Coup Beneath the Sun

The second chapter turned the hidden investigation into an open struggle for Dawnwatch. At the Highcourt masquerade, the party connected Valec’s finances to Eclipse operations and prevented an attempt on Queen Maelin. Beneath Lake Auriel they recovered the Tide Shard and learned that the Crown magnifies conviction rather than granting wisdom, making restoration itself morally dangerous. Selvara Kain then revealed that Valec served a larger cause. When the party brought its evidence before the royal council, Valec triggered a prepared coup. The heroes saved Maelin and Captain Voss, but Valec escaped with the royal seal and used it during the Eclipse siege to activate the ancient Sun Gate. The party stopped the Gate and captured Valec, while Selvara abandoned him and escaped toward the Glass Wastes. The chapter closed with Dawnwatch surviving, Valec exposed and imprisoned, two Dawnshards in the party’s hands, and the true Eclipse leadership still beyond reach.