DQWiki - User contributions [en-gb]

3 Chains o' Gold

2026-09-26T23:44:31Z

Martin: /* Summary */

<div style="float: right; font-size: smaller; margin-left: 10px; ">__TOC__</div>
[[Category:Mandos]][[Category:Scribe Notes]][[Scribe_Notes#Autumn 826 WK|Scribe Notes]]
Game 1 in a series set on [[Ky'Thaan]][[Category:Ky'Thaan]]
= Summary =
'''Adventure''': 3 Chains o' Gold 
'''GM''': [[User:Mandos|Mandos]] 
'''Session''': [[Spring]] 826 wk 
'''Day''': Saturday 
'''Level''': [[Experience#Quest_Level | Low]] 
; Party
# [[Nick Bone]] - Elven Necromancer & Skull Collector- [[User:Niko.Vi|Heather]]
# [[Istariel]] - Elven E&E Librarian - Helen C
# [[Vanta]] - Elven Celestial (Dark) Zealot - [[User:Alex|Alex]]
# [[Ron]] - Elven Mind Mage - [[User:Kyan|Kyan]]
# [[Akira]] - Erelheine Fire Mage Samurai - [[User:Martin|Martin]]
# Sundew - Elven Eath Mage - Briar
# [[Duvon]] - Dwarven Earth Mage - [[User:Dean|Dean]]
# Valric - Spider Boy - [[User:Chris|Chris]]

;Adventure Full
 
;Employer
[[File:Thalarae.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Map of the Kingdom of Thalarae.jpg]]
: Aurelia - Sister to the King of Thalarae on the plane of Ky'Thaan.
; Mission
: A rumour has been unearthed that a ancient artifact belonging to the Elvan crown has not been captured by invaders but instead was stolen (or recovered, point of view dependant) by a neighbouring kingdom. Diplomats on the scene have been unable to confirm the presence of the item, and so skilled diplomats have been requested from the Guild to provide assistance.

; Pay
: 3,000sp per person plus should the artifact be recovered the party may make use of it for their financial gain or personal advancement.
==Scribe Notes==

1st of Spring 826
Thaw
Duesday

We introduce ourselves and are greated by Vesparia the arch Weaver, brood of the Silver thread, she reports to princess Aurelia (kidnapped sacrifice). We are asked to get an item back from another kingdom that was believed to be in their possession.
It is a magical anvil made of mithril and gold. We are asked to keep the asking around mostly quiet to avoid misunderstandings. We are being taken to Thalarae on the plane of Ky'Thaan.

We are given some waters of healing, and discuss buffs.

We buy some restorative and are then guided to Ky'Thaan by the spider lady. We are led into a place with children and then to a room with the princess Aurelia.

She explains some details about the human kingdom we are traveling to, such as social norms and college issue if any.
We recieve documentation for diplomatic protection.

To protect the face of the Thaloray until the possession of the anvil is confirmed, we are given an extra "purpose" as a guise to look for displaced residents of Thalarae who may wish to return.

We are currently located in Silverhome and are heading to Hallowell by wings, 289km away.

We are able to fly there with one cast of dark wings, leaving at dawn. We follow the coast to the human capital and land on a golden beach a short distance away at around morning tea. We enter into the city without issue, there are walls but they lack heavy guarding.

The protected side of the city (non-trade based things) sits across a river.
The city is mostly human with a small elven population, aswell as a few dwarves unloading a ship at the docks.

We search for the embassy of the elves to get contact with the spy network.
The city is clean with what seems to be underground sewers.

We enter the embassy after present our papers, and are lead into a courtyard. We are provided with refreshments and provided with information surrounding the spy network and any useful contacts.

Currently the strongest faction of the kindom is that of the Queens sister.
We are provided information on the kingdom's current political climate, which appears to be nearing civil war.

[The people we talk to] allow us to ask questions. We learn about an artisan who is involved in armour processing. The first person seen with any special artifacts was Lara Stone, of the isolationist house Stone. These isolationist are very military focused.

Most artifact owners are lesser nobility, the ones with less sway.

An alchemist is brought up with purist, xenophobic views against humans.

There is the possibility that a curse has befallen the fields, lowering crop yields of the Human kingdom of corn, barley and maize, no sorry wheat, no sorry potatoes.

We are also told to investigate family Vance, headed by the Baroness, aswell as the family Vain, headed by the Queen.

(One of the people we're talking to) leave to schedule an audience with the king.

Blah blah blah, land dispute stuff, important people, everything's all over the place.

We discuss which lead to follow as (the guy scheduling the audience) return and states it will be at 1 bell past noon 3 days away.

We plan to look into the crop issue while looking into other things while at the border town province thingy.

Sleep

2nd of Spring - W'ansday

We fly to the elven crop town, landing in a field to inspect the mud. We wander towards an inn named the 'Ambled On Inn' and greet the innkeeper. He says if we want to talk to a representative of the farmers we should go to the agricultural embassy of this town across from the inn.

We enter the agricultural embassy and they say nothing is wrong with the harvests, everything has been mostly normal for several years. He says there are some upset farmers but more for racist reasons than anything else.

We walk to a new village and enter there inn. As we enter the hubbub dies down, but then starts back up as we finish entering. We order some stew, ale and beds. The patrons seem cautious of us but don't speak up about it.

We chat to a farm hand who seems knowledgeable, but he hasn't heard about any rumors of a curse.

Sleep

3rd of Spring - Th'rsday
==Calendar==
{| cellspacing=1 width="100%" border=0 class="Season" id="Spring"
! colspan=15 | <h1>Spring</h1>
|-
| class="calMoon" |
! colspan=2 | Moonday
! colspan=2 | Duesday
! colspan=2 | W'ansday
! colspan=2 | Th'rsday
! colspan=2 | Frysday
! colspan=2 | Reapsday
! colspan=2 | Sunday
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| colspan=14 | [[Candlemansa]]
|-
! colspan=15 | [[Thaw]] (10)
|-
| colspan=3 height=54px |  
| class=day | 1 || Guild Meeting
| class=day | 2 ||  
| class=day | 3 ||  
| class=day | 4 ||  
| class=day | 5 || The Carzalan Generals Ball
| class=day | 6 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon0.jpg]]
| class=day | 7 ||  
| class=day | 8 ||  
| class=day | 9 ||  
| class=day | 10 ||  
| class=day | 11 ||  
| class=day | 12 ||  
| class=day | 13 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon1.jpg]]
| class=day | 14 ||  
| class=day | 15 ||  
| class=day | 16 ||  
| class=day | 17 ||  
| class=day | 18 ||  
| class=day | 19 ||  
| class=day | 20 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | 21 ||  
| class=day | 22 ||  
| class=day | 23 ||  
| class=day | 24 ||  
| class=day | 25 ||  
| class=day | 26 ||  
| class=day | 27 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| class=day | 28 ||  
| class=day | 29 ||  
| class=day | 30 ||  
| colspan=8 |  
|-
! colspan=15 | [[Seedtime]] (11)
|-
| colspan=7 height=54px |  
| class=day | 1 ||  
| class=day | 2 ||  
| class=day | 3 ||  
| class=day | 4 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon0.jpg]]
| class=day | 5 ||  
| class=day | 6 ||  
| class=day | 7 ||  
| class=day | 8 || Rites of Thunor
| class=day | 9 ||  
| class=day | 10 ||  
| class=day | 11 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon1.jpg]]
| class=day | 12 ||  
| class=day | 13 ||  
| class=day | 14 ||  
| class=day | 15 || Equinox
| class=day | 16 ||  
| class=day | 17 || Eostre
| class=day | 18 || The Seagate Spring Ball
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | 19 ||  
| class=day | 20 ||  
| class=day | 21 ||  
| class=day | 22 ||  
| class=day | 23 ||  
| class=day | 24 ||  
| class=day | 25 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| class=day | 26 ||  
| class=day | 27 ||  
| class=day | 28 ||  
| class=day | 29 ||  
| class=day | 30 ||  
| colspan=4 |  
|-
! colspan=15 | [[Blossom]] (12)
|-
| colspan=11 height=54px |  
| class=day | 1 ||  
| class=day | 2 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon0.jpg]]
| class=day | 3 ||  
| class=day | 4 ||  
| class=day | 5 ||  
| class=day | 6 ||  
| class=day | 7 ||  
| class=day | 8 ||  
| class=day | 9 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon1.jpg]]
| class=day | 10 ||  
| class=day | 11 ||  
| class=day | 12 ||  
| class=day | 13 ||  
| class=day | 14 ||  
| class=day | 15 ||  
| class=day | 16 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | 17 ||  
| class=day | 18 ||  
| class=day | 19 ||  
| class=day | 20 ||  
| class=day | 21 || Floralia
| class=day | 22 ||  
| class=day | 23 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| class=day | 24 ||  
| class=day | 25 ||  
| class=day | 26 ||  
| class=day | 27 ||  
| class=day | 28 ||  
| class=day | 29 ||  
| class=day | 30 || Walpurgisnacht
|}

3 Chains o' Gold

2026-09-26T23:42:44Z

Martin: /* Summary */

<div style="float: right; font-size: smaller; margin-left: 10px; ">__TOC__</div>
[[Category:Mandos]][[Category:Scribe Notes]][[Scribe_Notes#Autumn 826 WK|Scribe Notes]]
Game 1 in a series set on [[Ky'Thaan]][[Category:Ky'Thaan]]
= Summary =
'''Adventure''': 3 Chains o' Gold 
'''GM''': [[User:Mandos|Mandos]] 
'''Session''': [[Spring]] 826 wk 
'''Day''': Saturday 
'''Level''': [[Experience#Quest_Level | Low]] 
; Party
# [[Nick Bone]] - Elven Necromancer - [[User:Niko.Vi|Heather]]
# [[Istariel]] - Elven E&E - Helen C
# [[Vanta]] - Elven Celestial (Dark) - [[User:Alex|Alex]]
# [[Ron]] - Elven Mind Mage - [[User:Kyan|Kyan]]
# [[Akira]] - Erelheine Fire Mage - [[User:Martin|Martin]]
# Sundew - Elven Eath Mage - Briar
# [[Duvon]] - Dwarven Earth Mage - [[User:Dean|Dean]]
# Valric - Spider Boy - [[User:Chris|Chris]]

;Adventure Full
 
;Employer
[[File:Thalarae.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Map of the Kingdom of Thalarae.jpg]]
: Aurelia - Sister to the King of Thalarae on the plane of Ky'Thaan.
; Mission
: A rumour has been unearthed that a ancient artifact belonging to the Elvan crown has not been captured by invaders but instead was stolen (or recovered, point of view dependant) by a neighbouring kingdom. Diplomats on the scene have been unable to confirm the presence of the item, and so skilled diplomats have been requested from the Guild to provide assistance.

; Pay
: 3,000sp per person plus should the artifact be recovered the party may make use of it for their financial gain or personal advancement.
==Scribe Notes==

1st of Spring 826
Thaw
Duesday

We introduce ourselves and are greated by Vesparia the arch Weaver, brood of the Silver thread, she reports to princess Aurelia (kidnapped sacrifice). We are asked to get an item back from another kingdom that was believed to be in their possession.
It is a magical anvil made of mithril and gold. We are asked to keep the asking around mostly quiet to avoid misunderstandings. We are being taken to Thalarae on the plane of Ky'Thaan.

We are given some waters of healing, and discuss buffs.

We buy some restorative and are then guided to Ky'Thaan by the spider lady. We are led into a place with children and then to a room with the princess Aurelia.

She explains some details about the human kingdom we are traveling to, such as social norms and college issue if any.
We recieve documentation for diplomatic protection.

To protect the face of the Thaloray until the possession of the anvil is confirmed, we are given an extra "purpose" as a guise to look for displaced residents of Thalarae who may wish to return.

We are currently located in Silverhome and are heading to Hallowell by wings, 289km away.

We are able to fly there with one cast of dark wings, leaving at dawn. We follow the coast to the human capital and land on a golden beach a short distance away at around morning tea. We enter into the city without issue, there are walls but they lack heavy guarding.

The protected side of the city (non-trade based things) sits across a river.
The city is mostly human with a small elven population, aswell as a few dwarves unloading a ship at the docks.

We search for the embassy of the elves to get contact with the spy network.
The city is clean with what seems to be underground sewers.

We enter the embassy after present our papers, and are lead into a courtyard. We are provided with refreshments and provided with information surrounding the spy network and any useful contacts.

Currently the strongest faction of the kindom is that of the Queens sister.
We are provided information on the kingdom's current political climate, which appears to be nearing civil war.

[The people we talk to] allow us to ask questions. We learn about an artisan who is involved in armour processing. The first person seen with any special artifacts was Lara Stone, of the isolationist house Stone. These isolationist are very military focused.

Most artifact owners are lesser nobility, the ones with less sway.

An alchemist is brought up with purist, xenophobic views against humans.

There is the possibility that a curse has befallen the fields, lowering crop yields of the Human kingdom of corn, barley and maize, no sorry wheat, no sorry potatoes.

We are also told to investigate family Vance, headed by the Baroness, aswell as the family Vain, headed by the Queen.

(One of the people we're talking to) leave to schedule an audience with the king.

Blah blah blah, land dispute stuff, important people, everything's all over the place.

We discuss which lead to follow as (the guy scheduling the audience) return and states it will be at 1 bell past noon 3 days away.

We plan to look into the crop issue while looking into other things while at the border town province thingy.

Sleep

2nd of Spring - W'ansday

We fly to the elven crop town, landing in a field to inspect the mud. We wander towards an inn named the 'Ambled On Inn' and greet the innkeeper. He says if we want to talk to a representative of the farmers we should go to the agricultural embassy of this town across from the inn.

We enter the agricultural embassy and they say nothing is wrong with the harvests, everything has been mostly normal for several years. He says there are some upset farmers but more for racist reasons than anything else.

We walk to a new village and enter there inn. As we enter the hubbub dies down, but then starts back up as we finish entering. We order some stew, ale and beds. The patrons seem cautious of us but don't speak up about it.

We chat to a farm hand who seems knowledgeable, but he hasn't heard about any rumors of a curse.

