Party: Qualinost
Vodren-Human Cleric
Ryai-Elf Spellblade
Shim-Human Artificer
Bomba-Gnome Monk
Broud- Half-Ogre Cleric
In the foyer of the Aedlock house, captain of guard calls for not only Nonasse's arrest; but the arrest of the entire party including "Cal".
Bomba is ready to fight the guard head on, but Vodren and Ryai don't want to get Ryai's father, Laith, into any trouble. In the meantime Laith goes to talk with the guard to buy them time.
Ryai knows the elves don't execute people, but they could very well be banished for this. Vodren tries to suggest self banishment and to sneak in later, but the punishment lies heavy on Ryai's head if that happens having him become a Dark Elf. Ryai wants to plead their case and cooperate. Breaking out of prison is better than turning tail and running.
The group decides to go and meet with the guard. Captain Angoviaras greets the group and reiterates the charge of treason. Ryai, pretending to be a cousin named Cal, asks the Captain on what grounds. The Captain reads the charge again and tells them they have been accused of the murder of Vanthanoris Althonos while in Crossing. "Cal" lies that he's never been to Crossing and has spent most of his time in Wayreth. It doesn't sway the captain and asks if they'll come quietly. Not wanting to risk Ryai's family, they go. The guard tells the group to leave Inevitable and Marovie behind. Laith goes to take Marovie into his study and comes back with a little vial and slips it to Shim. Laith tells Ryai to trust Shim and the group is taken to the dungeons.
The group is stripped of their items, however the guard ends up doing a poor job of looking for hidden items and they manage to slip a few things into their cells. Once they get to their cells they realize this is the nicest prison some of them have ever been in, with Bomba being a repeat offender here. The guard named Ellie gets the group situated and tells them about how things work and asks if anyone has any food allergies.
As they get settled, they start to try and get their bearings on their current situation. Ryai tries to study the architecture to try and get an idea of the layout, but gets too caught up in his family's work to glean anything useful.
Shim inspects the locks to see how easy they will be to pick. They notice they're of dwarven design and has been something they've worked with before.
Vodren chats with Ellie about the situation and tries to get a feel for his opinion. He seems like someone trying to just do his job.
Bomba's earring picks up that the guards above are talking about her. One mentions that they think it's dumb that she's been arrested since she's been in Qualinost the whole time. Another tells him it's Paladithel's order and if he wants to stick his neck out for her he is more than welcome to.
As it creeps closer to dinner, Shim takes out the little vial Laith slipped them. He twists the little owl lock on the top and out comes some hastily sketched blueprints of the dungeon showing where the evidence room is and a secret tunnel in the empty cell leading to the Roseblack.
As it quietly gets around to the other cells it reaches Ryai who recognizes the the Roseblack. They quickly try to plan their escape and Ryai tries to remove the rod holding his privacy curtain off the wall. He manages, but it makes a loud noise alerting Ellie. He asks "Cal" what happened and Ryai tells him that he's a curious person. He makes Ryai switch cells and he ends up in the cell with the secret path.
Broud goes to rip his off the wall to give to Ryai and not only manages to do so, but open the bars separating their cells to slip it through to him. Casting Rumblegut's Surprising Staff, Ryai pokes Shim and then casts invisibility on them. Ryai hands the rod back and Broud closes the bars like nothing happened, getting Ryai slightly flustered.
Shim closes their privacy curtain and waits for dinner to arrive. As the guards come to drop off their food, the one asks why "Cal" moved. Ryai responds that he was just trying to get a better look at his ancestors handiwork and everything clicks better with Ellie. Vodren offers to fix the broken rod and they take him up on it. He does with a simple mending cantrip and the guards give a little look of guilt once he does.
They deliver Shim's dish and Shim slips out the door without them noticing. Once Shim is out, they head straight towards the evidence room to grab everyone's stuff, easily picking the lock.
As they wait, Ryai goes to explore the cavern for a bit. If it wasn't for Ryai's latent magic, no elf would be able to see in the caverns. The walls are entirely made of rose quartz as rose vines litter the walls. He makes it to the bottom and finds a chest. In it are three sunrods and an old pocket book of Qualinesti law. He grabs the book and heads back up, telling the group what he found.
Bomba starts to get extremely bored and asks if she can have her pan flute at least. Ellie complies and tells the guard up top to grab Bomba's pan flute. Shim, who hasn't made it back yet starts to hug the wall as the guard realizes the weapons have been stolen. They slip back into the dungeon and begin picking the cell locks
Once the alarm is sounded Ellie goes towards Shim's cell. Vodren drinks his potion of mind reading and scrys that he's noticed that Shim hasn't touched their food. Pressing further he picks up on his conflict with the current situation. Vodren starts to talk to him to convince him to leave Shim's cell alone. He mentions outloud that he doesn't know what to believe or what killing the clerics will do to Qualinost's relationship with the gods. Ryai tells him that if they don't do anything Qualinost could be the next Istar. Ellie however is unmoved and tells the empty cell to make a noise if Shim was in there.
Bomba uses minor illusion and fakes the sound of Shim talking, absolutely throwing Ellie for a loop. Ryai tries to talk to him again, assuring him that while things seem dire and dark, they should still do right by the light.
Ellie asks how they plan to get out of the prison and Ryai asks if he'll keep it secret. Ellie agrees and he shows him the secret passage to the Roseblack. He asks how Ryai knows this and he assures him that he's a little special. It finally clicks for Ellie that he is speaking to Nona, but Ryai corrects him telling him he no longer goes by that name.
