Episode 28: The Vault and the Sanctum

 PLAY RECAP - Welcome to The Sliver and WELCOME TO LEVEL 6!

 REGROUPING IN THE COURTYARD. 

• Although formidable, Ileana's forces were able to be kept at bay. 

• Around the time of the party's victory atop Glynndarryl's 7th Tier, her battalion retreated beyond Aurum's reach. 

• Aurum is concerned that this was less of an attack and more of a distraction or testing of the city's defenses. 

 PLAY AUDIO. THE VAULT OF MEMORIES. The Vault of Memories is exponentially larger within than it's exterior would have you believe. Although it's architecture on the outside is exquisite stonework with gold inlay, the inside seems to be more mundane. For what seems like miles, rows and aisles of stone shelves stand as they have since time immemorial. These shelves are filled with small, corked flasks. Each containing a glowing, blue ichor that swirls with a life of its own. This blue light radiates from innumerable flasks that sit upon innumerable shelves. From the right vantage point, the place might look less like a vault and more light a night sky of sapphire stars. As you walk further in, a benevolent serpentine being with brilliantly colored wings lands in front of you. Its eyes are kind, and deep. You get the feeling that this being is not so much looking at you as it is looking into you. The wings of this serpentine beast wrap around the creature as it envelops itself in celestial light. As the light fades, you see that this creature has transformed into the shape of a young girl about 9-years-old with wild, curly red hair and cheeks dappled with freckles. She wears a simple, blue dress with sandals.  "Welcome to the Vault of Memories, friends. I'm Coric." She smiles warmly and turns her gaze to Queen Gabriella. "Welcome, Keeper" she says with a deep bow. 

• Coric will reassure Gabriella the that Vault of Memories as remained secure thanks to the efforts of our heroes. 

• Each flask contains the memories of all of the heroes that have passed through The Sliver whether they have become Advenar or not. 

• Gal's flask is empty since Alexander used his powers to transplant her memories into a machine. Were this to be attempted in a non-construct, this would result in simultaneous realities, parallel memories, and eventual insanity. 

• The heroes' flasks are there. They are reminded of the visions they saw in the Seely and Unseely Mirror that depicted similar flasks. 

• Cassius Vernon's flask is missing and so is Gabriella's ability to recall more than superficial information about him. 

 SANCTUM OF THE ADVENAR. The Sanctum is the true "home" of the Voidborn-- the palace is merely a show of force to the rest of Eternum behind which the Voidborn can hide their identity. 

• Michael is in his room. A sickness has overtaken him, his power diminishing, since being possessed by Ileana's power. His is withdrawn, avoiding eye contact. The difference between the man who greeted the party at The Copper Tankard and rescued them in Mirkarkden and the man they see now is alarming. He is thinner, a sicklier. He will tell the party what he knows and overheard from his cell. 

  1. Ileana tortured him for information about the true nature of The Sliver. He tried to resist but her powers of persuasion are irresistable. 

  2. Ileana is a fanatic and desires more than anything to overtake The Sliver and to use her usurping of resurrection itself as a dowry to wed herself to Orcus in a dark ritual. 

  3. The Remnant of Orcus has begun to search the region of Quaymire following rumors on an aboleth. 

• Gabriella will implore the party to find ways to be covert. Their presence on The Devourer alongside Aurum and the Voidborn has most definitely secured their place on Ileana's list. She will no doubt be using divination magic to track them. "It's what I would do."

  1. She will give the party Amulets of Clandestiny: anti-divination effects and perpetual Disguise Self; let the party describe what they want to look like. +1 Stealth.

  2. Tasks at hand: Liberate Bur Boldor, Ally with Solas & Vinheim, Grow in Strength (Trials) Gabriella will suggest the location of the last three trials.