Sleep

3rd of Spring - Th'rsday
==Calendar==
{| cellspacing=1 width="100%" border=0 class="Season" id="Spring"
! colspan=15 | <h1>Spring</h1>
|-
| class="calMoon" |
! colspan=2 | Moonday
! colspan=2 | Duesday
! colspan=2 | W'ansday
! colspan=2 | Th'rsday
! colspan=2 | Frysday
! colspan=2 | Reapsday
! colspan=2 | Sunday
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| colspan=14 | [[Candlemansa]]
|-
! colspan=15 | [[Thaw]] (10)
|-
| colspan=3 height=54px |  
| class=day | 1 || Guild Meeting
| class=day | 2 ||  
| class=day | 3 ||  
| class=day | 4 ||  
| class=day | 5 || The Carzalan Generals Ball
| class=day | 6 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon0.jpg]]
| class=day | 7 ||  
| class=day | 8 ||  
| class=day | 9 ||  
| class=day | 10 ||  
| class=day | 11 ||  
| class=day | 12 ||  
| class=day | 13 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon1.jpg]]
| class=day | 14 ||  
| class=day | 15 ||  
| class=day | 16 ||  
| class=day | 17 ||  
| class=day | 18 ||  
| class=day | 19 ||  
| class=day | 20 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | 21 ||  
| class=day | 22 ||  
| class=day | 23 ||  
| class=day | 24 ||  
| class=day | 25 ||  
| class=day | 26 ||  
| class=day | 27 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| class=day | 28 ||  
| class=day | 29 ||  
| class=day | 30 ||  
| colspan=8 |  
|-
! colspan=15 | [[Seedtime]] (11)
|-
| colspan=7 height=54px |  
| class=day | 1 ||  
| class=day | 2 ||  
| class=day | 3 ||  
| class=day | 4 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon0.jpg]]
| class=day | 5 ||  
| class=day | 6 ||  
| class=day | 7 ||  
| class=day | 8 || Rites of Thunor
| class=day | 9 ||  
| class=day | 10 ||  
| class=day | 11 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon1.jpg]]
| class=day | 12 ||  
| class=day | 13 ||  
| class=day | 14 ||  
| class=day | 15 || Equinox
| class=day | 16 ||  
| class=day | 17 || Eostre
| class=day | 18 || The Seagate Spring Ball
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | 19 ||  
| class=day | 20 ||  
| class=day | 21 ||  
| class=day | 22 ||  
| class=day | 23 ||  
| class=day | 24 ||  
| class=day | 25 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| class=day | 26 ||  
| class=day | 27 ||  
| class=day | 28 ||  
| class=day | 29 ||  
| class=day | 30 ||  
| colspan=4 |  
|-
! colspan=15 | [[Blossom]] (12)
|-
| colspan=11 height=54px |  
| class=day | 1 ||  
| class=day | 2 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon0.jpg]]
| class=day | 3 ||  
| class=day | 4 ||  
| class=day | 5 ||  
| class=day | 6 ||  
| class=day | 7 ||  
| class=day | 8 ||  
| class=day | 9 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon1.jpg]]
| class=day | 10 ||  
| class=day | 11 ||  
| class=day | 12 ||  
| class=day | 13 ||  
| class=day | 14 ||  
| class=day | 15 ||  
| class=day | 16 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | 17 ||  
| class=day | 18 ||  
| class=day | 19 ||  
| class=day | 20 ||  
| class=day | 21 || Floralia
| class=day | 22 ||  
| class=day | 23 ||  
|-
| class="calMoon" height=54px | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| class=day | 24 ||  
| class=day | 25 ||  
| class=day | 26 ||  
| class=day | 27 ||  
| class=day | 28 ||  
| class=day | 29 ||  
| class=day | 30 || Walpurgisnacht
|}

Scribe notes template

2026-09-26T23:40:02Z

Martin: Reverted edits by ChrisC (talk) to last revision by Martin

<div style="float: right; font-size: smaller; margin-left: 10px; ">__TOC__</div>
[[Category: Page Templates]]
take out template category 
[[Category:]] 
add gms category 
[[Category:Scribe Notes]] 
[[Scribe_Notes#Autumn_826_WK|Scribe Notes]] 
== Summary ==
'''Adventure''': The name of the adventure 
'''GM''': [[gm's link]] 
'''Season''': [[Autumn]] 826 WK 
'''Night''': Someday 
'''Level''': [[Experience#Quest_Level | Level]] 
; Party
*[[Someone]] - played by Somebody (Party Leader)
*[[Someone]] - played by Somebody (Scribe)
*[[Someone]] - played by Somebody (Mil Sci)
*[[Someone]] - played by Somebody
*[[Someone]] - played by Somebody
*[[Someone]] - played by Somebody
*[[Someone]] - played by Somebody
;Time on adventure
:tbc 826 WK to tbc 826 WK
; Employer
: [[someone rich]]
; Mission
: Hired to do a job
; Pay
: Lots
==Scribe Notes==
Blah blah blah

Akira

2026-09-19T22:01:32Z

Martin:

[[Category:Character]][[Category:Erelheine]][[Category:Fire Mage]][[Category:Martin Dickson]][[Category:Akira]]
[[File:KajiAkira1.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Kaji Akira in Kinlu]]
Kaji Akira is an Erelheine Fire Mage played by Martin.

(His full name for official documents, duels, etc: Taijin Kurogane Kaji Akira)

As of 826 WK he has recently arrived in Carzala to learn magic unavailable to him in Kinlu due to political obstacles.

Akira

2026-09-19T22:01:14Z

Martin:

[[Category:Character]][[Category:Erelheine]][[Category:Fire Mage]][[Category:Martin Dickson]][[Category:Akira]]
[[[[File:KajiAkira1.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Kaji Akira in Kinlu]]
Kaji Akira is an Erelheine Fire Mage played by Martin.

(His full name for official documents, duels, etc: Taijin Kurogane Kaji Akira)

As of 826 WK he has recently arrived in Carzala to learn magic unavailable to him in Kinlu due to political obstacles.

File:KajiAkira1.jpg

2026-09-19T21:59:19Z

Martin: Kaji Akira, Erelheine Smaurai and Fire Mage

== Summary ==
Kaji Akira, Erelheine Smaurai and Fire Mage

3 Chains o' Gold

2026-09-19T21:56:48Z

Martin: /* Summary */

Carzala

2026-09-17T09:01:43Z

Martin: /* Places of Interest */ Misspelling

[[Image:Carzala-Villages.jpg|thumb|left|350px|link=http://www.dq-nz.org/files/DQMaps/Carzala/openlayers.html|150px]]<Div>__NOTOC__</div>[[Category:Carzala]][[Category:Frontiers of Alusia]]
{| border=1 align=right cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=250 style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|colspan=2|[[Image:Carzala.gif|center|]]
|-
|+<big><big>'''Carzala'''</big></big>
|-
| '''Status'''
| [[Duchy of Carzala Subinfeudation|Duchy]]
|-
| '''Location'''
| On the coast, south of [[Ranke]].
|-
| '''Area'''
|
|-
| '''Geography'''
| Predominantly wooded plains with some mountainous regions. With much of the Duchy rugged and uncultivated there are many high mana zones.
|-
| '''Population'''
–Humans 
–Elves 
–Dwarves 
–Giants 
–Hobbits 
| 
~75,000 
~2,600 
~2,000 
~1,300 
~1,000 
|-
| '''Urbanisation''' 
|28%
|-
| '''Languages''' 
–[[Common]] 
–[[Folksprach]] 
–[[Elven]] 
–[[Halfling]] 
–[[Dwarven]] 
–[[Orcish]] 
–Others 
 
–Literacy
| 
100% 
60% 
40% 
20% 
20% 
10% 
40% 
 
6% (mostly urban) 
|-
| '''Exports''' 
| Guild Members
|-
| '''Imports''' 
|
|-
|}
<div >__NOTOC__</div>Carzala proper is a relatively small area in comparison to the Duchy which takes it's name. It is bounded on the east by the [[East Warding]], a series of low wooded hills which give into the Wilderness of Gilarni, in the west by the [[Fastness of Girwyllan]] and [[Swithan's Roughlands]], in the north by [[Confederation Bay]], and in the south by the large grassland plains of the [[Sweet Riding]].

It is an area of rich pastures and fruitful ploughed fields which has grown up around the now huge market city of [[Seagate]] and [[Castle Chilton]]. In all, about 80,000 people make their homes within Carzala, 25,000 within Seagate and the Castle itself.
The largest towns outside of Seagate are [[Arn's Ferry]] (pop: 4600),[[Gugnir's Hope]] (pop: 3,200),[[Northfield]] (pop: 3,000),[[Monck's Corner]] (pop: 2400), and [[Venture]] (pop: 2300).

Other market towns are [[Bolton]] (pop: 1500), [[Crystal Spring]] (pop: 1400), [[Seacroft]] (pop: 1300), [[Stonesboro]] (pop: 1100), [[South Gate]] (pop: 1000), [[Slippery Rock]] (pop: 800). [[AnteCarzala]]

----

[[Image:Frontiers of Alusia Map-150dpi.jpg|left|200px|link=http://www.dq-nz.org/files/DQMaps/FoAM/openlayers.html]]The [[Duchy of Carzala Subinfeudation]] covers a large area, the bulk of which is uninhabited with most of the land covered with a large flat grassland know as the [[Sweet Riding]]. To the south the lands becomes more rugged and is heavily forested to the coast and there are a number of high mana zones hidden within the tree's and peaks.

While settled land is in the minority in the Duchy there are locations other than Carzala proper where people have established themselves and tamed the wilderness.

;[[Newhaven]]
Stretching round the coast to the west and south of Carzala Newhaven is a relatively recent addition to the Duchy having been founded in 793WK. It has grown rapidly with the dispossessed populations of Braster and Novadom after the depredations of the Dark Circle.
;[[Brastor]]
Lying 150 miles south-east of Seagate Brastor was founded as a Castellancy formed to protect Carzala and the [[Sweet Riding]] from the barbarian hordes in the Sea of Grass. After being virtually razed in 804WK it is now slowly recovering.
;[[Novadom]]
Originally a city-state sized principality in the middle of a swamp this town has sworn fealty to the Duke and joined the duchy. It is still a small town in a swamp.
;[[Finn's Waste]]
Once this was a hidden commune residing beneath the ground with the aid of a magical artifact that was part of King Sigismunds Regalia. The ruler of this group is believed to have formerly been a Duke who accompanied King Sigismund on his crusade. He has since been accorded the status of Baron and joined the Duchy.

=Places=

The Duchy of Carzala comprises five major centres of population.

*[[Carzala]] - The original area of settlement in the Duchy
*[[Brastor]] - A Castellancy formed to protect Carzala and the [[Sweet Riding]] from the barbarian hordes in the Sea of Grass.
*[[Newhaven]] - A County of Carzala.
*[[Novadom]] - A new (807wk) area of Carzala, under the leadership of the old [[Prince Rainer|Prince]], who is the new Baron.
*[[Finn's Waste]] - A new (806wk) province of Carzala governed by Baron SÃ©bastien Delisle.

==Places of Interest==
{| border=0
|'''Central Carzala'''||'''Western Carzala'''||'''South and East'''||'''The Carzalan Coast'''
|-
|[[AnteCarzala]], Barony of ||[[Newhaven]] ||[[Brastor]] Holdings ||[[Confederation Bay]]
|-
|[[Arn's Ferry]], Town ||The [[Fastness of Girwyllan]] ||The [[Sweet Riding]] ||[[Swithan's Cove]]
|-
|[[Bolton]], Town ||[[Swithan's Roughlands]] ||The [[Artusian Hills]] ||[[Nils Point]]
|-
|[[Crystal Spring]], Town ||[[Mount Desai]] ||The [[River Running]] ||[[Bolton Bay]]
|-
| - [[Sunnynook]] ||The [[Pallisades]] ||The [[Sweetwater]] ||The [[Shoals of Lyr]]
|-
|[[Finn's Waste]] ||[[Loch Branden]] ||The [[Fords of Chir]] ||[[Isle of Garax]]
|-
|[[Gugnir's Hope]], Town ||[[Plain of Desai]] || ||[[Dolphin Bay]]
|-
| - [[Candlestone Farm]] ||[[Bolton Manor]] || ||The [[Spithead Needles]]
|-
|[[Monck's Corner]], Town ||[[Hope]] || ||The [[Surf]]
|-
|[[Northfield]], Town ||[[Mount Branden]] || ||[[Haven]]
|-
|[[Regar's Keep]] ||[[Forest of Arlynn]] || ||[[Chub's Bay]]
|-
|[[Rithe Regar]] (River) ||The [[Ruby Waters]] || ||[[Haven's Peril]]
|-
|[[Seacroft]], Town ||[[Unicorn River]] || ||[[Havenhead]]
|-
|[[Seacroft-on-Sea]], village of ||[[Lyr's Crossing]] || ||[[M'nor Island]]
|-
|[[Seagate]], Town of ||The [[Hills of the Halfborn]] || ||[[Landfall]]
|-
| - [[Castle Chilton]] - Ducal Seat ||[[Amber]] || ||[[Lareth's Reef]]
|-
| - [[Seagate Guild]] of Adventurers || || ||The [[Rookeries]]
|-
|[[South Gate]], Town || || ||The [[Sweetbread Passage]]
|-
|[[Slippery Rock]], Town || || ||[[Pug's Island]]
|-
|[[Stonesboro]], Town || || ||[[Hab Insel]]
|-
|[[Venture]], Town || || ||[[Harch Insel]]
|-
|[[Grace Wind Estate|Grace Wind]], Estate || || ||[[Isle of Songs]]
|-
| || || ||[[Goldry's Island]]
|-
| || || ||[[Gill's Teeth]]
|-
| || || ||The [[Gulf of Brunei]]
|}

=People=
== Rulers of the Realm ==
The current Duke of Carzala is Lord [[Leto DeWinter]] of Carzala. He is known to be a good and honest leader.

# '''700'''-'''727'''wk: Baron Chilton of Carzala (b672-d727) Founder of Carzala. ''Killed in battle''
# '''727'''-'''739'''wk: Baron Regar of Carzala (b695-d739) Son of Chilton. ''Killed in battle''
# '''739'''-'''771'''wk: Baron Bolton of Carzala (b719-d771) Nephew of Regar. ''Died in bed''
# '''771'''-'''780'''wk: Baron Balthazar of Carzala (b742-) Son of Bolton, childless. ''Abdicated in favour of his nephew and returned to Brandenburg.''
# '''780'''-'''794'''wk: Baron Leto of Carzala (b755-) Grandson of Bolton, Married Lady Elisabeth Caith in 780 daughter of Maxine of Brandenburg who is a cousin of the Duke of Brandenburg. '''794'''-'''Now''': Duke Leto. Carzala became a Duchy on the 1st of Snow 794 during the [[Middle Duchies War]].
: Duke Leto and Lady Elisabeth have four children: Anne-Neville (b782wk), Isabella (b783wk), Antonio (b784wk) and Pablo (785wk).

===Others of Note===

==Groups==
=Resources =
=History=
== The Founding of Carzala ==
Carzala had been primarily wilderness with a few small fortified settlements up until about 1900ap (700wk) when Chilton Dewinter, younger brother of Count Alexis of County Erisberg arrived at the settlement now known as [[Old Seagate]] with his family and retainers and started construction of [[Castle Chilton]].

Six years later the Barony of Carzala was officially recognised by [[Bowcourt]] and [[Aquila]] when Baron Chilton of Carzala and his wife attended the mid-summer festival in Bowcourt.

Baron Chilton was succeeded by his son Regar in 727wk when he was killed in the [[Sweet Riding]] by raiding Barbarians.

Baron Regar was reported to hate the Barbarians with a passion, he commissioned the construction of [[Regar's Keep]] as a southern outpost for his Barony and spent most of his life in the field driving the Barbarian raiders out of the Sweet Riding.

Baron Regar died without issue of wounds received in battle in 739wk.
He was succeeded by his nephew Bolton.

== Bolton's Peace ==
Like his father, Baron Bolton was not a man of war but he demonstrated a shrewd ability in diplomacy and strategy.
In the summer of 740wk, Baron Bolton hosted a grand tourney in honour of his late Uncle at the site of his last battle near the eastern edge of the Sweet Riding.
The prizes on offer were large and attracted over 1,000 knights from the Baronies to compete.
Accompanying them were many of their peers, minor nobility, and a few greater nobles intrigued by the spectacle of a tourney at the edge of civilisation.
Counting their guards and retinues, Baron Bolton hosted over 5,000 fighting men.

Meanwhile Baron Bolton had his finest rangers and cavalry patrolling east of the tourney, they allowed the Barbarian scouts to see the number of men gathering on the field and their banners before attacking in force and driving them east.
Baron Bolton followed close on their heels and arrived at a gathering of chiefs just behind the reports of the scouts.
Exactly what was said and done at gathering is not known, but Baron Bolton returned to the tourney sporting a fresh scar down one cheek and carrying word of agreed borders and a truce between Carzala the Barbarian tribes.

The cost of the tourney was crippling to Baron Bolton and Carzala, but it bought peace for his lifetime and an influx of traders and settlers from the Baronies.
While the coffers were never again as full as they had been at the beginning of his reign, Bolton's was a time of peace and prosperity for the people of Carzala.

Baron Bolton died in his bed in 771wk attended by his three surviving children and his grandson [[Duke Leto|Leto]].

== Leto's Duchy ==
Some time late in the Western Kingdom War, it became important for the sides in the conflict to gather the support of Dukes to their flags.
It was at this point that the Barony of Carzala was recognised as a Duchy by both sides of the war.

== Important dates ==
* 700WK - Chilton Dewinter, younger brother of Count Alexis of County Erisberg arrived at Old Seagate with his family and retainers and started construction of Castle Chilton.
* 706WK - The Barony of Carzala was officially recognised by Bowcourt and Aquila when Baron Chilton of Carzala and his wife attended the mid-summer festival in Bowcourt
* 727WK - Baron Chilton was succeeded by his son Regar in 727wk when he was killed in the Sweet Riding by raiding Barbarians.

