥̺͈̻̒̀͋̿̐̂̔̽͑̊͆͑̚͠s̸̱̘̪̫̬̀̈́̀͗̀̏̂͌͐̏̕ ̶̞̻͖̘̤̥̰͍̦͆̏͐͊̀̅̀̀͛̃̕̕ẗ̷̼͍͔͖̹͓̩̯̱́̿̓w̴̧̛̫̲̳̬̜̬͈̻̫̳͕͂̽͐̽́̊͂͂̀̉͌̋̄͝ͅi̷̙͎̺͚̞̯̪̥̺̭͉͇̩͐͗͜͠͝ẍ̶̢̢̛̹̲̰͙̳̣̽t̸̻̣̘̖̙̪͙̺̣̮͎̲̪͊̎ ̶̧̛͕̖̲̗̦̭̭̦̞͆̾̔̈́̀͐̑̑̈̾̈́̎̌̀͠p̵̛̤̲̒̀̇̎͂̏̊̓̇͆͝r̸̺̖̒͐̐̈́̈̄̐̒̔̚o̷̡̨̰̤̟̟̹̥̖̩̟͔̗̣͈̜̽̒͑͌̐f̴̢̮̪̞̦̹͖̯̣̣͕́̅͋́͋̎̆̒͌̍͘ͅͅą̶̠̼͕̫̣̝̗͊̄̌͊͒͌͂̌̔́͊͋̀͋̊̍ͅn̷̮̳͎͎̮̯̠̓̾͆̈̓͜͠e̵͎̓͌͒̍̈́̈̈́̈́̄͘͜͝ ̵̩͙̓̄̊̆̿̐̅̀̃͝p̴̡̡̛̗͕̻̻̲̻̝̼̅̑̅̈́̎͂̀̓͐̍r̷̢̺̮͙̓͗͒̊̈̒̽͜o̶̰̠̪̮̬̦͊g̶̘̥͂̀͐ȩ̶̙̥̰̻͖̠̭̗̖̺͇̣̙͗̒̅͒̑̽͛̔̕͘͜͜ǹ̴̤̰̱̙̈́̈́̇̈̚͜͠͝ͅi̴͚͖̗̫̜͗̀͐͜͝t̵̻͖̣̖͖̪͈͕̠̉̃̽̈́̒̉͊̚͜õ̶̢̧͚̩̩̬͍͕̺͈̦̞̱̦ŗ̵̰̱̘͈͔̭̹͑s̸̢̹̠̲͚̱̙̣͚̯̲̞̺͎̰̬̐͐̿̍̎̓͛̐̐̒͘ ̷̧̡̱̺̙̰̦̹̗̩̃̾̄̊̀͋̓͝ͅḥ̵͍̮̺̙͉̬̭̹̰̼̹̦͖̳̽̓̇͂̄̔̄̇̇́̎̉͜͝ȁ̷̢̡͇͔͓̖̫͕̹̯̜̏̎͑̅̇̅̕̚n̷̢̗̹͉͔͈̦̭̺͍̜͉̫̟͔̖͆̋͂̋̈́̀̊̋̽̏͋͝d̸̺̗̳̙̳̻̙̙̫͙͔͖̪̃͑̆͊͝š̷̢̙͚̰͇̟̺̹̥͐̊̇̋́̀̽͊̀̉͘̕̚͝͝
After some bickering, the barons agree to show the party the secret back door into the Inquisitor's citadel, on the condition that when they make their escape they leave the front door unlocked. The party leaves, but not before Lord Baron Spencer make some particularly uncalled for claims and threats towards Vanderlith, claiming that he owns him and will take back his arklight harness.
Baron Yorik shows them the way, guiding them down a narrow, secluded path, talking to the party the whole time. He's an agreeable old lich, and invited them to visit his castle for tea any time they want (slash cut to the single most haunted mansion in the entire Undercity, green lightning, bats and all). He leaves them at the back of a rocky outcropping, where a silvery root has forced its way through the citadel's foundation, leaving an opening. He warns them that this is built into the crypts below the citadel, so watch out not to disturb the dead.
And they entered the crevice.
