Party: Sorval / Taurio / Vultha / Iskren / Zantaroth
Xivaskir 29
After a fitful night full of visitations by allies, the group (minus Sorval, who has been sent out by Serra on a mission of his own, discovering a group of cyclopean lizards encroaching on a portal, a fight with a cambion and a limited time of return leading to a strategical retreat) gathers again, with various of the members of the party passing on the information they got. They proceed to figure out their next goal should be gaining more allies and forces, with Ravnica and Serra's Realm as main points.
Big Z speaks about Elder Dragons for a bit, as he has been marked by one (Vae Victis Asmadi), implying a potential future quest, while Vultha wants to seek out Freyalise. Iskren had little activity to mention.
Grandmother Sengir appears with foods and a general scary vibe. She shows the group to the Baron's throne room before leaving them. The Baron himself speaks with the group and Iskren specifically, striking a bargain for the return of his coin (in exchange for an heir, a corpse, aid and support). He provides some added intel, noting Dihada as a main problem, Freyalise as a powerful ally.
As Iskren negotiates the terms in person, Taurio and Vultha look at a pair of feathers and seek how they can make items from them. After the deed is done and the Baron ascends to his planeswalkerhood, unleashing a wave of dark energy from the coin before returning it to Iskren.
The energy, as Taurio/Vultha/Zantaroth move towards the library, seems to enhance the castle, making it more of a macabre place, with semblances of human remains brought to the fore rather than blending in.
The library itself is populated with hooded figures, servant spirits, which allow the party access to books upon demand. Information on the Elder Dragons seems rare, but Zantaroth is brought to some volumes (which mention Vae Victis having been broken down into shards), while Taurio studies mass battles and Vultha passes his book to a servant and retrieves is again, learning more of Lorwyn.
Eventually Iskren rejoins the group, finding Zantaroth first and looking into the Elder Dragon War with him. Once Vultha joins up, a small spark of inspiration strikes the group, and he links the stories in the book to a small dragon they found in the Shademurk. At that time, Sorval rejoins the group.
The discussion goes on towards the being known as Har-to Pro'nouns, with Serra and others being named as potential allies. While listening to Vultha, the group meets a trio of elves, two of them horned, the main conversation centers upon Oona, the violet queen, who might be an ally if the party gets to Lorwyn. They seek the book Vultha carries, but the party is unwilling to relinquish it, so both sides decide to remain neutral and a token is given by Elda Goldenmanes (captain of the guard) to Iskren to allow the party access to the Gilt-leaf Courts.
In the end, the party decides the priority should be Serra's Realm.
The group eventually leaves the castle and retrieves the corpse of Ishan, travel towards the Great Forest and Autumn Willow. They rest at a bridge, ignoring the dangers the night may bring, Zantaroth meeting up with Sandruu and by the morning, the party seems to be aiming to pass the corpse on to Autumn Willow and maybe tracking down a shard of Vae Victis that was forged into a sword...
