Welcome to the Hoard

Essek, c2e57: While we do have periods of worship in which we give ourselves to the sunlight as part of our means of showing our faith, it does impede our day-to-day business. So as part of our craft, we've found a way to keep it at bay, for as long as we'd like.

EGtW: Twelve hours of daylight each day can become painful and physically detrimental to those beings adapted to subterranean life. To mitigate this problem, powerful dunamancers have woven arcane shields to temporarily block out the sun above Rosohna.

c2e61: The rain seems to fall, but you never see it scatter across the Shadowhand. It seems to drift around and he stays dry amongst the storm.

c2e61: Following below, it's hard to see because the cloak almost meets the ground, but looking below: his feet aren't touching the ground. He's just drifting.

Essek, c2e71: It seems you have made your preparations and are ready to leave? Beau: Yes, you may enter and cross into the threshold. Essek: Thank you. [He glides in. You watch the ball bearings actually separating out around his form. Like there is some invisible force that is pushing them outward, and just generating this strange force that keeps them at bay.]

Jester, c2e74: [I pull out a cupcake] It's fresh, I swear! Essek: [Extends his hand and the cupcake lifts out of your hand and drifts over. He sniffs it.] Thank you. [It vanishes beneath the cloak.]

c2e77: At which point, you watch as she begins to lift up off the ground from the chains and you see Essek, his hand out of his cloak, lifting her off the ground. ... You watch as her entire central torso crushes inward, the chains go taut and you hear the metal bend as some of the chains begin to pull and break in places before she is dropped to the ground limply.

c2e91: And he just drifts off, the gate opens on its own (creak, slam) and he heads up to the interior.

c2e91: Essek approaches, waves a hand, and the gate (creaks) opens and lets you guys in.

Essek, c2e91: Allow me to take care of this for you. [He waves his hand for a second and you watch as the chairs, the furniture (scraping) scoots from the edges into the center, forming a little seating area, table scoots in.]

Essek, c2e91: [He goes ahead and lifts a hand towards the hunk of clay] If I could have some help? [You lift it and it's half the weight it was before you grabbed it.]

EGtW, 2nd Lv. Graviturgy Wizard: Adjust Density. As an action, you can magically alter the weight of one object or creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The target's weight is halved or doubled for up to 1 minute or until your concentration ends.

c2e97: He moves his hand this way and one of the crates (scraping) scoots and he sits on it. Jester: Still cool, still fucking cool.

Essek, c2e97: My entire life, I've been propped up to be perhaps worthy of being one to break those boundaries.

Essek, c2e124: [And he rises and begins to head towards the door. The door opens on its own.]

Essek, c2e131: You are led to the familiar exterior of Essek's chambers. And, as you approach, the door (whooshing) opens on its own. ... As you all enter, the door closes behind you as he curls his hand towards him. And, with his other hand, he drifts out, a chair scooches forward and he drifts down into the chair, one leg crossed over the other.

Caleb, c2e131: Come on in. Jester: Wait, we're naked! Essek: [The doorway opens, stops. And slowly opens. (he sighs) The door opens the rest of its way on its own. ]

Essek, c2e132: Hold on to that, we have our means of drifting carefully. Or we could try to climb- well, you could try to climb. I'll be fine. Veth: Oh, yeah, you can drift. Essek: I can.

c2e132: Partway in your descent, you have this shadow drift by as Essek just drifts over the edge and just glides down past you, like an elevator, and just looks over at you each as he slowly descends towards the bottom.

c2e134: You see, as he starts putting his hands out in front like this, like he's soft throwing objects forward. You watch as rocks start coming out as he's just plucking them, as he pulls the gravity from them, aiding you as you guys go along.

c2e135: You see Essek puts his hand out and begins to concentrate, his eyes narrowing. As he does, you watch as the smooth, relatively untouched stone base of this glass tube device (stone cracking) begin to crack and crumble. You see it get pulled away and dragged under the ground behind, scattering. The glass breaking, and as opposed to shattering around you, being shunted off to the backside of the wall, scattering on the ground.

c2e135: As it all falls away, he turns his hand up, and as he does, it's like an invisible hand digging into clay and lifting through as it sifts past the fingers. You see the rock lift and then crumble, and then there in the center, you see this diamond-shaped gem, of faint dark purple coloration, that was now released. He lifts it and drifts it over into your hand.

c2e135: You guys all were all prepping and doing this space, as this was happening, Essek, you see him begin to cast something and then condense it into his hand. He hands you this small bead, Veth. This is like a marble. And just goes, "Follow my lead." ... A bolt of black lightning arcs out from it, across the way towards the creature. It's a level four Lightning Bolt.

