On Aiqasóma 9th [DOY 149], it is a warm and humid day in Courageous Cape. Imali Tanut, happy that the party is going to help her retrieve the Wiliotope, offers them a choice- rental horses, or a steam train, that departs the following evening. The steam train is a bit faster and is free for both her and the party, which makes it their choice. The party decides to party, with Skattebo heading to the Open Lotus for bargain drinks, Geddreng uses Thieves' cant to locate a member of the local guild, the plyshrild thief who goes by "Short Sword". Geddreng pays for information on any vaults:



Nyxara, and Disco head to The Pejelmakos Saga, a play with an illusionist providing special effects, that goes over the battle on the distant landmass of Pejelmakos. The play is quite good, and the proceeds go to the troops- mostly from Raëlatib- who work to stop white dragon incursions by agreements and martial action. Ytelmab Rohsan, an older white dragonborn, has definitely heard of Nyxara, daughter of Vice Count Montalle, and tells a few tales and offers to answer any questions. Disco talks briefly with Valence Wal, an illusionist who opines that illusions are a popular part of shows because the veragram has made illusions more respectable than before, more than base magic that can entertain children or help in a military conflict.

What did Cyndra do? You'll have to tell me- it's not in my notes. I know it wasn't shotput- Skattebo did that and placed very well for someone not specialized in it.

The next day, the party encountered an anti-Linealist protest. The linealists are a banned group who held a secret rally eight days prior near the docks, and escaped after. Their core belief is that if you can't trace your lineage back to the humans who initially landed on Bistern II, you're some type of simulation or non-experiential creature- that neither Nylsanna, nor the Archdemons, nor the dragons, can create life with an inner locus- that nothing except for humans, half-orcs, and cambions are people at all. Linealism has a history about as old as can be imagined, but it has never been a dominant belief anywhere.

This wasn't all for weirdo stuff though- the party attended a speech by Ivurus Dantheed, a necromancer that follows the teachings of Burolibar Beentamathelebius, a black dragon from northern Aykaiton who teaches a new type of necromancy that doesn't involve souls, works with headless bodies, and without any inherent evil in the motive force. He's the second necromancer with a strange contrasting white and black beard, the last one having been parked in a nice little house cooking the former occupants. His ranting speech blamed councilmen and councilwomen in Unity for banning advocacy of Burolibarrian Necromancy all across Lamenciron, a ban soon to come into effect.

Later that day, the group got on the steam train, and headed west along the coastline, then north.
The steam train's engine isn't particularly efficient, but it does work, which is a lot more than can be said of many other designs, and it travels for nearly three days before stopping. Disco engages in a set of shenanigans using one of his magical toys he can summon along the way. The party takes a nature trail around the area known to have the vault, and walks north out of sight of the tourists who walk the area. Upon searching for the vault, they are ambushed by two Burolibarrian necromancers, both with the same black and white pattern, and an array of fun undead, including an earth elemental corrupted with undeath that can petrify Cyndra! Except she dispelled it.

At this point the party entered the vault after deploying Geddreng's face to find it with some exciting fall damage. The vault was guarded by two flesh golems, one stone golem ,and several Yagen Panthers (who can see through illusions) and Velris Beetles (who can counter spells)- support constructs to help cover some of the weaknesses of golems left to fight without assistance. After defeating all the constructs, the party runs around unlocking locks and opening doors, learning about each cursed item. They decide to keep the cursed ring of blink (which can't be decursed but is arguably useful even when cursed), the wiliotope (the point of this exercise) and then as much cursed gold and silver as possible, with plans to remove that curse. They then waste a lot of time breaking into a bathroom and an empty room, which puts them just a couple minutes from the point where it would have been really likely they would get caught.

Instead they use pass without trace to escape, leaving only a few pieces of evidence. They walk Imali Tanut to a town she can rent a horse from and become fire motes, whisking themselves back to Aykaiton over six or so hours.

Once back they find that Arinthia has trained their dart assassin construct to sweep dirt around, and they are all universally super enthused by this and train for five days. They remove the curse on the gold instead of trying to deconstruct it to Conjunctive Reagents, which is by far the safest and fastest option, and then they plan to convert the silver into something more portable. While this does occur (we did the math and everything) it hasn't happened yet.

It is Aiqasóma 21st [DOY 161] and party is stepping through the portal back to the mysterious basement of Nylsanna in her Optimistic Vengeance, laden with silver. The wizard is definitely in front.