Casting Stones

Scribe Notes

Summary

Adventure: Casting Stones
GM: Jono
Season: ~Summer 826 WK
Night: Starting Monday at 7pm on the 8th of December 2025 at Jono's.
Area: West of Carzala
Level: Medium/High
Info: Information from players for Jono
House Rules: Jono Quickness and Slowness

Party

Character name	College / Skills	Race	Player	Level
Lizette	Namer	Human	Dylan	Med/High
Lila	Air/Celestial	Human	Kelsie	Med/High
Uthgard	Mind	Hill Giant	Anne	Med/High
Boris	Necro	Minitaur	Michael Haycock	High
Dae	Mind	Elf	Gus	Medium
Elidon	Ice Mage, Ranger	Elf	Michael Manning	Med
Lady Arcadia	Celestial Star	Elf	Kita	Med/High

Loot -

Employer

Mistress of Shadow (also known as Lulu Till). She is one of the local Guild leaders from Gugnir's Hope.

Scribe Notes (baked in chaos)

Related background stories on A Golden Eye on the waves & A Golden Eye in the deep.

8/12/25 - "Of Missing Family and Earthly Demise, Keep yourself grounded!"

"Earning silver pennies is never simple."

The Commission Beltane! Where the year begins, people in the fields have not even managed to jump for a second time before Mistress Lulu managed to haphazardly form an adventuring party that will support the Boris & Lila. Mistress Lulu, as always looking to pawn off the people from the Guild. This time, being in a rush, she had no choice but to scout whatever adventurers were available in Seagate to join Lila & Boris, who the ones that were specifically requested by the commissioner of the Job. Let’s start by talking commission fees, just to accept the commission we were offered 70 thousand silver pennies. Reinforcing the urgency to get people started and try to solve the "issue". For some of these adventurers this sum wasn’t much, for others less known (at least less known for positive aspects of their trajectories) it was a decent offer, particular when people are hesitant to travel with them. The daughter of the Sultan has been kidnapped (or at least so it seems). Information about the potential perpetrator makes the 70 thousand pennies just to accept the commission nothing but chump change, for it seems Death itself is the prime suspect. Not a lengthy detail of what transpired (or why) is known at this time, but between her ramblings (for she is rattled and tense), Lulu tells about the corpse of one of the horsemen having disappeared, nothing is known of which of the horsemen, or how they died nor where. But somehow, if we return its corpse to Death, the princess, daughter of the Sultan, might be returned. Once we agreed on taking this chaotic and rushed up commission, she shared that she has had recurring dreams about Minotaurs, and a maze with a portal opening (or was it a gate? I can’t recall, I was too distracted thinking of the strange coincidence of a Minotaur, Boris, forming part of this adventurer troupe) Mistress Lulu sent me with a staff member for a brief questionnaire about my satisfaction with the guild services. Being one of the freshest adventurers in the guild involves so much bureaucracy, sometimes I think we should just unionize to get rid of these useless detractors. (Dae, the scribe, does not know that this was just so that Lulu could safely warn the rest of the adventurers about the elf mind mage “do not let him do anything too stupid”, making it unclear what level of stupidity to allow, and which to block). After a while, acorns adorned by a mage, for there were more acorns than mage, came to offer us buffing to deal with what is to come, Mistress Lulu aiming to be equally of assistance also offers us aid as well. (Rank 18 Strength of Stone <18 EN>, and Lesser enchantment for those who need it) (Rank12 Strength of Shadow on us all <7 PS>). We are warned to leave any “portal or dimension stuff” behind, since “we think they are at risk”. This truly, is becoming a burdensome commission. We are to part towards the commons of Adjepbar, and some of us would be transformed to dwarves to be able to access the district of the humble heights, particularly to visit the hobbits, where it seems Sultan is to be found, yet Lulu can offer it only to either the females, or the males. Our Party Leader chose the females to dwarvify. This transformation can last only 4 hours, so we won’t be able to walk to our destination if we are to make use of this transformation, hence we would depart from the Seagate Adventures Guild complex outside yard. Dwarven scale armor is brought to them, while Lulu warns them “not to resist” the magic, you’d wonder what are the stories behind why they have to clarify what many would deem self obvious. Or maybe some misunderstood adventurers trying to be awesome created situations and now they warn anyone. While thinking that we heard the cracking of bones, and see how the joins of our companions fall as they take their new shapes. Marvelously, the Giant’s armor shapes with her, what is the point of powerful artifacts if they are not also convenient?. There is a lot to learn from these more seasoned adventurers. They give us a bunch of buns in the cafeteria to bring as gifts for the hobbits. Some might have been eaten along the way We are led to a beautiful and sunny courtyard by Lulu, where they open up a big portal. Once on the other side we are greeted by people opening up a big bag in front of us with all the gems and handing it to Lizette, whom in courtly language is told “this is payment of your services, we are pleased you accepted our offer”. Addressing all of us now, we are told in hobbit elf dwarven and common “You are all esteemed guests now that you have accepted this request”. “Sultan is a problem threatening to destroy everything unless we cooperate”. Adjepbar, bad decisions, and the client Once we jog further into the city (some of us highly appreciative of the Strength of Stone cast by the Lord of all that is Acorn), we advance to parts where when we have both feet in the ground, the temperature drops significantly. Along the way lulu is told that “some imps have tried to harass hobbit guards” and some of the party manage to understand from overhearing their conversation, they also catch that the wounds we see in different soldiers are from Sultan, who out for potential frustration or anger is lashing out on them, but some of the wounds are from imps and creatures of ice who are taking advantage of the chaos brought by Sultan and are harassing them every now and then. After about a quarter of an hour jogging, we reached a row of Dwarves standing on guard, we see him, floating above the ground while holding a sitting position with oversized puffy pants, a turban, and 3 staffs across his back, then standing up he asks “Are you the adventurers we sought? My master waits inside”. This was a sad moment for me, for a second I thought he was the sultan, and that maybe we could “take care” of him if things go south, but this was Huwmm, a magnificent Djinn serving the Sultan. On the way going further to meet Sultan, Huwmm, guard the guard of Sultan says “BIG DONG OF FAMILIAR! BIG HORN OF FAMILIAR!” he addresses Boris the Minotaur once he inquired why the Sultan is wrecking havoc here and why Sultan was not changing size to avoid damaging the premises. Huwmm answered “They have made the grave mistake of not closing the circle, he can do what the fuck he wants!” Ruined fountains to one side, corpses of hobbits to one side, dwarf as well, hobbit servants kneeling on one knee and one foot. Portcullises that have been peeled off or removed, same for doors is what we come across on the way. Huwmm warns us “I know air magic, so don’t try anything funny”. We do not even glance at the Dwarves that were escorting us, their faces must not be very pleased with what they see and their impotence to the situation at hand. About an hour later lots of horrifying sounds of destruction approached from further inside, the horrified faces of the Dwarves and hobbits seeing the damage to the structure, and suddenly from the bursting cloud of dust, which was about 30 feet high, we see the Sultan, sitting on a cloud formed as a cushion. This is how most of us for the first time met Sultan, Boris the Minotaur and the Lila, are acquainted with him already it appears. How can Air plane creatures grow so big, that must be about 25 feet high, it's about three Ruby's high at least! We spend some time talking with Sultan, basically the same debrief that Lulu gave us, in the midst of if Sultan says “That is mostly the Lila that I remember, so , you have come to save my daughter again!?”