== Events==
=== Culture===
===Scribe Notes===

= Carzala Maps =

[[Image:Carzala-A4-80dpi.jpg|right|250px]]

Below are a range of maps as Jpeg files which cover the area of Carzala. The have names and have been changed to fit with the population figure of 60k to 80k. 

Click for the 0.5 MB A4 sized picture of [[:Image:Carzala-A4-80dpi.jpg|here for a 80 DPI]] - aimed at computer screen use overview and little real readable detail. 

Click for the 1.5 MB A4 sized picture of [[:Image:Carzala-A4-150dpi.jpg|here for a 150 DPI]] - aimed at only just readable on a good printed A4 copy with good eye-sight. 

Click for the 4.5 MB A4 sized picture of [[Carzala 300 DPI|here for a 300 DPI]] - aimed at being read with ease on a printed A4 page. 

Other maps of Carzala can be found [[Jono_Bean#Carzala_Maps.|here]].

2026-09-13T22:36:35Z

Martin: /* Summary */

3 Chains o' Gold

2026-09-13T22:36:06Z

Martin: /* Summary */

2026-08-16T07:35:37Z

Martin:

File:Dwarf-Holdings1.jpg

2026-08-16T07:34:57Z

Martin: Martin uploaded a new version of File:Dwarf-Holdings1.jpg

[[Category:Maps]][[Category:Dwarven Lands]]

Athos Ironfist

2026-07-24T22:13:09Z

Martin: /* Games played on */

[[Category:Martin Dickson]][[Category:Character]][[Category:Dwarf]][[Category:Namer]]__NOTOC__
[[File:AthosIronfist.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Athos Ironfist]]
===Description===
A mature dwarf of average height and build, moderately handsome, and generally well dressed and groomed. Hailing from [[Dvergarheim]] in the far north, Athos is the younger son of the Jarl (''chieftain'') of the Járnfyst (''Ironfist'') clan.
===History===
Athos joined the Guild in the late 780s, having journeyed south due to political troubles at home involving members of another of the Hoar Dwarf clans. He remained at and around the Guild for several years before heading back north to support his relatives when the Jarl became ill.

He has recently returned to the guild after an absence of nearly 20 years, retrained as a Namer, and has made comments about changing situations at home, and the lack of gratitude of brothers.
===Skills & Abilities===
Athos is an experienced warrior with some skill as a ranger, armourer, weapon smith, and merchant. He is currently training as a ''Skald''. His abilities in the Namer College are still very much at novice level.

He wears well-crafted plate armour and prefers to fight with either his war pick and shield, or an unusual glaive-spear.

===Games played on===
# Plains Guild Hall 788-89?
# Bandits in the Woods Summer 790
# ?
# [[The Rainbow Gates]] Spring 810
# [[A Loss in the Family]] Summer/Autumn 814
# [[Once Upon a Storytime]] Winter 825
# [[Dancing in the Moonlight]] Summer 826
# [[Regailia Recovery for Royal Renunciation]] Autumn 826
# [[Black Watch Seven: Safer Calamities, Together]] Winter 826

Twenty Years After

2026-07-09T03:58:42Z

Martin: /* We split up! */

<div style="float: right; font-size: smaller; margin-left: 10px;" class="toclimit-3 ">__TOC__</div>
[[Category:Martin Dickson]][[Category:Scribe Notes]][[Scribe_Notes#Winter_826_WK|Scribe Notes]] 
[[Category:Silken]][[Category:Axis]][[Category:Amber the Witch]]
[[Category:Dramus]][[Category:Mary-M]]
== Summary ==
'''Adventure''': Twenty Years After 
* '''aka''': Dark Memories & Silken Threads
'''GM''': [[User:Martin|Martin]] 
'''Season''': [[Winter]] 826 WK 
'''Night''': Wednesday 
'''Level''': [[Experience#Quest_Level | Medium Well Done]] 
; Party
*[[Silken]] aka '''Lady Dark''' - Female Human E&E, and courtesan of ''considerable'' repute - played by Fi
*[[Axis]] - Male (formerly Human) Silver Dragon and E&E - played by Greg G
*[[Amber the Witch]] - Female Elven broom-riding Witch - played by Jo
*[[Lysander]] - Female Elven OG "Namer with big sword" (and wings) - played by Avette
*[[Mary-M]] - Female Halfling Namer "the smallest Seraph" - played by Helen C
*[[Dramus]] - Fey Prince and sometime Necromancer - played by Mandos
*[[Mario]] - Male Human Mind Mage Lothario - played by Dean
;Time on adventure
:1 Frost 826 WK to ??? 826 WK
; Employer
: Jocelyn, Urielite Bishop of Seagate.
: ''Potential for additional employers''
; Mission
: Investigate possible Dark Circle resurgence and eliminate if possible.
; Pay
: Probably

==Scribe Notes==
These notes are written by different party members. Some of them may be an accurate of events but, on the whole, I (Lysander Treeborne, first scribe) suggest you take them with a grain of salt.

===Party (in alphabetical order)===
;Amber
: Witch and dealer of white-hot pain to up to 7 targets (hopefully not party members). She rides a broom and sometimes wears a pointy hat. She assures me she has no warts, but she does have a metallic hawk familiar.
;Axel Wagon Mage (Axis)
: Lizard wizard (and now actual lizard) – owner of a hoard and some very pungent scallions – and larks. As self-effacing and mildly shambolic as ever
;Dramus
: your guess is as good as mine, but he brings his own inn, pixies and skeletal hand – and is tragically tall. Somehow, he appears to be a necromancer ''and'' a mind mage (shudder). Oh, and appears more fae than elf.
;Mario
: ridiculously good-looking human mind mage and purveyor of fine wines and charcuterie (we are so doomed). Says he can use the rapier dangling artistically from his belt. We shall see.
;Lysander
: Namer, warrior and jaundiced Michaeline – big white wings and an array of large swords.
;Mary-M
: Namer, Samielite and overall adorable cherub (cute little white wings and everything). She has an equally adorable winged serpent pet(?). Also a Namer (because we need more of those).
[[File:BishopJocelyn.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Jocelyn, Urielite Bishop of Seagate.]]
;Silken aka lady Dark
: Party leader and self-appointed military scientist (we’re doomed). Being an E$E (sic) mage is the least of her many talents. She is as elegant and put together as ever (and as trustworthy I’m sure).

There are five healers, two of whom are rank 10, three people who have their own wings and one who not only has his own wings but can also carry people around on an exaltation of larks (yes really), one who has a chariot pulled by songbirds (again with the noisy birds) and one who can bring his own inn. How adventuring has changed. You hang out in the forest for five minutes (OK – 20 human years) and adventuring has turned into glamping!!!

We also have courtesans/courtiers, thieves, rangers, assassins, a philosopher/alchemist and
a warrior but no actual military scientist because that would be useful.

'''Our mission''' (which we apparently decided to accept)

The church had identified 4 possible areas of dark circle incursion. Investigations showed remnants of activity such as animal and human sacrifices but no signs of a dark circle. They want a party of adventurers to investigate the latest incursion, which they have identified through the reliable and accurate arts of astrology and divination, as they look less like paladins (aint that the truth) and more inconspicuous (not).

In their wisdom they have tasked Lady Dark (AKA the Lady Silken) to gather a group for this purpose. A little bit of divine interference has ensured that both Lysander and Mary-M are amongst the party. Others appear to have been available by mere happenstance (hmm, a likely story).

===1 Frost 826===
After brief introductions (and reintroductions) our motley crew hied ourselves to the Cathedral where we were briefed by Bishop Jocelyn (time has not been kind). The bishop has given us a thurible (incense burner) that helps detect the presence of evil by floating gently off towards it (very useful in the woods where there will be no natural breezes to blow it around).

The area is in the Greenwood which is about 150 miles south and east of Seagate. We did the usual preparation (divinations, enchantments, a three-course meal) and set off the following morning. We trekked all day – oh wait, no we didn’t, we flew on wings, larks, broomstick and chariot – and arrived in a clearing in the Greenwood about 4 hours later. How times have changed. Who knows what the next days will bring? I predict an equal mix of chaos and hedonism. Whatever it is, I doubt it will dull.

===2 Frost 826===
<div class=dramus style="background-color: #EEEEEE; font-family: Gothic, cursive; border: thin solid #333; ">
This being the true and accurate representation as dictated to me by my Master Lord [[Dramus]]. Where he has not supplied information I have sought information from other parties involved and included their dictations as presented. - Tobias Pendleton (Scribe)
[[File:StoneCircle01.jpg|200px|thumb|left|First stone circle]]
 Upon performing a Detection of Evil via the provided thurible the party did head off to the east in an exultation of larks.
[[File:Knurl.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Knurl, a Pixie.]]
Arriving at clearing the party spied a stone circle with 3 fallen stones. Some of the stones hae been covered in blood and there is a shallow grave nearby. 

 The standing stones are faintly magical but are not trapped warded or cursed.

 There are three bodies, two whole and one bisected with the the top half remaining. The bisected entity is the remains of cervitaur (A centaur but more expensive [A little deerer])
=====Speaking to the Fallen=====
 My master then tried to speak with the fallen but they did not wish to communicate. So the Wiccan Lady spoke via cards and determoned that they came from the [[Fastness of Girwyllan]] and were on their way back from [[The Cloisters]] when they were captured at night in the [[Greenwood]] and a couple of days later killed. They are part of a church to the dark powers and are working against another sect. 
=====Speaking to a pixie=====
My Master then went of to speak to the fae hoping for a better response than recieved from the deceased meeting a friendly Pixie both Gnarled and Gnerled. Learning that centaurs and cervitaur have been more common since summer and do not belong here. Also lets us know about the evil Satyrs with Goatlike faces As well as a Boneyard, a large circle and a number of smaller Circles. 

====Dinner and Bed====
We then walk to [[Adjepbar]] via Dream for dinner and sleep. As they entered Dream they saw, in the distance to the north, a storm the group believe represents an incursiuon from [[Furfur]] The Earl of Storms and Lightning.
</div class=dramus style="background-color: #EEEEEE; font-family: Gothic, cursive; border: thin solid #333; ">

===3 Frost 826===
Mario here to provide you with the next installment of our adventures 
We head back to the Greenwood from Adjepbar after dinner and a good nights sleep. Dramus and Amber have eaten something that has not agreed with them so they unfortunately are forced to stay at our base camp 
[[File:GreenwoodRunes2.png|130px|thumb|right|Runes found beneath the Portal Tomb site.]]
We recap the timings noted from the first evil clearing - The circle was dedicated to a power in autumn, the crystals present nearby were gathered some time later, then the circle was reconsecrated to another power recently 
We now know that [[Furfur]] was the first power and has cultists based at the Cloisters. This explains the storm seen in dream which also manifests in reality throughout the day 
The second power we also now know as being [[Marchosias]] 
[[File:PortalTomb.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Dolmen or portal tomb]]
We plan to find another clearing which has evil detectable by the thurible. Lysander takes off under walking unseen to scout for a possible circle based on patterns and thurible smoke 
She spots a small clearing with two large upright stones with one large stone leaning at an angle on them, apparently this is called a portal tomb or dolmen. It is about 6 miles from base camp 
We set off in various styles of movement, though no songbirds to improve our stealth. We approach cautiously to look for evil doers but find none present 
No movement, nothing on esp/telepathy but the thurible smoke points to the stones. They are old magic, primal, Druidic earth magics 
We trace the smoke with a wizards eye into the entry of the stones and find a narrow staircase leading down. Mary M throws a ball of light down the stairs, Took genes prevail 
We decide to follow the light orb. Lysander finds fibres set to show someone has passed through. We avoid them and progress down to the bottom of stairs into a narrow cleft. Eldritch drawings are noted on the walls, less tits and more tentacles, disappointing 
An opening off to the right, a small ossuary, to the left another, the end of the cleft has dead heads on poles and seems to be the source of the evil the smoke is attracted to. 
We investigate, head killed 3 days ago, similar time as deaths at first sacrifice area, pole is bestial magic, name of magic is dedication. While there we find a feather that I work out was from a raven belonging to [[Stolas]].

Mary M and myself start long divinates, about 90 mins in an evil group approaches a sleeping Silken within the stones. Silken had mentioned having a nap while waiting, her location of choice leaves a lot to be desired. 
Thankfully the alarm is raised by Mary Ms pet which was watching for trouble at the top of the stairs. Axis wizard eyes the group, 12 human sized goat faced satyrs plus 2 minotaurs. 
The group are confused by the sleeping beauty and are working out what to do. Not knowing yet whether they are friend or foe, we attempt a dissemble with some success. 
I sneak up and out invisible which they do not detect, then I ‘enter’ the clearing to rescue my sleeping lady. They are confused but not aggressive and allow me to converse with them to find out they are followers of Urox and that we should not be here, very dangerous. 
After some bluff and bluster we toast the success of their endeavours and Silken and I leave the clearing together. Unfortunately we have found out they are going downstairs, other than the 2 minotaurs, to where the party are hiding 

Still unsure of their nature, the remaining party (Axis, Mary M and Lysander) hide in the first small ossuary hoping they will pass by and allow their exit 
They almost pass by, but one of their number smells them and they start to search. A bit of ventriloquist trickery gets them chasing shadows elsewhere and the party sneak their way up towards the waiting minotaurs 
The party have noted that the 12 goat faced satyrs reek of evil, so we pivot to plotting their destruction using the stairs as a choke point 
Silken and I try to take out the minotaurs with spells, the sleep from Silken was effective, my control person was resisted and the alarm was raised. Just as the party arrived at the remaining minotaur, I got it under control and we now controlled the top of the stairs 
The satyrs charge up towards us and Mary M calls her holy fire down upon them, they melt rather well. A sleep and mental attack leaves only a few plus a shaman down the stairs 
We move forward to stop the shaman incanting however he calls forth an avatar of Marchosias just before him and his remaining minions are also introduced to the holy fire of Mary M 
Lysander and I move to engage the avatar. While it tramples and breathes on us, Lysander deals many strong blows and I manage to finish it off. We regroup to plan our next move. 
====Mary-M's scribe notes====
Before leaving the Boneyard I wanted to break the area’s dedication to the demon Marchosias so I asked Axis if he could get the totem poles outside and then dragon fire them, which he did.

I used the Thurible to check the results, the smoke showed there was still an evil taint in the area, but it was back to the original nature-based effect, and the demonic effect was gone.

We talked to the minotaur prisoner. We found out he and his fellow were from Tarsh near the Lunar Empire. He called their enemies servants of Ragnaglar (evil storm god) whose servants includes Humans, Harpies and Cervataurs.

Because the minotaurs were not evil in and of themselves, just hired muscle, we left them there to find their own way home.

We headed back to the Tower for lunch and a catch up with the rest of our party.

While we were away Dramus had a visit from Knurl the Pixie who provided some new information about stone circles in the area. He also mentioned that there were also some folks wearing iron armour around the area that he was avoiding.

Based on this we decided to investigated Nelly’s Bog after lunch.

Greatwing scouted the area for us and identified something of a clearing with three familiar looking totem poles complete with rotting heads. These posts were leaning out outwards because of the swampy nature of the “ground”. The party landed in trees that were growing out of the water.

After discussion we decided there was no point in carrying out a divination at this time and that we would dragon flames the totem poles again since they were temporary and easily destroyed.

Dramus warped some dead wood to create a small platform out of the water. Mario picked up a couple of minds lurking and sleeping under the water; possibly the grindylows that Knurl had mentioned. Dramus walked on water and had his ankle grabbed, he responded with agony. Mario mentally dominated the other mind.

Small reed-like creatures (“Spites”) crept over Mario’s and my feet on the platform, fixing us to the ground. We cut ourselves free and returned to the air. Mario questioned the grindylow and discovered that crystal had been here but had been removed by Nelly (who we decided was a Bog Hag… or a Hydra). More grindylows began to approach and Mario attempted to warn them off.

