## Session 71

- Start Time: Evening on 27th of Ummindur 1353. Probably around 1AM.
- They just knocked out Te'lik, disguised as Xario. He's in the street. Ari is being followed by Shadow Mastiffs still.
- Reinforcement for Te'Lik is 2 turns away. Magister who'll throw some kind of AoE on them? If they find the party.
  - if they don't release him: Cabal will trigger some of their countermeasures. They'll have Kaszim spring the trap in the Union, falsely incriminating the Coinflipper for embezzlement, causing chaos within the Union as they try to scramble in an attempt to figure out the extent of the leak, and who might be involved.
    - Union Office area will be in full chaos the next morning, and rumors will go about a scandal at it.
  - Will instigate the Vessaia, and the other desperate people lining the streets in the poorer district, into fighting back against the guards whose been battering them over the last few nights. Will be open fighting in the streets of the poorer districts, with town criers warning citizens to stay away until the Marcenguard has been able to put the situation back under control.
    - Basically meant to be the start of an open rebellion.
- If they're slow:
  - Maybe the Overgold shows up? They bothered her after all. If she gets to know about the Shapeshifter, she'll want it for herself. Would give a boon to the Overgold yet complicate things for the party and for Moretti.
    - She probably has a few other clerics with her, alongside her personal guard/guards employed by the Meranzeum.

### Rest of fight:

- At the end of Te'Lik's 2nd turn, Archers will arrive.
- Cairne has the curse on his hand that lets them track him. They can also track Te'lik's sigil-thingy.
- Will start trying to hunt down the party. Won't know exactly where they are, but will always know what direction to go in due to Cairne's mark and Te'Lik's sigil.

In Case Cairne kills one of them:

- A Concalian warrior/hunter will come forth. Valiant recognizes it as one of the Oracle's guards from the old Empire.
  - name: Theophilus Salinator
  - He's tall and muscular. Grey skin, bald, with his face being patterned into different shades of grey.
  - Instead of their previous fine metal armor, he seems to be wearing a mix of leather, alongside a worn cloak.
  - He has a lot of small scar marks covering his skin where it is visible, as if counting something.
  - Valiant doesn't know why, but the immediate impression is “enemy”.
  - He will be wearing a bow across his torso, as well as a sword.
- Stats: Champion?

Archer stats:

Description: Cloaked wearing leather jerkin, trousers, and ankle boots. Wears white mask with black circular mark on the forehead with a purple brim. Eyes jet black with purple streaks going from beneath the eyes down the cheeks.

- HP ~70
- AC: 15 (leather jerkin and trousers, with ankle boots)
- Actions: Multiattack, 2 attacks with bow or shortsword
  - Longbow: +6 to hit, 1d8+4
  - Shortsword: +6 to hit, 1d6+4
- 3/day: As bonus action, add 1d10 to next attack or damage roll with longbow.
- 1x Poison Arrows each: 1d8
  - Crawler Mucus (Contact): This poison must be harvested from a dead or incapacitated crawler. A creature subjected to this poison must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The poisoned creature is paralyzed. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
- 1x Arrow with Alchemist's Fire each:
  - Deals an additional 1d4 damage, and the target is on fire, taking an additional 1d4 Damage at the start of their turn. Can be doused by making a DC10 Dexterity Check as an action.

### Elena the Grin

- What she wants:
  - Is rather pissed about the coup among the Privateers and their new supposed “nation” causing a loss in business and revenue for her. Wants to topple it and bring pain to those who made it, in revenge for causing her business.
- Will be rather pissed off if they delay coming to her to conclude the deal. She'll see it as disrespectful, and conclude that she wishes nothing more to do with them.
  - “I was hoping one of Lazruk's crew would be as dependable as he was. He respected a deal made, and showed it through his expediency in getting it done. I was hoping this little task would prove you shared his qualities, and could be of aid to me and Gileon against those responsible for Lazruk's fate. It seems my hopes were misplaced. Your tardiness and attitude is of great disrespect to me and mine. You were given a contract, informally yes but a contract nonetheless. In our business, such deals are expected to be carried out with expediency. Yours was to be completed at the night of the auction. It was thus expected of you to have returned after said auction with positive results – or at the very least a damn good reason as to why you've not.”
  - If they call her disrespectful: “I welcomed you back, and gave you a chance to prove yourself. Apologies for not spelling it out for you – I find people's behavior to be far more revealing when the expected behavior is not spelled out to them.”
    - “Control requires respect and fear. Allow yourself to be disrespected and people will no longer respect you. Allow to many failures to slide and people will no longer fear you.”
      - “Not everyone can be controlled through respect. Some only do so out of fear.”
- .
- Side note: Grin's mental being manipulated by Cabal? To make her less trusting of others (less than she already was).

