Halcyon's Journal

9/22/24
 
Empire campaign notes:
 
hangings; many who break magic laws are hung.
soldiers fight with each other; extreme competitive atmosphere
remnants of old magical buildings or remains of "watchers" (no wizard towers)
magic is illegal; was once rare, started to come about, became illegal.
 
Rich live in small, white-washed houses with red tile roofing
Poor live in wooden/mud shacks.
Public spaces are vast and spacious and open to environment, like Roman or Greek public places.
 
Current emperor has reigned for 57 years (87 failed attempts at challenging emperor)
Law dictates that strongest rule (like orc stronghold).
Magic was outlawed when the Xidar family moved to the island.
 
It's the year 4239. The date is the 31st of Mourim. Halcyon was born on Dovinn 32, 4220.
 
10/6/24
 
FIRST SESSION FOR CAMPAIGN TWO!!
 
Cold winter morning in the village of Tathe. Smell of chimney smoke, people bustling.
 
The tavern catches my eye on the way to the Imperial Press. The tavern is the main revenue maker of the village. It is the inn and brewery. The tavern is enormous. Olfin is the name the barkeep and he informs me of the party tonight. Halcyon finds himself a seat and sits to enjoy his toast breakfast. The leader of the Imperial Press is a dwarven man. His name Barnug Dimfall. In order to get a job for him at the press, I have to bring him a great story.
 
Faaron has pink hair, teal eyes, leather traveler clothes, furs, and is a high elf. She is 5'8".
 
Rinku, man, almost middle-aged, scruffy 5 0 clock shadow, looks like a foreigner to the island, olive skin, green gi, 5'10", battleworn, wears a katana, shortbow, definitely a traveler's traveler. He has green eyes (jade?) and is an earth genasi.
 
Asphodel is female, over 6' tall, lilac skin, plum colored hair. underneath a black cloak she dons chainmail. horn protruding from underneath the hood of the cloak.
 
Thancred is a human man with blonde hair. dressed in a vest, slacks, nice shoes, black, etc.
 
The first nat 20 of the campaign was for Rinku to make a con save on drinking Olfin's grog.
 
Faaron and Halcyon go and meet with dad, Whale Song. ; Halcyon knows that the resident of the burned building marched to the beat of his own drum; perished in the fire. Rumor of new drugs, a band of thugs led by The Pyromancer. Rumors of The Pyromancer is that he uses fire magic.
 
After some unproductive investigating of the ruins of the burned house, Faaron and Halcyon agree to work together to interrogate the villagers at the party; maybe someone knows or saw something?
 
The Ice-devil blossom, made from potatoes, is a drink that looks like water and is frosty cold. It is very strong. We hang out at the tavern, waiting for the party to start. There is a bard performing. By noon, the place starts to get packed.
 
There is a group of hooded people that look a little too serious to be at a party. There is a member of this group by each window, and one of them locks the main door.
 
FIRST COMBAT: noticed that every bandit covered in some kind of oil/wax. Asphodel picks up one of the bandits by the chest and throws the poor bastard out of the window, providing an emergency escape out of the tavern. Halcyon does a cool roll over a table to get to an enemy, which he impressed himself with. Thancred blows one of their heads to pieces. Halcyon intimidates the last thug into giving up and helping us clean up the mess. We win!
 
Halcyon learns that the owner of the burned house was named Leroy. We help Olfin and his waitresses/busboys clean the mess. Two innocent lives were lost.
 
The man in charge of the guards is here to talk to us. Before we go see him, Thancred rallies us and encourages us all to work together to pursue these fire thugs and their leader, The Pyromancer.
 
We go outside to meet the military Legionnaire man. He is Subsidiis Hadmyr (Subsidiis is a rank/title). He contracts us to look into and deal with The Pyromancer. We will be paid one additional gold per bandit slain. We will rest for the night and the Subsidiis will meet with us tomorrow morning.
 
Mind-melting Fusion is Halcyon's drink on the house. Asphodel gives Halcyon her drink. That was nice.

The Empire has been at war for 25 years.
 
Thancred buys everyone's rooms. It sounds like Rinku hasn't slept in a bed for a while. Or had a door for privacy.
 
Thancred presses Faaron about working for the Imperial Press, which she admits she does and might be investigating The Pyromancer for personal reasons.
 
Our rooms are very nice; good view, double beds, etc.
 
Olfin drinks his drink, but never seems to pick up the cup. Weird.
 
10/13/24
 
The day is Denday, Mourim 32, 4239.
 
Early morning, it is below freezing temperature, Rinku wakes up first, followed in order by Halcyon, Asphodel, Faaron, and Thancred.
 
(Come up with morning routines for characters.)
 
Tathe is a farming town with their own coffee crops and whatnot. Good ASS coffee.
 
Olfin, the barkeep, seems to know Thancred well. He also pays close attention to his patron's habits and rituals.
 
We discuss each others' business. Rin says he is "soul-searching." Subsidiis Hadmyr left a note informing us that he'd be late meeting us (not until 2 pm). Rin needs to shop for warmer clothes because he recently hailed from a much warmer climate. The tailor shop is called The Tathelor's. Thancred is going to show Rin where it is. Asphodel is tagging along with them.
 
Halcyon wants to go check in at the Imperial Press. Faaron is going to tag along and maybe help Halcyon get a job.
 
Barnug advises Halcyon to actually write the story, not just commit to memory and report verbally.
 
Rin confides in us that he also does some writing.
 
