Sanctum Cay

We arrived in the small beach port with no real difficulties.  The White Mantle never managed to catch up, but now with the scepter we must find the Vizier on the island.  Our boat sets sail on the calm blue sea, and within no time we reach our destination.  Evennia lets us off and hands me the Scepter.  She says she would trust no one elses skill with it over mine.  The compliment is humbling. If only she knew how I failed my prince.

Imps and drakes spit fire and lighting at us at every turn.   The Scepter beings to pulsate in my arms, pulling me towards a black mossy boulder where I find a restless spirit.  He will follow the Scepter.  So this is the secret.  It is not only the undead minions and ghouls that bow to the scepter, but normal non-hostile spirits caught between our worlds also cleave to it.  We wade through the shallows between masses of executioners, no doubt with the sole task to execute us.  I attempt to use the scepter as my own but I feel weak with it.  It is obvious to me that this scepter was not meant for a mortal.

We enter the swamp with our ghostly companion. Hellhounds dogging our every step until we see something truly blood-chilling.  Monstrous dragons befouling the waters.  Our strength being sapped just standing within them, the skeleton rotting dragons come at us. After a quick prayer to the Six we attack.  The fates are on our side as we chisel their bones to dust, but at the only exit of this poisoned mire is mother dragon.  She is not impressed that we killed her young. Personally, I was quite impressed.  Out of the swamp we cross giants whose very steps shake the earth and knock us to the ground.  We find him.  Vizier stands at the alter of a small town infested with these giants.

The Vizier gives us news most horrid.  There has been a spy, a mantle accomplice, within our ranks since the beginning.  It is Saidras heartstring, Markis.  Not only is he guilty of giving our secrets to the mantle, but he has sold us out and sunk our ship.  They have Evennia hostage. Saving her life will be nearly impossible.  We must try.  The Vizier claims his powers can raise a ship from the deepest depths, a ship from Orr.  The ritual takes time though, and much of it.  We must keep him safe while he raises the dead ship.  The Mantle come from all sides burning our very skins, in a fever of war.  We cut them down in fierce defence and the Vizier finally raises the ghost ship. 

Sailing through the ocean, the Vizier comes to speak with us.  The Shining Blade is no more. The White Mantle have all but destroyed them.  There is nothing we can do.  Markis has sold us out.  He has had us defeated, and all under the guise of trust and nobility.  Saidra.  Dear Saidra.   He bars us from returning.  We are unprepared, he says, we do not stand a chance.  We are going to the Crystal Desert.  We have a birth right to claim.  Birth right?  Seek out the truth, seek out ascension.  We are the chosen.