Forty-Sixth Session - The Temple of Sarashim

Session begins with resuming combat against the ambushing assassins.

ROUND FOUR

Markoris - dashes to I2, shoots arrow at surviving assassin, 8 damage

Celia - takes a rest

Ishaq - re-casts Magic Missile at 5th level (Sorcery Points employed) - 20 force damage - Assassin is dead

OUT OF INITIATIVE

Max *immediately* starts looting the dead mage, retrieving 20 platinum, a battered black book, and a gold coin that isn't standard currency. Ishaq recognizes the coin as Not Currency - more of a medallion, with a dragon sigil carved into it in a circle. Ishaq also checks out the book and perceives it does have runes of some kind of Abjuration upon it

Celia investigates the toasted assassin, finds all the gold is melted, except for a similar dragon medallion. Markoris checks out the intact assassin corpse, also finds a dragon medallion, vial of something likely toxic, and poisoned arrows.

Alana checks out the vial, guesses it's acid. She also checks the medallions, perceives no magic within them.

The party discusses the situation, verifying that the medallions are not communication devices, and guessing they might be fireproof. Ishaq theorizes that this is a draconic cult. Max asks Alana if Sarashim's temple have any enemies who might be suspected, she answers in the negative.

Max proposes using Speak with Dead, Ishaq proposes dressing in the clothing of the dead to trick them into viewing the party as their allies, Markoris volunteers as tribute after finally being healed 9 HP by Celia.

Max starts speculating, asks if the Apocalypse Orb could have been an objective. Ishaq asks what the damn thing is called but Alana Swore a Vow. Max also asks if the Bishop could be involved but Markoris knows nothing. Ishaq burns the face off the remaining body, then Celia casts Speak with Dead. Markoris shows himself to the body with coin and cloak.

Questions: No one recognizes the name of Lord Roe, Max proposes researching them in the archives.
 * 1) What must I do to complete your mission (what is the mission?) - 'Kill the convicts'
 * 2) Who do I report to? (who sent you?) - 'Our Lord Roe'
 * 3) Is there a priority to take any of them out? (is Alana the target?) - 'Kill the sorcerer, he's too strong' (Ishaq)
 * 4) Three perished, was anyone else on this mission? (are there more coming after us?) -  'Aren't you?'
 * 5) Did you already sweep the temple? (is the temple the target?) -  'What temple?'

Party resumes march in order: Markoris spots no further trouble on the way. Arrival at the temple of Sarashim, Alana leads them in. Temple is a rough-hewn construction, natural lighting. They encounter three people in a sort of courtyard with a pond and candles: Jaydith along with the half-elves Valren and Lucius.
 * 1) Alana
 * 2) Markoris
 * 3) Max
 * 4) Ishaq
 * 5) Celia
 * 6) Raul

Max and Alana perceive Valren and Lucius seem nervous about their visitors - Markoris perceives they are likely related. Their hosts offer food and conversation.

Valren and Lucius talk about the theft, explain that they don't know who did the thieving but suspect Starred Guard. Things taken include trifles/relics/pendants, but most importantly the 2,000 years old stone of the sundial outside.

The Stone is 3.5 ft tall but magically lightened to be man-portable, and is part of their rituals to Sarashim. Valren and Luciius show nervousness discussing their faith to deity not approved by the Raith Pantheon. A spear and cloak, both valuable, were also taken.

Ishaq asks about visitors, they say they get pilgrims a few times a year. They also explain that a druid named Findral was on guard during the theft and died a couple days later from this wounds.

Max speculates that the theft of such a big stone might have had witnesses if it entered the city, then asks if they've heard of Lord Roe - no information. Ishaq asks Markoris about reaching out to the Bishop, but Markoris is reluctant.

Description of SGs who raided the place: tall broad woman with very bright red hair, vicious demeanour, and a SG uniform -two men with her followed her orders. All were human. The theft  happened within the same week that the Dream Devourers started taking people, with the disappearances starting a couple days before - almost definitely not coincidental.

Max asks what the hell someone might need a Sundial for, Ishaq speculates it could be used for worship of a sun goddess or that there might be an ancient enchantment on it that hasn't been mentioned yet. The Sundial is older than Azkaresh itself, to say nothing of Raith, so the archives might not have anything on it.

