The party stood in the aftermath of the gala, tension thick in the air. The large man who had once posed a threat had vanished, leaving only his Devil Costume behind. As they regrouped, concern for Rin’s affliction grew; if she succumbed to her illness, the dark entity Ezio Gaeta could emerge. Wyn reminded everyone that time was of the essence, while Sira Antkeep suggested a drastic measure: draining Rin’s corrupted blood. They decided to investigate the supply closet before reporting their findings to Caeto.
In the supply closet, Sira discovered a magical staff and an intricately carved onyx skull, both valuable for their quest. They proceeded to Caeto, where Adam’andiel Ironbane presented the devil costume and the prince’s outfit, which Caeto identified as belonging to Hedvin and Ezio Gaeta, respectively. Grateful for their efforts in solving the murder, Caeto rewarded them with a formidable Hellknight Shield and the Dream Crusher, a longsword of notable power. Discussions arose about who would wield the new items, with Adam’andiel expressing a strong interest in the sword. Vesper Farheel sought Caeto’s recommendation for an apothecary, and he directed them to the Horned Imp’s Apothecary. With their mission complete, the party was free to leave, and Caeto announced that the gathering attendees were no longer under arrest. However, they soon turned their attention to the ledger documenting corruption they had acquired. After deliberating, they decided to sell it through ordinary channels rather than riskier options.
Tensions flared when Vesper attempted to charm Sira into surrendering the ledger, but Sira resisted, leading to a brief exchange of insults. Ultimately, the party agreed to prioritize Rin’s health over the ledger, with Vesper suggesting they seek an apothecary for a remedy to prevent a vampire from emerging from Rin. Sira offered to treat Rin directly, and they returned to the Hellbreaker League’s base, where Sira dedicated the night to healing Rin. The following day, Quoster arrived with troubling news: the city was under lockdown, and Caeto had used the gala incident to blame the Hellbreakers. Quoster warned that Vulaunex would soon discover their location and offered to help the party escape in exchange for rescuing his friend Sidrius, who had been wrongfully imprisoned. The party agreed, recognizing the importance of allies and the need to protect their own.
As they approached the gyve, the prison loomed ominously over the city. A crowd of citizens protested against the guards, providing the party with an opportunity to rescue Sidrius before he was taken inside. Adam’andiel took decisive action, seizing the guard captain, while Vesper rallied the crowd to attack the guards. Sira enlarged Isaac, her summoned guardian, who uprooted Sidrius’s pole and carried him to safety. The ensuing chaos saw the party engaging in a fierce battle against the guards. Rin struck down one guard, while Wynter used his magical abilities to weaken Sidrius’s restraints. Adam’andiel and Vesper coordinated their efforts, with Vesper’s music inspiring the crowd to fight back against the guards. One by one, the guards fell, and the party successfully freed Sidrius amidst the turmoil.
With Sidrius rescued, the party sought to disperse the agitated crowd peacefully. Adam’andiel commanded the citizens to stand down, while Rin and Vesper used their abilities to calm the protesters. Their combined efforts proved effective, and the crowd began to disperse, bolstering public support for the Hellbreakers. Returning to their base, the party was met with gratitude from Quoster and Sidrius, who expressed their appreciation for the rescue. However, tensions remained between Vesper and Sira, leading to a discussion about trust and past actions. Adam’andiel intervened, lightening the mood by playfully carrying Vesper away. Quoster assured the party that arrangements for their escape were underway, and with that, he and Sidrius departed, leaving the party to prepare for the challenges ahead.
Threads to Watch: Rin’s affliction; the ledger documenting corruption; Vulaunex’s impending discovery of the party’s location.