I have ADHD, bad things happen when I'm bored

Amir studies a journal he got from the vampire chick and rolled a 24 (nat 20!) on his investigation check. It's narrating her escape from the Locked Cities, which is quite a ways back--at least 20 years ago. Lord Saxxon (and others) was also escaping with her after being expelled from the city. They saw a sky while traveling in the underdepths, which is strange because they were underground. The name of the underground stars is the Nebesnyy Pod and the stars spoke to Saxxon. No log explains what the stars said but Saxxon vowed to seal the mirror bellow the depths.

Vespera also studies the map she got. She rolls a 14 (7+7). The map is unlike any Vespera has seen before. Underdark Map -A map of journies/experiences, emerging from under Ea at Port Umbra. -Best way to get to the Underdark is in a passage underneath Temprea, but warnings say that Final Death is likely for those who enter. -“Effringe claustra!” written in warnings all around.

[Forge Foundry is being really stupid today]

Carrier is waiting for Bri and Amir to come out of the mirror, holding something behind his back. Carrier mentions how far from our homes we are and how we've missed the greenery--then he presents to Amir a prickly pear flower made as a charm.

The flower looks preserved [and something about how it's held up] Amir is beside himself and at a loss for words. He asks how Carrier got this and Carrier says the market. Amir searched and couldn't find anything like this and Carrier says Amir might not have looked well enough. Amir is very excited for this and hugs Carrier, then shows Bri. He ends up embedding the flower into his hair (so it doesn't dangle).

Carrier also has a gift for Bri! He puts a flower in her hair, a green hydrangea! He didn't know much about Bri's land, but he says it goes with her dresses. Bri is excited by this and hugs him too.

They thank him and he heads out to find the others to give them more gifts. As he leaves and the door closes, Amir cups Bri's cheeks and their lips meet.

Carrier goes to Vespera's room next, knocking and being let in. He comments on how he knows Ves and Vuokko both really dislike this city, so he wanted to put together some greenery. He presents a boutique of blue anemone flowers!

Vespera is a little speechless and sits on her bed, pointing to to her hair. Carrier weaves the flowers into her hair. Vespera also shows Carrier how much the drawing has "grown" from her grimoire.

Carrier asks Vespera for help him with Vance. He's not in his room, so he asks if Ves can fetch him.

Carrier knocks on Vuokko's door, who answers with a "what do you want? Who is it?" When she sees who it is, she allows him in. Vuokko expresses regret to wake up as Summer, saying she did it for Vespera. Carrier has come to bring her a gift of a flower crown, with yellow, pink, blue, and white flowers. There's a ribbon at the back of it.

Vuokko is in awe but waits to accept it. "There's no favor attached to this, is there?" Carrier responds, no. She takes it and compliments it, Vuokko asks if Carrier made one for themselves too. They did! It's a branch with leaves that is perched between his horns and ears - like a laurel. Vuokko tries to put the crown on (not asking for help b/c Summer) Carrier assures Vuokko it looks nice (since no reflections!) They discuss where Vance might be, maybe he went to work?

While this is happening, Vespera tries to get Camulos ready to go for a walk with a new leather harness. We can all hear a scream as Camulos rears back and rips the harness to shreds. (this came from a 12 in animal handling)

Vespera heads down stairs with Camulos following after her at her side. She can see Vance at a table in the corner, on his fifth cup of coffee on the table--like five empty cups on the table. There are bags upon bags under his eyes. [it sounds like he hasn't slept :O] Vespera is going to make her way over--with an owlbear in tow. Vance pours a cup of coffee for Vespera and then stars to offer a cup for Camulos. Vespera tries to stop him, stating that she doesn't think Camulos is old enough to have coffee--but Vance rolled an 8 in animal handling so before he can pull back his hand, the owlbear screams, getting up on his hind legs and knocks the cup out of Vance's hand. He spills coffee all over the floor and is lapping it up. Ves states Camulos is energetic today and Vance says he'll be more. Vespera says Carrier was looking for Vance and sends him off to see him--forgetting that Carrier asked her to come back with Vance.

