[tab=30]Details: Upon arriving at the mansion ruins, the groups of Shimmersong, Corvus Cinis, and Everwatch found the dead body of Kiba Pargux, head of the Mavanix Templars. Vertigo, his murderer, was there to greet the group, indicating that Kiba was a spy for another rival house who intended to send the groups to their deaths in an attempt to further isolate and wreak havoc on House Mavanix. Vertigo then revealed her own mission for the group, along with a large gil reward. Giving a brief history of the dragon egg destined to never hatch and how the house excavated it years ago under Julius's reign, Vertigo also explained why the goblins were allied to the house. The group would take a cursed dragon egg to the Goblin Information Network (GIN) to show the goblins that Elza still possessed the egg to prevent future attacks similar to the most recent one.

The group headed to the Black Shroud to intercept the small goblin tribe with the egg, but were quickly attacked by the goblins instead. After besting the beastmen in combat, the lead goblin, Zagadrix, continued to plead with the group for the egg. He claimed that the goblins wished to separate themselves from the house simply to protect his family. Showing mercy, the group handed the egg over with the promise that the goblins would refrain from attacking the house ever again.

After the battle, a single lalafell reporter from the Lantern named Mirari was found in the bushes. The group quickly seized her and contemplated her intentions. Frantic, the reporter stated that she was merely told of a possible story happening here at this time by a "priestly looking man from Ishgard." Having no further information, the group eventually let her scamper off.

With GIN seemingly out of the picture now, is House Mavanix safe or will the loss of their goblin allies merely be another stinging blow to the collapsing house? What of the fomor and demon who also attacked? And was Vertigo correct in her statement to the group that Xaliel Mavanix is the one behind the massacre? Can Vertigo be trusted? Stay tuned for next time!

Everwatch, Corvus Cinis, Shimmersong, and several freelance mercenaries arrived at the heavily guarded mansion ruins for a briefing by Elza. After stating her distrust in Vertigo and her displeasure in the recent loss of GIN and the artifact egg, the matriarch brought forward a new strategy. The mercenaries would beseech help from Hydra, a peaceful cult of gypsies who worship former Mavanix matriarch Veronica as a goddess. Experts in the supernatural, the mercenaries would be meant to ask for Hydra's help for identifying the voidsent that attacked the Mavanix Mansion with the goblins and undead.

Hydra's present camp was located at an old excavation site for House Mavanix. There, the group met Echo Zurova, the high priestess of Hydra. The priestess was welcoming of the travelers and gave them a quick tour of the camp. She showed the old excavation site where the mighty Soulfire Apparatus artifact was discovered by founding patriarch Joachim Mavanix. Echo explained how the artifact was responsible for the house's initial wealth and rise to glory. She then took the mercenaries deeper into the camp and offered her help to identify the voidsent through a spell that utilized astral projection. She explained that she could use the 'particles' the mercenaries may have picked up from being around the mansion ruins to conjure the creature's astral presence, a non-threatening procedure.

As instructed, several from the group sat in a circle around three small lit candles. The more skeptical members of the group stayed off to the side to simply watch. As they sat in a circle and joined hands, Echo instructed everyone to close their eyes and focus on re-imagining the mansion massacre. As they focused, Echo began her spell. The candles spewed flames as the astral projection took form in the shape of a demon.

After the initial panic wore down, Echo asked the demon its name. It responded in a demonic language, which Echo translated to "My name is Juravis." The Hydra priestess found the name odd considering it was also the name of the first Mavanix templar under Joachim. She went on to explain how Juravis supposedly had an affair with Anabelle Felstar, Joachim's wife, and Joachim placed a mysterious curse on him.

Echo asked who the demon served and it responded with "a cardinal from Ishgard." As she asked for the cardinal's name, someone began to interfere with the astral projection spell. Echo screamed as blood streamed down her eyes, screaming that the cardinal had seen them all, and the candles' flames intensified tenfold before the apparition of the demon vanished. The group rushed to Echo's aid but were cut off when more cultists entered and shooed everyone away so they could care for their high priestess.

