Captain Meklan (/ˈkæp.tən ˈmɛk.lɑːn/)
Grognard is the "personality" of Captain Meklan as he got older and took over the parentage of Bastion Bladesinger. For details on his time as Grognard check out that page. Yes it may get confusing or seem conflictory, but so was much of his life once he met Jeriah Chronos.
You see a tall, slightly pale man with long brown hair, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a cloak that seems to ripple with magical energy. His brown eyes glitter with intelligence and mischief, and his wry smile hints at untold stories of daring adventures. This is Captain Meklan, the Wizard who has shaped the fate of the Universe.
Captain Meklan is a cunning and intelligent man, with a mischievous side. He is clever and quick-witted, with an air of authority and confidence. He is often seen with a wry smile and an unspoken joke in his eyes
I will do whatever it takes to complete my goals, no matter the cost
My adopted son, Bastion, and my former adventuring companions are the closest bonds I have in this world
I can be too reckless and I often underestimate the consequences of my actions
Background
Captain Meklan is a Wizard and an adventurer, with a long history of time-traveling and leading a band of marauders. He first started adventuring when a Tabaxi gave him a Gold coin and he entered The Yawning Portal. In time he met Jeriah Chronos who was mastering time travel magic. They adventured and Meklan started the Meklan Marauders that ended up stopping the Slumbering Dragon from destroying the Universe. He then did more time travel and adventures. Later in life he adopted Bastion and taught him magic. Before that though he spent some time in the Bronze Canyon telling his tales to Barlo, the Tabaxi who would grow up to be the one that inspired Meklan's adventuresAppearance
Captain Meklan is a tall, slightly pale man with slightly reddish skin and long brown hair. He has a strong build, and wears a long, hooded cloak and a wide-brimmed hat. His brown eyes glitter with intelligence and a hint of mischiefSpeaking Style
Captain Meklan has a deep, resonant voice with a hint of a breathy, raspy quality. He speaks in a measured, deliberate cadence, and often uses archaic words or phrases. He has a fondness for puns and wordplayNot much is known about Captain Meklan, but his name came up when The Mighty Menagerie found the Adventurer Class Airship which claimed he was the last pilot. The last captain of the Adventurer Class Airship according to the records per the tricorn. It's reasonable to assume he had possession of the 333 Gems of Tharizdun that Bast took. He also probably was part of the team that worked with the Archfey of the Feywild to kill the evil Archfey who was devoted to Tharizdun. The party learned this in Session 25: Tharizdun Report.
Wild Card Notes
Session 00: Backstories Report - Bastion "Bladesinger":
They talked and Grognard saw his boy in the visage of Bastion. He took him in as a surrogate and helped train him in the ways of magic. The kid liked the magic, but he really loved the swords. He grew up in a village near the Dyrt Knight Academies and so he looked up to the knights. He had a journal from his mother which went on about the bravery of his father, a knight and how they met. She was a Wizard who had worked with a king. They fell in love, and kept a secret. A secret that was hard to keep when she got pregnant. She had to leave and so they settled in this town where the knight became a notable blacksmith in the town. Then a plague hit the area and the young boy was left alone. Until Grognard found him. He then spent his formative years with Grognard getting better with his magic, practicing his swordplay when in private, and learning of the world as they traveled. Grognard never really went too much into what he was looking for, but there were times his Shield came down and the boy picked up pieces about some woman he loved and a boy they had. It seemed as if Grognard was seeking them or trying to find some way to help them. Grognard sent him to a school, the Grand University of Mysthaven in Towekind and that was where he learned the ways of the Sage and excelled in his magecraft. He researched more about the bladesinging and learned of how the best were from Huyla. He also found a book that went into how one of the best bladesingers, whose name was lost to the winds of time and yet he is remembered because he crafted a great relic. “Whistler ”, a Dancing Sword unlike any other. After that day he would hear a voice in his head from time to time “Find me young Bladesinger – I am Whistler and I can help you.” After he was done with his schooling he went back to Grognard . At some point they discussed his fascination with the bladesinging and for some reason Grognard blew up and they fought. He left Grognard at the library and went on his own. He planned to go to Hulla-Putyor to see if he could find an Elf to teach him more of the bladesinging. He also sought to find out more about this Whistler .Session 00: Backstories Report - Barlo:
Age 7: befriended Teeka (a Goblin), we become infatuated with an adventurer who lived nearby, later it was learned how this was Grognard, and want to spend most of their time with him.Session 06: Return to the Crypts Report
Bastion Bladesinger got a "message" from his mentor, Grognard who was checking in on him.Session 22: The Elder of the Vale Report:
The party is having breakfast and Barlo notices a young guy at the mouth of the portal. He talks about a girl he likes and is thinking of going in to impress her. Barlo tries to persuade him to enter, even giving him the Gold. The guy goes down.Note:
Later it is learned that this adventurer may have been a young Meklan about to start his adventuring days...Session 25: Tharizdun Report:
Bastion Bladesinger puts the Basalt's Magic Ball in the receptacle and nothing happens. Arktos is in the lifeboat. Now Bastion Bladesinger gets the hat’s intel. It also “tells” him how the bars coming out of the wheel is how it goes up or down. You pull out the bars to go up, and push them back in to lower the height. It does notify him that a Mythallar of small size can power the ship, the last item was an unknown artifact. The last Captain was Captain Meklan.Note:
There was a band of adventurers who helped trap the Archfey, but left their ship here... Captain Meklan?Session 26: The Ziggurat of Tharizdun Report:
Shadow in the Snow then asked if Bastion Bladesinger knew the guys who had just shown up. She pointed out how one of them had the same Brooch he had. The silent one who didn't hand over the Ring is the one with the brooch. It was a gift from his mother, but he doesn't remember much about his parents since they died when he was so young. Calliope Galanodel asks if she can touch it. After he touches the Brooch, she learns the Brooch came from his mother, but before then, it belonged to an adventurer named Grognard -- who was Friends to the parents. He has a long history, but not much really came through. He had given it to Bastion Bladesinger's mom to protect her, and she gave it to the son to protect him. Thanks to her Glove. (sic..) Barlo: "How do you know Grognard?" Calliope Galanodel: "That's just what the brooch told me; what's he to you?" Barlo: "No one important, but how do you know him?" Calliope Galanodel: "It's just what it told me; I don't know him." Bastion Bladesinger: "Grognard is the guy who took me in." Barlo: "How long ago was that?" Bastion Bladesinger: "When I was a boy. How do you know Grognard?" Barlo: "I used to go to his place and listen to stories. He would tell us these crazy stories. They were great to listen to." Bastion Bladesinger is 26, Barlo is 40, so it is very possible that this is the same Grognard who Barlo knew that would later take care of Bastion Bladesinger. As they describe the person, it does seem like that the Grognard Bastion Bladesinger he knew was possibly an older version of the same person. Shadow in the Snow: "What kinds of stories?" Barlo: "Adventuring stories. Stories of flying in the stars. Typical adventuring stories. Slaying dragons. Taking to the skies and fighting harpies and attacking The Moons. He was a very good storyteller. I don't know how true they were."Session 31: Stop Hitting Yourself Report:
The party got Journal of Grognard, Meenlock Caves opened and a music began to play softly before it quickly stopped. this is a Wizard's book and the sigil is of Grognard. The Journal of Grognard, Meenlock Caves has a latch. Barlo picks the lock and then when he finally gets it to click, he hears some strange tune play in the air. Bastion rumminates on how best to learn more about this item. He is sure if a Wizard of merit, or Grognard himself, was here it would be no problem. Examining it he knows this is a protected book for a Wizard of some sort. These can tend to be magically and mechanically trapped. He attempts to Identify it -- not magical, persay. It does have some elements of magic though, but nothing that the Identify spell can discern. He also sees the sigil he identifies as being that for Grognard. He also thinks of the melody, is it a song he remembers Grognard singing? (sic...) Bastion starts going over ways to reach Grognard. He realizes he can't use the Scroll of Telescription as he is on another plane. He doesn't have a Message spell or similar magic. He writes a note that he needs to get a hold of Grognard and puts it in the Enderbox. They mystical shadow that usually exists on the bottom of the box is gone. Probably also because of them being on another plane. He tries the Scroll of Telescription anyways, also no luck. So, Barlo picks the lock again, and as the melody begins, Calliope finishes the tune. Barlo doesn't recall how these sheets got into his possession, only remembers that he has had them for a long time.Session 35: Lost Time Report:
Letter from Grognard to Barlo, 2022 07 30 Letter from Grognard to Bastion, 2022 07 30Session 40: Beneath River's Keep Report:
The party asked something else... Jacoby (actually a simulacrum): "That book was put together with the efforts of Captain Meklan and Jeriah Chronos to hide their secrets. The secrets in there are something your little minds would never understand.Note:
Learned that Captain Meklan and Jeriah Chronos made the Journal of Grognard, Meenlock Caves to hide secrets.Session 41: At Jacoby's Hideout Report:
Shadow: "Calliope, have you ever touched the book?" Calliope: " I don't. I, I, I know I didn't. That's a good idea. Sas are you okay if I touch the book?" She starts to see flashes, the Two Obelisk Strangers They are the ones who wrote this book and they put in secrets and spells. Jeriah Chronos and Captain Meklan (Grognard). They spent many years putting this book together. She sees Sas's father on a beach, with Meklan telling him he needs to go into hiding. There is a vision of the Metal pieces being inserted in Solec's shell and then they damage his shell. Tabletalk about Meklan & SigilNote:
