A Surprising Revelation and Realization

Another installment of Lirael Glimmereye's journal as he progresses as a Yuan-ti Cleric of the Twilight Domain/Rogue. He is a character in a D&D 5e High Fantasy home brew adventure campaign. Today's installment is the third part of our last session where we journeyed to Inverness and met with the Magic Academy's Headmaster and gleaned a great deal of valuable information and engineered a trade It is how the items I chose were selected - an out of session time. If you look below, this is the correct order of the journal entries. This installment also brings us up to tonight's session and from here on I won't be publishing them at such a frantic pace.

Past Journal Entries:

1. Lirael Glimmereye - Backstory
2. The Prophets of Minwa
3. A Journey Into the Dreamveil
4. The Silent Struggle
5. An Answer Well Received
6. The Headmaster's Assistance

In the hushed sanctum of the Headmaster's Office within the Inverness Magic Academy, after our discussions regarding Hassan and the Shadowed Man and getting valuable information we can use in the future. We orchestrated a trade that will play an important part in the future course of our impending quest against the foreboding Shadowed Man and his allies.

I discussed my desire to speak further with the Headmaster in the future regarding learning more from him about Lenore's journals and what else he knew or could learn about our quest. He said he'd like that.

Following the exchange for Lenore's journal, the book with maps, and the elusive Midas Spider, for items essential for our upcoming odyssey, the Headmaster summoned his diligent aide. This loyal assistant was tasked with escorting us through the labyrinthine halls of the academy to the Antiquities Vault, offering us his well-wishing before parting ways. The terms of our trade were explicit: two magical items each, one rare and the other at least uncommon. The Headmaster would contact the Keeper of the Vault and guides would be appointed to assist us in selecting items tailored to our needs.

Journeying to the vault required descent into the very depths of the Library, taking almost an hour, going through several security stops, and upon arriving at the vault's door, we were met by vigilant guards. The Headmaster's aide explained our purpose, and the door to the vault was unlocked. A 50-foot hallway, brimming with defensive mechanisms, and murder holes with more guards tracking our progress led us to the inner sanctum. Beyond the next door, we were introduced to the Keeper of the Vault, who swiftly assigned guides to each of us, emphasizing the necessity of checking in with her before departing.

Amidst the magical treasures within the vault, guided by the insightful suggestions of my guide, I quickly discovered a Helm of Teleportation. Its promise of enhanced navigation through peril and expedited travel aligned with our quest's exigencies.

In the labyrinthine recesses of the vault, I embarked upon the arduous task of selecting my second item, entangled in the web of uncertainty about my future path, nothing seemed to be what I was looking for. Landriss and Varrin, steadfast companions, had grown tired of waiting and impatient to get into the library itself, departed, leaving me to rendezvous with them later. It was during this solitary quest, guided by an aide through the vault's dim corridors, that a glint in the shadows captured my attention.

The Armor once it was cleaned up, before leaving the vault
Image from Bing AI Image Creator - 2023

Venturing closer, I discovered an aged black plate armor, concealed in the vault's darkest recesses. Despite the layers of dust and the apparent centuries of neglect it had endured, the armor resonated with a familiarity that transported me back to the mirrored hall of Minwa's Temple. There, in a vision, I had beheld myself adorned in a similar Blackened Full Plate, crowned with a red rose crest—an emblem etched into the fabric of my memory.

As I gazed upon the armor with wonder and awe, my guide, growing impatient, scrutinized it closely, expressing surprise, "I don't recall ever seeing this armor before." He cast a spell and looked bewildered and simply said this doesn't have any magic to it. I didn't care, despite the armor being cloaked in thick dust and draped by a black woolen cloak, its essence stirred a resonance within me when I touched it. I knew it was destined to be mine.

The guide, was perplexed at my choice, but my conviction prevailed over his skepticism. We wheeled it to the vault's entrance and checked in with the Keeper. She, too, appeared perplexed, after speaking quickly with my guide, she too cast a spell on the armor that heightened her concern. No magical aura emanated from the armor, and her identify spell revealed no historical knowledge. She again questioned my choice of all the magical items I could have, why did I pick the one without magic. I recounted my vision from Minwa's Temple, where I was wearing similar armor that was seemingly tied to my fate. The Keeper, though cautious, acquiesced, stating, "Very well, just know that it is not magical and is simply a set of mundane Adamantine Plate Armor."