Carrier starts saying how everyone has been missing their homes. To which Vance says he is home. So Carrier did something different--and he looks around asking where Vespera is. Vance says she's wrestling an owlbear. So Carrier did something different. He heard Vespera saying Vance in her little knight, so he has a brooch of an anemone.

Vance reaches out slowly for a hug, Carrier says he doesn't need to if he doesn't want to, but Vance commits to the hug. It's like when a cat lets you pet it for the first time. Carrier is relieved that Vance likes his gift.

When Vespera sees Amir (who is holding Bri's hand) she shoots up from her chair and storms over to him. She wants to speak of the map. She talks about what she's seen on the map and Amir talks about what he learned about from the journal about Saxxon wanting the mirror before--maybe he wanted to dispose of the mirror shards in the waters in the underdark. The two talk about what the mirror and journal could mean and if they should talk to the Magisters about this. [[I miiight have zoned out while they were talking >w>;; ]]

Vespera knows what Bri and Amir did last night, kekeke. She says if Bri keeps being hunted, this marks off one theory. Bri is confused and Vespera says it point blank "the virgin blood theory." Vuokko swings in to rant to save Bri from being embarrassed.

"Hey dog breath "I was thinking about something you said yesterday, that bit about family. I've decided it really hurt my feelings. You know I haven't had any kinda meaningful connection with a humanoid person since I was twenty, right? That's when Zu kicked me out because I wasn't a kid anymore. "Now lets do some math. Lemme see… I'm one hundred and three, minus twenty…Oh! eighty years, that's how long I've been without a friend with thumbs. [wiggles her thumbs] So, yeah, it was wrong of me to keep you away from your family for a year, I guess (at least you're gonna go back to them when our adventure is over and you didn't die like 14 months ago). But can you stop going all [puts back of palm on her forehead and MIMIC Amir's voice] 'woe is me, Vuokko held me captive for a year', I was excited to have a friend after being alone for eighty percent of my life so far. "Maybe, in the long run that year we traveled together will be a blip in my life span, but it's gonna be a blip I remember for the rest of my life and look back on fondly. It hurts that you won't remember it the same way I do. [turns to the rest of the party] "I'm going to remember this whole adventure so much more than anything else I've done in my life so far."

Amir says she's right and this shocks Vuokko a little. He says he isn't like Vuokko and he's not going to experience things like she is. But it doesn't invalidate what she is going through. It was wrong of him to make it all about himself. He misses his family, he didn't hate every moment they were together and he's sorry for making her feel like she caused him misery. He asks for forgiveness. Vuokko says she won't forgive him right now, probably once she'd back in spring or autumn. He says he'd value summer's forgiveness even more. Amir isn't looking Vuokko in the eyes, his shoulders are sunk. He is trying to sneak to hold Bri's hand. Bri tries to smooth things out between them. Amir says he trusts Vuokko a lot. Vuokko is half turned away from them, arms crossed--she has seen how close the two of them are and is doing her best to look away.

Vuokko notices the flowers in everyone else's hair and asks Carrier if they said thanks for them or not.

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Khan walks in and says he not to mind him, he's early. He settles on a couch. Vance says having a change of conversation would be nice. Khan is here to help prepare us for what we're going to do. Vespera tries to wrestle Camulos onto her lap and Vuokko helps--a strength with advantage check of 19! Woo.

Khan says it'll just be him today, the others are busy. Bri wanted to speak with Veldil today and Vespera says it's somewhat important. Khan sends some kind of message out to her. Party learns that most of the professors are away. Amir questions if we're going to speak to the whole council--Khan says we're not meeting with the council, just the professorship as they advice the council. We can not speak with them until we've been registered with them. If we really want to speak with the council, we should speak with the provost[?]. The party will be subject to the measures of the tower--We won't be able to cast spells until we take the oath of the tower. Bri starts asking if we're going to be judged and Khan assures her we aren't going to be judged or tested. Khan says if we have any sentient weapons or watches will have to be contained. Animals too. Khan has somehow not noticed Camulous until now. Same with Raspberry. Alltrivius has something of an apology to give to the party.

