Session 27: Return to the light Report

General Summary

The group starts on their travel in the night, in the rain, on their way to grab transport in Arcanix. During this time, the group had a bit more conversation but mostly settled to have a pause, at Nina's behest, to camp for the rest of the night and walk in the daylight instead, now that they were far enough from Redragon to not feel a need to worry.
Eavaan, Kivi and Trajan bunked up, Nina slept in her tent, the twins were together and Tanantala and Yvan slept in their own tent. Nina took first watch, and the twins, second watch, leverage having 3 elves in the party. Eavaan tried to invite Yvan as an olive branch but found the man sleeping like the dead. During Nina's watch, the night was calm and composed. During the twin's, Twig received a special visitor: A small golden drake, with colors matching that of Trajan but showing no other clear resemblance. The young drake displayed signs of sentience, able to conversate in the Draconic language, but showing little response to common. She explained to Twig that she was rather old for her appearance, in a sense, and that it was such that her name was forgotten, so Twig offered to name her Xuxu, and she took to it immediately. The drake told Twig that she had been watching him but remained cryptic as to why. There is a mission she must test him for, to see if his soul is worthy. Little more was offered as explanation, but she did commune with the ranger, to share how she can be summoned, given she has the ability to return to where she is from. Twig's talents as a warrior will also come to play. The drake, upon a summon, can take on any element, starting each day.
In the morning, the group gathered around the fire to enjoy some breakfast. They were reminded that Kivi had not eaten normally in a long time and found a salivating dragonborn intently watching Yvan, who basically insta-dumped his backstory to the group. Being questionned for his display of cooking talent (at least one good skill, as Eavaan pointed), Astara had asked where he had learned this. He shared that before being Inspired, he was a chef. His wife had left him in that life, and his children perished. He was in a deep low when he was offered to become inspired, and had nothing to loose. After that, his life mission changed, as did he. This tickled Nina's suspicion again, and she checked him out. Passively, Eavaan also had a read on the man. In both cases, this didn't feel to be a lie, only Eavaan picked up his emotions in the moment to be a little cold, compared to most humanoid. Whether it is due to his new status and detachment from the past, or other point, is left to the characters to decide. Kivi was also able to give added information about dragonborn physiology that Trajan didn't know of, such as their ability to digest differently and that they have 2 stomachs. Xuxu on the other hand informed Twig that she was omnivorous, and though enjoyed meat, could subsist on harvests. The carnivores enjoyed a breakfast of filet mignon and eggs with spiced bread, and the veagans were able to enjoy some freshly grown picks.
The trek then resumed as they talked a bit more on their way to Arcanix. Astara finally received a sending from a rather hungover Ulendil, who gave her news that he got a new lead role in a big play, that would soon tour (2 weeks) in Fairhaven. Trajan is hoping to use the connection to get a role himself. Soon after, they arrived to the farming village of Arcanix, supplanted by the large academic islands far above the land. Twig and Kivi decided to remain on the ground, Yvan and Tanantala didn't dwell, hurrying given the huntress after Yvan, while the other four went to town square, taking the elevator up to the facility.
Nina and Astara headed to the library, to conduct some research on the dark cloud. They found a few books that were not right until reaching some urban legends of such an event, from a time long ago (nothing recent being recorded). It referred to the 'being' as 'Incarnate Gloom', which was rumored to have spawned in remote villages hit by deep misfortune. The concentrated occurrence of negative emotions would materialize into a dark cloud that emphasized it even more, and decimated the population it touched. It is theorized that the cloud is made of vivid emotions, and that no simple physical attack would hinder it. Calming it, might have an impact, however. Records state that over time, being that no other living humanoids were around, they dissipated, as it seems to survive on the emotions of people, go so far as to hunt it in a radius of approximately 20 miles (all theories, of course). Research on the Will-O-Wisp revealed that these are in a sense, incomplete ghosts... spirits roaming and are likely caused by the malformed souls of Redragon (in this instance). They would be drawn to the darkness when it moves. Otherwize, they mostly just wander. Sanctifying the deceased that originated a wisp is likely to have the wisp dissipate. Being the darkness created the wisps, it is also likely that the wisp will vanish, should the darkness be removed (but not, the other way around). Little was found on the circle, being too experimental in nature to easily search.
GAME BREAK
