She's got an Oscar and an Emmy!

Session 26

The group continues south for a day, after having left the Archmage and her assistants behind, and arrives that evening on the border of Rosohna. We know that we need to visit Den Beltune for Prohpet, Den Mirimm to share news about Mint, and the Nimbus Keep to inform them of the now-empty mines.

Stopping at the magic shop we visited previously, we're on the hunt for a diamond. 🎶 This one is uncut but rather big. 🎶 The shopkeeper brings a locked box with multiple gems inside, and shows us an uncut diamond worth around 480 gold. Maltheo offers some drugon and Kra'naelen offers an ornate bowl as part of the trade. Also for sale, but not within our price range, is a gold chain with red beads and a sculpted skull medallion that has a detailed visible brain inside, worth 3,000 gold, that allows the wearer to read the thoughts of others a few times per day. He also has 4 × 2d4+2 health potions at 40 gold each. Maltheo buys 3 of them at a 15 gold discount.

We leave the store and head to the Nimbus Keep next. The way is lit with austere green glowing crystals. Our contact, Verin Thelyss, is slightly surprised to see us back already; it's only been a few days. We explain about the orcs and how we cleared out the place, but leave out the details of the other realm protecting the cavern, and also releasing the demon. He rewards us with 2,500 gold (500 each). He also tells us that Lord Hythenos is the owner of the mines, and he might want to thank us personally. Verin's straightforwardness, combined with Kra'naelen's personality, has us then reveal the info about releasing the demon. Verin is very thankful for the sharing of the information, even though he's just a disorganized desk guy who is a bit of a "dumb jock" but has been put in charge of the military here. News from the war front says that no major attacks have happened for either side since the battle in the mountain valley.

Den Hythenos is our next stop. This Den is considered the Masters of coin. They have very opulent buildings and an equally impressive grounds. After arriving, we're met by a half-Elven Drow with quite a daddy-vibe; commanding presence; navy blue velvet smoking jacket. He invites us to take seats in the outer courtyard as he asks for more information about the mines, and we ask questions in kind. "Why was this temple-mine used as it was in the first place?" He tells us that was all before his time (many hundreds of years ago). He did show interest in which devil was released, though still seems to be mostly ignorant to all facts regarding the mines and their history. As a supplemental reward, he produces (with quite a magical flair) a bleached wooden staff capped with a carved dragon's claw that is inlaid with a runic symbol in the palm of the claw. It is Niernen: Staff of the Ivory Claw.

Now it's time for the group to visit Den Mirimm and deliver the sad news of Mint. Skysibil Abrianna Mirimm herself opens the door to greet us — no servants required. "Let's have a conversation about our friend Mint," she says. Her sad and steady voice tells us it's a shame that Mint had to leave this plane before being anointed. But, when the time is right, she'll be in a great situation to "come back to us" again. She also lets us know that we have the full might of Den Mirimm behind us, and they won't forget or forgive the demon and Mint's death any time soon.

She then reveals to us her dedication into the arts of divination, and looks through a beacon-shaped staff top for divination stuff. As she places her hands on the staff, her eyes open and are pure white; silvery sparkles float in them like the cosmos. She's searching for Raokan. "I believe I see her. It is night where she is. There's blood pouring from everywhere on her body (eyes, ears, pores) while walking in the woods. She's walking by herself; a smile on her face. Even her teeth and mouth are bloody. Someone is following her; humanoid; smaller: a Dwarven woman walking behind, in a shawl and shiny boots. Silent and not talking. A tall Dragonborn is in front of them acting as a guide, and using a machete to cut the way. Definitely not the Vermiloc Wood. These trees appear to be dark or dead... perhaps even petrified.

[While interrogating a prisoner of war, Maltheo and Briya] find out that there’s an Empire mole (a rat. hehe.) in the Kryn casters camp; a warlock! Also, Ogeo and this prisoner were supposed to retrieve the night pearl. A Dwarf named Isabelle, a blood mage, (which is a very rare art), is the one giving money to these two. She has teleportation boots that can go to a “domain in the woods” which is where this prisoner was supposed to meet up. After pinpointing the location on a map, Maltheo tail-slices both of them dead.

Skysibil has tabs on the devil inhabiting Mint's body now, and will keep us updated with Sending. Because we decide that we should probably go to find the Archmage and her group for a faster way to the Empire to get to the Savalirwood, that means it's time to make our way back toward Skaal.

Outside Den Mirimm, we're greeted by Tisiphone Thelyss who has just received our message and came straight away and now wants to know what she can help us with. We talk of our travel needs and let her know about Isabelle, the blood magic user. She'll ask if we can perhaps be teleported. That means that we have three possible travel options: (1) Head to Skaal first, hoping the Archmage has an inside-the-Empire teleport location we can travel to. Or, (2) teleport to their garrison and travel within the Empire for a long time. And finally, (3), get Niminyon (Kra'naelen's resurrector) to teleport us directly where we want to go, which would be the town of Nogvurot, which is closest to the hideout, but with possible consquences. Plus, they would need to accompany us one way (and then travel back themselves) and we're not sure if they'll be open to that.

With these options on our mind, and the group heavily leaning toward option 3, it's time to go back to Den Beltune and join Prophet for dinner and sleep.