Chapter 4 - The Sanctuary of Prescience (Part 1)

The Sanctuary of Prescience (Part 1)

Wynsal Starborn

The squad's orders came from none other than Wynsal Starborn, the de facto leader of Absalom following the disappearance of Primarch Gyr of Gixx several years ago.  The squad , with Captain Asilia, met Starborn beneath overcast skies this morning on a balcony of Starwatch Keep that overlooks Absalom’s gray harbor. Two others accompanied Starborn, whom he introduced as his assistant and former adjutant, Harlo Doleen, and Grand Councilmember and City Planner Olansa Terimor.

Terimor, a tall woman of middle age with dark, sharp features, wished to personally thank you for your heroics at the Irorium. “As one of the chief organizers of the Radiant Festival,” she said, “I can most assuredly say that without your bravery, the festival —no, the entire city— would have been imperiled.” After shaking your hands and giving Starborn a low bow, the city planner departed.

Starborn then launched into your briefing. He demanded that the mysterious Infector behind the Irorium bombing be brought to justice. “We don’t know who this person is,” said Starborn, “but we know someone who does.” 

Doleen spoke next. “Thraskul Poisonbreath is a half-orc devotee of Norgorber, but he’s also an informant. He has helped the Starwatch from time to time in exchange for immunity for past crimes. Now he’s ready to turn over information on the Infector. Thraskul wants to rendezvous at a safe location—the Sanctuary of Prescience, an abandoned church in the Ascendant Court—and we want you to meet him there.”

The Ascendant Court features as many monuments to failed deities as to successful ones, but few ruins are as lofty as the Sanctuary of Prescience. Built in advance to honor a prospective goddess of foresight, the temple stands nearly completed except for part of the roof. It was abandoned over 20 years ago when Mbali the Planner failed to return from her Test of the Starstone. Today, the sanctuary’s central chapel contains only sagging wooden pews ruined by rainwater.

Thraskul stood alone in the debris-strewn chapel when you arrived to meet him. After you exchanged pass phrases, the informant quickly told you what he knew in a voice raspy and hoarse from years of exposure to toxic fumes. He explained that the Infector—the mastermind behind the Irorium bombing—is none other than Absalom’s most famous high priest of Blackfingers, Jonis Flakfatter.

Flakfatter operates the only temple wholly dedicated to Blackfingers—the poisonous aspect of the god Norgorber—in the Ascendant Court. Furthermore, the temple’s legitimate surface level serves as a mere front for a larger, secret temple beneath it. The temple’s many crimes—from torturing prisoners to brewing massive quantities of deadly poisons—all occur in this lower level.

“Flakfatter publicly announced that he was leaving Absalom days ago,” Thraskul said, “but that’s a lie—the man’s simply retreated to the secret temple to avoid arrest. He’s done so even amid the Noxious Retort, a two-week alchemy conference held at the temple as we speak. The event is one of Flakfatter’s favorites, with lectures, workshops, and demonstrations galore. With all the hubbub of the Radiant Festival, there are even more strangers attending the conference than usual.

I’m sure you could easily slip in with a disguise. Finally, you’ll need to know the secret method to access the lower temple—”

It was at this moment that a violent stream of blood erupted from Thraskul’s throat, the result of an expertly placed crossbow bolt. Before you could even gather your wits, the assassins mounted their ambush.

(Thanks for the notes, Ken!)

Leukodaemon

Four Norgorber Poisoner cultists charged the squad from the alcoves from the south end of the room to engage them, their daggers virtually dripping with venom. Pumpelio began to sing Inspire Courage, reinforcing the squad's will to succeed. Grimwald advanced to meet two of them, while the other two charged Simimel. Jorin unleashed Mr. Gone, and Valcos rushed to do teach them what the pointy end of the rapier is for!

Seconds later, two leukodaemons attacked from the shadows, joining the melee. While the squad dealt with the assassins, Pumpelio banished the leukodaemons back to the hell from which they had come. 

The squad captured one Norgorber Poisoner, but the other three burst into flames when they were rendered unconscious. The squad hears footsteps on the crossbeams above; enemies are no doubt trying to get into a position to fire down on the squad. 

Ankou

Discretion being the better part of valor, the squad headed through the door in the north-east corner, and swiftly pass through a room with strange statues armed with swords and abacus, and into a corridor with controls for the statues. 

The squad moves into the next room, where a shadowy fey creature manifests from the statue until which dominates the north wall, where it had remained bound for decades, waiting for intruders. It is an Ankou, and it immediately creates a pair of shadow copies of itself, obfuscating which is the actual Ankou.

Once more the squad heeds the clarion call to battle. The shadow copies fade when confronted with cold iron, and Simimel bears the brunt of their onslaught, using her healing powers an an Elixir of Life to remain battleworthy. Ultimately the squad gangs up on the real Ankou, and rejoice in it's fall.

(To be continued in the next session!)