We resume with Trajan and Eavaan at the Hall of Prophecies, a tower looming above the rest of the University. Within is a full science lab from movie tropes, with electricity rods and spirals, glass and brass tubes, levers and buttons a plenty. Greeting them is a familiar middle aged half elf: Hector, from the graduation ceremony. The leader of the Hall of profecies seems to brighten up at the sight of Trajan, and introduces himself to Eavaan. After a quick catch up, he explains how glad he is to see a seer in the hall, and that it wasn't since that dreadfull time at the end of the war that he's even heard of one around. He explained that the Hall collects and analyzes prophecies, having developed machines that with much more time, resources and complexity, can replicate the seer family's gift to form bribes of a prophecy into a fragment. At the hall, they collect them, try to form a whole, and order them. Even with tech, only a seer can use the machines properly to re-order them to form a whole prophecy. Then the sages study the meaning behind it, and influence history where they can. Hector analyzes the fragment Trajaan has in one of the tubes, showing that one, is from a known prophecy that has already passed, that was foreseem the creation of the Mournlands. The other two, were of one prophecy, demostrating how the striation on them hinted to them being able to puzzle together, and would have a complete prophecy once the orb was whole. One that he believes Trajan's family, along with dignitaries from Sarlona were coming to investigate just as the catastrophe or War ended everything. Hector believes this was foretelling something big, something important. He then brought them to meet his wife, Rachel who was working on a completed orb. She talked some more of the machine's innerworkings and their collection of prophecies past, and of the Mournland. Eavaan questioned the Mournland and it was theorized that, based on their prophecy on the subject, Cyre (the country before becoming the Mournlands) was working with House Cannith to create massive weaponry of great power, but that they were all in one location to be dispatch. A sabotage, would have them all fire in one space, in unison, creating the Mournland. No one ever saw the wreckage. Still today, people can't go there. She does mention that a Lord of blades in there, is adding to the existing complications. But, people have survived the Mournlands, include the Cyran prince, who created New Cyre, and that many survivors have gathered there (located in Breland), in hopes to recreate an empire. Trajaan stayed behind to see minute information on prophecies, and Eavaan was guided to faculty offices.
At the office of Professor Hengestone, an expert in the planes orbiting Eberron, Eavaan noted a series of tuning forks, labeled: "Eberron, Dal Quor, Khyber (with a big red asterix to it), Dolurrh, Thelanis and Lammania." The professor, a monotone lecturer of advanced aged resembling a Disney Merlin welcomed Eavaan. A sketch of the circle was provided for study. Quickly, the professor could assess that the design was experimental, and not likely done by an erudite, pointing at least 3 errors in the runes. He explained that whatever summon would not have fully worked, and likely backfired in dire ways for a large area around the circle (10+ miles). The exact outcome is hard to determine, as this is not a ritual that was done before. However when Eavaan added the piece, the symbol of the Kalashtar, there was a connection for the professor. He seemed afeared of the idea, and explain that with this, the circle, in the best of his knowledge, was likely for a mass possession. Everyone in range would have become and unwilling vessel for the Dark Quorri, creating a small army. Something to worry, as the plane of Dal Quor is set to orbit close to Eberron in the near future, making the veil between the two planes more accessible through such magic. His fear is that whoever did this, will likely strike and try again. Told that Eavaan is a Kalashtar, he seemed secured that it was in good hands, being the race's main mission in life, is to prepare and fight Dal Quor's forces.
The group then regathered and discussed all discoveries on the train back home. Debating what to do next. There is talk of supply and visiting the Clerics of the main church of Fairhaven. The newspaper at arrival featured the group front page. Trajan sold all his bottles and the gold was spread to the group, with an increase of 384gp each - a very large sum. With this, people talked supplies... but also real estate! Trajan moved in Eavaan's apartment, sharing the rent while Eavaan bought some riverside land. Astara picked an apartment and moved out as well.

Rewards Granted

384gp per player from wine sales

Character(s) interacted with

• Kivi
• Yvan
• Tanantala
• Hector & Rachel
• Professor Hengestone

Notes

Xuxu joined the group as a summon

Quick Infos

Campaign

Eberron Adventurers Campaign

Protagonists

Sheika-Aoibheann Darragh

Neutral Good Kalashtar (Urchin)
Bard 3

33 / 33 HP

STR
8

DEX
12

CON
10

INT
10

WIS
16

CHA
16

Astara

wood Elf ()
Druid 5

38 / 39 HP

STR
10

DEX
14

CON
16

INT
10

WIS
17

CHA
10

Nina

None High Elf (Eberron Orphan)
Artificer 1

11 / 11 HP

STR
8

DEX
14

CON
16

INT
17

WIS
10

CHA
8

Report Date

22 Apr 2023

Related Characters

• Astara
• Nina
• Sheika-Aoibheann Darragh
• Twig

Date: Rhaan 22nd, 1009YK