### Peneli Navara

- What she wants:
  - Get back her family's home
  - Avenge her sister
    - Celinia's description of the masked figure that approached her makes Peneli believe it was one of her peers.
    - If Moretti intends to “purge” the Conciri, then she wants to use that chaos as a chance to find and deal with the ones involved in her sister's murder, and figure out who was behind it. She doesn't trust Moretti however, as she's unsure if there's one bad party within the Conciri, or several competing ones.
    - Party wise, she probably wants the party to use the coming chaos Moretti's return will make to figure out who the masked figure they met were, as she believes this to be the same person Celinia described in her letter. Peneli wants to question them to figure out if someone else is also behind it, and then bring them to justice/have vengeance.
      - So how to include this? She's technically still on the hooks to figure out who this person is to keep her position within the Conciri, since Ari gave the faked evidence to the Overgold – who now uses it to pressure Peneli into compliance.
  - Peneli's next steps:
    - Given proof that party gave her to the other nobles, so her family is at least somewhat off the hooks (not entirely, as it could always be falsified. But they are no longer under direct superstition, after they had a Cleric verify Peneli's claims of it being real while under a Zone of Truth).
    - Now has a small window to figure out who the masked figure was before the Overgold's deadline, who threathened to use the falsified evidence if Peneli did not step in line.
      - Peneli basically has to do as the Overgold says, only being able to do her own things within the framework allowed by the Overgold's “instructions”
    - The Overgold has her make scrying object to aid in the Overgold's monitoring efforts. She seeks to catch the masked figure, and get to him before the Overgold can to have her personal “talk” with him - and revenge of course.

### Euphemia Moretti

- What she wants:
  - Some of the Conciri has gotten out of line, with their endeavors now being to the detriment to the Conciri's purpose. Moretti wants to purge them from the organization.
  - Wants to take back control of the large countermeasure rituals happening beneath the Conciri compound. the amount of magical energies at work there are dangerous in the wrong hands.
    - Getting back one of the two rings that allows one to bypass many of the sigils and traps there would be of great help in making that less complicated.
  - Wants to get hold of her old friend, the Duchess Ravanelli. Besides their friendship, Moretti sees her as an important figure in maintaining stability in Rosella, particularly since the succession crisis is still ongoing, with Ravanelli's heir busy garnering support in Vessina. She'd ideally want house Ravanelli to eventually take the throne, though getting directly involved in that part of the matter is quite far down her list of priorities at the moment.
  - Wants to get rid of the Black Dagger Cairne has. She knows it's bad, and that it has some sort of will, though she was captured before she figured out what exactly
- Events, past and future:
  - She's gathered some magical components, such as elemental gems. Has also made a Simulacrum of herself.
    - She's called in some favors with the Canary to procure the needed materials.
  - Wants to question the shapeshifter to gen an inkling on who he's been impersonating, and what he knows about the traitor members of the Conciri.
    - He doesn't have the ring, meaning she can't easily turn off the area's magical wards. - Have these wards be designed to be anti-magic, i.e. resistance to spells etc.
    - He will mention Ravanelli. If he for some reason doesn't the matter that the only other ring to bypass the defensive ward is owned by her means they need to get it.
  - Moretti will make a play to claim back the Conciri. She wants the party to sneak in and make sure the enemy doesn't do anything to sabotage the countermeasure system while she's making her move.
    - Will also make it so the enemy doesn't just swarm them as they try getting to the countermeasure system.
    - The main entrance is through the statue in the middle of the library. There are people watching over that entry at all times, so they're not getting in there wit8hout causing a ruckus.
    - There's a separate entrance from Ravanelli's estate, through a hidden entrance in the family's main study in the cellar. They'll still need a ring to turn off the defensive wards. Duchess Ravanelli has the only other ring made. Moretti doesn't know where she keeps it, though it's probably hidden somewhere in the mansion.
    - In Other words: Moretti wants them to clear out traitors from the countermeasure area using the entrance from Ravanelli's Estate.
      - Moretti will also mention this: “The Duchess has been a close friend of mine for decades. From what I've heard, she's not been seen in months. I would appreciate it if you also figured out what's going on with her while you're there.”