We get to the shop, mahogany door. The tailor is a gnome named Cillbut. While Cillbut is measuring Rin for clothes, Faaron asks Cillbut how tall gnomes can get. Cillbut makes his way to Halcyon, feels him up, and points out to Halcyon that the clothes are uncomfortable on the feathers. I wonder if there is anything Cillbut can do to mend Halcyon's clothes and refit them to be more comfortable on the feathers.
 
Halcyon asks a couple of questions concerning Jenkin's house and The Pyromancer, and Cillbut inform Halcyon that his store is on the other side of town, so he didn't witness anything. However, he did mention that Jenkins was unusual. It is safe to conclude that Jenkins was an odd, quiet fellow that didn't really bother anyone.
 
At the site of Jenkins' burned house; Asphodel can tell that the house was burned from the inside. With further investigation, we deduce that the fire started in the fire and that there is no trace of accelerant. Also, the doorknob was locked and broken from the outside. The forensics suggests that Jenkins sat in the chair through the fire. What could enable or cause Jenkins to remain still while being burned to death? Perhaps, magic was used.
 
We return to The Tathelor's where Rin is wearing his new garb.
 
We go back to the crime scene for the third time (for Halcyon and Faaron, anyways). Rin discovers that the fire had to be magical to produce such extreme heat. While investigating and afterwards, Rin seems disturbed and angry/upset because of the fire.
 
Back at the tavern, Subsidiis Hadmyr finally meets up with us concerning the contract to hunt down The Pyromancer. Eye witnesses report that the Pyromancer and his ilk in the Daystone Rise Mtn ranges, there are ruins of old magic buildings that were demolished. We'll need to stay warm. Halcyon has never travelled like this with strangers. According to contract, we'll be paid 1 gold for each thug/bandit slain and 5 gold for the pyromancer himself. We should bring back the left pinky of any bandits we kill for proof. The Daystone Rise Mountains are about a week of travel away.
 
At Taste Of Tathe, an air genasi Safryn is behind the bar and welcomes us. Here husband, a half-orc named Brerm, greets us as well while Rin ask for work for pay. Brern hooks up Rin with a bulk-up diet for those who are not so affluent.
 
Halcyon lies to his father Whale Song about being commissioned by Subsidiis Hadmyr to hunt the Pyromancer and about the fight that ensued at the tavern. Halcyon's father provides the party three bedrolls.
 
We are officially prepared for our journey.
 
RULES:
(Roll con check every night to determine how safely/well we travel. the further we travel, the higher the dc. Three modes of travel: normal, fast-paced, and stealthy.)
 
First day of travel is stressful, but we get through it. We make it just a little ways out of town. Being out of town, we can finally see Asphodel's horns. She has four, two that are nubbed in the front and two in the back that twist and curve; it is peculiar that she has four. Rin starts a fire and we make camp. Order of watch: Thancred, Halcyon, Asphodel, Faaron, and Rin last. Nothing happens the first night.
 
Next day. It's Vrenday, Mourim 33, 4239.
 
We see rhinos at a waterhole. Nothing interesting happens.
 
Next day. It's Vesiday, Mourim 34, 4239.
 
As we wake up, the wind is faster and throwing limbs around. We have to hunker down because the wind starts hurting us. We travel fast to make up for lost time. We set up camp, and on watch, Halcyon falls asleep. He awakens to wolves at our camp. UH OH
 
next time on Dragonball Z . . .
 
11/11/24
 
ROLL INITIATIVE
 
We fight a pack of wolves. Halcyon goes down. Asphodel checks Halcyon's vitals and Rin restores Halcyon back to health. COMBAT ENDS. we win.
 
Asphodel helps Halcyon for next few days rebandage.
 
We pass by some wooly rhinos that we've seen on the road before. Faaron claims that one of the rhinos is acting stranger; like its trying to act inconspicuous. Rin decides to pursue the suspicious rhino. When it notices we're sneaking up, it takes off apart from the rest of the rhinos that seem undisturbed by us. The strange rhino trips over itself and turns back into a human druidic man. Halcyon is intrigued, wondering if he can learn such magic. Rin pulls his weapon on the stranger and Faaron looks nervous as well. When the druid explains himself, Rin reserves himself from violence and sheathes the sword. Taredd Uridi is the druid's name. He tells us that the Empire destroyed his village, hung the elders, and enslaved/killed the remaining villagers. Halcyon gives Taredd six days of rations and they point Taredd in the direction of a boondocks town called Fahorn.
 
Halcyon appreciates Rin's acceptance of Taredd and his magic ability. He still intends to keep his background and magic practice secret.
 
We happen upon a horde of 21 or so zombies. We decide to sneak around. Rin acts weird, but Halcyon and Thancred figure out that he is just covering up the casting of a spell (Pass without a trace). Halcyon is very impressed and wants to learn that spell. As the zombies get close enough, Rin throws oil on them and Thancred reacts with a fire spell that ignites the zombies. The remaining zombies wander towards the pile of burning corpses and they light up like festival-goers that get too close to Burning Man.
 
We have a meeting about magic among the party members. Faaron is strongly against magic and its use and Halcyon recognizes that her reasons are personal. Thancred, Halcyon, and Rin are pretty straighforward with Faaron and the group that they intend to use magic. Asphodel tell Faaron that she has seen good people die at the hands of the Empire because they disagreed with it.
 
During his nightwatch, Halcyon admires the beauty of the Empire and landscape and also takes notice that it is snowing in the mountains. That snow will likely make its way down to the valley. After his watch, Halcyon wakes up Asphodel to take watch. She wakes up Rin for his shift, and he sleeps through. No one else takes watch.
 
After four days of travel, we reach the crest of a mountain. We happen upon a well-lit wizard tower.
 
