so here is the best plan we could muster:
three Anathema show up to the capital of Medo in their jumbo extra large size war airship. they very clearly do not attack and request (from high up) that the satrap speak with them. they return in good health and care the spies the satrap sent to steal from their precious magic clock, and retain the gears the spies took. they reach an agreement: they may not get along, but the Ledaals and Tepets need their help to stop the Bull of the North by finishing the Great Machine they’ve been working on for several hundred years. Elmira cranks that machine out no problem and together they all summon the Eye of Autochthon to keep it from the Bull’s grasp. maybe Manus marries the satrap?
that’s the plan, which is the wind up for the really hard part:
the Ledaals and Tepets then give the Anathema group the Eye of Autochthon i guess, ~trusting them to dispose of it properly~. they open a portal to Autochthon/ia and bring the Eye back to reinstall where it was before the Maker tore it out to sacrifice to the giant hole in the ground where Elmira’s past life stole it from. they idk, heal the Maker and cure his depression wow! good job!!
okay that’s pretty good. and now the kicker:
Manus has to make sure this happens with Savoy and Keen-Edge both having opted to come along; Savoy because we kind of need someone who knows the city and the Realm political forces at play, and Keen-Edge because he is newly romantic and demonstrative now that he’s fused with a sword of pure Wood essence, and feels a little nervous about Manus and Savoy being off together for so long (as he obviously should)
Every PC except Elmira: We need to put the Eye of Autochthon back in the well so no one can use it, because it is clearly cursed and bad news for everyone.
Elmira: I have a better idea, let’s put it back in Autochthon entirely, so no one can steal it out of the well ever again! It’s a genius idea and nothing could go wrong with it, you’re welcome. Also I completely agree that it’s cursed and bad news for everyone, and probably no one, not even the most brilliant and good Zenith caste, should use it, even to do amazing acts of greatness that will benefit everyone and especially me. We’ll return it to Autochthon, it’ll be fine. I think you’re right, no one should use it. Certainly no one ELSE should use it. I 100% agree on that point. I could probably handle it if I had to use it, which I don’t intend on doing, but let’s all just agree that if anyone was going to use the Eye it would be me, who is almost certainly not going to do it.
Me, Elmira’s player: I WANT TO SHOVE THE EYE OF AUTOCHTHON IN ELMIRA’S SKULL BEFORE THIS GAME IS DONE PLEASE
Lark and Manus and me and Lark’s player: [exchanging worried looks]