Messages

I've encountered many scrolls in the module that are the exact same spell but don't stack.

It would be distinctly helpful if scrolls could be homogenized in the same way that potions are.

Throughout the module, there are many "stub" wands with only a handful of charges. In previous chapters, these were fun little trinkets. But the current limit on wands in the inventory makes it very punishing to hold onto these stubs. It would be a major quality-of-life improvement if we were able to combine charges of the same spell, perhaps up to a total of 30 charges, draining the uses of one wand to fill up another.

This would make it easier to replace old, nearly-spent wands with fresh purchases.

This would create a market for stub wands collected from low-level quests and from trash drops.

This would should make the wand limit itself a more interesting dilemma for resource management, as each wand slot becomes more valuable.

[M.va]

I did not observe Narwen doing anything in particular. Several individuals have come forward to report how, after the fact, the elf publicly discussed her interaction with the Beast and that she expressed an alarming amount of sympathy to the creature's suffering. The corroborated description of her interaction went far beyond its "heartbeat;" she spoke of how it was begging for help and how she desired to save it with her song.

We believe she engaged in psychic communication with the entity.

It is apparent to me that you are participating in a lie of omission.

M.va

[Mv]

It's a tricky topic. We have estimated a non-zero chance of some lunatic trying to break the monster out of its prison, and while we will do everything we can to prevent this and to recapture the thing if it gets loose, we do not want this agreement to void because the Bashmu-kar threw themselves into another terrorist attack.

For your particular item of concern, I suggest instead that you view any such threat as an opportunity to threaten in kind to retaliate with novel legal action (unrelated to the contract's two parameters). Withdrawing our support from the Accord is one thing and within our rights, but intentionally releasing a horror upon Ephia's Well would be a heinous crime and surely grounds for new, different prosecution.

Mv

[Apothar Mevura]

One of our Ashfolk insisted on clarifying the exact terms of the document we filed for the Zenithar's satisfaction. Rather than put you through the ordeal of another lengthy, meticulous scribing session, I ordered him to prepare the final contract himself, and have attached it to this letter.

Solemnly agreed before the eyes of the Wroth, the Janissaries of the Fourth Legion formally grant immunity and protection to the Astronomers of Q'tolip against any form of legal procedure, punishment, or prosecution, against any extralegal retribution, and against any form of libel or slander, regarding to the following concerns:

• All events that transpired during the Qdim 19th Incident, as well as any similar expeditions into the depths below Ephia's Well (such as the upcoming joint expeditions of the Astronomers and Janissaries).


• All events that pertain to the research, construction, targeting, and activation of the magical artillery commissioned by the government of Ephia's Well (such as "the Gravity Slingshot" ordered by Legate Marcellus Saenus).

This immunity is conditional and predicated on the Astronomers of Q'tolip being a primary participant in the neutralization, destruction, capture, or containment of a terrible threat which currently plagues Ephia's Well, colloquially known as "the Gutter Beast," or as "the Tormented," or as a "Devil of Thirst." Upon the success of an operation against this creature, the conditions of this contract will come into effect.

This should match up with the particular boundaries of the agreement you sought to make with us.

Sign, keep a copy of your records, and send it back to us.

Apothar Mevura

I still can't believe he's Chaotic.

The exterior/interior doors in player housing properties aren't connected and don't allow a visitor to "knock." Some properties are also large or separated enough that a knock wouldn't be heard anyway. I think that it would be a good, useful feature for homeowners to have some kind of bell system attached to their property signs, that alerts the owner to a potential guest trying to reach them.

This would have a secondary benefit of facilitating meetings with homeowners, which would then presumably happen inside the pertinent home.

I propose a gradual spell recovery script. In addition to regaining all spell slots on rest, I think it would be interesting for spellcasters (and reduce the feeling of helplessness on long journeys) to regain spells over time.

I'd suggest for this to be conservative, a long interval timer that refreshes a single expended spell slot each time it "ticks," up to the unmodified capacity of that character's class levels or whatever limit is convenient to script; it could just be a flat maximum of "one" recovered spell, for all it matters, use it or lose it.

Each spell level should have its own concurrent timer. This script could refresh a level one spell slot after 15 minutes, a single level two spell slot after 30 minutes, a level three spell slot after 45 minutes, a level four spell slot after 60 minutes, etc.

I think that the Crafter's Insight spell should also provide a bonus to Engineering.

Queen Lynneth

[Honored and Venerable Legate,]

Honored and Venerable Legate,

The Zenithar Council has punctually reviewed your potential commissions. They are, as ever, pleased to be of service to the executive leadership of Ephia's Well.

Shade for the Tablet

• It appears that I did, indeed, guess the correct number of pylons required for the expansion. 50,000dr will be sufficient to fund the project. However, the Zenithars would like to remind you that the independent spirit of the Tablet remains a major political obstacle; they will view your gift as a trespass upon their autonomy. Any casualties they suffer from the Ash Storms are considered a fair price to pay for their liberty; they do not want to live in our shadow, they do not want to live beneath our Shade. It will be up to you to convince them to change their minds.

Airship Commerce

• This project has been judged infeasible at this time. We currently cannot fulfill your requirements, for any amount of money. There are not enough engineering Apothars adequately rated to sustain a gravitational barge of such long range and rigorous activity. Unless the Astronomers expand significantly, we cannot help you achieve your stated goal.

Anti-Teleportation Wards

• This can be enacted immediately. 10,000dr per region.

