Session 24 - The Engineer

29/05/5-10

The party regrouped in the west of town and continued their journey to the west. At about noon, Cassini spotted an enormous eagle circling the cart. He pointed it out, but the party though nothing of it, electing to continue onward. The rest of the day went uneventfully. Around the campfire, Eletheria thanked the party again and said that while she doesn’t have anything to give them, she could share come knowledge with them. The brough out her staff, explaining that it has a unique spell that if someone attunes to it, they could learn it. The spell is called the Sky's Bellow, allowing to shoot a crack of lighting that explodes on impact. Valeyo declined, saying it isn’t his style, but Otto seemed interested. Him and Cassini spent some time learning the spell.

30/05/5-10

The next day was a bit cooler. The party loaded their cart and got moving again. At about noon, the eagle could be seen again, now about 12-13 miles from where they had seen it last. To Sapphira, its behavior was as if it was hunting them, but had it been, it would have made a move by now. After talking with Shiek, she began shooting at it and it backed off, flying higher. Eventually she hit it twice and it flew off. Later in the day, Otto used the staff to learn the spell, making a loud sound. Cassini followed suit and the party continued their journey.

31/05/5-10

This day was quire rainy. A few hours into the travel, farms began popping up along the road. Vast fields of wheat either side of the road, as far as the eye can see. Those familiar with the area knew that Rekasev exports a lot of flour downstream to Dragomir, which is grown and milled here.

32/05/5-10

Finally the party approached Rekasev. It seemed to be a large town, with water mills spanning the town along canals dug off from the river. Made up of mostly single story buildings it truly embodied a farming community - not too affluent, but well fed and kept together. In the middle of town a large dome could be seen. Shiek suggested camping in the forest, but Valeyo said that they might be able to find a warehouse or a barn to rent, which they could hide Nikoletta in, which wasn't to Shiek's liking. Eletheria reminded them, that their plan was to find someone willing to ship them down to Dragomir discreetly and then leave the barge a few miles before the city to continue their journey south.

Ultimately, the party had Nikoletta assume her dwarven form, which she could now hold for about 8 hours, and head into town first. After crossing the first bridge, they seemed to have entered a residential area with some household item vendors. The second bridge revealed a former church that had been converted as well as the large domed building, covered in gold leaf, with a sign naming it "The Roundhouse". In this part there were rows of warehouses periodically placed between residential ones. Come nicer houses could be found here.

A large number of people were going in and out of "The Roundhouse", Valeyo grabbed one of them and asked for directions to the address on the letter from Professor Berkinsail. He was directed towards a building at the north end with the tube coming out of the roof. The group followed the road north, walking past a sizable mill, next to which was a tavern called "The Miller's Rest". Large rows of detached houses were in this part of town, likely where the mill owners resided. After that was a large U-shaped building with two towers, one square and one round. Cassini instantly noticed a large telescope sticking out of the roof of the round building. He pointed it out, asking if it is an observatory. Realizing that this is likely the building the man meant, the party knocked on the door. It was opened by a messy man in his 50s wearing glasses, who asked "What do you want now?". Valeyo said they are friends of Professor Berkinsail and are here for nails. He said that Mikaela is who gets rids of items. The parry asked after her, but he explained that she headed to Dragomir. When asked for her description he told them that she is a pretty White Tiefling with straight horns. The man invited the party in and inside the workshop was a mess. He explained that the Sila has ransacked this place thinking he was up to no good. Valeyo asked the man's name and he introduced himself as Vincent Atanasof.

Valeyo said they had a lot to talk about. He asked if he works with the ICM, but he didn't recognize the name. Valeyo then asked if he has friends which give him money and just ask to find his discoveries and he said that is just Mikaela's friends. Valeyo brough up that one of his creations had exploded professor Berkinsail's house. He wasn't familiar with Professor Berkinsail, but he knew Professor Krissa from his student days.