11/18/24
 
The day is Baraday, Mourim 39th.
 
Halcyon learns that Rin has a past in the military, which is where he likely learned music. Thancred lies about the fact that his magic is innate. Where did he learn it, then? Halcyon learns that Asphodel has had her magic as long as she can remember, maybe birth? Halycon confesses he was taught his magic. While talking with Rin, Halcyon notices the scars from burns and blades. Meanwhile, Faaron tunes out the conversation while reviewing her journal entries. Night watch goes well, despite everyone being too tired to stay awake during their watch.
 
Next day. We work together to get a vantage point on the base camp and plan a strategy for attacking. There is a front entrance with no guards. The building is climbable, probably. Rin, our appointed tactician, suggests stealth. The plan is to get a closer look first, keeping an eye open for traps, patrols, etc.
 
One of the bandits comes out, stumbling drunk, takes a piss and passes out in the snow. Rin and Thancred seize this opportunity to drag the body to the side of the tower and steal his clothes to disguise Thancred, a master actor. Thancred, alone, goes in to scout out the risk factor and maybe recon some. Thancred is able to talk a couple of bandits in to joining him outside, leading to an ambush by Faaron and Rin. Asphodel and Halcyon move in as well.
 
Halcyon is by himself on the third floor while everyone is downstairs outside surrounded by fire. There is a jug pouring oil into a barrel. The jug is endlessly pouring. The pyromancer is a fraud, not using spellcasting but the alchemy jug he found to "cast" fire.
 
Meanwhile, outside, Thancred is using Control Flame to stave the fire surrounded Faaron, Asphodel, Rin, and himself.
 
COMBAT
 
Halcyon uses intimidation and prestidigitation and mimicry to imitate a foghorn and make the three sober guard-bandits feel cold. In terror, they flee out the front door into the fire and die.
 
(we are in the middle of combat when we get back)
 
1/13/25
Mourim 40th.
 
Halcyon grabs the oil jug. Thancred calls the Pyromancer out for being a coward and fake. Somehow the oxygen is sucked out from the tower for a split second, and the pressure of this kills all but two bandits and the Pyromancer, who is trying to escape. An disembodied voice is heard and the second barrel goes through the same oxygen procedure, destroying all of the barrels. Thancred demonstrates skill in controlling fire with magic and Asphodel demonstrates her divine magic by blessing everyone.
 
Reminder: take pinkies for pay.
 
We are action heroes.
 
The party collects pinkies for pay. Asphodel goes to pray over the bodies and she alone sees one of the bandits, dead, turn its head and has diamonds in his eyes.
 
We hike back to our campsite. Thancred helps clean everyone off. We eat. Halcyon reveals the oil jug and shares his thoughts on it. Asphodel takes the jug and casts identify. It is an alchemy jug, so we can change the liquid under the circumstance that it reaches its maximum . . . output?
 
Long rest zzzzzzz
 
We go down the mountain. At the base of the mountain awaits the wooly rhinos. The wooly rhinos protect us while we travel through their territory. Three days of travel go by with no event. On the fourth day, Asphodel and Thancred notice a tall man jog towards us. His armor is extraordinarily ornate. He has a tatoo on his neck that goes down his back. He is bald and clean-shaven, but insanely handsome.In a low voice, Rin warns us that this man is dangerous. His name is Mohixidar. He is the emperor. He is calm and shows absolutely no weakness. He has been emperor for 70 years. Something strange the gemstones inlayed in his heirlooms. Emperor asks a favor of us: deliver a letter to a Centurion Damon Polsky on the way back to Taithe.
 
We hear the legion ahead, a thunderous march. They are in perfect unison. The man in the front is wearing prestigious armor, likely this is the centurion. We had him the letter from the emperor and he looks annoyed by the emperor's rush. He asks that we keep his loss of temperance unknown. The Empire is at war with the Ellonin, tinkerers, sailors, and farmers. The centurion informs us that they have been struggling with the Ellonin's new cannon invention.
 
We make it back to Taithe and it is, for the most part, how we left it. We return to Subsidiis Hadmyr, who pays us. Halcyon makes 5 gold, and is blown away. What a payload!
 
Halcyon and Thancred goes to pay their respects to Leroy. Halcyon's dad shows up and invites us over to clean up. It is a bird bath. After cleaning up, Halcyon and Thancred hang out at Halcyon's parents'.
 
The group reconvenes at the tavern. Rin tells us that he is going to depart, but we share in a cup of tea first.
 
Halcyon writes his story, laced with hot propaganda in favor of the Empire and its politics. Barnug, the Imperial Press guy, takes my article, says its good, I'm hired, pays me 12 silver. For the time being, in the article, our party is referred to as Pyre's Bane.
 
Halcyon heads back to the tavern. Faaron tells us that she too is leaving the party. Halcyon will probably still see her or hear of her seeing as they both work for the Imperial Press. Halcyon stays with his parents tonight. Home sweet home.
 
1/20/25
 
4th of Rendi. It is crisp, freezing weather. A Baraday (like a Monday).
 
No cool dreams. Wake up.
 
Halcyon's first article will be released in the paper today. The story is a bit hyperbolized and altered slightly to glorify the empire. The paper introduces the party as Pyre's Bane. The trio will probably come up with a new party name.
 