Reassembling at the mansion ruins, the mercenaries informed Elza of what transpired before receiving their pay and going along their way. She promised to be in touch with them again in the near future as the investigation heated up. Who is the mystery cardinal seeming to pull the strings? Is it the same "priestly man" who had the Lantern journalist trailing the group into the Black Shroud? How is Vertigo and Xaliel Mavanix connected, if at all? All this and more coming soon!

Elza promptly summoned help from her contacts list for an emergency mission. The group gathered at the Avalon Heritage Museum and learned that the museum was attacked by Vertigo and a clan of undead creatures. The Soulfire Apparatus, prized keepsake artifact of House Mavanix, was stolen. Several Mavanix guards pursued Vertigo before losing contact with Elza at Camp Horizon. The group headed out and followed the trail to a wounded Mavanix guard, who revealed that Vertigo headed into Copperbell Mines with the artifact in tow.

Delving into the mines, the group tracked Vertigo down deep within. However, not all was as it seemed. The masked miqo'te revealed that the artifact in her arm was merely an illusion, nothing more than a boulder. She then revealed that the real Soulfire Apparatus was with the REAL Vertigo in route to Xaliel Mavanix. Removing her mask, the false Vertigo was nothing more than an undead corpse summoned by the mysterious "cardinal" to ensnare Elza's mercenaries into a trap.

After the revelations, the fake Vertigo activated a crystal that in turn, activated numerous other crystals positioned outside of the mines. These crystals, while full of energy, blocked the flow of aether into the mines and prevented all forms of magic...including teleportation. Trapped inside, the group was forced to face off against a swarm of undead creatures who emerged from the chamber behind them. After narrowly escaping the battle, the false Vertigo revealed the real trap. Numerous sleeping bomb creatures were strapped to the ceiling and walls throughout the mines. With a quick flick of a wrist and a tossed dagger, the zombie leader caused one bomb to self-destruct and cause a huge chain of self-destructs throughout the mines. The mines began to collapse in around the group, forcing them to flee for their lives as rubble crashed in around them.

The group largely managed to escape the near death, though Yssen and Xenedra got trapped inside a cavern with no way out. The group reentered the mines to rescue the two, with the recently arrived Nel Celestine and Elza in tow this time. Several miners arrived on the scene and eventually freed the mercenaries from their prison.

The Soulfire Apparatus and real Vertigo were long gone though. The group discussed their potential next move. Elza claimed that she would enlist in the aid of Ekidnah Mavanix to help uncover the enemy. But in the meantime, what will Xaliel do with the artifact he has? What's Vertigo's role? And who is the mysterious cardinal seeming to pull all the strings, including that of a demonic monstrosity known as Juravis? The end of the harrowing House Mavanix chapter edges ever closer as the final chapter begins!

Mercenaries from several groups assembled at the mansion ruins at Elza's behest. There they witnessed a grisly sight: a male lalafell, likely a thief, was pinned in a bloody manner onto the exterior mansion wall above the house doors. Ekidnah Mavanix greeted the group, issuing a warning that dark energy was festering within the manor and that the spirit world was growing restless. She then promised, as per Elza's request, to help prepare the mercenaries for the battle against the mysterious cardinal, Vertigo, and possibly Xaliel Mavanix. To do so, she stated that one must first understand the past. The seer brought out a crystal ball that instantly emitted a projection of images before the group. Images of House Mavanix's past were shown as Ekidnah explained in minor detail each era of the house, starting with founder Joachim and his origins, his discovery of the Soulfire Apparatus, his wedded bliss to Anabelle Felstar, and much more. She chronicled the reign of Darian, Darius, Veronica, Julius, and Cartius Mavanix, detailing their greatest accomplishments and failures. She even revealed that Decretum Umbra, the part of the family that was perceived to be at war with House Mavanix, had merely been trying to protect the house from an internal threat.

After revealing the vast history of House Mavanix, Ekidnah explained that she would reveal the second side of Nymeia's tapestry: the future. The images began to change, first showing the interior of the Mavanix Mansion. A red-haired woman, looking almost identical to Veronica Mavanix, hovered over the corpse of Everwatch member Flandre. The scene shifted to reveal Kylin standing on a bridge in Coerthas, smiling faintly as he watched Shimmersong member Yssen plummet to his death below. The scene shifted once more to a temple-like setting, where a priestly looking man stood before an altar, his hood obscuring his hyur-like features. Members of Everwatch, Shimmersong, and Corvus Cinis entered behind him. The scene shifted again, still showing the temple. The demonic creature known as Juravis appeared and ripped a demonic claw through Ariel's chest before turning around to snap the neck of Arkky. In the same temple, Vertigo appeared and pierced Alothia through the chest with a dagger. The scene shifted to show the temple flooded with corpses of the mercenaries, only Juravis and Vertigo left standing.