After they described the lightning in a bottle that they had seen on the boat, Vincent brought one out, stored in a different container. This one was more tubilar with a metal cap on either end. Vincent said that this one was not made of glas, as that had proven too unstable and could explode. This on the other had, could handle being struck with a hammer. Valeyo brough out the two jars they took from the professor's house Vincent recognized the crystal one, as one of his and the glass one as one which would explode. Shiek asked what they are meant to be and he explained that they are a way to revolutionize how magic is used. You take one of them and charge it with magical lighting and the liquid inside the crystal will keep the charge. He then touched a meatal to the crystal's protruding metal part and it started heating. He said it is a way for anyone to store and use magic. Valeyo asked what the liquid is and Shiek suggested showing him the Skytone. Vincent then exclaimed that that is what that is. If you put lightning through Sky Stone, it eventually melts into this. Then you put it into a crystal vessel, that he spend decades designing and put the caps on. Then you can use the magic for other things. He did say theoretically it could be used as a weapon, something that channels the energy and shoots it off, but that is something the mages can do already. He is currently looking at getting it to be used as a light. The "glass" itself was actually a Sky Stone and glass composite, which is what made it strong enough to withstand the charged liquid Sky Stone.

Valeyo asked if the Sila took anything and he said they didn't they were just looking for something. He then inquired if Mikaela was here when it happened and he said she left a few days ago, before asking if Valeyo thinks she is the reason for it. Valeyo asked how he knew her and he explained that she was interested in his work and eventually brough some of her friends. Now they supply him with the things he needs, especially the Sky Stone which is annoying to source and so he is letting her live with him.

Suddenly the man noticed Cassini's glasses and asked to inspect them. While he did the party stepped aside to discuss what had happened. Shiek said they couldn't let him continue this and they had to tell him of the ICM. Valeyo said that he doesn't want the government knowing about these discoveries since they could have the whole army using weapons based on it. The work he did in storing magic was extraordinary and the pinnacle of magic research. The party agreed to tell him of the ICM and they headed back in.

Vincent had taken the lenses out of the glasses and asked Cassini where he got them, as they were a Sky Stone composite similar to the vials, but different. He wanted to know who made them, but Cassini couldn't help. Vincent said that as far as he knew he is the only man doing this work, and wondered how old they are. Cassini went over his story of finding them in the shrine's observatory. Cassini said they were the focusing lenses of a telescope. He explained what had happened when trying to use them and the ghosts' attack. As for the temple he wasn't sure what it was dedicated to since, he didn't have time to study it.

Vincent mentioned that he knew the Sky Stone was used in the Solar Forge and he knew of his use for it to store lightning, as well as make composite glass, but this is madness. Valeyo brough up the ICM and them trying to blow up the train and Vincent went on a tangent about using his Sky Stone batteries to run the trains, but Valeyo interrupted. He explained the ICM and how some of them are more aggressive in their approach. Vincent seemed worried and said his friends are so nice and how they could know about them being bad. Shiek shared the finding of the Sky Stone and the Timorans as well as using the Sky Stone for divine communion. Valeyo said that Sky Stone seems to be like magical glue, used for making composites. He then said that the ICM used to be peaceful , but some bad actors have made them as it is. Vincent seemed quire opposed to the idea of his invention being used to do harm and he wondered why these people hadn't tried a more peaceful approach, a point Valeyo quickly agreed with. Shiek asked if Vincent shared his methods of creating things with anyone else, but he said that most were interested in the outcomes not the creation process, except one kid, not a kid anymore - Ignacy. He seemed to be the man Valeyo had met, who had introduced himself as his apprentice. He described his Sending Stone trick and Vincent said that he is a smart kid, who can imbue items with magic temporarily.

Shiek asked about Mikaela's friends and Vincent listed them a slightly older woman matching Simona's description, a one-horned tiefling - Blazh. Valeyo said he has to stop helping them and he agreed. Sheik said that if he told them that they might threaten him. They then asked where he met her friends. Vincent said he met Mikaela in the tavern, she was performing and seemed like a skilled bard. They got talking and she needed a place to stay he had an empty tower and he offered. He got very lucky that when his parent's died he was left a vast amount of wealth. It seemed that her friends always came to him. Valeyo asked if they could take a look at the tower and he agreed giving them the key. Valeyo suggested that him and Cassini go to the observatory to take a look there.