̷̨̨͉̰͓̠̩̖͇͎̂̅͌N̸̲̎̽͊̇̃́̇̀́̾̈́̑̀̄̚͠o̵̡͈̼̮͍̘̹̯̅̆ͅͅͅẗ̷̻̗̪̭̤̥̟̱̝̱̪̠̜̦́̅͋̆̂̚͘̕ĥ̷̢̛͍̤͔̠̰̘̞͔̦̳͗̔̊̐̒̿̀̒̅̇͘ǐ̷̧͉̳̎̀̽͗͠ņ̶̗̞̫͕̦͈̲̮͚̤̥̰̒̉̊̽̍̃̓̀̿͝g̵̡̯͙̹̱͙̰̟̦̫̺̗̰̾̒̎̐̔̈́̽͜ ̷̮̱̙̣̂͊͆̊̓ẘ̸̠͓̞̞̮̜͛͋̒́́͆̑ͅá̸̙̠̘̰ŝ̶̛̮̜̠̫̬̪͉̯̔̎́̿͒̔̉̂̃̕̕͜͠ ̶̢̭͈̞͉̘̪̹͇̱͓̃̀̃̌͑̀̄̎͝͝͠l̷̩͍͛̀̔̐͐è̸̘̥̝͇̝͎̠͌͆͑͌͐̌̑̂͐͂͝f̶̤̗͉͎͑̋̄̃̈́̒̋̓̅̈́͌̒̚̕̕͠t̷̤̮̼͔̹͙̐͆̾̂̈́̽̉̓̓͐͘ ̸̢̛̤̱̻͐̅̐́̇̃̒̊̀͐̚̕͠f̶̬͔̠̝̻̳̀̽̀̋̌̈́͂̌́͠ǫ̴͉̤̳͕̘͔̠͚̪͚̣̹͖͋̅͒̆͛̅̈̈̋̀͂̄͑r̷̡̲̩͖̖̝͚͖̞̰͍̥̿̄͋̌̿͜͠ ̶̛͈̰̥̰̟͔̟̦̮̭͚̥̫̍̌̀͑͛͝h̷͔̤̘̺̠̩̫̫̎̓̀̊͛́͋͊̌̊̓i̴͖̙̫̥͙̮̺̥̖̗̋̃̑̃̈̊͛̄͛̀͘s̸̡̙̤͔̮̥͒͌̀̄̌̾͗͂ ̵̛͔̏̈́̓̑̀̈́͝f̶̯̳̲͙̹̺́̊̇͛̈͋̄̅͆̍͝ā̶̧̛̱̪̬̟͗̉́͒͋̎͗̃͘͜͝͝ẗ̴̨̛͓͇̲͙̯̫́̇̔͊̂͂̄͋̂́̕e̸̛̪̹̦̩̮͂̍̓͆̇͌͋̉̽̓̏́͂̚͝ͅ
D̸͈͚̱͕͍̀̋͌̕̕ę̶̡̘̥̗̜̤̰̜̿̓ạ̷̖̖̭͓̺͍̣̟͕̅͋̾t̷̡̲̥̯̣̥̼̖̰͇̅̈́̏̇̐̇̀̎͒̎͘̚͜͝͠h̶̡̡̢̞̯̯̥̖͎̠͓̤̳̓̈́̈̋̋̀͂̈͂͐͊́͘͝ͅ’̴̼̜̥̥͈̤̯̬̣̭̮͋̊̌̾̍̂̏͂̚͜͜͠ͅs̸̨̛͙̭̣͙̥̩̺̗͕̜̼͈͖̣̜̅̃̂͑ ̷̮͐̅̎̿͂̿͆͝c̸̣̼̰͙͇̜̭̹̫̹̍͐̉̓̀͜͝r̶̨͙̲̟͍̻̍ṵ̶̭̣́̿̀̉͌̀͑̀͝͝e̷͙̞̓̊̂̄̉̋̋̓̍̚͘l̶͇̺̱̘̲̹̍̏̔̊͑̾̄̿͊̅̂́̚̚ ̷͎͙̟̰͕̰̮̰̥̗̠̊̔̾̋͗͌́̕͠e̷͚̥̣̠͖͍͎͕͒̀̀͑͐̇͜͝m̴̛̫̟̱͇͚̠̰̑̿̌̀͋̅̃̌̉̒̋̈́͝b̸̗̪̦̣͚͍̫͍̙̥̯̣̬̾̿͝r̶͎̳̗̜̤̘͐̾̉͊͐̊̍͊̉̒̓̕͘ą̴̧̛̜̝̱̩͎̻̼̖͈̫̭̭̫͕̄͗̂̒͘͝c̷͙̞̱̫͎͙͉̹̭͉̪͈̖̭̩̉̈́̔͑̓̍͋͠ȇ̵̡̛̬̣̣̝͖̺͕͍̺̃̐͂̽͝ ̵̟̮͓̮͓͖̗̪͇̤̝̫̼̻̀͘̕b̵͎̮̽̊́͂̊̀̎̓̇͊͛̚e̴̳̰̙̮̫̻̘̩̖̜͝ć̸̡̡͚̯͙̘̱͖͖̤͉͎͑̐̀͌́̇͋͘͠o̶͍͎̤͌̄́͂́̌͗̇́̚m̶̧̢̟̲͎͔͙̀̈́̊̂̒̎́̕͘̚͝e̸̡͚̬̜̜̯̳͗͋̑͌̆̐͝s̴͈̘̑̅̈́̓́̕͘ ̴̧̹̺̲̼̩̥͓̙̦̀̑̋͆h̵̛͚̜̗͚͔͓̳͈̆̇̂̾͐̇ì̵̻̣͕̘̙̳̽̾̂͊m̴̛̟̣̥̣̳͙̺̲͚̯̰̤͎͕̃͆͆̊̈́̒̀̉̍̌͐͝͝.
While eating breakfast, they were approached by Lady Bouclier, who asked if they would accompany her to a meeting that she had arranged with a woman named Lux. She wanted to get into the Inquisitor's fortress, set into the roots of the Silver Tree, in order to uncover what they had hidden. Particularly after what had happened to her daughter and the information that was uncovered on the road, she has suspicions that the house Deveraux and the rest of the Inquisitors were keeping something from the city.
