The next day involved mainly gathering information and materials, trying to make some amends with our fellow prisoners, and contacting a higher-powered being called Bane, who provided a way to break the mystical seal on the Tavern’s entrance, but this could only be done at night, and at a meeting ground on his terms.
That evening we met, as Bane approached, some form of strange mist seemed to surround all of us, as another howling emerged from all around us. Spirits of sorts seemed to want to not only interfere with Bane’s passage but seemed to be interested in stopping us and attacking us as well. There were a few moments when Bane was able to remove himself from this spiritual barrier and select a few of us to come through to his side of this mist. Kagami was chosen, who then chose myself, and I then chose one of the Seraphs, dressed in shining armor and sword, who like all his kind, had an innate ability to not be able to actively lie. Bane was at first enraged with us, thinking this was some form of trick to prevent him from coming over into the town properly. The Seraph was able to convince him that this was not our doing, and we had to then perform a type of ritual to break the mist’s hold over all of us. While some performed this ritual, the rest of us were interfering with the gathered spirit’s repeated chanting of “Hate” by our voices raised in unison of repeating “Love”, getting louder as the ritual was finished, finally dissipating the surrounding mist.
From there, Bane was able to get over to the town, and with us in tow, approach the door of the tavern. He used his own power to break the mystical lock, but not before having us agree that by doing this, claiming the satchel and the documents of the town, and thereby ownership of Sanctuary, he would be allowed free access to and from the town as he liked. We agreed and went inside.
The smell of burnt materials of various forms and the lingering feel of death hit all of us as we went inside the darkened tavern entrance. Webbing was all over the corners and a good chunk of the wall, and several holes were in the floor, which unleashed Stoneweavers, who immediately attacked us. This was also our first time with Stoneweaver webbing, so some of us suffered the paralytic effect, which was not as potent as their current webbing but still caused us problems. We eventually won the fight, and the Evokers present (myself included at that time), were able to use our fire elemental casting to burn through the webbing that remained.
From there, we found our “prize”, the burnt-out upper torso of the former mayor of Sanctuary. A large satchel, oddly undamaged, beneath his remains. We took it and left for a safer and somewhat better lit area. The documentation basically amounted to a holder’s decree of ownership of the town of Sanctuary, with all the requirements of The Accords the current responsibility of the town. If we could hold this town, we were free to do with it as we pleased. Our first true victory was accomplished.
Many more problems were to follow.
-Aeolus