29/08/5-10

The group began making their way back to the Brandvold Estate. Upon knocking the door was opened by a male dwarf, who greatly resembled Otto, a brother. He mentioned he had been warned of their arrival and they had prepared some guest rooms for them. Valeyo asked if Otto was around, but his brother shook his head and said he had headed to the crypt. They followed him through a series of corridors, realizing that the house had been built deeply into the mountain itself until they arrived to a guest lodge. It was comprised of a large central room with a number of bedrooms connected to it.

Once there Valeyo said he hadn't realized that Otto's family was so rich. Cassini wondered why Otto had never mentioned it, but Valeyo pointed out that none of them had talked about their family, except Milivoj and Sapphira. He asked Cassini about his parents, who responded by saying they were both alive and well, last he spoke with them, but was worried about the incursions making it as far north as Itacey. He then turned the question to Valeyo. Valeyo said it had been a while since he had written to them, but as far as he knew, his mum was doing well and his mother was worried about an upcoming election, which should have passed at this point. His sisters should be close to starting college too. After his little chat, they all headed to bed.

30/08/5-10

The next morning the group was woken up by some staff bringing in some breakfast. Valeyo asked one of them if Otto was up and if so could they call for him. After a few minutes, Otto arrived. He was clearly tired, and when Valeyo asked him if he was okay, he couldn't answer. He said he was going to stay here for a while and couldn't join them at the forge, but if they needed anything else he could help. All they asked was for him to message Ysomir and tell him they should start heading to Moratopp which he did.

Soon after, they met up with Dobrovnik and headed to the Solar Forge. A member of the Sun Guard, warned them that the Forge was being used, so if they were visiting it they should do their best to stay out of the way. They agreed and were led past into the display section, where many arms were on displace. The rest of the initial room was empty save for three Solar Guards. The group decided to view the arms on display, and Valeyo suggested Cassini Detect Magic to check for any precursors to an incursion. His spell showed him many wards as well as a multitude of auras from the magic items displayed. Cassini focused his attention on any Conjuration auras, which would indicate a portal. He couldn't see anything like that, but there were a huge variety of magical items, the greatest of which were displayed on individual pedestals.

A minute later, a dwarf entered the room covered in soot, likely coming from the forge. He asked how he could help. Valeyo told him they were there to learn about the Solar Forge, not the crafting itself but mostly about their process and how the Sky Stone worked. The dwarf said that was a good question that they didn’t have the answer to, it has only been shown to exhibit its properties when used in the Solar Forge and in a similar one on Flottyem. Valeyo asked more about the Sky Stone and was told it wasn't rare or expensive, but a pain to gather. It was mostly collected by Cloud Giants from their home north and people trade with them for it. Valeyo asked the man about the weapons and which was his favourite. He walked up to a Mace labeled Dawn/Dusk. He explained that while not that powerful, it was a curious thing, forged at the equinox. It would transform in a sickle. Valeyo told him of the speak they had seen in Otusta - Afterburn, but the dwarf didn't recognize it. Valeyo realized that he hadn't introduced himself and soon everyone shared their name. Shiek asked about what work was happening at the Forge and the dwarf, Edgar, said he was just working on a scimitar. Valeyo brought the question back to Sky Stone and Edgar offered to introduced them to their gathering team, warning them it could take a while. When asked about  where a teleportation circle could be found, he was told his best chance would be to request access to the one in the town hall.

After this, Edgar led them up to the forge. The forge itself comprised of a great arch, in the middle of which was a giant crystal ,which focused the sunlight into a burning firepit. Onto the plateau itself were two large anvils, which Cassini could tell were magical, and an altar to Moradin. When focusing on the beam of light, Cassini recognized it as the greatest concentration of magic he had ever seen. Valeyo asked Edgar if the sunlight being focused by the crystal was how they kept the fires lit and Edgar said that for simplicity sake it was, but there was more to it. Valeyo asked him if they purchased arms and armour here, or if they could direct him to someone who would. Edgar said they do take part in trade and Milivoj pulled out one of the Ancient Temerian swords.

Edgar began examining it and said it was very impressive, better than most of the things in display, save the ones on the pedestals. He found the makeup quite peculiar, but it was a masterpiece. Milivoj told him that it was Temerian and Edgar said that made sense. He worried they wouldn't be able to pay them the right price, as they would buy it as a weapon, but it likely held more value as a historical artefact. As it was, they would offer 10-15k. Milivoj then showed him the elemental glass he had been carrying for a while. Edgar told him it could be used for armour that would tie him to the earth or let him glide through it. For a shield, it could allow him to control the earth. Valeyo offered a piece of the Stone of Pelor from Topinal and 100lbs of Sky Stone, in exchange for 100lbs of Sky Stone. Edgar said this seemed agreeable, but he would have to check on their stockpile.