Entering the city, they came across none other than the High Inquisitor himself, standing in front of the Arcane Sanctum. Olette disguised herself as one of the Inquisitors, and crept closer. She found that they had made an attempt to shut down the Arcane Sanctum, in accordance with international ban on teleportation magics. This shop was available in multiple locations at once, and was therefore in discord with the Accords. A small trail of smoke bleed out from under the door, and the message "Temporarily Closed" was projected over the glowing prismatic symbol of the Sanctum, a six-fingered hand holding an arcane eye.
̵̤̤͉̐͘Ḙ̷̡̲͎̞͚̞͙̎͜͝v̴̡̨̝̖͎͎͓͍̟̳͚̪̦̻̻̄̓͒ă̸̡̛̺͚̥̘͓̣͗̃̕d̸̹͔̺̺̯̗̤͚͓̺̭͛͂͌͐̏̑͗̋̈ě̸̲̜̺̃̂̌̍͆͐̑̀s̵̛̖͖̙͓̞̣͍̘̝͋̀̈́̂̚͝ ̷̢̰͕̳̼̅̈́̌̈́̀͠ͅh̸̡̫̪̹̭͍̣̙͔̭̺̋͒͂̑͐̍̈́̔̊͝͝i̸͎̲͎̽̂͐s̴̨̧̩̖̯̦̺͖̤͚̩̞̲̑̆͛͜ͅ ̷̡̥̝̪̻̱̦̈́͊̽t̸̡̯̩̦͉̘͎̻̼̞͍̣̖̯̓͂͆͋̓͑͌͑̊͂͜͝͝o̶̧͇̱̭̼̳̔̀͌̓̈́̀͜͝͝u̴̡̞̲̣̼̣͚̿̓̾͝ͅc̷̢̜̦͙̝͚̯̬̱͗͆͊h̷̡̧͉͕͚̯̠͇̜̜̝̙̜͖̟̣̿́.
They made a brief stop to spend a large amount of gold purchasing an airship, meeting the best used airship dealer this side of the Aurelian Empire; Greasy Derek. 7-foot three and mostly hat, Derek cut them a deal on a mechanical airship with the open offer to upgrade it, if they have the materials to. He is holding it until they're ready. A Ship Kobold, Vlask, also came with the ship. He is willing to run any errands that the party needs, so long as they keep him fed and don't kick him off of the ship. It's part of the contract. No take backsies.
