Ashe C2 Episode 35 - Drawing the Dark One's Eye
Previously On Liters of Tomorrow...
Descending into a cave deep in the Ashen Forest you fought your way through undead creatures to find an ancient doorway. Opening it with the help of the Knight of the Deadrose you made your way into the ancient Allesandre Manor. A relic of the civilization that once existed here under the Forest, the manor was mostly intact including an old heating duct system large enough for tiny creatures to move through.
As you made your way into the hallways of the manor Truffle spooked some Giant bats which attacked immediately. They were easily dispatched by Truffle's Shillelagh and the Wild Dice which created a Gelatinous Cube. Moving further into the Manor you found a room containing the statue of a well dressed Tiefling man named Victor Allesandre. Sensing a trap Mausim froze the water in the room to move above the pressure plates in the floor.
Briefly splitting up Wes, Truffle, and Bon Vee entered a dining room containing a dozen skeletons. The skeletons animated and began to attack with swords. Finn, Mausim, and Archos found a pool room teeming with undead beasts and expertly backed away. Joining back up to destroy the skeletons the team found a sealed hallway and a hallway full of Pinata Plants. Using an ice disc and the dining room table the team moved through the strange pod plants avoiding their paralyzing darts.
Next you stumbled into a room containing a dark temple. Thousands of insects poured into the room doing necrotic damage and Mausim and Truffle poured on spells of all types to stop them from forming into some sort of bipedal creature.
Plot points/Scenes
Start back in Episode 34 and finish the Allesandre Manor!
Inside the ancient buried manor the Dark One's presence becomes stronger. The undead beasts from pool room begin to head towards the players. Shades begin to form and become an ever present, ever increasing threat. The very air of the manor grows colder by the minute. Eventually the Knight of the Dead Rose completes his task and begins to close off certain hallways leading to danger and open the sealed entry at the north of the manor. He leaps from the Heating vents and communicates to Mausim.
Mausim you hear a voice in your head, it starts out echoey and faded but then increases in tonality and coalesces into the voice of a human man.
"Encealadus you must hear me! No not he, but you feel like him, move like him. Warrior you must obtain the information and the holy relics that lay beyond. They will protect you and your companions as you escape this place. The Dark One's presence is much stronger here than I had predicted."
He quickly explains "Maintaining the focus to use this telepathic speech, even to recover my original mind in this form is incredibly difficult. It took me centuries to regain the ability to think and remember the man I once was. Use what you find here to kill him. Destroy Vernabogge, learn how to kill the Fallen. The Dark One must not return. Now go, The order of the Green Rose will stay here and aid your escape. Until we meet again." The strange voice disappears from your mind.
After Leaving the Caves
Heading back out of the cave leads you once more into the Ashen Forest. After the horrors of Allesandre Manor and the Deadrot cave you feel the warm sun on your faces and rejoice. Mausim you hear a different voice in your head. A voice very familiar that feels like home and you feel a spark of hope in your heart.
Cat to Mausim
"Brother, I hope you are well. Things have grown dire here in the city. Father has been accused of sedition and faces trial soon. The Nuxhall's have lost control of the city. It is now in the hands of a tyrant called Vernabogge."
Inside the ancient buried manor the Dark One's presence becomes stronger. The undead beasts from pool room begin to head towards the players. Shades begin to form and become an ever present, ever increasing threat. The very air of the manor grows colder by the minute. Eventually the Knight of the Dead Rose completes his task and begins to close off certain hallways leading to danger and open the sealed entry at the north of the manor. He leaps from the Heating vents and communicates to Mausim.
Mausim you hear a voice in your head, it starts out echoey and faded but then increases in tonality and coalesces into the voice of a human man.
"Encealadus you must hear me! No not he, but you feel like him, move like him. Warrior you must obtain the information and the holy relics that lay beyond. They will protect you and your companions as you escape this place. The Dark One's presence is much stronger here than I had predicted."
He quickly explains "Maintaining the focus to use this telepathic speech, even to recover my original mind in this form is incredibly difficult. It took me centuries to regain the ability to think and remember the man I once was. Use what you find here to kill him. Destroy Vernabogge, learn how to kill the Fallen. The Dark One must not return. Now go, The order of the Green Rose will stay here and aid your escape. Until we meet again." The strange voice disappears from your mind.
