Cabe wears the Silver Medallion and Thistle keeps the Wand of Dark Yew visible at his hip. If they are spotted in the shafts by lesser cultists, they look like a specialized retrieval team.

Thistle grips the dark yew wand. The psionic static in his head seems to sharpen into a singular point. "The air up there... it's dry. And it tastes like copper. She's waiting, but she's looking at the doors, not the ceiling."

Before taking leave of the halflings, Aele addresses them. "Remember this day, that the Brothers of the Deep gave you forewarning and timely aid. Now we leave you, to confront a great menace so that its evil machinations cannot bring woe to the Fungal Forest, to you. Is there any information or other aid that you can provide to help us in our quest?"

Aele’s voice carries a gravity that silences the rustling of the nearby fungal stalks. Keeva looks at her scouts, then back at the "Brothers." The sight of the glowing Scarab and the prompt disposal of the Golem has clearly shifted her perspective from "mercenary contract" to "pivotal alliance."

She signals for her scouts to stand down and steps toward Aele, her expression uncharacteristically somber.

"You’ve got a way with words, Priest," Keeva says, her voice low. "And you’ve got a way with steel. The Small Ones don't forget when someone helps us keep our floor. You want aid? I can give you the 'Scout’s Truth' of the Hall of Records."

She pulls a small, dried mushroom cap from her pouch—a Whisper-Cap—and crushes it. A faint, silver dust hangs in the air, sharpening everyone's hearing for a moment.

"The one you're looking for... the Mother of Scorpions. We’ve seen her 'children' skittering through the vents. Those scorpions aren't just pets; they're her eyes and ears. But they hate the Cold Smoke. If you find any ancient Thothian 'Fire-Sticks' (alchemical torches), the blue flame sends the scorpions into a frenzy of fear. They'll scatter and leave her unprotected."

"There’s a pressure plate at the base of the Great Archive stairs in the Hall. It’s a 'Weight of Ma'at' trap. If you step on it, the doors lock and the room fills with sand. But if you hug the Left-Hand Wall and walk only on the black marble veins, the mechanism won't trigger. The Thothians used the black stone as a 'safety path' for their librarians."

Keeva reaches into a hidden pocket in her leather vest and pulls out two small, clay jars.

Soot-Paste: "Smear this under your eyes and on your blades. It kills the reflection of the bioluminescence. It’ll give you a better chance of getting into the rafters without the Priestess's scorpions catching the glint of your steel."

"Go on then," Keeva grunts, nodding toward the hidden ventilation shaft. "We’ll keep a 'Watch-Fire' burning here. If things go south and you need to run, come back to the forest. We’ll make sure anyone following you finds a very short, very sharp end to their journey."

Dorn takes the Soot-Paste and begins applying it to Swift and his own face. Cabe secures the Silver Medallion, and Thistle tucks the Wand of Dark Yew into his belt, feeling the weight of the Halflings' respect.

Item/Info Gained	Benefit
The "Black Vein" Secret	Allows the party to move safely through the Hall of Records if they drop to the floor
Soot-Paste	Grants Advantage on Stealth checks while in the dim light of the rafters
The Blue Flame Tip	A potential tactical exploit if Aele can produce a blue-burning light

"Thank you, Keeva," Dorn says, handing the halfling five golden coins. Perhaps you can find a use for these coins. You have aided us. The Brothers of the Deep remember their friends."

Keeva catches the five gold coins out of the air with the practiced reflex of a card-sharp. She flips one over her knuckles, the ancient Thothian gold catching the dim fungal light, before tucking them into a secure pocket.

"Gold is a language everyone in Arden Vul speaks, Dorn," she says with a sharp, respectful nod. "But out here, it's the sentiment that buys the loyalty. We’ll keep the 'back door' open for you. Don't be strangers—provided you're still walking upright when you come back."

With the halflings watching their back, the Brothers of the Deep vanish into the vertical shaft after Keeva flips a hidden mechanism that causes a section of stone wall sporting fungal shelf growths to open.

The heroes apply the paste. Cabe adjusts the silver medallion, its seven-lashed eye catching the last of the bioluminescence. "Let's move. I want to see if this 'Mother' bleeds like her sons did."

The climb begins.

After a grueling climb, you reach the primary junction. Aele slides a heavy brass grate aside just an inch. You are roughly thirty feet above the floor of the Hall of Records, perched on a maintenance catwalk that runs the perimeter of the ceiling.

