2023-03-15 Long Time, No See - Wik

Points of Interest

The Result

1. The group that answered my (very well executed) forgery (Lilia, Blessed, Lolli, Anåbæl, and myself) arrive at the Court of Fountains after convincing the attendant in Portal Plaza that the Academy that so dutifully called us out neglected to file the proper paperwork.
   1. Blessed recruits Lolli to take some selfies in the fountain.
   2. I stare into the water that flows out of the fountain and around our feet. My reflection, which looks like Ylana Lightmane today, stares back at me. It moves; I don't. It's eyes are piercing blue. Mine are not.
   
   
2. Lilia informs us that there is activity within the nearby fort. We agree to enter, and see who resides within.
   1. From an alcove, a figure with plain, grey skin and very few discernible features emerges. They sign something quick with their hands, and leave, returning with a tall elf woman.
   2. I produce the forged notice. Darunia seems confused, but professional. Olivia (Darunia's squire, the grey-skinned figure from before) points something out. Darunia demands we all go to her office.
   
   
3. We make our way up the grand staircase and into the rest of the fort. I take a quick selfie with Blessed in the shadow of the towering aquarium.
4. We enter a long hallway. In the middle is an archway of water and stone.
   1. The others continue ahead. Lolli and I remain behind.
   2. In the archway, parts of a high-elven woman appear, smokey and grey. A spectral hand reaches out, a finger splayed to touch my own as it slowly extends to meet it.
   3. Olivia stops me from touching the spectral figure. I turn back to it, and it disappears.
   
   
5. We enter the office of Darunia Daruth, who explains that the fort is haunted by a ghostly figure. One that looks like Ylana. She tells us that the notice the others received was a forgery (note: determine how Olivia was able to determine this.) She asks a favour of us anyway - determine the source of and let the spectre rest. She informs us of the story of the Court, and Lord Trevillian (see Appendix I).
   1. Olivia receives a sign from Darunia and then calls down a sheet of water in front of the office's entrance. She steps through, and disappears.
   2. The spectre haunting the fort is thought to be one of Trevillian's victims. Possibly, one that was affected differently from the others.
   
   
6. We return to the hallway from before. Ahead, the spectre appears once more and begins to float away.
   1. She is more visible this time. A slash across her chest. Flowing black hair.
   2. Each of the party attempts to slow the spectre's movement. In turn, they each receive a glimpse of a memory (see Appendix II).
   3. The spectre causes a shimmer of water to cover a doorway, and slips through. The party follows.
   
   
7. We enter a forest, at the edge of a small pool of water. The spectre flits between trees, disappearing behind one and re-appearing behind another.
   1. Each of the party attempts again to slow and catch the spectre. Once more, they each receive a glimpse of a memory (see Appendix II).
   
   
8. In the middle of the forest sits a clearing. In the middle of the clearing sits a stump, and atop the stump is a heart, still beating slightly from the light that hums from within it.
   1. The party gathers around the heart and the rose that wraps around it. Lilia begins a ceremony. From the trees, sylphs begin to gather.
   2. From the heart, the spectre emerges. It shares with the party clearer memories (see Appendix II).
   3. The sylphs whisper.
   
   

Appendix I

• Water Genasi.
• Position
  • Former King of the Court of Fountains.
  • Current Foot Soldier serving the River King Ulorian in the Wandering Court.
  
  
• Modus Operandi
  • Trevillian was adept at using his charisma to attract the attention of many mortal lovers.
  • Once his lovers found their way to the fort, Trevillian would begin to sap their life away in secret.
  • Discovering the ruse came too late. Many lovers were drained of life and turned to sylphs before they could leave.
  
  

Appendix II