There was a bit of table talk to clear up the Confusion here a bit. The sigil was the Metal pieces which were damaged so that they would be unusable unless a Mending was cast. He had his memory wiped and he went to become a slave. Meklan is Grognard and he used to travel in time with Jeriah, including when they met the party at the Ziggurat it would seem.Session 44: Purple Worm and Falling Baseboards Report:
Solec thanks the party for rescuing him again. He says he wouldn't have wanted them to be in harms way. He went away to hide the spells in the book, but there was a protection for someone like Jacoby Drexelhand doing this. A third element to protect the secrets (time magic Captain Meklan used, how to use the orbs) -- a special Metal die. There are dangerous spells in the book. Solec picks it up, and shows the little hole in the book going through the pages and sheets. Meklan hid the cube. When they adventured -- the big thing was handling the Dragon's wakening. Meklan traveled throught time trying to fix things, but broke things. He knew the Dragon could/would wake again -- and so he tried to hide these from dangers like Jacoby or the AO, but they might be necessary to stop the Dragon. The party discussed if they were responsible for the Dragon. Bastion uses Identify on Solec. Sees the magic of the rune, nothing else is applied to him -- also sees s a vision of a gaming die. No illusions. Bastion is sure he would need Meklan to learn more. Shadow is picking up strange behavior from Barlo. He tells them about the dice. Solec offers the book, they decide to keep it away from the shell, and so the party keeps the book. (sic...) They give him the Journals. Barlo and Shadow use cat running and they go upstairs. It is early evening before sunset. Teeka is tied up. There are heads of goblins on pikes out front. A pile of bodies being burned. Barlo shoves Remington to help Teeka - she understands why they tied her up. She says she was working for the "bad guys" and after she found out how goblins are not generally well-liked she found Grognard and started working for him spying on the Blood Hands. Jeets says they found the goblins were sleeping, and almost killed her. She was getting intel. She asks about the game dice, Captain Meklan gave them to her. She's been helping him. She talks about how Meklan started using time travel to fix things, but broke things -- had a love he lost. Then he pissed off those powers that be which control and handle time. Causing more problems. Also speaks about how the beginning of his adventuring days was a day at The Yawning Portal when a Tabaxi threw him a Gold coin and gave him the confidence to go down. yes it seems this might be the kid they saw at the YP - Going down there, he met Jeriah Chronos, and helped things. Yet his messing about has also caused strange fluctuations with people disappearing or coming into this realm from other realms or times. She has droppoints she uses to communicate. Her mission is to watch Jacoby and Tharros and the Arcane Order. She warns them about Tharros. Jacoby is more powerful than he should be. She tried to sneak into his room. knows he has other hideouts. She never could use the mirror. She seems honest according to insights, she is very trusting due to Barlo. The ring doesn't Light up. She wants to get back, otherwise ruin her cover. They ask about the Dragon That Slumbers. She brings up how the shadow governments Work and how Tharros, Vyerith, and Jacoby want to control the Dragon to control the world or be the one to stop it to get them power. Jacoby and Therros are part of Arcane Order, they hired the Blood hands -- a loose organization of criminals and thugs now more organized. She will sneak back in and will get word back to them. She says Meklan knew they would see each other. She touches a tattoo which disappears then teleports away.Session 48: Unexpected Side Mission in Toril Report:
the orb shoots up and it is a Professor Orb and speaks with the voice similar to Captain Meklan. He thanks them for rescuing him and moves out of reach. This is Professor Meklan of Toril Barlo goes to grab it. he got it. He speaks about how he knows their Meklan and how they are from Dierde, which is the future of this realmspace and so it is technically the future of Toril. He was locked up as he knows some powerful secrets. The other meklan was finding the orbs and began to unlock their secrets. He also spoke of going to find and protect his grandson. these orbs preserve the worlds in their final days... Dierde should not exist as the space was locked in the pocket orb. They learn the gods are weakened at Dierde. They are to stay away from the world to prevent the Dragon from wakening up.Note:
The party recall that Grognard had upset some powers or gods. People had been appearing/disappearing such as Bargle and Pradam Estorich.Session 49: Back to the Beholder Report:
body of a Dead Tiefling who had the AO ring. He also had a Burnt Book. Hard to get anything from it, but it does look like Meklan's handwriting. Shadow finds the orb. It is cracked and crackling with lighting of blue and purple at the equator with some type of possible tentacle coming out of it.Session 51: Skola Vale Errands Report:
At his feet is a lockbox 1' x 8". Full Metal, well-built. Broken Metal all over, improvised lockpicks. Sigil of "M" with the shape of Eushia. Barlo wondered if it was something of Meklan's but doesnt recall it. (note: it wasn't)Session 56: Encounters at Seeing Air Report:
She goes down and sees the other stairwell... the person turns around and it looks like Captain Meklan just a bit older than when he was seen at the Obelisk. He turns and is about to speak when he disappears. Shadow sends Arktos to investigate, find the scent -- try to track. He signals that he is picking up just trace elements. She sees someone at the stairwell, she goes to him -- it is Jacoby, he pulls a dagger from his belt and leaps at her as she yells Jacoby... as he leaps at her he disappears. He looks exactly as he did the day they last saw him -- before he disappeared from Jacoby's Eushia Home houpetor skatuch'. She is wondering if this actually happened. Wis (22), she is thinking of spectral things... this wasn't that. He looked like he saw her and was going after her, and Meklan seemed a bit lost, but then taken out of the moment. she goes to wake up Barlo and Bastion. Meklan seemed like he was getting a lay of the land, Jacoby was just reactionary. She tells them everything, has Arktos on look out. Bastion (History, ...) Grognard was secretive about his life it seems. most of his words was pushing magic and not swords onto Bastion, didn't want to have him make the same mistakes. There was Solec who spoke of some of these mistakes -- upset some powers that be, changes in history that caused ripples, such as people being pulled in and out of time and space. She is seeing if they know anything about this from him. Is jacoby following Meklan?Session 57: Blue Dragon Attacks Report:
Old man looks over, sees Barlo : "Nice to see you Smiles." This appears to be a very old version of Captain Meklan (Grognard ) Meklan: "I don't really have a lot of time to maintain this presence and it is difficult, as you know I am also being followed in this time stream. There is a way to fix this. In the morning, Bastion will remember. RIght now I have to be careful in what I say as I've tried this many times and I've said different things when I've told you things before. I've done this many times, telling you guys things only to find an earlier version of me and stopping them from telling you those things. It's confusing, I know. Time travel is stupid, don't ever spend your life doing what I did. I can answer a little bit right now though... Barlo : "Why are you doing this? Meklan: "So, there were things I was trying to fix.. the biggest being the destruction of, ... I think what is safe to tell you is that -- as you've learned by now, the old world that was once here, it was Toril and is now the Gem one of you now holds. In that realm was a powerful culture of man - the Netherese . One of them was a powerful Wizard , Karsus who tried to become a god . He screwed up the spell and instead of becoming a god he only became a god for a moment -- destroying everything. It was his folly, but it was kind of my fault. I stole the spell from him, before he used it. The reason I keep coming to you right now is that you hold the book still. That book holds the actual Karsus Avatar spell, and I believe it is the way to defeat the Dragon That Slumbers . Shadow: "What book?" Meklan: "The book you took from the Meenlocks, the one I originally hired your brother to steal. Shadow: "We openned it, I thought we ... Meklan: "You need the cube. That's why Jacoby is chasing me, without the cube you will be cursed by trying to use just the book and the sigil. He and I are both jumping in and out of time and space. Shadow: "We need to retrieve the cube stolen from Barlo Meklan: "I tried to keep them with Barlo Barlo : "I thought it was just a toy Meklan: "It wasn't. I tried to hide its purpose. I tried to manipulate some other events so it would return to your possession, but that didn't Work ... The one thing I can tell you is I have tried to fix this quite a few different ways, I even learned that repeating the very same things could produce very different results -- You are the Wild Cards. and the name was born Shadow: "we are the chaos incarnate, you are saying? Meklan: "Pretty much. I even tried to control Bastion's destiny when he was growing up, I thought if I could only Lead him down the path I thought best to fix these mistakes... the point is I have made mistakes with my time travel and I've been trying to fix them, which has made things worse. That book holds one of the most powerful spells ever created, and I am sure Bastion can fill you in more about it. I also know that on the ship you have Professor Umbercresct who knows a lot about the Netheril which can help... I think.. hm,... and his mouth starts moving but he vanishes out. as Barlo asks "But, wait... where is Joshua ?" Shadow: "Who is Joshua , Barlo ?" Barlo : "This son of a bitch smuggler son-a-bitch, we ran in similar circles. He conned me out of my cubes -- he stole them practicaly. I didn't know they were that important, though. Shadow: "How would you have known? Barlo : "I do have someone out looking for him, though. Shadow: "Maybe Lars can help us scry, can you describe him? Barlo : "Yeah, I can describe him. Shadow: "We should pull out the Basalt's Magic Ball [sm]Barlo 's fixation shifts[/sm] Shadow: "should we ask the ball? Barlo : "Yes, ask it if he still has the cubes. .. they were just gaming dice, I thought. Q. "Is