Session 30, Family Reunion

The party emerged from the depths of Candlekeep's vaults, battered but victorious, the Seal of Concordance secured after their brutal clash with the mechanical giants below. As they passed through the basement levels that Yona had called home for fifty years, the ghostly head of Miirym materialized before them, her spectral eyes gleaming with quiet satisfaction. She congratulated them on their success, then turned her ancient gaze to Yona with a proposal that changed everything: the drow librarian would leave Candlekeep and travel with the party, acting as Miirym's eyes in a world the dragon had not seen in centuries. Yona's face lit up with wild, barely contained joy, and after a breathless moment of agreement from the party, Miirym locked eyes with her ward. The dragon's essence poured into Yona like smoke into glass — her eyes glowed green and split into slitted pupils — and then Miirym simply evaporated into nothingness, leaving only the warmth of her presence lingering behind Yona's gaze like a watchful shadow.

The party made their way back to Janussi's study, where the scholar was thoroughly engrossed in the Red Annals of the Zulkirate, the crimson tome they had brought her as part of their arrangement. She confirmed their business was concluded, released the protective dome over their belongings, and turned her attention to Yona's departure. Fifty years of unpaid wages materialized on the table in a gleaming stack of platinum, gold, and silver, and Janussi pressed a small gray sending stone — carved with many open-mouthed faces — into Yona's hands so they could remain in contact. The reunion was interrupted when a ghostly image of Ilmryn flickered into being in the middle of the room, her expression tight with urgency: their mother had arrived at the family estate in Baldur's Gate and was not letting anyone leave. Velessa's expression shifted from mild inconvenience to something considerably more alarmed, and the party wasted no time stepping through the portal to Ramazith's Tower.

They emerged in the tower's penthouse, the city of Baldur's Gate sprawling beneath them in every direction, and Yona immediately rushed to the balcony to feel the sea breeze on her face for the first time in decades. The moment of wonder was short-lived. Far below, what looked like ants from that height resolved into two forces clashing violently in the streets — city watch in their familiar colors, and soldiers clad in dark purplish armor bearing the unmistakable symbol of House Xilraen. Velessa recognized it immediately. Her mother had not merely come for a visit; she had brought an army. A frightened tower scribe tried to bar the doors against them, but Séantal's calm, measured diplomacy convinced him to stand aside, and the party stepped out into the chaos of the Upper City.

The streets were a warzone. Bodies of both city watch and House Xilraen soldiers lay scattered across the cobblestones, and the sounds of combat rang out in every direction. The party pushed toward the family estate, and on a large bridge spanning one of the city's thoroughfares, they found their path blocked by Velessa's second sister, Belmra. She was exactly as Velessa remembered — tall, sharp-tongued, and bristling with wicked tailor's tools: scissors, needles, and thread, all modified with drow ingenuity into lethal instruments. Belmra looked Velessa up and down with open disdain, criticized her outfit, and was visibly bewildered when Velessa reached into her brassiere and produced a jacket from the hidden bag of holding concealed within. The pleasantries ended quickly. Belmra declared she had been ordered by their mother to test Velessa's strength or kill her trying, and the battle began.

Séantal summoned a radiant celestial defender onto the bridge while Velessa drew her moon sword, its blade glowing with cold light. Belmra deployed her Loom Guards — hulking mechanical constructs built for both weaving and war — and unleashed a swarm of tiny threading drones that swarmed the celestial spirit like a cloud of needles. Séantal's spirit smashed through the drones with its holy mace while Velessa bisected both Loom Guards in a blur of silver light. Belmra retaliated by lashing out with a strangling veil of magical thread that bound Velessa in place, and Yona, her eyes still carrying the faint green glow of Miirym's essence, assumed a terrifying aspect that sent waves of dread washing over the battlefield and left Belmra bloodied and shaking. When it became clear she was outmatched, Belmra lowered her hands and surrendered — and Velessa promptly suspended her ten feet off the ground with a rope and pulley, leaving her dangling and cursing while the party moved on. Yona paused long enough to kneel beside a fallen city guard and whisper the words that would raise him as a skeletal warrior to march at her side.