Below you, the majesty of the Thothian Empire is on full display—and the corruption of the Cabal is equally evident.

After a grueling climb, you reach the primary junction. Aele slides a heavy brass grate aside just an inch. You are roughly thirty feet above the floor of the Hall of Records, perched on a maintenance catwalk that runs the perimeter of the ceiling.

Below you, the majesty of the Thothian Empire is on full display—and the corruption of the Cabal is equally evident. The Mother of Scorpions sits cross-legged on the dais where the Seal of Ma'at once stood. Her iridescent robes ripple like oil on water. Four large bronze braziers surround her, pouring out a thick, greenish-purple smoke that smells of rotting lilies and copper.

The "carpet" of scorpions isn't just on the floor; they are slowly spiraling up the four central pillars, their tails twitching in unison with her breathing.

Just as Keeva promised, the floor is a mosaic of white marble, but a singular, jagged line of Black Marble winds from the entrance to the Hall of Cylinders door.

Dorn signals for Aele to close the brass plate. Once that's done, Dorn says quietly, "We're not prepared for this. We need anti-venom and fire. Where can we go to get those things?"

Aele considers the unique flora of the Fungal Forest. While he doesn't have a pre-made "kit," his background as a Cleric of Thoth and his familiarity with the Sovereign’s domain give him a distinct advantage. He says, "I can synthesize a potent antitoxin if we return to the Fungal Forest so I can gather some components."

Cabe weighs in, "Let's do that."

Thistle says, "Maybe the halflings can give us an idea where we can acquire an item or chemicals to produce blue flame. We might get lucky if we rushed the Mother right now, but I'd feel better if we tilted the circumstances in our favor..."

Aele and Dorn share a look, pleased that Thistle is beginning to feel like 'one of the guys'.

Dorn nods, "Okay, let's head back. We've been victorious in combat because we stack the deck. Let's not break our winning streak now because of impatience." The party returns to the Fungal Forest and seeks out Keeva again. As they approach, Aele says, "I have been praying and I believe Thoth has already equipped his servant with the ability to produce the blue flame we need. Now, if we can manage to come up with antitoxin..."

Back at the forest perimeter, the halfling sentries emerge from the bioluminescence with their slings lowered. Keeva crosses her arms, watching you approach with a mix of curiosity and professional caution. "Back so soon? Forget your courage in the vents, or did you realize those scorpions have more stings than you have skin?"

When Aele explains the need for antitoxin and his plan to brew it, Keeva whistles, and one of her scouts produces a small bundle of Milk-Stalk and Bitter-Shelf fungi. "We have the raw materials, Priest, but brewing takes time—and time in Arden Vul usually costs blood. If you're going to sit here for ten minutes, my lads will keep the perimeter, but keep your voices down. The forest has ears."

Keeva produces the needed ingredients:

• Milk-Stalk Spores: Known to bind with organic toxins in the bloodstream.
• Bitter-Shelf Resin: A natural stimulant that prevents the heart from slowing under the effect of paralysis-inducing venom.
• Aele's Own Ritual Water: To serve as a purified base for the concoction.

Aele sets up a small traveling mortar and pestle. He works with rhythmic, prayerful movements, grinding the spores and resin into a thick, translucent paste before diluting it with ritual water.

Time Elapsed: 10 minutes.

Yield: 3 Doses of Thothian Antitoxin.

Effect: Each dose grants Advantage on Saving Throws vs. Poison for 1 hour. If consumed after being stung, it allows an immediate re-roll of the save with a +2 bonus.

"Right then," Dorn says, distributing the vials of bitter, milky liquid to Cabe and himself. "We have the protection, we have the blue light, and we have the path. Let's go finish this."

Keeva gives a curt nod. "Good hunting. If you kill the Mother, tell her the Small Ones sent their regards."

Cabe is quick with a rejoinder: "We shall, and perhaps we'll bring you a bauble or two..."

The Brothers and Thistle climb the conduit once more, moving with silent purpose. You reach the grate overlooking the Hall of Records. The scene below is unchanged: the Mother of Scorpions sits in her trance, the green-purple smoke curling around her, and the carpet of scorpions twitching on the marble floor.

Aele expends 1 Surge (4/5 remaining). He tosses a soot-blackened stone, now radiating a Cold Blue intensity, into the densest cluster of scorpions near the dais. The sea of scorpions recoils in a violent, chittering wave, creating a 10-foot radius of clear marble around the Priestess. The "Mother" snaps her eyes open, but the sudden blue glare dazes her.