- Walkthrough of what will happen when they next meet Moretti:
  - She will meet them in a room in the far back of the Ciselpine Palace. Her Simulacrum will also be there.
  - Will tie down Te'lik to a chair, and place him on a magic-circle. (if he's conscious, move on. If not, do getting rid of Cairne's curse part first. She'll have anti-scrying measures in place to make sure the curse doesn't allow them to be eavesdropped on through the curse-mark).
  - Te'Lik Interrogation:
    - She'll put him in a zone of truth, and charm him (if that is possible. Not all fey can be charmed.).
  - Cairne and Curse:
    - Why she wants it gone: “Curses are dangerous and unpredictable. It's an unnecessary risk, an unknown factor that can spring at any moment. For all we know it could be a bomb that one of the traitors could trigger whenever they feel like it.”
    - She'll study the curse-mark for a bit, and will draw some runes on top of it, as well as across much of Cairne's body, using what looks like a mix between a brush and a needle, which she's dipping in some sort of solution.
    - Will after an hour or so say “That's the initial preparations complete”. She'll take out a ring, and ask him to put it on. It's the same type of ring that Valiant wears.
      - “The next part might hurt quite a bit. The ring has an enchantment that protects you from the worse effects.”
      - If they ask what specifically: “It's better if I tell you afterwards.”
      - If they really push it, or for instance Ari talks directly into her mind: “I studied that dagger before I was captured. The man who had it tried to murder his own family, claiming the dagger told him to do so. I'll not move forward while 300 pounds of muscle could suddenly decide to stab me in the back.”
      - If they hesitate or question her: “Have I done anything to earn your distrust? I have no reason to bring you harm. We have an agreement, that you'll aid me in taking back the Conciri and stopping whatever it is my peers are trying to do. Me harming you would only be a detriment towards that goal.”
    - “Step into the circle please.”
    - Cairne will feel a mix of calmness and weakness walking into it.
    - She'll give a small open, but empty, chest to the other party members, and instruct them to go up to Cairne with it.
    - “Place the dagger in the chest. That thing is dangerous. The last man who had it tried to murder his own family, and when he was stopped from doing so, tried to kill himself.”
      - Cairne strangely doesnt feel any unusual attachment to the dagger right now, which is a bit of a strange feeling.
    - After the dagger is away from Cairne, be that due to him giving it or being knocked out, she'll drop the anti-magic zone, but have a wall of force around herself.
    - The runes he's in will activate, which will also cause all of the markings drawn on him to seemingly start burning (blowtorch like light.) Will have the simulacrum cast Remove Curse on Cairne. He'll take a lot of damage from the curse triggering, though the ring with a Death Ward should keep him from dying.

### Overgold

- What she wants:
  - Reign in the Conciri, make them unable to deceive her and the Meranzeum and make sure the Conciri's activities remains within the Meranzeum's boundaries.
- Knows there are members of the Conciri that were involved in the attack during the auction, but does not know who is behind it. Wants to figure out who within the Conciri has gone too off-the-rails (i.e. whose gone too far, having caused harm that cannot be forgiven), and burn them and their influence out of the Conciri.
  - Has incriminating on the Navara family, that she knows is falsified. She's using this to force Peneli Navara's compliance and assistance in figuring out who's behind the action attack, who they work with, and who else within the Conciri have gone too far off the rails.
- But how exactly does she mean to proceed? She does not know Moretti is back yet.

1. She has set up her own staff to discretely monitor every action made by every notable member of the Conciri.
2. Has Peneli Navara prepare scrying items that can be planted to spy on Conciri members.
3. Gathers anti-magic components. Wants to find as many Cabal members as possible, gather the Conciri, have the Cabal members arrested - ideally showing proof so that others are not on the fence on whether she is saying the truth - bring with any who tries to defend those accused. Those remaining will be given a choice: They will sit tight, give up all information they have to her and her staff, and allow everything they've been working on to be thoroughly investigated. Any attempt to hide anything, or any sign of being uncooperative, and they'll be kicked out of the Conciri.
   1. GM Note: This could be a chance to show the weight the Meranzeum has when push comes to shove.

- The Overgold does not trust Moretti or Navara, though since the Cabal tried to frame Navara and her family for the auction attack, she sees it as unlikely that Navara is a part of the Cabal. In her mind, if this is all a scheme to trick her, it seems to be such an overcomplicated and roundabout way to go about it that she deems it unlikely (though not impossible.)
- Note: Cairne yelled her name in the barracks, and rolled high enough that the guards went and bothered her, wanting to ask her questions.

