Maltheo has returned

Session 91

The Librarians are spending the next three days in Zadash. Lotus and Maltheo have a conversation, with Lotus coming to realize that he was missed, and he's glad that he's back. Cass visits and spends time with Maltheo. They discuss Devon, and his personality and qualities with Æsheryn. Lotus brings up the Luxon and wonders if Maltheo would be interested in pursuing that path. He's replies that it's too soon for that. He wants to know more about what actually happened. That he was almost certain he wasn't coming back; shouldn't come back. He's not sure the Luxon is the right path.

Maltheo mentions having been tortured for what felt like years. During his time in the blade, there was endless screaming and laughing, like a personal hell. But then, out of nowhere there were bursts of gold and silver light and music. "I was being pulled out of hell. Was it Corellon? I just don't know, but it was beautiful".

Æsheryn explains about age and beauty and art and life, all domains of Corellon the Arch Heart. Doors might be opened now for Maltheo that weren't before, allowing him to affect change in an entire nation.

Lotus casts Magnificent Mansion: The Library. There's a plant maze for Briya, and an herb garden, an actual library (but with books that are mostly nonsense), a target practice area for our ranging friend Yahnist with "demons" and "bad guys" and "Popofsky". A temple to Corellon and a shrine dedicated to Maltheo (he was dead at the time...) so we'll call it the brooding corner now, with dedications to Mint, Kra'naelen, Welter, and even Prophet. There's also a spa, and everyone gets beds. Lotus reveals that bedtime magic has been the Invisible Servant spell the entire time. Finally, there's a photo above the dining table of the entire group. It's done in the style of the Last Supper and features Lotus front and center.

Maltheo goes to this temporary temple to Corellon, and gets a 22 insight about everything that's been going on, in an intense moment of introspection. As Maltheo understands it, he knows that Corellon wants him back because of what this could mean for the Empire. Specifically, to lose the leader that is currently taking them down the wrong path. The King is staying alive just to continue war, but for what reason? It's certainly not a beautiful one. However, the picture of the Empire from when Maltheo was a child, that his father portrayed; perhaps there's something there after all. He newly avows that he will make the Empire something that his father would be proud of. In a way to not be ashamed of later in his life.

Before he rests, we also fill him in on dealing with Isabelle, going to Rexxentrum and meeting Orius Alezar, head of the Cerberus Assembly. It's a surprise to know there's a tiefling in such a high seat of power. These thoughts follow him to sleep.

We learn more about Zadash. There's a smaller school here for the arcane. It's not at the level of the Soltryce Academy, but it's good in its own right and called The Hall of Erudition, built around a trio of spires in a triangular fashion. The city is old enough to have been part of the Julous Dominion previously. It's not super fortified like the capital, but remains the second largest city in the Empire. The Penta market contains variety of shops, but it's not exactly a destination for high-value items. There are many inns and town shops, an Archive of the Cobalt Soul. A courthouse, Temple to the Platinum Dragon, and a reasonably-priced bathhouse. It doesn't have a social caste system as deeply pronounced as it is in Rexxentrum, but it still exists. Considered to be a bastion of the law, civilization, and might, here in the valley. It's the largest military presence in the south of the Empire.

Lotus goes and distributes bread to the less fortunate in the guise of a baker with a chef's hat to hide his horns. Æsheryn lets some city officials know that the dragon that had been living nearby is now dead. It hadn't been as effecting them that much here, but still, there were mysteries of missing caravans, and strange occurrences that this seems to answer.

On the second day, Maltheo and Isabelle cross paths. She's still holding the orb, and still very exhausted; it'll take her a while to fully attune to this item. Soon after, her uncle arrives to join her. He's emotional coming back to this castle. If not as friends, he wants to coexist as associates because in life, circumstances change.

Maltheo wants to converse with Isabelle directly. "What is it that you really want to do with the Empire?" She retorts that she thought it was obvious. In the near term she would like to retake the Julous Dominion back from the Dwendalian Empire. She's even occasionally thought about retaking the entire Empire.

Maltheo agrees that, after seeing her dedicated followers, that the paradigm needs to change. There's bad blood between the Julous Dominion and the Dwendalian Empire; breaking away will create more conflict. He sympathizes with her and proposes a mutual help of changing the Empire for the better. But insists on why she made deals with devils, especially one like Raokan (as he touches his infernal coin in his pocket) and says, "I would try to avoid it; it doesn't end well".

She knows trying to take it back doesn't guarantee keeping it. Killing the King may be priority number one. Or instead, getting someone sympathetic on the throne could be something. She reminds him that most of the Empire's wealth comes from previously-Dominion lands. Regarding devils, she says, "My bloodline is strong, we are all connected to each other. Those that have it is a rare thing, and we're all in a network of pulsating energy. Raokan wanted help, and promised power in exchange. But you and your Librarians ruined that, and now this orb is a second chance at that power," and promises to listen to Maltheo's advice. He thanks her for helping to save his soul.

In town, Maltheo looks for someone dealing with magical tattoos and finds a buff Tabaxi Sphinx covered in them. As he begins mixing the emerald dust into tattoo ink, Lotus describes some interesting suggestions for tattoos for Maltheo, but he goes with his own design. It's a pattern of the sun and moon grabbed by an owl reminiscent of Zimian artistry. On his forearm and hand with similar design, a twirling snake in a geometric pattern, a pentagonal shape at the end of his hand with the tongue going down the middle finger. The last piece is at the end of his tail that highlights the tip. There are green reflections in it when they hit the light.

The group gets matching tattoos of a tome to represent The Librarians. Everyone rolls to see how well they turn out, and everyone is pleased with their results. Æsheryn seems to unlock a special ability within the ink and it creates a telepathic bond between everyone, permanently.

Maltheo works with local smiths and the Temple of the All-Hammer to get materials and assistance with creating a few items. A leather harness that can hold the Dagger of First Light on his tail. A moon tiara for Cass. A bejeweled lotus for Lotus's eye patch. A silver- & gold-threaded wired "maze" in the style of his old weapon, in the design it had, as a wrist cuff for Æsheryn.

Later, we watch as Maltheo, in his combat training for his recovery, doesn't seem to have black flames any more… they have taken on more of a golden aura in flames occasionally. It seems his entire monk aura has changed.