Thancred, Asphodel, and Halcyon meet in the morning at a table in the tavern. Olfin, the barkeep and owner, checks on us. While bragging about our success to Olfin, Halcyon notices a piece of paper sticking out of his journal that he didn't put there. Halcyon opens it, it doesn't say who its from, don't know how it got there, but it says; "With a view of life giving death, you can learn. Listen to the morning Herald before Havrim takes the cold, a leap of faith earns safe passage to knowledge. " Halcyon believes this is from Ghost or one of his associates in the Hooded Heralds. We deduce that the letter advised to take action before the spring solstice. Halcyon writes three letters, one to his cousins to convince them to visit Tathe, another to Ghost for clarity on the Hooded Heralds, and one to Paint Drop, Halcyon's girlfriend. It is a silver to mail each. Apparently it is an extra 5g to deliver to travelling persons. Asphodel asks Halcyon to show her the way to go about mailing letters. Asphodel and Halcyon get their business done at the post office; the courier on the clock is a gnome.
 
After errands, the trio agrees to check out the library next to the bakery. We check out the smut section. Some religions are sanctioned by the empire (usually ones that relate to might and material), but some religions that exist are not found in the empire.
 
Old lady elf librarian assists Halcyon in finding old religious texts and tells him that she remember when magic was everywhere. She provides me three books: Chapter 12 in one, 17 in the second, and 19 in the third. She seems very helpful and might be an ally in the future? It takes Halcyon eight hours to study. First book: recounts early/ancient (even primordials) civilizations that inhabited this land, some primordials killed off, but some served as guardians for some people. Next book: someone's journey searching for primordials, a few thousand years ago, found up to 14, mentions Tathe and their guardian of their fields. Final book: written a couple hundred years ago, around the founding of the Xiddaran Empire, writer mourning over the new laws and removal? of their guardian.
 
We go to the bakery. There is a couple there, a woman with pink hair and a super muscular dude (inspired by Josh and Kat). The man brings out a spectacular (cute) cupcake. We split it between the three of us and it is phenomenal. We have small talk. Thancred dramatically announces that we need to leave, so we head back to the tavern. He was just wanting to preserve Asphodel's innocence and purity. Thancred also shares that he overheard guards claiming that the Pyromancer is still alive. Could that rumor be true? Did we kill the wrong guy?
 
Olfin tells us that every town has a job-board. We'll check that out next time. It is late evening.
 
2/10/25
 
Olfin, the bartend, directs us towards Subsidiis Hadmyr for work. Thancred asks about Asphodel's religions, and we learn that she worships the god of the forge. We got to bed, get full rest, and no dreams. We eat breakfast and head out to the city square to check the job board out. We get to the square, which is busy and having farmer's market.
 
At the top of the board, MATERIAL COLLECTION - rare ingredient needed (pay is 1g per vial) by Olfin. MILITARY SUPPLIES MISSING. pay discussed upon return of goods. 3- DANGEROUS CREATURE; something killing a herd 50 silver - Aunti Jessabel. 4- MISSING PERSON owes someone money, no identification.
 
We agree to see Hadmyr about the second and fourth jobs. He has no information the napkin job (4th) except that the napkin likely came from Olfin's bar. The weapons stolen were from the elven city. All that is known is that it was one of the largest shipments for armaments and rations. Hadmyr informs us that the freight was moving from the elven city Falwe- Eir to the battlefront that is south of the White Glades, which is past Fahorn and where an indigenous and dangerous wood elf peoples reside. We ask Olfin about the job he has for rare ingredients. Species of slug deep in the spire (?), slime from those slugs said to taste good. The slime is valuable, but Thancred made a suggestion to bring back the slugs for breeding and raising. Thancred is determined to find out more about the missing person.
 
We decide to prioritize Hadmyr's job and look for the stolen military freight. It will be about two weeks journey, so we need to stock up on supplies in preparation. The trip will take up by the mountain the pyromancer was based, but we'll make a different turn there.
 
Thancred learns that the missing person is likely in another town, Bywell.
 
Because of our financial shortcomings, we opt for the only feasible job - the one Aunt Jessabel is offering concerning the livestock being picked off by some creature. We go to her farm. She invites us in, an elderly gnome that lives by herself. So sturdy and stout that she almost seems like a dwarf. Rough hands. We wait on her to finish her breakfast. She has a rifle she calls Bessie. We follow her outside, she summons a goat, mounts it, and rides. Near the edge of her fence line, we come upon an eviscerated goat.
 
Thancred can deteremine upon studying the corpse that whatever killed it played with their food. Thancred has a sneaking suspicious that maybe this creature is NOT from this plane. Asphodel knows of certain types of devils that might kill like this, but it would need a ritual/rite to eat this. If so, we can kill it with radiant damage or banish it. We follow Asphodel while she tracks it to a cave. There is a blood trail that stands out from the other blood trails made by the slain goats. We found it in the middle of bones and carcasses, eating. By the flash of light from Asphodel's Guiding Bolt spell we can see that the Barbed Devil is injured.
 
Devil throws fire at Halcyon, catching feathers and cloak on fire. Thancred puts out the fire with magic. Thancred is the BEST! Asphodel is being the GOAT, but she goes down from tanking too much damage. Halcyon picks her up with Healing Word, saying "butch up!" Asphodel disintegrates the top half of the demon. Asphodel notices a summoning circle or something like it. Halcyon recalls a cult that attempted to summon demons and devils, mostly failures and wannabes; occasionally heard they were actually successful. We investigate the cave and find: a coin purse with 18 gold.
 
3/3/25
 
We report to Auntie Jessabel and inform her that the devil in the den is dead. She pays us the silver pieces. Healing word "You'll be okay" to Asphodel and we go to the inn to turn in. We opt to stay at Halcyon's parents to save money. It is allowed by Whale Song.
 
Next morning, it is very cold. Oatmeal for breakfast. We split the 50 silver.
 
