Inavix flew in, more violently than the other dragons, and immediately began to slam an already defeated assassin’s head against a wall in anger. The assassin’s entire head shattered like glass, the purple skull mask not a mask at all. Inavix lamented their failure as watching out for Aksell, though Aksell replied it was not their fault.
Allunaris’s voice floated out of the accursed book in Aksell’s satchel, finding his usual dark amusement out of the situation. He told Aksell the poison was Doomrot, and that it would eventually be his undoing. He told Aksell he now had no choice in accepting Allunaris’s future deal, saying he would cure the poison in return. Aksell begrudgingly agreed for the time being, despite not knowing the details, already feeling the corrosion of the wound. Allunaris also told the group of the strange beings, or entities, that exist beyond their world, and that they would likely not be as cooperative as Borum expected.
Knight-Captain Azalea, some other Pravus knights, and Talisman arrive to investigate the carnage. Azalea seemed shocked that Borum was somehow involved, after all, her own group of friends dispatched the man, or so she thought. She advised them to go down a floor and rest as long as they could and provided the group much heavier guard.
After visiting Mirina’s Architect and resting for the next few hours, the party returned to Pravus the next morning to depart toward the lighthouse. They found an escort already awaiting them in the lobby, comprised of many knights and mages, Azalea, and Councilor Avelle herself. Azalea advised them they could find no evidence of how the assailants arrived in the city, much less the councilor’s complex, and that all serving staff had been accounted for, as well. With the mystery still unsolved, the group made their way to the lighthouse, Avelle excited to see the powerful sea spell in action.
When they arrived at the lighthouse, Azalea seemed to tense up. Avelle then suddenly wished the group well, and that they had many matters still to attend to. When pressed on what just happened, Avelle purposefully steered the conversation elsewhere. The Dragonguard thanked the two for their hospitality and followed the lighthouse keeper to the top floor. Akalar gathered his magic, channeling the Red Scourge, and warped the party across lighthouse beams. They floated through the enchanted light across the sea itself, warping through the connecting light of Haven’s lighthouse. As they neared the lighthouse in the snowy city, they were intercepted by a spell from the tower that formerly belonged to Greth of the Ancient Dragonguard.
They were rematerialized in the top floor of the Mage Tower, now named “The Lighthouse”, though it was more a center for magical research and medicine than the true beacon for sailors closer to the sea. Mages held the group suspended, confused at who had tried to infiltrate the city. They were nervous of the group’s power and dragons, but quickly fetched Karth, who ordered them to be released. Karth politely asked to speak with the dragons, a fascination of his research, before escorting the Dragonguard to Councilor Mira and Mirina back in the town square.
Karth escorted them down the many levels of Greth’s former tower, stopping to explain metal-and-glass capsules that housed injured people suspended in a glowing liquid. He explained that this was where Magites were created and researched, and where the healers pushed the boundaries of medicine. Karth even told the group their next goal was to learn to regrow lost appendages.
Outside, Haven had lost much of its snow cover, but even in the summer months, there was still a light dusting. They spotted Mira, Knight-Captain Gale, and Mirina sharing a meal at an outdoor patio. Mira greeted the group, impressed they were so friendly with such a highly regarded Mageroness, Mirina smiling slyly at the compliment. Mirina added that she was unsure how long her “high esteem” would last when their mission was complete, to which Gale replied with her hesitance on trusting someone so close to The Red Inquisitor. Mirina assured the Former Rectifier she was nothing like her father, to which the Dragonguard supported the claim.
Mirina then centered the conversation on the mission at hand: assassinating the Primarch. She explained her ship was now fully equipped to go airborne, and that she had named it The Answer. She explained they would fly over The Blood Fog under the banner of House Inquisitor. Unfortunately, she added, that meant that the non-passing species of Matarans would have to pose as slaves. Mirina materialized a trunk of disguises bearing the question mark motif of her House.
Mira cut in, hesitant at first, but she revealed that Queen Zola had sent a letter saying that Queensguard Talla and some of her Blades had been sent to The Blood Fog to scout some time ago. There had been no reply. Mira recognized the Dragonguard had so much on their shoulders already but asked them to consider keeping an eye out for Talla, fearing further instability if another Queensguard fell. Mirina advised the group that investigating the Fog too closely, or rescuing captives may risk their subterfuge, but that it would be their call when the time came.