Joshua still in possession of the cubes that Barlo and Grognard are talking about?" A."Reply Hazy, try again later". Meanwhile... Bastion was in his trance... His trances shows events of the Elf 's life, but come off as Dreams . Then one crackles and shakes a bit, now he is in one of his own memories. He was young, and training with his swords. The early form of bladesinging he had been studying, he was sure he had enough time to train before Grognard returned. But then the door openned up very fast -- Grognard came in, disheveled, and Bastion was panicked. Bastion tried to hide the sword, but Grognard gave a disapproving look: "I know what you were doing, and I don't have time." Bastion remembers this event, but then he doesn't recall much after it. It's odd, almost a new memory as he sees Grognard go to the side and grab a large sand timer, a 10-minute timer. He turns it over and looks at Bastion. Grognard : "I need you to sit and listen, now. I don't have long. he sits down, worried he is in trouble, but then Grognard says: "I know why you're worried. Don't. I don't have time to discuss that now. Although the version of me you will exist with for now will continue to get on your case about this, sorry about that. I do understand now, and I accept it. I think we can still use this for what needs to get done. Understand, this is not the first time I have come to you and spoken to you like this -- but I do think I will let you have this memory back, one day. I keep trying to find little quiet moments in your lives, in those who travel with you to give you little clues and assistance... (Bastion feels this is crazy talk as at the time he had no clue what Grognard was going on about.) Grognard sees the confused look: "I see you are confused, that doesn't matter now. I will soon erase the memories of this discussion and I will return them later.. possibly. (looks at the sand timer), Oh, I am running out of time for this. ... this has to be the one... Okay, the main point is that the book you have is important. You need to protect it. You don't have the book now, but in the future when you regain this memory you will have the book. The things to think about then is how this book ties into Dendar the Night Serpent and the Draconic Prophecies -- this is what I've pushing to really manipulate with my actions. Most of my changes have... no. you know what, that should be enough without being too much... oh, the book holds Karsus ' Avatar -- the real spell, the one he was to perform that day and not the one I replaced it with. Only in Dierde will such magic Work as the god's blocking of such high level magic no longer exists, it's complicated. The point is that high level magic as the Netherese once performed can once again be done, although this is not common knowledge at all. Most of those spells are lost, but it might be possible to use the spell to use the orbs and create new realms. I've been trying to find other ways to create such rebirth - but all the ways I've tried have failed. he starts to cast a spell, at the time Bastion was unaware of the spell. It was a Modify Memory and it seems in present time Grognard has released the spell to return the true memory. He goes and tells the team. He tells them how this was a released memory to replace a lecture he thought he once had. They tell him about their experience. They also briefly bring up the Professor Orb version of Professor Meklan of Toril .Session 58: Kobolds and Conspiracies Report:
Barlo: "You think she wants to look at our ship? Jeets: "If she is as bad as we are thinking, and she has the network I Fear she might -- she probably already had spies in Skola Vale when the worked on the ship. As I said, she keeps having us look for this Tharros and with the intel she has, she has to have access to some network. Barlo returns to the group with closing salutations. He throws him a Platinum coin and thanks him for the stone. Jeets waves down his party and they return to the kobolds, as Barlo tells the party what was discussed. Then Jeets runs back...: "Real quick, let me ask you if you know this name... Bastion: "grognard? Jeets: "no, we've heard of him. It was a name I heard once said in her presence and she reacted in an odd way, 'Vyerith' Shadow: "yes. Barlo: "Vyerith? Shadow: "We freed her from that ... jail cell under outding.Session 61: Back to the Crypt, Again Report:
As they continue to dig they find the Wood of the casket, just as the rest of the party returns. They use the crowbar and open the wooden casket. He's a few years Dead , with a bit of smell, not overwhelming. He is in normal clothes. Bastion casts Prestidigitation . A Familiar orb flies up from it, a Professor Orb and as it flies up it speaks in Captain Meklan 's voice as it turns out to be the Professor Meklan of Toril orb they rescued. he says: "You finally came and got me." Barlo : "Shhhh... keep your voice down Bastion: "Did they turn you into a ... thing? into an orb? Meklan Orb: "Actually, I haven't met you before, I've met the rest of these guys. My name is Captain Meklan . Shadow: "How did you end up here? Meklan: "Well your Captain Meklan , after you got me out of that box, he found me and planted me in this box, saying group would come and dig me up one day. He was very certain that you would do this and I tried to get out of it, but hh was certain I would not. Shadow: "So Meklan put you in here? Meklan: "yes. He was