Milivoj asked what the price would be for the creation of the shield and was told around 20k and a month of time. They offered him two of Milivoj's old swords, his Lifestealing Bracers and one of the Temerian blades and Edgar agreed. While they were negotiation, Valeyo asked Dobrovnik, if he was told anything more about where the demonic incursions could be. Dubrovnik considered possible high value targets, but all he could think of were the Forge, the Cable Cars and the Heiburg Academy. Valeyo thanked Edgar for his time and asked if there was anything interesting he would recommend they check out. He thought for a while and asked how foolish they were. Milivoj said they were and Edgar told them of a chute, used for getting things down the mountain that people occasionally slid down for fun, though it was somewhat dangerous. Valeyo asked about more conventional sights and was told they could checkout the Academy, if libraries were more their thing. It was founded as a show of peace and equality after the trouble around the Skardir.

Valeyo pointed out that the Academy would be his choice of target if the was an agent of the Dragotaina using demons to destabilize the city. By pinning the attack on Skardir, you could prey on old prejudices and divide the populace. They began thinking of where to go next, when Valeyo remembered that he was going to check out the Town Hall for the teleportation circle. He and Milivoj headed there and were told that the steward was supposedly free so he should be able to see them. They were lead to the office of one Eirin Boberg, who was a middle aged Skardir woman. She handed Valeyo a from to fill out and told him there were a few reference that he needed to fill out first. He asked who they need him to name and they said they could contact city officials or members of faculty around the continent, as well as those from other organizations. Valeyo put down Professor Krissa and Otto as his refences and was told to check in tomorrow.

Dobrovnik was going around shopping for some potions and Cassini bought some diamonds and inks. The group then split as follows: Shiek and Milivoj would go around town and look out for anyone notable from Dragomir arriving recently or any rumor that might lead them to the perpetrator behind the incursions. Valeyo and Cassini would visit the Academy and Sapphira and Dobrovnik would go to the cable carts to see if anyone is suspicious.

Starting with Shiek and Milivoj, they couldn't see or hear anything obviously connected, but they did thread over an old piece of paper on the road. It appeared to be a week or so old and said "The Brown Dragon are coming for you and they will steal your children.". Shiek had more success on his own, as when he went past a certain building, his nose picked up an unpleasant scent. On the side wall was some weird green moss, which smelled foul. The smell dissipated quickly and something in it made him feel uneasy. He collected a piece of it, but as soon as it was separated from the main body, it withered and died quickly leaving a familiar black ooze on his fingers. He pointed it out to Milivoj, who asked what exactly it was. Shiek wasn't sure but there was quite a bit of it on this wall, in fact, it appeared to be on most of the walls in the alleyways around here. Shiek pulled out the Sending stone and told Valeyo there was an emergency, they were in a residential area, half-down the city covered in this demonic growth.

Valeyo told Cassini and they started running to the Academy to check if it was the same and Cassini noticed it was the same there. Valeyo pulled the stone and told Shiek it was the same  and that he and Cassini would warn the academy and start speaking to the guards. Shiek and Milivoj were not sure what to do with Milivoj saying they appeared to be fucked, likely they would have to fight the demons once they were there. Shiek said he hoped that since the moss died when separated from the main body, they could try to track down the origin and cut it off from there.

During all this, Sapphira was in full tourist mode, walking around the market and then hanging out at the park.

Shiek began searching for the origin of the moss and could see a faint trail, like that of a snail, that connects the patches. The trails were mostly dead on the road, where they were stomped out by the foot traffic, but between the buildings they persisted and formed a slimy path that he could track down. From that Shiek could tell that either it was growing from the trail, or it was parts of a larger body that was moving around. If it was the first case, it was coming from the bottom of the city, if it was the second it was travelling to the top.

Valeyo and Cassini managed to run up to a Sun Guard and a Hawk. He convinced them that the moss was a precursor to something worse, related to a demonic incursion. The Solar Guard took his name and then began running to warn others. The Hawk just looked at him called him useless, before running and jumping off the side. A moment later, he reappeared with little wings coming from his armour.

Sapphira and Dobrovkin were still shopping.

Shiek decided it was unlikely that it was a creature moving up without being spotted, more likely it was growing from the bottom of the city and the two of them started following the trail down. It lead them to the western cable car station. The car it lead to seemed to be heavily covered in the moss. They stepped in and found the entire inside was caked in the moss. They wondered how nobody had noticed it. The source of it seemed to be the perimeter of the doorway. He prodded the door frame and an eyelid opened on it and looked at him.

At the same time, Valeyo and Cassini were thinking of a way to contact Sapphira, when they heard someone scream from a window nearby and saw a person be attacked by a window frame, on which there were 2 red eyes. In the market a piercing screen echoed and Sapphira began running towards it with Sapphira following suit. They saw a member of the Hawks shouting kill the moss and a kid hit a nearby archway, leading to the market grounds, which now had two red eyes before spitting out acid, which melted half of the child's body.

All three groups were now faced with a big clump of this demonic moss monster that have started attacking people. Shiek, who was right next to one of them, heard a buzzing in his head, but managed to shake the effects off. Cassini hit it with lightning, which the thing resisted. The thunderous blast also weakened the wall it was a part of significantly. In the market, Sapphira saw as Dobrovnik walked up to the Moss Monster and unleash a full powered Divine Smite, destroying the demons completely. Soon after, she noticed that dark clouds were gathering above the Solar Forge and the two of them began heading that way.

Eventually all the groups defeated their moss clumps and began running for the forge