Max remarks that the redheaded captain sounds distinctive, and then EVERYONE realizes that the description is familiar - might have bumped into her in the Starred Guard HQ, Ishaq specifically remembers that they passed her during their visit to the Professor.

Max insight checks Alana and perceives that she is incredibly uncomfortable, hates everything, and clearly knows a lot more than she's sharing. Max and Ishaq discuss the situation, Max expresses apprehension at being set against the Starred Guard, Ishaq proposes Max and Markoris stealing the items back from SG HQ.

Raul insists that heisting from the Starred Guard would get everyone killed, and suggests legal options since the SG has committed a crime and the Crownsguard in Azkaresh aren’t fans of them. Max is skeptical of the law’s efficacy, pointing out that the Crownsguard are outnumbered and outgunned by their rivals, and Ishaq is wary of promoting the imperial Crownsguard over the local Starred Guard. There’s no guarantee whether Captain Redhead was acting as a rogue or on behalf of the wider organization.

Alana speculates that this is a broader issue than Azkaresh, that a Raith-spanning organization is pursuing a similar agenda. Jaydith pours water on the conspiracy theory, but Max perceives that she's hiding something and that there's something bigger and longer-reaching happening.

Alana initiates a private conversation with the other faithful. While the druids are away, the party discusses how to deal with Alana's secrets, leading to much bickering. The faithful return with blankets and invite the party to stay the night.

Ishaq asks Lucius to Detect Magic on the book recovered from the assassin. He ID's a hefty necromancy spell, but Dispel Magic fails to remove it.

The party agrees on the following To-Do List for their return to Azkaresh: Max checks out the courtyard for threats before they bed down for the evening. Ishaq draws the Host Radiant symbol in the Temple’s Zen-style prayer garden, then tells Alana about RadiantCon this summer solstice. Alana has Concerns about the safety of the gathering. Ishaq tries to get her to open up about her secrets, but she is deeply conflicted.
 * 1) Archive visit
 * 2) Hit up Celus for connections
 * 3) Investigate Captain Redhead
 * 4) Warden follow-up
 * 5) Investigate Lord Roe

Everyone sleeps badly that night, and has troubling dreams. Discussion continues in banter bunk between Alana and Ishaq, Max and Ishaq, and Max, Markoris, and Celia.
 * Markoris dreams he's in a desert - hears words, gets overwhelmed with a sense of worry and gratitude. He feels a tingling sensation - hears the word 'please' in his ear, then awakens.
 * Celia dreams she's at a familiar river, but it's winding its way through sand. The sky is dark and starry, sees a titanic myconid figure in the stars bending over her, reaches into water and forms it into a ball, forms a  ball of sand too, floats them above her palms like little planets, then crushes them while looking Very Sad. Celia senses she is being asked to do something Very Important, then wakes up and encounters a freaked-out Markoris.
 * Alana dreams she's floating in an endless ocean, sees two bright eyes open in the water, hears a male voice say 'two questions'
 * -why are relics being stolen? = 'the gods move against each other'
 * -should I trust my friends? = 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'
 * -'mortals make their fate - they can be weapons or they can be collateral, or they can find peace'
 * -feels a very large kiss to her forehead
 * -'your trust is my trust' - then she wakes up with a glass ring in her hand, perceives it is definitely powerful
 * Max has trouble falling asleep, has troubled dreams, filled with rage and grief, then suddenly gets yanked into an infinite desert with white sand, he's barefoot, then sees a giant finger tracing a pattern in the prayer garden - makes shapes that don't make sense (Escheresque) -surrounded by sketches by this massive invisible finger - stone placed in the center of the garden, then taken away, sketches go away with the stone
 * -sense an echo in the mind - 'please'
 * -Max wakes up with dagger in hand, freaked the fuck out
 * Ishaq dreams he's standing in a river in the desert beneath the stars, much as Celia did
 * -sees a figure approach, not LOTLE, a familiar man tells him 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' and sounds furious
 * -Ishaq calls him 'Tristan'
 * -stars above him are winking out
 * -'you don't know when to stop, and you don't know how to keep your nose out of things it shouldn't be in - you're going to get yourself killed - but I'm to tell you that the Godwar is coming'
 * -'I want it to come' -'you don't know what it is' -'I know it's an opportunity'
 * -'if you know who your true enemies are, you have one boon'