EGtW, 14th Lv. Chronurgy Wizard: Arcane Abeyance. When you cast a spell using a spell slot of 4th level or lower, you can condense the spell's magic into a mote. The spell is frozen in time at the moment of casting and held within a gray bead for 1 hour.

c2e136: [He's wading through the water and he's like] Don't forget to return the favor! Sam: He can't float on the water? Liam: It's a three-inch spell. Matt: It doesn't quite work like that. It keeps him off of solid ground, but it doesn't put him over fluid surfaces. It's not a levitate type spell.

c2e138: He pulls out a piece of dark chalk and finds a section of the floor, and begins to draw different dunamantic symbols in this patterned array, making you progressively more and more uncomfortable as the designs begin to come together. Some of them are little more intricate for even your understanding, but you begin to pick up the basics of it, using this stone as a focus, not unlike how residuum is used as an amplifier device in a number of other laboratories.

c2e138: There's that brief moment where you see Essek, sweat beginning to form on his forehead as he's concentrating, and as you're focusing your spell energy towards this crystal, you see it begin to glow brighter and brighter and brighter, not unlike the way that the threshold crest was taking on that filament-like brightness, but this itself has a deep, deep purplish hue, and you see it begin to flicker, not unlike the symbol that you were seeing, which makes you extremely uncomfortable.  In a moment, you feel this urge to just rush in and stop it, but as you do, Essek twitches his arms around it and then draws his fingers in two different directions, and you see this small tear in reality, a break in reality, if you will. And with that, you can see, in a brief moment, in this sliver, hundreds of realities just brushing by at an endless speed. He begins to take and fold that tear around, like if the tear in space time became a thread, and wrap it around this stone, and as soon as it begins to close on it, (sizzling, shattering) it shatters... and we're going to go to break.

Essek, c2e140: I spent my entire life studying the intent to not let things like this happen to chance.

Essek, c2e141: I have spent my life in the pursuit of the ability to control one's future, and that path has led me to making many mistakes. And my shift begin to wander the possibility of fixing one's past, and since we found this, I've thought of it often.

Adeen Tasithar, Taskhand: affluent clothing (c2e90) Bodo Icozrin, steelworks foreman, middle-aged male drow: shoulder-length hair, goatee, nice clothes, large amounts of expensive jewelry (c2e58) Kryn Noble: at least shoulder-length hair, long silver chain belt, long silver chain cloak fastener with dodecahedron clasp, colorful silk clothing (EGtW)

Galsariad Ardyth, dunamancer, civilian/adventurer, 200 yrs: shoulder-blade length hair, long silver chain jewelry and body harness (CRCotN)

Thuron, echo knight, Zadash infiltrator, lived four lives: White shoulder-length hair (initially tightly bunned), very high quality black leather chitinous armor/helmet, enchanted chitinous boots (c2e13) Thuron's partner, dunamancer, Zadash infiltrator: Long dark cloak, leather half-gloves (c2e12) Lythir VaSuun, graviturgist, border scout: Long beautiful dark-gray robes, decorative but plainer version of Essek's mantle of armor, helmet and long staff in battle (c2e51, c2e56) Lythir's partner, echo knight, border scout: Blackened chitinous Kryn warrior armor (c2e51)

Lucid Bastion guards, drow, military captains and throne room guards: Ceremonial polished silver armor, elaborate captain shoulder-capes (c2e74) Dungeon of Penance Jailor, male drow, 2nd level guard: Simple leather armor with exposed arms (c2e57)

Lady Zethris Olios, governor of Asarius: Hip-length hair that transitions from white to skintone violet at shoulder-length, initially wearing incredibly detailed brocades inlaid into a very long silk robe. Changes to an extremely long trailing white and silver ceremonial dress with shimmering gray crystalline jewelry (c2e52) Aurora Hold bureaucrat, middle-aged male human in Aurora Hold: Curly mid-back length hair in a tight ponytail, dark silver-gray robes with silver jewelry (c2e52) Aurora Hold bureaucrat, early 20s fem drow: White hair in high ponytail w/ loose strands to the mid-chest, dark silver-gray robes with silver jewelry (c2e52) Aurora Hold guards, drow: Mantles of chitinous armor similar to Lythir and his partner, silver-gray robes (c2e52)

Marble Tomes front desk clerk, fem drow: Tightly bunned hair, beautiful silk robes (c2e58) Yun, Marble Tomes enchanter/researcher, young drow 'recently come to age': Very young looking, fresh-faced, bright-eyed and excited with smooth, young skin (c2e62)

Gaben, Gallimaufry Inn owner, middle aged male drow: Slicked short white hair, very well groomed (c2e57) Fadden, jewelry store owner, elder fem drow: Long white hair, very nice silk robes (c2e62) Gallimaufry Inn bartender, middle-aged male drow: Receding widow's peak and hair that falls just past the shoulders (c2e57)

c2e99: [You see one of them, a familiar visage of the Taskhand Adeen Tasithar.] Jester: Essek, did you ever talk to him? Did you hang out with him? Essek: We once knew each other. For a while. Jester: Does he suck? Essek: That is a word, yes.