From her perch high in a tree Silken spotted two armoured dwarves of nearby mudbank and waved at them. Mario cast another mind speech including the dwarves.

They recognized some of us from the Battle of Carson’s Switch and we realized that they were dark dwarves that once served Ahriman. We decided to relocate to a safer place outside the swamp to parley.

The dwarves withdrew, meeting six companions. One was attacked by a grindylow and killed it with a missile weapon that fired a metal ball. The dwarves all then disappeared underground.

We flew two miles west to the designated meeting place and the dwarves arrived from the underground. Mario could detect two Earth Elemental with them.

The same two dwarves approached to discuss matters. They introduced themselves as Garum Firebeard and Aradun Deepcrag.
=====What we learned from them=====
The [[Balrog]] Gothron (missing his glass hand) had returned and bound and controlled them to retrieve the dark circle crystals for him. They have spent over a year doing this and the last month in the Greenwood where they have successfully gathered reactivated crystals from beneath several ritual sites including the Six Sisters and the Boneyard.

Garum and Aradun suggested that if the party were to rid them of the Balrog then they would no longer have any need of the crystals and would turn these over along with additional rewards.

====Axis has a turn at doing the scribe notes====
In which we eat and sleep quite a bit and quite comfortably. Meet interesting new people and do not kill them.
Note that this drifts from the '''3rd''' to the '''5th of Frost'''.
Note also that names and places are probably spelt and described with wild abandon and fairly inaccurately.
We resume at the point where we are talking to two dwarves out of a larger party. The larger party is standing about 50 yards away across a bog-marsh-swamp glowering at us and them.
Apparently there are some in the larger group who cannot be trusted not to spill the beans to the balrog about what we are talking about (offing said balrog and freeing dwarves and families)
So.. We are feigning a mild war of words and finally slowly sod off.

It comes to mind that at least Mary-M, myself and Lysander have met this particular balrog, whose name I deign to write down in case he is listening to the scratch of quill and ink on magical photons.

The party has a brief discussion on what to do next, i.e. punt the evil at the cloisters, punt the balrog, punt Nellie the swamp hag, or go back via Dramas tower to somewhere nice to have lunch, dinner and naps.

We go back to the guild and have lunch, dinner and naps. Mary-M and myself do some research on [[Balrog]]s (We find almost nothing worth letting our tea go cold for). Silken leads a party of herself, Lysander and Mario to the cathedral to retrieve a holy relic. After some banter with the high priestess they succeed in doing so. Dramas and Amber do some research of their own.

We then use the tower once again to nip up to [[Newcourt]] (which is near Foxcourt, [[Bowcourt]] etal) Where it turns out, Dramas is a bit of a thing. (A good thing) Why are we here? Ummm some of us recall that when we met the balrog last time it was somewhat east north east of where we are now. (In Newcourt)

Dramas renews his acquaintance with the spare of Newcourt, one Francois. The heir is his older sister (Justine?). The Viscount himself is quite old and poorly, so our lovely healers (Lysander, Mary-M and Amber tend to him. (not deal to him, there have been numerous hunting accidents and this was not one of those)}
Dramas entertains us all with a further side quest related to a mysterious [[Newcourt_Tower_Investigations|White Tower]] in the grounds of Newcourt castle that he has been Faye(ly) itching to get into. Kilroy uses some magic on the tower and regrets it. The rest of us mostly abstain.
During subsequent conversations with Francois it turns out that in the general direction and vicinity of said balrog lies the Barony of [[Chaumont|Sharmont]]. Sharmont is currently being run by the Baron Etienne. His wife is Anya (daughter of Jorge Gisze, a Westport transportation magnate, and heir to that fortune) and their son and heir Renaud The baron was not the first in line, however due to some hunting accidents finds himself Baron.

Anya has apparently been lax in writing to her father and he has offered some ducats for someone to see how she is and get her to write something. (Hi Father, I am well, here is a lovely drawing of myself and your grandson (thank you Silken, more of that later) Best wishes Anya.

Mario nips off into the local town for the night and is suitably cured on his return by one of the less judgemental healers.

I cast a locate on the balrog, arrow comes up and then quite quickly goes away again. I am discouraged from crystal balling.

We all fly off by various means and land near the outskirts of Sharmont.
Four of us are rendered unremarkable by Mario and rest lead the party into Sharmont. The town appears to be one of the first step along a trail of ore processing. Lots of iron about and Dramas is not comfy.
Passersby seem normal and polite. The exception to this is their treatment of a pale bedraggled figure who seems a bit not right. We note this and carry on.

Dramas waves an introduction to the Baron (from Francois) and the three non nonremarkable party members have a cosy chat with him.
Seems he is not sleeping well and has been having nightmares. He is a bit cursed.

Party then makes nice noises about his wife and son and he sends us off to meet them.
Lots of DA's and they seem normal thus far. Anya has been distracted by new motherhood and has not been writing. (or is there more to this?)

Thus ends another period of time...

===Silken Scenes===
In the castle with the sleepy Baron. Mario is trying to set up a wine distribution deal with Anya the Baroness.

We are planning to investigate what’s going on by looking for cursed objects sneaky demons etc etc

Sister Agnes and some guy called Gilbert have already checked the Baron out and found nothing.

L and M are going to snoop about. L suggests she sits with him overnight (oh really?)

Dramus detects a Spectre in the basement and Laurent the major-domo escorts the other five off to search the castle starting with the basement

Mario and I stay with the Baroness and baby Renault.

Gaston the Master of Hounds has been afflicted with a similar pale/ nightmare pale illness. Turns out he’s just a Fetchling

Scandal of Lady Evangeline who apparently turned down every suitor then joined a Raphaelite cult. She became a Bride of the Cult

We decide to go to town letting Mario get murdered by a Spectre, the fuckers.

M finds that Gaston looks like a fetchling because he is one! But no Fetchlings have died of this wasting disease

We make our way to the Church as subtly as possible

Sister Agnes tall plain clearly doesn’t recognise Greatness when she sees it but kisses L and M’s ass in a most nauseating way tells us that she can show us either bodies or someone who is suffering from the Gray Wasting

No miners have reported this illness just townsfolk. No Fetchlings either.

====We split up!====

The Witch, the Dragon and the Fluffy Bunny go do weird things to a corpse. Turns out this plague has happened before about 10 years ago stopped when the old Baron died and his two older sons died. Axis has a really boring talk with the sexton he’s really bad at small talk.

omg this conversation is giving me the gorbals

L and I and Dramy go check out this sick Ostler, I have no plans except to be distracting

Death is revealed to be Magical Plague! 10 days to death. Dead guy says he ate something weird recently

L does a DA and seems to get a sense of Shadows Rising

L tries a Dissipate Magic it seems to work! Spindly black beast is ejected from his head and scuttles off. I also throw a whetstone over the house so I probably did everything but L tries to take all the credit which is bloody typical. L has a whack at the Shade with her Sword of Holy Smuttiness. Dramus works out it’s a Shade.
[[File:HolyWhetstone.png|200px|thumb|right|Holy Whetstone of St. Leoric]]
Axis flings some larks in the air and brings a crowd from the Church to see the Holy Miracle

Meanwhile the local yokels are setting up a good old fashioned lynching and Mary-em completely loses her mind and goes medieval on the nooses.

Axis starts banging on about miracles amidst all his larks. Possibly clerks. Fetchlings are saved but!

Louie the guard draws a sword and goes for Mary-Em I hurl the Holy Whetstone at him but sadly miss, Axis tries to sleep him but fails, gets him next time.

I retrieve the Holy Whetstone

Amber does not cast Hellfire which is probably good

====Together again====

We go look for the missing 4 year old child of Louie the Guard. I check out the river but only find some wax. Dramus looks in the river but no luck there.

L says “Silken makes a very valid point” which I do not recall ever having heard her say before

So the rangers have a sniff around. Dramus suggests the Shades might be coming from a Shadow Fae Realm.

We decide to go check out Marta the Chandler as the wax points at her and she’s also the next sickest person. Amber casts a massive beam of light over the Chandler’s.

Axis tells Dramus they are probably the most normal people in the group which is frankly rude

We see feet, toe down in the doorway Mary-Em charges in and is immediately jumped by two spindly black things.

L gets to smoting I hurl the Holy Whetstone and vanquish a demon fae

Lysander does something and gets attacked so I guess I’ll have to save her again

We find the small child Madeleine in a vat of warm wax and she says Marta came and lured her with promises of candy, we fish her out.

Amber and Dramus take the girl back to her mum.

== Buffs & Mil Sci ==
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table.buffs th { text-align: center; width: 3%; }
table.buffs td { text-align: center; }
table.buffs th.mg { text-align: left; width: 20%; }
table.buffs td.mg { text-align: left; }
table.buffs th.rk { width: 5%; }
table.buffs td.rk { }
table.buffs th.ef { text-align: left; width: 41%; }
table.buffs td.ef { text-align: left;}
table.buffs th.du { width: 10%; }
table.buffs td.du { }
table.AstroNum td { text-align: center; padding: 1px 0.5em; }
</css>
=== Buffs ===
====Long Term (assumed always on)====
{| class="buffs" |
!class="mg" | Magic (caster)
!class="rk" | Rk
!class="ef" | Effects
!class="du" | Duration
!Title="Silken" | Si
!Title="Axis" | Ax
!Title="Amber" | Am
!Title="Lysander" | Ly
!Title="Mary-M" | MM
!Title="Dramus" | Dr
!Title="Mario" | Ma
|-
|-
|class="mg" | Dark Vision (Dr)
|class="rk" | 7
|class="ef" | Cat Vision
|class="du" | 8 hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|}

====Self Only====
{| class="buffs" |
|-
!class="mg" | Magic (caster)
!class="rk" | Rk
!class="ef" | Effects
!class="du" | Duration
!Title="Silken" | Si
!Title="Axis" | Ax
!Title="Amber" | Am
!Title="Lysander" | Ly
!Title="Mary-M" | MM
!Title="Dramus" | Dr
!Title="Mario" | Ma
|-
|class="mg" | Fireproofing (Dr)
|class="rk" | 10
|class="ef" | Protection from non-magical heat and fire
|class="du" | 11 hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Fire Armour (Dr)
|class="rk" | 10
|class="ef" | +44 ablative armour against magical fire
|class="du" | 11 hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Mind Shield
|class="rk" | Rk
|class="ef" | +10+2/rk% vs M.Att.
|class="du" | 1+2/rk hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  6
|  8
|-
|class="mg" | Wraithcloak
|class="rk" | Rk
|class="ef" | +32% Def +6 AP +21 Stealth
|class="du" | 10.5 hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  20
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Holy Armour
|class="rk" | Rk
|class="ef" | +37%, 17 retributive -17 Stealth
|class="du" | 8.5 hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  16
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Force Shield
|class="rk" | Rk 24
|class="ef" | +50% Def, ablative protection
|class="du" | 12.5 hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  Y
|-
|}

====Short Term (cast when needed)====
{| class="buffs" |
|-
!class="mg" | Magic (caster)
!class="rk" | Rk
!class="ef" | Effects
!class="du" | Dur
!Title="Silken" | Si
!Title="Axis" | Ax
!Title="Amber" | Am
!Title="Lysander" | Ly
!Title="Mary-M" | MM
!Title="Dramus" | Dr
!Title="Mario" | Ma
|-
|class="mg" | Enchant Weapon (Ax)
|class="rk" | 17
|class="ef" | +18 BC%, +6 Dam. +7 vs Phn/Nm
|class="du" | 22 min
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Spectral Weapon (Dr)
|class="rk" | 16
|class="ef" | +17 BC%, +6 Dam. Can hit Insubstantial
|class="du" | 21 min
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Weapon of Flames (Ma)
|class="rk" | 13
|class="ef" | +14 BC%, +7 Dam.
|class="du" | 18 min
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  Y
|-
|class="mg" | Mind Speech (Dr)
|class="rk" | 6
|class="ef" | 7 people communicate Telepathically
|class="du" | 70 min
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|}

====Cast by minions and retainers====
{| class="buffs" |
|-
!class="mg" | Magic (caster)
!class="rk" | Rk
!class="ef" | Effects
!class="du" | Dur
!class="lo" | Location
!Title="Silken" | Si
!Title="Axis" | Ax
!Title="Amber" | Am
!Title="Lysander" | Ly
!Title="Mary-M" | MM
!Title="Dramus" | Dr
!Title="Mario" | Ma
|-
|class="mg" | Strength of Stone (Ent)
|class="rk" | 20
|class="ef" | +20 either ST or END
|class="du" | 21 hours
!class="lo" | Asheth
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Armour of Earth (Ent)
|class="rk" | 20
|class="ef" | +42% Def 1pt Armour
|class="du" | 21 hours
!class="lo" | Asheth
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Water Breathing (Splosh)
|class="rk" | 16
|class="ef" | Can breathe Underwater
|class="du" | 17 hours
!class="lo" | Tower
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Water Proofing (Splosh)
|class="rk" | 10
|class="ef" | Water proof objects for 55 days, or entities for 33 hours
|class="du" | Variable
!class="lo" | Tower
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Waters of Healing (Splosh)
|class="rk" | 14
|class="ef" | Heals for D-5+14. Cost 200sp for Perm
|class="du" | 17 hours
!class="lo" | Tower
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|}

====Senses and other stuff====
{| class="buffs" |
|-
!class="mg" | Capability
!class="rk" | Rk
!class="ef" | Effects
!class="du" | Dur
!Title="Silken" | Si
!Title="Axis" | Ax
!Title="Amber" | Am
!Title="Lysander" | Ly
!Title="Mary-M" | MM
!Title="Dramus" | Dr
!Title="Mario" | Ma
|-
|class="mg" | Sense Danger (%)
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Mind Talent (or equivalent)
|class="du" |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  63%
|  75%
|-
|class="mg" | Detect Ambush (%)
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Ranger (-5/rank of opposition)
|class="du" |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  138%/118%
|  130%
|-
|class="mg" | Enhanced Vision
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Pierce fog/obscurement
|class="du" |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  11
|-
|class="mg" | See Invis (Rk)
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Effective rank for seeing invisible
|class="du" |
| 
|  20
| 
| 
| 
|  20
|  11
|-
|class="mg" | Stealth (%)
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Standard / Ranger Outdoors
|class="du" |
| 
|  20
| 
| 
|  97%
|  84%/96%
|  119%
|-
|class="mg" | Sense Mana (Rk)
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Can see Mana Flows
|class="du" |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  15
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Fae Sight
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Can See Through Illusions
|class="du" |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  < Rk 9
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Sense Death
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Can Detect Deaths
|class="du" |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  130ft
| 
|}

=== Misc ===
; Greater Enchantment
: (Ax) rank 20: +21 all areas for the season
: (Myrrh courtesy of the bishop)

; Enhance Enchantment
: (Ax) rank 11-13: 65-80 seconds

; Remove Curse
: (Dr) MA 32 (62 if urgent)

; Heroic Aura (Mario)
: +6% SC, +2 Damage, +6% Defence, +2 Damage Reduction, +11% vs Fear checks.