In the square tower was a 2 story living space. The downstairs was a living room, with a stove and a dining corner, as well as fireplace. Otto cast detect magic and the party started searching the room. To Shiek the room seemed a bit too empty, like there should be other things here, but there aren't. Otto noticed an odd magical aura on one of her bookshelves - a tome emitting illusionary magic. Valeyo couldn't find any papers in her desk or shelves, which seemed bizarre. It looked like she has left and taken anything important with her. The party decided to take a look at the bedroom, before touching the book. Looking through the wardrobe, most clothes had been taken. Out one of the windows, there seemed to be a way someone can climb down some vines and stones to get to one of the canals quickly.

In the round tower, Vincent was showing off his telescope to Cassini - 15ft in length and 4ft at its widest. He said it took a lot of money and time to source all of the parts and get it done. He said it is a bit early and too bright, but in 30mins it will be spectacular. He offered for Cassini to use one of his lenses. Agreeing Cassini took out his ancient telescope and presented it to Vincent. Vincent listed all of the uses of Skytone so far, but wondered how lighting connects to it. He then posited that they might have an experiment to conduct if they find something representative of another god.

Back in the square tower, Shiek checked the bookcase for any traps but came up short. Milivoj offered to grab the book out and the others stepped back, but nothing happened. It was written in Valindese and Milivoj passed it to Valeyo who recognized it as a political history tome that he had studied in university. When he picked it up a voice called out "Stop following me Valeyo, I know what I am doing.". Everyone stopped and asked what that was about and Valeyo eventually confessed that he might know who this Mikaela is. He explained that he has been looking for someone, but wasn't sure that this Mikaela was her, until they had got here. He denied having been involved with the ICM. Shiek asked if she was just a friend and Valeyo said yes, but it is complicated. Shiek and Milivoj started getting suspicious of Valeyo and he promised that he only wants to find her. Shiek asked if she could be a threat, but Valeyo said she wouldn't harm him, to which Milivoj said all she wants to harm is his country then. Valeyo said it is her country as well, but Milivoj retorted that it doesn't make it any better. Suddenly Cassini came up and explained the experiment they were about to conduct.

Valeyo said they are done here and took the book, Shiek asked if it could be important, but Valeyo said he knew it by heart already, but he would keep it anyway. They headed  down and met with Vincent who asked for a religiously significant item, like a dragon scale. Valeyo invited Eletheria and Nikoletta in and then offered rubies to Vincent for an item related to Sardior. The group then headed to the observatory and Vincent aimed the telescope at the Ruby Moon. He grabbed the two ruby earrings and put them in a Sky Stone crystal bowl, which he then connected to one of his batteries. The Sky Stone then began melting around the Ruby Earrings. The Rubies then began to melt, to which Vincent looked perplexed. A short while later the two materials began mixing until eventually it stopped. He unplugged the battery and looked at the party said that it did "something", but they should wait for it to cool.

Shiek asked Vincent of he had a magnifying glass and Vincent pulled one out. Shiek proposed looking at the carvings on the lenses and sketching out a bigger version. After a while Vincent touched the new compound and said it was cold, where it should be warm. He pulled it out revealing that it was flat on the top and on the bottom it looked as if it had been cut. It resembled a large, finely cut ruby that glowed red.

Valeyo asked if they could repeat Cassini's experiment with looking at the moon and Shiek wondered if they could somehow capture a ghost. Vincent perked up and began babbling about using something related to the god of death with Sky Stone to try to capture one, but it was a stretch. Otto cast detect magic and felt that the compound ruby gem was magical. Tired from the day's events and discoveries, the group decided to head to bed and think on the rest tomorrow.