Cabe’s Sniper Shot:

Target: Mother of Scorpions (Surprised)
Priestess AAC: 15 (Base) - 2 (Surprised) = 13 AAC
Cabe's Attack Roll:
Raw Roll: 14
Modifiers: 
+2 (Dex/Bow) 
+1 (Thoth's Comfort) 
= +3 Total
Modified Result: 17 (Hit!)
Damage: 1d6 (4) 
+ 1 (Thoth's Comfort) 
= 5 Damage

The arrow pierces the Mother of Scorpion's shoulder just as she begins to stand.

Dorn pushes off the catwalk, a shadow falling over the Priestess. He brings Swift down with the full momentum of the 30-foot drop.

Target: Mother of Scorpions
Dorn's Attack Roll:
Raw Roll: 17
Modifiers: 
+4 (Str) 
+2 (Swift) 
+1 (Great Strike) 
+1 (Thoth's Comfort) 
+2 (High Ground/Surprise) 
= +10 Total
Modified Result: 26 (Critical Hit!)
Damage: [1d8 (8) x 2 (Crit)] 
+ 4 (Str) 
+ 2 (Swift) 
+ 1 (Great Strike) 
+ 1 (Thoth's Comfort) 
= 24 Damage

Result: Dorn lands like a thunderclap. Swift carves a deep, glowing line through her iridescent robes and into her chest. She is blown backward off her stone seat.

From the shadows of the ceiling, three darts of pure force erupt from the Wand of Dark Yew.

Damage: 3d4+3 = 10 Force Damage (Auto-hit)

Result: The missiles slam into her as she tries to roll away from Dorn, pinning her against the base of the dais.

Altogether, the party has delivered 38 points of damage to the Mother of Scorpions during the Surprise Round — with Dorn delivering the Lion's Share of that damage.

The Mother of Scorpions is gasping, her iridescent robes shredded and soaked in black ichor. However, she is a high-level threat in the world of Issenda; despite the staggering 38 damage, she is still clinging to life and has begun her counter-chant.

Dorn is standing directly over her, Swift humming with the residue of the critical hit.

Aele is readying his next move, the Blue Flame still keeping the carpet of scorpions at bay around the dais.

Thistle is preparing the final charge of the wand, even as scorpions begin to crest the rafters near his position.

The Mother of Scorpions attempts to maintain her chant through the pain of the surprise round.

Difficulty Rating: 16
The Roll: 1d20 (14) 
+ 5 (Con/Level) = 19
Result: Success

Despite the black ichor staining the marble, she grits her teeth and completes the guttural invocation. The room begins to rumble. The adrenaline of the drop and the urgency of the crumbling ceiling dictate the speed of the combatants.

Combatant	Initiative (1d20+Dex)	Action Order
Cabe	18 + 2 = 20	1st
Dorn	15 + 1 = 16	2nd
Thistle	12 + 2 = 14	3rd
Mother of Scorpions	11 + 2 = 13	4th
Aele	8 + 0 = 8	5th

Cabe strikes the Mother with an arrow for four more damage; Dorn rips into her for another 13 damage; Thistle does another 10 damage with the yew wand, which is now spent.

With her final breath, the Mother of Scorpions slams her hands onto the marble. The rumble reaches a crescendo. A Giant Scorpion of translucent, spectral energy erupts from the floor beneath the dais, hurling Dorn back 10 feet.

Status: She is still standing, but barely. She has now taken a total of 65 Damage.

Aele steps to the edge of the blue light and raises the Heart-Seed Scarab. He expends a Surge, and the Mother is struck by a ball of radiant energy for 10 more damage! The radiant beam pierces through the spectral scorpion and strikes the Mother in the heart. Her iridescent robes ignite in white fire. She collapses, her body dissolving into a pile of ash and dry chitin.

Total Damage Dealt: 38 (Surprise) + 37 (Round 1) = 75 Damage.

Confused, the scorpions on the walls are beginning to drop and scatter now that their "Mother" is gone. The rumbling has stopped, but several large cracks have formed in the marble above. "The door, Dorn!" Aele points to the circular bronze portal of the Hall of Cylinders. "The resonance is peaking—we have to use the Chisel before her 'Children' recover their wits! Get down here, Thistle, and walk on the black tiles only!" The heroes rush for the circular bronze portal, staying on the black tiles.