. She takes this opportunity to request him to give us greater enchantments to better help him. On the topic of why was he here he claims “They made a mistake, that is why I was summoned here, they have tried to… mmm …circumvent or double dip, instead of passing the information to Sireen, they summoned me”. Sultan was trying to get a message through to Sireen, to message the guild that he needed assistance, the person whom was getting this connection foolishly tried to summoned him decided to, again, foolishly, try to bind him. Sultan detects that there is deceit among us, he detects that Lila specifically is not whom she appears to be! She removes the mustache she used to transform her Dwarf transformation into a hobbit, and both Lizette and Uthgard also release their Dwarven transformations just in case, since it seems it is not needed anymore. Sultan has a portal open to where they lost track of his daughter and the people with her, but that portal was to close about 2 hours from when we met him. The portal leads to the earth plane, thus, his people were of no help to him. “She was carrying 2 chests of air, very pure air that the creatures of earth should not have been interested in, do bring them back to me” Going through the portal we find strange markings across the grounds, which have …crystallized a column of air… the interaction of elements on other planes should not shock me by now after reading others' encounters, but seeing it first hand… is always exciting, but not always in a good way. Part of the crystalized air is turning to earth, partly crumbling. There are strange dog gopher rat things that scour out of our way that are gnawing corpses, others dragging hands feet and harm to the holes.. Going further we saw various statues of what looked to be from a range of warriors, similar to the Humn, who guarded the sultan, even the staffs are similar to it, these statues were made of earth. A keen eyed companion noted that they are petrified from the ground. The Death of Lila? Lila decided to don different shoes and hopped into the air, she just died, vanishing in thin air in front of my eyes, my warning not to have both feet off of the ground at the same time did come after she disappeared. The Return of Lila, the not so dead, in fact, totally alive. It turns out Lila just disappeared from the plane and reappeared in the portal in front of the courtyard. Once Lila rejoins us (and finds me making a stone marking of where I thought she died, damn that was a wasted effort on my part) we proceeded, only to find 2 lines of 8 genies each, and what looked like stones… or earthen creatures, the top half of them seemed to have something strapped to carry people or goods. Investigation on the rocks My mighty keen eyed companions find traces indicating that these beasts were not earthen in nature, but were transformed by something into it. Checking around some more, we saw that outside of the rows of Djinni, there were about ten dozen corpses of what seemed to be beardless Dwarves, slightly oversized, about 6 feet high, built like stone houses. Boris the Minotaur casts necromantic magic, and the magics of the land swarm towards him, as if the necromancy of these lands have been either untapped for too long, or bolstered recently by something. The power of his necromancy spells seem to act about two ranks higher here. Boris starts calling upon the souls of the fallen Dwarves, they in a guttural language tell him “Ugglar(?) made good and bad choice, to come and attach, he came to attack due to the riches” When asked who he worked for, “The people who lost the riches, cut the earth from my feet and I will lead you to it!!! We must warn the rest of the clan, that the creatures of ice took the riches!" Uthgard (our giant) using their experience in reading the field of combat recognizes the order of the battle and directed us to the once likely to be the latest to die since that previous spirit had limited outdated information, the next Dwarf-like creature’s soul told us “The guides betrayed us!! Cut my feet from the ground! I will lead you!! The guide was the small one with the forked tongue, and a trident. There were some much bigger ones, but they came to us some time ago…I….I don't ... know… I… I think I died…” Trying to get more information from the spirits they tell us “ I had some mushroom rocks and allussian beef… it was very good. They brought it the day before yesterday… Wait!!! They poisoned her, because she fell down, and then!... And then?... And then this thing came down! and it had a contract, it was terrible terrible, CUT MY FEET OFF FROM THE GROUND!” The creature is described as having no form inside a blackened clothing with unnatural blackness with a huge curved blade across his back on a stick. Uthgard (our giant) using their experience in reading the field of combat recognizes the order of the battle and directed us to the once likely to be the latest to die since that previous spirit had limited outdated information, the next Dwarf-like creature’s soul told us “The guides betrayed us!! Cut my feet from the ground! I will lead you!! The guide was the small one with the forked tongue, and a trident. There were some much bigger ones, but they came to us some time ago…I… I don't ... know… I… I think I died…” Having gotten the information we could, we decided to focus on the two chests that seemed undisturbed but empty are above the palanquins, for we had little time before the portal back to Alussia closed on us. The chests seemed to have safeties on them in case someone tried to pry them off of the palanquins, but luckily, I summoned the little hobbit spirit in me and was able to dislodge them safely with some help! (Ha! Sonny would be proud!) Back to Adjepbar City and the Sultan After we come back through the portal, with both chests somehow, the hobbits… now some of them are dressed up to the nines! With turbans, groveling to the ground in front of Sultan. He claims one of 4 hobbits at his feet has betrayed him, and he is trying to figure out who to kill, maybe will kill two of them he says, while the hobbits quiver he tells us, that none actually betrayed him, he just wanted to get rid of two. The Sultan threatens to heal Lila of her ailment, but she says she is not suffering, it’s part of her powers. He is displeased with her from siding with the darkness. Turning his attention to Lizette, he asks her to fix the statues djinn. Sultan gives Uthgard the Giant two trinkets of spinning air, which he claims she can trade them in the Bazaar. The Minotaur retells of the creatures of earth and about what happened. Sultan tells us “Go to the bank, look for the toads, but don’t touch the water, there are cats that lurk near the reeds, if they touch you you would die”, and then to the hobbits he orders them to make bags “Make them from silk balmed baked clay.” The hobbits come with the silk balm baked clay after about half an hourglass. “HOBBITS! BRING US CHILLI!” Yells out Lila. Then we are told to put the chilli in our feet, knees and ass to disguise for the cats. The random bags made of mummified baked silk are given to us. Once we are back with the toads, we caught 7 of them (not thanks to me, and thanks to me not Lila either), we find out that Sultan has worked out which hobbits to kill, but then killed the other 2 instead. Lunacy or Ingenuousness? Psychotic regardless. Note to self, Windy things are even less reliable and even more fickle than the Fae. Turns out Lila and I did not come back alone, Mana leaches, they helped us remove them, but some damage was already done. The sultan tries to hire Lizette in the future, impressed by her skills despite her mortal upbringing. “You must go with your servant Lulu, and get an enchanter to track these creatures” Says the Sultan. We find out a bit more on why his daughter might have been targeted, turns out there is a debt between the Sultan and the Horsemen, and tricked by other Djinni, Sultan somehow got indebted to fulfill this position! But the Sultan came to an agreement with Death, of which we do not know the details. “If we find an enchanter following things, what should we follow?” We asked, only for nonsensical responses to be given. Potions were going to be given to us, but there was no time for it since we were rushed to the portal. We must go for them on the way back since we have to go after an enchanter, and we know not what perils lie ahead, but coming into contact with Death itself seems to be likely. --- Buffs granted to the party in this episode: Rank 18 Strength of Stone on endurance (+18 points EN) (all) (Source: Acorn Mage). Rank ??? Lesser enchantment for everyone that require it (Source: Acorn Mage). Rank 12 Strength of Shadow (+7 points PS) (all) (Source: Mistress Lulu). Rank ??? Greater Enchantment for everyone (Source: Sultan). Items granted to the party in this episode: Bag of gems worth 70000 Silver pennies. Uthgard the Giant gets two trinkets of spinning air to use in the Bazaar. Dwarven armor for Lizette and Lila (assumed to have been returned?)