; Herbalist Lunch/Broth
: ?? rk ?, Meal 4 FT or Broth 4 FT

=== Watch Order ===
<css>
table.watches th, table.watches td { text-align: center; }
table.watches th { width: 3em; }
</css>
{| class="watches" |
|-
! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12
|-
| colspan="2" | 1
| colspan="2" | 2
| colspan="2" | 3
| colspan="2" | 4
| colspan="2" | 5
| colspan="2" | 6
|}

=== Marching Order ===
{| width="90%"
!colspan="3" align="center"| Skirmish Formations (Front)
|-
|align="center"| ''Default''
 
|align="center"| ''Double File''
 
|align="center"| ''Single File''
??? 
??? 
??? 
??? 
??? 
??? 
|}

==Calendar==
{| cellspacing=1 width="100%" border=0 class="Season" id="Winter"
! colspan=15 | '''Winter: [[Frost]] 825 (7)'''
|-
| class="calMoon" |
! colspan=2 | Moonday
! colspan=2 | Duesday
! colspan=2 | W'ansday
! colspan=2 | Th'rsday
! colspan=2 | Frysday
! colspan=2 | Reapsday
! colspan=2 | Sunday
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | || [[Samhain]]
| class=day | 1 || Guild Meeting Seagate
| class=day | 2 ||
| class=day | 3 ||
| class=day | 4 ||
| class=day | 5 ||
| class=day | 6 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| class=day | 7 ||
| class=day | 8 ||
| class=day | 9 ||
| class=day | 10 ||
| class=day | 11 ||
| class=day | 12 ||
| class=day | 13 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon0.jpg]]
| class=day | 14 ||
| class=day | 15 ||
| class=day | 16 ||
| class=day | 17 ||
| class=day | 18 ||
| class=day | 19 ||
| class=day | 10 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon1.jpg]]
| class=day | 21 ||
| class=day | 22 ||
| class=day | 23 ||
| class=day | 24 ||
| class=day | 25 ||
| class=day | 26 ||
| class=day | 27 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | 28 ||
| class=day | 29 ||
| class=day | 30 ||
| class=day | 1 ||
| class=day | 2 ||
| class=day | 3 ||
| class=day | 4 ||
|-
! colspan=15 | '''Winter: [[Snow]] 825 (8)'''
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| class=day | 5 ||
| class=day | 6 ||
| class=day | 7 ||
| class=day | 8 ||
| class=day | 9 ||
| class=day | 10 ||
| class=day | 11 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon0.jpg]]
| class=day | 12 ||
| class=day | 13 ||
| class=day | 14 ||
| class=day | 15 || Solstice
| class=day | 16 ||
| class=day | 17 ||
| class=day | 18 || Yuletide
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon1.jpg]]
| class=day | 19 || Days of Chaos
| class=day | 20 || DoC2
| class=day | 21 || DoC3
| class=day | 22 || DoC4
| class=day | 23 || DoC5
| class=day | 24 || DoC6
| class=day | 25 || DoC7
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | 26 || DoC8
| class=day | 27 || DoC9
| class=day | 28 || DoC10
| class=day | 29 || DoC11
| class=day | 30 || Twelfth Night
| class=day | 1 ||
| class=day | 2 ||
|-
! colspan=15 | '''Winter: [[Ice]] 825 (9)'''
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| class=day | 3 ||
| class=day | 4 ||
| class=day | 5 ||
| class=day | 6 || First Plough
| class=day | 7 ||
| class=day | 8 ||
| class=day | 9 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon0.jpg]]
| class=day | 10 ||
| class=day | 11 ||
| class=day | 12 ||
| class=day | 13 ||
| class=day | 14 ||
| class=day | 15 ||
| class=day | 16 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon1.jpg]]
| class=day | 17 ||
| class=day | 18 ||
| class=day | 19 ||
| class=day | 20 ||
| class=day | 21 ||
| class=day | 22 ||
| class=day | 23 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | 24 ||
| class=day | 25 ||
| class=day | 26 ||
| class=day | 27 ||
| class=day | 28 ||
| class=day | 29 ||
| class=day | 30 ||
|}
==Appendices==
===Chronology===
Being a summary of events involving the Dark Circle, Demon Emperors, Dark Dwarves, and Balrogs
====783====
A guild party attempts to prevent Rashak's general The Great Khan from trying to unite the Plains Barbarians. They fail but succeed in delaying him while he recovers from his wounds and the party's propaganda.
A team of demonic assassins attacks the guild, destroying the old infirmary and slaying most of the guild healers. The new infirmary is built in a more secure location. Adventurers assist with healing until new guild healers can be recruited.
====784====
A guild party race The Great Khan in an attempt to find the tomb of Hanyax to recover the Crown of Command and the Orb of Yama. The Great Khan beats them there only to fall under the tomb's curse. The party considered entering the tomb but were driven off by a Black Dragon. It would be twelve years before Rashak was able to release The Great Khan from the tomb.
====785====
A guild party assist in breaking the siege of Knega by Rashak's forces led by The Khan's two uncles. This delays Rashak by six years until Knega falls to treachery.
====787 WK====
A party locates in passing a display case holding the apparently still living hand of a [[balrog]] in the ruins of “the Plains Guild Hall” . The artefact is not brought back to Seagate. Current whereabouts of the hand are uncertain though it is known that some artefacts from this location were subsequently claimed by the [[Tac Adventurers Guild]] and taken to [[Tac]].

====Autumn 789 WK====
A party is sent by Marquessa Dulciena de [[Bowcourt]] to serve a notice of payment on dwarves who hadn't paid the rent on their mine for 800 years. At the dwarven mines, near the northern borders of [[Foxcourt]] and [[Newcourt]], the party discovers dwarves with bizarre mutations from the effects of “warpstone” and a balrog named Gothron who was watching over the tomb-prison of the Demon Emperor [[Ahriman]]; the source of the warpstone energy. The balrog threatens the party, giving them a year and a day to return with the key to Ahriman’s tomb. Gothron had an unusual distinguishing mark - it was missing its left hand, which had been replaced with one made of a crystalline substance (warpstone).
;Related party members
: Silken, Axis (?)

====Summer 790 WK====
Operating on reports from a party in Empyrea the previous season several of the adventurers from the Mines of Gothron ventured to this other world and reclaimed an ancient artefact subsequently termed “The Balrog's Egg”. They returned this to Gothron in the dwarven mines where it was used to open Ahriman’s tomb. For reasons beyond the scope of these notes Ahriman dismissed Gothron and went into seclusion with the warpstone altered dwarves.
;Related party members
: Axis, Silken
====Autumn 797 WK====
Guild party frees Demon Emperor [[Apollyon]], setting in motion a disastrous chain of events.

====Samhain 798 WK====
Seagate Guild ravaged by black necromantic fire; a Black Dragon, Incubi, and Succubi are amongst the attackers. Members of the guild council kidnapped. Majority of older membership records, scribe notes, treasure division records, and financial accounts lost along with large parts of the library.
====Spring 799 WK====
First direct mention of the Dark Circle is recorded in the Seagate Times (issue 27) after the effect crosses into Brastor, though later reports state is was initially observed in the Sea of Grass in the early 780s.

Circle is associated with [[Rashak]], the Necromancer of [[Masada]], who is now blamed for the attack on the Guild. Duke Leto orders a Call-to-Arms throughout Carzala.

A Guild party, seeking ducal cavalry (and Silken), who had gone missing near Slippery Rock end up in a shadow realm, are briefly decapitated, deliberately burn an inn, destroy a pocket plane, and return with a missing holy artefact, the [[Holy Standard of Saint Jeremiah|Standard of Saint Jeremiah]].

Around this time the party encounters the balrog Gothron and during an altercation the balrog’s warpstone hand explodes after contacting the holy relic.
;Related party members
: Mary-M, Silken

====Summer 800 WK====
Dark Circle effect reaches Seagate. The Times publishes advice for those venturing into the area which are summarised as: don't get hit, don't get hurt, don't die, don't underestimate them, don't forget your Holy Water.

Silken claims a vision from Uriel and after inquisitorial questioning swears an oath of obedience, modesty, and chastity to the Western Church until the Dark Circle is banished forever. She is granted the title of Lady Dark.
;Related party members
: Silken; Lysander and Mary-M (assisting the Inquisition)

====Autumn 800 WK====
Silken, Lady Dark, leads a party into the Dark Circle.
;Related party members
: Silken, Dramus (briefly)

====Winter 800 WK====
An earthquake strikes Carzala and a tidal wave sweeps into Confederation Bay. This is later confirmed to be the result of Apollyon’s ritual to raise the Demon Emperor [[Leviathan]] from the deep.

====Spring 800 WK====
Dark Circle effect recedes; no convincing explanation is determined. Some farmers are sent back to Brastor with a military escort.

Carzala completes its southern fortifications stretching from Regar’s Keep in the foothills of the Fastness of Girwyllan to the Sweetwater south-east of Arn’s Ferry. The wall of fire-hardened earth and stone is 30 feet tall (60 feet wide at its base), with a waterlogged ditch on the far side equally deep. The few gaps in the wall for access to Brastor are very heavily fortified.
====Summer 801 WK====
A party undertaking scouting in [[Terranova]] to determine Apollyon’s military plans meet Ahriman and his dark dwarves. They are aiding local dwarves in opposing Apollyon’s armies while also maintaining enormous underground reservoirs of highly magical and life-charged water; this so-called “Dark Graal” being some form of debt that Ahriman owes to [[Xanadu]], the Dragon God.
;Related party members
: Mary-M

====Spring 801 WK====
Seagate Times special correspondent Henri Stanleigh reports that Apollyon’s armies are working towards flooding the Silt Sea in Northern Terranova with the apparent goal of reaching the ruins of the ancient elven capital of [[Kadath]].

====Spring 802 WK====
With Apollyon’s army of Spawn forcing a passage north into the Drow lands of Terranova heading for Kadath to free [[Baal]], a party embark on a dangerous mission to seek out the ancient dragons who left Alusia millennia ago (as mentioned in [[Jade Dragon's Story]]) and enlist their aid.
One of the dragons that return with the party is [[Eriskigal]], formerly the mate of Ahriman. They are reunited in the aftermath of these events and at some later point leave for parts unknown.
;Related party members
: Axis, Mary-M

====Spring 805 WK====
Assassins from the Dark Circle attack King Ulric on his 11th birthday. Several nobles are killed including the Baroness of Silvanwold.
Duke Frederick of Aquila, Regent and father of King Ulric, summoned high ranking nobles for a "council of war", and was overheard to declare that the time had come to "deal once and for all with the murderess of Masada". The duke began assembling forces for a campaign against the Dark Circle in Summer.
In Brastor, Duke Leto’s forces regain complete control of Brastor holdings, with the edge of the Dark Circle pushed south of Brastor Town. Elements of the Brastor Liberation Army burned the ruined remains of Dramus’s manor house.
====Summer 805 WK====
Brastor fully liberated. Colonel Lyndon-Smyth, commander of the Brastor Pike Regiment quotes as declaring: "We've got Rashak and her minions on the run men … the war will be over by Michaelmas". Sir Gaius de Malvallet, Chaper Master of the "Knights of the Wrath of Michael" appointed Knight-Marshall of the Orders of Light and charged with the destruction of the Dark Circle, its creator, and any that would aid and abet her.
====Autumn 805 WK====
Dark Circle surges back into Brastor cutting off the many forces arrayed there. First battle of Carson’s Switch fought by Eltrandoran cavalry and Aquilan Knights in order to get out refugees.
Frederick, Duke of Aquila, slain by Dark Circle assassins. Richard Count Foxcourt accused of sedition, insurrection and treason. Found guilty in absentia and exiled from the Western Kingdom he flees to the Lunar Empire.
Guild party deals with Rashak's minions who are planning to drop stars on Seagate and other locations along with an undead dragon and an ancient kraken.
;Related party members
: Amber the Witch

====Winter 805 WK====
[[Brastor Breakout|Second battle of Carson’s Switch]]. Twenty guild members reinforce regular forces to significantly damage Dark Circle forces in the pass as part of a plan to extract civilians and remaining Carzalan soldiers. Ahriman’s dark dwarves appear as uncalled for aid; neutralizing enemy earth elementals and assisting in the destruction of undead artillery.
;Related party members
: Axis, Lysander, Mary-M
Despite this victory, over the next two months the Dark Circle expands into Southern Ranke.

====Spring 805 WK====
A guild party slay Rashak, outside of Masada, after discovering that she must journey to the Kingstone on the spring Solstice. The party intercept her and her forces who are travelling beneath the ocean on the back of an undead whale. While the death of Rashak seriously shakes the Dark Circle forces, the circle effect itself remains.
Hard fighting in Southern Ranke damages the Dark Circle army and reopens the road north from Carzala. Desertion of non-undead units is observed.
====Summer 806 WK====
Dark Circle forces are pushed back on all fronts. The Dark Circle itself recedes unevenly, with undead forces clinging to areas where it remains in effect. Consecrations and blessings are used to disrupt the effect.
====Autumn 806 WK====
Novadom freed of Dark Circle undead forces.
;Related party members
: Amber the Witch
====Spring 806 WK====
Guild party destroys Masada.
====Autumn 808 WK====
Guild party discovers a cult, known as the Circle of Blood; a remnant of the Dark Circle and a demonic Death Cult in the ruined town of [[Kirkul]], one of the Five Sisters.
;Related party members
: Dramus
[[Liessa Varden|Liessa]] slays the balrog “Dark Fire” and ascends to become a nascent Power of Light as [[Liessa|Liessa the Devourer]].

====Winter 808 WK====
Kirkul assaulted and razed by a combined Guild, Michaeline, and Midgard force. Circle of Blood cult destroyed.

Witnesses report fire, cold, light, dark, indescribable horrors, and a rain of millstones.
====Autumn 813 WK====
Richard, the former Count Foxcourt returns and raises an army to protect his people against the Drow invasion. His camp remains just outside Bowcourt; not technically violating his exile. Over the next year shape-changers under Richard’s command hunt bandits and keep the peace in Foxcourt.
====Summer 817 WK====
The Royal Council of the Western Kingdom found Count Richard of Foxcourt not guilty of betrayal and murder in the case of the assassination of the late Duke Ferdinand of Aquila and announced that his domains should be returned to him. Additionally, he was granted the vacant Barony of Maumains and the title of Marquis of the Eastern Marches, honouring his service and loyalty to the New Western Kingdom. This elevation makes him technically equal in rank to the Marquessa of Bowcourt, further complicating their relationship.

====Winter 823 WK====
Concerns raised over the ongoing cost of continuing to quarantine [[Jurgenmark]], the most north-western county of Aquila. The quarantine that had been in place for 12 years since the county suffered a pestilence/plague of otherworldly origin. In that time a group of powerful entities had taken over the county and embedded Dark Circle stones around the borders. Evidence points to some of these entities having been acolytes of Rashak.

====Spring 823 WK====
Multiple high-profile targets in the Western Kingdom were attacked and several killed by assassins launched from Jurgenmark.

A party ventured into Jurgenmark and discovered the Dark Circle elements and highly coordinated dread lords. The capital of Zeisterheim was transformed by the delivery of a ritually blessed and sanctified bijou mountain from the astrologically significant height of 40 miles.

====Autumn 824 WK====
Western Kingdom forces retake border areas around Jurgenmark, significantly reducing the threat from that county in preparation for a major summer offensive.
====Summer 825 WK====
Western Kingdom forces invade Jurgenmark and eventually crush all remaining organized necromantic opposition leaving only isolated pockets of holdouts.

===Megaliths in the Greenwood===
;Six Sisters
;The Boneyard
;The Graveyard
;The Giant
;The Bluestones
;Nelly's Bog
;Broken Circle
===Astrology Readings===
''tbd''
===Letter to Silken===
'''Lady Dark''', 
''Sworn Servant of the Powers of Light'', 
It is with considerable reluctance that I write to you now.

Twenty years have passed since Rashak the Destroyer, Mistress of Masada was cast down and the great manifestation of the Dark Circle broken beneath fire and sanctified steel. All hoped that her evil had been wholly extinguished, yet time has proven otherwise.

You will no doubt know of the northern outbreak, wherein Rashak’s surviving acolytes bore fragments of the Circle into the cold provinces of Jurgenmark and sought to seed it anew. By the courage of adventurers of your guild and the sacrifice of loyal Western Kingdom forces, that horror was contained and burned away.

Elsewhere there have been lesser recurrences: hidden crypts, blighted fields, circles found carved beneath ruined chapels and abandoned villages. Each, by grace and vigilance, destroyed by our martial brothers and sisters before it could take root.

But now a more concerning pattern has emerged.

In recent months, our diviners and wardens have marked several manifestations of the Circle in widely separated regions. Yet when our knights and clergy arrive to investigate, they find nothing. No taint. No corruption. No lingering necromancy. Only signs that something had been there and was gone before we could reach it.

The Circle appears. The Circle vanishes. This troubles us greatly.

If this remained a purely martial issue we would send our loyal Church brethren, but as the enemy shows a new deviousness and cunning, our mind turned to your unique talents.