The Mother of Scorpions is a heap of smoldering ash, and the spectral guardian has vanished with her final breath. The remaining scorpions, robbed of her guiding will and terrified by the Azure Spark, scatter into the dark crevices of the masonry.

Thistle scrambles down from the rafters with surprising agility, his face pale but determined. He lands near the entrance and immediately finds the jagged vein of Black Marble. Following the "Scout's Truth" provided by Keeva, the party moves in a tight line, their boots clicking only on the dark stone to avoid the weight-sensitive sand traps of the Great Archive.

The heroes safely reach the massive bronze portal. It is ten feet in diameter, etched with celestial maps and the lineage of the Thothian scholar-kings. Unlike the door Dorn picked earlier, this one has no keyhole. Instead, there is a circular indentation in the center—the exact size of the Heart-Seed Scarab.

Aele steps forward, his hand trembling slightly from the adrenaline. He presses the Scarab into the slot. The bronze gears within the door groan, sounding like a mountain moving, and the seal rotates open.

The room beyond is a perfect silo of polished basalt. In the center stands a singular, massive brass cylinder—the Fourth Cylinder. It is covered in thousands of tiny, shifting cogs that represent the calculated movements of the stars.

The Resonance here is deafening to Thistle; it’s a high-pitched vibration that makes the soot-paste on your skin itch.

The Cylinder is currently "locked" in a high-vibration state. Steam vents from its base, and the internal gears are grinding with a heat that suggests imminent mechanical failure. It's going to explode soon!

Aele, with an effort of will, brings an initial wave of panic under control. "Dorn, the Resonance Chisel, quick! Use it at the base of the Cylinder to bleed off the excess energy and stabilize the device!"

Dorn moves with the fluid precision of a master thief, ignoring the vibrating basalt floor and the deafening hum of the Fourth Cylinder. He draws the Resonance Chisel, its cold Thothian metal contrasting with the heat radiating from the brass gears.

Dorn finds the harmonic hub—a series of crystal-aligned ports at the base of the cylinder—and begins to carefully apply the chisel to bleed off the building pressure.

Dorn's Check: Dexterity (Thieves' Tools)
Roll: 1d20 (13) 
+ 6 (Dex/Level/Knack) 
= 19
DC: 15
Result: Success!

As the chisel makes contact, a high-pitched whine erupts, followed by a violent spray of blue sparks. The frantic grinding of the internal gears slows to a rhythmic, steady thrum. The heat dissipates instantly, replaced by a cool, stabilizing vibration that resonates through the Heart-Seed Scarab.

The Fourth Cylinder is stabilized!

While Dorn works, Cabe and Thistle take up positions by the circular bronze door. The heavy clank of metal boots grows louder. From the shadows of the marbled hallway, the first of the Cabal's reinforcements appear: Two Stitched-Flesh Sentinels, their bodies grafted with bronze plating and powered by glowing violet jars on their backs.

"They're here!" Thistle shouts, his voice cracking. He looks at the inert Wand of Dark Yew, then pulls his dagger. "Aele, I'm out of magic!"

"Hold them at the threshold!" Aele commands, his staff pulsing with the last of his radiant energy. "Dorn, the stabilization is holding, but the Cylinder needs one minute to fully reset its celestial alignment. We have to hold this room for one full minute! Thistle, forget the wand, you are a priest of Thoth: use your surge powers!"

Dorn plants himself at the circular portal, a bulwark of defense, a bastion to deny the reinforcements entry into the chamber. He yells, "Cabe and Thistle, make ranged attacks from behind me!"

The chamber of the Fourth Cylinder hums with a newfound stability, but the air is thick with the scent of ozone and the heavy, rhythmic thud of bronze-plated feet. Dorn stands like a monolith in the center of the bronze portal, Swift glowing with a cold, blue light that matches the Azure Spark still flickering on the floor.

"One minute!" Dorn roars, his voice echoing off the basalt walls. "Not a single stitch of meat crosses this line!"

Dorn anchors himself at the center of the threshold, his boots braced against the ancient bronze frame. Behind him, Cabe’s eyes take on a frightening, bloodshot hue as he triggers his Red Frenzy.

The Stand: Round 3 (40 Seconds Remaining)

The air in the hallway grows thick with the hissed steam from the Sentinels' power jars.

