The Zero-Sum Strategy
The Veiled Vanguard split up to investigate the Governor's of Illnerya, shenanigans ensue as they try to find which of the three is guilty. The Vanguard find out that the threat is even greater than they ever expected, a grim calculation spells a doom that cannot be stopped with might alone.
The party split up to execute their plans. Disguised as acolytes Willow and Gringold, Emelyne and Diablo visited the College of Mages to access scrying services. After bluffing past the entrance gargoyle, they requested help from a golden-furred Leonin commissary manager, who brought out the Archmage of Divination. The Archmage agreed to grant access to a scrying orb for 500 gold and a riddle test. After Emelyne correctly answered that "fire" grows without being alive and dies from water, they paid the fee and claimed to be scrying on a wayward acolyte named Jeff, insisting it was church business when questioned further.
Simultaneously, Sanasha and Naoki approached the central city building where the Governors were meeting in individual towers. Considering how to reach a top-floor window, Sanasha rejected throwing Naoki and suggested he fly up. Naoki wildshaped into a hummingbird, flew through an open window into Governor Marta's office, and shifted into a tarantula. Inside, he observed the late Governor Marta—who had a mechanical leg—before she departed. As Governor Silas Aberdom arrived, Naoki witnessed former Archmage Valerious Thorne make rude comments about Marta's leg. Meanwhile, back at the house, Percy and Emelyne prepared Scrying spells using a crystal ball; while Percy struggled due to unfamiliarity, Emelyne successfully locked onto Thorne. Overhearing the meeting, the party learned the Governors were suspicious of the Vanguard, planted false evidence in Lt. Mathias's office, and viewed the recent plague as an overpopulation control measure. Thorne predicted another plague in six days that would starve 60% of the city, while Silas proposed breaching the Widows Bay dam to flood the lower levels—confirming Silas as the Governor conspiring with the Demon Prince.
At the College of Mages, the Archmage revealed he knew Emelyne was in disguise as he escorted them out. On the Governors' roof, Naoki jumped out the window and broke his leg upon hitting the ground; Sanasha grabbed him, fled the panicking crowd, and kicked down the locked door of their safehouse. A panicked Percy threw a dagger and missed, and after a chaotic sequence where Naoki and Sanasha snapped his leg back into place, Percy healed Naoki with divine water and Cure Wounds. After comparing notes, the group debated their next steps: Emelyne favored capturing Silas first, Sanasha urged investigating the dam for sabotage, and Diablo suggested breaking Lt. Mathias out before his execution.
Thain Ossuaire arrived at the safehouse, disguising himself as an exaggerated hillbilly before revealing his services would cost 130,000 gold. The party split three ways: Sanasha investigated the dam, Percy and Diablo visited Mathias, and Emelyne and Naoki scouted Silas's office. At the dam, Sanasha spoke with defensive maintenance workers complaining about poor conditions; the leader noted Governor Silas was inside speaking with the foreman. Listening in stealthily, Sanasha overheard the foreman arguing that Silas was attempting to force the removal of support struts under the guise of rust monster damage to intentionally weaken the dam.
Meanwhile, Emelyne and Naoki arrived outside the Governors' headquarters. Emelyne cast Private Sanctum over Silas's wing and cast Jump on Naoki, who leaped to a third-story window. When a Sunkeeper guard investigated, Emelyne tried distracting him, but was forced to cast Hold Person, handcuff, and gag him before Naoki wrapped the guard in plant vines. Naoki dropped a rope, Emelyne used Misty Step, and they breached Silas's office, though Emelyne's noise alerted the Governor; Naoki shifted into a rabbit while Emelyne failed to lie her way out.
At the jail, Percy and Diablo posed as clergy offering evening prayers to Mathias. After convincing a guard, they encountered a third version of Silas leaving Mathias's cell after attempting to apologize. Once Silas left, Diablo revealed part of his mask to Mathias, who advised them that the 4th-level Sunkeeper barracks remained loyal to him.
Suddenly, a flash of light froze Sanasha, Diablo, and Percy, teleporting them directly to Silas's 4th-floor office alongside Emelyne and rabbit-Naoki. Silas revealed he knew they were spying when he spotted a black spider, but offered a deal: he handed Emelyne a signed, wax-sealed confession of his crimes and an official pardon for Lt. Mathias, while revealing that Contras's weakness was a "shining star" located in Myradorne. Knowing the Vanguard would not let him leave alive, Silas sliced his own hand and slammed it onto the desk, activating a bloody circle that spawned three infernal creatures around him as he prepared for a fight.