15/12/25 - "Of Readings & Revelations, Mages please pay no mind to the Mind Mages!"

"They are everywhere! Everywhere! Bloody Mind Mages!"

Readings, Seagate, and Hasty Researches Revelations are put in the ground in front of us, for no one knew if we wanted to deal with them or not. Lizette ever the cautious divination them to ensure no magical traps wards or curses lay with them, meanwhile our Leader Uthgard, having the same amount of courage as size, picks them up and starts to read them out loud for the rest of us (yet, Lizette remains unconvinced that even listening to prophetic nonsense is truly safe). Shortly thereafter, we are joined by one of Lila’s former associates—a bard, whose name I regretfully did not record. He claims to work for Sareen (Sireen?Scribe holds no consistency), Mistress of the Great Heart. He says, gesturing vaguely, among other nonsense (bards, never trust them, they are too successful while courting, foul magics I say!) “and I am also to lead you to several interested parties who wish to share lunch.” As if that were not enough, the bard then has the audacity to strike up a conversation with me about my mother, claiming he attempted to court her several times in the past, and asking after her health. The gall. Were I a villain, I would have cast a Geas on him without hesitation and sent him on perilous quests!. The bard speaks quietly in Dwarvish with Lila and Lizette. I do not catch the substance of the conversation, but notice a nearby group of roughly two dozen Dwarves running errands with unusual urgency.Lizette warns him sternly about portal instability. He responds by dismissing Lulu’s portal work entirely, boasting of his own superior abilities. I take note of this arrogance for future reference. “So you are back already and brought an extra” Mistress Lulu says referring to the Bard who serves Sareen. We travel via his portal to Seagate. At the guild, we are supplied with eight potions, one to neutralize poisons, the rest healing potions . We are warned that terrible magic was once performed in the Elvish Isles.“There is a very unpleasant man who lives in a hole,” someone explains helpfully, “and he emerges at night to read the stars. He is surrounded by great women such as this one,” gesturing broadly at Uthgard. We decided to consult the library. Vixen, the one versed among us in courtier ,a addresses the librarian to inquire about sources relevant to our investigation. “There were others researching similar matters not long ago,” the librarian says, pointing toward a pile of books on sea creatures—before abruptly becoming distracted by Uthgard’s presence. “Oh! Oh! So beautiful!” From our research, we learn that adventurers once slew a Kraken Heart, which had been used in foul magic—magic that allowed sharks to fly through the air, among other horrors. A dagger was supposedly used to stab the heart. The librarian hands us a book written in Brownie. “It contains information on the Four Horsemen,” she says, offering to read passages aloud. The Horsemen are speculated to be tied to the seasons, often worshipped by humans in differing forms. There are mentions of courage, determination, and one whose nature opposes feasting. Another passage references fae powders—commonly known as pixie dust. Festivities with Sareen We are issued amulets by Sareen’s envoy, the bard of all things…bardic. “Today’s password is custard,” we are told. The amulets allow spellcasting within the area and enable healers to locate and assist us remotely. We are informed that we will be entering a traveling carnival. Colorful outfits and elaborate crowns abound. There are factions distinguished by red crowns, and others who openly oppose them. We are warned of a particular woman who wishes to speak with newcomers. “Do not let her bite you,” comes the warning. “She is performing penance for the actions of others.” (In my professional experience with them, probably one of the saner ones). Lady Olga, as she is called, is a shapechanging wolf attempting to escape destiny itself. A bite from her passes on her curse, slowing the victim’s mind. We observe elves from Alfheim, creatures of the Great Heart, and others from the Broken Heart. There is also a Titan present at the camp, Matt, whom apparently dislikes hearing non-Giant spoken in his presence, and once had a feud with one of my companions. The Bard, provides Boris with a spare amulet, ensuring that anyone attempting to magically identify him will mistake him for an E&E specialist rather than a necromancer. . Boris requests pickup the following day at 6 PM. As we pass through the portal, we are greeted by Celador, an elf who recognizes notable feats of each elven member of our group. We are introduced to a hobbit in a short cape and large feathered hat who observes us keenly.. We are told this is the capital ,I mean, captain of the Guard. Fine cooking scents fill the air, accompanied by pleasant music. A courtyard holds half a dozen tables, with more elves present than usual. At its center stands a massive well—roughly 150 feet across—adorned with elegant statues of elephants blowing water downward. Judging by the sound, it is very deep. A strikingly beautiful woman glides toward us—no less radiant than the most dazzling among our own party. Sareen herself comes to greet us. I personally fail to pay too much attention to our more than deserving host, Sareen, for the overwhelming attention other elves and mind mages are giving to our direction are too intrusive. (city elves know nothing of politeness, and neither do mind mages who form cliques, no wonder we don't have the greatest of reputations). I try to stick like glue, as politely as I can, to Uthgard despite our short acquaintanceship. Drinks are offered. I notice a skinny, pale individual with strange, colorless eyes—almost albino. Another figure dressed in mourning black asks me to relay that my mother is doing well. He claims the black attire repels mind mages, who avoid sadness and dark thoughts. Sareen appears to have believed our visit concerned the Kraken. While there is a connection between her revelations, the Kraken, and the Djinn, she did not expect us to be investigating a missing Horseman. She confirms: Death is indeed one of the Four Horsemen. “I did have some prisoners,” she suddenly says, though declines to elaborate—too many ears, and too little interest. A Rapier's recounting of the accursed Janxes A King’s Rapier suddenly leaps onto a table, recounting its battle with the Janx upon hearing Uthgard mention them. Its former wielder lost a leg in that encounter, apparently Janx wounds cannot be healed or regenerated. The city of Katavvar is named as their point of origin. Advice is given, among them a slight confusing one is: “Close your eyes when fighting them. They alter extremes.” Lady Olga asks if we are attached to the wolf. To which Vixen addresses it calmly, stating what comes as obvious. An ex-member of the Gold Crown offers assistance, warning that his former allies may attempt to abduct our mind mages. Lady Olga hands me a bag of gold coins—apparently sent by my mother. Lizette tells Olga she intends to avoid death whenever possible. Olga merely smiles. “Oh yes. You will struggle greatly. That is usually how it goes.” Making us unsure if that was a threat, a reading, or just her general wisdom. Nearby, young people play a ball game using wooden rackets—twenty of them, divided into teams. Sareen informs us that spellcasting against us has been curtailed, though betting on Lizette continues unabated (unclear if the betting is in her marriage, her demise, or both) . Matt the Titan will return soon, and time is limited. Discussion returns to the Kraken. Sareen clarifies that beneath the Elvish Isles lies a dark temple—the site of the Kraken’s death. Her guests insist that Dae and associates must address the matter to confirm destiny’s chosen (bullocks, this is just another ploit to drain me of my life essence) The Gold Crowns—heroes of Azeroth—are mentioned. Talk turns to Heart Stone Anomalies, the Elvish Isles, and their divided ownership between Destynians, Alfheim, and the Drow—who avoid one another to prevent war. Talks go further, bringing back the Janx to topic, foreboding a likely unescapable crossing with them. It is suggested that the Janx interfered with the Horsemen. There may be “little death” and “big death.” Sareen offers allies of her own to assist later on. Abandoned child, Underwater Prison, things are looking dim A ranger reports a mountain on the Plane of Earth occupied by dangerous individuals—vampires, as it turns out. Sareen suggests we speak with them. Some of her prisoners are cultists of Pestilence and tied to the vampires. She asks if we can swim. And dance. Dancing, apparently, prevents vampire charm at certain times of day. The prisoners are underwater—between life and death, possibly due to their cult practices. We request th e opportunity to meat them, and proceed to do so We are given bread before departure. Bread is always good before you do extenuating exercises, such as swimming. Once we get close to a sailor, he offers us help by casting buoyancy and water breathing upon us, granting temporary gills. Waterproofing is requested by Lila and Uthgard. On all of us. And we receive a glowstone to help with vision, for he suspects we will need it Underwater, while swimming towards the prison, a figure approaches—it is Lila’s adopted son. He is disappointed that his mother visits prisoners but not him. ((I feel bad for him ,, but there is nothing I can do). We learn he is betrothed to the Muse of the Seer. (I gift him the sack of gold coins received earlier as a wedding gift), and also, we learn that the seer doesn’t want him anywhere near his muse. We leave the crestfallen toad/frog-child and proceed to get into the prison. Lila unlocks the door, then seals it behind us. (we don’t want to be responsible for a prison escape) Bubbles rise through the halls. In one of the rooms, where there are two silhouettes, Lizette identifies the prisoners as Blanched Humans—beings with perished attributes who consume life. Proceeding further we get into a room where there are nine of them. Lilla goes to communicate with them and they greet Lila politely, coughing. She becomes ill from the exchange—fatigue, necrotic decay—but Boris delays treatment since we have to interact with them a bit longer and he does not want to do it repeatedly if it could be avoided. Unprompted, the prisoners claim ‘not to be with the wolves’, also they claim no Horseman was killed. He was freed. “He is returning to the desert.” They offer help in exchange for freedom, (what happened with not trying to be responsible for an escape?) They speak of creatures of earth, creatures with side-teeth, a desert well, cand that these creatures have charmed their mistress, “These women with nasty crows came, captured us and brought us here”. “They said we had done something against nature and that we had to have judgement passed on us”. One wishes desperately to be dry—but we cannot let him leave without endangering others. In his path. He explains he was born blanched, possibly due to blue sands. Grassland hunters once preyed on his people. Some of his people disappear, become birds, and return changed. With the glowstone, we see his makeup differs from that of Ajardpar. Lizette heals Lila and double checks just in case. We exit to find Lila’s son with a beautiful girl— —and feel all our abilities surge two ranks higher. This is not an omen, at all. right?

