Lord of the Violet Isles

11th - 14th in the 11th month 1372

Visefrin, now as a gnome, Welborn, Heironymous, and Sir Feek made their way through the early winter of the Verdenleaf. They sought lands closer to Tandis from where they might summon their fearsome flying mounts. They were lured from the trail by cries and came to the aid of pagan hunters. One of their kin was being carried off by a flying "ice devil". 

The heroes pursued in swift chase, Heironymous using the Crown of the Dragon Lord to imbue him with flight. The chase ended at a dank, steaming cavern surrounded by sodden ground. Within, they battled giant frogs and found ancient stelas bearing writing. This strange cave had once been a temple to a Mer-goddess. Passing a partially buried sarcophagus, they pressed into a watery cavern and battled slimy aquatic trolls. 

In the final chamber was the great statue of the Mer-goddess, an offertory bowl in an outstretched hand. Above the surface of the flooded chamber, an orb of clear blue water spun and splashed, and from the ether appeared Pa'Tom, a portly moon-faced sorcerer dressed in bright colors. 

Pa'Tom bade them enter the portal of water and visit his master upon the Violet Isles. The kidnapped pagan girl was released, and after an offering to the Mer-goddess, Imra, the heroes were changed into mermen for a time. They swam through the portal and emerged from a deep lagoon, not far from hilly islands. The entire sphere of the firmament was close and swirling with brightly colored matter encroaching from the void beyond. The colors of the sky rendered the isles in a still, violet twilight. 

The heroes spent the night on a beach in the company of other jovial merfolk militia, and the next day, restored to their forms, travelled up the hill, where they met Carmet, a son of the Magus whom they were to meet. Together they pressed on to the Crystal Palace.

Within the grand castle, they met the hospitable and amicable lord. Serving a great banquet were six vat-born men who, like Carmet, resembled exactly their so-called sire. This lord, whose name was Carwelan, told them many things. He told them of his history with Morcarat. She was his student, and she was herself vat-born, modeled from the form of another. The Magus claimed that Morcarat wished him dead and would attempt to employ the heroes to this end. He suggested instead that the heroes aid him in a great heist of Rilm, the tower of ice. His goal was to steal the all-powerful Libram of Kryon and deprive Morcarat of her mightiest spells. 

Carwelan gave the nine amulets of non-detection to the heroes so that they might avoid the Ice Witch's scrying. He also gave them five scrolls of flying. The next day, the heroes departed and returned to the strange cave west of Verdengard, where Pa'Tom would wait to rendezvous with them again. Carmet traveled with them.

Visefrin communed with the gods.

What is Carwellan's intent with the Libram of Kryon?

He wishes to use the Libram's most powerful spell to return his beloved to him

Can Carwellan detect us with these amulets?

Yes.

Which is the lesser of two evils: Morcarat or Carwellan?

Both are capable of great good and great evil. Both have their parts yet to play in the eternal wars against Chaos.