Irann Rhogar's house
Irann Rhogar's house is located in Kaarst. The party visits it on the morning of 15 Thelliea with the Sable Warden Meriele Berevan, who teleports them from there to the Acropolis of Kereskaa.
Description
Rhogar's house is a stately home in the southernmost block of the Bell Ward, not as large as Kobolwitz Manor. It is a nice house, and well kept, but the interior is tackily decorated, as though by someone who has only recently come into wealth and is keen the spend much too much on a showy home. It contains lots of pictures and golden candlesticks.
The main foyer contains a stairwell, and one room upstairs is a study that Rhogar used as a teleportation chamber. Its furniture was pushed against one wall to clear space, and on the floor was a circle on runic sigils that had evidently been drawn in ink and chalk repeatedly, which Grokko recognizes as a circle of teleportation, used by mages to travel huge distances. This study contained a stockpile of unusual chalks and bottles of ink.
When the party entered the house, the front door was ajar, the curtains were drawn, and no candles or lanterns were lit. In the main foyer, either side of the stairwell, the bodies of the two surveilling Raven Guards had been pinned to the walls with daggers through their arms and chests. Their jaws had been pulled from their faces, the necks had been pierced and ripped, and blood had pooled beneath them. On the wall above each corpse, their blood had been used to write a message in two parts.
Petty tyrants of lesser gods will not stop us.
Seven stars will burn bright this night.
History
On the night of 14 Thelliea, after exploring Hope's Prize, Vichthart used Sending to confide in the Sable Warden.
Vichthart: There are vampires in Kaarst working with Irann Rhogar. Hope's Prize smuggled contraband explosive to magic. We must meet to discuss and share evidence.
Sable Warden: These are worrying claims, I trust not made lightly. I will send my seekers. Bring your evidence to me after sunrise.
The Sable Warden sent a pair of Raven Guards to surveil the property. The party rescued Father Traulam Eugen from Valiant Morgen Trading Company Kaarst Branch, and he convinced Vichthart that he could trust the Sable Warden.
On the morning of 15 Thelliea, Vichthart took Traulam and Grokko to the cathedral and shared their evidence with the Sable Warden. She informed them that the Valiant Morgen headquarters had burnt down the night before. When Traulam confirmed their claims that the building had not been on fire when they'd left, she used Sending to message the guards posted at Rhogar's house.
Sable Warden: Apprehend target and any accomplices.
After a moment she messaged them again.
Sable Warden: Acknowledge this message: You are to act upon the target.
The Sable Warden confirmed that her guards were not responding, then snapped her fingers and strode off, followed by two Raven Guards they hadn't noticed standing in the shadows. Apprehensively, Grokko and Vichthart followed.
Outside, Grokko grabbed Mira and Anrel held onto Vichthart to follow with his hood over his face. Together they strode south through the streets of Kaarst as fast as they coulc without appearing to hurry. Grimm telepathically informed Anrel that the guards posted outside Squall's Beacon had departed, and on the journey an extra pair of Raven Guards joined the procession.
When they arrived at Irann Rhogar's house, they began searching the house, finding the incomplete teleportation circle and a journal containing a diagram of the circle's completed form and a spell scroll of Teleportation. The Sable Warden advised the party to make preparations to stop Rhogar while she complete the teleportation circle, giving Mira permission to use Rhogar's wealth to obtain supplies.
While the Sable Warden worked on reconstructing the circle, Mira collected 180 gold pieces from the house and picked up a gold candlestick for good measure, then he and Anrel visited Tiaathque's Medicinal Remedies to gather supplies. The Sable Warden answered questions from Grokko by explaining some of Kaarst's and the Raven Queen's histories, as well as the nature of gods and the dangers of arcane magic.
When Anrel, Mira and Grimm joined them at Rhogar's house, the Sable Warden used the spell scroll to teleport the party to wherever the circle lead, which turned out to be the Acropolis of Kereskaa.