Previously, the heroes searched through the library of the Newport vault looking for the Book of Woe, convinced Garven and Brandomiir to build them some compartments to store Muirgheal and Lash, and Neamhan made some friends among the plants growing around the painting frames in the gallery. Falka revealed that she had located the Book of Woe, but had a hard time admitting to it because she no longer trusted Luca like she once did.
Sixth Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262
(Silvermoon is waning, Bloodmoon is in low sanction, Darkmoon is waxing)After Falka revealed that she was in the possession of the Book of Woe and the heroes learned that the black, leather spell book belonged to Blackstar’s rival, a Senhadrim wizard by the name of Maltorius, Luca decided to engage the staff about its insistence that the heroes pursue the spell book. It was as if Luca had finally made the breakthrough in his communication with Blackstar that he was searching for and the staff quickly revealed that he would submit himself to the young warlock if his goal vanquishing his rival would be addressed. Moreover, Blackstar alluded that the scarlet rain the heroes had heard rumours about, which was falling from the skies in Silesia, had something to do with Maltorius. In pledging himself to the staff’s cause, Luca felt the tension between them, which had been steadily increasing for many months, drop and be replaced with a tentative peace.
Chakuq had gone back to the entrance to the vault and retrieved a burlap sack from among the provisions that Garven and Brandomiir had brought down, emptied it of turnips, and used it to collect the Book of Woe from Falka, making sure not to physically touch the book.
Now that the Book of Woe had been secured, it seemed like the perfect time to depart the vault and leave Garven and Brandomiir to finish their renovations and add the two vaults for Muirgheal and Lash. Falka decided to join the heroes on their return journey, using the ropes to climb back up to the entrance with practiced precision. Emrys offered to use his sorcery to make everyone fly, but Falka declined and continued to climb, and was quickly followed by Chakuq.
As all of them ascended, the heroes were all given a glimpse of one of Falka’s memories. Falka was a young girl, fishing the waters between Dunagore and the Jagged Shore, close to the causeway, as a storm rolled in. Falka fell overboard and was taken by the waves, and the dark depths swallowed her. The pressure of the depths reminded the heroes of the feeling of descending into the vault.
Seventh Day, Second Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262
(Silvermoon is waning, Bloodmoon is in low sanction, Darkmoon is waxing)With Falka’s help the heroes found a keyhole that fitted a lyrium crystal, which opened up the portal to the landing in the ancient waterways where she left her little rowboat. Emrys went last and collapsed the portal behind him. Chakuq and Falka took the boat, while the rest remained in flight on their way back to the Silver Cross. Once there, they ascended the ladder back into the basement of the establishment, and Chakuq changed back from the old boots he had found into his own, having successfully avoided getting his boots dirty with muck.
When they entered the common room of the Silver Cross they saw a quiet group of the people working at the Silver Cross sitting at a bar, winding down after a long day of providing companionship. Besides the courtesans, the people at the bar were Samuel, the stout and swarthy Càrcerian doorman, and a elegant and flamboyantly dressed Madame Brécourt, the owner. Samuel warned the heroes to be careful on the streets, as it was well past curfew. The heroes heard the cathedral strike first bell when they departed the Silver Cross.
Neamhan decided to evade detection by turning into a barn owl and fly to the Careless Wanderer, while Emrys used his sorcery to obfuscate their journey with fog. As his magic was unleashed he felt his control slip and something happening that he did not intend, though it did not immediately become clear what that was.
At the Careless Wanderer a sleep Durham opened the door for the heroes, and they found that Ser Croy was asleep at one of the tables. It struck Quentin that he had asked the old knight to come and find him that evening, and that he had completely lost track of time in the Newport Vault. Ser Croy delivered a letter, bound in a ring of iron, engraved with the Fleur de Lys, and it read:
Ser Quentin, Lord and Heir of House Morvrayne, Comte de Monts d’Arée
A feast has been organised in your honour, to take place at sundown on the First Day, Third Ride, Autumn Twilight, 1262 at the Black Alder Farm. From sunrise to sundown, we will gather, hold games, and raise our cups in honour of you and your successes. After the banquet, we will proceed in concluding your quest for marriage and arrange a date for our houses to be joined in oath and blood.
Sincerely,
Highlord Gauthier, Lord of House Lys, [followed by a string of titles]
Ser Croy could tell Quentin and the heroes of Lord Gauthier’s injuries, and the way Lord Dorian had been thrust into a position that he may not have been ready for, leading to the other lords circling Lord Dorian in jealousy. Quentin believed that his father was out of his depth and was in danger of being manipulated and used.
Quentin was also the talk of the camp at Black Alder Farm, according to Ser Croy, and it had not gone unnoticed that he and his betrothed had given each other a wide berth during his visit to the camp. Ser Croy also hesitated to tell Quentin that Dame Pauline had been asking questions about him; in particular about Quentin’s exploits, and trying to get more information in order to validate some of the claims that were made about the Heroes of the White Eye.
The old knight also believed that the Blood of Alban was something to be cherished and nurtured, rather than dismissed, like Lord Dorian dismissed it. Neamhan got very excited about that, and joined her voice to Ser Croy’s in claiming that Quentin’s bloodline was special.
Suddenly there came a rapping…
When the door to the Careless Wanderer was opened, Father Devon stood there, bare foot, clad in a simple robe, in the deep of night, frost covering his balding head. It was Epidemius in disguise. Once inside they sat down at the table and spoke about the Book of Woe.
Epidemius was still adamant the Book of Woe be returned to him now that the heroes had discovered it. He said that he felt he had few opportunities left to him to use Pazuzu’s dreamweb to come and visit the heroes so they could work out a deal. If a deal could not be struck, Epidemius would have no other option than to continue to intensify his siege of Kingsport.
He was prepared to come back to Kingsport and keep tightening the thumbscrews until his book was returned. Epidemius had found a way to get across the veil, and the sacrifices he had to make to do so were worth it. As a warning, a threat, and possibly an enticement, he mentioned that Emrys’ mentor could be found beyond that veil, Chakuq’s song could be found beyond that veil, and the source of Neamhan’s magic could be found beyond that veil.