12/30/2023
Star and Scale left the Grand Library of Emeral with Jocasta and Tamara Seuthe only to be ambushed by a group of thugs on the road to the safehouse
After dispatching the group, Star and Scale was approached by Clarity Dusk, a local noble, who knew they were working under the employ of Fairwright, who she considered a competitor
Clarity claimed she had a recording on a magical device of the group wielding weapons within the city, which seemed to be why the thugs had attacked in the first place
The group counted on her bluffing and refused to hand over the location of the weapons caches hidden within the city, which is what they had come to the library to retrieve
Clarity departed with her recording, and the group made their way to Fairwright's estate after a quick night of sleep at the safe house
Within Fairwright's sitting room, they encountered the blue haired woman from when Zeb and Eden had first met Gift, a woman they believed to be the god Visuvius based on a description from people in Caim
The woman attacked Gift, pinning him to the wall, and warned the group that Gift was no longer safe to be around
She was soon revealed to be the god Avera Gold, and explained the group had encountered followers of Veil, which was why they were misinformed about her identity as Visuvius
Avera explained that ever since their first meeting, she'd been researching to the best of her godly ability where Gift was from and why he was there -- and she had discovered much. Some of her information initiated a flashback from Gift, fully restoring his memories.
Gift was a weapon sent from another world by a man known as Jericho the Maker*
Gift had a tool inserted in his chest known as the Divinaxiom which Jericho wanted Gift to use to consume the power of the gods of Vault and use it as he saw fit
Jericho had somehow maneuvered the Constellation War to ensure Gift arrived when the gods were at their weakest
The Divinaxiom was separated from Gift upon entry through Vault's atmosphere
Gift was meant to drain the gods power to ensure the worlds of the "Maritus Movement" didn't "come together" and usher in "powerful beings."
Gift's true name was Talus
To this end, Avera, despite her compassion and love for all living things, prompted that Talus's continued existence was a threat to the entire world of Vault
Zeb and Eden promised that Talus could be trusted, and it was not for them to decide his fate
Avera relented and put the imputes on Talus to make the right decision if and when the time came -- she left
The group informed Fairwright that the location of the weapons cache was hidden well, and Zeb gave Jocasta and Tamara a hint to where it was (in the Tsh'Ah conche shell) when Fairwright wouldn't allow their rebellion to have it
The Seuthe sisters left, and Fairwright explained that Clarity's evidence of Hannah weilding a weapon was too damning, and Hannah needed to leave the city.
Markus and Hannah agreed to follow Talus, who decided to leave the group in order to track down the Divinaxiom
Talus parted ways with his longtime friends, Zeb and Eden, to seek his missing piece, and hoped to see them again someday.
* Jericho the Maker was the primary antagonist from a campaign on the Whitespire/Blackthorn world two campaigns in the past, pre-Volan