22/12/25 - "Of Red Crowns, Falling Giants, and Histories That Refuse to Stay Dead"

"Note to self: befriend the Titans"

Children who grow up unsupervised, and the happy mistakes they make. Carlos, the frog boy, paid us little mind upon our exit from the prison. This was hardly surprising. He was preoccupied with the Muse at his side, and with the six women standing beside her: all dressed in red robes, crowned in gold, and with that particular ability to make me feel uncomfortable. Lizette, ever perceptive, casts Empathy—and nearly drops it in shock. The Muse is pregnant! Irresponsible little youths! We have magic for that! Or sheep intestines!> I am getting off topic, this means, somehow, Lila is on the verge of becoming a grandmother. The implications of this revelation were still settling when one of the red robes approached us directly. Of Red Robes & Preparations. “We have waited a long time to speak with you,” one of them says coolly. “You are wasting too much time talking to everyone else.” They immediately attempt to separate me from the group on the grounds that I am, quote, “paranoid.” A bold claim, coming from six crowned women who clearly arrived with unknown schemes, mind mages, never trust them.! They explain they are expecting “a friend of Matt” to fall from the sky shortly. Once healed, he will leave to assist in a fight. “Who are we fighting?” Lila asks. “Nasty elemental creatures,” they reply. “Likely rock elementals, controlled by someone. We advise necromantic and E&E countermeasures to be prepared.” They hand us paperwork. I mean, more revelations. Because of course they do. Lizzete begins the counterspells on the team, with a few more protection spells being hurriedly cast by the team for what is to come. Half a dozen figures come running toward us. Then a corpse, eighteen to twenty feet tall, crashes down between us and them. Preparation spells and counterspells are still being cast while this interruption transpires. The red-robed women finish healing the fallen giant and then, in perfect unison, turn to stare at the Muse (I feel sorry for her, I suspect where this is going). They speak to Uthgard in Destynian. When she does not respond, they switch to Giant. (Hill Giant, to be specific) Haphazard fight! We are taken by the not so corpse anymore to where his colleagues are still fighting Spiders, massive ones, coordinated surround us as a stone elemental emerges nearby. Arcadia draws first blood, smashing one spider so violently that the creatures riding its back nearly scatter. Luna, her furred companion attempts to follow up but misses as the spider collapses awkwardly. Uthgard follows in action, felling another foe, another spider and spotting additional forces moving in—undead, fast, possibly a ghoul. Lila moves to Arcadia’s aid, stunning a third spider with a precise strike. Boris charges the last, his swing crude but devastating, rupturing the insides of the spider and leaving it twitching. Lizette attempts to Banish the stone elemental, whom manages to resist. Hellfire answers our intervention, significantly impairing us. Lances strike Lizette and me. Undead riders surge forward. One reaches us, slamming Lizette with a charging glaive and then, for good measure, skewering me as well. Uthgard stomps the undead and remaining spiders into the ground. Boris finishes another spider. Lila moves through the chaos like a gust of wind, everywhere at once. To our dismay, more arrive: A figure encased in oversized stone armor. A creature wreathed in ice. A Titan. An elf—an odd woman—begins shedding her robes, revealing gleaming shinny armor beneath. Lizette unleashes a wide-area healing surge—restoring endurance to friend and foe alike. The ghoul is identified: a Seer of the Lunar Empire. When the earth elemental retreats, the spiders dissolve into mist and follow it. One surviving caster flees into the shadows. Matt the Titan greets us as we withdraw. “Oh,” he says mildly, “you smell of the Muse. You must be from the camp.” “We should leave,” one of the titans says. “There are worse things coming.” Back at the camp, where the only peril wears Red. Back at camp, the six of the women in Red Robes remove their crowns and set their glasses on nearby tables(?). Lizette checks us all, Lila, Boris, and Uthgard are poisoned. We promptly deal with it The red menaces, I mean, red robes, present new revelations. “We have done our homework over the last two years,” some of they say. Another group claims “All of you are of good hearts. Most others are false. Listen to us. Not to them.” Red Robes, they don’t even trust each other! Ha! (Or maybe I drank too much wine and forgot what was said, red robes, it must not have been significant) The History (As They Understand It) Death is missing—not slain, but charmed into unspeakable acts to facilitate the rebirth of the Kraken’s Heart (or was it the Kraken himself?). “That Krasei must not be named,” Lila mutters. Death was manipulated by vampires of the Plane of Earth to remove the Kraken’s Heart from the well. The Heart passed from vampire to drow, specifically the Moriquindy, near the Elvish Isles, who seek dominion over those lands. The Heart is meant to be restored there to resurrect the Kraken. Separately, the followers of Pestilence, long despising Adjepbar, were informed by their masters that Pestilence was gone. They withdrew Pestilence and Poverty from the region, fostering Avarice and Greed among the hobbits. This corruption led to the summoning of the Sultan and the destabilization of Adjepbar. The cult desires its fall. Adjepbar, they insist, was meant as tribute to the Djinn, particularly the Sultan of the Bazaar, though the hobbits rarely advertise this. At the exchange of the Heart, the Janx appeared. The vampires fled. Speculation places this either outside Katavvar or within the Plane of Earth itself. The Janx seem to have one-shot Death. “At one point,” Lila adds, “the Guild believed only three remained.”. Is there only one Janx left now?. Death was imprisoned using a Royal Sword. Of the four remaining Janx we learn that: One went mad and vanished. One commands portals. One specializes in dismemberment. One corrupts and seduces through darkness. The sword is believed to be stored in the vault of the Artificers’ Guild in Katavvar. A duplicate exists. A switch may suffice. Mind mages, we are informed, are usually crucified outside Katavvar’s walls. Which…should not pose to be an inconvenience to us… The city itself is believed to be ruled by vampires from within. They advise approaching Morgor (or Morgul? Moregore?—pronunciation remains disputed between me and my reluctance to clarify) and using his tunnels. He may know of a spirit useful to us. Timeline fragments follow: Big Death took the princess ~24 hours ago. The Sultan was summoned ~5 days ago. The ambush occurred shortly after negotiations failed. A Janx and a mortal were bound together, unnoticed by Death. Little Death slaughtered the caravan on the Plane of Earth. The Janx pursued Death—but kidnapped the princess instead. Little Death recovered the Heart ~1.5 weeks ago. This allowed the mortal and the Janx to return. A spirit in the tunnels—someone who died saving another—may be key. The remaining Horsemen, we are told, would gladly replace Death and have no interest in his return. There are reports of temporal knowledge gained within the tunnels, its source unclear. Janx, vampires, drow, Death… or something else. The sword was last scryable a week ago—missing for only a day. Likely Janx involvement. Lizette is warned: vampires may target her specifically. A massive vampire nest exists where sunlight never reaches. She could, apparently, be mauled to death by a very large black bear. We are handed tools for dealing with such things. Including an enchanted demonic dagger. I do not like the weight of it all.

29/12/25 - "Of Heat, Lions, and the Predators underneath the Pyramid!"

"What or who has Lizzette wronged in the past?"

