The Cobalt Soul Archive
The party follows Dr. Dennel stealthily through the streets of Port Damali. They find themselves in front of a beautiful multi-tiered building. Its domed rooves, geometric patterns, and many archways decorated in a rainbow of blue stonework.
As they approach the tall wooden door, a latticework of wrought iron adorning it, Dr. Dennel pauses. “This is the Cobalt Soul Archive, here in Port Damali.” She lights the brazier to the side of the entrance, and it flickers with cool blue flame.
A series of latches can be heard being undone from behind the door. Creaking outwards, an eye looks out of the doorway. Seeing Dr. Dennel standing there, the doorway widens slightly, revealing a middle-aged human. His head and face are cleanly shaven; a stern look plastered on his tan skin, eyebrows furrowed.
Archivist Kaelin
“Dennel? What do I owe this… pleasure?” He asks coolly.
“Archivist Kaelin,” Dennel lets out a deeply relieved sigh, and ushers the party closer, blocking out any view from potential onlookers in the street. In a hushed tone, she tells him. “Remember that stone I was so worried about?”
Archivist Kaelin’s brow furrows even more. But before he asks anything, he opens the door up fully to accept them all into the library. Closing the door behind him, Kaelin looks expectedly at the group now standing in the library’s entrance hall.
Inside the archive it’s quiet, and war, though not as muggy as the night air outside. The stone and plaster walls are covered in tall bookshelves, a blue mosaic similar to the exterior of the building wraps around the inside. Dennel pulls the egg gingerly out from her sack.
Vellym is ready with Arkin’s ledger and all the details from the auction house, but upon noticing what’s inside the egg Kaelin quiets them. Moving a finger to his lips, he gestures for them to follow him further into the library. Arriving at a stone wall, Kaelin busies himself for a moment before the wall opens up into a spiral staircase down.
A secret bunker
Everyone follows Kaelin down the stairs, arriving in a small room. A short round table sits in the middle, clearly arranged for secretive meetings. The din torchlight flickers against the stone walls, and Kaelin takes a seat at the table.
“Here,” Kaelin speaks. “We are safe to talk.”
Dennel catches the Archivist up on her activities since the Cobalt Soul had dismissed her worries. “I didn’t know what else to do!” She admits. “So at the pub, I was desperate, and these folks looked fairly capable.”
Vellym, Rocky, Artemis, and Morgryn introduce themselves properly to the librarian. Vellym knows the archivist’s name, but had never had the pleasure in meeting him before. Excitedly, he recounts what they found in Arkin’s museum.
Kaelin is most intrigued by the letter, signed ‘DT’, and the dangerous plants the letter speaks of. He also has some warnings for the group. “You’ve possibly gotten the attention of the Myriad, something I would not wish upon anyone.”
“If you find any clues about this plant, we would be interested in helping you.” Vellym offers.
Xhorhas
Nodding in agreement, Rocky chimes in. “I’ve been to Xhorhas before, though it has been a while.”
“Same here.” Morgryn offers.
Artemis is quiet.
“Very well.” Kaelin nods. “It’s good sometimes to have willing operatives, outside of confines of the Soul.” Then, turning to Dennel, he adds. “I’m sorry we doubted you before. But you understand we can’t just go running headfirst into every rumour or trouble, yes?”
Dennel casts her eyes downwards accepting the apology in silence.
“But you too may not be safe, if you’re connected with this heist.” Kaelin continues. “Doctor, if I may?” Archivist Kaelin takes the frozen egg into his hands and places it on the table. “We will keep this safe, and I will personally see to it that you are brought somewhere safe.”
All of the tension that Dennel had been carrying throughout this evenings encounters, begins to visibly depart from her. “Thank you Archivist Kaelin.”
“As for the rest of you. I’m guessing you’ll be wanting to get out of town for a while.” Kaelin turns to them.
“Yes, we had a couple of options.” Morgryn supplies.
Skyship or seaship
“Skyship or seaship.” Artemis comments.
“Very well.” Kaelin gets up and goes towards a cabinet behind him. He returns a moment later with a scroll. Looking between Artemis and Morgryn, Kaelin says. “This is a spell scroll of Seeming. It will allow the four of you to appear different for eight hours once you use it.”
Morgryn nods to Artemis, who accepts the scroll from Kaelin.
“Any advice against the Myriad?” Vellym asks, as they prepare to leave.
“Try and avoid their eyes, if possible. They don’t take kindly to being stolen from or their people killed. And they aren’t well known for non-violent approaches to solving problems.” Kaelin’s serious face makes the warning all the more daunting. Vellym knew as much, but it was probably a good reminder on the dangers of the Myriad.
The four discuss what to do next, where to go, and who they can trust. Ultimately deciding to spend the night together in Morgryn’s apartment. Then, seek out the dwarf with the skyship in the morning.
What can you tell us of Blightshore?
“What can you tell us of Blightshore?” Vellym ventures, asking the archivist while they’re here.
Kaelin looks thoughtful. “Never been there myself, but the stories make it out to be some sort of magical badlands. The leftover echoes from the Calamity. Not a place for the faint of heart.”
“One last thing, before you go.” Dennel chimes in. She looks to Kaelin. “I promised them 1000 gold pieces for their work.”
“Ah, of course.” Kaelin rummages through his cloak pockets and then goes into another back room to fetch the rest of the payment.
