Summary author: Caillte (Oak)

During the evening those at the workshop spend some time talking. Thunderwing asks what the plans are we we say we need to go the Haven Ruins as we’ve heard that there’s a machine that’s keeping the devil’s gates open, and when the Dominion try to destroy them they are rebuilt. She also asks if anyone has seen these types prosthetic as her arm. Caillte gives it a look over and finds that the base of the arm is standard Dominion model, but there is an unusual decal on it that resembles a birds wings. When he mentions this Thunderwing taps the arm and Strike, an owl construct, climbs out of it. Caillte is impressed by the design and complexity of Strike and looks them over, finding a makers mark he doesn’t recognise, a side profile of a canine with three eyes visible. He offers to ask his aunt if she know the workshop that uses the mark. They then sleep for the night.

The next day they head into the market to top us on supplies, including a replacement compass, some Potency runes, new armour and applying a layer of silver to Zygomatic’s shield, and a Battle Medicine Baton for Thunderwing, then return to the workshop for the evening with the plan to head out early the next morning.

We leave the city without issue, and Thunderwing volunteers to lead the way to the Haven. We start off heading east without incident, and are able to find some flowering cacti that can be used to craft a healing item. Thunderwing is able to harvest three chunks hurting herself on the spines. After a short rest we continue on, finding a path nice shade and a cool breeze. Thunderwing is getting a bit overconfident so stops using the compass, resulting is us taking a longer route, but finding some more cacti. Thunderwing goes to harvest them as well, but Caillte thinks they are narcotic rather than medical. Thunderwing decides to takes some anyway, but keep them separate. Zygomatic tells her to use the compass, which puts us back on the main path. We bump into a group of orcs, who are a bit wary of us, but one of them comes over and tells us a shortcut that will take us directly to the Haven. Thunderwing gives them a chuck from each cacti as thanks.

We follow the shortcut and reach the entrance to the ruins. Caillte calls out in Shadowtouge, introducing the group, and asking if Amber if on duty. Instead a well dressed young man in armour come out to great us, he introduces himself as Dan, as we’ve been here before he’s happy for us to head straight down to the Haven.
We find our way to the inn we stayed before, where the innkeeper recognises us, and asks what we’re here for. Caillte explains that someone they work with has had a vision of the towers linked to the devils, and we’re here to look into it. He mentions hearing about the towers, but warns that some of the locals might not be happy with us messing around there. He’s still happy for us to stay, and we all share a room for the night.

The next morning we discuss our plans, and due to the warning that the innkeeper gave us decide to see if Arkix is in town, and head to the hidden bar. She’s not there but we recognise Lirien, the elf who spoke with Nulra the last time we were here, reading at a table. Caillte sits across from him and introduces himself, and tells him that we are there to investigate the towers, but didn’t want to cause any accidental offence to local.

Lirien explains that the Dominion has been fighting with the Haven’s guards, The Umbral Brood, over the towers. Apparently the Dominion believe that they are built on laylines, and are used to concentrate the ambient power, which helps those in the area cast magic. He’s unsure if it’s true that the devils are using this power to maintain their gates, but it’s a fact the Fecthlings are using it to run to their city.

So far the Dominion have been unwilling to compromise, and as so far the devils are only targeting the surface anger is growing amongst the Fecthlings. Caillte don’t want to cause trouble for the Haven, but knows how much trouble the devils are causing, he asks if it would be possible to do some maintenance on the towers, allowing their power to feed directly into the Haven without giving the devils any access. Lirien say she can’t speak for the Fectchlings, but he has a contact in the Umbral Brood, and will arrange a meeting for that evening if we do him a favour. His husband, a human called Charles was working undercover in the local Dominion ranks, but hasn’t made contact for several days. He give us Charles’ description and mention they would have a matching ring, and asks that we find out what’s happened to him. Caillte accepts the deal, and goes to speak with the others at another table, where they plan to wait for the contact to arrive.