The future began to reveal itself to the watching mercenaries, now showing the headquarters of Corvus Cinis burning to the ground as several Sultansword guards stood outside and watched. The scene changed again to reveal Eva Ianeira running through Ul'dah, a larger Dalamud overhead in the sky. Several Sultansworn corner and one slices his sword down at her as the scene quickly shifts once more to show Shimmersong leader, Sha, running frantically through Thanalan as an airship hovers overhead. Numerous arrows rain down upon her as the scene changes again to show Everwatch leader, Oskar Helvig, running atop a Thanalan mountain. A highlander guard blocks his path and then proceeds to pierce him through the abdomen. Ekidnah then cuts off the spell, indicating that it was viewing a part of the tapestry not of significance to the upcoming battle.

Ekidnah reinforces the fact that the future is not final and that a single loosened thread can unravel the entire tapestry. She quotes Veronica Mavanix as stating "the only means to defeat fate is to embrace it." She then states that she'll attempt a powerful spell that will view a very specific portion of the tapestry in order to hopefully reveal the cardinal's identity. As she prepares the spell, she notes that Kylin entered the mansion before the group's arrival and has not come out yet. The mercenaries head into the mansion ruins to find him as Ekidnah readies her spell. Inside, the group encounters Kylin near the top of the basement stairs. He states that he wished to visit his father's coffin, but the house was far more frightening than in the past. The group escorts him into the Mavanix Catacombs, where they discover that Lady Anabelle Felstar's coffin is missing. In addition, the lock to Cartius's coffin was broken and the man's body was not inside. As the group contemplated the possibility of grave robbers, Ekidnah's scream sounded outside.

The group rushed outside the manor to come face-to-face with the demon, Juravis. Ekidnah's bloody corpse rested beneath the monster's feet. The creature let out a roar at the battle-ready mercenaries before teleporting away. Ekidnah was no more and the group quickly contemplated the next move. After much debate, they teleported themselves and Kylin to a safe place in Gridania, unaware of the red-haired ghostly woman watching them from a third floor window of the mansion.

Not all details included due to the length of the event and the number of happenings within. Elza contacted members of Everwatch, Corvus Cinis, and Shimmersong by pearl or messenger bird with a frantic message requesting they meet her outside her Gridanian home. Kylin had been kidnapped by Xaliel and was going to be sacrificed to the Soulfire Apparatus. The group assembled and Elza quickly handed over spell materials to Leanna to scry for Kylin's location. As Leanna began the spell, Elza explained that she found a note from Xaliel in the place Kylin was staying, stating: "I'm sorry that it's come to this, but you know what I have to do."

Elza then explained the Soulfire Apparatus in greater details. Created in a foreign land beyond Aldenard by a tribe that worshipped a god of fire, the totem was said to be enchanted by the fiery god. Sacrifices were made to the artifact in an attempt to keep the fire god sated and happy. Souls began to accumulate inside the artifact. Eventually, tribe witches learned that you could revive some of the souls within through slight modifications to the enchantment. By killing one individual, a soul would be released from the apparatus and switch souls with another nearby individual. Two souls for the price of one. It would later be discovered that it was possible to choose which soul to revive instead of leaving it to the whims of the apparatus. By sacrificing someone from the same bloodline as a trapped soul, a soul from that bloodline would be the one released. About 210 years ago, Joachim managed to gain the artifact. He, his father, and brother attempted to use it to revive a loved one, not fully realizing how the artifact really worked. Joachim's father offered to be the sacrifice, but Joachim's brother was the soul taken in exchange for another. As such, the Mavanix family was ended. Joachim had to rebuild from scratch and rediscovered the Soulfire Apparatus in Eorzea during an excavation.

Elza stated that it was clear Xaliel was intending to revive some other Mavanix by sacrificing Kylin, but which one was anyone's guess. As she continued to worry about her brother's safety, Leanna pinpointed Kylin's location at the Mavanix Mansion ruins. The group quickly headed out.