We go to see Olfin at the inn. He tells us the slugs are hidden. Rumor has it that the mountains housed an ancient civilization that is no more. Along a path that way is a monastery where the slugs are being fed a special diet. Find monastery, convince them to let us take some slime (or purchase), and get back here. About a 3 day journey to mountain pass, 2 more days to the monastery. Will probably need climbing supplies. We buy rations and supplies and head west to our destination.
 
The three of us have a conversation about gods, magic, and the Empire as a bully.
 
There is a goblin figure ahead, widdling. Thancred might be a racist. Goblin has a name, Tin. She is a truth-seeker and a thief for hire. She seems a bit suspicious. We huddle up to discuss if we can trust her, and we decide to invite her along and keep a close watch. She starts a fire for us, using the carving she crafted of the emperor. She told us that she left her group of thieves because she was sick of them and the best among them. She is confident they'll never find her. She tells us that she was a part of the stealth unit in the military, but abandoned her duty. We tell her that we are getting beer slugs. Dyjun monks reside in the monastery, they are not necessary aggressive but will show no mercy either; if we make the pass, we will earn their respect and they will welcome us. If we fail, they will likely give no quarter. She tells us she is travelling to a nearby city, Tamda. If we go to the local tavern there and pay for a beer with the silver coin given to Asphodel, the barkeep will inform us of Tin's whereabouts. After our conversation, she goes to sleep. Asphodel takes first watch. After her watch, Tin the goblin thief leaves. Halcyon's watch, plays some lute softly, while Asphodel is praying before she sleeps, everything seems brighter and the moon seems to center its light on her. Halcyon doesn't know why she is praying, but suspects that she wasn't praying to make that happen and doesn't know that the light shone on her. This moment will definitely stick with Halcyon. Thancred's watch. Next day, we make our way out and the party doesn't converse much. Halcyon has a bit to meditate and reflect on. Thancred is enjoying the silence. Finally!
 
We come to a steep cliff and need to climb it. Halcyon casts Reduce on Thancred so Asphodel can carry him. We manage to get to the stop and the rest of the eight hours of travel go by smoothly. We happen upon a staircase made of stone, etched into the cliffside. We see harpies, homunculai, and hookhorrors. When we get to the top of the stairs, we need to sneak by a harpy nest. Halcyon casts Reduce on Asphodel and inspires Thancred Bardically to be sneaky. We get by, and it was tense. We through the door at the end of the crescent shaped path. The next few hours are majestically scenic; a beautiful menagerie of nature and carved stone. How old could this place be?
 
We come to a bridge that is extremely dilapidated; on the other side, a building covered in moss and a "garden" kept immaculate. The ravine beneath the bridge is at least 400 feet across and 700 feet deep-- too far for our rope to reach. Thancred notices some leather contraptions - its 3 gliders. Asphodel gets them set up and we must make a leap of faith to get across the ravine. Thancred and Halcyon are hesitant, possessing very little faith. Asphodel glides across the sky with grace. After much worry and trouble, we finally land at the very precipice of the cliff safely.
 
Monk greets us and asks why we are here.
 
4/7/25
 
Black dragonborn man approaches us, elderly, comes to welcome us. Tells us he can't touch us. They are known as The Order of The Gardens. Emaculate, beautiful, temperate, etc. Told to cleanse in the waterfall before we mingle with the monks. We cross a bridge. A sign says "beware of bats and goblins" looks like it has been here a while. There are holes in the mountain face that were made by hookhorrors. Many are hanging on the cliffside, sleeping. Ahead of us is another spiral mountain, the water is flowing in a way the defies physics and seems not to flow at all, hence the name "Still Waterfall." Standing in the middle of the pool is a greatly obscured red-haired woman with fox ears. Asphodel blushes because of the nude fox-girl. Olko is name of elder dragonborn and Ekha is tall fox-girl. Warns us of a bat gang - three goblins riding a bat. We begin our cleansing, Asphodel doffs armor but keeps clothing on, Halycon and Thancred strip to their skivvies. Cleansing is an extremely pleasant feeling. Halcyon feels good -- more full - temporary extra 1st level spell slot. Halcyon looks at Thancred and its strange, but Thancred seems like he has gained 30 pounds in muscle. The experience is unlike any before - memorable - we feel on top of the world. The goblin gang shows up, towards us on the bridge. COMBAT!
 
Thancred runs up and casts burning hands. Halcyon inspires Thancred bardically and tries to use dissonant whispers on batrider. Halcyon gets picked up by bat 10 feet in the air. Asphodel casts guiding bolt on the bat. Jimmy (batrider) throws a spear at me. It misses. The second doesn't. The bat starts flapping its wings, trying to knock us off bridge. Bat brutally bites and shakes Halcyon. HALCYON GOES DOWN FOR FIRST TIME. ASPHODEL REVIVES HALCYON with cure wounds and uses her spiritual weapon (blacksmith hammer) to crush the bat. It died. Thancred goes down. His first time going down. Asphodel picks Thancred up with healing. Halcyon goes down again. Thancred pulls out his book of shadows - the pages are fire, but Halcyon doesn't see it because he is down. Halcyon healed and up. Asphodel goes down (all three of us have gone down - probably the hardest fight we've encountered with just us three). Our fox friend Ekha shows up, and she has three fox tails that were not there before. Halcyon goes down again, for the third time. Asphodel knocks the last goblin out with her spiritual hammer. We return to the temple. They feed us and booze us up. The food heals us and we feel the wounds close up. Ekha tells us she is the Head Gardener during dinner and invites us for a tour. The food was so magical and healing that it fully rested us. We also LEVEL UP!
 
