Discover the Artefact's Secrets: Difference between revisions

The artefact can be discovered as early as the [[Prologue]], with [[Shadowheart]] taking it from her Mind Flayer Pod if she is freed during [[Rescue the Illithid's Captive]]. However, Shadowheart is unwilling to elaborate further on the object.

In the Goblin Camp, within the [[Shattered Sanctum]], the party can learn that [[The Absolute]] cultists are seeking the artefact by speaking with [[Dror Ragzlin]] (X:296, Y:40) or [[Minthara]] (X:333, Y:42). Ragzlin is using [[Speak with Dead]] on an illithid corpse to try to find its location, while Minthara intends to raid the nearby [[Druid Grove]] as she believes adventurers there have taken the artefact.

The githyanki patrol (X:-101, Y:555) is west across the Risen Road. They are arguing with a group of [[Flaming Fist|Flaming Fists]]. Suddenly, a red dragon comes down from the sky and sets the fists aflame. If [[Lae'zel]] is in the party, she notes that the crèche must be near and goes to meet with the patrol. Go with her to start a conversation with the dragon's rider, [[Kith'rak Voss]].

* I will be speaking on her behalf, gith.

* [Githyanki] I will be speaking on her behalf, gith.

* [Githyanki] I will be speaking on my kin's behalf, ''Kith'rak.''

* I have my own mandate. Time to die, gith.

* [Githyanki] Your death is at hand, traitor!

If Shadowheart was killed and the only party members present are Githyanki, the narrator's lines are still roughly the same, but instead of Shadowheart being nervous, some of those nerves are passed on to the player-character.

''Note: This may have different outcomes for a Githyanki Origin character, vs. a Character disguised as a Githyanki.''

# ''Show deference.'' Bow and explain that you are lost.

# I am no crèche hatchling. Do not speak to me as one.

# Indeed. I came from the crèche.

# I need to know more. What is its appearance? Its purpose?

# I don't know of such a weapon.

* [SLEIGHT OF HAND] Silently hold his stare and discreetly prepare to attack. (DC 15)

* [INSIGHT] You would've done so already if you didn't want something from me first. (DC 10)

* [INTIMIDATION] I just want passage - if I have to go through you, so be it. (DC 15)

* [PERSUASION] I don't know you. I pose no threat. (DC 15)

* I'll help if I can.

* You'll need to start from the beginning - what is this weapon you're after?

* I might know something. But it'll cost you.

* Say nothing.

* [PERSUASION] I could help if you let me live - search for this weapon perhaps. (DC 15)

* [PERSUASION] You ought to just leave. You've no right to decide my fate. (DC 15)

* [INTIMIDATION] Why are you hesitating, then? Try it, I dare you. (DC 15)

* [ROGUE] A corpse is useless. But a living informant might unearth something.

* Don't be too hasty. I could prove very useful.

A successful pass of any of these checks and Voss lets the party live. He tells them to go to the crèche - ahead, at the [[Mountain Pass]]. Otherwise, if Voss become suspicious that the party is infected with tadpoles or carries the artefact, then he flies off on his dragon and orders the githyanki soldiers to kill them all. [[Sarth Baretha]], Raider [[Chost]], Raider [[Zastri]], and Gish [[For'reth]] attack the party.

Enter the Captain's Chambers, where [[Therezzyn|Kith'rak Therezzyn]], the Créche’s commander, is arguing with [[W'wargaz|Ch’r’ai W’wargaz]], an Inquisitor of [[Vlaakith]]. The way forward is blocked by a shield generated by the Githyanki Barrier Disruptor (X:1390, Y:-757). A [[Gith Shard]] is needed to open the way, which is on the person of Therezzyn. Steal it, or fight the Kith'rak to gain the shard. W’wargaz recognizes the party and tells them to enter, opening the way. Alternatively, if the Kith'rak is shown the artefact, she locks the party in and demands they go to the Inquisitor immediately.

Once the party enters the Inquisitor's Chambers, Ch'r'ai bids the party to talk to him. If they don't, he slowly becomes impatient until he becomes hostile. If he's spoken to, he reveals he is very familiar with their movements. If the party raided the Druid Grove in [[Raid the Grove]], he says "I heard enough druids died by your hand to make the deity Silvanus himself weep." If the party defeated the goblins in [[Defeat the Goblins]], he says "I heard there is so much goblin blood on your hands that it soaks their children's nightmares." The githyanki became interested in the party when they became involved with the Absolute's movements.

The Inquisitor demands the artefact. The player can ask questions or attempt to hand over the artefact, which leads to [[Vlaakith]] appearing through the Planecaster. Otherwise, if the player refuses, W’wargaz becomes hostile, along with the other githyanki in the room. He is joined in combat by Ardent [[Jhe'rezath]], Raider [[Kyrr'a'ath]], Warrior [[Brelal'reth]], and Ardent [[Qu'th]]. After this, Vlaakith appears to confront the party and demands the death of the individual within the artefact, claiming they are corrupting the object, which is actually an [[Astral Prism]].

{{Quote|"I already told you that I protect you, that I saved you. If this was not enough to convince you, what more is there to say?}}

The player has to choose between two options: 'spare' the Dream Visitor, or attempt to 'kill' them. If a third dialogue choice is present, selecting that option will still eventually bring the conversation back to this choice.

'''This choice greatly affects the tone of all future interactions the player has with the Dream Visitor.'''

If the player chooses to 'spare' the Dream Visitor, then they will continue to treat the player with similar trust and friendliness in future interactions.  

If the player attempts to 'kill' the Dream Visitor, then they do not actually die, and this creates a lasting rift in the Dream Visitor's trust of the player. They will begin treating the player with much more derision and overall hostility in future conversations.

After the visit, the player returns and explains what happens. Lae'zel demands to know what happened, and she can be told that the Visitor couldn't be killed if an attempt was made, or that Vlaakith has been hiding things from her people. The party must depart the [[Astral Plane]] and return to the Material Plane. If the Inquisitor was not already dealt with, then he attacks the party, as he had never intended for them to leave alive. After this, the entire crèche becomes hostile and the party can fight their way through, attempt to sneak out, or use the Secret Stairway from the [[Find the Blood of Lathander]] quest. Fast travel is only possible outside of the Captain’s Quarters, as the remainder of the créche is a hostile area, where fast travel is impossible.

Once the party has safely escaped the crèche, Kith'rak Voss comes to visit at camp. He says he comes to aid the party. He's aware that Lae'zel and the party have the Astral Prism. Voss believes that within the Prism is the seed of Vlaakith's demise. The party can either spare Voss, who tells the party to meet him at [[Sharess' Caress]] in the city, or kill him, and claim the information from his corpse. The choice heavily impact's Lae'zel's quest, [[The Githyanki Warrior]], as she can either solidify her belief in Vlaakith or begin to question it.

At the very beginning of [[Act Three]], the party receives an additional quest - [[Help Your Protector]]. After this, the final secrets of the Astral Prism and the identity of the Dream Visitor are revealed.