We have recently detected a new manifestation in the Greenwood, that forested area north of Brastor, hard against the Ildrisholm Hills and not far distant from the site of the great victory of Light at Carson's Switch.

For this reason, and by authority granted me by Tomás Xerxes, Archbishop of the Unified Western Church, I hereby call upon the oath you swore before the Inquisition in Seagate in that Year of Tribulations 800 WK.

You swore your obedience, modesty, and chastity until the Dark Circle was banished forever. Therefore, you are requested, and, by your vow required, to take up this onerous charge once more.

Gather such companions as you deem trustworthy. Travel where these signs of corruption lead you. Investigate this area. Discover whether Rashak’s evil survives in hidden form, or whether some deeper darkness now moves beneath its name.

Attend on me in Seagate before your departure. You shall have the support of the Unified Church within reasonable measure: letters of passage, access to our archives, sanctuary where it may be found, and such bounty as our treasuries can responsibly provide.

As additional inducement should this matter be resolved to the satisfaction of the Inquisition, your oath shall be considered fulfilled in full and without reservation; you shall be released from all further obligations to the Church and from the office and burden of Lady Dark.

''May the Light yet guide your path and reveal what hides in shadow.''

Bishop Jocelyn, 
Cathedral of the Dawn 
Seagate

Twenty Years After

2026-07-09T02:27:21Z

Martin: /* We split up! */

<div style="float: right; font-size: smaller; margin-left: 10px;" class="toclimit-3 ">__TOC__</div>
[[Category:Martin Dickson]][[Category:Scribe Notes]][[Scribe_Notes#Winter_826_WK|Scribe Notes]] 
[[Category:Silken]][[Category:Axis]][[Category:Amber the Witch]]
[[Category:Dramus]][[Category:Mary-M]]
== Summary ==
'''Adventure''': Twenty Years After 
* '''aka''': Dark Memories & Silken Threads
'''GM''': [[User:Martin|Martin]] 
'''Season''': [[Winter]] 826 WK 
'''Night''': Wednesday 
'''Level''': [[Experience#Quest_Level | Medium Well Done]] 
; Party
*[[Silken]] aka '''Lady Dark''' - Female Human E&E, and courtesan of ''considerable'' repute - played by Fi
*[[Axis]] - Male (formerly Human) Silver Dragon and E&E - played by Greg G
*[[Amber the Witch]] - Female Elven broom-riding Witch - played by Jo
*[[Lysander]] - Female Elven OG "Namer with big sword" (and wings) - played by Avette
*[[Mary-M]] - Female Halfling Namer "the smallest Seraph" - played by Helen C
*[[Dramus]] - Fey Prince and sometime Necromancer - played by Mandos
*[[Mario]] - Male Human Mind Mage Lothario - played by Dean
;Time on adventure
:1 Frost 826 WK to ??? 826 WK
; Employer
: Jocelyn, Urielite Bishop of Seagate.
: ''Potential for additional employers''
; Mission
: Investigate possible Dark Circle resurgence and eliminate if possible.
; Pay
: Probably

==Scribe Notes==
These notes are written by different party members. Some of them may be an accurate of events but, on the whole, I (Lysander Treeborne, first scribe) suggest you take them with a grain of salt.

===Party (in alphabetical order)===
;Amber
: Witch and dealer of white-hot pain to up to 7 targets (hopefully not party members). She rides a broom and sometimes wears a pointy hat. She assures me she has no warts, but she does have a metallic hawk familiar.
;Axel Wagon Mage (Axis)
: Lizard wizard (and now actual lizard) – owner of a hoard and some very pungent scallions – and larks. As self-effacing and mildly shambolic as ever
;Dramus
: your guess is as good as mine, but he brings his own inn, pixies and skeletal hand – and is tragically tall. Somehow, he appears to be a necromancer ''and'' a mind mage (shudder). Oh, and appears more fae than elf.
;Mario
: ridiculously good-looking human mind mage and purveyor of fine wines and charcuterie (we are so doomed). Says he can use the rapier dangling artistically from his belt. We shall see.
;Lysander
: Namer, warrior and jaundiced Michaeline – big white wings and an array of large swords.
;Mary-M
: Namer, Samielite and overall adorable cherub (cute little white wings and everything). She has an equally adorable winged serpent pet(?). Also a Namer (because we need more of those).
[[File:BishopJocelyn.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Jocelyn, Urielite Bishop of Seagate.]]
;Silken aka lady Dark
: Party leader and self-appointed military scientist (we’re doomed). Being an E$E (sic) mage is the least of her many talents. She is as elegant and put together as ever (and as trustworthy I’m sure).

There are five healers, two of whom are rank 10, three people who have their own wings and one who not only has his own wings but can also carry people around on an exaltation of larks (yes really), one who has a chariot pulled by songbirds (again with the noisy birds) and one who can bring his own inn. How adventuring has changed. You hang out in the forest for five minutes (OK – 20 human years) and adventuring has turned into glamping!!!

We also have courtesans/courtiers, thieves, rangers, assassins, a philosopher/alchemist and
a warrior but no actual military scientist because that would be useful.

'''Our mission''' (which we apparently decided to accept)

The church had identified 4 possible areas of dark circle incursion. Investigations showed remnants of activity such as animal and human sacrifices but no signs of a dark circle. They want a party of adventurers to investigate the latest incursion, which they have identified through the reliable and accurate arts of astrology and divination, as they look less like paladins (aint that the truth) and more inconspicuous (not).

In their wisdom they have tasked Lady Dark (AKA the Lady Silken) to gather a group for this purpose. A little bit of divine interference has ensured that both Lysander and Mary-M are amongst the party. Others appear to have been available by mere happenstance (hmm, a likely story).

===1 Frost 826===
After brief introductions (and reintroductions) our motley crew hied ourselves to the Cathedral where we were briefed by Bishop Jocelyn (time has not been kind). The bishop has given us a thurible (incense burner) that helps detect the presence of evil by floating gently off towards it (very useful in the woods where there will be no natural breezes to blow it around).

The area is in the Greenwood which is about 150 miles south and east of Seagate. We did the usual preparation (divinations, enchantments, a three-course meal) and set off the following morning. We trekked all day – oh wait, no we didn’t, we flew on wings, larks, broomstick and chariot – and arrived in a clearing in the Greenwood about 4 hours later. How times have changed. Who knows what the next days will bring? I predict an equal mix of chaos and hedonism. Whatever it is, I doubt it will dull.

===2 Frost 826===
<div class=dramus style="background-color: #EEEEEE; font-family: Gothic, cursive; border: thin solid #333; ">
This being the true and accurate representation as dictated to me by my Master Lord [[Dramus]]. Where he has not supplied information I have sought information from other parties involved and included their dictations as presented. - Tobias Pendleton (Scribe)
[[File:StoneCircle01.jpg|200px|thumb|left|First stone circle]]
 Upon performing a Detection of Evil via the provided thurible the party did head off to the east in an exultation of larks.
[[File:Knurl.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Knurl, a Pixie.]]
Arriving at clearing the party spied a stone circle with 3 fallen stones. Some of the stones hae been covered in blood and there is a shallow grave nearby. 

 The standing stones are faintly magical but are not trapped warded or cursed.

 There are three bodies, two whole and one bisected with the the top half remaining. The bisected entity is the remains of cervitaur (A centaur but more expensive [A little deerer])
=====Speaking to the Fallen=====
 My master then tried to speak with the fallen but they did not wish to communicate. So the Wiccan Lady spoke via cards and determoned that they came from the [[Fastness of Girwyllan]] and were on their way back from [[The Cloisters]] when they were captured at night in the [[Greenwood]] and a couple of days later killed. They are part of a church to the dark powers and are working against another sect. 
=====Speaking to a pixie=====
My Master then went of to speak to the fae hoping for a better response than recieved from the deceased meeting a friendly Pixie both Gnarled and Gnerled. Learning that centaurs and cervitaur have been more common since summer and do not belong here. Also lets us know about the evil Satyrs with Goatlike faces As well as a Boneyard, a large circle and a number of smaller Circles. 

====Dinner and Bed====
We then walk to [[Adjepbar]] via Dream for dinner and sleep. As they entered Dream they saw, in the distance to the north, a storm the group believe represents an incursiuon from [[Furfur]] The Earl of Storms and Lightning.
</div class=dramus style="background-color: #EEEEEE; font-family: Gothic, cursive; border: thin solid #333; ">

===3 Frost 826===
Mario here to provide you with the next installment of our adventures 
We head back to the Greenwood from Adjepbar after dinner and a good nights sleep. Dramus and Amber have eaten something that has not agreed with them so they unfortunately are forced to stay at our base camp 
[[File:GreenwoodRunes2.png|130px|thumb|right|Runes found beneath the Portal Tomb site.]]
We recap the timings noted from the first evil clearing - The circle was dedicated to a power in autumn, the crystals present nearby were gathered some time later, then the circle was reconsecrated to another power recently 
We now know that [[Furfur]] was the first power and has cultists based at the Cloisters. This explains the storm seen in dream which also manifests in reality throughout the day 
The second power we also now know as being [[Marchosias]] 
[[File:PortalTomb.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Dolmen or portal tomb]]
We plan to find another clearing which has evil detectable by the thurible. Lysander takes off under walking unseen to scout for a possible circle based on patterns and thurible smoke 
She spots a small clearing with two large upright stones with one large stone leaning at an angle on them, apparently this is called a portal tomb or dolmen. It is about 6 miles from base camp 
We set off in various styles of movement, though no songbirds to improve our stealth. We approach cautiously to look for evil doers but find none present 
No movement, nothing on esp/telepathy but the thurible smoke points to the stones. They are old magic, primal, Druidic earth magics 
We trace the smoke with a wizards eye into the entry of the stones and find a narrow staircase leading down. Mary M throws a ball of light down the stairs, Took genes prevail 
We decide to follow the light orb. Lysander finds fibres set to show someone has passed through. We avoid them and progress down to the bottom of stairs into a narrow cleft. Eldritch drawings are noted on the walls, less tits and more tentacles, disappointing 
An opening off to the right, a small ossuary, to the left another, the end of the cleft has dead heads on poles and seems to be the source of the evil the smoke is attracted to. 
We investigate, head killed 3 days ago, similar time as deaths at first sacrifice area, pole is bestial magic, name of magic is dedication. While there we find a feather that I work out was from a raven belonging to [[Stolas]].

Mary M and myself start long divinates, about 90 mins in an evil group approaches a sleeping Silken within the stones. Silken had mentioned having a nap while waiting, her location of choice leaves a lot to be desired. 
Thankfully the alarm is raised by Mary Ms pet which was watching for trouble at the top of the stairs. Axis wizard eyes the group, 12 human sized goat faced satyrs plus 2 minotaurs. 
The group are confused by the sleeping beauty and are working out what to do. Not knowing yet whether they are friend or foe, we attempt a dissemble with some success. 
I sneak up and out invisible which they do not detect, then I ‘enter’ the clearing to rescue my sleeping lady. They are confused but not aggressive and allow me to converse with them to find out they are followers of Urox and that we should not be here, very dangerous. 
After some bluff and bluster we toast the success of their endeavours and Silken and I leave the clearing together. Unfortunately we have found out they are going downstairs, other than the 2 minotaurs, to where the party are hiding 

Still unsure of their nature, the remaining party (Axis, Mary M and Lysander) hide in the first small ossuary hoping they will pass by and allow their exit 
They almost pass by, but one of their number smells them and they start to search. A bit of ventriloquist trickery gets them chasing shadows elsewhere and the party sneak their way up towards the waiting minotaurs 
The party have noted that the 12 goat faced satyrs reek of evil, so we pivot to plotting their destruction using the stairs as a choke point 
Silken and I try to take out the minotaurs with spells, the sleep from Silken was effective, my control person was resisted and the alarm was raised. Just as the party arrived at the remaining minotaur, I got it under control and we now controlled the top of the stairs 
The satyrs charge up towards us and Mary M calls her holy fire down upon them, they melt rather well. A sleep and mental attack leaves only a few plus a shaman down the stairs 
We move forward to stop the shaman incanting however he calls forth an avatar of Marchosias just before him and his remaining minions are also introduced to the holy fire of Mary M 
Lysander and I move to engage the avatar. While it tramples and breathes on us, Lysander deals many strong blows and I manage to finish it off. We regroup to plan our next move. 
====Mary-M's scribe notes====
Before leaving the Boneyard I wanted to break the area’s dedication to the demon Marchosias so I asked Axis if he could get the totem poles outside and then dragon fire them, which he did.

I used the Thurible to check the results, the smoke showed there was still an evil taint in the area, but it was back to the original nature-based effect, and the demonic effect was gone.

We talked to the minotaur prisoner. We found out he and his fellow were from Tarsh near the Lunar Empire. He called their enemies servants of Ragnaglar (evil storm god) whose servants includes Humans, Harpies and Cervataurs.

Because the minotaurs were not evil in and of themselves, just hired muscle, we left them there to find their own way home.

We headed back to the Tower for lunch and a catch up with the rest of our party.

While we were away Dramus had a visit from Knurl the Pixie who provided some new information about stone circles in the area. He also mentioned that there were also some folks wearing iron armour around the area that he was avoiding.

Based on this we decided to investigated Nelly’s Bog after lunch.

Greatwing scouted the area for us and identified something of a clearing with three familiar looking totem poles complete with rotting heads. These posts were leaning out outwards because of the swampy nature of the “ground”. The party landed in trees that were growing out of the water.

After discussion we decided there was no point in carrying out a divination at this time and that we would dragon flames the totem poles again since they were temporary and easily destroyed.

Dramus warped some dead wood to create a small platform out of the water. Mario picked up a couple of minds lurking and sleeping under the water; possibly the grindylows that Knurl had mentioned. Dramus walked on water and had his ankle grabbed, he responded with agony. Mario mentally dominated the other mind.

Small reed-like creatures (“Spites”) crept over Mario’s and my feet on the platform, fixing us to the ground. We cut ourselves free and returned to the air. Mario questioned the grindylow and discovered that crystal had been here but had been removed by Nelly (who we decided was a Bog Hag… or a Hydra). More grindylows began to approach and Mario attempted to warn them off.

From her perch high in a tree Silken spotted two armoured dwarves of nearby mudbank and waved at them. Mario cast another mind speech including the dwarves.

They recognized some of us from the Battle of Carson’s Switch and we realized that they were dark dwarves that once served Ahriman. We decided to relocate to a safer place outside the swamp to parley.

The dwarves withdrew, meeting six companions. One was attacked by a grindylow and killed it with a missile weapon that fired a metal ball. The dwarves all then disappeared underground.

We flew two miles west to the designated meeting place and the dwarves arrived from the underground. Mario could detect two Earth Elemental with them.

The same two dwarves approached to discuss matters. They introduced themselves as Garum Firebeard and Aradun Deepcrag.
=====What we learned from them=====
The [[Balrog]] Gothron (missing his glass hand) had returned and bound and controlled them to retrieve the dark circle crystals for him. They have spent over a year doing this and the last month in the Greenwood where they have successfully gathered reactivated crystals from beneath several ritual sites including the Six Sisters and the Boneyard.

Garum and Aradun suggested that if the party were to rid them of the Balrog then they would no longer have any need of the crystals and would turn these over along with additional rewards.

====Axis has a turn at doing the scribe notes====
In which we eat and sleep quite a bit and quite comfortably. Meet interesting new people and do not kill them.
Note that this drifts from the '''3rd''' to the '''5th of Frost'''.
Note also that names and places are probably spelt and described with wild abandon and fairly inaccurately.
We resume at the point where we are talking to two dwarves out of a larger party. The larger party is standing about 50 yards away across a bog-marsh-swamp glowering at us and them.
Apparently there are some in the larger group who cannot be trusted not to spill the beans to the balrog about what we are talking about (offing said balrog and freeing dwarves and families)
So.. We are feigning a mild war of words and finally slowly sod off.

