Session 17
The group decides to take a rest in the Snoring Lobster and split in two groups for activities. Cerrule and Aragir are staying behind to rest and work on their magical abilities, while Delbellis and Cynic go out to check out the Adventurer's Guild and how to possibly get back into the catacombs unseen. There, the observe a crowd in front of the Guild as its being guarded by the Golden Garde. Here, the duo meets with a brand new adventurer - Penzi! Penzi is impressionable and is amazed by the heroic deeds of Cynic and Delbellis. They talk a little bit but the duo decides to keep looking for a way in.
After a short while, they arrive at a small alleyway next to the Sunrise Ruby, where some of the Getaways frequent. Here, they find a small grate with a pathway downwards. They discover it leads into the basement area of the Guild, but a passage way is definitely trapped. Delbellis marked this with an empty wine bottle for the future... Before they heads back, Delbellis goes out to buy some food and drinks but Cynic returns immediately.
They regroup with Aragir and Cerrule again in the inn, where they share some of the food. They spend some time together here until dark, then head out towards the alley...
Through the grate, they make their way into the basement - disregarding the trap (though Aragir does activate it accidently, where the trap seems to have shifted something elsewhere). They encounter a figure in the dark carrying around a torch and quickly decide to hide from it, but when Cynic fails to do so they discover the figure to be none other than Vaeri Aelar, the elven wizard from the Wizard's Guild. She, and two others, are making their way into the catacombs to see Myrneas for themselves. The party follows. Aragir notices a peculiar floating ethereal eyeball gazing at him, but is unable to do anything about it until it disappears on its own.
They all arrive at the Waiting Chambers, where Gustav confronts the two groups and blocks a path out from the catacombs behind him. While Vaeri comes closer, the party decides to hurry towards Myrneas instead in order to retrieve the beacon. Arriving at the chamber leading into the city, they notice the increased intensity of the light eminating from the crystal. The party heads down and notice a figure standing over it, absorbing the powers from it. It appears to be Weylin. The party slowly confronts him and are able to snatch the crystal from his use, but not before the majority of its powers are with him. Vaeri joins the party at the city after Aragir's raven is sent for her, and they confront Weylin. Alas, Weylin succeeds to leave.
Before he leaves, Aragir manages to penetrate his thoughts and detect them, learning more about his past and reasonings. He learns how Weylin was able to travel in time and ultimately being captured in a Saffron Stone by the original founders of the Scarlet Academy. An untold time passes before he escapes that pocket dimension, and now appears to be unable to travel in time. Weylin needs more energy. Another vision reveals the origin of its crown, seemingly borrowed by mind flayer figures in a dark chamber somewhere...
After Weylin leaves where Vaeri fails to counterspell his departure, they manage to release one of the beings in the city using combined Dispel. They bring the released individual to the Wizard's Guild through a Dimension Door spell, right before Aragir notices another gazing eye on him with Delbellis as witness until the orb disappears.
Entering Vaeri's study, the party is advised to find out more about the origins of Weylin, while the Wizard's Guild attempts to nurse the rescued individual back to health. The party decides to have a moment to rest at the inn before they head out to seek for Eldgran Wiscard...