warnings

The group begin to head back to Thriest and witness what looked like something tearing through the land. Through Forsythe’s flight, they realize the extent of this new “scar” being over 100 miles long and at least 15 miles at its widest point. We they arrive in Thriest, at the temple, Tatra meets them at the stairs saying:

              Across the land devastation spreads
              Second to be the city of four heads
              Shield the land by orreries old 
              Activate one new into the fold

Tatra then hands Kadath a star sapphire. Tatra leaves as the group discusses the possible implications of the new riddle. Many ideas come up about the identification of the city of four heads with no definite conclusion. As they begin to realize the city is in commotion, they find out the river was disrupted and there is damage to the city.

Forsythe quickly jumps in to attempt to create a spillway for the river, now flowing in the wrong direction. Kadath and Fix are sent to Ephremon to collect Zybella and ten druids she was able to gather on short notice. Evangeline heads to the Amber Pope to discover that he and Meus were already getting the merchant ships and the fleet of the City of Bridges underway to aid in however was needed for those traveling the river.

By the time evening arrives there is a good start at mitigating much of the damage that could affect the economy of Thriest. Kadath heads to the pool of blood and enters to commune with the Raven Queen. She confirms that the cities without shields could be in danger of Velsharoon’s new approach to the material plane. She also shared that all the gods contributed to the cards, but it was Ao that determined what would be revealed and many of the gods do not agree with this course of action. She warns that the group may be called to a reckoning. 

Evangeline also communes to receive direction. She lays out all the cards as well as her book and crystal ball opening up her commune to any of the gods willing to share. When she asks about their presence, all the cards give a brief flash. Evangeline sees within the orb the shields that cover the Steadfast and the Beyond, toward the center is Rarmon. The cards flip over except for the Library and he shows her that the order does not matter but that they all need to be activated.

During the night, Fix has a dream of being pulled above the land by Gond. He can see the network of the shields that create a circle around most of the Steadfast and the Beyond. Watching, the center begins to fill from Rarmon, and Shaji joins. Filled with a sense of pride, he hears Gond whisper, “My greatest work.”

In the morning, the group heads to Rarmon knowing the orrery there can shield the city. When they arrive, Garrot leads them to the lower level under the orrery where they find an unpowered machine that could be designed to be part of the network of shields for the land. They place the sapphire into the machine and it begins to emit energy. When they go outside, they can see the iridescent network above the city and that it seems to stretch further south toward the Foundation Stones.

As they prepare to leave Thriest, they also begin to notice the shield stretching toward the north as well. Philethis contacts Fix to let him know that his task is complete and he is going home. The group travels as clouds to the city of Nihliesh.

​

Episode 96