There are very large pelts on the wall, some 10 to 15 feet long and 10 feet wide. Ekha opens up a path magically with glowing runes on her hands. Tiny island displayed on a table - but alive, t-rex stomping around on it. Also, slugs, armored up and equipped, attack the t -rex and drag it off. We need to enter the "game" on the table so we can harvest the slime from the slugs. Ekha warns us of more t-rexes. To enter the game, we must go through the water closet. The Spy Kids Jurassic Park Narnia bathroom door. This is the largest garden in the world. A giant slug comes up to us and says "hey!"
 
4/14/25
 
We enter the Largest Garden, aka LG. A slug greets us, we ask him for slime, he tells us that it comes from his mom and so now he is leading us to her. He tells us that she lives in a castle up on the hill - the queen. We decide that the slug is too slow, and we go on ahead of it, Thancred leading us. He gets us lost. We meet a raptor, her name is Silver, wears goggles, and it is intelligent/sentient. Asphodel follows/worships Ten-darr (dwarven god of the forge). Asphodel points out that we should hear out the slugs and that the situation is under Ekha's authority/management. We leave the raptor. We find a stream and follow it upstream. We find the castle, which is up on a mountain behind a clearing. The sun is starting to set (closer inspection reveals that Ekha is moving a lantern from hook to hook, emulating a sun). We reach the village - standard homes, up to date and immaculate. They seem pretty inefficient and slow and dull. A slug greets us and offers us a ride to the queen - he is actually our walking speed so we hop on. Thancred learns about the slugs - that they built nothing. The Queen greets us, she is called Queen Slarah. She wants us to hunt a t rex and eat it. We agree to help in the morning and she offers us a place to stay the night. We rendezvous and conspire on a method for instilling existential fear in the slug queen. Asphodel has a few ideas, but promotes this: torturing the slug by tearing pieces of it off - mutilation. We make an agreement with a compy dinosaur that snuck into our window, and we agree to help the dinosaurs make the salt sling because they lack thumbs. They don't want to kill the queen slug because the slugs steward the biome, but they do want to reduce the queen slug to size with salt. Albeit cruel, the least cruel option available. It is "night" now. Asphodel, while sneaking out, notices that the queen slug does not secrete any slime while sleeping unless she has eaten. After praying, Asphodel enters our room. We agree to sneak out together and head south to meet with the dinosaurs. Asphodel leads the way with confidence and competence. The dinosaur queen is Queen Rexanne. Yeah. We bump into Silver. Thancred actually apologizes with genuine remorse. Silver leads us to Rexanne down a cave tunnel. Leaning over a battlemap table stands Rexanne. We show thumbs, they all gasp, and they bring out the blueprints for the slings. The slings are constructed, tested, and now we must retrieve salt from the salt mines that the slugs drove the dinosaurs away from long ago. We follow the dinosaurs as we head to the salt mines for battle.
 
4/28/25
 
Battlemap key: circles represent dinosaur habitat, slug kingdom, and salt mines respectively. The triangles represent mountains. Features turn-based gameplay where we lead the dinosaurs into combat - this is WAR! Rexanne, 8 medium dinos, and 12 raptors (can mount and is fast). Halcyon gives a thrilling speech. Silver approaches us and wants to discuss a battle plan. Thancred, Asphodel, and Halcyon will be the generals, they strongly encourage our use of magic. One of the mountains is a smoking pipe (giant from our perspective).
 
Rexanne moves 1 tile; use d12
med dinos move 2; d8
raptors move 3; d6
 
Plan is to 1) deathball (2) split into three groups (3) Thancred group goes for pipe mountain (4) Asphodel and Halcyon will lead two different groups to assault the salt mines from two flanks. Asphodel will have Rexanne, 2 meds, and 4 raptors; Thancred and Halcyon will both lead 3 meds and 4 raptors respectively. The 'last resort' shot will go with Halcyon's group, because he is going to the salt mines. Asphodel is going to hold off the slugs. Thancred will gun for the pip mountain, to recapitulate.
 
Halcyon 3 med 3 raptors attack 36
Thancred 3 med 4 raptors attack 48
Asphodel 1 rex 2 med 4 raptors attack 52
 
Halcyon snowballs a giant slug with the 'last resort' shot and beelines for the salt mines. Thancred lights the contents of the bowl aflame with magic and hits the pipe, summoning a league of smoke dinos.
 
We win! The queen slug slimes a bunch, but her life is spared. So much slime to collect.
 
Thancred really hates this mini garden place and can't wait to leave.
 
We leave the table and into the bathroom closet. We all have to pee really badly immediately.
 
Why didn't we just leave and come back with a salt shaker? '-i-'
 
Ekha taught Halcyon Enlarge/Reduce.
 
As we leave the monastery, Ekha points us to the safe path downstairs. We make camp.
 
Thancred confesses "I killed Old Man Jenkins. Since I was little, I suffered muscular atrophy. Thus, I made a pact, without knowing it was a pact, that grants him the strength to survive. In order to benefit from the strength, Thancred has to kill someone that has 'the mark.' The one person that Thancred didn't kill out of compassion, that person turned out to be murderous and killed their family."
 
Thancred claims that he believes all who are marked are bad/evil people. The first marked victim was his father, which he swears was a bad man - drunkard. At first it was a few years, but now he needs to obey calling of the mark every two weeks or so. Thancred was eight when he made the pact.
 
Asphodel admits she has secrets and shows Thancred understanding.
 
Asphodel asks Halcyon why he want to work for the press, despite being a musician/magician. He spills all the beans, full backstory.
 