(Taskhands are warriors: Taskhand Durth Mirimm, an elite warrior governing Jigow; Taskhand Verin Thelyss, an echo knight governing Bazzoxan. The Dynasty has dunamancers partnered with warriors: Thuron - the echo knight infiltrator in Zadash - was partnered with a drow who cast a graviturgy spell similar to gravity sinkhole. Lythir VaSuun, a high-level graviturgist, was partnered with a high-level echo knight to lead a border scouting party.)

Essek, c2e91: And you believe that the individuals that make the laws and employ them across your empire are more capable than these mages? Do you not think there is perhaps a necessary balance between the two that maintains the order?

EGtW: The laws of the dynasty, which stem from the faith of the Luxon, are enforced by a network of trusted Aurora Watch captains and soldiers.

EGtW: Essek is both respected and feared for his intelligence and cunning.

c2e74: Now who you see arrived at the front: a male drow, short white hair, a perpetual soft smile, a similar mantle of armor to the soldiers that you saw exterior, but beneath it, a cloak of dark purple just drifts below and obscures the entirety of his body.

c2e57: A similar mantle to what you noticed Lythir wearing, but much more elaborate. You can see the robes that he's wearing that pretty much entirely obscure the body.

Essek, c2e90: We've investigated Adeen, found him already halfway across the Ghostlands on his own, shrouded and seeming to attempt escape. We ambushed and retrieved him, and have spent the better part of the past day interrogating him.

Essek, c2e77: There is indeed one beacon that still remains in the grasp of the Empire. We have.. numerous ways of pushing towards that goal. However, should you have been careful in your dealings, you have a little more reach within the Empire than someone such as I would, of course.

Twitter: Shadowhand is a title granted to those who focus on the dark mysteries of Exandria for the Bright Queen. This includes both subterfuge and arcana (like a specialist in the dangerous unknown). Spies, mages, and investigators that reach a certain station can be granted this title.

Essek, c2e131: I just know that I've also survived this long, weaving the intricacies of deceit like I have, by knowing how best to keep myself.. out of the complications as best as I can.

Essek, c2e80: I already have a few operatives looking to infiltrate- to locate and infiltrate the Cult of the Angel of Irons, you said it was, in hopes of gathering more information. Jester: You have? Essek: Yes, since you gave me this information a while back. ... I have a lot of plates I'm spinning at any given point in time. This is one, and I'm now giving it a bit more prominence, so.. I apologize to have misled you to think otherwise. And I also apologize for my attitude yesterday. I have been under some pressure.

Essek, c2e98: I mean, there has been a shadow war between the Dynasty and the Empire for.. decades. This is just the first time that it's brimmed out of the control of those that waged it.

Essek, c2e98: I just want to warn you about getting too close. I'm tied.. to a lot of dangerous individuals and teeter in the shadows at the crux of all of this conflict, intentional as it may not have been.

Essek, c2e131: I can find a place to go. I am capable of being slippery when I need to be.

Essek, c2e57: Take care of them and should you need anything, well... we'll know.

c2e79: [You made an additional deal for rapid transportation with your sponsor, Shadowhand Essek Thelyss. Who agreed, begrudgingly, for the very last time to do this.] Liam: The last, last time. Marisha: He keeps saying that. Travis: He can't say no. [Wow he's just racking up the debt points with you guys. He's going to make you do some fun stuff down the road.]

Essek, c2e78: I trust that your interests are forthright. I'll need your help soon anyway. Jester: He said he would need our help soon. He seemed like he would do it.

(Soon after) Jester, c2e81: Is there any news of the war? Allura: Yes. There has been a series of attacks on some of the military siege installations within the empire. There was an assault on some of the weapon creation factories in Hupperdook. This was about four days ago, as well as a counter assault by the empire within Xhorhas.

Jester, c2e63: Did you want to come, Essek? Essek: I have my own business to attend to, but I will vouch for their capabilities. And my tutelage.

Essek, c2e70: There is a lot of business I must attend to as well. As you've heard from the Bright Queen, a lot of things are moving and my interests lie elsewhere beyond a kiln.

EGtW: He is eager to use the conflict as an excuse to practice the deadlier aspects of dunamancy, and also curious to see what the powerful minds of the Cerberus Assembly may have gleaned from their research into the beacon they stole.

