Chapter 1: Breakfast
Game starts with us entering The Hearth. We are greeted by Leaf, the waitress. “I heard what happened. ….” She looks around for a place to seat us, taking us to a large table within the main dining room. As we are getting settled Sprig enters and greets us. He reassures us that this is usually a fairly safe place. He says that he has been working on gathering information for us last night and this morning and wants to know if we want to hear about what he has found now or eat our breakfast first, or do both. We tell him we would like to hear what he has found, but not here in the main room and ask to be taken into one of the soundproof meeting rooms. He confers with Leaf and leads us to a room.
Sprig has been researching the Shadowfell and the Cult of Vecna. But before he gets into what he has found, he tells us that “some of the Avowed want to speak to you.” Nevil asks him on what topic. Sprig says that they want to talk to us about what happened (in the Firefly Library). He repeats that “That sort of thing doesn’t usually happen in Candlekeep.”
Nevil suggests that we talk to them over dinner. Sprig agrees and says that he will arrange it. Sprig outlines what he has found for us.
Chapter 2: Starting our Research
After we finish eating, Sprig leads us to the library area that is open to visitors. He obtains a private room that we can use and puts a silence spell on it so that others cannot hear what we are talking about while we are in there. Within the libraries there are drifting globes of light. No fires, candles, lanterns etc. No fireflies.
Spring brings us a number of books on the topics of the Cult of Vecna and the Shadowfells and gives us some notes that he made while he was researching the for us. We start out using the term “artifact” when discussing The Eye when Sprig is in the room, but eventually occasionally also use the term “The Eye” in front of him. We also get him to find information on destroying major artifacts.
Information gleaned from our research
The Red Wizards began making a lot of artifacts in 1375.
In 1395 The Red Wizards created an undead panic in order to create fear and panic in the populace so that they could become their savior.
Szass Tam, A Red Wizard Lich made an artifact that sounds like ours. It could quickly turn large numbers of dead and living beings into undead. It was called The Eye of Death.
In 1425 the Szass Tam’s Eye artifact went missing.
There is another Eye artifact, The Eye of Vecna. It is more powerful than the Eye of Death. You must put it into your own eye socket to use it.
Sprig tells us that the Eye of Death is about the size of a ping pong ball. When Nevil questions Atalaya, she replies that “Yes, ours is about that size.”
Inman: “This is odd. This is a lesser artifact, but seems much m ore dangerous.
Red Wizards seem to prioritize Magic first, religion is a far distant 2nd.
The Pact of the Lich seem to be/have been involved in organized crime for a number of decades.
As we discuss what we are finding and the implications of that information Sprig pays attention to the conversations and will go off after further books pertinent to what we are talking about. He maintains a very “professional face” while he listens to our conversations.
Nevil asks the group if we should ask the Avowed if Sufferance, Still and Umbra can remain here, at least for awhile to hid out from their family (and give them time to consider what/where they want for their lives.
Inman asks __________ whether or not they (The Avowed) will let 3 people stay here.
Nevil:
Inman: “It would be a safe place to stay….” “I don’t want them to be a target.”
Sprig: “You know how hard it is to get in here.”
We discuss the episode where Sorrow and Sufferance roughed up their cousin. There is concern that the cousins may try to grab/hurt the siblings and force them back into the family business.
Nevil asks Sprig about information about reports from other survivors returning from the Shadowfells and any problems/issues they had.
Sprig says that he believes that the Gur have a certain affinity for not being affected by the Shadowfells. For others it depends on what part of the Shadowfells you were in. The Shadowfells are not the same everywhere and everyone is different.
When we ask about healing clerics (I don’t remember why we asked about this) he reminds us that there is a Temple of Oghma, the Lord of Knowledge in the Court of Air.
We continue looking through the books that Spring brings and he continues to search out more items for us.
We can have snacks/drinks while we are working.
Chapter 3: We meet Sarah
Back in the study room we continue to research on the lines of the morning's study. At some point in the afternoon…
Vapor starts forming around a book that has been placed on a small nearby end table. As we watch, a translucent spirit forms, _________________ clothing ___________. The spirit appears to be crying.
Spirit opens it mouth, trying to speak but we can see that her tongue has been removed. The spirit reaches towards Nevil beseechingly. Nevil does not recognize the spirit. The mist fades.
The book from which this seems to originate from has brass corners and a brass closure lock. Embossed in the cover is a lemon tree within a sun. Inman recognizes that as the arms of a noble family in Waterdeep. Nevil gets no “bad” vibes from the book.
We decide to open the book.
When we do so, nothing happens. Looking at the earliest pages, the name “Sarah” is written over and over. Nothing else.
Nevil does a ritual casting of Detect Magic.
We eventually realize that the notebook is a diary belonging to Sarah. She was a servant of the Lord and Lady Yellowcrest. The pages are mostly undated. The Lady Maria came from a poor family. (This directly contradicts information Gina provided after the game. Did I hear this incorrectly??) Lady Maria is teaching Sarah to write. The notebook belongs to the servant girl, Sarah.
Vaz and Inman also look through the notebook. Towards the end of the journal the writing is better and more detailed. There is also a weird drawing near the back.
Inman says that the family is well known in Waterdeep. He continues to tell us that the family (except for the Lord) was murdered about 5 years ago in Waterdeep. Apparently Lord Yellowcrest was away on business at the time and came back to his house and found that his wife, children and servants had been murdered.
Nevil asks if Lord Yellowcrest still lives.
Inman: “Apparently. … He left Waterdeep. I don’t know what happened after that.
The drawing in the book is of an arm/hand with an eye in the dorsal surface of the hand.
