Summary
Party investigated Talmirr's letter, leading to a very paranoid Gerome Twinhaven, Talmirr's uncle, who trusted his nephew to enter at first but only after Talmirr slid a note under the door stating who he was. Talmirr treaded lightly and was informed how enemies of his noble house have between looking for him and their family. He also relayed that his mother and father want a letter from Talmirr, and that they do care despite their actions for him. In addition, Gerome's wife has her own estate and is providing for Gerome whilst he is keeping low. After much conversation (mostly unheard from the window the party were listening from), he agreed to let the party in and gave them a special knock so he knows who are at the door next time.
He was wary of Talmirr's "friends". At dinner Gerome sat silently, but grew in confidence when the party asked about his hobbies, namely chess. The party asked if a dragon could partake in his chess club which caught Gerome off-guard. The following morn, he offered his home as a place to stay, even laying out breakfast for the party.
The party took a carriage to the Opal forest in the hopes of entering the Fey realm with Falkos' aid. The carriage driver dropped them off before a forest, angrily telling them how no driver goes further than he there. Upon avoiding a mother owlbear and her cubs thanks to great stealth (lol), the party eventually came across a dilapidated cabin in the woods. They saw a rusting bronze suit of armour outside, wilted crops and a locked door. They unpicked it and explored, finding rotting food, some spoils and a dead guy upstairs on the bed. Oof. He had lots of crusted blood around him. A spectre, small and glowing with small round eyes, sprouted out of the body. Talmirr identified this and how they learn language at a fast rate/are a blank slate and impressionable. The spectre asked "You want bed?" Wisteria replied, and it asked again. Falkos reached out and it flew into his body, separating his corporeal form and his ethereal, and it took him through the roof and way above the cabin. It let him hover there so he could see the sepctre's form and a sort of arrow in the direction of a beautiful glowing forest in the distance - The Opal Forest.
The spectre released Falkos who then plummeted to his own body, leaving the spectre to make way to the armour outside (as detected by Helka). Upon [idk who] reaching out their hand, the visor slammed shut and the spectre hid inside [I forgot].
A purple swirling mass suddenly appears above the armour…in a second the mass falls down, crushing the suit below it instantly in a symphony of horrible clanging, leaving only a bloodied mess and crumpled metal on the floor. "Oh dear." A firm, feminine voice calls out from above. Whispers of hisses spill in the air and tendrils spill from in front of you all, spurring a blackened, hooded figure. The woman wears a mask with a fierce face, gold in colour. She is garbed in a dark overcoat which covers most of her body. The patterns lining her garb dance around her clothes. You recognise her mask from the battle with the odd fluid shadows on the way to Gilam.
The woman enquired on how much the party unearthed about drow history, with Wisteria and Helka mentioning the Jabberwocky among the battle of Umbra from their studies. Remaining somewhat unimpressed, she expressed her want to "update" the party...
Things of note
⬥ Talmirr's uncle (Gerome Twinhaven) has offered a safe spot for the party at his estate: Diril @ 17 Homing Street
⬥ Gerome may ask the chessboard chairmain to accept a dragon as a member, as requested by the party.
⬥ The towering woman that appeared many moons ago has reappeared...