Still at Syreen’s Camp The air carried the quiet tension of ceremony rather than celebration. A gathering of roughly twenty five Red Robes, some crowned in gold, others bareheaded, were close to us. Word was passed to us that “the couple known as the Elemental Twins wish to speak with you.” They soon approached—an athletic young couple, dark-haired, dressed well but without ostentation. They addressed us not in Common, but in Hill Giant, which Uthgard kindly translated. “Syreen has requested that we bring you to our temple,” “There, we will teach you how to do things in the middle.” What exactly was meant by the middle was not clarified, though the weight of their tone suggested it was no metaphor. They drew us away from the crowd and spoke further. One of the Janx, they warned, possessed the ability to turn an ordinary blow into a great one, among other dangers we would soon face. We were cautioned about the heat, and assured that extra water would be brought, especially for Elidon our Ice Mage. We were instructed to bring provisions sufficient for what we call seven days. There was also some dissatisfaction voiced regarding the number of Mind Mages currently lingering around Syreen’s domain. One of the twins appeared strongly celestial in nature, Celestial Summer. Much was said that did not fully survive translation, but Uthgard was very clear on one recurring warning they gave us, “Lions.” They questioned Arcadia closely about the breadth of her celestial aspects, and seemed genuinely pleased when she confirmed she was attuned with all types. They remarked that she would surely impress their Lord when the time came. After gaining some distance from Syreen’s camp, the twins started studying a palm tree at length, they then split it cleanly in half. Within the rupture, a thin portal formed, narrow enough that our larger companions struggled to pass, though all eventually made it through. On the other side, other than immediately oppressive heat, laid sand. Endless dunes stretched before us, broken only by pyramids rising from the sand. Scattered across the desert were dozens of lions, perhaps four dozen or more. After long deliberation, we chose to fly over safely. Arcadia granted us the gift, and we reached the base of one pyramid, rushing inside lest the lions take notice. Our guides examined several pillars until one yielded a hidden passage. “Here. Through here.”. Deeper within, they announced, “This is our abode.” Boris asked about the upper levels of the pyramid and was told they held nothing of importance. Lizette inquired about the lions; the twins explained it was seasonal, normally, there were far fewer. Uthgard set watches for the night. Training would begin at first light. They offered Lizette the chance to DA them, but she declined. From their reaction, it seems they have suffered unsavoury adventurers before (or perhaps this was just a ruse, maybe they are no better than those Red Robes…). The Training Episode The training focused on combat against creatures larger than human, emphasizing precision—always striking the middle. Arcadia was Kind enough to grant us Strenght of Stone Rank 13 to avoid mishaps during training. On the fourth day, lions breached the pyramid. We were ordered to engage them as a live exercise. As preparations were made, some of us heard a low humming, like rapidly beating wings (are these….flying Lions?). The threat revealed itself too late: mounted invaders, cloaked in shadowform, attempted to ambush us. The first enemy felled resembled a grotesquely Pantomimed warped elf. Another appeared as an elf unnaturally stretched, as if pulled thin by unseen forces. The important part, no flying Lions (fingers crossed). They formed a semicircle around us. What followed was a brutal slugfest. Boris and Uthgard struck with tremendous force in the opening pulses. Arcadia and Luna held several foes at bay. Eladon valiantly, anchored a chokehold with unwavering resolve, assisted (barely), by this scribe. Lizette, however, was relentlessly rushed. It was clear they wanted her dead above all others. During this combat, many of my colleagues ventured to practices what was learned these few days, and they all seemed to get a good degree of success, but noticed that it had limitations on how much it taxed them to use it. (Scribe Note: Mechanically, it is a melee attack without rolling, aiming for those middle points of the D100, we know we can do it a few times during combat, but at what extent we are not sure, we know there is a limit to it tough). Steel rang, spells cracked, and screams echoed through the pyramid halls. The clash drew in opportunists: lions crept in to drag away the fallen. One was slain when a necromantic spell, deflected by Lizette’s shield, struck true into the noble beast. At one point, Lizette appeared to explode into bone and blood. Did she sacrifice herself? Self implode taking 3 enemies with her? The courage of these seasoned adventurers knows no limit. Seeing the tide turn against them, and Lizette gone, the spellcaster who had focused on her withdrew from the battle. We seem to have secured the Pyramid…. But at what cost?

05/01/26 - "Of Morgor & Janx, Dark Skies ahead!"

"Note to self:hand over my pen & paper when Drowze besiege me"

After the Battle The group is still shaken by Lizette’s disappearance. We take some time to lick our wounds and collect whatever valuables remain from our fallen enemies—at least from those the Lions didn’t drag away from the pyramid. Not long after, Lizette reappears and recounts what she experienced while she was gone. A couple of days transpire, and our hosts receive a visitation which manifests before the two. They receive information we cannot hear. Afterwards, they explain that our presence has been requested by the Shaper. One of the wards was triggered by a creature carrying a Janx signature, and the Shaper wants backup. We are warned not to fly through the mountains while wearing dragon armor. A dragon in the area has previously incinerated a group of adventurers—either because one of them wore dragon armor, or simply because they were flying through his territory. Possibly both. Away from the Roaring Sands We arrive in a bright, dry wheat field. The air is fresh and slightly moist, and the temperature drops sharply compared to where we were before. An entourage is already waiting: three elderly figures, two of them men with well-kept beards and well-appointed clothing. A Janx was last reported near a Temple of War in the Lunar Empire and was believed to be heading in this direction. For all we know, it may already be here. “I offer remuneration if you assist us,” says one of the three old men. Elves question me about rumored ties to the Red Robes. I deny the accusation, though I understand why such rumors exist. They then ask if I would be willing to travel with them to meet another elf. Morgor offers us amulets that protect against minor scrying, with the caveat that they interfere with mind-to-mind communication, which is a staple in this group. Boris asks if one could be fashioned into an earring, receiving a positive response. We stay at an old wooden inn with three wings. A relatively unattractive older woman approaches and immediately starts fussing over us. Heti insists we should have a proper meal before attempting anything related to fixing Lizette. Ambrose requests that we acquire three Lion Heads so Morgor can proceed with… whatever Morgor is doing. We encounter a man with six monocles protruding from his face and head, clearly working on something extremely intricate. Uthgard acquires some sort of anti-vampire object. A tall elf arrives and asks if we are the party assigned to deal with the Janx. We learn that Lizette’s siblings—her daughter and brother—were here earlier. (Scribe has no idea why he wrote this)To-do list: Go to the Red Crowns and negotiate. The Janx is believed to be heading toward the Garden, possibly to interfere with or destroy the Aurory. Alternatively, it may be acting because it cannot properly mis-shape the future. Some wards prevent the Janx from leaving certain areas. It may still be searching for a way out, having entered through tunnels connected to the Time Tunnels. “We believe the Janx may be fleeing from something coming from the mines.” “There may be two weaker Janx, and one stronger one that emerged from the tunnels.” We’re told that the Twins could take us to meet the Dark Skies—she owes them a favor and may be able to shelter us from the rain. Offers are made to repair or combine items, or to bind armor to weapons or gear—but not demonic items or blood magic. We’re also warned not to bring items that manipulate time into the Time Tunnels. Meal notes: quail-side pineapple pine-nut… things. Extremely filling. Delicious. We feel energized after eating. Reports mention disgusting creatures, somewhere between Vampires and Liches, harassing the Temple of War. We leave through the back of the inn, passing through the kitchen, and eventually reach a gully. We follow one of the caves, and once we’re deep enough, we hear fighting. We emerge into a more open area with trees. A group of people is fighting a single entity. The area is under a darkness spell. The elementals inform us that the undead here manipulate extreme good luck and extreme bad luck. “Are you from Tact or Seagate?” a woman asks. She’s pleased to hear that we are—and even more pleased to learn that we want to help. “We should go into the tunnels. I have a friend you need to meet,” a man says. He adds that his friend requires elephants.

12/01/26 - "Of Planning & Preparations, Heading for the Corridors of Time!"

"The time it takes to talk through how to tackle time in a twisted timeline, to travel through time to a time before the timeline was twisted. To twist time, this time, by taking the time to turn time back into a timeline, which will, in time, become a twice-twisted timeline by the time we arrive to twist it. Taking care, this time, to take time to twist time in this already twice twisted timeline, this time, the third time its twisted, but this time, the trice-twisted timeline.... should be the right one, the deal will be done, things will be set in stone."