Ellie unlocks Ryai's cell, then goes to unlock Broud's to find that it's already been unlocked, along with Bomba's. He unlocks Vodren's and Shim pops back into view with all the important weapons. Ellie allows them to flee as they slip into the Roseblack.
The group enters the rose quartz filled caverns and begin to explore. The vines where they are look like they've adapted to their living conditions, but aren't thriving. Ryai is utterly enamored with the view and takes his time to sketch out the place. Vodren keeps an eye out for tracks. Bomba tries to commune with any potential ghosts, and Shim tries to analyze the geode structure. Broud keeps watch.
Vodren manages to find a set of heavy boot prints marching through.
Shim can't gleam much architecturally since it's a natural formation, but is able to tell where the air is coming from.
Bomba finds surprisingly, no ghosts.
Ryai eventually takes the charge leading them through the caverns towards the air. As they pass, they find a section of vines that are green. Vodren inspects them an finds that they are rather vinegary is taste.
They eventually find the exit and Ryai slips out first. He finds that the exit leads to the edge of the northern bridge towards Darken Wood. Hidden there as well are four Silvanesti elves, supposedly keeping watch. He slips back and tells the group that they can steal a near by boat if they are careful. They all manage to go up and out, rushing the boat. The Silvanesti notice them and call out asking if they are fleeing. Ryai tells them not a chance in hell.
They still think he's Cal.
While on the boat, Ryai reaches out to Aroth with sending. He tells him that the meeting place has changed to the abandoned house outside of town. He responds with why and Ryai has to rest before responding. He agrees and is set to meet them, bringing back up in case they were followed.
They arrive to the abandoned house to see that the front door is still off it's hinges. They head inside and begin to barrel down the hatches. Shim begins to build alarms near the doors to notify them if there are intruders. Broud is ecstatic to find out the kitchen has raisins and begins cooking. Vodren goes on patrol to make sure they're safe. Bomba begins to investigate.
Ryai sends another message to his father telling him they've escaped. Laith is relieved but has not heard word from anyone else about it. He then rests again, reading the book of Qualinesti law from the Roseblack. While reading, he gets the feeling his ancestor put it there to teach the escapee a lesson.
As Bomba explores the house she enters the master bedroom. She opens a jewelry box to find nothing in it. As she closes it and puts it back a black shadow from lashes out at her, cutting her deeply before disappearing again. Bomba flees back to the rest of the group, showing Broud and Vodren in the kitchen. As Ryai listens to the description from the room over he tries to figure out what it is until he realizes Shim is alone. He rushes to where they're working to see a black cloaked figure standing over Shim, knife at the ready. Ryai slips between the both of them and catches a look at the figure's face. He finds that she is another Silvanesti with cold eyes. She takes off past the two of them to the outside of the house. Ryai yells to cut her off while Bomba, Shim, and him go after her. Vodren slips out the back with his bow ready and Broud grabs the hot frying pan he was using. From the shadows Vodren is stabbed as poison courses through him. As she runs back into the house, he takes a shot at her leg crippling her. The group manages to corner her back into the bedroom. Vodren manages to cut her other leg with his spiritual weapon. She tries to flee out the window again but ends up falling flat on her back. Shim drops the sap bomb on her and she is stuck to the ground. Bomba lands the finishing blow to her, knocking her out cold.
They inspect her things and take her poisons. As they look they find a writ, that gives her authority over any of the guards from the heir apparent Paladithel. As Ryai reads the writ, everything begins to click. With Paladithel in the speaker's ear he's convinced him not only let him marry Princess Laurana posthumously, but to knock off the two other princes from succession putting himself as next in line.
They tie up their would be assassin, putting her in the basement. While waiting for Aroth, Ryai takes the time to search more thoroughly through the house and finds a few potions, a book, and midnight pearl earrings.
Aroth arrives and Shim asks him to keep his horse in the back. Shim notices Aroth's hair is flowing despite there being no wind.
As they head inside Ryai recognizes the breeze as a silent stalker. Ryai mentions that they've already had one tonight which peaks the Half-Elf's interest. Broud calls up that the Silvanesti assassin is awake. They go to try and talk to her, but she won't budge. She tries to break her binds, but is caught. She lunges forward in the chair and is tripped. Vodren who's had enough of this puts her down. With the assassin dealt with they begin their talks with Aroth about what they found.
The group theorizes that since the clerics were nowhere to be found above ground, they must be hidden in the Roseblack. Though the maze of crystals will be hard to navigate to find them on short notice. Also with the revelation that Paladithel is heir apparent, they're convinced that the speaker's days are numbered. Ryai theorizes on the day of the sacrifice that he'll go for the speaker.
Unfortunately with the tree under his control, they knows they can't attack him directly. Aroth suggests calling a red dragon to take out the tree but Ryai and Shim refuse. They talk about taking the Fang of Verdance away from him to see if they can get some sort of control over the tree. With him being surrounded, and their most knowledgeable source on Paladithel's schedule dead on the ground they decide to try and lure him away during one of his speeches. Aroth says that Ryai had to have good dirt on Paladithel, and Ryai reluctantly agrees.
The reason Ryai left was because Paladithel raped him.
With the revelation, they begin to plan.
Using a minor illusion they will create a vision of Nonasse to catch his attention. And with one of Shim's devices, they can record a message to lure him away from the crowd. Ryai making Shim and Bomba invisible will try and pickpocket the knife away from him once alone.
Ryai and Vodren plan to run back up during the scenario while Aroth will send his silent stalker to attack Paladithel once he is separated.
Before heading off to rest, Ryai sends a final sending to his father, telling him of Paladithel's new position. Laith tells him he just found out himself.
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