Cabe bites his lip until it bleeds, the sacrificial pain fueling his focus. He draws his bow to the breaking point. The arrow slams into the lead Sentinel’s throat-joint, sparking against the brass reinforcement.

Self-Damage: 1d4 = 2 Damage 
(Cabe is at 41/49 HP).
Attack Roll: 18 (Raw) 
+ 3 (Dex/Comfort) 
+ 2 (Frenzy) = 
23 vs AAC 17 (Hit!)
Damage: 1d6 (6) 
+ 2 (Frenzy) 
+ 1 (Comfort) 
= 9 Damage

Dorn meets the lead Sentinel’s charge. The creature tries to use its massive bronze-clad shoulder to shove Dorn back, but the Level 5 fighter is a mountain of iron.

Dorn’s Attack: 12 (Raw) 
+ 10 (Str/Swift/Comfort/Great Strike) 
= 22 vs AAC 17 (Hit!)
Damage: 1d8 (7) 
+ 4 (Str) 
+ 2 (Swift) 
+ 1 (Comfort) 
+ 1 (Great Strike) 
= 15 Damage

The lead Sentinel (A) lets out a mechanical groan and swings its jagged halberd in a wide, desperate arc, hitting Dorn hard, for 11 points of damage!

Blood-Bond Distribution
Damage is first subtracted from 
Dorn’s 5 Temporary HP
Remaining 6 Damage is split via 
the Blood-Bond between Dorn, 
Cabe, and Aele (2 each)

Current HP: Dorn: 44/46 | Cabe: 39/49 | Aele: 50/52. Total Damage to Sentinel A: 37 (Heavily Wounded).

The Stand: Round 4 (30 Seconds Remaining)

Dorn stands firm, his boots slick with black ichor, while the gears of the Fourth Cylinder shift with a sound like grinding diamonds.

Cabe continues his focused assault. The pain of the frenzy is slightly dulled by his supernatural recovery.

Regeneration: 
Cabe recovers 1 HP (Current: 40/49 HP)
Red Frenzy: Suffer 1d4 (3) damage 
to gain +2 Attack/Damage 
(Current: 37/49 HP)
Attack Roll: 15 
+ 3 (Dex/Comfort) 
+ 2 (Frenzy) 
= 20 vs AAC 17 (Hit!)
Damage: 1d6 (3) 
+ 2 (Frenzy) 
+ 1 (Comfort) 
= 6 Damage

Result: The arrow sinks into the lead Sentinel's (A) shoulder, causing its bronze arm to hang limp.

Dorn sees the opening created by Cabe’s arrow. He drives Swift (+2) upward, aiming for the violet power jar beneath the Sentinel’s jaw.

Attack Roll: 11 
+ 10 (Str/Swift/Comfort/Great Strike) 
= 21 vs AAC 17 (Hit!)
Damage: 1d8 (4) 
+ 4 (Str) 
+ 2 (Swift) 
+ 1 (Comfort) 
+ 1 (Great Strike) 
= 12 Damage

Total Damage to Sentinel A this combat: 55 Damage.

Result: The Sentinel's head is severed by the glowing blade. Its body collapses into a heap of dead meat and scrap metal, creating difficult terrain in the doorway.

Sentinel B stomps over the remains of its fallen comrade, swinging its halberd at Dorn's head.

Attack vs Dorn (AC 21): 17 + 5 = 22 (Hit!)

Damage: 2d6 + 4 = 9 Damage.

Blood-Bond Distribution: The damage is split between the three bonded heroes.

• Dorn: -3 HP (Current: 41/60)
• Cabe: -3 HP (Current: 34/49)
• Aele: -3 HP (Current: 47/52)

Battle Status: 20 Seconds Remaining (8 Rounds)

The first Sentinel is down! However, the second Sentinel is now fully engaged with Dorn, and Cabe has been reduced to below 35 hit points, which may trigger a change in Aele's strategy.

"Dorn, stay steady! The light is turning gold—the alignment is nearly there!" Aele sees Cabe clutching his side. "Thistle, look to Cabe!" Aele triggers Thoth's Comfort.

The golden light within the Hall of Cylinders intensifies to a blinding white glare. As the gears of the Fourth Cylinder lock into their final celestial alignment, the room hums with a frequency that vibrates in everyone's very marrow.

Round 6: The Final Ten Seconds

The Cabal Overseer steps into the light of the doorway, eyes burning with violet malice.