It comes to mind that at least Mary-M, myself and Lysander have met this particular balrog, whose name I deign to write down in case he is listening to the scratch of quill and ink on magical photons.

The party has a brief discussion on what to do next, i.e. punt the evil at the cloisters, punt the balrog, punt Nellie the swamp hag, or go back via Dramas tower to somewhere nice to have lunch, dinner and naps.

We go back to the guild and have lunch, dinner and naps. Mary-M and myself do some research on [[Balrog]]s (We find almost nothing worth letting our tea go cold for). Silken leads a party of herself, Lysander and Mario to the cathedral to retrieve a holy relic. After some banter with the high priestess they succeed in doing so. Dramas and Amber do some research of their own.

We then use the tower once again to nip up to [[Newcourt]] (which is near Foxcourt, [[Bowcourt]] etal) Where it turns out, Dramas is a bit of a thing. (A good thing) Why are we here? Ummm some of us recall that when we met the balrog last time it was somewhat east north east of where we are now. (In Newcourt)

Dramas renews his acquaintance with the spare of Newcourt, one Francois. The heir is his older sister (Justine?). The Viscount himself is quite old and poorly, so our lovely healers (Lysander, Mary-M and Amber tend to him. (not deal to him, there have been numerous hunting accidents and this was not one of those)}
Dramas entertains us all with a further side quest related to a mysterious [[Newcourt_Tower_Investigations|White Tower]] in the grounds of Newcourt castle that he has been Faye(ly) itching to get into. Kilroy uses some magic on the tower and regrets it. The rest of us mostly abstain.
During subsequent conversations with Francois it turns out that in the general direction and vicinity of said balrog lies the Barony of [[Chaumont|Sharmont]]. Sharmont is currently being run by the Baron Etienne. His wife is Anya (daughter of Jorge Gisze, a Westport transportation magnate, and heir to that fortune) and their son and heir Renaud The baron was not the first in line, however due to some hunting accidents finds himself Baron.

Anya has apparently been lax in writing to her father and he has offered some ducats for someone to see how she is and get her to write something. (Hi Father, I am well, here is a lovely drawing of myself and your grandson (thank you Silken, more of that later) Best wishes Anya.

Mario nips off into the local town for the night and is suitably cured on his return by one of the less judgemental healers.

I cast a locate on the balrog, arrow comes up and then quite quickly goes away again. I am discouraged from crystal balling.

We all fly off by various means and land near the outskirts of Sharmont.
Four of us are rendered unremarkable by Mario and rest lead the party into Sharmont. The town appears to be one of the first step along a trail of ore processing. Lots of iron about and Dramas is not comfy.
Passersby seem normal and polite. The exception to this is their treatment of a pale bedraggled figure who seems a bit not right. We note this and carry on.

Dramas waves an introduction to the Baron (from Francois) and the three non nonremarkable party members have a cosy chat with him.
Seems he is not sleeping well and has been having nightmares. He is a bit cursed.

Party then makes nice noises about his wife and son and he sends us off to meet them.
Lots of DA's and they seem normal thus far. Anya has been distracted by new motherhood and has not been writing. (or is there more to this?)

Thus ends another period of time...

===Silken Scenes===
In the castle with the sleepy Baron. Mario is trying to set up a wine distribution deal with Anya the Baroness.

We are planning to investigate what’s going on by looking for cursed objects sneaky demons etc etc

Sister Agnes and some guy called Gilbert have already checked the Baron out and found nothing.

L and M are going to snoop about. L suggests she sits with him overnight (oh really?)

Dramus detects a Spectre in the basement and Laurent the major-domo escorts the other five off to search the castle starting with the basement

Mario and I stay with the Baroness and baby Renault.

Gaston the Master of Hounds has been afflicted with a similar pale/ nightmare pale illness. Turns out he’s just a Fetchling

Scandal of Lady Evangeline who apparently turned down every suitor then joined a Raphaelite cult. She became a Bride of the Cult

We decide to go to town letting Mario get murdered by a Spectre, the fuckers.

M finds that Gaston looks like a fetchling because he is one! But no Fetchlings have died of this wasting disease

We make our way to the Church as subtly as possible

Sister Agnes tall plain clearly doesn’t recognise Greatness when she sees it but kisses L and M’s ass in a most nauseating way tells us that she can show us either bodies or someone who is suffering from the Gray Wasting

No miners have reported this illness just townsfolk. No Fetchlings either.

====We split up!====

The Witch, the Dragon and the Fluffy Bunny go do weird things to a corpse. Turns out this plague has happened before about 10 years ago stopped when the old Baron died and his two older sons died. Axis has a really boring talk with the sexton he’s really bad at small talk.

omg this conversation is giving me the gorbals

L and I and Dramy go check out this sick Ostler, I have no plans except to be distracting

Death is revealed to be Magical Plague! 10 days to death. Dead guy says he ate something weird recently

L does a DA and seems to get a sense of Shadows Rising

L tries a Dissipate Magic it seems to work! Spindly black beast is ejected from his head and scuttles off. I also throw a whetstone over the house so I probably did everything but L tries to take all the credit which is bloody typical. L has a whack at the Shade with her Sword of Holy Smuttiness. Dramus works out it’s a Shade.
[[File:HolyWhetstone.png|200px|thumb|right|Holy Whetstone of Chaumont]]
Axis flings some larks in the air and brings a crowd from the Church to see the Holy Miracle

Meanwhile the local yokels are setting up a good old fashioned lynching and Mary-em completely loses her mind and goes medieval on the nooses.

Axis starts banging on about miracles amidst all his larks. Possibly clerks. Fetchlings are saved but!

Louie the guard draws a sword and goes for Mary-Em I hurl the Holy Whetstone at him but sadly miss, Axis tries to sleep him but fails, gets him next time.

I retrieve the Holy Whetstone

Amber does not cast Hellfire which is probably good

====Together again====

We go look for the missing 4 year old child of Louie the Guard. I check out the river but only find some wax. Dramus looks in the river but no luck there.

L says “Silken makes a very valid point” which I do not recall ever having heard her say before

So the rangers have a sniff around. Dramus suggests the Shades might be coming from a Shadow Fae Realm.

We decide to go check out Marta the Chandler as the wax points at her and she’s also the next sickest person. Amber casts a massive beam of light over the Chandler’s.

Axis tells Dramus they are probably the most normal people in the group which is frankly rude

We see feet, toe down in the doorway Mary-Em charges in and is immediately jumped by two spindly black things.

L gets to smoting I hurl the Holy Whetstone and vanquish a demon fae

Lysander does something and gets attacked so I guess I’ll have to save her again

We find the small child Madeleine in a vat of warm wax and she says Marta came and lured her with promises of candy, we fish her out.

Amber and Dramus take the girl back to her mum.

== Buffs & Mil Sci ==
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table.buffs { border: 1px solid #BBBBBB; border-radius: 2px; border-spacing: 1px; width: 100%; }
table.buffs th { text-align: center; width: 3%; }
table.buffs td { text-align: center; }
table.buffs th.mg { text-align: left; width: 20%; }
table.buffs td.mg { text-align: left; }
table.buffs th.rk { width: 5%; }
table.buffs td.rk { }
table.buffs th.ef { text-align: left; width: 41%; }
table.buffs td.ef { text-align: left;}
table.buffs th.du { width: 10%; }
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table.AstroNum td { text-align: center; padding: 1px 0.5em; }
</css>
=== Buffs ===
====Long Term (assumed always on)====
{| class="buffs" |
!class="mg" | Magic (caster)
!class="rk" | Rk
!class="ef" | Effects
!class="du" | Duration
!Title="Silken" | Si
!Title="Axis" | Ax
!Title="Amber" | Am
!Title="Lysander" | Ly
!Title="Mary-M" | MM
!Title="Dramus" | Dr
!Title="Mario" | Ma
|-
|-
|class="mg" | Dark Vision (Dr)
|class="rk" | 7
|class="ef" | Cat Vision
|class="du" | 8 hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|}

====Self Only====
{| class="buffs" |
|-
!class="mg" | Magic (caster)
!class="rk" | Rk
!class="ef" | Effects
!class="du" | Duration
!Title="Silken" | Si
!Title="Axis" | Ax
!Title="Amber" | Am
!Title="Lysander" | Ly
!Title="Mary-M" | MM
!Title="Dramus" | Dr
!Title="Mario" | Ma
|-
|class="mg" | Fireproofing (Dr)
|class="rk" | 10
|class="ef" | Protection from non-magical heat and fire
|class="du" | 11 hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Fire Armour (Dr)
|class="rk" | 10
|class="ef" | +44 ablative armour against magical fire
|class="du" | 11 hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Mind Shield
|class="rk" | Rk
|class="ef" | +10+2/rk% vs M.Att.
|class="du" | 1+2/rk hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  6
|  8
|-
|class="mg" | Wraithcloak
|class="rk" | Rk
|class="ef" | +32% Def +6 AP +21 Stealth
|class="du" | 10.5 hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  20
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Holy Armour
|class="rk" | Rk
|class="ef" | +37%, 17 retributive -17 Stealth
|class="du" | 8.5 hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  16
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Force Shield
|class="rk" | Rk 24
|class="ef" | +50% Def, ablative protection
|class="du" | 12.5 hrs
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  Y
|-
|}

====Short Term (cast when needed)====
{| class="buffs" |
|-
!class="mg" | Magic (caster)
!class="rk" | Rk
!class="ef" | Effects
!class="du" | Dur
!Title="Silken" | Si
!Title="Axis" | Ax
!Title="Amber" | Am
!Title="Lysander" | Ly
!Title="Mary-M" | MM
!Title="Dramus" | Dr
!Title="Mario" | Ma
|-
|class="mg" | Enchant Weapon (Ax)
|class="rk" | 17
|class="ef" | +18 BC%, +6 Dam. +7 vs Phn/Nm
|class="du" | 22 min
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Spectral Weapon (Dr)
|class="rk" | 16
|class="ef" | +17 BC%, +6 Dam. Can hit Insubstantial
|class="du" | 21 min
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Weapon of Flames (Ma)
|class="rk" | 13
|class="ef" | +14 BC%, +7 Dam.
|class="du" | 18 min
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  Y
|-
|class="mg" | Mind Speech (Dr)
|class="rk" | 6
|class="ef" | 7 people communicate Telepathically
|class="du" | 70 min
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|}

====Cast by minions and retainers====
{| class="buffs" |
|-
!class="mg" | Magic (caster)
!class="rk" | Rk
!class="ef" | Effects
!class="du" | Dur
!class="lo" | Location
!Title="Silken" | Si
!Title="Axis" | Ax
!Title="Amber" | Am
!Title="Lysander" | Ly
!Title="Mary-M" | MM
!Title="Dramus" | Dr
!Title="Mario" | Ma
|-
|class="mg" | Strength of Stone (Ent)
|class="rk" | 20
|class="ef" | +20 either ST or END
|class="du" | 21 hours
!class="lo" | Asheth
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Armour of Earth (Ent)
|class="rk" | 20
|class="ef" | +42% Def 1pt Armour
|class="du" | 21 hours
!class="lo" | Asheth
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Water Breathing (Splosh)
|class="rk" | 16
|class="ef" | Can breathe Underwater
|class="du" | 17 hours
!class="lo" | Tower
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Water Proofing (Splosh)
|class="rk" | 10
|class="ef" | Water proof objects for 55 days, or entities for 33 hours
|class="du" | Variable
!class="lo" | Tower
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Waters of Healing (Splosh)
|class="rk" | 14
|class="ef" | Heals for D-5+14. Cost 200sp for Perm
|class="du" | 17 hours
!class="lo" | Tower
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|}

====Senses and other stuff====
{| class="buffs" |
|-
!class="mg" | Capability
!class="rk" | Rk
!class="ef" | Effects
!class="du" | Dur
!Title="Silken" | Si
!Title="Axis" | Ax
!Title="Amber" | Am
!Title="Lysander" | Ly
!Title="Mary-M" | MM
!Title="Dramus" | Dr
!Title="Mario" | Ma
|-
|class="mg" | Sense Danger (%)
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Mind Talent (or equivalent)
|class="du" |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  63%
|  75%
|-
|class="mg" | Detect Ambush (%)
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Ranger (-5/rank of opposition)
|class="du" |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  138%/118%
|  130%
|-
|class="mg" | Enhanced Vision
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Pierce fog/obscurement
|class="du" |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  11
|-
|class="mg" | See Invis (Rk)
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Effective rank for seeing invisible
|class="du" |
| 
|  20
| 
| 
| 
|  20
|  11
|-
|class="mg" | Stealth (%)
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Standard / Ranger Outdoors
|class="du" |
| 
|  20
| 
| 
|  97%
|  84%/96%
|  119%
|-
|class="mg" | Sense Mana (Rk)
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Can see Mana Flows
|class="du" |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  15
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Fae Sight
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Can See Through Illusions
|class="du" |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  < Rk 9
| 
|-
|class="mg" | Sense Death
|class="rk" |
|class="ef" | Can Detect Deaths
|class="du" |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
|  130ft
| 
|}

=== Misc ===
; Greater Enchantment
: (Ax) rank 20: +21 all areas for the season
: (Myrrh courtesy of the bishop)

; Enhance Enchantment
: (Ax) rank 11-13: 65-80 seconds

; Remove Curse
: (Dr) MA 32 (62 if urgent)

; Heroic Aura (Mario)
: +6% SC, +2 Damage, +6% Defence, +2 Damage Reduction, +11% vs Fear checks.

; Herbalist Lunch/Broth
: ?? rk ?, Meal 4 FT or Broth 4 FT

=== Watch Order ===
<css>
table.watches th, table.watches td { text-align: center; }
table.watches th { width: 3em; }
</css>
{| class="watches" |
|-
! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12
|-
| colspan="2" | 1
| colspan="2" | 2
| colspan="2" | 3
| colspan="2" | 4
| colspan="2" | 5
| colspan="2" | 6
|}