Leylas, c2e57: (turns and goes) Shadowhand, can we confirm that there has been some kind of imperial goblin capture? Nott: He's not a goblin like I am. (...) He's a halfling man. His name is Yeza Brenatto. He's a chemist. Essek: Yes, we do indeed have this figure in our Dungeon of Penance.

Leylas, c2e57: Well, first, I will say that this prisoner of yours that you're requesting could possibly be returned to you. I do not know the scope and depth of his involvement with the conflict to the west, but I'm certain the Shadowhand will inquire and if there is anything else required, we will attempt to close our interrogation and return him to you.

Essek, c2e90: All of this has been given, elements of it, to attempt to force them to fill in the blanks, to prove our.. curiosity and let them prove that they were involved. But upon magical inquiries, forcing of one's will, and through physical... persuasion, we managed to excise the truth, and the Taskhand has given his hand, if you will.

Essek, c2e90: Trust me, there's been plenty of punching for two days, I do not think that you would maybe- Beau: But do they have magical punches that make people talk? Essek: We have magical means of forcing the truth, if that's what you're talking about.

Fjord, c2e90: Is there any reason why you haven't told her yet? Are you trying to confirm or gather, or? Essek: I was- if you're going to, in a point of extreme tensions in warfare in which the queen is impatiently waiting for any sort of concrete proof as to why the ceasefire was necessary, we wanted to make sure that we presented it as an entire package, as opposed to piecemeal. It is better.. and also we need to cross our Ts as well, in the instance that perhaps any of this information is incorrect.

c2e63: Previously, you had all the raised platforms with the chairs of the different den heads that were there and the five chairs that were on the main central raised portion of the platform where the Bright Queen was. Now, you can see maybe six individuals present. Two on one side, two on the other and there is the Bright Queen and the right hand there. It seems like this isn't a formal gathering of all hands on-deck, more just general matters. You see Essek is present on the left side, Mirimm is in the right up in her chair.

Leylas, c2e63: They've been assigned as your wards, you trust in this, yes? You believe them? Essek: [Essek's sitting there in the chair, you can see the hands just barely crossed poking through the cloak] I trust them. Leylas: [She gives a nod] Well, we shall plan accordingly. They will rue the day they tried to assail us on their terms.

c2e70: Already, you can hear voices bustling. It's a little more active than last time you were here, when it was somewhat half as intense. You can see all the seats are filled, both on the two opposing house sides as well as the central chairs that flank the Bright Queen's throne. ... You can see a troop of four individuals, three drow and one hobgoblin are carrying a table out past you. It seems to be a map of probably Xhorhas. The length of the table will probably lead it quite deeply into the Empire and Western Wynandir. Essek: [You look over and you can see across the way, Essek has been sitting down in one of the chairs] Well, if a safe and quick means of transportation is required, that would probably be my specialty.

Essek, c2e133: The pursuit of magic, in the ways that we know it, in the ways that we've been disparately, but in some ways similarly raised and studied. At a certain point, it becomes about the self. It becomes about what I can do.

Essek, c2e124: I was granted this post and for the time being I am enjoying the change of pace, strangely. Jester: So you really don't know very much about Aeor, then? Essek: I'm learning as we go, but I just asked to be sent far away. And from what I'd heard, there was quite a bit of competitive acquisition of relics. And if I'm to be honest, that is an intriguing thing. I mean, I'm a man of arcane study, and if there are things here that can continue to progress my- well, my personal studies, then that would be, that'd be perfect.

Essek, c2e124: (Discussing Aeor's ruins) Well, there's quite a bit down there. I've only been in myself a bit, but we can go over that.

Essek, c2e124: I should not leave this outpost, I have responsibilities here and people that rely on me.

Essek, c2e124: Starguide Uraya, Uraya Hythenos, perhaps. A goblin friend of mine, I believe they spoke to you when I was unable to reach out that day. They have returned to Rosohna to deliver reports.

c2e141: He eventually began to feel the possible prying eyes of Dynasty discomfort, and absconded from the Aeorian trade post. (...) He went there to continue his business for the time being, because at least it was far away and there were people there that relied on him, but even that he eventually left.

Talks, c2e89-90: But as a person of his training, his station, and just his general persona and how he likes to present himself, he would never openly show that concern at first.

c2e124: He's intently listening and seems to be genuinely disturbed by the information that he's received. He's taking it in, he's very controlled. Like he's used to listening and, you know. His demeanor since you met him has been very constructed. It is very much an element that he instinctually puts forward. But even in that space you could see him being very contemplative and trying to just take it all in, and nod.

