Date(s): 15–16 Mistfall 983
Location(s): Aboard the Starlight and at Highwater on Alyndra Isle, Talereth
Overview
The Starlight makes landfall at Highwater under cover of stormy skies. Tensions brew as the crew navigates tangled loyalties, unanswered questions, and dangerous attention. The city’s velvet façades conceal tangled webs of influence — and not everyone is pleased to see them. A clandestine drop-off, an unwelcome attack, and a courier five years overdue all push the story toward Myrren's shadow.
Key Events
- Journey to Highwater
- Corenthia spends the final travel day on deck, stargazing while Prim narrates constellations — until she vanishes below with a sigh.
- The party also strategizes with her about how to handle the coffin delivery. She suggests treating the delivery as routine and offers to help obscure any evidence that the coffin was ever opened. She's not sure it will work, but if it does, delaying the Velvet Court's discovery of her escape will benefit everyone.
- Arrival at Highwater comes after nightfall, amid lightning and storms. The ship lands safely while Tsuki hunkers below deck, then slips into port as a mundane coastal trader just after dawn.
- Corenthia Avae Departs
- She promises to return shortly with payment (200gp). When questioned whether she can be trusted actually come back, she reassures the crew — then reveals she'd already left five minutes prior, leaving only an illusory double.
- A Routine Pickup — Meeting Arvix Senn
- Mercantile Guild agent Arvix Senn meets the ship at the docks, expecting to receive the off-books parasite shipment ("DS-4"). When informed the shipment was damaged/stolen, she advises the group to inform the local Concord Field Office.
- Arvix also arranges for the sale of their Highwater-bound cargo, as well as a planned pickup the next day of the Transport Coffin.
- Concord Field Office Visit
- Prim and Tsuki visit the Concord Field Office for two inquiries:
- Parasite Incident Inquiry: They report the loss of the DS-4 (parasite) shipment without revealing details. Archivist Calven indicates that the underlying documentation is classified, but thanks them for the report.
- Myrren Inquiry: They ask about any records that might exist related to Myrren or strange dreams. Calven indicates that such research is unavailable without additional approvals, and seems uneasy when they persist.
"Strange dreams are not uncommon on Talereth these days, but they are not a cause for inquiry."
- Ultimately, the clerk hints that someone with more knowledge may reach out — and indeed, Evan Orlin does. Unbeknownst to the party, their questions also trigger a buried archive trace, setting in motion the delayed delivery of a letter from Aleira Quen.
- Ship Registry Update
- Donny and Finn visit the dockmaster's office to update the Starlight's registry, naming Donny as temporary captain.
- Checking Temple Records
- Myrren Inquiry: Rynerm visits a local Radiant Mandate temple archive to see if they have any records of visits to Myrren. He doesn't find much, and the local acolyte seems unaware of the most recent mission to Myrren that Rynarm himself experienced.
- Pantheon Inquiry: Rynarm also researches the history of the Celestial Choir, confirming that Mandate doctrine has evolved significantly over the last century, becoming more militant. Formerly Choir members Naelun and Serentha have been nearly forgotten, and Ilyra and Thaziel re-imagined as Valthren has risen sharply in stature.
- The Return of Corenthia Avae
- She returns in a new appearance — different hair, seeming much younger, and with new attire.
- She pays her 200gp debt and informs the group that she intends to lie low for a while.
"I have additional debts to settle, but I can be patient."
- Market Attack
- Later that afternoon as the party reunites for some shopping at Fairstring Market, a cell of Maw cultists ambushes them, specifically targeting Rynerm.
- Passersby flee in panic as cultists wield strange magic and rave about the Maw, its supposed rival -- the "Dreamer," and Rynerm, described as the "Dreamer's ward." The cultists claim they've seen Rynerm in their dreams.
- The crew dispatches three of the cultists, capturing one as the final cultists escapes. Local guards arrive too late to intervene, but provide the added context that cult activity has been rising lately.
- Tsuki's search of the cultists reveals smattering of coin, cult-like tattoos and tokens, and a crude drawing of Rynerm.
- A subsequent interview of the captured cultists offers little new information, but it's clear they view the Maw as some sort of savior, and that their beliefs are fueled by strange dreams.
- Whistleblower
- Evan Orlin discreetly visits the crew, confirming suspicions of Concord misconduct.
- He provides a Partial Concord Field Report and the DS-4 Contract, both pointing toward questionable practices within the Vault Division.
- He also confirms that strange dreams have been on the rise of late, and that Concord containment efforts are faltering.
"Telis thinks the protocols are enough. That the thing beneath the veil can be contained if we all just follow the script. But the script keeps changing."
- Evan also suggests that the owner of Gardenhand, a local apothecary and herbalist, may have additional insights:
"In my Concord days I wouldn't have given them a second thought, but maybe that's part of the problem."
- Courier Encounter — "Mr. Gafnon?"
- A goblin courier tracks down Prim at the docked Starlight, asking for “Mr. Gafnon.”
- He delivers the Letter from A.Q., prepared years prior as a failsafe trigger should Prim’s inquiries ever circle back to Myrren:
"Be careful where you walk. Some knowledge won’t let go once held."
Clues & Discoveries
- DS-4 Contract — Proof that the Veilwatch Concord knowingly outsourced the parasite transfer.
- Partial Concord Report — Redacted but suggestive field report regarding Myrren-related anomalies.
- Letter from A.Q. — Aelira Quen's cryptic letter, warning about pursuing the Myrren truth… and hinting that the Concord won't help.
- Cult Attack — The Maw cultists clearly recognize Rynerm… and view him and the "Dreamer" as a threat to the Maw's “cleansing.”
Final Notes
- Highwater's carefree façade conceals currents of danger and mystery.
- Has the Veilwatch Concord taken on more than it can handle?
- Mandate doctrine has changed substantially over time. Is it a natural drift, or something more?
- For the crew of the Starlight, Myrren leaps to the forefront as an epicenter of concern.
- The crew needs more information and perhaps additional allies, but the potential next steps are unclear.
- Whatever secrets remain to be uncovered, the crew is already tangled in threads far older and stranger than they first imagined.