Meeting Lux at sundown, Lady Bouclier is ready for them in Siren's Hall, a remodeled Church to the Silver Blade before the Inquisitors shut it down. The gothic church proper had been converted into a brothel that one must walk through to get to the basement. Incense burned in braziers at every entrance and gentle firelight glowed in candelabras caked in melting wax set at each doorway. The candles bloomed with multiple colors, some flickering red and others an inviting purple; lithe elves in scant silk garments stood in these arches, but no one entered their rooms.
Descending the steps at the far end of the hall, the party entered a lively club scene. Music emanated form the walls themselves as unseen servants carried platters of drinks and tapas to the patrons. Enthralled by the music, Callisto began to loosen up, pulling his shirt collar open and revealing a patchwork of scars that circled his torso. After the rest of the party got him under control, they met with Lux and Lady Bouclier in the corner of the mezzanine.
̴̼͆̔L̴̛͈͉̋̾͒̀̅͗́̓́̿̇͘ẽ̵̛͖̜̺̖̏̿͌̓͊́̊̐ă̷̲̘͂̏̃̈̍́͘d̸̜͚̪͕̬̪̺̫͉͓̤̎̿̒́̀̄͂̊͜͠s̴̢̧̛͙̬̳̮͎̮̙̣̗͎̥̝͕͋̓̆͌̾͆́̃̈́̋̿͑͊͗͜ ̸̛̥͖͒̀̋̎̄̽͗ḩ̴̞̱͎̣̦̭͍̑̌̔̈́̈́̎͒̾̓ĩ̶̧̯̊̈́̉̚͝s̷̖͓͈͓̞͕͖͈̥̺͚͖̦͌̿̔͗̊ ̴̨̛͔̣̲͖̼̮̫̩̠̼͗̇̌̇s̵͈͇̫̦͕̪̉̽̽̑̇͋͠ẁ̵̘̆̾͊̀́̽̌͐͋̊̔́͘̕ơ̴͚̻̘̭̱͍͈̩͚̗̌̃̏̈́͝r̴̙̤̈́̇͝ḑ̷̧̫̭͕͈̤̻̱̠͈̈̓̆̽̾̚̕͜
Lux interacted with the party fairly little, only alerting them to the deal that she had made to get them in to a meeting of the Black Sun. After guiding them to a secret door, she left. The secret door lead back to a beautiful hall. The grand ceiling seemed to stretch up infinitely, with floating chandeliers suspended in a faux Aurora Totalis. There is a large, round table broken into fourths so that a speaker could make their way to a platform built into the center of the room. Everything is framed in a very gothic, vampire chic style.
Immediately, Lord Baron Octavian Spencer yells at the party, telling the room that they are not to be trusted and should not be allowed in. As a matter of fact, they should be shot on sight. The Baron is as he was last we saw, but now has a Lichtenberg scar that runs up his arm, across his exposed chest and up his neck to cover the right side of his face. His right eye shines out an electric blue in its socket, juxtaposed to the amber brown eye in the other.
However, his anger was quelled by the a woman who gave off a familiar aire of calm superiority. A women dressed in a black slip dress holding a glass of deep red wine stepped back from the balcony that overlooked an illusory replica of the city. She has white hair tied back in intricate braids, cold blue eyes, and the ice white skin of a dark elf. She introduces herself as Valentina Wraith, head of the Black Sun, a host of barons who control the Undercity. She took a moment to introduce the rest of the barons.
