Session 50 - Observer

09/07/5-10

The ship continued its voyage. In the coming days, the group tried a number of spells in the Ioun Stone of Reserve and determined which ones serve them best, ending with Grater Invisibility being Shiek's preferred one and Conjure Minor Elementals Milivoj's.

During the time, Shiek also tried to commune with Dirlagrauna. He wished to ask of Omar's family and confirm some of the stings that Saeed had said. Some more questions of Midnight and ways to remove the dagger. He had some success, feeling a small connection, which conveyed a feeling to him. It was a sense of her telling him to follow her guidance and he may earn more answers.

The last day, in the middle of the night, Cassini was woken up by Valeyo. Valeyo wanted to show him something above deck and Cassini followed. The deck was empty, apart from some crew. Cassini noticed that the sky was exceptionally clear and looking at Valeyo, there was something odd about him. It looked as if faint white light was falling off his form. When Cassini looked up, he was the full moon above him, the form of Valeyo made of its light. Cassini grew suspicious, asking if the bard was practicing an illusion spell of some sort. Valeyo confirmed and asked him to take his hand. As he did, Valeyo's form changed and his face morphed into that of Cassini's old professor, who he had left for dead atop a mountain. The man leaned close to Cassini and told him that their work had only just began, he needed to collect the telescope. The Moonmaiden, needed him to collect the lenses. Cassini was confused, he wanted to know what the Moonmaiden had to do with this. His professor told him it was everything, her and Arvandor were two parts of the same whole, which needed to be separated. Cassini told him that is ridiculous, saying they were talking about a god, but his professor corrected him, saying it was in fact two gods, whose fates were in question. Cassini sighed, saying he didn't know where to start, but his professor told him he had to do something, the moon was cracking. The two gods had been connected too long and if left as such, the moon would fall and end the world. Left at a loss for words, all Cassini could do, was ask what is asked of him. His master told him to find the telescope and told him it was good seeing him again, before vanishing.

After taking some time to collect himself, Cassini went below deck and found Shiek, the only one still awake. He called him up to the deck and told him what had happened. Shiek asked him if he was sure that the man was corporeal and not an illusion and Cassini mentioned he had held his hand. Shiek asked if he had misunderstood or was deceiving him. But Cassini said, that his master had always been odd but serious when it came to his studies, he wouldn't joke around.

Cassini wanted to use the telescope to find out more, but was worried about the ghosts appearing. Shiek thought that it would be too risky to do on the ship, as some of the crew may get injured. Cassini agreed to wait until the morning to ask the others, adding that while there was no precise time constraint given, he was worried about the moon cracking. Shiek suggested talking with Otto and reaching out to Sehanine. Cassini considered it, but said he feels overwhelmed and not sure what to do next. Shiek agreed and the two of them went back to sleep.

10/07/5-10

The next day, Cassini kept the information to himself, saving it for after they make landfall, which captain Roger told them would be at around 16:30. On approach, they could see the town. It was not large, but along the beach front were a number of nice houses. A stone dock where another ship was docked could be seen and east of the city was a rocky outcropping, where more houses and a temple could be seen. A few minutes later, they were docked and Roger told them they had until morning light, while they load the oranges.

The group disembarked and began walking down the jetty. On the way, they spotted a large minotaur, who waved at Roger and the two of them began chatting. Once they were away from people, Cassini asked if they were free to talk about something tonight. Valeyo told him he was being cryptic and Sapphira asked if there was something wrong. After composing himself, Cassini told them what had happened.

Valeyo and Otto immediately doubted that it was Cassini's master that he had met, pointing out that the being must have been watching them to know who Valeyo was and assume his image. Otto asked if Cassini's professor was a spellcaster, but Cassini said he was not. He then pointed out that it was a full moon, so if the being assuming his professor's form was related, it would have been strongest then. Valeyo said that if he was a being imprisoned by Sehanine, he would tell people that unless he was freed the world would end. Cassini took his warnings and confessed that he was close to using the telescope there and then, being emotional at the time.

On the way, Valeyo asked about points of interest and was told of Road's End, a tavern used by travelers, the Wicked's Rest, a dorms, the Amber Tap and the Rock. Temple near the Rock was dedicated to Avandra, the Raven's Rest was cemetery with temple to the Raven Queen and Pelor's Rock was situated just outside of town. The last was more of a pilgrimage site, a rock that absorbed the sun and then gave off light at night, supposedly planted there by Pelor. Valeyo asked where people buy supplies, but was told that the town is just built different. They are community, people grow their own food and bring it together, each taking what they need. Outsiders can make a donation to the Boyar, who mostly runs this together with the Amber Tap, who own the vineyard and most of the land. It is at their Vineyards that the orange auction takes place.

