Key Events (Timeline)
- The party, deliberating in the Inscrutable Tower, is approached by a figure in white plate armor.
- The figure reveals herself to be Ryan Raymere, the former Archmage of the Amethyst Academy. She came to dispatch Oscar Yorin but found the party had already done so.
- Belmere shows her the two staves recovered from Oscar. Ryan confirms the white, cylindrical staff is the Inscrutable Staff, one of the Seals of Drakenheim.
- Ryan shares crucial information:
- She now operates out of a laboratory in the Rose Theater.
- She believes all the Seals of Drakenheim are necessary to activate magic within Castle Drakken and dispel the Haze.
- She provides leads on other Seals/powerful figures: a rogue magician called The Pale Man (rumored to be at the Kleinberg Estate) and the Queen of Thieves.
- She warns the party that while she trusts River, any information given to her may reach Edric Runeweaver, who she suspects is trying to harness delerium for power.
- Ryan provides more lore:
- Eldritch Lilies grow in the Queen’s Garden, which is tended by the undead Queen of Drakenheim herself.
- St. Vitruvio’s Cathedral is a likely location for a Seal. It was built atop the tomb containing the remains of Saint Vitruvio and his gold dragon, Argonath.
- Ryan gives Belmere a scroll containing a formula she developed.
- Belmere spends an hour attuning to the Inscrutable Staff. This forces him to unattune from the Steward’s Seal, as a character can only be attuned to one Seal of Drakenheim at a time.
- The party decides to leave the tower and travel to the Cosmological Clocktower for a safe long rest.
- Upon arrival, the party rests. Tyrius attunes to the Steward’s Seal, which Belmere gives to him.
- Belmere forgoes his long rest to study the book, The Nexus of the Inscrutable Tower. He learns:
- The tower’s functions can be controlled from a chamber at the very top called The Nexus.
- The Nexus is operated via eight chairs surrounding a contained dimensional rift.
- Controlling the Nexus grants access to the tower’s deep cells, which contain a vault sealed by three keys, holding a vast collection of magical arcana.
- The book contains no information on making the tower a safe haven from the Haze.
- After resting, the party decides their next destination is St. Vitruvio’s Cathedral.
- The party travels to the cathedral. On the way, Gust gains one level of contamination. The session ends as they arrive.
NPCs
Name Description Location Hooks Ryan Raymere Dark-skinned human female with white flowing hair. Former Archmage of the Amethyst Academy. Wears resplendent white full plate armor and carries a quarterstaff. An enemy of Oscar Yorin and wary of the current Amethyst Academy leadership. Encountered in the Inscrutable Tower. Her base is the Rose Theater. Ally against the Haze. Possesses knowledge of the Seals, Castle Drakken, and other key figures/locations in the city. Offered to help the party if they gather the seals. The Pale Man A rogue magician and “fiend.” Rumored to reside at the Kleinberg Estate. May possess knowledge of or hold one of the Seals of Drakenheim. Ryan marked him for extermination. The Queen of Thieves A powerful figure in the city’s underworld. Unknown. May have knowledge of the Seals of Drakenheim. The Queen of Drakenheim The former queen, now an ancient, undead creature. Tends her garden in the Queen’s Park. Her garden contains numerous Eldritch Lilies, a key component for a ritual. She is a significant threat.
PCs
PC Player HP/Status Inventory Changes Notes Belmere Blake Did not gain the benefits of a long rest. Gained: Inscrutable Staff (+2), Scroll from Ryan. Lost: Steward’s Seal (gave to Tyrius). Attuned to the Inscrutable Staff. Spent the night studying a book about the tower. Tyrius Kevin Full HP/Resources (Long Rest). Gained: Steward’s Seal. Attuned to the Steward’s Seal. Experienced a magical awakening during the fight with Oscar. Zadok Matt Full HP/Resources (Long Rest). No changes. No relevant content mentioned. Gust Chris Full HP/Resources (Long Rest). Contamination: 2. No changes. Gained 1 level of contamination while traveling to the Cathedral. (Unspecified) (Unspecified) Full HP/Resources (Long Rest). No changes. No relevant content mentioned.
Loot/Resources
- Inscrutable Staff: (+2 staff, +2 to spell attack rolls & save DC). Has 20 charges. Can cast Haste, Slow, Arcane Eye, Dimension Door, Arcane Hand, Wall of Force, Disintegrate, Reverse Gravity, Maze using charges. Can cast Detect Magic, Floating Disc, Mage Armor, Mending, Message, Misty Step at will without charges. (Attuned by Belmere).
- Steward’s Seal: A Seal of Drakenheim. Allows casting of Dispel Magic, Create Food and Water, Animate Objects, Telekinesis and several cantrips. Can rebuke gargoyles and tower dragons. (Given to and attuned by Tyrius).
- Scroll: A scroll containing a formula developed by Ryan Raymere. (Given to Belmere, contents unknown).
Quests/Plot
- Active: The Seals of Drakenheim: The party has secured the Inscrutable Staff. New leads point towards St. Vitruvio’s Cathedral (possibly for the High Flamekeeper’s Phylactery), the Pale Man, and the Queen of Thieves.
- Active: The Inscrutable Tower: The party has learned the tower is controlled by a “Nexus” at the top, which requires eight chairs to operate. This grants access to a deep vault sealed by three keys. The personal quest to “unlock the magic of the tower” is ongoing.
- Active: Eldritch Lilies: The party confirmed the lilies grow in the Queen’s Garden, but it is guarded by the undead Queen of Drakenheim.
- New Destination: The party has decided to investigate St. Vitruvio’s Cathedral next.
World/Lore
- Amethyst Academy Politics: Ryan Raymere has cast off the “Edicts of Lumen,” believing them too restrictive to fight the corruption in Drakenheim. She fears Archmage Edric Runeweaver is seeking to exploit delerium for power and that River, while good-hearted, may inadvertently pass information to him.
- St. Vitruvio’s Cathedral: Built on a mound containing the remains of Saint Vitruvio (a great paladin of Drakenheim) and his gold dragon, Argonath. They died centuries ago defending Westmar from an army led by a half-dragon warlock.
- The Nexus: An arcane apparatus at the top of the Inscrutable Tower, built around a stable dimensional rift. It controls all magical functions of the tower.
DM Notes/Reminders
Belmere is operating without the benefits of a long rest.
Gust is now at 2 levels of contamination.
The party is beginning the next session at the entrance to St. Vitruvio’s Cathedral.
The time is mid-morning on a new day.
D&Detail 