=== Marching Order ===
{| width="90%"
!colspan="3" align="center"| Skirmish Formations (Front)
|-
|align="center"| ''Default''
 
|align="center"| ''Double File''
 
|align="center"| ''Single File''
??? 
??? 
??? 
??? 
??? 
??? 
|}

==Calendar==
{| cellspacing=1 width="100%" border=0 class="Season" id="Winter"
! colspan=15 | '''Winter: [[Frost]] 825 (7)'''
|-
| class="calMoon" |
! colspan=2 | Moonday
! colspan=2 | Duesday
! colspan=2 | W'ansday
! colspan=2 | Th'rsday
! colspan=2 | Frysday
! colspan=2 | Reapsday
! colspan=2 | Sunday
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | || [[Samhain]]
| class=day | 1 || Guild Meeting Seagate
| class=day | 2 ||
| class=day | 3 ||
| class=day | 4 ||
| class=day | 5 ||
| class=day | 6 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| class=day | 7 ||
| class=day | 8 ||
| class=day | 9 ||
| class=day | 10 ||
| class=day | 11 ||
| class=day | 12 ||
| class=day | 13 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon0.jpg]]
| class=day | 14 ||
| class=day | 15 ||
| class=day | 16 ||
| class=day | 17 ||
| class=day | 18 ||
| class=day | 19 ||
| class=day | 10 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon1.jpg]]
| class=day | 21 ||
| class=day | 22 ||
| class=day | 23 ||
| class=day | 24 ||
| class=day | 25 ||
| class=day | 26 ||
| class=day | 27 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | 28 ||
| class=day | 29 ||
| class=day | 30 ||
| class=day | 1 ||
| class=day | 2 ||
| class=day | 3 ||
| class=day | 4 ||
|-
! colspan=15 | '''Winter: [[Snow]] 825 (8)'''
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| class=day | 5 ||
| class=day | 6 ||
| class=day | 7 ||
| class=day | 8 ||
| class=day | 9 ||
| class=day | 10 ||
| class=day | 11 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon0.jpg]]
| class=day | 12 ||
| class=day | 13 ||
| class=day | 14 ||
| class=day | 15 || Solstice
| class=day | 16 ||
| class=day | 17 ||
| class=day | 18 || Yuletide
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon1.jpg]]
| class=day | 19 || Days of Chaos
| class=day | 20 || DoC2
| class=day | 21 || DoC3
| class=day | 22 || DoC4
| class=day | 23 || DoC5
| class=day | 24 || DoC6
| class=day | 25 || DoC7
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | 26 || DoC8
| class=day | 27 || DoC9
| class=day | 28 || DoC10
| class=day | 29 || DoC11
| class=day | 30 || Twelfth Night
| class=day | 1 ||
| class=day | 2 ||
|-
! colspan=15 | '''Winter: [[Ice]] 825 (9)'''
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon3.jpg]]
| class=day | 3 ||
| class=day | 4 ||
| class=day | 5 ||
| class=day | 6 || First Plough
| class=day | 7 ||
| class=day | 8 ||
| class=day | 9 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon0.jpg]]
| class=day | 10 ||
| class=day | 11 ||
| class=day | 12 ||
| class=day | 13 ||
| class=day | 14 ||
| class=day | 15 ||
| class=day | 16 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon1.jpg]]
| class=day | 17 ||
| class=day | 18 ||
| class=day | 19 ||
| class=day | 20 ||
| class=day | 21 ||
| class=day | 22 ||
| class=day | 23 ||
|-
| class="calMoon" | [[Image:moon2.jpg]]
| class=day | 24 ||
| class=day | 25 ||
| class=day | 26 ||
| class=day | 27 ||
| class=day | 28 ||
| class=day | 29 ||
| class=day | 30 ||
|}
==Appendices==
===Chronology===
Being a summary of events involving the Dark Circle, Demon Emperors, Dark Dwarves, and Balrogs
====783====
A guild party attempts to prevent Rashak's general The Great Khan from trying to unite the Plains Barbarians. They fail but succeed in delaying him while he recovers from his wounds and the party's propaganda.
A team of demonic assassins attacks the guild, destroying the old infirmary and slaying most of the guild healers. The new infirmary is built in a more secure location. Adventurers assist with healing until new guild healers can be recruited.
====784====
A guild party race The Great Khan in an attempt to find the tomb of Hanyax to recover the Crown of Command and the Orb of Yama. The Great Khan beats them there only to fall under the tomb's curse. The party considered entering the tomb but were driven off by a Black Dragon. It would be twelve years before Rashak was able to release The Great Khan from the tomb.
====785====
A guild party assist in breaking the siege of Knega by Rashak's forces led by The Khan's two uncles. This delays Rashak by six years until Knega falls to treachery.
====787 WK====
A party locates in passing a display case holding the apparently still living hand of a [[balrog]] in the ruins of “the Plains Guild Hall” . The artefact is not brought back to Seagate. Current whereabouts of the hand are uncertain though it is known that some artefacts from this location were subsequently claimed by the [[Tac Adventurers Guild]] and taken to [[Tac]].

====Autumn 789 WK====
A party is sent by Marquessa Dulciena de [[Bowcourt]] to serve a notice of payment on dwarves who hadn't paid the rent on their mine for 800 years. At the dwarven mines, near the northern borders of [[Foxcourt]] and [[Newcourt]], the party discovers dwarves with bizarre mutations from the effects of “warpstone” and a balrog named Gothron who was watching over the tomb-prison of the Demon Emperor [[Ahriman]]; the source of the warpstone energy. The balrog threatens the party, giving them a year and a day to return with the key to Ahriman’s tomb. Gothron had an unusual distinguishing mark - it was missing its left hand, which had been replaced with one made of a crystalline substance (warpstone).
;Related party members
: Silken, Axis (?)

====Summer 790 WK====
Operating on reports from a party in Empyrea the previous season several of the adventurers from the Mines of Gothron ventured to this other world and reclaimed an ancient artefact subsequently termed “The Balrog's Egg”. They returned this to Gothron in the dwarven mines where it was used to open Ahriman’s tomb. For reasons beyond the scope of these notes Ahriman dismissed Gothron and went into seclusion with the warpstone altered dwarves.
;Related party members
: Axis, Silken
====Autumn 797 WK====
Guild party frees Demon Emperor [[Apollyon]], setting in motion a disastrous chain of events.

====Samhain 798 WK====
Seagate Guild ravaged by black necromantic fire; a Black Dragon, Incubi, and Succubi are amongst the attackers. Members of the guild council kidnapped. Majority of older membership records, scribe notes, treasure division records, and financial accounts lost along with large parts of the library.
====Spring 799 WK====
First direct mention of the Dark Circle is recorded in the Seagate Times (issue 27) after the effect crosses into Brastor, though later reports state is was initially observed in the Sea of Grass in the early 780s.

Circle is associated with [[Rashak]], the Necromancer of [[Masada]], who is now blamed for the attack on the Guild. Duke Leto orders a Call-to-Arms throughout Carzala.

A Guild party, seeking ducal cavalry (and Silken), who had gone missing near Slippery Rock end up in a shadow realm, are briefly decapitated, deliberately burn an inn, destroy a pocket plane, and return with a missing holy artefact, the [[Holy Standard of Saint Jeremiah|Standard of Saint Jeremiah]].

Around this time the party encounters the balrog Gothron and during an altercation the balrog’s warpstone hand explodes after contacting the holy relic.
;Related party members
: Mary-M, Silken

====Summer 800 WK====
Dark Circle effect reaches Seagate. The Times publishes advice for those venturing into the area which are summarised as: don't get hit, don't get hurt, don't die, don't underestimate them, don't forget your Holy Water.

Silken claims a vision from Uriel and after inquisitorial questioning swears an oath of obedience, modesty, and chastity to the Western Church until the Dark Circle is banished forever. She is granted the title of Lady Dark.
;Related party members
: Silken; Lysander and Mary-M (assisting the Inquisition)

====Autumn 800 WK====
Silken, Lady Dark, leads a party into the Dark Circle.
;Related party members
: Silken, Dramus (briefly)

====Winter 800 WK====
An earthquake strikes Carzala and a tidal wave sweeps into Confederation Bay. This is later confirmed to be the result of Apollyon’s ritual to raise the Demon Emperor [[Leviathan]] from the deep.

====Spring 800 WK====
Dark Circle effect recedes; no convincing explanation is determined. Some farmers are sent back to Brastor with a military escort.

Carzala completes its southern fortifications stretching from Regar’s Keep in the foothills of the Fastness of Girwyllan to the Sweetwater south-east of Arn’s Ferry. The wall of fire-hardened earth and stone is 30 feet tall (60 feet wide at its base), with a waterlogged ditch on the far side equally deep. The few gaps in the wall for access to Brastor are very heavily fortified.
====Summer 801 WK====
A party undertaking scouting in [[Terranova]] to determine Apollyon’s military plans meet Ahriman and his dark dwarves. They are aiding local dwarves in opposing Apollyon’s armies while also maintaining enormous underground reservoirs of highly magical and life-charged water; this so-called “Dark Graal” being some form of debt that Ahriman owes to [[Xanadu]], the Dragon God.
;Related party members
: Mary-M

====Spring 801 WK====
Seagate Times special correspondent Henri Stanleigh reports that Apollyon’s armies are working towards flooding the Silt Sea in Northern Terranova with the apparent goal of reaching the ruins of the ancient elven capital of [[Kadath]].

====Spring 802 WK====
With Apollyon’s army of Spawn forcing a passage north into the Drow lands of Terranova heading for Kadath to free [[Baal]], a party embark on a dangerous mission to seek out the ancient dragons who left Alusia millennia ago (as mentioned in [[Jade Dragon's Story]]) and enlist their aid.
One of the dragons that return with the party is [[Eriskigal]], formerly the mate of Ahriman. They are reunited in the aftermath of these events and at some later point leave for parts unknown.
;Related party members
: Axis, Mary-M

====Spring 805 WK====
Assassins from the Dark Circle attack King Ulric on his 11th birthday. Several nobles are killed including the Baroness of Silvanwold.
Duke Frederick of Aquila, Regent and father of King Ulric, summoned high ranking nobles for a "council of war", and was overheard to declare that the time had come to "deal once and for all with the murderess of Masada". The duke began assembling forces for a campaign against the Dark Circle in Summer.
In Brastor, Duke Leto’s forces regain complete control of Brastor holdings, with the edge of the Dark Circle pushed south of Brastor Town. Elements of the Brastor Liberation Army burned the ruined remains of Dramus’s manor house.
====Summer 805 WK====
Brastor fully liberated. Colonel Lyndon-Smyth, commander of the Brastor Pike Regiment quotes as declaring: "We've got Rashak and her minions on the run men … the war will be over by Michaelmas". Sir Gaius de Malvallet, Chaper Master of the "Knights of the Wrath of Michael" appointed Knight-Marshall of the Orders of Light and charged with the destruction of the Dark Circle, its creator, and any that would aid and abet her.
====Autumn 805 WK====
Dark Circle surges back into Brastor cutting off the many forces arrayed there. First battle of Carson’s Switch fought by Eltrandoran cavalry and Aquilan Knights in order to get out refugees.
Frederick, Duke of Aquila, slain by Dark Circle assassins. Richard Count Foxcourt accused of sedition, insurrection and treason. Found guilty in absentia and exiled from the Western Kingdom he flees to the Lunar Empire.
Guild party deals with Rashak's minions who are planning to drop stars on Seagate and other locations along with an undead dragon and an ancient kraken.
;Related party members
: Amber the Witch

====Winter 805 WK====
[[Brastor Breakout|Second battle of Carson’s Switch]]. Twenty guild members reinforce regular forces to significantly damage Dark Circle forces in the pass as part of a plan to extract civilians and remaining Carzalan soldiers. Ahriman’s dark dwarves appear as uncalled for aid; neutralizing enemy earth elementals and assisting in the destruction of undead artillery.
;Related party members
: Axis, Lysander, Mary-M
Despite this victory, over the next two months the Dark Circle expands into Southern Ranke.

====Spring 805 WK====
A guild party slay Rashak, outside of Masada, after discovering that she must journey to the Kingstone on the spring Solstice. The party intercept her and her forces who are travelling beneath the ocean on the back of an undead whale. While the death of Rashak seriously shakes the Dark Circle forces, the circle effect itself remains.
Hard fighting in Southern Ranke damages the Dark Circle army and reopens the road north from Carzala. Desertion of non-undead units is observed.
====Summer 806 WK====
Dark Circle forces are pushed back on all fronts. The Dark Circle itself recedes unevenly, with undead forces clinging to areas where it remains in effect. Consecrations and blessings are used to disrupt the effect.
====Autumn 806 WK====
Novadom freed of Dark Circle undead forces.
;Related party members
: Amber the Witch
====Spring 806 WK====
Guild party destroys Masada.
====Autumn 808 WK====
Guild party discovers a cult, known as the Circle of Blood; a remnant of the Dark Circle and a demonic Death Cult in the ruined town of [[Kirkul]], one of the Five Sisters.
;Related party members
: Dramus
[[Liessa Varden|Liessa]] slays the balrog “Dark Fire” and ascends to become a nascent Power of Light as [[Liessa|Liessa the Devourer]].

====Winter 808 WK====
Kirkul assaulted and razed by a combined Guild, Michaeline, and Midgard force. Circle of Blood cult destroyed.

Witnesses report fire, cold, light, dark, indescribable horrors, and a rain of millstones.
====Autumn 813 WK====
Richard, the former Count Foxcourt returns and raises an army to protect his people against the Drow invasion. His camp remains just outside Bowcourt; not technically violating his exile. Over the next year shape-changers under Richard’s command hunt bandits and keep the peace in Foxcourt.
====Summer 817 WK====
The Royal Council of the Western Kingdom found Count Richard of Foxcourt not guilty of betrayal and murder in the case of the assassination of the late Duke Ferdinand of Aquila and announced that his domains should be returned to him. Additionally, he was granted the vacant Barony of Maumains and the title of Marquis of the Eastern Marches, honouring his service and loyalty to the New Western Kingdom. This elevation makes him technically equal in rank to the Marquessa of Bowcourt, further complicating their relationship.

====Winter 823 WK====
Concerns raised over the ongoing cost of continuing to quarantine [[Jurgenmark]], the most north-western county of Aquila. The quarantine that had been in place for 12 years since the county suffered a pestilence/plague of otherworldly origin. In that time a group of powerful entities had taken over the county and embedded Dark Circle stones around the borders. Evidence points to some of these entities having been acolytes of Rashak.

====Spring 823 WK====
Multiple high-profile targets in the Western Kingdom were attacked and several killed by assassins launched from Jurgenmark.

A party ventured into Jurgenmark and discovered the Dark Circle elements and highly coordinated dread lords. The capital of Zeisterheim was transformed by the delivery of a ritually blessed and sanctified bijou mountain from the astrologically significant height of 40 miles.

====Autumn 824 WK====
Western Kingdom forces retake border areas around Jurgenmark, significantly reducing the threat from that county in preparation for a major summer offensive.
====Summer 825 WK====
Western Kingdom forces invade Jurgenmark and eventually crush all remaining organized necromantic opposition leaving only isolated pockets of holdouts.

===Megaliths in the Greenwood===
;Six Sisters
;The Boneyard
;The Graveyard
;The Giant
;The Bluestones
;Nelly's Bog
;Broken Circle
===Astrology Readings===
''tbd''
===Letter to Silken===
'''Lady Dark''', 
''Sworn Servant of the Powers of Light'', 
It is with considerable reluctance that I write to you now.

Twenty years have passed since Rashak the Destroyer, Mistress of Masada was cast down and the great manifestation of the Dark Circle broken beneath fire and sanctified steel. All hoped that her evil had been wholly extinguished, yet time has proven otherwise.

You will no doubt know of the northern outbreak, wherein Rashak’s surviving acolytes bore fragments of the Circle into the cold provinces of Jurgenmark and sought to seed it anew. By the courage of adventurers of your guild and the sacrifice of loyal Western Kingdom forces, that horror was contained and burned away.

Elsewhere there have been lesser recurrences: hidden crypts, blighted fields, circles found carved beneath ruined chapels and abandoned villages. Each, by grace and vigilance, destroyed by our martial brothers and sisters before it could take root.

But now a more concerning pattern has emerged.

In recent months, our diviners and wardens have marked several manifestations of the Circle in widely separated regions. Yet when our knights and clergy arrive to investigate, they find nothing. No taint. No corruption. No lingering necromancy. Only signs that something had been there and was gone before we could reach it.

The Circle appears. The Circle vanishes. This troubles us greatly.

If this remained a purely martial issue we would send our loyal Church brethren, but as the enemy shows a new deviousness and cunning, our mind turned to your unique talents.

We have recently detected a new manifestation in the Greenwood, that forested area north of Brastor, hard against the Ildrisholm Hills and not far distant from the site of the great victory of Light at Carson's Switch.

For this reason, and by authority granted me by Tomás Xerxes, Archbishop of the Unified Western Church, I hereby call upon the oath you swore before the Inquisition in Seagate in that Year of Tribulations 800 WK.

You swore your obedience, modesty, and chastity until the Dark Circle was banished forever. Therefore, you are requested, and, by your vow required, to take up this onerous charge once more.

Gather such companions as you deem trustworthy. Travel where these signs of corruption lead you. Investigate this area. Discover whether Rashak’s evil survives in hidden form, or whether some deeper darkness now moves beneath its name.

Attend on me in Seagate before your departure. You shall have the support of the Unified Church within reasonable measure: letters of passage, access to our archives, sanctuary where it may be found, and such bounty as our treasuries can responsibly provide.

As additional inducement should this matter be resolved to the satisfaction of the Inquisition, your oath shall be considered fulfilled in full and without reservation; you shall be released from all further obligations to the Church and from the office and burden of Lady Dark.

''May the Light yet guide your path and reveal what hides in shadow.''

Bishop Jocelyn, 
Cathedral of the Dawn 
Seagate

File:HolyWhetstone.png

2026-07-09T02:25:05Z

Martin: Holy Whetstone of Chaumont, as revealed in Twenty Years After.

== Summary ==
Holy Whetstone of Chaumont, as revealed in [[Twenty Years After]].