One of the gifts for the Mad Poet, discovered written in the margins of Men and Vultures: Denizens of the Darkened Depths and Dead Skies.
In Chapter 100, the party was able to determine that three of the books from Lowls' footlocker were of particular use in researching this gift: Elements Through the Spirals of Time, Spiders of Sin and Sky, and Theological Agreements of the Kingdom.
Later that chapter, on 4 Kuthona, Dora began research on this gift and uncovered the following information:
- Lowls discovered that the Mad Poet was known to collect the small, personal trinkets of powerful Dreamlands rulers, for reasons unknown. He tasked Thema with identifying a possible target, a noble from somewhere interesting or significant enough to merit the Mad Poet’s interest. She landed on a man named Viscount Pietro Brellin, a mysterious but popular noble in the Dreamlands city of Celephaïs.
- Celephaïs is one of the wealthiest cities in the Dreamlands, situated in the Valley of Ooth-Nargai, beside the Cerenerian Sea and beneath the shadow of Mount Aran. While its smooth marble walls and impressive brass gates make it one of the more spectacular Dreamlands cities, its most amazing property is that time within the city walls seems to stand still.
In Chapter 101, on 5 Kuthona, Dora (aided by Grip) completed the research into this gift and uncovered the following:
- Viscount Brellin is known for hosting courtly and lavish events, but events tinged with occasionally uncomfortable elements. Those wishing not to lose the viscount’s favor are advised to ignore any unusual happenings and never to mention Brellin’s “condition.”
- Notes in Thema’s hand indicated that Lowls’ crew visited Celephaïs at noon, and the sun remained at its zenith even though Lowls spent hours in private negotiating with the viscount for his ring.
- The pass phrase that would allow Dora to use the Dreamlands Excursion occult ritual to travel directly to Brellin’s palace.
In Chapter 103, the party began their quest for this gift, arriving in the city of Celephaïs, at Brellin’s palace, in the middle of a massive ball.
In Chapter 104, the party learned that while one of Brellin’s rings had indeed been claimed by Lowls at noon, they could obtain another one if they gracefully extricated Brellin from his promises to dance the Sunset Waltz with Lady Urdrenda Splinterbone, Ardvin Telgriette, and Maudette.
In Chapter 106, having completed their task, the party returned to Brellin and secured one of his signet rings.
First Reference: Chapter 99
Other Notable References: Chapter 100, Chapter 101, Chapter 103, Chapter 104, Chapter 105, Chapter 106