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Message: <blockquote data-quote="skotothalamos" data-source="post: 6265651" data-attributes="member: 83398">To Seal, part 1The constables interviewed tiefling archaeologist Finona Duvall. She told them that she was doing contract work for Monsieur Caius Bergeron. The constables informed Finona that her patron had been murdered, and that the constables were here in pursuit of the murderer, Xambria Meredith. They asked if Finona had Xambria on her ship. Finona at first denied any knowledge of Xambria, but eventually she remembered her as the leader of the archaeology team at the High Bayou dig site. Finona explained how she and her team had to come in and fix the mess left behind by Xambria. It seemed that, now that her employer was dead, Finona was more than willing to turn on him. She offered up hard evidence on his schemes in exchange for her freedom. The constables agreed to this, but also demanded that Finona and her team bury the seal below them. The RNS Impossible would remain behind to ensure Finona’s cooperation, while the constables sailed back on Xambria’s hired ship.Then the constables sent for the captain of the Dagger, Jack Glassmaker, to question him about his passenger. Captain Glassmaker was cooperative and told the constables that Xambria had hired his ship to come to this location, but that when they saw Finona’s ship, Il Draçon de Mer, with its 24 cannons, they told Xambria that they could not go into battle for her. Another, smaller, ship was at the site when they arrived, La Inspiración, and they had pulled up alongside to find out the situation. On board La Inspiración was a goblin archaeologist named Paco de los Loros, who claimed that this was his dig site, but that Il Draçon de Mer had arrived shortly after him, and forced him and his team off the site. Deciding that Captain Glassmaker was telling the truth, they sent him back to his ship and went to collect Xambria.Xambria put up no resistance and was escorted back to the Impossible’s brig in mage cuffs. She told a tale of being pursued by a creature from the High Bayou dig site, that it had followed her to her home and seemed to want something from her. Caius Bergeron had summoned her to a meeting the night before she left town, where he had told her of a new dig site and she had pleaded with him not to open another seal. Afraid for what might happen, she planned to charter a vessel and go to the site herself to prevent a disaster. When she got home that night, the strange creature had attacked her, and she fled her apartment and hired the Dagger as soon as she could. Her version of events upon arriving at the underwater site matched up with Captan Glassmaker’s. The constables used their planar energy ritual to see if she had any Apet energy on her, and to no one’s surprise, she was glowing with Apet energy.Xambria produced the Golden Icon of Apet from inside her shirt. It was hanging on a chain around her neck. She speculated that maybe the creature that was following her had locked onto the icon. The constables immediately confiscated the item. Mort and Ironpeak returned from a search of Xambria’s cabin, where they had discovered that she had only brought cold-weather clothing that would completely cover her arms and legs. Thinking this was suspicious, or at least notable, for an early-autumn trip to Ber, the constables questioned Xambria about it. When she indicated that it was just her personal style, the constables became even more suspicious and IronPeak asked her to roll up a sleeve. Xambria refused and it seemed the constables would have to restrain her, but Cazara managed to break through and connect with Xambria. She agreed to roll up her sleeve for Cazara if everyone else would exit the room. When everyone left, Xambria rolled up her sleeve, revealing an eyeball near the inside of her elbow. She looked pleadingly to Cazara and asked her to help.The constables left Xambria guarded by at least one marine and one constable at all times. They released Finona, who held up the first part of her bargain and delivered a letter with the following text:Memorandum for Finona Duvall,    I was impressed by the flawless professionalism of your clean-up at the High Bayou excavation. The previous expedition was staffed with cavalier fools, but you emerged unscathed from peril, which highlights your intellect and acumen. I think you have the potential to benefit my associates greatly, and if your work continues to be of this masterful caliber, I shall recommend you be brought in more fully.    To wit, I trust you will handle this your fourth dig site with the same skill. However, for your new Drakran bodyguards, this will be their first time opening a seal. I am confident neither is so loutish and disruptive as Master Rackus was at the ziggurat of Jiese. Nevertheless, it is imperative that we avoid a disaster like what occurred at the bayou ziggurat. The magic and defenses at these ruins are complex and secretive, so while I thoroughly trust your familiarity with the dangers, we need take no unnecessary risks.    Firstly, each of the golden seals were crafted by the Ancients specifically to close a portal to another world. Examination of the relief images on each suggests hostile creatures had been entering our world through these portals, and that the Ancients used the seals to slow an invasion. The creatures were not of any known modern race. Be certain your allies are forewarned, and keep close eye on their mental stability. At least once disaster has struck because someone panicked at the revelation that the world was much larger than their current conception.    Second, the peculiar nature of the seal magic appears to have trapped a small mote of the other world on the far side of the portal. I suspect that this somehow redirected the existing portals to this pocket dimension, and that perhaps simply closing the portal was beyond the skill of the Ancients. Though ages have passed, and we can only assume the invasion forces were stopped somehow, each time we have opened one of these seals, creatures have survived within. Make sure everyone is armed at all times and ready for battle.    Third, the hostile creatures appear to have belonged to different factions, as the seals of Jiese, Nem, and Apet depict distinct sorts of creatures. The Ancients clearly dealt with threats from worlds beyond those known to us today, since the beings that emerged from the ziggurat of Apet do not match any of the current lore of that world. Indeed, the strange beasts were not even the same sort as portrayed on the seals. Do not presume that simply because you are opening a portal to the plane of water that any creatures beyond must share the same elemental affiliation. Use multiple warding circles in your initial explorations; we can afford the expense.    Fourth, either time or magic has had the effect of concentrating the inherent planar energy within the mote beyond the seals. When the Mavisha seal is finally opened, expect intense energy to pour out. This will probably just be elemental water energy, but as always, precautions rule the day. Make sure first to know the nature of the energy, and set up appropriate wards. If possible, do not be nearby when the seal opens.    Finally, while we have endeavored to maintain a certain discretion in our activities, we have attracted the unfortunate attentions of an RHC squad, and I fear we might be being watched by agents of the Unseen Court. Be prepared for attack from without as well as within when you’re at the dig. Afterward, maintain the greatest discretion in transporting the golden seal. If necessary, abandon it so you can make sure to reach me with your research. While a ton of gold is valuable in its own right, we’re fairly certain any gold suffices for these seals, so your examinations of the abjurations are more valuable than the physical artifact.    Please try to enjoy your journey. Seobriga in Autumn is lovely, and I trust the more rustic charms of the land around the ziggurat of Mavisha will provide a pleasant respite from the stress of avoiding ancient curses and otherworldly carnivores. I await your return with an admitted enthusiasm, and I insist you recount your journey with the utmost detail while enjoying the finest wines from my family’s vineyards.    Do be safe, Finona.Your benefactor and cohort,Caius BergeronP.S., If complications arise, do try to wrap up before Winter. It would be a treasure if you could accompany me by train from Beaumont on the 11th. I have a meeting to attend on the 20th in Vendricce, after which I plan to stay in Crisillyir for a few months. I would love the company of a vivacious young woman, since my host is somewhat too aged and philosophical for my tastes.While the constables (minus James, who was watching Xambria) were discussing the implications of this letter, a Marine entered their room and said that James needed to see them at once. They rushed down to the Impossible’s brig and James showed the other a note that a guard had found tucked away in Xambria’s boot:Help meIt followed me from the digIt has meI only have a momentIt wants the three relicsWarn the constables.It talks in my mindI know things I couldn’tIts name is SijhenI hear the word GidimGidim Gidim? GidimA people? A world?Another name it’s curious aboutObscurati            Obscurati?    Obscurati</blockquote>

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