The next level of the city brought them face to face with Naldris, Velessa's sixth sister, whose soft sing-song voice belied the resonance magic she wielded. She greeted them with quiet resignation and deployed floating mechanical echo constructs that crackled with electrical energy, then conjured a zone of absolute silence around Velessa, stripping her of sound and speech. Séantal and their celestial spirit hammered the constructs with eldritch force and holy strikes while Yona unleashed a devastating psychic explosion that left Naldris and her remaining machines reeling with splitting migraines. Velessa, undeterred by the silence, fought on with her moon sword, and Taliya marked the sister with a spark of starlight before unleashing a fireball that incinerated the last of the echo constructs — and accidentally set several nearby market stalls and trees ablaze. The party unanimously agreed to blame Belmra and leave the fire for someone else to deal with, then stabilized Naldris and pressed forward.

On the plateau above, Velessa's eldest sister Qilrae waited for them with cold, clinical composure. She commanded mechanical nurse constructs equipped with syringe arms and surgical blades, and she regarded Velessa's dhampir nature with detached scientific interest before noting, with some regret, that she had a task to complete. The battle was fierce but brief. Velessa opened with a blazing silver lance of magical force that left Qilrae immediately bloodied, and Yona followed with another psychic detonation that crushed one of the nurse constructs entirely and left the others staggering. Qilrae dismantled Yona's skeletal warrior with surgical precision, but Séantal's celestial defender and a relentless barrage of eldritch energy wore her down, and a final toll of Yona's spectral bell sent the eldest sister crumpling to the ground. The party stabilized her, bound her alongside her sisters on a conjured floating disc, and made their way to the Eomane House.

The drow soldiers standing guard at the gates stepped aside without a word as the party approached, and inside the sitting room, the scene that greeted them was almost absurd in its composure. Velessa's daughters sat bound on the couch, each somehow still holding a cup of tea. A large bag of imps squirmed in the corner. And in the most prestigious chair in the room, attended by mechanical limbs and utterly unbothered, sat Zilvra Xilraen — Matriarch of House Xilraen, Velessa's mother — calmly sipping her tea. She did not stand when they entered. She simply passed her cup to one of her mechanical limbs, tented her fingers, and observed that Velessa had made it, and that the order of succession appeared unchanged. She expressed cold disappointment that Velessa had not simply conquered the city, and Velessa cited paperwork and a general lack of interest. Zilvra noted that she had come because Velessa spoke so highly of the surface world, and with a snap of her fingers summoned a surface elf servant to bring tea for the guests. The conversation, she made clear, was only just beginning.

Last we left off, our party emerged triumphant from the vaults beneath Candlekeep, the Seal of Concordance hard-won after a brutal confrontation with the mechanical giants lurking in the depths below. In the aftermath, the ancient dragon Miirym made a proposal that would change the course of their journey — her ward, the drow librarian Yona, would leave behind the only home she had known for fifty years and travel with the party as Miirym's eyes in the wider world. In a moment both tender and awe-inspiring, the dragon's very essence poured into Yona like smoke into glass, her eyes splitting into glowing green slits, before Miirym faded from existence entirely — her watchful presence now living quietly behind Yona's gaze. With fifty years of back wages, a sending stone, and a breathless sense of new beginnings, the party stepped through the portal to Baldur's Gate — only to find the city already at war.

Far below Ramazith's Tower, the streets of the Upper City had become a battlefield. Soldiers bearing the unmistakable sigil of House Xilraen clashed violently with the city watch, and Velessa understood at once: her mother had not come for a visit. She had come with an army. What followed was a gauntlet of sisterly confrontations, each more dangerous than the last. On a great bridge, Velessa's sharp-tongued sister Belmra tested her with loom constructs and strangling magical thread — and ended the encounter dangling ten feet off the ground, cursing, while the party moved on. Further into the city, the soft-voiced Naldris wielded resonance magic and silence against them, only to be undone by psychic devastation and an errant fireball that the party unanimously agreed to blame on Belmra. And at the plateau above, the cold and clinical eldest sister Qilrae fell to a blazing silver lance and the tolling of Yona's spectral bell, joining her sisters on a conjured floating disc.

