Episode 39 – The Augurina of Time

With the Thistletop rematch behind them, the party proceeds to loot the bodies of the fallen and investigate the remaining clues that remain in the Foxglove Townhouse. Amongst the items found on Nualia’s body are a +1 breastplate, +1 bastard sword, a small collection of magical scrolls that used to belong to the party, a masterwork longbow, and a handful of coins. The most interesting piece of treasure, however, is a silver medallion inscribed with the Sihedron Rune. This seven-pointed start continues to pop up, but the mystery remains around the ancient Thassilonian symbol.

Krask and Theo team up to poke through the contents of the box that fell out of the wall when the fireplace was destroyed. Inside, a healthy sum of 200 platinum pieces was met with wide eyes by Krask, while Theo pored over a stack of legal documents. Interesting enough, one of the documents was the deed to the Foxglove Manor; part of the purchase was funded by the Brothers of the Seven, who used the Seven’s Sawmill in Magnimar as collateral for their portion of the loan. Based on the verbiage, the Manor now belongs to the secret organization.

The party spends the rest of the night removing traces of themselves from the Foxglove Townhouse and burning the bodies of the Faceless Stalkers and Nualia in the remains of the fireplace. Well-rested, the Theo proposes to meet with Master Leis Nivlandis at the Stone of the Seers before continuing on to the Seven’s Sawmill. At the threshold of the library, Theo stops at the bottom of the steps and narrowly avoids getting drenched by a student’s prank. Theo’s presence is met with a familiar face – Glatia, the head librarian, recognizes him immediately and suggests that he attempt to find Master Leis in the Seerspring Gardens, around the giant willow tree.

Richard darts off towards the half-hidden student troublemaker and drags him back to teach him a lesson in manners. In a terrifying turn of events, Theo vomits a swarm of wasps which chase the wolf and student around the campus like a remake of a Tom & Jerry cartoon. The ex-professor continues on to the willow tree and finds Master Leis asleep on a branch twenty feet up. He calls out to the old man and floats up through the branches, just as Master Leis gently floats down to meet him with the willow branches waving in the breeze around them.

The two talk about Theo’s future and the Cyphermages, eventually concluding with Master Leis offering to mentor Theo while he continues to pursue knowledge on ancient Thassilon. In return, Theo agrees to bring objects of interest to the divination master of Magnimar. Before he leaves, Master Leis enters a deep trance and begins to spout forth potential prophecies while the willow branches hold Theo’s head in a tight embrace:

Two young girls melding in each other, forming massive forms of frowning flesh.

A great red wyrm, craving vengeance, devoured by a massive white statue.

Seven wings of a single angel scattered amongst the stars.

A fletching, dark as night, soaring into a massive boat slashing through the sea.

A peacock, gold and stunning, held by a man with runes carved into his skull, lacking blood.

Master Leis collapses, unconscious, at the conclusion of these visions, and Theo heads back to the library to check out a copy of The Augury, a massive tome dedicated to the study of divination.

Finally, the party travels to Kyver’s Islet and begins to stake out the Seven’s Sawmill. Over the course of the day, the operations at the mill seem to be incredibly normal; shipments of raw wood arrive via river and processed boards and firewood are shipped out the other side. Curiously enough, the workers all seem to be wearing the same sort of vibrant uniform, suspiciously loose for people spending the majority of their time around dangerous machinery. As the sun begins to set, none of the workers are seen leaving the mill. Instead, the flickering of candlelight glows softly from the third floor as the clock strikes midnight on Oathday.

Did Master Leis see glimpses of things yet to come? What’s the deal with the sawmill workers? It’s perfectly normal to sic a massive wolf on a twelve-year-old…right?