33/07/5-10

At the Storm' Scion, the group was still recovering from the events at the auction house. Valeyo retired to his room, immediately, while Otto asked someone to go with him to the Pravya level to see about buying some diamonds. Sapphira and he headed there only to find a number of guards from the House of Law there, likely present for similar reasons. Otto approached at asked if he was free to enter to buy some gemstones. However, he was told that the House of Law had a temporary monopoly on diamonds, following the events at the auction house. If he still wished to purchase some, he could head to the House of Law tomorrow and make his case. While they were walking away back to the Storm's Scion, the whole town was talking about the attack. Rumors were going around, saying it was a bomb, other that it was a monster and that an angel was sent to punish it.

A couple of hours later, a guard walked in the Scion and gave the owner some pieces of paper to put on the announcement board. They were two wanted posters, one for Kalen Hornraven, wanted in the name of justice. The other was for an individual called Byron, referred to as the Baron of the Deep, Wanted for crimes against the crown. Sapphira came up to Valeyo's room and knocked on the door. She asked to enter and told him about the wanted posters. Valeyo laughed, wishing the guards best of luck with both of those. She said that at least, Kalen was less likely to come for her. Valeyo asked how she broke from the Banishment. She asked if you were meant to dream during the spell and Valeyo explained in detail how the spell worked. Her experience certainly sounded unusual. She was most curious about the floating skull with one eye socket that she saw in her vision, but Valeyo said he wasn't familiar with the creature and it was not a recorded servant of the vampires, as far as he knew. He also warned her, that what she saw, could have just been a dream, but she insisted it felt more real than that. After thanking him, she left the room and headed down to drown her sorrows with Otto.

34/07/5-10

Early in the day, another member of the temple of Bahamut arrived in the Storm's Scion and found Shiek sitting at a table. The walked up to him and told him that his group and he were to be at the House of Law today. He informed his friends as they came down one by one, with Valeyo arriving last later than usual with his eyes still red from crying. When the approached the temple, they were intercepted by Khert Drazhen Novosel, coming from Janske's. He was unaccompanied and walked up to Milivoj. He looked him up and down and asked him to have a conversation. Milivoj agreed and the two of them headed to Janske's together.

At the house of law, there was a large guard presence and many civilians likely there for questioning. The group recognized some faces from the crown at the auction, but the main attraction were the close to 90 bodies, laid out in the main hall. The death toll came to 82 civilians and 6 members of the guard. When they were spotted, the group was directed to an office building across the main courtyard. There they saw the red dragonborn from yesterday, who appears not to have slept. He said that reports said the group was instrumental in the events - the heist and the battle of Kalen Hornraven. He said they helped Kalen to defeat some people. Valeyo clarified that they attacked the knight because he killed some people and the priestess because she tried to rob and kill them. He said he didn't meant to say they were accomplices, and as for Gemma, she seemed not in her right mind. Valeyo then asked the man's name and who introduced himself as Kostas. Kostas then asked about reports of Kalen assaulting Sapphira, but they clarified that it was just a Banishment spell. According to him, Kalen and the skyship had fled in the night. As for Gemma, she had reported the group stealing from her. They explained the events and that their theft was sanctioned and he said they won't be punished for their actions.

The Baron himself was also at large, they had checked the tunnels and came up empty, but due to their size, there was no guarantee that he is not there. Valeyo asked what they wanted from them and Kostas requested a full account of what had happened. He asked if Gemma had caused them much grief besides the theft, but Valeyo said it was nothing that important. The reason he was asking, is because her estate was being sold to compensate some of the victims. Valeyo told him about the book they had come to Skalenvru to look for and Kostas grabbed a ledger from a nearby shelf. After a second, he said that there was a book matching that description that they could be given. Shiek asked about the other items and was told the gem in her vault was a Sky Sapphire and the armour was padded with Solar Steel. Shiek said that the money was better spent to the other victims, but the gem and armour could be useful for them, whereas others would simply sell them.  Kostas agreed with the suggestion, and said he was also told they had brought a casualty back to life. Otto told him of Yorhaza's death and Kostas wrote a list of their compensation - the book, a 500gp diamond, 300gp diamond, 200gp, the armour and the Sky Sapphire. He directed them across the garden and down a set of stairs, where they can retrieve the items from. They then relayed their full account, including the name of Crimson and the Death Knight, which were news to the priest.