After Leaving the Caves
Heading back out of the cave leads you once more into the Ashen Forest. After the horrors of Allesandre Manor and the Deadrot cave you feel the warm sun on your faces and rejoice. Mausim you hear a different voice in your head. A voice very familiar that feels like home and you feel a spark of hope in your heart.
Cat to Mausim
"Brother, I hope you are well. Things have grown dire here in the city. Father has been accused of sedition and faces trial soon. The Nuxhall's have lost control of the city. It is now in the hands of a tyrant called Vernabogge."
Themes
Vickander Kent - Kestelrender The Ominous
The Elven man will once more attempt to contact Wes before he leaves the forest. If Wes heads off to scout or gather food for the party Kent will take the opportunity to bring Wes into the fold once more.
Wes as you scout through the forest with the familiarity and competence of a ranger you just barely hear a rustle of leaves behind you. The blond elven man stands there once more in his dark green finery. Oddly clean and unwrinkled his satin cloak falls about his shoulders. "Wes have you thought about my offer? You and I could save the forest and accomplish great things."
If Wes brings up the knowledge of Kent being Kestlerender the conversation will get fraught. With clenched teeth Kent will hiss "All the more reason to swear fealty to me! Think of what I could do to your friends. Think of what I could do to Jaron Dartmoor! Two of your weak little companions have sworn to the Manticore King, their lives are already forfeit!"
He calms himself and pulls back some of his hair. "That said, I never wish to do violence when other pathways still could bring fortune. You will do right by me, you and I will be allied. Perhaps a gift would do what my threats cannot. He sets a small ornate wooden box down on the forest floor. Just large enough to hold a small vial or flask. "I present you a small gift to atone for my little outburst there. Inside you will find a vial of Aurantiaco Unguent. It will protect you against any of the Kormirra sisters. Just splash some of the liquid upon their skin. You yourself have sensed the danger they pose. Until we meet again..."
With that he disappears and the sounds of the forest once more echo in your ears. The tension in your body eases.
The Elven man will once more attempt to contact Wes before he leaves the forest. If Wes heads off to scout or gather food for the party Kent will take the opportunity to bring Wes into the fold once more.
Wes as you scout through the forest with the familiarity and competence of a ranger you just barely hear a rustle of leaves behind you. The blond elven man stands there once more in his dark green finery. Oddly clean and unwrinkled his satin cloak falls about his shoulders. "Wes have you thought about my offer? You and I could save the forest and accomplish great things."
If Wes brings up the knowledge of Kent being Kestlerender the conversation will get fraught. With clenched teeth Kent will hiss "All the more reason to swear fealty to me! Think of what I could do to your friends. Think of what I could do to Jaron Dartmoor! Two of your weak little companions have sworn to the Manticore King, their lives are already forfeit!"
He calms himself and pulls back some of his hair. "That said, I never wish to do violence when other pathways still could bring fortune. You will do right by me, you and I will be allied. Perhaps a gift would do what my threats cannot. He sets a small ornate wooden box down on the forest floor. Just large enough to hold a small vial or flask. "I present you a small gift to atone for my little outburst there. Inside you will find a vial of Aurantiaco Unguent. It will protect you against any of the Kormirra sisters. Just splash some of the liquid upon their skin. You yourself have sensed the danger they pose. Until we meet again..."
With that he disappears and the sounds of the forest once more echo in your ears. The tension in your body eases.
Structure
Exposition
The Nightmare of Archamemnon -
By taking the stones from underneath the dining room table Archos has begun an infection of the Dark One into his very being. While he sleeps the stones crack open like seeds. A black liquid leeches out and forms strands of black webbing. A very observant person on watch or staying in the same room as him could possibly see this. The strands leave the pouch and his backpack and begin to crawl onto his left hand.
“Archos as you fall asleep you begin to drift through a series of landscapes. First you find yourself floating through a sea of stars, a bright pink and yellow nebula spews gases in the distance. You fall through space brought down by a strange gravity well. Beneath you as you look down is a whirling storm of green clouds. You fall faster into the clouds and your stomach flies up into your throat, you struggle for breath as you move ever faster.