pretty certain that some of the stuff that I happen to know would be helpful to whomever would dig me up Sas: "What stuff is that? Meklan: "That I don't know, specifically. He was very enigmatic in how he spoke to me and it seemed that he kept going on about how he had tried different things and different ways. And he's been very careful in what he'd said to me at that point. The only thing he really wanted me to know was that things that I know could be helpful to the people that would dig me out. They realize it was the orb they found when separated from Bastion Shadow: "Do you know anything abou tthe body you are buried with? Meklan: "Not really. I guess my understanding was that he was the. The mayor that lived here on this island. He, Sorry. I guess he tried to kill some other mayor of this island. Sas: "Yeah, he did. Bastion casts Identify on the Professor Orb , and learns it is a Professor Orb who has extensive knowledge on a god named Vecna , an unknown species known as Spellweaver , Plane of Time , an entity known as Dendar the Night Serpent , and the Dragon Prophecies . They are sentient echos of a person who is an expert on various fields. They are used in universities and such to pass on knowledge. Bastion asks about the prophecies, and if he had talked to Ursa . No. Shadow asked if he knew or met Tharros the Wanderer . no. Bastion asked about the prophecies, and so the orb asked what specifically he wanted to know, he answered "When they will happen." Prophecies don't Work like that. Meklan: "The draconian prophecies do not actually give any timeline on when they're supposed to unfold. And the truth is, they're very complicated. Bastion: "it's cool if you don't know, man. Meklan: "I know a lot about the prophecies, obviously no one is going to know everything about them. The story goes they were originally drafted by dragons who studied everything and wrote down what they believed had happened, could happen and would happen. And people are always looking for patterns and as they relate to reality. In the end, though, a lot of it comes down to the end of the world as it always does. And so in this case, it's supposed to be that for you in this new realm, that there will be an end based on a Dragon awakening. they put the box back together and put it back, then bury it again. they use Prestidigitation a bit on the dirt and grass to hide the Work , it doesn't do much. Shadow asks about her spores to help. They talk about casting Plant Growth in the morning. Barlo grabs some debris and leaves to assist. They go back home... and then a retcon as we overlooked Calliope Galanodel 's Elder's Glove of Lore on the corpse: She sees him as a mayor who had care, but was not a hard-worker. She sees right before she got to the island where he lost the mayorship at the celebration. He was sad, and began to hear voices at some time. Seeing visions of Jergal . Jergal is a strange cross between a praying mantis and a Human , or other times like a Lich or mummy type, he tends to have a long face/skull. Sometimes with 2, 4, or 6 arms. Long arms with strange claw-like hands. It talks about strange things at play as the god Vecna is Dead . Jergal seems intent on finding something on this island that he believes will help his goal that he long ago thought was never going to occur so he abandoned it. Viggie is constantly following Ursa and taking copious amounts of notes on what she is doing. Jergal felt she was a threat. Then one night he is awoken out of bed and arrested. Then the trial and the execution... the glove also notifies her that he was not in the room that night, although he had worked on plans to kill her. So there was enough evidence to convict him. The lore of the body continues to tell her more... She sees the crypt open, and a younger Meklan is opening the box. He is talking to the orb and puts the orb in the box, then closes it again. As they leave, Shadow passes a perception check. They return home and discuss some plans and what they learned. They are thinking of how they can handle the Ursa situation. They also discuss the new orb and his knowledge base. Barlo asks if the Spellweaver have anything to do with The Weave ... it didn't seem as if it was roleplaying. The spellweavers are not a known species. Barlo was thinking of Dweomerflow and how it powers the ship or Soul Gem , a lost spell. Bastion thought about how Ursa claims she got her information from the journals, especially about the Draconic prophesies.. even though that wasn't what was said. She just said around 3 years ago she across something about them and that sparked her actions. He was thinking she never met the orb or Meklan and yet she is talking about it... They debate if she is just being secretive or nefarious. Shadow wonders if any of their actions had anything to do with that... at this time there is no reason to think so. The orb does ask at some point if they have any questions. Bastion asks if it knows how to stop the Dragon , it replies that it doesn't know as much about the dragons as much as it knows about the prophecy. He asks if the orb can tell them the prophecy, and he says it isn't as clear as that. It is built on piecemeal and seems to be ever-changing. Shadow asks what the cataclysmic event is, he replies there is not just one -- but it is whatever teh reader seems to think it might be. It is based historically on writings by dragons who observed the universe. and