After that was done, the group left the office and proceeded to collect their compensation. They were given a large box, where the blue gem laid. It was 12cm in diameter and warm to the touch, a glowing spark in the middle from which energy radiated. The armor was an elegantly made suit of studded leather, where the studs were made of star shaped Solar Steel. Shiek asked what the plans were now and Valeyo listed their to-do items.

1. Get items they bought
2. Get telescope
3. Get displacer beast
4. Get money from bank
5. Speak with Emisar
6. Get Milivoj

With that, Valeyo headed to the palace, Shiek to Janske's and Cassini and Sapphira to Albert's. At Janske's Shiek used the side door to get to the cages. He was allowed to enter the displacer beast's enclosure once more. It seemed much calmer this time, walking around him and inspecting him. This continued for about 15 minutes, before the creature sniffed the air and walked up to him, sitting down. He reached out his head to touch the creature an it flinched as he did so, before allowing it, somewhat wearily. Even this was unusual, considering the creature's monstrous nature, but Shiek felt a warm feeling in his knife, almost certain that without it, it would be treating him very differently. They sat together for a while, before a member of staff noticed him sitting in the cage and quickly walked back into the main house.

Valeyo found himself before the Solar Palace entrance, where the same guard from before was at the gate. He asked if he was there for the Emisar, which Valeyo confirmed. A short while later a runner returned and Valeyo was lead inside. This time, he was guided inside the Palace itself. The corridors were tall and gaudily designed, with gold adornments. He was lead up a set of stairs and before a pair of large doors, behind which was an office, where Emisar Niva Kavka was working. She gestured for him to come in and take a seat. Valeyo thanked her for her help and she returned the sentiment. He asked what the next step was, as the present events were not great and he had not spoken to Dr Stanov yet. Niva said the events were not all too bad for Dragomir, but they did lose some citizens. Valeyo brought up the increased cost of labour and the complications with the building falling. She asked who the workers' representative was and Valeyo gave her Raya's name, describing her as the other person who had helped in the fight. She did congratulate them on a job well done, having apprehended a member of the Five. Valeyo was surprised to hear that and she told him that the woman, Crimson, was said to be the face of the Surgeon. She then asked more about the Priestess' actions and her reasoning and Valeyo shared it was about the telescope, but it was a private matter. Before leaving he asked Niva, how long she would be staying. She laughed saying thather assignment was at least until she sees the construction through. After saying their goodbyes, he was lead out of the Palace.

Cassini and Sapphira entered the Foy estate and when the front door opened, Osrin ran up to Cassini with a hug, saying he was worried he had died again. Cassini said he is better in a fight nowadays and summarised the events of the past day. Osrin said he was glad Cassini was safe Sapphira mentioned the priestess's attempt at stealing the telescope and Osrin said that they should speak with his uncle. Albert was sitting in the drawing room and stood up to meet them. He asked if they were there for the telescope and Sapphira said they wanted to be quick before someone steals it. Albert laughed, saying he would love to see them try, but Sapphira said they just had - yesterday. Cassini asked about purchasing the telescope directly, but Albert stopped him, saying he had something for him first. He brought out a leather journal, saying that it contained a summary of his findings from the temple, where he acquired the telescope. As for buying it, he wanted to hear Cassini's offer. Cassini said he had no cash on him, but would offer 20k, as long as Cassini supplements any findings in the journal with his own and notifies him if and when he finds the final one. Cassini agreed and they were on their way.

In the Storm's Scion, Otto noticed a familiar face enter the building - Daniel Penence. He walked up to Otto and asked if he was with the group from the auction. When he confirmed, Daniel listed the purchased items and gave him a note saying to have the money transferred to that account and after the payment their items will be delivered here, as soon as end of day. Daniel left the building and Otto used Sending to inform Valeyo.

Shiek exited the cage and was approached by the member of staff before. He said that his bonding with the animal was relayed to Janske. With the given progress, he would be willing to sell it to him tomorrow.