A Black Forest rises to meet you at breakneck speed and you begin to panic bracing your self for the impact. Suddenly you hit soft fabric and pillows as you wake in a wide ornate bed filled with high thread count satiny black fabric sheets. The many circular pillows are soft and comfortable. You still feel the cold sweat on your brow as you struggle to make out your surroundings in the darkness. You eyes adjust quickly as your darkvision begins to break down the room into flat grays.
You look up to see the curve of a woman’s hip lying next to you. Moonlight from a nearby window alights upon the curve like a sensual painting. As you begin to think of where you are and what to do next, the woman turns and a stunningly beautiful Tiefling woman looks at you hungrily. She smiles and leans in for a kiss. In dreamlike fashion you feel the initial charge of being kissed by a beautiful woman but it all turns to a nightmare as she begins to ingest you.
Her form changes into a black resin that begins to flow all around you. It engulfs and encases you and as you reach for all of your magic powers to escape you awake in a cold sweat! It was all a dream, you breath deeply and find shallow, ragged breath as you take in your surroundings. Your companions all there where you left them and you catch your breath and calm down. When you look down at your left hand you see a strange webbing. A thin black resin has encased your hand in a web of black strands. Despite a wave of fear in the back of your mind it is quite comfortable and feels strong. You get +1 to strength."
By taking the stones from underneath the dining room table Archos has begun an infection of the Dark One into his very being. While he sleeps the stones crack open like seeds. A black liquid leeches out and forms strands of black webbing. A very observant person on watch or staying in the same room as him could possibly see this. The strands leave the pouch and his backpack and begin to crawl onto his left hand.
“Archos as you fall asleep you begin to drift through a series of landscapes. First you find yourself floating through a sea of stars, a bright pink and yellow nebula spews gases in the distance. You fall through space brought down by a strange gravity well. Beneath you as you look down is a whirling storm of green clouds. You fall faster into the clouds and your stomach flies up into your throat, you struggle for breath as you move ever faster.
A Black Forest rises to meet you at breakneck speed and you begin to panic bracing your self for the impact. Suddenly you hit soft fabric and pillows as you wake in a wide ornate bed filled with high thread count satiny black fabric sheets. The many circular pillows are soft and comfortable. You still feel the cold sweat on your brow as you struggle to make out your surroundings in the darkness. You eyes adjust quickly as your darkvision begins to break down the room into flat grays.
You look up to see the curve of a woman’s hip lying next to you. Moonlight from a nearby window alights upon the curve like a sensual painting. As you begin to think of where you are and what to do next, the woman turns and a stunningly beautiful Tiefling woman looks at you hungrily. She smiles and leans in for a kiss. In dreamlike fashion you feel the initial charge of being kissed by a beautiful woman but it all turns to a nightmare as she begins to ingest you.
Her form changes into a black resin that begins to flow all around you. It engulfs and encases you and as you reach for all of your magic powers to escape you awake in a cold sweat! It was all a dream, you breath deeply and find shallow, ragged breath as you take in your surroundings. Your companions all there where you left them and you catch your breath and calm down. When you look down at your left hand you see a strange webbing. A thin black resin has encased your hand in a web of black strands. Despite a wave of fear in the back of your mind it is quite comfortable and feels strong. You get +1 to strength."
Conflict
Screechwings sent by the Dark One
Depending on where the team goes next they will attacked during the night by several Screechwings. They descend on their camp or through windows at an inn. If they are outside camping the first screechwing will try to grab whoever is on guard and fly them into the air. Allow a Strength check to avoid but it would depend on the PC and what's best for the combat scenario. Stats are in Worldanvil.
The Redwulves Accuse Bon Vee of Murder
The team will be confronted by bounty hunters who work with the Red Wulves. They will strongly accuse Bon Vee with the murder of Crashe Spritzer and claim that he is the last to see the elven man alive.
Depending on where the team goes next they will attacked during the night by several Screechwings. They descend on their camp or through windows at an inn. If they are outside camping the first screechwing will try to grab whoever is on guard and fly them into the air. Allow a Strength check to avoid but it would depend on the PC and what's best for the combat scenario. Stats are in Worldanvil.
The Redwulves Accuse Bon Vee of Murder
The team will be confronted by bounty hunters who work with the Red Wulves. They will strongly accuse Bon Vee with the murder of Crashe Spritzer and claim that he is the last to see the elven man alive.
