Session 31: The Festival of Ash and Ember

General Summary

Touchdown in Stonemantle

We touched down in Stonemantle right in the thick of the Festival of Ash and Ember. The city was alight with celebration, the air rich with the scent of spiced mead, smoke, and molten metal. Our first encounter was with the poor, bedraggled dockmaster—clearly overwhelmed by the influx of festival-goers and perhaps already regretting his career choice. After some humorous confusion (and no small amount of Dulb-induced exasperation), we quickly set off to find the festival grounds.

Swinging and Wrestling at the Anvil's Call

Straight into the action, we joined the Anvil’s Call challenge, eager to prove ourselves worthy of the Eternal Flame. The rules were clear: earn individual victories in at least three events, and the honor of basking in the sacred flame was yours. Easy, right?
Warby, Dulb, Sunny, and Goq each took their turns swinging a hammer that was far too big for most people, navigating a gauntlet of magma and flaming bursts, each adding their own theatrical flair. Warby, of course, had to finish things off by wrestling Sunny—resulting in a spectacular grappling match that ended with Warby as the triumphant, if slightly singed, winner.

Ember Chase: Flight, Fire, and Dulb's Dubious Diplomacy

Next was the Ember Chase—an aerial race so intense even Chungle was thrown off his game, quite literally gripping the ship's railing in pure terror as Goq started pulling hairpin maneuvers. We split up into two teams: Warby and Crown raced alongside us, expertly riding the rising heat currents while dodging fiery specters conjured by the competing Ashen Riders.
Meanwhile, our team took a far less elegant but equally thrilling route. Sunny, deciding that gravity was more of a suggestion, sprinted across flowing magma for a brief, miraculous moment. Dulb, not to be outdone, made a strategic (and probably illegal) bribe to an arbiter, causing several suspiciously inaccurate "accidental" boulders to harmlessly miss us. When it came to the final vertical ascent up the cliff face, Goq threw the skiff into overdrive. Our ship shot upward in a blaze of mag-duct glory, just barely edging out Warby and Crown for a neck-and-neck finish, much to the crowd’s wild delight.

Sunny's Domination at Iron and Ember

The Iron and Ember challenge was next—a straightforward martial bout. Sunny stepped confidently into the ring and absolutely demolished the reigning champion with such casual ease it was almost embarrassing. It seemed less of a fight and more a showcase of Sunny’s prowess, the crowd roaring its approval at his decisive victory.

Crafting Chaos at the Forgewright's Gambit

Ah, the Forgewright’s Gambit. What began as a noble competition of skill quickly descended into utter comedic chaos. Warby worked diligently, repairing whatever he could with a frantic wave of his mending wand. Meanwhile, Sunny gleefully ignited things at random intervals. Dulb, perhaps bored or maybe just feeling mischievous, spent the entire event secretly sabotaging Warby's workspace by hiding tools and materials.
Yet despite the antics (or perhaps because of them), Goq remained utterly focused. With clockwork precision (quite literally), he crafted and repaired contraptions that dazzled the judges. The audience and arbiters agreed wholeheartedly—this round belonged to Goq.

Tallying Up Before the Final Challenge

At this point, the scoreboard was clear: Dulb and Warby each had one victory, while Sunny and Goq led with two apiece. The tension was palpable as we prepared for the festival’s crowning event—the legendary Blazing Gauntlet.

Entering the Infamous Blazing Gauntlet

We descended into the fiery depths of the Gauntlet, only to discover, somewhat unpleasantly, that we weren’t alone. Three other teams—the proud Flameborn, the confident Ashwinds, and the irritatingly smug Daggerbrands—had already formed alliances. The first two groups gave us respectful, if wary, nods. The Daggerbrands, however, seemed intent on making enemies, casting sneering glances and ominous glares as we prepared.
The moment the gates opened, everyone surged forward, scattering into the labyrinthine inferno. Hearts raced, adrenaline surged, and the promise of glory beckoned us onward—though judging by the Daggerbrands’ looks, so did trouble.
Sera

Campaign

The New Dawnbreakers

Protagonists

Sunny Grannach

Brazen White Bulb Conquering Red Blossom

Dulb the Deckhand

Dulb's sheet

Level 13 Swashbuckler.

Health

/

Goq-Ixai

Report Date

29 Mar 2025