After people gathered in the Storm's Scion, Valeyo and Shiek went over some bookkeeping and sorted out the money they owe and are owed. Soon after, Cassini and Sapphira returned and spoke of their deal with Albert. They were laughed at for their poor negotiating skills, but soon after everyone was free to relax. In the later hours, their items were delivered to the Storm's Scion. Towards midnight, those still drinking downstairs, saw a group of six people enter the tavern, looking tired. They bore the markings of the Stormstrike Clan. Their members included:

1. Female dwarf, skinhead, wearing bulky armour and wielding a mace the head of which has the design of multiple lightning bolts.
2. Dwarf with grey hair, well-kept and weaking heavy armour, greatsword on the back, battle worn.
3. Dwarf with long dark black hair going to their waist, chains and rings in their beard and hair, pair of longswords.
4. Elf with a bow and travelling clothes, tired more than anything.
5. Woman with messy blond hair, a symbol of Ioun around her neck.
6. A huge, 8ft tall, bald goliath man in animal furs, also very worn down looking.

They got their rooms arranged and quickly headed upstairs, clearly in need of a rest.

35/07/5-10

As the group was coming down for breakfast, they saw the Stormstrike people also there at a nearby table. Shiek walked up to them table and pulled up a chair to the end of the table, before sitting down with them. They were all in the process of devouring a huge amount of food. The grey haired dwarf looked up at him and asked if he wanted some food. Shiek said he had heard about Stormstrike members coming down, but didn't expect so many. The dwarf asked where he heard that and Shiek said he knew of the job they were there for and didn't think there would be another group matching the description. The female dwarf spoke up, asking who he was that was so well-informed. Shiek asked her to go first, but the woman said that he was outnumbered an it would be good for him to speak his name. Shiek turned to the grey haired dwarf and asked if he was more civilized, but the man shrugged saying the woman was the boss. Shiek went to leave and she asked him not to, saying his approach was weird, so he should have expected pushback. Shiek apologized and said the only reason he asked is because he had met some of their members before and was given the opportunity to do the job that they were going for. She asked if he intended to poach them, but he said that time had passed. She asked if he knew what the egg was and Shiek said it was a Roc. She said that Janske was wrong, it was not a Roc. There were a number of attacks near Moratopp than have lead them to believe it was a type of elemental bird, a phoenix. A violet one had been seen in the area and that was likely its roost. It had been causing trouble. Shiek remarked that it explained the high number in which they had come. That is when Valeyo came down. Sapphira caught him up and he headed to the Stormstrike, where he explained their meeting with Lucas and Rune. They also told him of the phoenix and they said they were there to put it down, if it was a Roc, they would say there was no egg to find.

After some internal discussion, where Valeyo mentioned that this phoenix could be related to the Cult of the Violet Flame. He explained his reasoning, (the phoenix being a flaming bird that is reborn and the Violet Flame shouting "in death comes rebirth") and Shiek agreed. He also pointed out, that if Valeyo was right, there would likely be more than just the phoenix up there. They decided to ask the Stormstrike about potentially accompanying them and then decided to approach them with the offer. Valeyo relayed the information they had about the cult and the human woman said she hadn’t heard of such a Cult, but if what they were saying was true the connection would make sense. The dwarven woman who was leading them, asked what they wanted in exchange and Valey said they needed someone who knew where the attacks were and how to navigate the mountains. She said their information was also limited and as for navigation, that is why they had Brogan - pointing at the goliath man. Valeyo told them they still had ends to tie up, but to consider their offer and she said they would.

The party then headed to Albert Foy's and he greeted them at the door. Valeyo introduced himself and said his 20k was sent over. Albert laughed and told Valeyo to never let Cassini negotiate for them in the future. Valeyo said he was occupied at the palace so was unable to join the negotiations. Albert called him a posh boy and handed Cassini a finely crafted box where the telescope was. The craftsmanship was extremely similar to the one Cassini had, but it was larger. If Cassini's was the start piece, this one would be the middle. As he put the two pieces close together, the end of the larger one opened up and some spider leg-like mechanical pieces popped out and went to grab onto the smaller one.