- Kaslan Trove - Half Orc Man , Bloodhunter and fighter
- Taylor Rind - Human Man
- Nova Clasp - Human Woman
- Docter Zaius - Beast Shifter
Current Date : The Year SF3, 3028 the month of Zelos (April)
The History of the Knight of the Dead rose
The Knight of the Dead Rose is a cursed hero of the second age. His real name was Aramis D'Artagnan the Swift. He was a friend and swordbrother of Encealadus Calwyn. They fought in the Human Elven wars and both of them realized the true threat of the Dark One too late.
Aramis was defeated by Vernabogge and Electra at some point before or during the shatterfall of that era. Concurrently during the shatterfall was when the Dark One was imprisoned. Using the incredible power surge of the weave during that event a group of wizards (the precursor to the Assembly of the Weave) created the seals and banished the Dark One into a dark domain of his own.
To save the life of Aramis a sorceror polymorphed him into something small. A wild magic surge turned the spell into true polymorph and changed him into the miniscule Knight of the Deadrose. This also gave him a measure of immortality but also took away his ability to speak. His sword skills and mind remained the same however, just much diminished in size. In the last few decades he has taken up residence in the Ashen Forest. Here there are many dangers and many secrets pertaining to the rise of the Dark One. It also holds the phylactery that empowers Vernabogge. Aramis swore that he would destroy Vernabogge and has finally found a way to do it.
The History of the Ashen Forest -
The Ashen Forest used to be a forest on the scale of any of those in Oraheim. During the wars of the second age it was burned to the ground strategically. One of the last acts of Encealadus before the shatterfall. It was a way to destroy a large portion of the Elven forces in a slash and burn strategy that destroyed thousands of miles of ancient forest. At the beginning of the Third age over 3000 years ago the area was given the name the Ashen Forest due to it's stark desert like appearance of Ashe and spindly black tree husks.
In the last thousand years the forest regrew and became the incredibly lush vegetation that it is now. During that time the manor of Vernabogges orginal identity, Victor Rasmussen Allesandre, was buried under thousands of years of ash and dirt. It remains there now deep under the Ashen Forest. Inside is a painting of Victor, a thin Tiefling man dressed in resplendent fashion. It is the phylactery that grants Vernabogge his power.
The History of the Knight of the Dead rose
The Knight of the Dead Rose is a cursed hero of the second age. His real name was Aramis D'Artagnan the Swift. He was a friend and swordbrother of Encealadus Calwyn. They fought in the Human Elven wars and both of them realized the true threat of the Dark One too late.
Aramis was defeated by Vernabogge and Electra at some point before or during the shatterfall of that era. Concurrently during the shatterfall was when the Dark One was imprisoned. Using the incredible power surge of the weave during that event a group of wizards (the precursor to the Assembly of the Weave) created the seals and banished the Dark One into a dark domain of his own.
To save the life of Aramis a sorceror polymorphed him into something small. A wild magic surge turned the spell into true polymorph and changed him into the miniscule Knight of the Deadrose. This also gave him a measure of immortality but also took away his ability to speak. His sword skills and mind remained the same however, just much diminished in size. In the last few decades he has taken up residence in the Ashen Forest. Here there are many dangers and many secrets pertaining to the rise of the Dark One. It also holds the phylactery that empowers Vernabogge. Aramis swore that he would destroy Vernabogge and has finally found a way to do it.
The History of the Ashen Forest -
The Ashen Forest used to be a forest on the scale of any of those in Oraheim. During the wars of the second age it was burned to the ground strategically. One of the last acts of Encealadus before the shatterfall. It was a way to destroy a large portion of the Elven forces in a slash and burn strategy that destroyed thousands of miles of ancient forest. At the beginning of the Third age over 3000 years ago the area was given the name the Ashen Forest due to it's stark desert like appearance of Ashe and spindly black tree husks.
In the last thousand years the forest regrew and became the incredibly lush vegetation that it is now. During that time the manor of Vernabogges orginal identity, Victor Rasmussen Allesandre, was buried under thousands of years of ash and dirt. It remains there now deep under the Ashen Forest. Inside is a painting of Victor, a thin Tiefling man dressed in resplendent fashion. It is the phylactery that grants Vernabogge his power.
Completion Date
4/27/23
4/27/23
Plot type
Main Story
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Related Organizations
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