RAW notes, Chaos Scribe might reword some or leave as is, he shouldn't tough What are these "Elephants" you speak of? There is plenty of discussion about Elephants and how to obtain them, some suggest lawful means, whilst others non-so lawful ones…whispers on the wind can be heard of using foul magics with pigs, no wonder my parents insisted on mainly eating the bounty of the forest. We accept to assist Dark Skyes in the obtainingnation (elven for obtaining, certainly) of an elephant as a means to get the assistance to rid the draining that half of the adventuring troop suffered at the hands of the undead. Arcadia & Elidon are transported alongside the elementals. Arcadia DA’s the creature, to make sure it is actually an Elephant, for the people present had yet to see such a creature. After getting the elephant they are given drinks so that they go back to the inn, where upon transportation, they are coughing. “Make sure the blue marking is up when releasing the elephant, that way they are up. After coming back, she leads us through some caves, which have an unevenness that does not follow the natural way that I’ve experienced before, after coming through a pass, we find in the centre of the caver some source of light that is illuminating a pile (of rubbish, shipwrecks by the looks of it) of 60 feet in this huge cavern, in the middle of. “Do any of you need to see your future” ("I believe I can see the future, 'Cause I repeat the same routine" NIN) “We are trying to avoid seeing the future”, Utghard answers. (Oh boy!...) We needed protection against the Janx though.”We do not want Janxes to see us in the future” “Hail high Seer! We are over by this side!” Dark Skies screams to a figure in the middle of the top of the pile. The deal goes through as Arcadia lays the fabric containing the Elephant, putting the blue mark topside, the Seer is very happy “The elephant does not seem to be from the place of the smelly people, I like you, I will name my children after you!” he tells her. “For one week and one day, the Janxes will not be able to see you, be it reading the night skies, or other means” Night is for resting. Morning is for devising Dark Skies gives a piece of glass to everyone as a thanks for helping her with the elephant, the party thanks her for her gift. Two hours later we are back out, already night. We hear howling coming from somewhere, but it disappeared as if heading to the tunnels. In the Inn there seems to be people tending at the animals, as if travelers have arrived late to the inn. Inside of the inn there is pleasant music, the place is well lit with plenty of folk inside, about over half dozen dozens of people, of all different races. The twins have reserved 4 rooms for us. We take 10 hours rest, it’s a comfortable room, warm and well decorated. Around dawn we hear a knock on the doors, the steps remind us of Heti, who appears to have left trays for us with food. It seems to be a porridge breakfast, potentiated by herbalism. Holding the walls looking dreadfully, we see Dark Skies, whom the elementals say they saw her “ingesting a vast array of different liquids”. “Dwarves, avoid the Dwarves, they drink too much” Dark Skies tells us… ”So we go fight the Janxes today?” to what we emphatically say yes, the elementals offer to guide us there, “In the shed behind the flowers there is a false bottom, below it, amulets that will protect you inside, allowing you to cast magics and use your skills” The elementals say, adding that they won’t fight with us, the task lies in Dark Skies hands and ours. We are discussing if we should travel to the past and prowl our prey, see the muse, talk to the ghost. But whatever we decide, we must find out which of the three Janx is the one we will find. One Janx distorts space to create holes or portals, and also uses this weird understanding of space to cut and dismember their targets. The other Ignores magic and fights terribly. The twins, awfully nervous at the presence of Drak Skies, and that we might drag them to the Time Caves, offer to go to Morgore to ask him to make a replica of the sword that has imprisoned Death, so that we an use it to replace the swords with none the wiser. Morgor offers to supply us with Troll skins In regards of the Sword swap, Morgore offers an amulet of chest stabbing, that we plan on Arcadia, perhaps, using it to get stabbed by the royal sword, and enabling the swap of the Royal Sword for the Boyal Sword (name trademarked). Morgore says that maybe that is the plan that we did, and that explains why the Janx is out looking for something. Go back in time and steal the Senator of Decay’s body/ We keep having the problem, a very weird problem to have if I ever had it in my adventuring days “how doe we not kill this super dangerous creature that wants us dead” “What the hell is an echidna?” “How squeamish are you about things” The elementals ask…”Come take a walk with us, and we will make an indecent proposal”(can be read if you try to uncover what the scribe has penned over trying to erase) We ask Morgor also to ask his wife to make a skin change as well, she gives us two skins, she hasn't done it in about 4 centuries,so they might turn them into hedgehogs…or maybe not. 2 Potions of Trolllskin are given, rank 12 Morgor comes with a disappearing cloak, and a nice replica of the Royal Sword, He suggest using my blood to improve our luck, SADDLY ITS ILLEGAL TO DO BLOOD MAGIC HERE . So, Find Janx with the Royal Sword BEFORE death gets stuck into it, Arcadia gets stabbed, replace Sword (with Boyal Sword pre-bloodied with Arcadia 's blood), flee, then Find in the future the Janx who is hunting for us, to Hedgehoggify it, put it on a cage) Morgor suggests jumping in the lava with Fireproofing to go to the plane of Fire and escape the Janx. A group of monks has been visiting a cave on the outside, trying to get in for the last few weeks, they seem to be allies of the Shrievers. The path to the Terrace & into the caves It’s a four Day walk from the Northern Branderburg in the court Summerking to Morgor's terrace Run for 10 minutes and walk from ten. On and On. We sneak past an Orc settlement, where in the heyday Boris raided with his family. At the top of the cliff we run into two ogres and a Goblin standing between them. “Seagate adventurer 's I’ve watched you climbing up the cliff, don’t attack me”, “I will give you a stick, if you break it I will know you are in trouble and notify your guild where your bodies might be” We follow along a somewhat dead river bed, and we see flying Lions. It’s cold, but the ice mage helps. “I will fly where the big rock meets the little one, you see there? That is an illusion” Morgore says”, Arcadia casts wings on us, but still the wind is quite savage, thankfully we are seasoned adventurers (ignore the elf riding a winged minotaur). Arcadia feels sluggish and drained once she lands on the terrace, (probably Lila as well), so we grabbed the amulets on the fake floor of the shed. On the way down, Boris fails the fall, and gets highly damaged We don the amulets, and enter the caves, we can feel the low mana in the environment. The elementals guide us through the tunnels, into a place where looms and other tapestry materials and strange things boobling in tubes, They ask us how long we want to travel back, and they put water on it the top to match the 22 dias we travel “you always have to put more water in the top one than the lower one”. “Trying to use foresight of the future while in time tunnels…what could go wrong…” A memory of earlier keeps bouncing in my head with Uthgards voice “...We are trying to avoid seeing the future....”. Black and white cowed figure comes with something burning in his hand but goes towards fire burning things, and, and at 12 feet high,the Janx hitting the ground in the burnt area, gathers back and grows as a thing forming a granado which he catches and puts in his belt, when 2 figures appeared from the floor, one ghostly, the second Janx, much diminished to this one, undoing something, This is in the 4ish mark. At that point is when I see something terrible going wrong, but I do not know what.

26/01/26 - "Of Planning & Preparations, Being perhaps too cautious in the Corridors of Time!(?)"

"A sword dancing in chaos!"