̴̨̨̨̲͖͍̰̯̫̬͍̺͇͍̊́̌̃͠
Ą̷̛̛͍̥̻̪̗̫̦͓̭͖͈̣̤̃͛̇̈́͂̄̎͋͜͠͠ͅṱ̸̛͍̤̞̦̹̱̂̀̆̌́̔̕͘͘ǒ̴̧͉̤͕̠̥̺̠̪̌̀̑́̒̓̾͐̍̈́̐́̏͝ņ̴̧̭̩̣̼̘̟̺͇̫͕̪̼̣̜̀̓̈́͛̃̽̉̾̄̅e̷̛͈̟̓͒͗̍̃̆̈́̒̓͒̿̉̚̚m̴̧͙͚͉͚̰̯̯̖̫̱̝͈̐͋̎͒̏̒̌͆̀͊̃̆̄̕̕ė̴̦̩̽n̸͚̼̯̖͉̙͇̜̳̥̋̓͆̍̿͗͘t̶̢̛̜̗̺̘̖̠̣̻̖͖̝̻̝͕̟̄̽̈́̓͒͒͗̄͐͋̒̒́͝ ̴̨͔̫̳̭̗̭̻̭͓̥̘̦͇̽̿͂͜͠f̵̝̬͇̘̿̄͐̌̓͊o̶̡̧̧̟̟̱̯̝͙̤̫̭͆̏̕͜ṛ̸̡͓̘̬̊̊̉̂͛͒̋͐͛͂̂̕̕ ̷̛̣͎͚̬̣̱̬̹̝̥̳̉̀͋̐͐̃͂̿̒͂͛̚͝h̸̨̞̠͎̤̰̏͆͑̓̏͛̚̚͝į̸̨̳͙̼̤̠̮̯̌̑̄͂͗̈̾̓͜͝ͅs̸̨̯̈́ͅ ̴̧̛̬̫̐̒̓̂b̶̟̝͉͋̾̐̈͊̈́̈́̂̋͛̐̀̿͘͘̚ã̷̢̡͇̹̻̑͑l̷̳̅̽͒̈́̎̑͐̈́̇́͘̕̚͝a̴̧̡̨̡̬͉̪͚͓͙͎͕͙̮̜͗͋̈́̔̃̒̂̒̏̅͜n̴̛̩̜͇̣̠͉̩̹͖̎̈́́̀̿̍̃̇̒̚͝c̷̛̯̯̐͊̅̋i̴͓̪̇͝ǹ̷͎̥̍̀͛̋̕͝g̴̛̛͚̠͖͐̾̄͌ ̵̛͔̞̪̎̒̓̋̌̃a̶̛̛̳͙͍̘̞͔̖͔̖͈̱͓̰̙͐̒̍̔̀̈́̋͛̌́̆̌̕͝c̴̻̖̗͂́̇̈́̓̾̚ṫ̴̩͉͕͖̻̘̬̟͉̜̣̫͌̈́̈̈́̐͝ͅͅ
Baron Afinaz, a copper dragonborn in a high throated blue robe
Baron Inno Rudon, a dwarf with vastly overgrown hair and a shaggy beard
Baroness Sviral, a dark skinned elf in a black robe and shaved head, looking very severe with steepled fingers.
Baron Tomas Lancster, a human lounging in puffy bard's clothes and a tangle of long black hair.
Baronesses Cameron Contrarez, Vivian Avila, and Kai Murez, olive skinned women with slender green eyes who shared a purple orb between them.
̵̘̔̾̑͐̊̊͆̓̀̓Ŕ̵̡̨͎̤̰̭̠̳̼̘̯̘̠͋͜é̷̡̝͓̻͖̫̭̝̮͆́̋̇̑̓̾͂ͅg̵̨̡̫̙̬̤̙͖̹̳̖̞̭͎͖͛̀͊̈́͂̆̅͋͒̐̕̚͘͝͠͠ŗ̴̢̨̫̥͇͚̻̜̯̻̝͒͛̑̋͛̚͜e̷͓̬̠̠̼̭̟̲̬̠̗͇̽ţ̷̥̰͎͕̩̪̬̤̗͖̳͈̤̉̏̓̾́͠ ̵̡̧̥̗̭̞̝̦̜̑́͒ả̷̧̧̬̲͇̹̞̖̮̳̥̟́̅̊̿̕͠ͅn̵͕̳̣̈̔̍͊̅̾̌͆̇̐͑̏͠͝ͅd̷͉̎͑̂͐̏͑́ ̵͈̪̪̟̭̜̗͖͙̼̼̘̠̿͑̾̍͗̅̒̏̽̚͜ͅr̶̡̨̤̝̦͉̟̗̻̓̎͛̋̈͐̎̈̾̎͊̏̓͘ͅẽ̸͔̟͚̿͐͐̓͛̉͑͛̇̈́́m̶̞͚̫̑ơ̷̢̬̘̬͉̳̤͎̜̖̫̇͐̀̈́̈́̈́͒̇͊͊̆̚͝͝ŗ̴̨͎͓̳͉̖͈̽̃̄̽̎͝͝s̴͍̯̣͈̲̟̥͖̘̜̼̺̍̓̀̆̓͜͠e̸̦̔̃̉̍͂́̿̔̒̈́͑̇͘͘͘͠
Baroness Navyri, an aarakocra with finely preened blue-black feathres and a golden chain crown sporting the symbol of the Many Handed Devil, who gave the rest of the party a narrow stink eye, but fluffed her crown at Pharos in a gesture only a bird would understand.