Now, battered and victorious once more, the party stands inside the Eomane House — where Velessa's bound daughters somehow still hold cups of tea, a bag of imps writhes in the corner, and seated in the most prestigious chair in the room, utterly unbothered, is Zilvra Xilraen herself. The Matriarch of House Xilraen sips her tea with the composure of a woman who has already won, expresses quiet disappointment that Velessa has not simply conquered the city, and makes clear that the conversation is only just beginning...

From Candlekeep's vaults they arose, With the Seal and some hard-won repose. Then Miirym slipped in Through Yona's eyes — grin! — And vanished, as only a dragon-ghost goes.

They portaled to Baldur's Gate's spire, And found the whole city on fire — House Xilraen's troops Were cutting their loops, And Mom was the one pulling wire.

On the bridge, Belmra sneered at Velessa's attire, Then fought with her thread, needle, and ire. She was left in the air, Dangling there in despair, While the party moved on to climb higher.

Naldris hushed them with silence arcane, And Qilrae cut deep with surgical bane. But bell, blade, and boom Sealed each sister's doom — They were stacked on a disc in a chain.

In the parlor sat Zilvra, at ease, Sipping tea with a cold, practiced breeze. The daughters were bound, Imps squirmed on the ground — "You made it," she said. "Now, some teas?"

Harke well, ye souls of wandering fate, Who delved beneath great Candlekeep's gate; They bore the Seal through iron and flame, And Miirym blessed them ere she came To rest in Yona's eyes, sedate.

With wages paid and stone in hand, The party crossed to Baldur's land, But war had come on armored feet — House Xilraen's host filled every street, And Velessa knew her mother's hand.

Upon the bridge stood Belmra tall, With scissors sharp and thread to maul; She tested Velessa's blade and will, But silver light and psychic ill Did leave her hanging by the wall.

Then Naldris sang her silence song, And Qilrae's blades did cut ere long; Yet bell and blade and eldritch fire Did lay each sister in the mire, Bound fast upon a disc of wrong.

Now in the hall where daughters sit, With tea in hand and candles lit, The Matriarch in stillness waits — Cold Zilvra holds the house's fates, And speaks as one who will not quit.

When last we left our intrepid disaster ensemble, they had just crawled out of Candlekeep's basement with a magic seal, a new party member, and — oh, by the way — an ancient dragon now living rent-free inside said new party member's eyeballs. Yona got fifty years of back pay and a sending stone, Miirym got a field trip by proxy, and the party got exactly zero seconds to enjoy any of it before a magical distress call informed Velessa that her mother had shown up to Baldur's Gate with an entire army, because apparently that's just how this family does drop-in visits.

What followed was a deeply unhinged tour of the Upper City's thoroughfares, featuring three of Velessa's sisters — a tailor with murder scissors, a soft-spoken sound witch, and a surgical nightmare with robot nurses — all of whom were defeated, stabilized, and stacked onto a floating disc like a very dangerous carry-on bag. They arrived at the family estate to find Velessa's daughters bound on a couch, still somehow holding tea, a bag of live imps in the corner, and Zilvra Xilraen — Matriarch, mother, and absolute menace — sitting in the best chair in the room, completely unbothered, ready to chat. Cool. Normal. Fine.

Dramatic

Miirym locks eyes with Yona, causing her eyes to glow green with slitted dragon pupils as the ancient spectral dragon transfers a piece of her essence into the drow, then evaporates into nothingness.

Context: A bittersweet farewell as Miirym sends Yona into the world, leaving a piece of herself behind so she can see it too.

Funny — Velessa

That sounds pretty gay. Anyway, you ready to get out of here?

Context: Velessa's immediate reaction after Yona says she can feel Miirym inside her following the spiritual bonding ritual.

Funny

Velessa casually reaches into her brassiere and pulls out a jacket in front of her fashion-obsessed sister Belmra, who is visibly bewildered by the hidden bag of holding.