Valeyo thought that the communal arrangement was interesting, saying that it is likely able to exist due to being so far from Dragomir, that they are less frequently supervised. He suggested checking out the glowing rock in the evening, but for now visit the Amber Tap and try the orange wine. Arriving at the pub, they found it quite busy, but found a place to sit. Soon they were approached by a Minotaur woman, who asked what they wished to drink. They got some of the most expensive wine they had on offer, as well as some of the more recent stuff. They tried it and found it quite good, very citrusy. Valeyo got up to ask about where the rock was and how the food sharing works. He was told that the Amber Tap handles taxes and what not, since most people work for them. They handle everything and fund the town with the proceeds of the wine together with the Boyar. Valeyo wanted to know what the Boyar's role is and how long the town has been set up this way. The patron suggested he speak to the owner, pointing out a well-dressed minotaur in the corner of the room. As Valeyo approached, the man looked him up and asked if they were the ones who bought the vintage. Valeyo confirmed and the man thanked him for his contribution to the community. Valeyo wanted to know more about their town and how it came to be. The man told him that during his great grandfather's time, this was just a collection of small tents and farmers. He liked the oranges and started growing oranges and built a community that helped each other grow the fruits and sell them to boats. Eventually they built a town here, where people work together. While he was doubtful of the system, Valeyo still thanked the man for his time and returned to their table.

Sometime later, the sun was setting and the group began making their way north towards Pelor's Rock. It was easy to spot, standing at 30-40ft long and 20ft tall. Valeyo touched it and found it faintly warm. He considered it being related to Sky Stone. The group could see that people had carved things into it over the years. Otto brought out a bit of Sky Stone to compare and using his dwarvish stone cunning, he deduced that they were both rocks.

A few minutes later, Cassini brought out his telescope and prepared to use it. He first looked into the sky itself, avoiding any known constellations or the moon and everything was going smoothly. Next, he observed the stars without any issues. Before going to look at the Moon, he looked at the Ruby one first. He couldn't see much out of the ordinary initially, but with his special lenses, he could soon feel an energy about it. It appeared as if the Ruby Moon was alive, faintly shifting, like a ball of coiled serpents, moving in channels of ruby scales, which shift as the light hits them. Finally, he took his gaze to the moon itself In the shape of the moon, he could see a visage, which spun 180 degrees, revealing the sight of a saddened face in immense grief looking to the side, before turning to face Cassini. As it did, he felt an overwhelming wave of moonlight engulf him. To the others, he looked as if he was simply looking at the sky. To Cassini the experience was excruciation itself, and in his head he heard a voice say "Cassini, you must separate us. My sister was forced to take my soul into her, it gave her more power, but she is breaking. It is a matter of time, before the moon breaks as well, her domain cannot hold this power. You must separate us.". He then watched as the moon spun again and the anguished face disappeared, replaced with that of Sehanine, it then continued spinning, faster and faster, until it finally cracked and broke in to two. As if did, Cassini felt a sharp pain in his right eye.

The other watched as Cassini was thrown away from the telescope with great force and landed on his back. The pain was great, but he managed to pull through and avoid passing out. Otto and Valeyo rushed to Cassini's aid. He told them he was hurt and felt a great pain in his right eye. He told them of what he had heard and when he moved his hand, found he could not see from his right eye. The others saw that his right eye, had been changed to resemble the moon itself. Valeyo brought out a mirror to show Cassini and Otto tried using Lesser Restoration, but it didn't help. Cassini stood up and looked around, gazing at the sky, but when he covered his left eye, all he saw was darkness.

The group began theorizing. Otto proposed trying to Remove Curse the following day. Valeyo said that his eye must have been changed for a reason, since he wasn't just blinded by the light. Cassini tried looking through the telescope at the moon with his blind eye. In doing so, he head a female voice tell him that he had been blessed and they would see what he sees, he must find the telescope. He found that when looking through the telescope, he was still blind, except when looking at the moon itself.

He shared this with the group and Shiek wondered if any of this stuff about the moon gods was true or a trick played by the telescope or a curse on in. The group decided to head to town and sleep in one of the inns. There Cassini found himself unable to fall asleep, the pain in his eye persisting.

11/07/5-10

The morning came and the group awoke and met up for breakfast. As Cassini approached, the group noticed that the plain face of the moon in his right eye, had the visage of the eye carved there. When he moved his eyes, the stone one moved, as well. Valeyo suggested he use an eyepatch, when there were things, they didn't wish the gods to see. Cassini brough his had up to cover his eye and noticed he could see his hand just fine, his vision having returned.

They made their way back on the Seacleave and within an hour, they had departed once more.