The Artifact

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The party is informed that, while they've been away, the province's capital of Silgate was sieged by volt primordians - highly insular beings with electrical elemental affinity who normally live in floating cities among the clouds. The sky-dwellers stole a powerful artifact, the Hilt of the Elf, and fled with it. Uusi spends some time researching the volt primordians in light of this news.

Stavroula brings Glob to the Temple of the Pantheon. The goblin announces his intention to dedicate his life to Denizen, God of the Grave, and states his desire to someday become a paladin. Father Uvier surprises everyone by quickly accepting the goblin into his church.

A week later Father Uvier reconvenes with the party to propose another mission. He has been approached by the dust primordian scion, Rikkard LeRou, to facilitate an expedition to recover items from the Temple of Primordius in the Fae Glen. Rikkard is the religious leader of the primordians of the Undersky Mountains and a devotee of the god Primordius.

The two men reached an agreement: any items of "religious or historical significance" were to be taken by Rikkard and returned to his people, and any other valuables may be taken for Uvier.

Father Uvier instructs the party to take the "shard of creation" that may be somewhere within the temple. These are immensely powerful items rumored to have been created at the birth of the universe - the recently stolen Hilt of the Elf was one such item. Uvier requests to keep this a secret from Rikkard.

The party meets Rikkard at the lakeside. Together, they ride a ferry across the lake to the Fae Glen.

They are met there by a firblog known as The Pathtender, the steward of the Glen. He permits the party access and creates a path for them. A fae shapeshifter soon approaches the party and requests assistance against a corrupting force in the forest, promising to take them to the Village of Worntree should they succeed. The party delves into a Meenlock's lair and fells the beast.

Arriving at the village, the party rests. Ida notices a frog hopping around with a coin in its mouth. Uusi barters with a gnome merchant for a Staff of Light. Stavroula speaks with two elves, Vrina and Kacey, and otherwise watches the eclectic residents of the village. They all experience strange dreams.

They reach the Temple of Primordius the following morning. The temple's entryway bears a newer inscription in druidic text, which Ida can read, warning of an ogre. They quickly see that an ogre has taken up residence inside the first gallery of the temple and defeat it, with some difficulty.

While searching for loot, the party uncovers notes and a map, indicating that about a century ago the Fae Glen was a small garden that spread out of control. They procure silverware, gold plates and other small valuables.

They eventually discover an expansive basement level, full of active traps. The series of traps guard a room bearing the relief of a water primordian woman and containing a coral crown. The party immediately understands it to be the "shard of creation" Father Uvier spoke of.

Stavroula grows despondent and, not thinking it through, confesses that the Coral Crown is the item Uvier asked them to retrieve at all costs. Rikkard is infuriated by the suggestion that he ought to relinquish the item, as it is clearly an "item of religious significance" per the terms of their agreement. He reluctantly agrees to allow Stavoula to take it to Uvier, trusting she will convince him to part with it.

The party returns to Fenside without incident. Upon bringing the Coral Crown to Father Uvier, he reveals his intention to present it to the Lord of Silgate as replacement for the artifact stolen by the volt primordians, all but assuring his ascension to the role of High Priest of Silgate, the highest religious office in the province. He shows no sign of giving up the Crown to Rikkard.

During the week, negotiations between Uvier and Rikkard fail. The normally serene Rikkard loses his temper, cursing out the priest and punching a hole through his desk, unsettling Stavroula. Ezhar informs Uusi that she has received an invitation from the Arcane Alliance, a secretive association of wizards, and the kobold studies in preparation to meet with them at the tower north of Silgate.

Stavroula, Uusi, Ida and Glob escort Father Uvier to Silgate. They are attacked by zombies on a forest path while attempting to clear a fallen log. Ida's druidic abilities fully awaken and she transforms into a bear, frightening everyone.

Night falls and the party makes camp. Stavroula takes first watch and catches Rikkard rooting around in the cart, intending to steal the Crown. The two draw weapons and have a tense exchange but Stavroula convinces him to meet them at Silgate and resolve this issue "the right way", reasoning that she's sparing his conscience.

The party arrives in Silgate in time for the spring equinox festival, a holiday dedicated to Tir Frig. Father Uvier receives summons to the court for the following day and retires to his inn. The party shops and goes sightseeing. Stavroula visits the temple of the twin gods Asclepius and Abednego, befriending some nuns. Uusi watches a band, "The Imagined Dragons", rehearsing at the amphitheater. The band's lead singer, a dragonborn named Dresden, speaks and flirts with her. In the evening, they eat at a high-class establishment and drink too much wine. Ida has to carry both Uusi and Stavroula back to their lodgings.

All reconvene at the courthouse the following morning and are asked to introduce themselves as witnesses. The court hears the trial of Father Uvier v Scion Rikkard LeRou to determine which party is the rightful owner of the Coral Crown. Rikkard is represented by a satyr named Cescix and Uvier represents himself. The trial is overseen by the Lord of Silgate, Lord Habbsberry.

The trial culminates in Lord Habbsberry denying either party ownership of the Crown and takes it for himself. The Lord and jury hold the Crown constitutes "an item of religious significance" and conclude that Father Uvier violated the terms of the agreement. For this, he is sentenced to two months in prison. Rikkard states his intention to return home and begin negotiations to recover the Crown.

Lord Habbsberry personally introduces himself to the party after the trial. He commends them on their exploits in the Temple of Primordius and believes they are capable adventurers. There are three things he would like them to investigate: a griffon attacking hippogriffs at a ranch near Aresgate, the feud between orcs and elves in the Oswian Jungle, and the concerning expansion of the Mage Blight to the south.

Stavroula visits Father Uvier in prison the following day. He is contrite and allows Stavroula to take his cart and ox, but Stavroula keenly feels his resentment.

Uusi travels to the tower alone and is greeted by Chancellor Philip, an extroverted Arcane Alliance representative clad in gleaming armor. The pair enter the tower and are transported to the secret pocket dimension of Raktesh, existing beyond the ordinary time and space of Glade. They ascend to the top of the city there and meet with their leader, the Grand Archwizard Drimmer. Drimmer requests Uusi's assistance in investigating the Mage Blight, noting that it seems someone is tampering with the space. Uusi is officially inducted into the Alliance, presented with a badge and given the rank of "Cloak".

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