Inside the Hospice, Sister Mairi, a priestess with dark secrets, awaited the assassins, her hidden agendas lurking beneath a facade of piety. The air crackled with tension as the group launched their ambush, with Aguta brandishing his sword, though her initial strikes fell short. Bernard unleashed Void Warp, striking true against Sister Mairi, while Kaida summoned Sea Glass Guardians, enveloping the area in protective magic.
The confrontation escalated quickly; Sister Mairi retaliated with Divine Wrath, inflicting spirit damage that left Torsten and Pato Loco reeling, while Kaida narrowly dodged the brunt of the attack. Pato Loco pressed the assault, landing a solid blow that enfeebled Sister Mairi, while Torsten attempted to hinder her movements with Tanglevine. Kaznail provided crucial ranged support despite battling sickness himself. Aguta altered the battlefield with Icy Slick causing the sister to slip and fall as Bernard’s Guidance bolstered Kaznail’s aim, and Kaida’s healing touch revived Kaznail from his sickened state.
As the tide of battle shifted, Aguta conjured a spiked zone that forced Sister Mairi into a precarious position. With their coordinated efforts, the party pressed forward; Bernard summoned thralls for an additional attack, and Kaida granted flight to their allies for strategic repositioning. Cornered and weakened, Sister Mairi succumbed to the relentless onslaught, ultimately falling to Bernard’s critical Void Warp.
In the aftermath, Aguta claimed Sister Mairi’s holy symbol, while Torsten rummaged through her belongings, unearthing a cookie among other valuables. They discovered a letter from the Mantis Keeper and a tome titled “Sisters in Serenity,” which revealed the sisterhood’s true allegiance to Achaekek. Invisible ink glosses hinted at deeper conspiracies, though their initial attempts to uncover these secrets were in vain. Kaznail offered valuable items to Bernard, including obsidian goggles and Boots of Bounding. As they concealed Sister Mairi’s body and tidied the Hospice, Kaida spotted a Red Mantis assassin lurking on the roof, igniting a new confrontation. Aguta accused Sister Mairi of colluding against Blood Mistress Jacqueline, and the battle erupted with Pato landing a critical strike and Kaznail scouting enemy positions while Aguta provided support spells.
After a series of tactical maneuvers, the party triumphed over the assassins, with Pato delivering the final blow to the last foe. Bernard successfully revealed the hidden glosses in the tome, exposing a conspiracy orchestrated by Sister Mairi and her patron, Saviya, to usurp power in Ilizmagorti. As locals gathered, speculating about the recent earthquake, the party maintained their cover story and resolved to present their findings to the Vernai at the Crimson Citadel, plotting their next moves with care.
Threads to Watch:
- The implications of Sister Mairi’s connection to Saviya and the potential for further conspiracies.
- The significance of the tome “Sisters in Serenity” and its hidden glosses.
- The presence of Red Mantis assassins and their motivations.
- The party’s evolving relationship with local powers, including the Vernai.
- Aguta’s claim of Sister Mairi’s holy symbol and its potential ramifications.
- Kaznail’s newfound items and their effects on the party’s capabilities.