Please feel encouraged to reach out with any other developments you might like us to effect on your behalf. It would be our distinct honor to help realize your vision for Ephia's Well.

Faithfully,
Apothar Cosine Mevura

[Rennik,]

Rennik,

I've consulted with Zenithar Gaius Abael, one of our calmest and wisest archmages, going over my actions in contrite detail. He has concluded that the charges against me are "absurd," that the declared components of your plan are a "short-sighted" folly that places you as the catspaw of Sol Auk (who is himself decidedly toxic to the interests of the Sultan), and that he does not look forward to the "particularly tedious interruption to academia" that will arise if you continue to advance (intentionally or not) that Stonefolk's naked thirst to foment civil war. You should be more wary than you are of finding yourself on his side in this, even if it is what you say: a self-driven initiative.

For my part, I continue to reckon with myself.

I have found myself particularly haunted by the battle. When my colleague, Apothar Azimi, returned to her body, she screamed at me about how it was all my fault, yelling about how Lojir and Pirouette were never coming back, because I didn't join them, because I wasn't there. I know that there was nothing I could do. I know that I was prevented from pursuing her. But I know that it was traumatic experience. Their souls suffered the touch of unspeakable horror, and where was I to protect them? Worse still, I have begun to learn sickening things about the fate of my apprentice, twisting the knife of regret. I do not know why they did not tell me sooner. I do not know if it would be better if they did.

Wearing me down in a different way, some in this Tower vocally believe that I was wasting my time trying to rebuild the Purple League, that I was naive to think that its Voices would ever truly accept an Astronomer of Q'tolip as one of them, let alone as their candidate. It is true that I found Crown Princess Faziima to be an inspiring presence, welcoming, gracious even, that it was Apothars of all possible people who were invited to the coveted privilege of the Ecstatic Terrace. However, it is equally true that Rashid al-Rashid is far from an exception in the Purple electorate, that there are many who dream of a world without us, or who have already decided that reconciliation is impossible.

And it remains true that, beneath my outrage at perceived treachery, I do want more vigilance in matters of djinn. It is such an emotionally confused thing to be attacked on the very ground I normally advocate for. Of course, it is preposterous to be charged with treason on such a thing. Of course, there is no proven harm or risk. But of course, why shouldn't we want to be extra sure, just in case? If you had come upon it with another tactic, an explicit demand rather than a politicized trap, I would have been in your corner. Even now, I find myself stressed over fighting a cautionary premise, but my only alternative seems to be to allow a corrupt logic to prevail over the rule of law. It unbecomes a servant of Izdu to leave a tainted jurisprudence unchallenged.

Reflecting on our conversation, I find myself parroting your own words. Are you really going to judge these individuals on what they might do? You had a pact-marked brooker in your hands and you let him walk. Meanwhile, there's no direct proof at all that any of these targets have been corrupted, but you are still going after them. Because they might win the election? And might do something untoward with their position? Is there justice is that? Could you look the Wroth in the eye and say that your actions were righteous?

There is already someone misusing the title of Legate to hurt Ephia's Well.

And if you have your way, there will be even less to stop him.

Regardless of what you choose to do, my attention in the near future will be preoccupied by my work as an Astronomer. There is a Great Storm currently passing near the Rampart Nusrum and it needs to be monitored closely; it is unlikely to diverge toward Ephia's Well, but there is no reason to take chances with that. Let us hope it doesn't spur the Thousand Clans to do anything foolish.

M.v.

[Maribeh 8th, 7787,]

Maribeh 8th, 7787,

I've spoken to my colleagues at length. It was about as productive as our own conversation. We seem to agree that the air between our organizations has become too poisoned to entrust to you something as sensitive as the topic I alluded to. Although I yet believe it is important to share with you, for the security of Ephia's Well, there is a reticence among the Astronomers, an anticipation that the scarabs will immediately burn us if we entrust any vulnerable details. That our work will be sabotaged. That we might lose human assets, traced from their reports, when the next tide rolls in and rinses away whatever bridges we've built between our sand castles.

In particular, there seems to be a surprising unanimity in negative expectations regarding  the Janissary I named. And there are not any soldiers that have distinguished themselves as particularly trustworthy. There's only you, and our relationship with you is strained and complicated at the best of times.

If you have a suggestion for putting old hatches to rest, I will hear you out. Because I am more concerned about this problem than I am angry with your recent decision.

But I do not see a way forward at this time.

M.v

[M.v.]

Even if that's true, that hardly narrows it down for me.

What, who, and why are still up in the air; the obvious suspects are not necessarily the correct suspects.

M.v.

[Rennik.]

Rennik.

I have far more important things to discuss with Jamileh Attar than the Legates who died because of your rash, thoughtless actions. Many of them pertain to the core mission of the Astronomers, in fact, and the broader will of my superior officers. Did you suppose that I spend my every waking moment scheming against you, that you somehow occupy my mind outside of the occasional work meeting or these juvenile letters? Did you imagine that I could only have one reason to speak to an accomplished scholar?

I was talking to her about history and some of her academic theories.

Has it not occurred to you that we are capable of holding conversations with people outside the scope of your failed and incompetent counter-intelligence operations?

No. Surely it has not. Just like it did not occur to you to check the handwriting of the letter you conveniently found in John's office.

For the love of B'aara, stop jumping to conclusions and making brash assertions, before your folly gets yet another person killed.

Respectfully,
Nadiri Cosine Mevura