The party is to come up with a name to enter. We've been calling ourselves "The wandering priests" but we chat in text about maybe coming up with a new name.

We have no questions and we head to the Towers. They seem to always be moving and it's strange the climb it. We pass floors where people floating around in the library and other busy things. This is supposed to be a not busy day.

We make it to the location we're going to. There is a tortle reading and smoking. There is a tablet we need to read, with some of it in deep speech. The tablet has some illegible writing in it.

"I swear by the Law of ---------- that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Throne of -----------, its heirs and successors, and to solemnly witness, catalogue and project the Arcanum’s myriad mysteries for the preservation of the Emperor's Will."

Brirsayne brings up how some of the text isn't something she can read. The tortle brings up how this text is from the old empire and that to read this text would bring madness to people. Bri is concerned who she might be swearing to and the tortle brings up how we fill it in with our own meaning. The throne if empty. Brirsayne signs next. Vance signs his name without care. Vespera signs with her name. Vuokko signs it with "Vuokko Rinne." Carrier signs it with "The Carrier."

We're moved to the next area and we see a room with a large clock. In the center is a human man dressed in purple. He has long white curly hair. His staff that replicates the towers, spinning too. He also has a top hat. This is Provost Alltrivius Thimble 24 hour clock, with seasons and monthly calander. The old man sees us and is all "Fascinating" and he brushes Khan out of the way. He bares down on Vance, saying he knows much of him. Then he has heard of our travels and He takes us here as guests first and foremost. And requests he has are second to things we have questions[?] for.

The old man lifts his staff and we can feel the tower moving under our feet. Then we're told to follow him to his office. There's tons of books and contraptions all over the place--including something that could be a computer.

Vance says he's keeping the coffee. Alltrivius says he'll allow it and we can get other things too. Alltrivius waves his staff and the room under us disappears. We can see the city below us. He talks about how the city was abaonded and no one knows why. A few theories flash in front of us. He goes on to say something about a Dimension Engine, which looks like a d20 shape (lol) it spins wildly. Someone was able to contain the power of that. Everyone was safe then….So they thought. Seems the dimension engine has broken free from being able to be held. It also counts down to something…which no one knows what, but they assume it'll be bad. God Algorithm was created to pull souls to feed the dimension engine. It normally has eaten the past people. It ate us but spit us back out to the light house. The light house was supposed to send us to Temprea. Alltrivius asks us what happened on our end. Amir speaks up about how he and his friend were chasing someone. We don't remember the missing time.

Alltrivius says he can see how we've been changed and to show this, he tosses his monocle up and does some magic stuff with it. We all bare an arcane crown on top of our heads. Except Brirsayne and Vespera, who have a fractured crown, split down the middle. They are also missing a gem that everyone else's have. Alltrivius points out how two people have broken crowns and asks why.

Ves looks and Bri and Bri starts to speak, but Vuokko cuts in--asking if Alltrivius is gonna make the person who didn't belong go away. He says that wouldn't be his place. Then Bri speaks how her patron swept her up. Alltrivius asks who her patron is, which Bri doesn't have an answer to. Then he asks if she's a is celestical… She's not, she's assimar and the wings are a gift and trail from her patron.

Alltrivius asks if Bri has had any changes since going into the mirror. How does he know about the mirror though. He seems to know that we have a quest that we're on

Alltrivius asks us if we know who the "one behind the moon" is and we all roll arcana. The DC was 25 and only Vance knows what it is, having rolled a 26! When he was captured by the faceless cult, he can remember they were changing to the one behind the moon. When things seemed to be close to the sacrifice time, the sky seemed to change and the moon disappeared like an illusion. He saw a mouth behind the moon. He had this memory blocked out before.