Dennel counts it out and places it in her, now empty sack. “Here. Thank you, for believing me.”
The Rusty Nail
Morgryn leads the others through the dark streets to the Rusty Nail. They pass by the little old gnome, Krinkle Picklecent, the tavern keeper and Morgryn’s landlord for the past eight years. “Good evening Krinklecut.” He tips his figurative hat to the gnome on his way up. “Got some friends here staying the night.”
Krinkle’s milky eyes blink at the four figures as they enter the tavern, the corners of his eyes wrinkling with a smile as he hears Morgryn’s welcome. “Oh good good, let me know if you need any supper brought up to you.” The old gnome adjusts his vibrant green vest and the cuffs of his white button-down shirt. His white to grey hair spilling out of his ears.
“Thanks, I think we’re all good though.” Morgryn replies a little gruffly.
“Okay, okay, well you know where to find me.” His response is louder than it needs to be, but probably because the old gnome is going deaf.
Morgryn holds back an audible sigh as he trudges up the stairs, assuming the other three will follow.
“Right then,” Morgryn performs a brief tour of the small space. “Wash basin; bed; fireplace; my stuff – don’t touch any of it.” He’s brief but to the point.
They’re all exhausted
They’re all exhausted and no one seems to take offense to his brusqueness. Rocky and Artemis spread out their bedrolls quickly on one side of the room, and Vellym gets to work cleaning up his equipment before doing the same.
As the evening wears on and everyone prepares for a much needed sleep, Morgryn pulls out the shield he keeps under his bed. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he begins to meticulously clean it. A worn rag wiping the dust and dirt off of the beholder crest, embossed dark grey on black. Humming to himself idly, he notices Rocky slip into an easy sleep, but Artemis not so much. The blood sprayed on her tunic from Morgryn’s own blade, and then later Rocky’s axe, has dried a deep rust colour.
Once the shield is cleaned to his satisfaction, Morgryn refills the washbasin with some warm water. He brings it over to Artemis and hands her another worn, but clean, rag. “Here. If you want.” He doesn’t say anything else, but hopes the little bard can find some solace tonight. The life of an adventurer is a long and hard one, he would know. If she’s going to make it, if she’s going to not slow him down, she’ll need to get over a little bit of bloodshed. He settles into his bed in the Rusty Nail, for what is likely going to be the last time. Tonight, he just hopes they can all find a peaceful rest.
A fresh dawn
Artemis wakes up early, the feeling of static on her fingertips. Gulls call outside as she can hear the city waking up, the hustle and bustle just getting started. She feels a little better this morning than she did last night. A night of sleep and a change of clothes later. When the tingling in her fingers doesn’t go away, she looks down at her hands to investigate. Curious.
In attempt to focus, Artemis fishes some materials from her bag and begins to stoke the embers in the fireplace. She stares into the coals and begins muttering an incantation she’s never heard before. Barely aware of what she’s doing, the tingling in her fingertips extends to her whole hands. Crackles of yellow and purple electricity dance on her palms, chaotically weaving themselves together until a tiny winged creature sits on her palm.
Actaeon the familiar
“Hey.” It rasps up at her. “I’m Actaeon, but you can call me Tay. What are we doing today, huh?”
His voice surprises Artemis at first, but the cadence is familiar and friendly. “How do you do, Tay? I’m Artemis. Today, we’re going flying.”
“Ayy, nice. I like that plan.” The little bat-like creature exclaims.
“Hey, Artemis.” Rocky nudges his friend. “Think we could work on my disguise using the troupes old costumes?”
“Sure thing, Rocky.” Artemis agrees. “I should really leave my dad a note, just to let him know I’m okay and that we’re together, you know?”
“Good idea.” Rocky finishes his breakfast porridge in one fell swoop.
As they exit the tavern, a glimmer catches Artemis’ eye in the back. Is that…? The figure winks. Rocky bumps into Artemis as he comes trundling down the stairs.
“Oh, sorry buddy.” Rocky exclaims.
“No worries.” Turning back to the corner of the tavern, no one is there. Artemis shakes her head in slight confusion.
Morgryn and Vellym decide to head to the market for supplies. Potions, tools, rations, whatever they might need for a couple of weeks on the road. Rocky begins brainstorming disguises based on the varied costumes he’s helped repair over the last few months.
On their walk over, Artemis scribbles a note to leave for the troupe.
Pat,
We’re checking out some stuff outside of town for a bit. Will look out for phoenixes in our travels.
She doesn’t sign the note with her name, but leaves a little symbol her father will recognize. An arrow shot through an apple. A call back to a little game she remembers him playing with her when it was just the two of them on the road. The nickname he called her, almost exclusively, in her early memories.
Vellym is starting to feel anxious
Vellym is starting to feel anxious, more anxious than normal, by the time Rocky and Artemis rejoin them.
“Arkin Museum sacked!”
“Thieves in custody!”
Town criers can be heard all up and down the streets.
“We should really get going.” Vellym ushers them along. “And when do we want to use that spell the archivist gave us?”
Navigating through the throng of people, the newly formed adventuring party makes their way towards the Port Damali skyport. The docks district is busy this time of day, and if anyone is looking to escape the city quickly, they’re likely to come here.
“I think we should use Seeming very soon.” Vellym nervously looks around, already seeing a few figures of authority moving through the crowds. “I think they’re looking for someone, and I’d hate to find out if that someone is us.”
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