Asphodel does not know her age. (she looks to be in her mid-20s). Raised to worship the goddesses Diyas (daytime) and Navith (cycle of the moon), but only openly worships the dwarven god of the forge, Ten'dar. Ten'dar is the only acceptable god according the Imperial culture, but Asphodel does worship the other two goddesses.
 
In the eyes of the Empire, Halcyon is treasonous, Asphodel is a heretic, and Thancred is a homicidal maniac who made a pact.
 
5/5/25
 
"With a view of life-giving death, you can learn. Listen to the morning Herald before Havrim takes the cold, a leap of faith earns safe passage to knowledge. "
 
Up ahead, Asphodel and Halcyon notice a gnoll riding an elk followed by three giant hyenas. With a history check, Halcyon recalls that gnolls travel in packs and worship evil gods or devils; they also sacrifice people to their gods. We agree to get off the road out of its way and hope to avoid confrontation. He goes by and things play out smoothly; no combat.
 
First night of camp on the way back to Tathe; Halcyon's watch: sees nothing, nothing at all. Thancred watches next, followed by Asphodel. One moon is pale, like our moon. The other has a bluish tint. They are called Luna and Ravir. No manticores.
 
We continue down the road. There is a goblin traveler down the road; he looks like a puppeteer. Thancred asks if he knows magic. He says, "no," but Asphodel sees through his lies. Halcyon's volunteers and the goblin pulls out some strings and magically attaches them to Halcyon, of whom is manipulated by the goblin puppeteer. Halcyon was aware, but had no autonomy over his actions. He informs us of "sniffers" which are made to find sources of magic or magic-users. We agree to keep anonymous.
 
At 5 in the evening, we see Tathe on the horizon. The biome is plains/rolling hills. As we head down the road, there is a very, very large man with a bloodied axe and a pair of bloodied boots behind him; a remnant of his last victim. Thancred determines that he will not show us mercy, and Asphodel wants to circumnavigate the threat. We try to sneak by, and step on a bird's nest. He sees us and responds by drawing his axe and chuckling menacingly. He is currently 70' away. He moves 30' closer, placing him 40' away. He tosses a javelin at Asphodel, but misses. We're fighting Orog. Asphodel makes the final blow. After Orog goes down, dead, Halcyon looks around; no one is around. Asphodel is demoralized when she kills the enemy, so Thancred tries to deceive her that he gave the final blow for the compassionate sake of preserving her innocence. We loot him: no money, but we find his wanted poster, dead or alive: 200 gold. We take his head. The closest city that will accept this bounty is Biwell.
 
We make it back to Tathe. We return to Olfin's bar, who welcomes us with excitement and free drinks. Halcyon is going to advertise Olfin's slug slime beer in the paper. We opt to rent a nice room on the third floor to treat ourselves and ensure the safety of the barrel. We're going to take turns watching the barrel overnight. We might be paranoid. Watch order: Asphodel, Thancred, then Halcyon. There is a note slid under the door from Olfin saying "meet me behind bar." We do so. In the room behind the bar is the brewery; barrels rotating and whatnot. We collected 538 vials of slime. He counts out 50 platinum and 48 gold pieces. Halcyon divides the money evenly, but favoring Asphodel since she carried the slime. He asks us to take the barrel to the warehouse down a couple of blocks.
 
We transport the slime to the warehouse (it weighs 50 lbs). The warehouse almost looks condemned/abandoned. Thancred knocks, and we hear a voice inside telling us to "come in." The crates and boxes are so abundant and stacked and sorted in such a way that we have to crawl through the spaces available. The steward is an eccentric goblin. We deliver the goods and move on. Asphodel casts gentle repose on the severed orc head.
 
We go to the library all day to research "life-giving death" what that phrase means. The guardian might be what is referred to. Halcyon learned all he can about guardians. The guardian was 150' tall and several tons, moss in the joints. But what happened to it? "Magic never left the Empire, kid." The guardian was slain. Tathe was built on it. Halcyon asks if there is anyway to right this wrong. She tells him to follow her. They go to the back of the library, past the reference books. She opens a secret compartment and hands Halcyon old manuscripts that she has protected all these years; they withhold the secrets of the guardians from the Empire. Halcyon pores over the documents: "Guardian was large and powerful, but gentle and good. It served as a vital source of magic and life. Its end is described as a murder; it never defended itself; took one week of constant siege onslaught to slay it." Halcyon is left in solemn reflection. It was the elder elf witnessed this and wrote the account. Only she has preserved the truth of the Empire and its atrocities; The Emperor is no doubt an evil man in Halcyon's eyes.
 
Thancred looks into deities and powerful beings that make pacts. Asphodel goes to the religious section as well, just to browse in hopes of discovering something new. No luck. We converge and leave the library. Asphodel hears Halcyon say "atonement," but Halcyon doesn't actually say anything. We go to eat dinner and ride out the remaining evening. Asphodel rooms by herself tonight.
 
5/26/25
 
"With a view of life-giving death, you can learn. Listen to the morning Herald before Havrim takes the cold, a leap of faith earns safe passage to knowledge. "
 
We have breakfast. Small talk. We hear light footsteps behind us; it is Tin. She has news she wants to share: "The magic sniffers are making their way to Tathe." As an adventuring party, according to Tin's opinion, we have drawn quite a bit of attention to ourselves. She estimates that we have four hours before the sniffers arrive. Before we leave Tathe, we head to library. It looks as though she has been busy researching into my riddle. She believes that the "view of life-giving death" would be a vantage point to see the remains of the guardian. The guardian used to go to Biwell to retrieve water from a waterfall there for the crops of Tathe, and suggests that the viewpoint would be Biwell. We take the NW road to Biwell out of Tathe. Tin wishes us luck from behind as we head out. Speaking of heads, we are carrying the head of that bounty that we can receive reward for in Biwell. Many birds, one stone.
 