### Te'Lik

- Te'Lik about Party:
  - If reading Ari's mind:
    - “Bleh. A coward who always runs from everything. Did you tell them about how you murdered your own sister? I wonder what her last thoughts were as she gasped for air seeing your arrow piercing through her stomach?”
  - If reading Narth's mind:
    - “Little child lost in the woods, stolen on his way to Grandmother's. Did you ever ask them how they found you? Why your real parents never came looking for you?”
  - If reading Cairne's mind:
    - “A beast too dumb to realize when he's been betrayed. Bet you'll be surprised when you find your ship still floating around. If only you'd been able to see what was happening earlier, then perhaps Lazruk would still be around.”
  - If attempting to read Valiant's mind:
    - “Mpf. What the hells are wrong with your head.” (Has multiple sets of memories jumbled into one, all incomplete).
- General comments:.
  - “Get your filthy paws of me.”
- Interrogation comments / Comments about who he impersonated and who he worked with, and why (what they want, and what he wanted out of it).
  - “The Headmistress, the Chevalier, the Duchess, and many more.”
  - "You think you're so smart, but I don't know who the others are.
  - "That's what I thought too, but they showed me the hidden truths
  - Why joined: "Simple. I join. I help them. I get the Nightstar. But they lifted my veil, my ignorance. They showed me how filthy and false everything is, in a way that can only be known if watched from the dark."
    - If asked what these are: “That we are in a vile, unfair, and unjust age, that stifles our dreams. Giving it to the undeserving instead."
  - About the nightstar: "Imbecils who are not capable of recognizing greatness when it's in front of you."
  - If they insult his acting: "Then you are as blind as the rest of them."
  - About them capturing him/stopping them: “There's a plan for everything. A response to every eventuality. Let me go, or all hell is going to break loose – and it'll all be your fault.”
    - About what: “I don't want to spoil the surprise.”
    - If further threathened: “It doesn't matter who you ask. We are shielded by secrecy. For every thread you cut there'll be a thousand more. You'll just entangle yourself and drown because of it.”
    - If threathened further: “It doesn't matter what you do. We are guided by a force that knows everything. Sees everything.”
  - About goal:
    - "To fix this flawed society. To create one where everyone are given what they deserve."
    - "We are guided by a higher power, one who has revealed to us the hidden truths of this world. Who has opened our eyes to the hypocrisy that we live in today."
    - "This corrupt reality has blinded you all."
    - Goal: "A new order. One where we are all given that which we rightfully deserve." (maybe sounds a bit too egotistical)

#### Shar's Hidden truths:

1. The world is corrupt - unfair and unjust beyond any hopes of repair. Only by tearing the current status quo down completely can something better be built in its wake.
   1. The world is irreparably tainted by corruption and injustice, necessitating the complete dismantling of the current system for any hope of a better future.
2. Half measures are destined to fail, and is why no one else has ever been able to fix the current system. Only can only bring about the necessary change if one's willing to go to any means necessary to do so - no matter how gruesome or sinister those means might be.
   1. True change can only be achieved through unwavering commitment and a willingness to employ any means necessary, no matter how dark or morally compromising.
3. The other deities are the original architects of this current corrupt system.
   1. The deities worshipped by society are the architects of the prevailing corrupt system, responsible for its creation and perpetuation
4. People's true, vile, nature is revealed when watched from the shadows. People are only their true selves when they believe no one are watching.
   1. Observing people from the shadows unveils their true nature, exposing the depths of their selfishness, greed, and deceit when they believe themselves unobserved.
5. All sacrifices are justified so long as they will be outweighed by the goal once reached.
   1. All of your sacrifices are wasted if you fail to achieve your goal. All means are justified so long as you reach it.
   2. (Attempts to make it so if you refuse to do the next terrible deeds, all of your previous deeds end up being for nothing - thus making it more likely that you continue to mete out what is asked of you, no matter how horrible)

NOTES ON TE'LIK QUOTES

- (Read Gospel + beliefs and goals of Cabal to make his viewpoints)
- About him being behind everything: “Me? Ha. MHAHAHAHA (Astarion laugh). I am but one thread in a vast tapestry. One tiny peace in the grandest design. You stand no chance against us. You don't even know what you're up against." (if they ask who they're up against: “Everyone. Everywhere.”)
- ”

Surrender yourself to it in darkness, and it'll show you the truth."

"The current system is beyond saving. Only by tearing it down can a new one flourish."

"You are blind. W

What he gets: "The Nightstar."

They'll probably have some snarky comment to that: "You are as much of an imacile as the rest of them. Unable to recognize true artistry even when it's right in front of you."