Once past the Fog, the group would then make their way to the Clocktower, where the government of the Magerony met, where they would find Primarch Florian Durata. They would kill him there, and Mirina’s followers would have The Answer ready for a quick, but hectic, escape. Once the plan was settled, the group split up to make their preparations. Gale asked Vespello to meet her at his former quarters aboard Charity’s Folly. Celeste and Lumen asked to join along.
While the Dragonguard resupplied, Vespello, Celeste, and Lumen met Knight-Captain Gale in Vespello’s old knight quarters. Gale lamented how she missed adventuring with her old friends and told Vespello to enjoy the journey while it lasted. She then told Vespello the purpose of her request, that she had worked with Councilor Lokth of White Hand City to create a new rank of Knight, called Knight-Errant. The idea would be for an exemplar to journey across the world and do good in the name of the city. A perfect fit for what Vespello was already doing, for a home that still needed assistance getting its footing in a new world. Vespello agreed and donned the new regalia bearing the symbol of the White Hand.
Pausing before she left, Gale turned and said there was one more request. She offered her Grace-glittering pistol, asking that Vespello take it on at least one last journey. It would be poetic, too, if they found Talla, for the pistol was once hers, after all. Vespello agreed and they bid their farewells.
The group found Mirina’s ship quite easily with the pink motifs. It boasted many magical engines. Aboard, they found a vaguely familiar crew of sailors, but immediately spotted their former comrade, Arturo, his dragon Valuta now hatched into a golden, glittering dragon covered in natural gemstones. They reunited with Arturo, and he explained he was now Mirina’s Procurer, officially in her ranks. He explained that Mirina had offered him an unnatural long-life as well as the luxury of never needing to provide for himself ever again. In return, he “sold” his stake in the Nighthawks. Mirina, after some more deals with Rusland, was now effectively the head of the band of assassins. After Mirina assured the group they would have better oversight now, especially as she was now going to consider Matar her true home, The Answer embarked on their mission.
While sailing, before going airborne, Mirina asked the group if she could test a theory with their Grace powers. She explained that she had found some remnants of research notes in her father’s stronghold, and she thinks what she found was referencing Grace magic. If she was right, this power would have the ability to “shape” physical objects from the wielder’s mind. The Dragonguard, except for Celeste, all sat down in front of Mirina, one-by-one, to test her hypothesis. Using some of Mirina’s Blood Magic, they reached within themselves and their memory and channeled their Grace magic into these new “shapes”. Aksell shaped a wedding ring, the exact one that was his first steal. He was too embarrassed to return it, and too ashamed to sell it. Akalar shaped a small flower seed, the same one that was his first attempt at growing a plant with his father. Vespello began to shape the hilt of a simple blade, but it began to change shape into an extravagant rapier. Before it could complete, the entire handle exploded, smoking with soot. Amalia shaped a carved rose bloom, made of a material that resembled icy-blue dragon scales. It was the same one that Willow had gifted her when he arrived, causing quite a stir when not just the Magerons of Nizima’s delegation received gifts from a Founder’s descendant. Celeste opted not to delve into her memories. Mirina was satisfied, and the group theorized what this could mean about Grace magic, since it seemed to have multiple properties, much like Doom.
Once The Blood Fog loomed in front of them, The Answer took flight over the dark black clouds and red lightning storm. As they flew overhead, taking a closer look, they could see that the dark clouds didn’t seem to actually be clouds at all, and that the red lightning seemed to flow too slow for lightning. They decided to descend a bit to investigate. To their horror, they found that the clouds were not moisture at all, but necrotic slabs of skin all joined together. The red lightning was actually enchanted blood, all flowing through fleshy tubes toward some central location. Amalia could sense a single soul somewhere ahead of them. As they continued to investigate, going even lower into the darkness, they found partially intact remains of bodies themselves, all fused together into a profane amalgamation. The Dragonguard opted to sail forward toward the soul Amalia sensed, as it was the same direction as their heading after all.
The father they sailed, the more “incomplete” the sacrifices to the ritual growth became. They eventually spotted the recognizable black-and-white regalia of Zola’s court. Talla and three of her blades were still breathing, not quite fused into the ritual yet. Horrific, mutated ghouls emerged from the flesh piles, eyes glowing red. They shambled toward Talla and her Blades, seemingly to usher along their integration. The group thought about the implications of the decision that now loomed before them, but decided they could not simply sail onward when they could save Talla. Mirina ordered the vessel be put down upon the growth so the Dragonguard could disembark…