After dispatching Count Blackrose in his cursed realm, the party slowly came into focus back in his office. Shadows flew by at a rapid pace, eventually slowing. When the party finally fully materialized in the office, they found Zola and Londo searching, weapons drawn. Londo explained that he and Zola were gone longer than they expected and were told that the party never returned to the palace after 3 weeks. The party briefly mentioned the rose, and Zola took it in her arms and said they should be off.
While traversing through the Luxen streets at night, the party noticed Londo and Zola wore their hoods and were looking over their shoulders often. When they reached the market square on the Royal Road, a group of guards surrounded them. Londo explained that they were most likely sent by Vis to kill him and Zola. Londo and Zola partnered to fight one side while the party fought the other. Upon being slain by the last man, the guards’ armor shimmered to appear like normal armor rather than Luxen City Guard armor. Londo ushered the group back to the palace.
Atop the southern tower holding Londo’s chambers, the party explained everything that had happened. Zola retired to Londo’s room. Londo returned information that he had been organizing a special footnote of law Aura had left when she reorganized the kingdom. This footnote was put in place for situations such as this where the kingdom was withering under a poor leader. The Lord of the Kingsguard could call a vote of councilors to institute a group known as The Rectifiers. These men and women would hold special power to supersede the monarch’s decisions and reported directly to the Lord of the Kingsguard. Though they were a restorative force, they could remove corruption where they see fit. Londo explained he wanted to offer the party this responsibility, making them the first Rectifiers in history. The kingdom needed it now more than ever, especially if a Doom was on its way. Though Londo was overwhelmed by the information that the party had given him, he said there were a few things that needed investigation and would nail the coffin shut on his trust of the party.
In the northern city of Haven, a group of Orcs have taken up residence in Greth’s old tower, though they had killed no one. Londo said the councilor there wanted to help, but she could not leave the city while this was going on. In Luxen, Londo said they could speak with a young fellow at the observatory who had been spewing crazed words that he had seen signs of the Doomking, perhaps not sounding so crazy now. Londo additionally mentioned that the councilor of Pravus had arrived, but he had a strange look in his eyes and slept virtually the entire day. He worries that this could be a bigger problem for his city, as he had not given any sort of update for some time. At this point, Azalea revealed she was held prisoner by this councilor and forced to marry him. She was abused for years and only luckily escaped before the events at the Ancient Skies. The party began to think they could use this to their advantage. Finally, after hearing information about Vesselia and Ed’s amulet, he mentioned a strange fellow had been reported lurking around Inferna, perhaps worth investigating. While Londo and the party sorted through all the information they had been given, Zola burst forth from Londo’s room. Her eyes were glazed over, and she slowly made her way toward Ed, her hand outstretched toward him. Londo held her back but could not talk her out of it. Ves also seemed to be in a similar sort of trance. Ed’s amulet began to levitate from his neck, reaching toward Zola mainly, but occasionally shooting toward Ves as well. Londo offered to knock Zola out or let her touch the amulet. Ed reluctantly agreed, but said Zola could not keep the amulet. Upon Zola touching the amulet, a blinding red light filled the room.
When the light faded, the party saw Ed, Zola, and an extra figure lying on the floor. The extra figure had deep red horns, a pair of wings, and a tail of matching color. She had long, dark hair. She got to her feet, looking over her hands, seemingly disoriented. At the woman’s hip were two blades forged to look like dragon wings. She asked where she was, and the party told her. The woman then asked “when” they were. The party answered, saying that it was about 50 years after the end of The Third Doom. She laughed at this, saying it took longer than she expected. At this, Gale raised her gun and pointed it at the figure. She fired, though the intruder dodged, saying she had seen that gun before.
The figure revealed that she was the former Queen, Selina, revived from the piece of herself found in the gem. The party was on edge at this revelation, understandably so. Zola did not wake, though Londo tried. He carried her to his chambers.
Selina took a seat, absentmindedly toying with her horns and wings. She told the party that she did not wish to cause any trouble. In fact, she wished to right the wrongs she had made in the past. Selina said that she was younger now than when she died and now had the Half-Dragon features she was previously born without. She seemed especially ecstatic about her newfound appendages. Seeing Zola unconscious, she explained that for such a perfect resurrection, Zola had to be related to her somehow. She also revealed that when she became the Doomqueen, the humanity she had forsaken was shattered by the Doomking and sent across the world as a failsafe. This amulet held one such piece, perhaps her best piece.
Following what she said she wanted, she revealed information about the Doom, saying Blackrose was a “Candidate”, someone who had the potential to become a Doomlord. It was also revealed that his rose, which frequently slammed itself against the glass case it was in, was an “anchor”, an item that allowed a Candidate to remain anchored in reality. The former Doomqueen explained that this item needed to be purified by a new master claiming it or destroyed at a ritual site that had since been lost. With this information given, she began to leap around the room, trying out her new wings and tail. Londo returned, saying Zola still drew breath, but would not wake.
As the party and Londo decided what to do about Selina, she interrupted, asking them to send her off to help. To prove herself. As this was discussed, Londo activated a new level of the tower from the magical lift, saying this would be the party’s new abode, as he did not trust the palace’s guest manor with Vis watching. Londo also dispelled an illusion near the fireplace, revealing a new room full of armor, weapons, bookshelves, and shelves of liquor. There was room and furniture enough to sleep one person. He reluctantly agreed to allow Selina to stay here, stating that Zola would kill him if she knew he had this extra room.
The party left for their section of the tower to think things over. They argued and made their respective points as they cleaned the cobwebbed, unused chamber. The symbol in the magical lift and above the entry door was that of a hand. Seemingly satisfied with the decision they had made to perhaps give Selina a chance, the party retired to their new rooms, a scarlet sun beginning to rise on the horizon…