Beau, c2e91: Does the Dynasty have us bugged in this house?  Essek: It would not surprise me if they, at times, chimed in. You have been under watch, here and there, since you've arrived as you were a.. challenging addition to the proximity of the Bastion Fjord: To be specific, we've seen ourselves being watched. We were hoping it was you? Essek: At times it was. No, but it was part of my assignment when you first came under my wing to ensure that there wasn't any chances of undue.. Empire business finding its way within the proximity of the Bastion.

Wrap-up: He immediately was like, "I'll take care of them, I'll work with their business, I'll figure out what they're going, and I'll be their chaperone," essentially. And so it was him just trying to cover his ass, while also trying to figure out what you were up to, what your connections were, how much you knew.

EGtW: Twelve hours of daylight each day can become painful and physically detrimental to those beings adapted to subterranean life. To mitigate this problem, powerful dunamancers have woven arcane shields to temporarily block out the sun above Rosohna. 

c2e75: You called in an additional favor with Shadowhand Essek, teleported northward to Mythburrow.

Essek, c2e77: Good, so you are now in a place to call in some of the debt. Caleb: Indeed. Essek: Good. There is indeed one beacon that still remains in the grasp of the Empire. We have.. numerous ways of pushing towards that goal. However, should you have been careful in your dealings, you have a little more reach within the Empire than someone such as I would, of course. I would request, on the behalf of the Bright Queen, to see if you can discover where this beacon is being held.

Jester, c2e77: Could you put that chair back in the air? It's just really cool up there.  Essek: Your friend Caleb is able to do that now. It is uh.. not inexpensive. Jester: Oh. Okay. Essek: Do you have 25 gold to pass along? Jester: Well, I mean, yeah, but I don't know if a chair in the air is worth that.  Essek: That's.. exactly what I mean. But maybe you can convince him.

Essek, c2e78: I trust that your interests are forthright. I'll need your help soon anyway. Jester: He said he would need our help soon.

c2e79: [You made an additional deal for rapid transportation with your sponsor, Shadowhand Essek Thelyss who agreed, begrudgingly, for the very last time to do this.] Liam: The last, last time. Marisha: He keeps saying that. Travis: He can't say no. [Wow he's just racking up the debt points with you guys. He's going to make you do some fun stuff down the road.]

Essek, c2e79: Well, I do not consider this payment. A favor for a favor and I'm certain I will call these favors in at some time in the future. But for now, just go ahead and hitch them to the exterior of your home and we'll be on our way.

Beau, c2e79: We haven't forgotten that we owe you a favor and that you wanted to talk to us about needing something. So hey, you're at the top of our list as soon as this is done. Essek: A number of favors, I have not forgotten.

Jester, c2e91: We owe him some favors. Beau: Hey, yeah, let's do that first. What do you mean by that? What favors? Essek: I don't know. Perhaps some of my research at some time might require more hands than those I have myself.

Jester, c2e91: Can you just turn this body into a different body? Essek: I do not know of such magic myself, unfortunately. ... But if I hear anything, I will let you know. Nott: If we hear of something, could we ask your aid? Essek: If I can. Nott: In deciphering it? Essek: …If I can.

Nott, c2e91: He's been studying something to help me lately. Working on equations.  Caleb: I've been noodling about with something. Essek: Perhaps I can offer some aid.

Jester, c2e91: Yeah, if you ever feel like ditching out here and traveling with us, just let us know, you know? ... Essek: Well, if I can be of help in some way, perhaps with your (Nott's) predicament as you were requesting, let me know.

Caduceus, c2e91: I have been on a quest, sent by my goddess to fix my home, to bring it back to life, to replenish it. ... Essek: If there is any way I can be helpful, you know how to contact me. [He looks knowingly at Jester]

Beau, c2e91: I'll trade you a secret if it crosses off one of those favors.  Essek: It better be one heck of a secret.

Caleb, c2e91: (holding dunamis potion) Let's call this one favor.. taken care of. Essek: That. Would be a favor accepted. Jester: Ooh, he didn't accept your secret!

Caleb, c2e91: Well, we'll come back later and compare notes. Essek: I'll be here. Perhaps I can provide breakfast as a thank you.

Caleb, c2e91: We work well together. We should explore other things. Other things. Essek: I have some ideas. There are favors owed still. Anyway, let's get back to the rest of your friends.

Essek, c2e92: [As you're about to leave, Caleb, he grabs your shoulder for a minute and is like] If at all possible, because I helped author with the completion of this, would I be able to make a copy of this for my own records? Caleb: Of course. I would not have been able to do it without you. Essek: Wonderful.

Essek, c2e94: It prevents me from some of my capabilities throughout the day each time I do this, so while I'm here in my home and things are not requiring me to be elsewhere rapidly, thankfully this is a moment in time in which I am more useful here in the city. Fjord: It's greatly appreciated. Essek: I'm sure we'll find a way to balance the scales sometime.

