Saturday, December 22, 652 AU to Friday, December 29, 652 AU
The party spends the next week choosing their estates and choosing hirelings.
Valspira moves in to Valya’s estate to work on contacting her old allies in the Hells.
Bellaroth’s dignitaries called her “despoiler of Ghelroth’Far”—Valspira scoffs, claiming Bellaroth is probably lying. Ghelroth’Far was an old kingdom that sank into the sea.
They speak with Zeesa and Sqreeth of the Talons about Bellaroth’s proclamation—they estimate Crystalport can afford to pay Bellaroth for around four months before it becomes a financial problem.
Bellaroth almost certainly already has spies in Crystalport—she’ll learn soon enough that the Dawnbringers are the ones who stole her treasure.
Also during this time, the undead beholder disintegrates its way to the surface along with two undead spectators, wreaking havoc in the town center until the Dawnbringers take it down.
Over three days, Aurelia casts divination to help the party decide their next actions.
If we go to Cobalt Rock, would that be a fruitful endeavor? Maybe.
If we go to Silverdale, will we find the necromancers that attacked Crystalport? Yes.
Will we find a black statue if we go to Cobalt Rock? Maybe.
Saturday, December 30, 652 AU
Bellaroth arrives to receive her 10,000 gp, which the Daykins provide.
They hire Captain Green to take them to Cobalt Rock, which he claims is infested with sirens and harpies surrounded by deadly rocks.
Sunday, December 31, 652 AU
They approach Cobalt Rock, and take a small dinghy while Captain Green keeps his distance.
They are ambushed by invisible sirens on the beach, but eventually prevail.
Searching around with Aurelia’s arcane eye, they find a small cave. They make it to the cave without attracting the attention of the harpies.
In the cave, they are attacked by acidic oozes.
Further into the cave, Aurelia, Bingo, and Valya find the corpse of a halfling adventurer, but are attacked by his ghost, who claims he’s going to find “Captain Krabus’s treasure” first. Meanwhile, Qhask and Thaldohr are attacked by a mimic pretending to be a treasure chest.
Valya tries to read the ghost’s mind to see what killed it, and catches a glimpse of a tentacled snake-like creature.
The tentacle-like creature joins the battle—it proves to be an elder grick.
Low on health and resources after the battle, they continue to explore the cave. They find a pool of acid, enchanted to make anyone swimming in it fall asleep.
Valya misty steps to the other side and finds a small circular cave. Stars are painted in blood on the ceiling, surrounding a comet painted in the very top of the ceiling. Along the walls are drawings of flayed humanoids, all laughing and smiling as they look up toward the comet. In the center of the room is a humanoid skeleton, curled in a fetal position.
Aurelia misty steps over, and recognizes the comet from her visions. Valya digs under the corpse and discovers a black statue, this one in the form of a collection of bubbles.
A creature emerges from the statue—a cloud of eyes. It does massive psychic damage and floats around as it attacks the party.
Once they defeat the creature, they bring the statue to Utaz to add to the magic circle.
Aurelia and Valya get into a fight when Aurelia realizes Valya’s power comes from an aspect of Neesha.
Monday, January 1, 653 AU
They make their way west in a covered wagon owened by Rhoda, a trader, hoping to speak to this “Julian” character in Hart’s Crossing, and find the statue in the Ilvassar Forest.
They spend the night in Basinglen, electing to sleep in different inns.
Rhoda and Aurelia share a room at the Frightened Rat, while Thaldohr takes a separate room.
Valya and Qhask stay in separate rooms at the Silty Swamp (more upscale).
Bingo stays at the Vulgar Hamster (seedier).
Thaldohr is woken up by an assassin stabbing him in the chest… ❦