She requested a moment, disappearing into another room, leaving me to navigate the bureaucratic paperwork that accompanies such acquisitions. During this wait, my attention wandered to a neglected shelf, adorned with battered weapons and shields and I went over to look around. A heavily stained and worn, yet obviously well made war hammer and a battered metal shield held my interest. An inexplicable instinct guided me, a deep-rooted premonition that these seemingly mundane relics were indispensable for the trials that lay ahead.

With the assistance of my guide, these items were secured into my bag of holding, alongside the armor and cloak. A modest donation of 10 gp to the school ensured their preservation from the impending scrap process that they had been destined for. 

When the Keeper returned, a hint of bewilderment marked her demeanor. After consulting with the Headmaster, she skeptically acknowledged the possible intervention of otherworldly forces, but said it was more likely just a clerical error on one of her staff. When my guide explained my request for the additional items, the Keeper simply nodded her accent. She offered the gold back, but I insisted it be a donation, accepting her wishes of good fortune with a wave.

Escorted reluctantly by my guide, he wasn't thrilled about having to climb all the way back to library and then go back down to finish his shift. We did discuss the strangeness of my choice in the armor, while we ascended from the vault up all those steps to the library. Where another guide waited to lead me to our quarters. 

Landriss and Varrin were not there, I believed that they were still engrossed in all that the library would be providing to them.

As I sat in my room, the newly acquired artifacts rested beside me, silent witnesses to the unfolding chapters of destiny in this grand quest against the encroaching shadows.

While waiting for Landriss and Varrin, I started to meticulously clean the gear of dust, what stains I could, and multiple mending cantrips that repaired dents, leather pieces, and polished imperfections as best I could. After thorough attention, the war hammer and shield surpassed expectations, their unremarkable nature concealing what I felt to be latent potential.

Though weary from travel and exertion, the allure of the armor compelled me to don it. The fit was as if tailored to my form, transforming me from a former assassin-in-training to a battle-ready cleric. As I hefted the war hammer and shield while wearing the armor and Helm of Teleportation, I knew I now embodied the person in Minwa's Hall of Mirrors.

Lirael wearing his new armor
Image by Bing AI Image Creator - 2023

As I gazed upon my reflection in the window, the visage staring back at me bore the semblance of an experienced warrior cleric, or perhaps even an imposing knight adorned in thorned plate the red rose emblem blazing across my chest. 

Contemplation of the imminent journey to the King's castle alongside Landriss began to occupy my thoughts. In the subtleties of Landriss's words, I discerned the potential for an audience with King Garland, a crucial step in securing the destruction of the malevolent ritual dagger I had recovered from the dream realm. A dagger harboring further dangers disclosed and undisclosed by the Headmaster. 

Amidst these musings, a revelation slowly unfurled within me—an insight that being presented to the King as a twilight cleric of Aine could better serve our quest than the guise of a shadowy rogue.

The prominent heraldry gracing the chest of the armor, a red rose, however, concerned me. It held the promise of eliciting recognition and perhaps even dismay from Landriss, members of the Inverness Magic Academy, or the royal court. Fueled by this realization, I resolved to find him and discuss the possible the symbolism of the rose heraldry. Thinking that if he didn't know the heraldry of the rose symbol that finding its origins while at the Academy prior to going to the palace would be prudent.

Opting not to wear the helmet, gauntlets or openly carry any weapons within the academy, for fear that my now formidable appearance and the dark appearance of my new armor might be misconstrued as a threat to others, I chose to put all those things into my bag of holding and left our room unhelmed to allow my face to be seen.

I embarked to have a discussion with Landriss and hopefully Varrin as well, for Destiny, with its intricate tapestry, had woven its threads around us and brought us together as a team with a future that deigned we remain together. Clad in the embrace of my newfound armor, I wondered what the unfolding chapters of our quest against the looming shadows would bring.

As I reached for my door, I stopped and thought that fate already had decided a part of my future in the Hall of Mirrors at Minwa's Temple. Even before I left my former master's apprenticeship by showing my future self in that armor. Sister Elara's last words to me before I left on this adventure are starting to make sense. "You'll know when it will be time to don the armor again", before she turned and walked away.

It seems that going further into the realm where rogues use their abilities for their purpose, the my direction had been determined to be a different one. For rogues did not wear the armor I was now so comfortable wearing.

I do wonder what Landriss and Varrin are going to say when they sees me, dressed in this manner.