Still planning and learning about the truce between the Janx and the elemental Twins Time goes on (or does it? These caves are weird) and we continue discussing how to proceed. We try to center our planning with the information of the previous cast of Limited Precognition (despite how ill advised it might have been or not), and at least have good(?) information that the happenings towards the end of the precognition transpired closest to the Red Mark. We are still reconsidering our escape route, if we should still just jump in the lava and head to the plan of fire, and use the means of escape from that plane that Boris can provide, which will make all of us share a significant burden of fatigue. The elemental twins are reluctant to be present when we deal with the Janx, for even if they are in a ‘truce’ of sorts… Truce brought about from a time they had a close ally, who worked as a priest under the Summer King, had somehow came under their..let’s say “protection”, they agreed that as long as the Janx released the priest that they had taken to Katovar, they’d be at a truce of sorts. Talking about people taken by the Janx, we bring back to memory that there is someone else who has had recent (recent? What is recent? Time here IS, time WAS and time WILL BE… Still a better place to be than next to the Red Robes) dealing with them, ‘Peter’, the person who has been imprisoned in time along with the Janx that is being released. While talking of this and that we finally notice that Dark Skies, at some point, has dressed with a Reflected Mirrored Scale armor that is adorned by a feathered plume. This distraction from something obvious at our side, alongside our planning leading us nowhere other than uncertainty (little or too much planning is bound to lead you to perdition) Precognitions and cautions We decide giving precognitions another chance, this time to see if by attempting to fight the Janx we get important information on which Janx is each of them. Dae, the most heroic elf in all of Alussia decides to valiantly set up an ambush and strike the Janx head on! Bravery which bards will tell tales about…even if… it was only during a precognition and not actual, factual, or conceptual reality… Anyhow his precognition ends short, with him feeling a puncture coming from behind of his skull, and seeing the blade exiting through his left eye… His resilience as a Mind mage allowed him to hold on throughout the pain long enough to see with his remaining eye, that the protruding blade from where his left eye used to reside, is indeed, the sword they are looking for! In addition, he manages to see black and white patterns, dancing chaotically from the figure trying to dislodge the blade from his skill. Uthgard also does a casting of Limited Precognition, knowing it is safe to do so because of our valiant elf, but nonetheless. Some would say ‘wisely’ she casted it seeing someone else take the initiative attacking the Janx, Elidon (I say, if we are not courageous in our imagination, are we really courageous adventurers? But I digress!). Her casting allows her to see a full on fight develop, but she is able to clearly see the creature with black and white patterns, they are chaotic still but she is able to distinguish clearly that it is a checkered pattern, and not only that, the ‘chaoticness’, albeit hard to predict, happens more like a blurring, as if the patterns are polluting each other. Uthgard glimpses victory in the fight, albeit with a high price in blood and loss of life. Limbs staggering strewn across the battlefield… She also sees a ghost which starts catching up with…time maybe?...reality? As if the ghost is catching up with itself, or himself. As if previously it was merely ‘spread out’, now he looks slightly burnt, and for a while looked like distorted quintuplets every time it started moving... Tempest, don't play with swords alone, and wolf as a sword sheat We are exposed to new information that changes everything, it’s not only little d Death inside of the sword, Tempest is also inside of the accursed sword! The plot thickens and our already certain uncertainty brings forth more questions… Do we steal the sword with Tempest in it and give them the empty one? Do we steal the sword with Tempest and little d? Do we get Tempest and negotiate with Katovar?... We proceed with the plan… whatever it will be, will be. Dark skies send us in search of triangles in the other rooms, which seem to work as some type of marking that will assist her in mapping a way for us to go back in time enough to swap swords on the Elven Armoury. Meanwhile, Lizette is trying to ‘DA’ the copy of the sword we requested of Morgor. Uthgard finds Lizette enthralled by the sword, struggling to get her grasp off of the blade, Boris arrives at the scene and assists as well. Dark Skies claims she could get her out of the sword if she wants to get in and check the insides…No one dares to accept her invitation. We start heading up on a spiral staircase until we reach a metal grill 60 feet wide. After a lengthy discussion and exchange of items before proceeding, we notice a strange…Lion?...we see if from the back, it seems to be eating something, with its head raising and attacking whatever it is feasting on from strange uncanny angles…It has three different heads! Arcadia and Lizette ‘DA’ the chains, which seem to be in sets of three’s, one of which seems to have restorative magic, while the other 2, seem to be unperturbed by their ‘DA’s. Which brings to my memory, there was talk earlier of using Luna as a weapon thief/hoarder, it sounded disturbing. I worry for it at times, but it's a celestial creature, so, as all celestials, Allusian common sense does not apply to them. Coming closer to the lion we notice he is eating what looks to be 3 mounts… veloci-raptors, and 3 dragonkin seem to have been their riders. Uthgard and myself, together with a handy amberring, manage to successfully cast Controlling magics on the Chimera, giving us reassurance and safety to pass through it. We consider using it against the Janx, but being that it was a creature likely drawn here intentionally by Morgor (Our intellectual acumen unparalleled, the chain tying it to the centre of the room was a clue we never needed at all). Think of water, and ambush when opportunity presents itself After finding out it was Morgor’s, we went back to the original plan without additional support, but while waiting we found orcs arguing with an ogre, discussing something about the troll. Investigating further we found that their group consisted of 1 troll, 2 Ogres, and 5 orcs. The troll is unusually more protected than the regular wild troll, for he is using an armor made of a mixture of metal and leather. They head out to the water, through some stone stairs leading to a stone hole in the ground. Getting closer to the staircase we see….not much after about 6 feet deep, since the water gets dark fast. We consider a plan to escape the Janx through the water, with the elementals making a line for us to follow, even with a rope and some knots every two feet to assist us. We have Water Breathing, Buoyancy, and also Water Proofing cast on us, but we realize that the smart thing to do will be to ambush the group that went into the water, so we can secure our getaway water slide. After waiting for about two hours, we see the group emerge, but not alone, they seem to have captured some Merfolk alive. Which seems to make some of the group find some kind of solace…since it seemed the assault and ambush on the orcs was heavy against their conscience, being that they had done nothing to us at all and we had no moral justification… (I do not know about them, but if the Ogre’s have those cool horns to give to the Rambling man to enchant…speaking of which…I have to go pick up those horns I gave him to enchant some time ago). Anyway, the orcs are coming up with the captives… "Of Planning & Preparations (In the Corridors of Time)" Hear now, good folk, of cautious minds, Of plans unmade where time unwinds, In caverns where the past still bleeds, And futures whisper half-known deeds. In corridors where time stands torn, Where was and will and is are born, We lingered long in thought and doubt, While chaos danced a blade about. A truce once sworn, now thin as breath, Between the Janx, the Twins, and death, Bound by a priest, by summer’s crown, Released—or all would be struck down. Too much foresight clouds the sight, Too little dooms us all to night, Between the visions and the fear, The Red Mark drew ever near. Oh sing of plans that lead nowhere, Of careful steps to deep despair, For fate mocks those who think too long— The sword still sings its chaos song. We spoke of lava, fire’s domain, Of Boris’ path through ash and pain, A weary price our limbs must pay, If flames became our road away. The Twins stood back, refused the stand, Old oaths still burned upon their hand, For Janx once held a sacred man, And truce was drawn on shifting sand. Peter’s name was softly said, A soul in time not living—dead, Imprisoned where the moments freeze, A ghost adrift in centuries. Armor gleamed in mirrored scale, Dark Skies adorned with plume and mail, Yet still our thoughts like ravens flew, Too many paths—none ringing true. Oh sing of plans that lead nowhere, Of careful steps to deep despair, For fate mocks those who think too long— The sword still sings its chaos song. Once more we dared precognition’s flame, To know the Janx, to name the name, And Dae, most bold of Alussia’s kin, Struck first—where legends might begin. Though only dream, or sight untrue, His courage still the future drew, Till steel from back to eye was driven, And truth was paid in borrowed living. Through pain held fast by mind alone, One eye beheld the blade we’d known, Checkered light in mad disorder, Black and white at chaos’ border. Uthgard saw the battle won, Yet victory bathed in blood undone, Limbs like leaves on crimson ground, And ghosts where time itself unwound. Tempest bound in cursed steel lay, With little death to share its stay, Steal the sword? Or trade the shell? Each answer rang another bell. Triangles marked the twisting halls, Time bent back through mirrored walls, Lizette’s hand on silver edge, Enthralled upon a dangerous ledge. Oh sing of plans that lead nowhere, Of careful steps to deep despair, For fate mocks those who think too long— The sword still sings its chaos song. Three heads feast where chains lie bound, A chimera sleeps beneath our sound, Water waits with teeth of night, And orcs emerge with captives tight. So ends this verse, not tale nor end, For fate still turns, and plans still bend, Remember well, ye bold and wise— Too much foresight damns the eyes.

02/05/25 "Of Executions & , The sword of change"

"Welcome to the Janxgle."

