Session 19: The Archbishop and the Assassins

General Summary

Welcome back to Eberron...

Downtime Activities

11 Eyre 998 YK

-Erisna: Guarding the road to Wroat
-Glittergem: Green Dragon, catch up with Keth and Tinker. Pay Fabricator Guild fee, visiting Diggory Smith. Looking for Qualen Boondiggles.
-Rare: Message to Bliss Mavari.

12 Eyre 998 YK

-Erisna: Guarding the road to Wroat.
-Glittergem: Day two of looking for Qualen: spoke to the gnome proprietor at the eponymous Nightshade's, learning that her father was seen here a few days prior. He is horribly addicted and no longer able to pay his tab. It appears that he is also beginning to speak out of turn, talking about things that The Trust of Zilargo wouldn't want mentioned. She also had an awkward date night with Keth .
-Rare: Little Xen'drik, looking for maps. Bonding with Glacias, and dinner at the Green Dragon.

Erisna, having received word from Silvia Goldfinch that Archbishop Deterich Eingelmann has returned to Sharn, you gather the rest of the "Cursed Crew" to seek an audience. Leaving Tinker's Green Dragon in Malleon's Gate, the three of you are given a wide berth, as the many Droaamite races of the lower wards get out of your way as you head to the Cathedral.
When you do arrive at the Cathedral of the Cleansing Flame, you seek out Silvia Goldfinch to be introduced to the Archbishop. Incorrectly assuming that the studious cleric would be in the library, it takes you some time to discover that she has occupied the desk that was once maintained by Torchbearer Sarai.

Silvia has taken over as Archbishop Eingelmann's aid de camp, a position that she has not quite made her mind up about. She escorts the party to the Archbishop's office and invites them to wait a few moments.
Archbishop Deterich Eingelmann arrives a few moments later with both Donal Stone and Millicent ir'Orsay in tow. Sitting at his desk, he heard the report of the Cathedral being attacked by Zaeran's "pack", and the party's work in apprehending the werewolf in the Skyway. It's at this point that the Archbishop hears Therin Aloro's name mentioned and the elderly clergyman insisten on visiting him the second that they completed the ritual to remove the curses from the party.
The ritual restored the party, and they were on thier way to the prison to speak to Therin.

The Prison

Therin is being held in The Citadel, in the only prison in Sharn. His cell is little more than a cage, in a series of cages that house the most dangerous criminals in the city. At night, like many of the other prisoners, he is tortured by his nightmares. He is unable to use any of his skills or abilities and awaits his day in court with as much stoicism as he can muster.
When the Archbishop and the party arrive, he is both shocked and confused. Eingelmann offers him a way out- in service to the Church of the Silver Flame as a "dark knight" against their enemies. In exchange for support, Therin learns the following:

His mother, Vadania, may still be alive. She was last seen more than twenty years before, escaping toward the Demon Wastes.

Eingelmann has no idea who Therin may have killed on the night of his failed exorcism.

As far as the Archbishop is concerned, the exorcism should have worked. He followed the instructions that he received to the letter.

The Archbishop is a being of immense power, able to both effortly cast complex rituals effortlessly and defy restraints that can currently overcome the party.

Accepting his new role, Therin is assigned to Erisna's care. She is to be his "parole officer" going forward, ensuring his care while simultaneously preventing him from making any further "errors in judgement". Eingelmann then summons Lady Warden Maira ir'Talan and sets about processing Therin's release papers.

Tying Off Loose Ends

Therin and the rest of the Sharn Dragons learned what had become of Canon since the ill-fated heist on 18 Therendor. The halfling boy had been rounded up by the Watch and branded as a thief. He now panhandles in the Temple district in the Upper City outside a derelict shrine.

Canon is being taken care of by Sundry as much as she is able. The gnome has an intense hatred for Therin, shooting him in the face with her arcane shotgun when she last saw him.

The halfling boy is broken-hearted that he can no longer steal things. It also appears that his other friends, including the girl he called Mala, have abandoned him since his earlier misfortune.

The Sharn Dragons took time to break bread at The Oaks, an Aereni restaurant in the Upper CIty, in celebration of Therin's release from prison and their recent cures from lycanthropy. After taking a moment to enjoy a quiet meal, Rare saw a member of the Undying Court make his appearance. Gliding through the outdoor seating area, the lich summoned the restaurant's manager Maza ir'Thadian for a private conference. Seeing this as her one opportunity to speak to the ancient wizard, she broke off from the rest of the party to request a private audience.

Erisna and the Sharn Dragons negotiated Professor Nigel Teller's release from the Watch garrison in Black Arches. Commander Iyanna ir'Talan released the Daask lieutenant to the paladin under the stipulation that they use any means they can to convince Flamewind not to kill him. They were ultimately victorious, convincing the gynosphynx to take the disgraced academic on as a servant.

Therin, Glittergem, and Erisna also discovered a more wondrous use of the Mysterious Black Flame Lantern by consulting Bodhrán Moor. After informing the party that the Sylvan script was in fact the lyrics to "a forgotten song", the firbolg performed the ritual that cast a portal in his hut to some place in Thelanis, the Faerie Court. Though tempted, the three Sharn Dragons decided not to cross that threshold at this time.

They did, however, learn the following:

Bodhrán Moor was originally from Thelanis, serving as a caretaker for one of the plane's many gardens. One day, humans crossed through a manifest zone and tried to harvest lumber from one of the garden's many sentient trees and injuring the tree in the process. In a fit of rage, the firbolg crossed through the same threshold and butchered the woodcutters for their transgression. His violent and mortal outburst caused Queen Thalania to banish him from the Faerie Court where he took up residence with the Gatekeeper druids of the Eldeen Reaches. Finding kindred spirits, he gladly took up their cause before eventually assuming a post in the Shadow Marches.

Creating a portal to Thelanis apparently draws significantly more energy from the lantern. It has not regained enough flame to reach into it the way you were able to do before.

Assassination Attempt

Erisna, Glittergem, and Therin were ambushed in Malleon's Gate district by a doppelgänger disguised as a kenku child on their way back to Tinker's Green Dragon. Therin discovered the ruse and used some quick thinking to decrease the threat before taking on the would-be assassin in melee combat. While dispatching the villain, the heroes discovered that they were also being attacked by others from the second story of a nearby building. Though they attempted to find the others, by the time they were able to force their way through the crowd the room was empty.

Loose Threads

Harash is out there somewhere, continuing to serve Cavallah as her last lieutenant. If anyone in her organization knows the way to get to her, it is her right-hand gorgon.

Professor Whisper Pines is supplying the party with a planar compass that can help the party hone in on extraplanar energy. It should arrive at the Green Dragon the next morning.

It's been about two weeks since Session 15, "The Battle of the Boromar Ball", 28 Therendor 998 YK Report. How is Saidan Boromar doing? The Crooked Mirror?

Glittergem found two letters in Evix ir'Marshala's residence. The first was a simple, if enigmatic letter, thanking the councilor for her insights into the Brelish Parliament- signed with the symbol of a red owl. The second letter was sent by "Bastinu" asking/ instructing her to hire two members to her staff.

Archbishop Deterich Eingelmann informed Glittergem that her fight against the goblin vampire is not complete and that the creature likely continues to lurk beneath the city.

Loot

10,000 galifar for capturing Zaeran

Report Date

14 Apr 2021