Quote from Sarah’s diary: “...stole close to Lord Viallis today, and saw that he chalked a circle marked with strange runes across the floor of his study. A puddle spread within the circle and appeared to me as bubbling blood. Lord Viallis stood next to it motionless, one of his vile books in hand, and muttering something I could not hear.. I slipped away quickly, though I fear he might have heard me this time. I have never been so scared, but I must tell Lady Maria what I have seen, I must!”
The spirit is looking at Nevil and nods at her.
Nevil: “Your name is Sarah?”
The spirit nods. She tries to speak but can’t and gestures towards the humans in the group. Nevil realizes that she wants to use one of the human bodies to communicate.
Nevil tells her, “Not Cirilli, but me, okay.”
The rest of us see Nevil lean back in her chair and hear a weird whispery voice coming from her. Nevil feels Sarah slip inside of her. Nevil can hear the things that Sarah says.
The spirit, speaking through Nevil says, “I am Sarah. I don’t remember… I was murdered… I don’t remember… Vecken…suitor… lives on Immar Street… I lived in a fine household. I was happy to work for the Lord and Lady. … I am not sure how I died…
Nevil realizes that she can communicate telepathically with Sarah and asks, “What are you afraid of?”
Sarah responds, “It was dark. I was afraid. It happened at home.
Nevil asks another question.
Sarah replies, “I remember a circle. Running to tell the mistress. She was dead.
Nevil asks something else. (Were others coming to the house regularly?)
Sarah, “people came to and left the house.
Nevil: “Usually people haunt things for a reason.
Sarah: “I want to rest.” …. “Bones not were they ought to be.” “I saw … I saw Lord Viallis reading a book. I was a bad book. It is what happened. He was reading a book with a monster on it… a claw… a hand… He is not with us.”
Nevil asks something. (Did he kill you?)
Sarah says, “I don’t know. Retribution of the Ancients… the book. Monsters… rituals.. I don’t know what became of him.”
)
After a moment she continues, “I feel like you are part of this. I feel drawn to you. (Meaning Nevil)
Nevil asks something, (Why me?)
Sarah says, “Speak Faerl. He worked with Lord Viallis. He is an elf and worked in Lord Viallis’ business. He would visit twice in a tenday. … Torked in tannery and shoe making shop.
Silence (Nevil is asking for her body back.)
Sarah leaves Nevil’s body and is gone.
Inman: That was scary.
Nevil: “I’m alright. She just needed a body.”
Inman: “That was reckless.”
Sprig comes back into the room with more books, having missed the whole episode with Sarah.
Nevil: “You need…
We go to the Temple of Oghma.
Chapter 4: Temple of Oghma
The temple is a smallish building situated between the House of Rest and the Bathhouse. The are four stone gargoyles (Where?) We tend to think that they would not remain stone and still if something went down.
When we enter we see an old man with glasses and long white hair. He seems to be of Shou descent. (Looks Chinese.)
The cleric looks up and greets us. “What can I do for you?”
Nevil: “We bring another haunted book.”
He eventually recovers from that greeting and tells us that we can call him Kay.
We explain about the book and Sarah.
Father Kay tells us that there is another library in Waterdeep and that they trade books back and forth sometimes. He takes the book from us, although he doesn’t promise to put Sarah to rest. He seems uncertain whether or not that can be achieved without going to Waterdeep.
Atalaya starts muttering to herself that we are NOT going to Waterdeep.
Chapter 5: Lunch
We have lunch at The Hearth, meeting Sorrow’s siblings there. Discuss what they have been doing this morning. Sufferance says that this “Is the most wonderful place I have ever been.”
Still tells us that their helper is a tiefling named Irony.
We are seated in one of the soundproof meeting rooms for lunch.
Ask if they would be interested in staying here for an extended period of time if we can get permission from the Avowed for that. To give them a place to hide out while they decide what to do with their lives. Some of us are wondering if Sufferance and/or Still might not like a prolonged stay there or consider joining the Avowed. (But that is not implicitly said to them.) We explain that we would have to get approval from the Avowed for this, but after this morning, they sort of owe us.
The three sibling express interest in remaining here. Especially Sufferance.
After lunch Atalaya allows Cirilli to spend the afternoon with Still. She is excited to do so and goes off happily with him.
Chapter 6: Afternoon
We return to the study room and continue with our research throughout the afternoon.
Chapter 7: Dinner with Bookworm
Sprig finally tells us that it is time to go to our dinner appointment. We go back to The Hearth. There is a private room set up for us with a catered meal.
A tall green colored dragonborn eventually enters and greets us with a smile (or what passes for a smile from a dragonborn. 🙂 “Hello, my name is Bookworm. They tell me you did a great service for us. We are in your debt. … Please make yourselves at home.”
We discuss what happened in the Firefly library this morning, answering any of his questions. We also talk about what happened later in the morning with the diary and Sarah. He is told that we left the diary with Father Kay in the temple.
Bookworm explains that there is a portal between Candlekeep and the library in Waterdeep. That library is called The Font of Knowledge.
Chapter 8: Information From Sarah
Yellowcrest Manor stands on Delzorin Street in WAterdeep’s North Ward.
Lord Viallis and Lady Maria had two sons, Malik and Janus, and one daughter, Tianna
The family owned several tanneries and shoemaking shops in Waterdeep, but most of its wealth was inherited on Maria’s side.
Lord Viallis’s closest business associate was an elf named Faerl, who visited Lord Viallis twice a tenday.
Sarah had a romantic relationship with a young squire named Vecken, who lived close to the manor on Immar Street.