And Baron Yorik, a man that at first appears just to be a skeleton swaddled in a black robe. Valentina scolded him, and he perked up, two sparks of purple green flame igniting in his eyes, and he waves a bejeweled hand at the party.
̴̧̛͙̪͉̣̦̦̲͇̹͓̟̊̍̒́̉̅ͅͅI̵̺̝̙͖͊̃̔̓ͅn̷̦̥͇͉̖͉͍̺̺̬̖͓̟͈̲͐͑͐̓͘̕ ̸̤̲̭̍ḩ̸̛̺̝̌i̴͇̥̺͈̻̒̀͋̿̐̂̔̽͑̊͆͑̚͠s̸̱̘̪̫̬̀̈́̀͗̀̏̂͌͐̏̕ ̶̞̻͖̘̤̥̰͍̦͆̏͐͊̀̅̀̀͛̃̕̕ẗ̷̼͍͔͖̹͓̩̯̱́̿̓w̴̧̛̫̲̳̬̜̬͈̻̫̳͕͂̽͐̽́̊͂͂̀̉͌̋̄͝ͅi̷̙͎̺͚̞̯̪̥̺̭͉͇̩͐͗͜͠͝ẍ̶̢̢̛̹̲̰͙̳̣̽t̸̻̣̘̖̙̪͙̺̣̮͎̲̪͊̎ ̶̧̛͕̖̲̗̦̭̭̦̞͆̾̔̈́̀͐̑̑̈̾̈́̎̌̀͠p̵̛̤̲̒̀̇̎͂̏̊̓̇͆͝r̸̺̖̒͐̐̈́̈̄̐̒̔̚o̷̡̨̰̤̟̟̹̥̖̩̟͔̗̣͈̜̽̒͑͌̐f̴̢̮̪̞̦̹͖̯̣̣͕́̅͋́͋̎̆̒͌̍͘ͅͅą̶̠̼͕̫̣̝̗͊̄̌͊͒͌͂̌̔́͊͋̀͋̊̍ͅn̷̮̳͎͎̮̯̠̓̾͆̈̓͜͠e̵͎̓͌͒̍̈́̈̈́̈́̄͘͜͝ ̵̩͙̓̄̊̆̿̐̅̀̃͝p̴̡̡̛̗͕̻̻̲̻̝̼̅̑̅̈́̎͂̀̓͐̍r̷̢̺̮͙̓͗͒̊̈̒̽͜o̶̰̠̪̮̬̦͊g̶̘̥͂̀͐ȩ̶̙̥̰̻͖̠̭̗̖̺͇̣̙͗̒̅͒̑̽͛̔̕͘͜͜ǹ̴̤̰̱̙̈́̈́̇̈̚͜͠͝ͅi̴͚͖̗̫̜͗̀͐͜͝t̵̻͖̣̖͖̪͈͕̠̉̃̽̈́̒̉͊̚͜õ̶̢̧͚̩̩̬͍͕̺͈̦̞̱̦ŗ̵̰̱̘͈͔̭̹͑s̸̢̹̠̲͚̱̙̣͚̯̲̞̺͎̰̬̐͐̿̍̎̓͛̐̐̒͘ ̷̧̡̱̺̙̰̦̹̗̩̃̾̄̊̀͋̓͝ͅḥ̵͍̮̺̙͉̬̭̹̰̼̹̦͖̳̽̓̇͂̄̔̄̇̇́̎̉͜͝ȁ̷̢̡͇͔͓̖̫͕̹̯̜̏̎͑̅̇̅̕̚n̷̢̗̹͉͔͈̦̭̺͍̜͉̫̟͔̖͆̋͂̋̈́̀̊̋̽̏͋͝d̸̺̗̳̙̳̻̙̙̫͙͔͖̪̃͑̆͊͝š̷̢̙͚̰͇̟̺̹̥͐̊̇̋́̀̽͊̀̉͘̕̚͝͝
After some bickering, the barons agree to show the party the secret back door into the Inquisitor's citadel, on the condition that when they make their escape they leave the front door unlocked. The party leaves, but not before Lord Baron Spencer make some particularly uncalled for claims and threats towards Vanderlith, claiming that he owns him and will take back his arklight harness.
