init umbral 6

acl.cool/site/writings/umbral5.dj

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ As she sends the party away, Laeral offers the censer that confines the air elem
 
 {% You should have known _Tasha_ was up to something, Laeral. Come on now. %}
 
-As the party returns to the rooms the city has provisioned for them since the beginning of their quest, Gottlob finds a secluded corner, away from eyes that might wonder at the release of a wind spirit into the middle of Waterdeep. He opens the censer; a semi-corporeal body of gas hisses through the mesh to take the form of a craggy-faced tornado about the height of a man. It hisses some more--- perhaps in thanks--- and a glow suffuses its body like the moment of a lightning strike stretched thin over seconds. A pale blue stone bearing an indeterminable rune materializes, floating at eye level before Gottlob and catching reflections from the strange electric luminance and gas lamps of the inn in its polished surface. The paladin snatches the offering from the air, and at this, Cogyth's messenger flies away into the night, its body flowing freely through half-open windows to mix with the muddy haze of the street below.
+The party returns to the rooms the city has provisioned for them since the beginning of their quest, affording Gottlob the opportunity to find a secluded corner away from eyes that might wonder at a wind spirit's release. He opens the censer; a semi-corporeal body of gas hisses through the mesh to take the form of a craggy-faced tornado about the height of a man. It hisses some more--- perhaps in thanks--- and a glow suffuses its body like the moment of a lightning strike stretched thin over seconds. A pale blue [stone bearing an indeterminable rune](/assets/vind.png) materializes, floating at eye level before Gottlob and catching reflections from the strange electric luminance and gas lamps of the inn in its polished surface. The paladin snatches the offering from the air, and at this, Cogyth's messenger flies away into the night, its body flowing freely through half-open windows to mix with the muddy haze of the street below.
 
 The next morning, encroaching light and the sounds of the city stirring him awake, Almuth gets out of bed to find a note lying in front of his door where a messenger pushed it in the night. Scooping the folded scrap of paper from the floorboards, he reads a message in Tasha's handwriting: the witch admonishes Almuth that through him, Laeral learned her plans for the party to peacefully subdue the beholders--- Laeral must have complained to Tasha about the evening's interaction--- but she doesn't seem truly upset; it was inevitable that the Lady Mage would discover their collaboration eventually. Post-script is captioned a passage written in the common alphabet, with undecipherable spellings.
 
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Almuth is skeptical, as he often is, and the cleric refrains from following the
 
 Having located an abandoned alley, far enough from streets that a small explosion would pose pedestrians no mortal danger, Almuth holds the note up to the sun and chants aloud. A pendant no lager than a coin drops from a pin-point portal that forms above the note as he finishes speaking, and he catches it as it falls toward the dirt. The Cleric recognizes this artifact; it is an item his order has sought for a long time: an amulet of the planes! So this is what Tasha meant by “a deal is a deal". Overjoyed, he heads back toward the inn where the party made plans to breakfast before striking out this morning out to Mithril hall, from where they aim to collect the long-missing harengon Warren before journeying to the lair of the Deathrun in Silverymoon[^silverymoon].
 
-During breakfast, Gottlob chews pensively at the crusts of his bread and Louisa wonders if her human form is doing alright by itself; Almuth shares his discovery. None of the party are surprised at Tasha's chagrin, but they've done they best they can, and any guilt turns to interest as a the cleric produces his prize. Those with arcane aptitude can tell at once that the artifact is powerful, and gears turn in their heads as to how the item might be put to future use. For now, though, they must focus; an encounter with the Deathrun is close at hand.
+During breakfast, Gottlob chews pensively at the crusts of his bread and Louisa wonders if her human form is doing alright by itself; Almuth shares his discovery. None of the party are surprised at Tasha's chagrin, but they've done they best they can, and any guilt turns to interest as a the cleric produces his prize. Those with arcane aptitude can tell at once that the artifact is powerful, and gears turn in their heads as to how the item might be put to future use. Gottlob, too, shows the elemental's runic stone; Louisa identifies it, to similar--- if less piquant--- effect. For now, though, they must focus; an encounter with the Deathrun is close at hand.
 
 {.thematic}
 ***
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ The party is not too bothered by the gruesome display, happy just to have won th
 
 A look of surprise gives way to a smile of relief when Taern notices their presence. The arch mage expresses his thanks alongside those of Silverymoon and of the Library of Sages. Considering the vast knowledge housed here and the eminent reputation of the party's interlocutor, Almuth speaks up with a question: might he be able to lend some insight into the curse that troubles their llama friend? Louisa provides all the details, but the library's information extends only as far as that already gathered elsewhere. Taern mentions something about a vampire, and suggests that Louisa and her human body look together into a mirror; by that, she may uncover the next piece of her life's puzzle.
 
-With thanks and farewells and the usual trivialities exchanged between a party and their hosts, our heroes begin the journey back to base, back to Waterdeep, for once happily unburdened of the need to fabricate Lord Silverhand a story. They did well today, and quickly too; the sun hangs high in the sky as our heroes quit cramped keep for city streets! If the party makes haste, they may even spend the night in familiar beds.
+With thanks and farewells and the usual trivialities exchanged between a party and their hosts, our heroes begin the journey back to base, back to Waterdeep, for once happily unburdened of the need to fabricate Lord Silverhand a story. They did well today, and quickly too; the sun hangs high in the sky as our heroes quit cramped keep for city streets! If the party makes haste, they can spend the night in familiar beds.
 
 [^silverymoon]: [Silverymoon](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Silverymoon) is the largest city of the far north and a haven for the study of all kinds of magic. It was ruled by Laeral's sister and fellow Chosen of Mystra, [Alustriel Silverhand](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Alustriel_Silverhand), and now by her son.