Context: Belmra had just criticized Velessa's revealing outfit, demanding to know what she was wearing on the surface.

Funny — Taliya

I only went down to like three health. I mean, three is more than zero, therefore it doesn't matter, not even close.

Context: Taliya cheerfully dismissing Velessa's near-death experience against the mechanical giants in the Candlekeep vaults during the recap.

Funny

Taliya's fireball clears the battlefield of echo constructs but accidentally sets nearby market stalls and trees in Baldur's Gate on fire, prompting the party to unanimously agree to blame Belmra and leave it for the fire brigade.

Context: The party is already dealing with a full-scale drow invasion and has no means of putting out fire, so they simply move on.

Dramatic

The party enters the Eomane House to find Velessa's daughters bound on the couch — each still holding a cup of tea — while Zilvra Xilraen sits in the most prestigious chair in the room, attended by mechanical limbs, calmly waiting.

Context: The matriarch of House Xilraen has invaded the party's home and made herself entirely at home, turning a family confrontation into a tea party.

Dramatic — Naldris Xilraen

Well, it is what I have been asked to do.

Context: Naldris's soft, resigned answer when Velessa asks if she is going to try to capture or kill them, delivered in her characteristic sing-song voice.

1. Ascending from the Vaults

The party returns from the depths of Candlekeep and encounters the spectral dragon Miirym, who makes a surprising proposal.

Key events

• The party emerges from the lower vaults of Candlekeep after defeating mechanical giants of gold and silver.
• The ghostly head of Miirym apparates before the group to inquire about their success in retrieving the Seal of Concordance.
• Yona enthusiastically describes the battle against the mechanical creatures to her patron.
• The party discusses their future plans, including the need to deliver the Seal of Concordance to Szass Tam.
• Velessa explains the dangers of teleportation, noting that a failure could result in winking out of existence somewhere between the world and the edge of the crystal sphere.
• Miirym proposes that Yona leave Candlekeep to travel with the party, acting as the dragon's eyes in the world above.
• Yona accepts the proposal and the party agrees to let her join them.
• Miirym locks eyes with Yona, causing Yona's eyes to glow green and gain slitted pupils as a piece of the dragon's essence is transferred into her.
• The party jokes about the nature of Yona's new connection to her patron as they prepare to leave the basement levels.

2. Farewell to Candlekeep

The party concludes their business with Janussi, and an urgent message from Ilmryn sends them rushing back to Baldur's Gate.

Key events

• The party returns from the vaults and meets with Janussi to confirm the recovery of the Seal of Concordance.
• Janussi releases a protective dome over the party's belongings and returns them.
• Yona requests to leave Candlekeep to see the world, and Janussi provides her with fifty years of back pay in platinum, gold, and silver coins.
• Janussi gives Yona a sending stone carved with many open-mouthed faces to stay in contact with the library.
• A ghostly image of Ilmryn appears in the room, warning Velessa that their mother has arrived at the family estate in Baldur's Gate and is holding Velessa's daughters.
• Velessa asks the party to help her deal with her family troubles, requesting selective but non-lethal violence against her sisters.
• The party uses a portal to travel instantly from Candlekeep to the penthouse of Ramazith's Tower in Baldur's Gate.

3. A View of Invasion from Ramazith's Tower

The party emerges at the top of Ramazith's Tower and witnesses a full-scale drow invasion of Baldur's Gate unfolding in the streets below.

Key events

• Yona rushes to the balcony to experience the sea breeze and the view of the surface world for the first time in decades.
• Velessa and Yona spot forces clad in dark purple armor clashing with the city watch far below.
• Velessa recognizes the armor colors as belonging to the nobles of Menzoberranzan, specifically House Xilraen.
• A frightened tower scribe attempts to bar the doors to keep the party inside for safety.
• Séantal uses calm diplomacy to convince the scribe to unbar the door, allowing the party to step out into the Upper City.
• The party steps outside to find bodies of both city watch members and House Xilraen soldiers, confirming a full-scale invasion is underway.

4. Confrontation on the Bridge: Belmra

While rushing through the city toward their estate, the party is intercepted on a bridge by Velessa's sister Belmra and her mechanical constructs.