since then it has been altered by many. There are many volumes written on it and is very complex. Barlo asks if there is a link to it happening on other worlds. It replies that other worlds do have their versions, one of the most notable that he knows of is the one from a world called Eberron who has their own and it is just as irritatingly vague. Barlo asks if that realm still exists, the reply is that the orb believes most all other realms no longer exist. The way for most to visit other realms from this realm seems to be using time travel. Barlo asks about his past. He was a past version of Meklan from Torill -- like an alternate version of him, but close enough it's like a multidimensional version. Barlo asks if he will stay and he says their Meklan wanted him to. because he believes that there's information that if you guys ask the right questions, you might learn to help in some way to something cool. Put him in a saddlebag or something... Back to discussions on Ursa and Viggie. Calliope's vision is not evidence for a court as most don't accept magic for most cases, due to the double nature of magic. Bastion asks if they took all the Books from under the Keep. There was a lot of Confusion here... They also discussed having Bastion pulling an Edgar Gayce and learning by osmosis, whether the DM is trying to hint, and how there is a lot of things they can do research into at this point... They then think about the Plane of Time ... as well as Barlo talking about trying to pull a Meklan and use time travel to fix the past. Around Midnight, the wavy Etherealness of Kyleanne appearing. The timing makes it easer for her. She says there is something trapped here, says it was feminine and it is trapped. There is some power coming from under the church, again -- stronger than last time. It seems that area is conductive to such mass magics. The New "essence" is trapped in some part of the ethereal here... More discussions about the previous owners. They were merchants who retired here. When the Crystal stopped protecting the villagers from Sahuagin , the brother went to assist in a raiding party. Barlo wondered if the sister was still around, or if something is hidden here and the Ghost is protecting it. They discuss staying only one more day... Then a long rest. Bastion does a bit of guard duty. Otherwise uneventfull evening.Session 62: The Dead Beholder Report:
Barlo runs to the sword, and pulls it out. As it comes out the smoke begins to fade to mist. The tendrils of red Light below begins to fade, as well as the black on the rim of the large island and the Light from the small island. Some other issues occur at the small island, but the shadow and Light creatures still remain... Barlo holds out the sword to them "does this belong to you?" (persuasion check...) no reaction, he does see they are appearing to evaporate at the edges... He then holds the sword over the edge of the starry liquid. Bastion yells "Throw it to me!!" As Barlo looks at the water, it is like looking at space, but slight waves where ripples occur... He then decides to hold on to it after all, moves towards Bastion "Alright, I hope you know what you're doing with this thing." Activates his Animated Shield All of a sudden a tear occurs in reality and out steps Captain Meklan/Grognard, about the same (give or take) age as he was when they saw him under Skola Vale. He goes right where Bastion was, looks down and then to the party (with a smile) "good, you didn't do it." It would seem in a timeline he chased they did it. He then jumps in the water, and disappears. It does act like water in some ways, but he is nowhere to be seen. (sic...) Bastion receives a Message: you hear a Message in your head, it is meklan -- thank you for coming down here, I am now in the Astral Plane where time can't affect me. Don't come here, not safe. thank you (sic...) Bastion remembers the Message he got mid-combat and tells the party, Barlo says it seems nowhere is safe, Bastion asks if they should Jump in then... Shadow says Meklan said it isn't safe. (sic...) Bastion gets another Message from Meklan..."i do believe the Meklan Orb can be helpful. Time is funny, .... need to check my notes"Note:
As I put these notes together (2024/07/08) this is the last time the party saw him or talked to him...Session 64: Fighting Pollution Report:
The Professor Orb , Professor Meklan of Toril says he heard them talking and interjects. He says he knows a bit about what used to be Outding Refuge , the creatures known as Spellweaver s which is rare since most knowledge of them has long been wiped out of existence. The orb is one of the very few that knows anything about them since he hid. They believe they created everything, in a way with a spell that they have long sought to reverse. Bastion asks if they had something to do with the forge, and the orb says they created the forges. They were once the mightiest of spell-casters. With their 6 arms they could cast multiple spells at the same time. It is believed by those who would know about them that they used to exist in many realms across the multiverse, and planned to recreate all of reality. They cast a mighty spell that destroyed all their settlements across the multiverse. These 5-sided pyramids known as Nodes. Captain Meklan hid this orb from Vecna who was the one trying to erase all knowledge of these creatures across all realms. This is why no one knows about them.