Jester, c2e97: You're not going to betray us again, Essek. You're not going to, like, leave here and tell everyone that we know and then get us killed. Essek: Well, that depends. You show me a kindness. Jester: We've done nothing but show you kindness. Essek: You're not wrong.

Essek, c2e97: I cannot be here. Cad: We have to know what's coming, we need to know what you paid, what you've set in motion. We're going to have to take care of it.  Essek: If I tell you, will you let me go?

Essek, c2e98: I am just contemplating.. what is to come. I appreciate what sliver of trust allowed me to leave. It's not forgotten.

Jester, c2e99: Hey, when you come here tomorrow, will you bring some, like, pastries because you'll be- you'll, like- something good? Will you bring us a present? [Persuasion check] Eight but you like me, Essek, come on! Essek: Things are a bit tense for me to head to a bakery? But should all things go well, maybe another time. Nonetheless, I will take my leave for the night. Thank you for not throwing me into the water.

Essek, c2e131: All right. Have you decided? Caleb: Yes, Essek, we are going to stick with you. We feel we can trust you more than my old teacher. Essek: I'm thankful for the trust you put in me. And I hope to.. make this.. up to you. Anyway, I'm bad at such discussions.

Essek, c2e136: Well, I guess it's more important that you keep everyone alive. [He casts fly on Cad] (he's wading through the water and he's like) Don't forget to return the favor!

Verin was the brother that kinda got him and they got along okay in a family that Essek did not get along with at all, and was surrounded by people he didn't get along with.

EGtW: To the Kryn, a person's background is less important than the experiences they've accumulated—particularly for those who have begun walking the sacred path known as consecution.

Essek, c2e57: The den was very kind to accept me for one as comparably young as myself, I'm only partway into my second century, so. Caleb: A great honor. Essek: It is. Anyway.

EGtW: The oldest Dens, especially those helmed by an Umavi, are held in the highest esteem, and generally answer directly to the Bright Queen. 

EGtW: Just over a hundred and twenty years old and still within his first life, Essek is a prodigy who displays an unprecedented talent for the manipulation of dunamis energy. 

Atop of the tallest one, you can see there what looks at first like a weather vane. Instead, you can see it's a contraption that seems to have a series of metallic rings inside that all are smaller and smaller and smaller within that slowly, rotate on its own in a way that you don't understand its purpose or really what it does but it's unique and it's engineered to be strangely pretty.

There are almost ley lines of energy that themselves span like a net across all of Exandria and these ley lines sometimes shift and swell and expand and reduce based on the seasons, based on the time of year, based on celestial gatherings and alignments. This is part of a device that just keeps track of it.

The First Tower, First Floor Entry Chamber: In the chamber you're in right here, you can see plainly most of it's just furniture, it's a hosting chamber it seems, though a lot of it's dusty. It's generally just furniture and décor.

The smell when you come inside is very strangely herbal, like it has a very earthy, herbal smell to the air there with a bit of- only thing to describe it is like a hint of electrical fire, something like that sort of smell.

There are these beautiful almost glass-like stairs that emerge from the wall that don't have a hard-set connecting pivot, they're just free-floating, it seems, outside of the stone wall and they're just translucent steps that lead up the spiral of the tower you're in.

You go towards where you think the kitchen might be and the door is locked.

The First Tower, Second Floor: This one has a window that overlooks that part of the neighborhood. There are a number of shelves of books, there are some small glass cases that contain what looks to be keepsakes or objects that are just out of view.

There are bookshelves aligned in this area, there are the two doorways, they're closed, that lead out of the tower to those walkways you thought you had seen. Neither of the doors open. They are closed and they are locked. There are a couple of small glass cases that are off to the side.

One of them contains a rod, maybe about a foot and a half long. The other one, glancing inside, you can see there's two books that are locked with a actual physical lock holding them closed.

Only one of them has a title, the other one is just a plain leather binding, like a deep, deep leather, but there's no actual top. The first one you look over and it says in Undercommon the equivalent of 'The Connecting Nether Between the Elements.'

The bookshelves, it's all manner of collection, all in Undercommon for the most part, a couple of spattering of Common books. Some of them are history, some of them deal with studies of alchemical compounds, some of them deal with historical recollections of the Age of Arcanum and what elements have been collected from what ruins have been found and uncovered. Writings of prominent figures during that time period. You see one that deals with the various societies and races of Xhorhas and the social dynamics pre- and post-Dynasty involvement. It's a wide variety of books.