Baron Yorik shows them the way, guiding them down a narrow, secluded path, talking to the party the whole time. He's an agreeable old lich, and invited them to visit his castle for tea any time they want (slash cut to the single most haunted mansion in the entire Undercity, green lightning, bats and all). He leaves them at the back of a rocky outcropping, where a silvery root has forced its way through the citadel's foundation, leaving an opening. He warns them that this is built into the crypts below the citadel, so watch out not to disturb the dead.
And they entered the crevice.
̷̨̨͉̰͓̠̩̖͇͎̂̅͌N̸̲̎̽͊̇̃́̇̀́̾̈́̑̀̄̚͠o̵̡͈̼̮͍̘̹̯̅̆ͅͅͅẗ̷̻̗̪̭̤̥̟̱̝̱̪̠̜̦́̅͋̆̂̚͘̕ĥ̷̢̛͍̤͔̠̰̘̞͔̦̳͗̔̊̐̒̿̀̒̅̇͘ǐ̷̧͉̳̎̀̽͗͠ņ̶̗̞̫͕̦͈̲̮͚̤̥̰̒̉̊̽̍̃̓̀̿͝g̵̡̯͙̹̱͙̰̟̦̫̺̗̰̾̒̎̐̔̈́̽͜ ̷̮̱̙̣̂͊͆̊̓ẘ̸̠͓̞̞̮̜͛͋̒́́͆̑ͅá̸̙̠̘̰ŝ̶̛̮̜̠̫̬̪͉̯̔̎́̿͒̔̉̂̃̕̕͜͠ ̶̢̭͈̞͉̘̪̹͇̱͓̃̀̃̌͑̀̄̎͝͝͠l̷̩͍͛̀̔̐͐è̸̘̥̝͇̝͎̠͌͆͑͌͐̌̑̂͐͂͝f̶̤̗͉͎͑̋̄̃̈́̒̋̓̅̈́͌̒̚̕̕͠t̷̤̮̼͔̹͙̐͆̾̂̈́̽̉̓̓͐͘ ̸̢̛̤̱̻͐̅̐́̇̃̒̊̀͐̚̕͠f̶̬͔̠̝̻̳̀̽̀̋̌̈́͂̌́͠ǫ̴͉̤̳͕̘͔̠͚̪͚̣̹͖͋̅͒̆͛̅̈̈̋̀͂̄͑r̷̡̲̩͖̖̝͚͖̞̰͍̥̿̄͋̌̿͜͠ ̶̛͈̰̥̰̟͔̟̦̮̭͚̥̫̍̌̀͑͛͝h̷͔̤̘̺̠̩̫̫̎̓̀̊͛́͋͊̌̊̓i̴͖̙̫̥͙̮̺̥̖̗̋̃̑̃̈̊͛̄͛̀͘s̸̡̙̤͔̮̥͒͌̀̄̌̾͗͂ ̵̛͔̏̈́̓̑̀̈́͝f̶̯̳̲͙̹̺́̊̇͛̈͋̄̅͆̍͝ā̶̧̛̱̪̬̟͗̉́͒͋̎͗̃͘͜͝͝ẗ̴̨̛͓͇̲͙̯̫́̇̔͊̂͂̄͋̂́̕e̸̛̪̹̦̩̮͂̍̓͆̇͌͋̉̽̓̏́͂̚͝ͅ
Report Date
02 Jul 2022
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