They arrived at the mansion to find a young dark-haired hyur, Xaliel, holding a dagger to Kylin. The Soulfire Apparatus sat nearby, its menacing smile never wavering. Xaliel remained frantic, explaining that the house needed a powerful member to fight the enemy. Survival was the only option now. The group explained to the youth that he misunderstood the artifact's power and that his own soul be lost in the spell. Xaliel refused to believe it, stating that Vertigo explained that the soul swap didn't work as they were trying to tell him it would. Eventually, the group managed to wriggle their way between Xaliel and Kylin but the victory was short lived. The ghost of Darius Mavanix instantly materialized behind Xaliel and ripped out his heart in a grisly sight, letting his blood flow to the Soulfire Apparatus before the ghost dissipated into the air. The artifact was thus activated and turned the sky red, transformed the water in the nearby fountain into pure fire, and caused a red mist to engulf the mansion courtyard. As soon as the effect began, it just as soon ended. Everything reverted to normal quickly.

As the group began to think the ritual failed, Kylin came to consciousness and was helped to his feet. His groggy gaze first shifted to the corpse of Xaliel, sending him into near shock. He was sent into even further shock upon seeing the shambled mansion grounds, asking how long it's been and where Carmilla was. The group then realized that it wasn't Kylin at all. Kylin quickly teleported himself and the apparatus several feet from the group, introducing himself as Joachim Mavanix. He has been slumbering inside the artifact for about 150 years. Carmilla and Decretum Umbra were to release him earlier so he could save the house from the imminent threat, but clearly they failed. Joachim stated that he could see the enemy clearly now: Cardinal Felstar. And he further accused the mercenaries of being the cardinal's pawns. The group pleaded with the Mavanix founder to release Kylin and entrust the future of the house to him. Joachim refused, stating that Kylin was not even a Mavanix! Several ghostly howls then sounded from within the mansion and Joachim gave it his full attention. He states that Veronica Mavanix seemed to have a backup plan prepared to save the family. The founding patriarch snapped his fingers and teleported the group inside the mansion foyer, the lobby doors slamming shut as they appeared within.

Four large portraits appeared above the group, floating in a circle. Each had a title: 'Darian, the Exalter,' 'Darius, the Inquisitor,' 'Julius, the Guardian,' and 'Veronica, the Sybil.' Joachim explained that the house had a number of Veronica's enchantments on it. One of the enchantments trapped the souls of the Mavanix leaders inside the house to keep their presence in this world. Another enchantment caused those inside the mansion to give off the aura of being part of the Mavanix bloodline. Thus, if anyone was sacrificed in the house to the Soulfire Apparatus...the Mavanix leaders could be revived again.

Ariel launched a quick attack against Joachim just as a specter of Darian Mavanix appeared and deflected the assault. Ghosts of Darius and Julius then appeared inside the foyer. Joachim released the Soulfire Apparatus and let it float up to the paintings, stating he'd go to Ishgard to depose of Cardinal Felstar while the ghosts sacrificed the mercenaries for their revival. With that, Joachim/Kylin teleported away just as an anti-aether barrier erected itself over the mansion grounds, preventing any other forms of teleportation in or out of the mansion.

The three Mavanix specters then attacked, leaving the group no choice but to defend themselves. In mere minutes, Veronica Mavanix herself appeared, stating that she had foreseen this day and it ends with the mercenaries' demise. Nel pleaded with Veronica to reconsider her plan as the other mercenaries battled the Mavanix ghosts. But the pleas fell short as the matriarch launched a powerful psychic shockwave and caused furniture all around the mansion to begin flying about wildly. A deadly fight with the Mavanix leaders raged on for some time. Yssen, Ariel, Riku, Leanna, Gerik, Miyuki, Nel, and Flandre battled for their lives against the deadly specters.

Attacks against the ghosts merely caused them to dissipate briefly before reforming again and again. As the group grew more weary by the minute, Yssen used a desperate strategy: He used his monk training to absorb the plethora of aether beneath the mansion, causing the spirits to lose their connection to the world of the living. Darius burst into nothingness first, followed by Julius and Darian. Veronica made it clear that she'd be waiting for the adventurers in the other world when mortality caught up to them before unleashing a last powerful attack that caused the mansion to begin collapsing upon itself. Yssen redirected his gathered aether at the mansion door, providing an escape for the group just in time as the mansion crumbled. Before Veronica burst into light, she quickly teleported the Soulfire Apparatus back to Joachim.