On the road, again. On the second day of travel, two apes charge at us. One of the apes grapples Halcyon successfully. Pick on Halcyon day. Other ape comes up and punches at Halcyon. Thancred casts fire up on of their butts and they panic and run off. End of combat.
 
History of area: The Orostall Forest is infamously dangerous, rumors of fey creatures.
 
That following night: Asphodel is being led by her goddesses. Peace, prosperity, and freedom are for those who believe in the goddesses. Asphodel is on a mission to spread the belief in Mavith (night) and Diyas (day). Thancred is passed out drunk. Back home at Southsquall, Urabara would have been the most popular god to observe or worship. Asphodel trusts the goddesses and knows their direction according to signs, which she claims are quite obvious and trustworthy. We drift off to sleep, but maintaining routine watch.
 
Next day. Asphodel notices two giant hyenas and a two-headed deathhound. Combat ensues. Asphodel's spiritual weapon, a warhammer, is meant to represent the god of the forge Tendarr, but glows with a moonlight radiance. Thancred obliterates the deathhound. The two hyenas run off. Combat ends. At the end of the day, we reach the edge of Orostall Forest.
 
Day four. A sign reads, "enter at your own risk; this is the beast realm" at the entrance of the forest. A couple of Imperial soldiers are here about the sign; I guess it was illegal for whoever to put the sign up. Halcyon casts prestidigitation to make the party smell like skunks. At night, Asphodel takes first watch. Asphodel wakes us up and alerts us to something that is walking around with heavy footsteps. Halcyon catches a glimpse of something with a black-and-white pattern, it's a cow. Thancred asks it if it is a normal cow, it answers "yes" and then vanishes in thin air. The rest of the night is uneventful.
 
Day five. So far, so good. We come across a clearing that looks to be used as a camp by the Imperial soldiers. The captain and some entourage approach us, the captains says, "Hold there! What business do you have coming through these woods?" Thancred answers with the truth, telling them of our bounty. Halcyon is proud of Thancred for being honest. Captain tells us there is a fee to pass, but Halcyon can tell he is lying. As this conversation goes on, the soldiers surround us. They are actually bandits and combat begins. We are getting our asses kicked, so we try to escape by a broken bridge. One of the bandits, Billy, has been persuaded to help us by Halcyon's threats and Thancred's pleading. Go Billy! We all make it across the broken bridge, escaping the dire situation. We get away, but are far off the beaten path.
 
Billy's name is actually Thomas. Thomas gives Thancred a health potion. We rest for the night, with watches. We have two options: (1) go down the road Thomas knows back toward Tathe and fight the rest of the bandits or (2) float the river to Biwell using a makeshift raft and sailing experience of both Halcyon and Thomas.
 
Thomas is a poor orphan from Tanda, his parents went on a voyage to Siriville some ten years ago. We ask Thomas to join us permanently. He is cool with it. Thancred has us all sign his book so he can cast "sending" to us.
 
We sneak up to the bandit camp instead. Thomas readies his crossbow; Halcyon uses mage hand to steal the bandit captain's scimitar; Thancred throws a fireball; Asphodel casts darkness. VERY COOL START TO COMBAT! Redemption arc!
 
We win! Bandit loot:
 
A Worn Imperial Signet Ring – Clearly stolen, possibly linked to a noble family. Could be used for deception or as a bargaining chip.,
Small Jeweled Dagger – Functional but more decorative than practical, set with a cheap ruby-like stone. Worth around 25 gp.,
Folded Letter with a Wax Seal (Broken) – Half-charred at the edges, detailing a planned smuggling route through the region. Might hint at a bigger operation.,
Bag of Rare Spices (Worth 10 gp) – From distant lands, likely stolen from a merchant. Could be sold or gifted for favor.,
Locked Iron Strongbox (Heavy, DC 15 to Pick or Break) – Contains 20 gp, 5 silver trinkets, and a handwritten list of names (potential bounty targets or informants).,
 
Loot in Their Campsite (If Players Investigate)
 
Rolls of Fine Fabric (Worth 30 gp) – Expensive, likely from a merchant caravan, still wrapped in trade markings.,
Wooden Dice Set with Carved Bandit Markings – Potentially useful for gambling or identifying their gang.,
Tattered Map of the Region – Some landmarks have symbols, possibly indicating bandit hideouts or points of interest.,
Crate of Unmarked Bottles – Alcohol of questionable quality, could be sold or used for deception (poison-like appearance).
 
We make it out of the forest; this area of the Empire is very safe (except for us magic-users). We make it to the city of Biwell.
 
Biwell: guards and soldiers are everywhere, very busy place.
 
Halcyon contemplates the riddle; where in this town might he find the view of "life-giving death." We turn in the head, gaining 200 gold in the bounty. Thancred goes off to do his vampire thing. Halcyon knows that he needs to be present for the morning news. Asphodel and Halcyon go to the part of town, on the cliffside, where I can see the outline of a giant creature around what is Tathe. The morning news: there is a code in his message that comes together to say "use the spell and find a way". The spell is feather fall. Halcyon figures out that he need to jump off the cliff down the waterfall. Halcyon does it, he runs up, jumps off, and casts Feather Fall. As he is falling, a rope comes out of the waterfall and grapples Halcyon, pulling him into the secret enclave of the Hooded Heralds that hides behind the waterfall.
 
The party is currently split.