Key events

• The party navigates the chaotic streets and spots a full-scale invasion force bearing the symbol of House Xilraen.
• Velessa encounters her sister Belmra waiting for them on a large bridge.
• Belmra criticizes Velessa's surface-world attire, prompting Velessa to retrieve a jacket from her hidden bag of holding.
• Belmra declares that she has been ordered by their mother to either test Velessa's strength or kill her.
• Séantal summons a celestial defender to the battlefield in preparation for combat.
• Belmra deploys Loom Guards — advanced mechanical constructs designed for both weaving and lethal defense.
• Séantal unleashes a blast of energy that destroys one Loom Guard outright, while the celestial spirit moves to engage the other.
• A swarm of tiny threading drones attacks the celestial spirit, attempting to overwhelm it with needles.
• Velessa dashes forward and bisects the remaining Loom Guard with her moon sword.
• Yona assumes a terrifying Form of Dread to bolster her resilience and unleashes necrotic blasts at the swarm of drones, her necrotic energy bypassing their resistances.
• Belmra retaliates by lashing out at the celestial spirit with a strangling veil of thread.
• Séantal's celestial spirit smashes the remaining drones with its radiant mace, clearing them from the battlefield.
• Taliya attempts to mark Belmra with starlight but misses, falling into a sorcerous rage.
• Belmra conjures a strangling veil of thread that successfully restrains Velessa.
• Velessa uses the extended reach of her moon sword to strike back at her sister despite being bound.
• Yona frightens Belmra with her Form of Dread, leaving the sister bloodied and shaken.
• The mechanical drones swarm Velessa, stabbing at her with needles while Belmra laughs maniacally.
• Séantal's celestial spirit attempts to non-lethally strike Belmra, but she staggers out of the way.
• Belmra surrenders, releasing her magical bonds and admitting defeat while nursing her wounds.
• Velessa uses a rope and pulley system to suspend Belmra ten feet off the ground.
• Yona uses her necromantic powers to animate a fallen city guard, raising a skeletal warrior to join the party.

5. Encounter with Naldris

The party ascends to the next level and is greeted by another of Velessa's sisters, Naldris, who engages them with resonance magic and mechanical constructs.

Key events

• Velessa explains her large family structure to Yona as they ascend, noting she has seven sisters and several brothers.
• The party reaches the next level and is greeted by Naldris, Velessa's sixth sister, who speaks in a soft, sing-song voice.
• Naldris and Velessa exchange pleasantries about Naldris's craft of making bells, tuning forks, and musical instruments.
• Naldris acknowledges she has been asked to stop the party and initiates combat.
• Velessa opens the engagement with a devastating strike from her moon sword, immediately leaving Naldris severely wounded.
• Floating mechanical echo constructs resembling wind chimes move toward the party, discharging electrical shocks.
• Séantal unleashes blasts of eldritch energy at the constructs while their summoned celestial spirit strikes them with a radiant mace.
• Naldris retaliates by creating a zone of dead air, magically silencing Velessa and preventing her from speaking or hearing.
• Taliya casts a slow spell to hinder the enemies' movements, but a surge of wild magic causes herself, Yona, and the skeleton to turn invisible.
• Yona conjures a field of grasping grave ground to trap and damage Naldris and her constructs.
• Velessa employs True Strike, noting it requires no verbal components and thus works within the zone of silence.
• Séantal delivers multiple powerful blasts of eldritch energy, striking Naldris with devastating precision.
• Naldris is overwhelmed by the combined assault and falls unconscious.
• Taliya unleashes a fireball that incinerates the remaining echo constructs but accidentally sets nearby market stalls and trees ablaze.
• The party stabilizes Naldris with healing magic and binds her.

6. The Eldest Sister's Stand: Qilrae

The party reaches the plateau and confronts Velessa's eldest sister, Qilrae, and her mechanical surgical constructs.