As the battered group tried to recoup from the battle, they realized that the mission was not yet over. Quickly, they hurried after the Joachim-possessed Kylin to Coerthas, locating the mage at Griffon's Crossing. Joachim revealed his sadness over Veronica's failed plan before stating that he'd finish off the cardinal's pawns himself. He then unleashed the full power of the Soulfire Apparatus, causing walls of fire to rise around the bridge. Countless fiery hands reached out for the groups, the souls inside the artifact seeking release through spilled blood. The group battled through the flames and fiery hands toward Joachim as he fired off numerous flare spells. As the battle raged on, a crow swept in and dropped off a parchment before Yssen titled "Soul Dispersion." Yssen, realizing it was some kind of spell, handed it to Leanna who promptly began to cast it. The Soulfire Apparatus began to react as numerous spirits flung from it, Joachim gasping and wondering how such a spell came under Leanna's possession. The group protected the mage from Joachim's assault as she finished the spell, causing more spirits to fly from the artifact. Joachim stated that the released souls would have nowhere to go and were thus damned. He also made it clear that he'd return one day somehow and get his revenge on the cardinal's pawns. And if they had passed from the world of the living by then, Joachim promised to burn the flesh from the bones of their next of kin. With that, the fire mage released one last attack to force the bridge to crumble. Leanna's spell caused his soul to then be ejected from Kylin's body as Kylin's soul returned. The bridge crumbled rapidly as the group hastily made their escape, the Soulfire Apparatus plunging down the mountain with the collapsing bridge, its menacing grin never once ceasing.

After reporting back to Elza, each of the three groups were rewarded before heading off to receive some much needed R&R. With Xaliel and the Soulfire Apparatus out of the picture, along with just about all of House Mavanix, only the cardinal, Juravis, and Vertigo remained in the picture. What fate awaits the group in the coming final battle?.

The mercenaries arrived at the mansion ruins, overhearing as Elza argued over the pearl about the sudden inability to access House Mavanix's gil. After she got off the pearl, she recounted to the mercenaries that an informant of hers had discovered that a Cardinal Felstar was en route to Nald's Reflection in Thanalan. His only escort appeared to be Vertigo. The mercenaries organized themselves and headed to the temple.

There, they came face to face with the cardinal. Vertigo and Juravis were nowhere to be seen. The cardinal was revealed to be none other than Cartius Mavanix, now known as Cartius Felstar. He recounted how he staged his death and his motive for doing so. He then revealed how he masterminded every last detail of House Mavanix's demise. Please see the third story post in this thread for details of the plot.

After the revelations, Cartius also revealed that he was setting up the mercenaries the entire time to take the fall for the death of House Mavanix. They'd be wanted as Ul'dahn criminals by the morrow. With that, he summoned Juravis and then disappeared with Vertigo. The group did battle with the deadly demon, nearly being wiped out before managing to succeed in finally sending the 200 year old monstrosity to its grave.

House Mavanix was no more. Cartius had succeeded in his plot. And worse yet, the mercenaries were about to be framed for everything...

When: Sunday, June 3rd at 8pm EST
Where: Thm guild (to be used as instanced area--Mavanix Mansion ruins)
Details: The dropped gate leading into the mansion courtyard will be /locked./ Please do not progress through it until everyone has gathered. Only a designated member of Corvus Cinis (Alothia if in attendance) will have the key to the gate.

When: Saturday, June 9th at 8pm EST.
Where: Thm guild (again, instanced area representing old Mavanix Mansion).
What: Will require minor travel, no /planned/ (planned being key word) combat, and will focus primarily on story elements. Estimated completion time is about 1 hour, 15 minutes.

When: Sat, June 30th at 8pm EST
Where: Thm Guild (used as mansion ruins as usual)
What: Meeting with Ekidnah. Primarily story driven content regarding historical information, a terrible glimpse into the near future for all involved parties, and a small tidbit of action at the very end~