For the Merfolk! The area has restrictions and wards to repel and hamper the undead. We set the trap. Lila opens the ambush with her axes splitting the air towards one of the Goblins, splitting it easier than a log. Lila’s pet prepares a fireball. Arcadia Creates a Meteor Fall striking the unsuspecting foes, whom accounting for no peril, were not proceeding in a proper battle formation. Boris moves closer to block their path. Elidon makes an endurance blow with his Demonic Dagger to one of the Goblins. Dae prepares a Telekinetic Rage. The troll somehow swaps places with one of the orcs at the front, swings down his club to Uthgard, the club slams the ground with the crackling of electricity. One of the Ogre spews a necrotic barf Towards Elidon, whom resists it but the necrosis partially pesters in the ground around him, trying to pull him down Arcadia, taking advantage of the massive frame of the Troll, find a spot to deals a massive blow on him, a blow which is swiftly followed up by Luna’s Assault, an uncanny coordination and teamwork between them. Lizette Drops a Forbidding spell to prevent the Merfolk to avoid them being dragged farther away, for rescuing them, is our priority in this moment. A betrayal of the Mind... The team positioned themselves perfectly, they knew what was supposed to come, I knew what was supposed to come. It was a gamble, a spell this mage had yet to successfully in combat... It worked, the few Orcs that were meant to be crushed to the wall were crushed, just more forcefully that what was expected, the orcs still getting up the stairs were flung alongside with their weapons… towards the Merfolk that were still coming up the stairs and whom got blocked by the forbidding, getting squashed and stabbed by orcs turned projectiles, whichever Merfolk wasn't killed by the orc's weapons pinning them, was finished by the hammering of a heavy orc against them. Telekinetic Rage worked, it worked too well... The goblins were flung down the aisle, same for the Orcs already outside of the staircase, the ogres, and the troll, all of them, which were not in range, they were violently flung away, the thing is... that wasn't supposed to be the range, the team wasn't expecting that, I wasn't expecting that. And Elidon... the team saw Elidon, the ice mage that would dive first and be sturdy as an eternal iceberg, holding the frontline, flung mercilessly by the inability of properly controlling mana from Dae… over 60 feet, flung by it’s own Ally. The combat had ended, the captives, were captives no more, to be honest, they directly were no more, the casualties for this battle consisted of our enemies, the innocent, and one of us. Dealing with the Aftermath Arcadia (After separating the troll's body from Elidon and the Merfolk's remains) drops a granado on the body of the Troll, dealing fire damage to it. Meanwhile Boris starts working on ‘fixing Elidon’. Lila asks Dae to ESP the surroundings, particularly bellow the water. Thoughts of many angry creatures, presumably the Merfolk bellow the water (whom might also been affected by the Telekinetic Rage, alongside having had their kin being kidnapped). But further along the tunnel there is something... a mind akin to a block of ice & glass, thinking about "...worms and the reflections, when will they come back again...". The Elementals and Dark Skies come around trying to find out why they were flung out Now moving quickly down the hallway, Uthgard sees a Walking thing, huge coming, with a weird stride. Since The creature is coming by, Arcadia uses par of her priced possessions, she uses two potions, with which Elidon is brought back from the dead, with full vitality…except what was lost by the scar of having died. We hear shrieking coming down the aisle, and some of the party can see a smoldering ball of corpses..merfolk, orcs troll… and chimera parts in it. It seems as if the smoldering ball stopped in place A shimmering portal opens in front of the creature, and Boris notices another portal opens behind us, the ball coming through it and exploding. Boris tries to identify the effect on him, seems like some sort of rune special magical, that makes the body feel like going to different places at the same time. Arcadia DA's the effect as well and it seems the spell ‘marks you for dismemberment’. Boris peeks through the portal, and finds a room, that has a lot of rune carvings, and also some humans who are doing something with animated black creatures in a table they are ranking up at the side. Uthgard sees two Dwarves clad in black armor shuffling from the other portal towards us. Once they come closer to us we see they are actually big. Arcadia DA's the portal, we get Special Rune counter needed to dispel it, effective rank 15. The Elementals and Dark skies opt to run to he next platform and plead for us to do so as well.

09/01/26 ”Of the Art of Escape & the ironic lack of Time, “

"Run to the hills."

Not life on the run, but run for your life The plan is to run away, While Utgarth shouts in our minds trying to organize our departure, one of the amoured creatures, now closer looking more like golems than ever, swings down coldly his weapon to her, severing her right arm away. While the other group advances towards the elven enclave. A clocked figure dragging darkness shuffles towards the group in one of the corners, Lady Arcadia, Elidon, Luna, and Dae, the elf & celestial wolf coalition is alone no more. Utgadh grabs her weapon and arm and runs towards the corridor where we head the Orcs (Goblins) mention a “Gorgon” lurks.. Lady Arcadia faces the individual clad in darkness, while Lyzzete tries to flank it, but gets stopped mid way when realizing a shadow clocked individual is about to come out of the portal. Boris, Lila, the elemental twins, and Dark Skies head towards the potentially Gorgonic path.. Dae climbs the roof. A golem comes from the portal in front of Lizette, severing her arm with a swing The golem that had dismembered Utgardh follows her, as fast as it can. The last golem encroaches on Lady Arcadia swinging it’s weapon and severing her arm. The clocked individual throws six or seven darts that take flight, but instead of attacking hover in an orderly fashion somewhere between Arcadia and Dae. Luna snags Arcadia 's arm and jumps to the roof, while Arcadia shuffles closer to the wall to have options if she manages to one handedly climb. Through an Item Dae casts Shadow Wings (rank 5) on Arcadia. Lila casts Shadow Wings(rank 7?) on Boris. Lyzzete’s remaining arm gets dropped by a slash Dae sees that she has no way to climb up and gives up on casting Shadow Wings on her, and instead moves away before the darts take away his fleeting Endurance. Boris takes flight to have a better view of the corner of dismemberment. The Janx offers Lady Arcadia to join forces, and have access to their powers. Flying(rank18) is cast upon Elidon, Lady Arcadia, Lyzette and Dae, courtesy of the twins or Dark Skies. Lyzzete gets one of her legs chopped off, and gets dragged to the Janx. Lila swaps with an ability or effect the body of Lila for the corpse of a Pig The Janx successfully convinces Dae through spell to join hands with them, but since Dae is currently holding Utgardhs arm, Elidon was able to drag him with them. We left flying to gain distance from the Janx in a somewhat homogeneous speed. Back on the Tunnels

Buffs & Mil Sci

Long Term (assumed always on)

Magic (caster)	Rk	Effects	Duration	Da	Ed	Jo	Ru	So	Th
Greater Ench.	here's hoping	+ to Res, Mag, Com, and S&S.	Var
Fire Protection (Ru)	6	vs normal fire	7 hrs
Fire Armour (Ru)	6	28 pt ablative vs magical fire	7 hrs
Armour of Ice for Party (Eli)	12	8pt FT armour, -2 AG. -20 Stealth, 1/2 Fire damage taken for the next 80 fire damage, stacks with other defensive magic.	6.5h
Armour of Ice for Elidon modified by Ring Of Black Ice. (Eli)	12	+2 damage protection (ft & en), stacks with armour. +13 def in melee, +26 def in close.	6.5h
Resist Cold (Eli)	11	increases temp gague by 3, protection from hypothermia, -3 damage from cold attacks	12h
Self Only
Purification (Dae)	5	5 pts of MR. 1 pt MA	24 hrs	?

Short Term

Magic (caster)	Rk	Effects	Duration	Da	Ed	Jo	Ru	So	Th
Shadow Wings (So)	6	36 mph, 126 miles range	3.5 hrs
Walking Unseen (So,Jo)	6		7 hrs
Weapon of Flames (Ru)	7	+8 SC, +5 Dam, +8 dam vs undead, cold, water	12 min
Mind Speech (Da)	6	Range 210ft - One primary target plus 7 other targets	70 mins
Weapon of Cold (Eli)	12	+13 SC, +5 Dam (Triple Dam to creatures of fire)	17 mins
Ice Traversal (Eli)	6	2 targets gain +2 TMR of flat ice	140 mins

Misc

Herbalist Lunch/Broth

Watch Order

8pm	9pm	10pm	11pm	12am	1am	2am	3am	4am	5am	6am	7am
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Marching Order

Skirmish Formations (Front)
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