Session 65: Castle in the Clouds Report:
Tabletalk: there are comments on how Jacoby, Tharros, Meklan all seem as if they might be the same person... by Barlo
Session 66: A Wizard and His Spellweavers Report:
Barlo says "Tharros", Shadow: "Meklan, Grognard, Jacoby,..." - not the words. Sas: "Bast!", Barlo: "Spellweavers, Dendar the Night Serpent... " Dendar was the word, but the house didn't hear the word at the time it would seem... he goes on "Vecna, Bargle, Mythallars, Tharizdun, Carsus, Jergel, ..." and other names. Shadow wonders if Tharros has another name, the only real one that is spoke of is "The Wanderer"... He then pounces in the room up to the second floor. Grabs stuff off the desk, another book, then runs back out. drops it down "more stuff".
Shadow notices the six arms are not seen. Goes in and looks at the painting and says "Vecna, Dendar the Night Serpent"... maybe it was because she was in the house when she said it, so it was heard by the Alarm. The voice says "I guess you are a guest"
In Session 67: The Wizard's Cellar Report a partial book was found in the keep, titled: Lord of the End of Everything where it had a handwritten note:
(Handwritten notes near the name: Meklan of Toril? Meklan of Dierde? Me, of course Jacoby? Possible... Bargle of Mystara... Odd... Kolvar... died... reincarnated it seems... died again? Odd ...
Session 68: Unexpected Side Mission in Eberron Report:
"Lord of Blades?" Barlo asks, "Is that what Meklan calls himself in this world? Wherever we are..."
The Warforged gives him a strange look.
Session 70: Exploding Fire Skeletons Report:
They watch it as it is written. After a few moments, the droopy bits stay in the mirror and slowly fades.
Shadow asks if Captain Meklan or Grognard would have done something like this... not that Barlo or Bastion are aware of.
The idea of blood and mirrors sparks a memory, somehow. Bastion finally remembers Likkec using blood on mirrors for his teleportation at Jacoby's Eushia Home houpetor skatuch' .
Session 72: Dark Knights in Thornwinds Report:
Notes for Bastion on Thornwinds:
You might have come here at times in your youth or with Grognard. It is generally peaceful with rumors of how the true power is from various criminal enterprises.
Captain Meklan is the younger adventurous persona of Grognard.
Character Location
Current Location
Unknown
Alignment
Chaotic Neutral
Current Status
Last wrote to Bastion...
Current Location
Species
Conditions
Ethnicity
Circumstances of Birth
The Year might be wrong... or at least his age.
Birthplace
Family
Children
Current Residence
Sex
Male
Gender
Male
Eyes
Brown
Hair
Long Brown
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Slightly pale, slightly reddish
Height
6' 2"
Weight
200 lbs.
Belief/Deity
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Related Reports
- Session 025: Tharizdun Report
- Session 040: Beneath River's Keep Report
- Session 041: At Jacoby's Hideout Report
- Session 046: Off to fight a Beholder Report
- Session 048: Unexpected Side Mission in Toril Report
- Session 056: Encounters at Seeing Air Report
- Session 057: Blue Dragon Attacks Report
- Session 058: Kobolds and Conspiracies Report
- Session 061: Back to the Crypt, Again Report
- Session 062: The Dead Beholder Report
- Session 065: Castle in the Clouds Report
- Session 066: A Wizard and His Spellweavers Report
- Session 070: Exploding Fire Skeletons Report
- Session 074: The Dark Side or Gray Side? Report
- Session 075: Wild Dreams of a Bard Report
- Session 076: Wilder Dreams of a Bard Report
- Session 077: A Bag of Tricks Report