Key events

• The party reaches the plateau and is greeted by Qilrae, Velessa's eldest sister, who coldly mocks the party's previous victories.
• Velessa and Qilrae exchange barbs about Velessa's transformation into a dhampir and her abandonment of the family.
• Qilrae expresses interest in studying how Velessa became a dhampir, but notes she has a task to complete first.
• Combat erupts as Qilrae commands her mechanical nurses — constructs equipped with mechano-syringe arms — to attack.
• Velessa opens the engagement with a silver lance of magical energy, immediately wounding the surgeon construct.
• Yona unleashes a psychic synaptic static blast that crushes one construct and leaves the others reeling with mental migraines.
• Taliya strikes with a spark of lightning while Qilrae attempts to heal herself with a whispered healing word.
• Qilrae retaliates by dismantling Yona's skeleton warrior with her surgical blades.
• Séantal and their celestial defender focus their attacks on the remaining constructs, destroying them with eldritch blasts and radiant strikes.
• Velessa strikes her sister with her moon sword while Yona tolls a bell of doom to weaken her further.
• Taliya delivers a final magical flourish, knocking Qilrae unconscious.
• The party stabilizes the eldest sister after the combat concludes.

7. Return to Eomane House

With all three sisters defeated, the party gathers them and returns to their residence, only to find it occupied by House Xilraen forces and their matriarch.

Key events

• Velessa conjures a Tenser's floating disc to transport her three bound and defeated sisters through the streets.
• The sisters react with a mix of quiet sing-songy murmurs and loud cursing as they are loaded onto the magical platform.
• The party arrives at the Eomane House to find pairs of drow soldiers standing guard at the gates and doors, who step aside upon seeing the party approach.
• Upon entering the sitting room, the party discovers Velessa's daughters bound on the couch but being served tea.
• A large squirming bag of imps sits in the corner of the room.
• Zilvra Xilraen, the matriarch of House Xilraen, is found seated in the room's most prestigious chair, attended by mechanical limbs, holding a cup of tea.
• Velessa and Zilvra engage in a tense verbal exchange; Zilvra expresses disappointment that Velessa has not conquered the city.
• Velessa cites a lack of interest and excessive paperwork as her reasons for not taking Baldur's Gate.
• Zilvra notes that she came to Baldur's Gate because Velessa speaks so highly of the surface town, and calls for a formal discussion over tea.
• A surface elf servant is summoned to bring tea for the guests as the session ends.

Miirym

The spectral guardian of Candlekeep, appearing as a floating ghostly dragon head. She congratulates the party on their success, then proposes that Yona leave the vaults to travel with the party and act as her eyes in the world. She transfers a piece of her essence into Yona, causing the drow's eyes to glow green with slitted pupils before Miirym's head evaporates.

Janussi

An Avowed scholar at Candlekeep who was engrossed in the Red Annals of the Zulkirate when the party returned. She confirms the quest's success, releases the protective dome over the party's belongings, arranges fifty years of back pay for Yona, and provides Yona with a sending stone carved with open-mouthed faces for future communication.

Ilmryn Xilraen

Velessa's sister who appears as a ghostly ephemeral image in Janussi's study to deliver the urgent news that their mother has arrived at the family estate in Baldur's Gate and is not letting Ilmryn or Velessa's daughters leave.

Belmra Xilraen

Velessa's second sister, a sharp-tongued drow who specializes in garments and wearable mechanisms. She carries wicked tailor's tools — scissors, needles, and thread — as lethal weapons. She intercepts the party on a bridge, mocks Velessa's fashion choices, and fights using Loom Guards, threading drones, and a strangling veil before surrendering when clearly outmatched. She is subsequently suspended ten feet in the air by Velessa.

Loom Guards

Advanced mechanical constructs deployed by Belmra Xilraen. They resemble robotic figures capable of both weaving and lethal combat, though Velessa mocks their durability. Both are destroyed during the bridge confrontation.

Threading Drones

A swarm of tiny, spider-like constructs or magically animated insects that serve Belmra, attacking by swarming targets and piercing them with needles. Yona notes her necrotic energy bypasses their resistances, suggesting they are not purely mechanical.