Aele slams the butt of his staff onto the basalt floor, triggering the prepared effects of Thoth's A shimmering blue aura wraps around Dorn, Cabe, and Thistle. Everyone gains +1 to Armor Class and Saving Throws for the next 30 rounds. Additionally, everyone receives an instantaneous +1 HP.

Current HP: Dorn: 42/60 | Cabe: 42/49 | Aele: 48/52 | Thistle: 18/17 (Over-max).

Thistle heals Cabe for +3 HP, Cabe's arrow thunks into the overseer for 6 damage, and Dorn meets the Overseer at the threshold. The Overseer raises a hand to cast a spell, but Dorn is faster, using the reach of Swift to interrupt the somatic gestures.

Attack Roll: 17 
+10 (Str/Swift/Comfort/Great Strike) 
= 27 vs AAC 16 (Hit!)
Damage: 1d8 (8) 
+ 4 (Str) 
+ 2 (Swift) 
+ 1 (Comfort) 
+ 1 (Great Strike) 
= 16 Damage

The Overseer is nearly cleaved in two. It staggers back, its violet lightning fizzling out as it chokes on its own ichor.

The Alignment Complete

A deep, sonorous gong echoes throughout the complex—not from a physical bell, but from the Fourth Cylinder itself. The violet haze in the hallway dissipates instantly as the stabilizing energy of the cylinder reasserts control over the local ley lines.

The remaining Sentinel and the dying Overseer are thrown back by a shockwave of pure Order. The bronze portal of the Hall of Cylinders slams shut and seals itself with a final, definitive click.

The Aftermath

The heroes are alone in the basalt chamber. The Fourth Cylinder is now silent, glowing with a soft, steady sapphire light.

• Dorn: 42/60 HP.
• Cabe: 48/49 HP.
• Aele: 48/52 HP (4/5 Surges).
• Thistle: 17/17 HP (1/2 Surges).

"We did it," Thistle whispers, leaning against the cold stone wall. "The resonance is gone. The forest is safe."

Aele walks to the center of the room. Where the Heart-Seed Scarab was slotted into the door, a small compartment has opened, revealing a crystal vial filled with a swirling, translucent vapor and a silver scroll tube embossed with the mark of Thoth.

The chaos of the corridor is replaced by a heavy, hallowed silence. With the bronze portal sealed, the air inside the chamber feels purified, as if the stabilization of the Fourth Cylinder has scrubbed the psychic grime of the Cabal from the room.

Dorn wipes the ichor from Swift, and Cabe leans against the basalt wall, his breathing finally slowing as his supernatural regeneration and Thistle's prayer close his wounds.

Short Rest Recovery

As the BofD take ten minutes to catch their breath and survey the chamber:

All PCs: Regain 1 HP from the rest.

Cabe: His Regeneration continues to tick. Over ten minutes, he recovers fully to his maximum.

Current Party HP:

• Dorn: 43/60
• Cabe: 49/49
• Aele: 49/52
• Thistle: 17/17

The defeat of a high-level Priestess and her Stitched-Flesh Sentinels, combined with the stabilization of a Major Thothian Artifact, yields significant experience.

Encounter Component	XP Value
The Mother of Scorpions	1,850 XP
2x Stitched-Flesh Sentinels	1,300 XP (650 each)
Cabal Overseer (Driven off/Defeated)	900 XP
Story Goal: Stabilizing the 4th Cylinder	2,500 XP

Total Party XP 6,550 XP

Individual Totals:

• Aele, Dorn, & Cabe: Each gain 2,183 XP
• Thistle: Gains 1,091 XP

Thistle Levels Up to Level 3, gaining +8 HP. His new Max HP is 25 (28 after he increases his Constitution to 13). He gains +1 BAB. Daily Surges increase from 2 to 3. His base saving throws have improved by one point across the board.

Thistle sits on the basalt floor, his back against the cooling metal of the Fourth Cylinder. As he breathes in the purified air of the chamber, he feels a strange, resonant growth within his spirit—a strengthening of the psionic and divine tether he shares with Thoth.

Thistle stands up, dusting off his robes. He looks significantly more sturdy than he did when you first entered the Hall of Records. He grips his dagger and looks up at the aperture in the ceiling.

"I feel... broader," he whispers, testing the weight of his new vitality. "The 'static' in my head has quieted. I'm ready to move when you are, Dorn."