The Penitent: House Call

General Summary

What follows is an After Action Report on the activities of The Penitent , offering a summary of a particular Intervention.

The Missive

Wander With the Wild Mender

Intervention Overview

Veteran Penitents Doric Rubicant and Immeron were joined Kharesen for an Intervention to Sixteen Echoes--a forest inundated with phantasmal energy in the northwest of Free Cities of Marlock. There, they met their petitioner, Steelbloom, a "Wild Mender" of The Wheel, dedicated to the caretaking of "dangerous" animals and creatures. Steelbloom is concerned about one of his patients, a large cat named Seventeen, that hasn't stopped by his cabin for quite some time. As this is unlike Seventeen, he needs the martial support of the Penitients to venture deeper into the dangerous forest of Sixteen Echoes. The Penitents readily agreed.
As they ventured deeper into the Echoes, the Penitients encountered some of the dangers Steelbloom warned them about. This included a haphazard ambush by some brigrands, resulting in Kharesen gaining a sword called "Ripper," and an attack by some carnivorous plants called Echovines, whose "essence" Steelbloom was able to distill into a potent and useful toxin. They also encountered a strangely carved owl, apparently sentient, who called himself Perphemes, the Guardian of the Span of Recollection. This span was a bridge made manifest through the power of memories, and each of our adventurers shared a memory with Perphemes in turn to make the bridge traversable:

• Immeron, once Executive Principal of Innovation for Sparksail Enterprises, recounted his defeat by the Arboreal Security Service, particularly noting the efforts of Sir Courtois.
• Doric, perhaps unsurprisingly, shared a memory of sweeping and cleaning a bar, receiving 15 silver for his efforts. He was then mugged and everything was stolen.
• Kharesen offered a memory of protecting Gizimini of House Tarrgolia, a powerful Gatt family, from harm, finding joy in righteous loyalty.
• Steelbloom told a treasured memory--fishing with Seventeen.

These memories enabled the Penitients to cross the Span and continue the search for Seventeen.
Eventually, they tracked down Seventeen, on the verge of being sacrificed by the Children of the Echo, a cult that reveres the ghostly power of Sixteen Echoes, to bolster the strength of a beholder named Lingering Gilsh. The Penitents stopped this sacrifice through the considered application of force, reuniting Steelbloom with his friend Seventeen and completing their Intervention.

Salient Details

As they wandered through Sixteen Echoes, the Penitents eased the burdens of a restless spirit. In thanks, the ancient warrior granted them a Blessing of the Unknown Era. Nice! Steelbloom, perhaps unsurprisingly, proved to be an adept healer. His primary method of healing was delivered via a "mouth unguent," which was gross but effective.

Character(s) interacted with

• Steelbloom--a Wild Mender associated with The Wheel
• Perphemes--Guardian of the Span of Recollection

Report Date

31 Mar 2024

Primary Location

Sixteen Echoes

Related Characters

• Doric Rubicant