![[BtS-88-1.png]] > [!Recap note] > From this point forward, the Telepathic Bond tests in the mornings will no longer be mentioned in recap notes. They do still occur. Desnus 7th 2431AS Given all the leads we had found yesterday, this morning we decided it was time to go out and dig a bit deeper. Before we left, I took some time to send a message to [[Lady Irorika Galvira|Irorika]] to ask a few questions that have been on our mind but we had just forgotten to ask. > [!Linked Letter conversation with Irorika] > Kit: Do you know what Commander [[Ehrnstrom]]'s actual position and specialties are? Additionally, would it be possible to get a list of spells that can be cast which do not require verbal components. > > Irorika: I do not know of a Commander [[Ehrnstrom]]', however I can tell you that the rank "Commander" (Technically two ranks below "Shield Commander", and equivalent to "Admiral") as opposed to "Fleet Commander" (which would be one rank below Shield Commander, and one rank above "Admiral") implies a far more terrestrial and tactical role rather than a direct role in the navy itself. As for that list, I unfortunately do not have the time at the moment to do comprehensive research, but the ones that I know of are Charm, Figment, Message, Invisibility, Silence, Hypnotize, and Suggestion. Be aware that there may be other spells that I do not know, or other methods to silently cast spells or achieve similar effects through magical items. It seems that we will have to go and find [[Ehrnstrom]] to get some information directly from her. [[Lady Irorika Galvira|Irorika]]'s response did not come until late in the evening, so we'll have to try and find [[Ehrnstrom]] some time tomorrow. In the morning we decided to focus our efforts on the tracks on the rooftops, deciding that they were the most likely to be tied to the cult of the Greymaster. [[Gideon Roi|Gideon]] was able to find some of the tracks, particularly a spot where a person had used a some sort of climbing pick and some boxes to get onto the rooves. From there [[Nhox Cropslown|Nhox]] was able to follow the footprints, working out that there was some sort of pattern to the movements that she could probably work out with more time. She also spotted a set of tracks that changed from medium sized footprints to small footprints, so some sort of shapeshifter. While [[Nhox Cropslown|Nhox]] was following the tracks, [[Badda]] searched for tools and evidence of break-ins from the rooves. They did not find any tools, but what they did find was a hidden stash that was roughly cut into a chimney. [[Wilborin|Wil]] took a look at the stash, discovering some remnants of a chemical residue from a poorly stored reagent. He wasn't able to determine exactly what it was, but he was sure that it was flammable, and or highly reactive. While all of that was happening, I decided to take the more social approach and talk to more people in and around the areas where footprints were found by [[Nhox Cropslown|Nhox]]. I didn't get much useful information in regards to be people running on the rooves, however I did find a person who had a run-in with a shady individual a few nights ago. They claimed that there was a tall, broad shouldered, and imposing person doing something suspicious in a corner in the middle of the night. The witness had approached to see what was going on, but the person noticed and intimidated them, forcing them to flee. The shady person did have a satchel and possibly a large metal rod or weapon of some sort according to the witness, so I don't think they were up to any good. Whether this was Greymaster related is still unclear. This searching took the better part of the day, so in the later afternoon we decided to wind down by doing some research at the [[Corinau City#Corinau College of Engineering|college]]. [[Nhox Cropslown|Nhox]], [[Gideon Roi|Gideon]], and [[Kitsuki Nagahashi|I]] were going to use the resources there to try and uncover more about the unknown substance that was stored in the chimney stash. [[Badda]], [[Wilborin|Wil]], and [[Avrec Rishten|Avrec]] spent their time researching ways to suppress magic on a person, hoping to work on some sort of handcuff design. Staring with the alchemical reagent, after a few hours we were able to work out that it is one of the ingredients that is used in a Fire Breath potion and Alchemist's fire. With a little activation it will set on fire, and it will keep burning for a fairly long time. I'm almost certain this is related to [[Vanathor Aunor|Vanathor]] at this point, but it's impossible to know what they plan to do with it. I'm sure it's to set a building on fire. > [!Spoilers] > It was to set a building on fire. As for the handcuffs, [[Wilborin|Wil]] and [[Avrec Rishten|Avrec]] came up with a variety of spells that might be of use. Planar Tether would be able to stop teleportation, but they would need to find a way to extend the duration. Antimagic Field and Planar Seal may also be useful, but the issue of duration still persists there. An automatic Counterspell system should be possible, however it would run out of magical energy after just one or two counters, so it wouldn't be good enough for our purposes. An Immovable Rod could be useful here, but it wouldn't stop [[Vanathor Aunor|Vanathor]] from casting offensive spells. [[Badda]] took a more physical approach to the problem, determining that an oppressive enough set of handcuffs would make it impossible for the user to perform the somatic components required for the majority of spellcasting. Combining that design with [[Xanarite]], metal from the moon of [[Xanar and Deteer|Xanar]] which we encountered [[Session 62 & 63 - I'm Not Locked in Here With You|just outside the vault]] on [[Zarkisiss the Sailing City#Zarkisor Castle|Zarkisor]], it should be possible to make it nearly impossible for someone to cast a spell. Even so, the spells they could cast would be very limited, as we would find out from [[Lady Irorika Galvira|Irorika]] later in the day. The only problem with this plan is that [[Xanarite]], to our knowledge, was only collected by the [[Mithral Empire]]. If that was the case though, how did [[Asereth Dynasty|the Dynasty]] have some? [[Avrec Rishten|Avrec]] began thinking, and suddenly his eyes dimmed and he began to sway slightly. He was in this state for about a minute before he came back, claiming that he just had an intense vision of someone else's memories. He's had these before, but before now he wasn't certain if it was his memory or someone else's. This time he's certain it wasn't his, as it was a foreman working on [[Xanar and Deteer|Xanar]], keeping all of the miners in line. He claims that there was some sort of large explosion which caused a large chunk of the moon to be shot off towards the planet, killing everyone in the area. He seemed to remember this being a thing that just happens infrequently on [[Xanar and Deteer|Xanar]], and that it was not an act of rebellion or terror. This story caused [[Badda]] to realize a metal they found at one point on [[The Ring]] was likely an unrefined chunk of [[Xanarite]] which looks like a red-orange crystal encased in an extremely hard, smooth, and sharp piece of rock. It's possible we might be able to get our hands on [[Xanarite]] in [[Corinau]], though it probably goes by a different name. --- Desnus 8th 2431AS Last night while I was outside the Sphere of Safety on second watch with [[Badda]], I heard the muffled sounds of a conversation coming from outside. The people were talking fairly loudly, and it was clear that they were worried about something. Soon after a second group of people passed by, still with raised voices talking in a worried manner. I couldn't make out what they were saying, but my curiosity was piqued such that I knew I had to go outside. I went into the Sphere, letting [[Badda]] know that I would be sneaking outside invisibly to listen in on a conversation. They gave me the thumbs up as I slipped outside, swiftly catching up with the people who had walked by. They looked like researchers who had stayed up in a coffee shop until far too late, professionally dressed although currently disheveled. They kept looking towards the south, trying to look past the buildings in the way. Both groups of people ended up joining together, heading southwest towards a large intersection which had a better view south. "See any gryphons?", "I think it's just across from the temple district", "Why now, nobody is there?". Even more curious than before I continued to follow, reaching the intersection and looking south. Just past the temple district, a pillar of smoke was coming from a building engulfed in flames. The cult had already struck, and with the weapon we knew about. > [!Recap Note] >This session's title is a reference to the game "Sins of a Solar Empire" which is one of [[AdeptusMechanicus]]'s favourite games.