Renovations Reveal More Renovations
The Spire plans are laid out, the Quartermaster is chosen, an unexpected guest asks for further research to be performed in secret by a member of the Veiled Vanguard.
As construction began at Warden's Spire, Lady Darthbyne arrived with a mechanical entourage, suggesting the Imperator could use the tower’s anti-divine properties if reignited using celestial components like the Tears of Toumas. Below deck, Darthbyne tasked the Vanguard with eliminating a parasitic monster lurking on the island and confirmed Thain Ossuaire as their Quartermaster, presenting them with a housewarming gift:
The Needle of Necessary Revision
Wondrous Item, Common
This long, black-lacquered needle hums with a faint, melodic vibration.
Effect: You can use an action to touch the needle to a piece of clothing or armor. It instantly mends any rips, removes stains, and re-polishes the material to a mirror-like sheen. Additionally, the item is resized to fit you with perfect symmetry.
Concerned by Darthbyne's interest in replicating the miasma process, Percy and Diablo agreed to prevent it. Scouting the woods in wildshaped hummingbird form, Naoki was struck by a hawk and dropped into the bog, where he discovered the island's parasitic threat—a massive Hertilod—sleeping in the trees. The Vanguard tracked Naoki's location and engaged the beast in combat. Though the Hertilod swallowed both Diablo and Naoki whole, Naoki maintained concentration to command his thunder elemental, which happily leaped into the creature's maw to high-five Naoki, electrifying and obliterating the beast from the inside out.
Returning to the tower, the party explored its lowest level with Skeletal Jailer Harris, discovering a whirling pool of miasma over thirty cells. Before departing, Sanasha touched the ghost child in the cells; the girl screamed and vanished, leaving behind a drawing of three large figures devouring children, which Emelyne copied. Meanwhile, Naoki's attempt to manipulate the miasma pool caused the tower to shake violently; using Commune with Nature, he deduced that a portal existed within three miles. With their Bastion secured, the Vanguard gathered the Oni family and used Emelyne’s Teleportation Circle to escort them safely back to Illnerya.