Cracks in the Foundation
The cracks in the party begin to split wide, while Sanasha is gravely wounded and unable to fight. The Veiled Vanguard returns to the surface with what is needed to cure those still afflicted by the Plague. As they return, they find a deeper conspiracy awaits.
Arriving back via the teleportation circle, the Vanguard was escorted by Sunkeepers directly to High Luminary Vayleth Molten, who used Regenerate to restore Sanasha’s frozen hand and cleared the party. Reviewing their findings, Vayleth confirmed the plague was a demonic corruption tied to Garrow, Demon Prince of Corruption, whose cultist fled during the altar battle. Later, Lieutenant Mathias theorized that one of Illnerya’s three city Governors (Thorn, Marta, or Aberdom) orchestrated the outbreak to claim emergency powers. That night, after Naoki harvested Midnight Tears poison and Percy parted ways with the group on a divine mandate from Nexus, High Luminary Vayleth arrived with disturbing news: Lieutenant Mathias had been framed for starting the corruption and sentenced to public execution in three days.
Recognizing a political coup, the Governors ordered the Veiled Vanguard to take a 1,000 platinum bribe and leave Illnerya immediately. Refusing to let Mathias die, the Vanguard feigned compliance while partnering with Vayleth and Arch Embersmith Corvenus. Deputized as Ember Acolytes with disguise uniforms, the party arranged for church decoys to publicly leave the city in their place. Operating out of the Temple of the Twin Burning Suns, the Vanguard began planning to infiltrate the city government, locate the voice Diablo recognized at the altar, uncover proof of the Governors' conspiracy before the execution, and secure help from their Oni allies.