Our heroes return to Glynndarryl in this quest to restore Bim's pocket watch-- an artifact forged by Alexander, Second of the Voidborn, capable of manipulating time. Alexander's research allowed him to create an arcane engine capable if restoring Bim's memories. There was a catch. This machine is capable off accessing the versions of Bim that have existed in times and realms beyond. The party must defeat these competing memories and rescue the true Bim.
Alexander: "I've given much thought to what you said-- using The Advenar and restoring their memories in defense of The Sliver. I've been working on an arcane machine that can restore these memories. In my workings, I have discovered magics deeper and more profound than I could imagine. It would appear the risk of madness upon restoration of memories stems from the existence of multiple versions The Advenar. We'll take Bim for instance. [Alexander summons a single ball of light in front of him.] You and I know him as one thing: an adventuring Bard, killed in the material plane, endeavouring to be resurrected in The Sliver, and ultimately choosing to remain. However, there have been many Bims. [Alexander creates many balls of light that extending first horizontally, then stretching out, and then dividing vertically.] And all of these memories and instances will attempt to enter his mind at once-- madness. Simultaneous realities all competing for his conscious mind. But I think I have a solution. There seem to be two main alternate version of Bim competing to return. Journey into his mind, into the parallel memories. Defeat them. Save the version of Bim you want to return. Once you've done that, I can finish the ritual and restore the Bim we need. Should you fail, we won't know which version of Bim we get back."
[As the spell activates, you see the universe open and fold on itself. You zoom into galaxies, solar systems, planets, continents, kingdoms, forests, trees, the ground, the particles in the ground, the sub particles, the atoms, that subatomic structures and arrive at a black void. In front of your are three black doors.]
The party defeated Gladiator Bim and then the Bim of the Nexus of Time. Unfortunately, Sankara fell in latter battle leading to a fateful meeting with his goddess and a return to The Copper Tankard.
The party continued on in the ritual and faced their Bim's final memory-- his death at the hands of the Aboleth. Through careful observation of the memory, the party was able to discern that Bim's companions escaped the aboleth's lair and were rescued by Kapoira the Copper Dragon of Order. Bim was unable to escape and died. Bim's spirit was tied up in the memory of his death. To free him from this burden, the party had to rescue him from the aboleth's lair and metaphorically release him from the binds of this memory. Successful, they completed the ritual.
Upon returning to consciousness, the party observed the completing of the spell, the retuning of Bim's true memories to his body, and his reunion with Alexander.
Alexander revealed a great enmity with Kapoira. Maybe driven by the fact that Kapoira's direct intervention was a violation of The Sliver's ancient laws? Maybe driven by the fact that Kapoira could save Bim's companions but not Bim?
The discussion ended with the party convincing Alexander of Kapoira's value should he be able to be found. Kapoira had fled from the reach of The Voidborn once he learned that he would be sentenced to 10,000 of captivity. Alexander conceded that Kapoira's could be allowed to aid the party against this new threat from The Remnant of Orcus but that Kapoira's sentencing would have to be carried out after the threat resolved. As far as Kapoira's location is concerned, the party remembered that Othorion Caphax of Solas had knowledge of the dragons of Eternum and that he is currently imprisoned in Revel's End for his crimes against Solas. Alexander informs the party that Glynndarryl cannot intervene in Solas' sentence as doing so would be a violation of an alliance with Solas.
The Pocket Watch will be remade in one day.
Six days until the fall of Mirkarkden.