Naldris Xilraen

Velessa's sixth sister, known for her soft-spoken, sing-song voice and her specialty in resonance, bells, and harmonic devices. She confronts the party with floating mechanical echo constructs and uses a dead air effect to silence Velessa. She is defeated and stabilized by the party.

Echo Constructs

Whimsical, floating mechanical devices resembling wind chimes that serve Naldris, capable of delivering electrical shocks to intruders. Several are destroyed by the party's combined attacks, with the remainder incinerated by Taliya's fireball.

Qilrae Xilraen

The eldest Xilraen sister, cold and exacting. She specializes in surgical and medical equipment and commands mechanical nurse constructs equipped with mechano-syringe arms and surgical blades. She expresses clinical interest in Velessa's dhampir transformation before initiating combat. She is defeated and stabilized by the party.

Xilraen Surgeon Constructs

Mechanical constructs equipped with mechano-syringe arms and surgical blades, deployed by Qilrae. They are capable of both healing and lethal precision strikes, and one dismantles Yona's skeleton warrior during the fight.

Zilvra Xilraen

The Matriarch of House Xilraen and Velessa's mother. She is found seated in the most prestigious chair of the Eomane House sitting room, attended by mechanical limbs and holding a cup of tea. She expresses cold disappointment that Velessa has not conquered Baldur's Gate, notes she came to visit because Velessa speaks so highly of the surface, and calls for a formal discussion.

Candlekeep Basement Levels

The subterranean archives and vaults beneath the great library where Yona has lived for roughly fifty years under the guardianship of Miirym. The party passes through here after their successful retrieval of the Seal of Concordance.

Candlekeep

The great library fortress where the party finalizes their quest with Janussi, Yona receives her long-awaited back pay, and the party departs via portal for Baldur's Gate.

Ramazith's Tower

A tall tower in Baldur's Gate where the party arrives via portal. Its high balcony provides a sweeping view of the city streets, which are engulfed in a full-scale drow invasion. The tower's scribes have barricaded themselves inside.

Upper City, Baldur's Gate

The prestigious district of Baldur's Gate surrounding Ramazith's Tower, transformed into a warzone filled with clashing House Xilraen soldiers and city watch, with bodies on the ground in every direction.

The Bridge

A large bridge in the Upper City of Baldur's Gate where the party is intercepted by Belmra Xilraen and her mechanical Loom Guards and threading drones during the drow invasion.

Baldur's Gate Streets

The urban thoroughfares of the city near Ramazith's Tower, currently a multi-level battlefield where the party clashes with Velessa's sisters and their automated defenses. A stray fireball from Taliya set nearby market stalls and trees ablaze.

Eomane House

The party's residence in the Upper City of Baldur's Gate, currently occupied by drow soldiers and the matriarch of House Xilraen. The sitting room has been turned into the site of a tense family reunion, with Velessa's daughters bound on the couch and Zilvra Xilraen seated in the most prestigious chair.

Seal of Concordance

A powerful artifact successfully retrieved from the bowels of Candlekeep by the party. Its recovery is confirmed to Janussi upon the party's return, concluding their business at the library. It is intended for use by Szass Tam.

Red Annals of the Zulkirate

A crimson-bound book of Thayan history that Janussi was thoroughly engrossed in when the party returned from the vaults, having been given it by the party as part of their arrangement.

Sending Stone

A small gray stone carved with many different faces, all with open mouths, given to Yona by Janussi upon her departure from Candlekeep. Janussi holds the paired stone, allowing the two to communicate across distances.

Velessa's Tits of Holding

Velessa's customized bag of holding built into her brassiere. She casually retrieves a jacket from it during her confrontation with Belmra, to Belmra's visible bewilderment.

Mòyuè jiàn

Velessa's prized black moon sword, drawn and enchanted before entering the fray. She uses it to bisect a Loom Guard, project extended-reach energy strikes at Belmra while restrained, deliver a devastating opening blow to Naldris, and strike at Qilrae during the final confrontation.

Belmra's Tailor Tools

A wicked-looking collection of scissors, needles, and thread carried by Belmra Xilraen, modified with a drow's cruel ingenuity to serve as lethal weapons and the components for her strangling veil attacks.