The Second Tower, Second Floor: He leads you to one of two doors that opens up into one of those pathways that connects towers and leads you to the tallest tower and from there, you go into a mid-chamber of this next structure. Within here, the smell is almost saccharine-sweet, but has a very chemical smell to it.

There are a lot of elements here that remind you of very sweet but caustic chemicals that are used in the creation of potions, that are used in the creation of compounds that can break down metals and other such things. It's a mixture of some alchemy or elements close to it are done in here.

The Second Tower, Third Floor: He leads you up another set of stairs to a tall chamber beneath where you imagine that strange moving spherical series of rings were on the top. As you head into this final room the entire chamber itself has these deep grooves dug into stone across and edge to edge. It is hundreds and hundreds of lines. It looks like someone has dug every possible line path connecting element here and for certain magicians or sorcerers, practitioners of magic, this is essentially a bunch of pre-set grooves where most basic and advanced runic circles can be drawn within here with whatever materials very quickly.

All the candles immediately light as you all step inside.

Wrap-up: (re: Verin) He's the younger, taller, the more athletic brother of the family.

c2e57: You can see his footfalls. He's not floating through the city, but he walks with such a grace and a very direct gait that there is no bobbing, he just seems to glide forward. Travis: It's that Tomb of the Unknown Soldier glide, man Matt: Yeah, straight-up.

c2e57: The Bright Queen nods towards you and glances over towards one of the nearby male drow figures sitting to the right of the dais. Very handsome, head held high, looking down upon this with a curious glance. A similar mantle to what you noticed Lythir wearing, but much more elaborate. You can see the robes that he's wearing that pretty much entirely obscure the body. They just fall, they go entirely around the mantle and close in the front so it's this beautiful, draped, deep purple and black robe that completely obfuscates the body.

c2e91: He removes the mantle and sets it on one of the chairs in the foyer area of the Xhorhaus and he's dressed in nice, comfortable clothes, well-trimmed. It's actually not too different from your (Caleb's) Xhorhasian outfit as you had it tailored, the design of which you requested is loosely based on similar designs you've seen around the city and his is more of a designer version of that, but comfortable and sleek.

c2e124: He takes his mantle off and pulls the sides of the robe away and you can see he has an undershirt, it's a sleeveless undershirt, of like a darker gray silk. And he begins to show his arms and reveal.. he's being modest with it, doing it in places, so he's not just full on baring it all here, but he's giving a fairly thorough glance.

Matt, c2e91: They are very, very well kept, soft feet from a man who takes care of himself in the nobility. Sure, there you go.

Beau, c2e97: (looking at Dezran Thain) I want to see if he's hiding anything on his belt. If he looks like he has any papers or anything. A weapon or something like that. Matt: Go ahead and make a perception check for me. Jester: I'm going to look at his butt while she's doing that. Matt: ..make a perception check for me. (8, 8!) You both.. find the butt. It's not a bad butt, but that's about all you discern.

Liam, Wrap-up: When we left him, I was like, "Well, I really hope that- I see things that I have in common with him and I empathize, but he's going to need years to unpack his shit. Or he's not! Or he's just going to bend back and do all the things he was doing before without us." And by the time we met up with him again, he was a changed man. Matt: Yeah! Well, he was still struggling. He didn't know who he was, and at a certain point, your guys' interaction showed him that he could be better.. and he was struggling with being convinced that it was too late for him.

Essek, c2e62: There's three primary dens, and a dozen dens all together. Fjord: Biylan's not one of the main three, though? Essek: No. Thelyss is one.

Essek, c2e91: My mother's name is Deirta Thelyss, she is the Umavi of my den. Jester: Which den, Thelyss den? Essek: Den Thelyss, yes. One of the multitude of dens.. shall we sit?

EGtW: The three ruling Dens—Den Kryn, Den Thelyss, and Den Mirimm—are each helmed by an Umavi.

Essek, c2e91: Den Thelyss, they would like very much to see.. our nation.. established and respected? In the broader sense of the world.

Wrap-up: The only real bond Essek had before any of you was with him, growing up. Verin was the brother that kinda got him and they got along okay, in a family that Essek did not get along with at all, and was surrounded by people he didn't get along with.

Wrap-up: He'd been a solitary figure his whole life except for his relationship with his brother. He didn't get along with his parents. He didn't get along with most people in the Dynasty unless they helped him maintain and advance his position of power and influence, and so.. you guys fucked him up!

Wrap-up: As opposed to his brother, who's very much eschewed the Dynasty culture, and his parents were very deeply steeped in the culture. Verin rides the line where, he understands, why his brother is the way he is, but he also believes a lot in the Dynasty, and the faith that the Luxon and the whole idea gives.

Essek, c2e91: There is an expectation of advancement within the faith to be consecuted. I was lucky enough and privileged enough to be born within a den to where it was not questioned.

