#oh man major plot thickening whaaaaaat

[blackjackkent]

I had to briefly pull Astarion out of camp to bust one of the locks in the southwest corner of Moonrise, which was chilling with a 30DC. Even with his significant bonuses, this was a major challenge (and we need to make a merchant circuit to buy more lockpicks), but it did get us an inspiration from Karlach titled "Never Liked Stairs" for breaking into a restricted area in Moonrise from an outer balcony.

All of this was very worth it, of course, because there is an UNDEAD PUPPY in this room!

Narrator: Even stripped of flesh, the war-hound is formidable. Spectral eyes meet yours as it growls a challenge. And then it hesitates, gleaming muzzle sampling your scent as if in...recognition?

Pardon me while I pack bond with this creature instantly.

I had to blow all my inspirations to get Hector to pass this animal handling check, but we did it!

[ANIMAL HANDLING] Lower your eyes - you're no threat.

Narrator: The hound relaxes, clearly accustomed to this show of deference within its master's chamber. It turns away and utterly ignores you, as it would any lowly foot soldier.

OK, not quite the show of friendship I thought I might get, but we can pet it at least!

Gently reach out to pet the hound.

Narrator: Warily it watches you approach. There's no flesh or fur to scratch at, only bone and cold metal...but it seems the touch is enough, and for a moment the undead beast is just another dog happily wagging its tail.

Aw. :D

This will probably go down as the only marginally pleasant thing to happen to Hector anywhere inside this tower, and well worth the ten lockpicks I had to spend to get in here.

There's also a number of interesting documents to read in this room, which seems like it might be Ketheric's office. Interesting bits include:

Gortash - the asshole who sold Karlach to the Hells, among other things - is in communication with Ketheric about the hunt for the Astral Prism. His attitude seems to indicate that he might be higher ranked in the cult than Ketheric, too, although I'm not sure.

A number of maps with invasion plans for various major cities.

An Absolutists uniform that we could use for a camp outfit (but probably won't).

In a locked chest, a very loving letter from Ketheric's wife, apparently written soon before she died. (Hector and Gale both got inspiration for this, and Hector commented, "A letter from Ketheric's wife. It sounds like she loved him very much." Hector is turning into a romantic. ;) )

A book titled "Elder Brain Domination" hidden under a floorboard, which...seems BIG MAJOR.

This latter, the book, is very concerning actually. It is a transcribed dictation by Ketheric, and describes "Gortash's plan to enslave an illithid elder brain and make it our marionette under control of the Crown of Karsus." Is that what the Absolute is? An enslaved Elder Brain?

It goes on to say the plan "has proceeded almost without flaw, barring the slight delay while our Bhaalist allies sorted out their leadership conflict."

???????? WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT ??????????

Oh man it goes on....

"The weak point must surely be the sharing of the Netherstones - it was necessary to secure my engagement and that of the murder cult, but eventually it's certain to fracture our fragile alliance. Clearly, all three Netherstones must be controlled by a single leader - me, by preference - but not until after all the stakeholders have made their essential contribution. Gortash fears that, energized by the dark energies of the Crown, the brain we now call the Absolute will eventually metamorphose into something new and more difficult to control."

asjdf;lajks;dlfjka;sldfjka;lsjkdf;lajsdf;lajsd what the fuck ahhhhhhhh