Rope

Used by Velessa to create a pulley system that suspends her defeated sister Belmra ten feet off the ground after the bridge confrontation.

Skeletal Warrior

The animated remains of a fallen city guard, raised by Yona using Animate Dead after the bridge battle. It serves as a combatant for the party in subsequent fights but is dismantled by Qilrae's surgical blades during the final confrontation.

Tenser's Floating Disc

A circular plane of magical force conjured by Velessa to transport her three bound and defeated sisters — Belmra, Naldris, and Qilrae — through the streets of Baldur's Gate back to the Eomane House.

Mage Hand

Used by Janussi to open the door for the party upon their return to her study in Candlekeep.

Teleportation Circle

The magical means by which the party traveled instantly from Candlekeep to the penthouse of Ramazith's Tower in Baldur's Gate, bypassing three days of travel.

Summon Celestial

Employed by Séantal to conjure a powerful celestial Defender — resembling a planetar — onto the battlefield. The spirit fights alongside the party throughout the session, striking enemies with its radiant mace and providing temporary hit points to allies.

Eldritch Blast

Cast repeatedly by both Séantal and Yona throughout the session to strike at Loom Guards, threading drones, echo constructs, and Velessa's sisters. Yona's version is infused with necrotic energy that ignores resistances due to her warlock features.

Form of Dread

Yona activates this terrifying aspect of her patron as a bonus action, gaining extra hit points and the ability to frighten enemies on a successful attack. She uses it to frighten Belmra during the bridge confrontation.

Strangling Veil

A specialized drow technique used by Belmra to lash out with magical threads, successfully restraining Velessa during the bridge combat.

Radiant Mace

The weapon ability of Séantal's summoned celestial spirit, used to batter mechanical constructs and drones with holy force. Each successful hit also generates temporary hit points that the spirit can distribute to itself or nearby allies.

Starry Wisp

A cantrip cast by Taliya intended to limn Belmra in light to prevent her from turning invisible. It misses during the bridge confrontation but lands successfully in a later encounter.

Animate Dead

Cast by Yona after the bridge battle to raise a skeletal warrior from the body of a fallen city guard. The skeleton serves as a combatant for the party in subsequent fights.

True Strike

Employed by Velessa as her signature spell. Notably, it has no verbal components, allowing her to fight effectively even while silenced by Naldris's dead air effect.

Dead Air

A specialized resonance effect used by Naldris to create a zone of absolute silence around Velessa, stripping her of the ability to hear or speak. It does not require concentration to maintain.

Slow

A chronomancy spell cast by Taliya to hinder the reactions and movement of Naldris and her echo constructs. Casting it triggered a wild magic surge.

Grave Ground

A dark conjuration used by Yona to manifest a large area of grasping skeletal hands from the earth, hindering and harming enemies caught within it. The spell's macro had technical issues during the session requiring a recast.

Synaptic Static

A psychic explosion unleashed by Yona against Naldris and her constructs, causing significant mental trauma and leaving survivors with lingering migraines that penalized their attack rolls and concentration saves.

Fireball

A massive explosion of fire cast by Taliya that cleared the battlefield of echo constructs but caused significant collateral damage, accidentally setting nearby market stalls and trees in Baldur's Gate ablaze. Taliya empowered the spell to reroll low damage dice.

Laurel's Silver Lance

A ranged magical strike employed by Velessa to open the combat against Qilrae, dealing significant damage to the eldest sister and immediately leaving her bloodied.

Healing Word

A brief incantation used by Qilrae in a desperate attempt to mend her wounds during the fight against the party, rolling minimum results.

Toll the Dead

A somber, bell-like cantrip conjured by Yona to strike at Qilrae's vitality during the final confrontation on the plateau.

Tenser's Floating Disc

Employed by Velessa after all three sisters were defeated to create a mobile platform for transporting her bound captives through the streets of Baldur's Gate back to the Eomane House.

Magical Cunning

Used by Yona outside the Eomane House to recover a spent spell slot before entering to face Velessa's mother.