Essek, c2e91: You are guided by an Umavi through a soul binding process. It is extensive, it entails a bunch of spoken rites. It is usually observed by many individuals of various dens, especially if you belong to one. And often when you are consecuted, you are given a path to a den. The families are expansive.

EGtW: Each Den traditionally oversees a portion of local industry, but more distinguished Dens also vie for control over aspects of spiritual or military leadership.

Fjord, c2e57: What do we call you, just Shadowhand? Or is there another name you prefer? Essek: Shadowhand Essek Thelyss. Of Den Thelyss. Jester: Den Thelyss is, like, the most popular one. Nott: Sure, we know it well. That's one of the top three, is that right? Essek: It is indeed.

Leylas, c2e57: Your deed here is noted and what quarrel you have with Lythir here is seen as absolved in the eyes of us three dens.

Waccoh, c2e62: There'd be a period of time in approving of his presence to ensure that there isn't any sort of Empire interests or muck behind the history there. After which we'd have to go and get approvals from Den Thelyss.

Caleb, c2e91: And you are, forgive me, on your first life? Essek: Yes, I'm nearly the youngest of my den.

EGtW: Essek is both respected and feared for his intelligence and cunning, and he carefully plots each step he takes to further his and his Den's climb up the hierarchy of the dynasty.

EGtW: Verin Thelyss is the younger brother of Essek and the youngest soul of Den Thelyss. Recently given command of Kryn forces in Bazzoxan, Verin hopes to bring about a victory for the dynasty that will grant him respect and acceptance from his accomplished family.

Abrianna, c2e57: When one has proven their faith through word and deed, they are claimed by one of the ruling dens and taken to be soul bound to the Luxon through the consecution.

EGtW: Not all ruling Dens like the idea of introducing what they consider lesser creatures into the consecution, leading to tensions between the people of Rosohna and the scattered villages in the Xhorhasian wilds.

Beau, c2e91: What's the worst thing you've ever done? Essek: (laughs, sighs) I would say... anger my father to the point where... he went, unprepared, into the depths of Bazzoxan and didn't return.

EGtW: The ruling class of the dynasty is seated in Rosohna, spread across twelve noble Dens—all of whom seek to one day rule the dynasty. They play an intricate political game by expanding their families of timeless souls and covertly undermining the authority of other Dens.

EGtW: Den Masters keep a careful eye out for weakness among other Dens, seeking ways to sully the reputations of their rivals while displaying their own worthiness to the Bright Queen. Such social sabotage is reminiscent of the old ways of the drow, but assassinations and acts of outright violence are rare. 

EGtW: The oldest Dens, especially those helmed by an Umavi, are held in the highest esteem, and generally answer directly to the Bright Queen. The older the soul, the more prestige it holds in the dynasty.

EGtW: Within the Lucid Bastion's halls, the Bright Queen, her trusted Umavi, and their Dens work to govern and protect all citizens of the Kryn Dynasty.

Essek, c2e98: I appreciate the sliver of trust that allowed me to leave. It's not forgotten.

Essek, c2e124: When I- when you gave me trust, it gave me a perspective that was so agonizingly striking. So easy to see.. that I refused to acknowledge it at first, even. I would be lying if I said that our paths crossing hasn't shaken me to the core. And I'm appreciative. I'm thankful for this perspective, but you do not owe me trust for what I've done. Beau: No, we definitely don't. And we still don't. Really trust you. Essek: Good. Good.

Essek, c2e132: The more I begin to see Beauregard, yourself return with these markings-- I've only just recently learned to trust. It's hard to begin to mistrust so quickly.

Caleb, c2e98: Make no mistake. We do not trust you.  Essek: Good. That'll help you survive.

Essek, c2e98: I'm thankful that you have a modicum of faith in me, undeserving as that might be.

Essek, c2e124: They have returned to Rosohna to deliver reports. Asking around, they would be somebody I trust, one of the few.

Essek, c2e124: And um.. If you think I'm not worth trusting... Do not. Trust. Anyone of the Assembly, but definitely not.. Ikithon.

Claudia, c2e9: I don't trust anybody. That's how I'm still alive and that's how I came to own this tavern.

Caleb, c2e134: This is Essek. Charlie: Ess-ek. Essek: (Essek steps back and goes) I don't trust it.

Essek, c2e91: My interests leave me not trusting anyone, not feeling like I, in some ways, belong. And as such, I spend a lot of my time in solitude. Caleb: Why trust us with your interests? Essek: Because I'm thankful to have met you.

Essek, c2e139: If today is to be my final attempt at making good the things I've done, I'd be all right with that. I thank you for your trust.