Previous: Session 043; Next: Session 045
Start: 23rd of Houden, 6 hours into the day, in the Vault of Rathian Hall choosing rewards for escorting Azaetha Starstride.
The Bill's Bimbos chose the following rewards:
- Aoife Sweeney: 1000 gold
- Calliope: Focal, the sentient Deep crystal dagger
- Argus von Steinberg: Swansong, the sentient glass rapier
- Arwa Hathspelt: Unrelenting Hunter light crossbow
- Rohtagels: Pentident, the 5-speared trident with points arranged in a pentagon
- Otto Ozzley: TBD
- Crax Goobadink: TBD
Leading the Bill's Bimbos out of the vault, the party split: Aoife Sweeney wanted to investigate the repository of scrolls and tomes in Rathian Hall to search for work of her father, Killian Sweeney. The rest of the team went off to Depthsong Tavern to visit Don Tristurro.
Aoife Sweeney, with the help of Liriel, searched the underused library for her father's work. Liriel commented that their inventory is relatively recent, and that most of their works are brought from the surface, with many Silver Quills scribes storing copies of their works here so that all copies of such information are widely distributed, safe from being easily erased in one swoop. In the sparsely-stocked section on Psychology, they found a number of works signed "K.S." and imprinted with the symbol of the Silver Quills: here she began to read his research (details in the Research post under Killian Sweeney). They had found that his book "Elder Brains: A Study on the Origin and Expansion of Collective Consciousness" was defiled, the interior of the pages entirely removed and the edges of the pages bound together to give the appearance that the book still rested in this section. Liriel and Aoife Sweeney were shocked, and went to discuss this with Azaetha Starstride.
Rohtagels, Argus von Steinberg, and Calliope made their way to the southern ward and approached Depthsong Tavern. They noticed that the tavern was packed and a lone of Duergar were lined up outside. The Bill's Bimbos were met with arguments and shouts when they tried to skip ahead and enter. One Duergar vouched for them, noting that they were wanted by Don Tristurro. Arguments erupted, and the Bill's Bimbos walked inside unnoticed. Amidst the sea of Duergar, they spied a stone and iron construct (Ferrice) serving drinks at the bar, a halfling girl (Daisy Dewdown) playing a fiddle on a small side stage to a crowd of raucous Duergar, and the man himself, Don Tristurro with in the corner booth, drinking and smoking with his Vaakbond brothers, with Turq standing nearby. Turq spotted them and waved the group over.
Don Tristurro greeted them warmly, and the group talked at length about what they've been through and how life has been in the month or so since they last met. Don Tristurro admitted to renovating the Depthsong Tavern after Calliope reinvigorated their appreciation for music, while Turq glowered in defeat at Rohtagels wielding his old shield. Don Tristurro invited the guys to enjoy the bar, and offered them drinks.
Argus von Steinberg made for the bar, ordered the hardest drink available, and spied a cast-iron, rubber-lined cask with primordial writing on the side (Original Sin (Poison)). Before drinking, some Duergar warned him of the wall, where other patrons' illusory likenesses were displayed should they die to the drink. Undeterred, he took a swig and withstood the primordial poison, earning cheers and respect from all nearby. Argus von Steinberg then got a cast-iron sippy cup to take some poison on the road. Argus von Steinberg took a walk outside, passed out from the drink, and was found by his companions being robbed by 7 goblins. Upon being shooed away, one goblin took a swig and died instantaneously.
Calliope approached the stage and observed Daisy Dewdown riling up the mosh pit of Duergar around the stage in her incredibly fast-paced fiddle playing. After a set, Calliope jumped up and joined her, and engaged in a sort of musical duel. She already had the crowd on her side, but Calliope won them over a bit before Daisy Dewdown finished with an unrivaled solo. She told Calliope that she respected his skills, and invited him to talk more at her room upstairs if he wanted to seek her out. Daisy Dewdown gathered her pack of donated coins, paid a portion to Don Tristurro, and went upstairs. Calliope continued to perform, and brought the room down with a slower set and a Calm Emotions spell. The Duergar only further solidify their appreciation for Calliope.
Reconvening at Rathian Hall, Aoife Sweeney and Liriel reported to the theft and destruction of the Aberration Psychology materials within the library. Troubled, she proposed to inquire with the more well-read senators: Grulkar Skullsplitter and Xan'alith'alan. Aoife Sweeney attempted to convince her of the potential danger Xan'alith'alan stands and his likeliness of being the culprit, but she made her trust in her fellow senator clear. Grulkar Skullsplitter, upon hearing of the theft from the adjacent office, flew into a rage and stormed off to find Krivzel Tunnomb and Skizzle Shankrot to convene the Abygen Senate (Sybin and Thurdok Canyor were not considered to be included in this meeting).
Leaving Depthsong Tavern, and fucked up from his dose of Original Sin (Poison), Argus von Steinberg let Swansong take control and lead him to Rathian Hall. He then blacked out. Upon reaching Bloodless Center, Swansong controlled Argus von Steinberg and had him murder the lingering goblins who'd robbed him, leaving a trail of bodies to the door of Rathian Hall. Here, the party and Azaetha Starstride saw the carnage. Argus von Steinberg stood up to questioning, taking responsibility for the murders and attempted to conceal Swansong's influence on him. Azaetha Starstride commented on how quickly the Bill's Bimbos adapted to her violent and unhinged city, and led them east to the Bridge Ward.
Walking along the center thoroughfare of the Bridge Ward, Azaetha Starstride explained the neighborhood: this was a section of the city maintained for its temporary citizens, ones who are extremely foreign to such civilized living in Umbradeep. Primarily, two sectors dominate the region's population: the rubble and ruin of the Void's demons, and the nicely appointed law offices of the Tower's devils. Near the end of the thoroughfare, between the two sectors, is a rocky spire with a quartz dome atop it: the Mind's Eye Observatory. Azaetha Starstride explained this is where Xan'alith'alan resides, and it serves them in their overwatch of the volatile and disparate individuals whom they represent.
Scaling the rocky spire, they entered Mind's Eye Observatory and found Xan'alith'alan inside, wielding a wand and seemingly engaged in a divination-type of spell. Making themselves, Azaetha Starstride asked Xan'alith'alan join them for an urgent senate meeting, and Xan'alith'alan joined them. On the walk back, Aoife Sweeney attempted to end the silence Xan'alith'alan had maintained and formed a psychic link with the Illithid. In a contest of wills, Xan'alith'alan was caught off guard, and Aoife Sweeney gleaned some insight into their thought processes: Xan'alith'alan is not a fan of the Bill's Bimbos as they are far too intrusive and prying in their interactions; Xan'alith'alan had previously read the defiled materials found in the Rathian Hall library, and they contained robust theories on the origins and proliferation of Elder Brains, as well as connections made to little-known Illithid religion which outlined ultimate goal of an Elder Brain (to assimilate with all sentient minds, and create a single consciousness whose psychic power could ascend to Deity-level power); Xan'alith'alan is aware of and has some history/experience with an Elder Brain which is referred to as the Nexus Encephalon.
Aoife Sweeney pulled away from Xan'alith'alan before a similar bridge could be made into her mind, but Xan'alith'alan was indicated by her presence and her ability.
End: 23rd of Houden 1113 GE, end of day, approaching Rathian Hall for the Abygen Senate meeting.