The Eye and The Ashes

Reconvening at the inn on the eve of Contras' deadline, the Vanguard weighed their options. Emelyne and Sanasha noted that the Eye of the Dragon King acts as a supreme magical conduit, but despite Contras' claim that only an "innocent" could pluck it, their research yielded no proof. Though terrified of unleashing devastation by removing the Eye, no one was willing to let Contras execute their loved ones, and they resolved to proceed while hoping to mitigate or reverse the damage later. Outfitted in exquisite ballroom and performer attire purchased by Lady Damerth, the party divided to secure multiple infiltration vectors into the central keep. Ro’Zaad, Emelyne, and Thalia earned catering jobs at the Gluttonous Troll after showcasing knife skills, coroner-level meat prep, and surviving poisonous herb identification. Percy forged an invitation for the "Oakensword Trapeze Act" (himself, Sanasha, and Naoki), tricking the gate guards before using a guard disguise spell to slip away, inadvertently impressing Captain Andrad and forging a security pass in the quartermaster's office. Meanwhile, Renatus secured entry as the +1 guest of the jeweler Thimnuid, who gifted him a tailored suit and silver bracelet.

On the night of the meteor shower ball, Ro’Zaad established a telepathic link among Renatus, Sanasha, Percy, and himself. Operating under their respective disguises as caterers, performers, guests, and guards, the Vanguard mingled through the luxurious crowd—observing high socialites, avoiding suspicious captains, and witnessing the arrival of the frail, four-foot-eight Dragon King, Mozerag. To create a diversion for the theft, Ro’Zaad pickpocketed a jar of volatile magical powder from an arrogant nobleman, spilled a drink on him, and had Emelyne magically clean the coat while spiking the noble's beverage. Once returned, the nobleman drank the concoction and convulsed wildly, shooting off chaotic magical surges that drew the entire courtyard's attention.

Capitalizing on the chaos, Percy rushed to Qyrakwarm at the courtyard's center and reached inside to seize the Eye. Radiant magic surged violently through his body, but a burst of light absorbed the damage into his key. As the spiked nobleman was incinerated to cinders by his own magic, alarm bells blared and the crowd panicked. Jumping off the tower to escape, Ro’Zaad watched as Mozerag confronted Percy. Sanasha called out to Contras via her embedded pocket watch, prompting the fiend to manifest physically and retract the watch from her ribs. Passing the Eye to Contras, the party watched in horror as Contras giggled, warped King Mozerag into a weapon, and shattered the glowing divine runes in the sky above. With a deafening crack, the Edicts of Casmir were shattered, leaving the mortal realm completely exposed.