CoN The Before Times
General Summary
The Chronicles of Nidira: Mor Cala
Arc One – The Shining City and the Shadows Beyond
For over a year, the world of Nidira has been the backdrop for tales of heroism, mystery, and adventure. The campaign, known as "The Chronicles of Nidira," began with a series of offline sessions titled "Mor Cala," meaning "Dark Light" in Elven. This is the story of how an unlikely group of adventurers came together in the heart of the Hekkeran Empire.
Chapter 1: Gathering of Strangers
In the illustrious city of El-Makath, the capital of the Hekkeran Empire, Zephyrion Grimheart—a half-elf cleric with androgynous features, long white hair, and pristine white robes—found himself perusing the Adventurers Guild's job board. The familiar faces in the guild hall were already part of established parties, leaving Zephyrion without companions for the more challenging quests.
Amidst the crowd, he noticed a few unfamiliar faces:
Mahvra Ithilden: A Nightshade Elf woman with black hair tinged with a purple hue. Her beauty was typical of elvenkind, but there was an aura of danger about her.
Riven Elevalur: Another half-elf, sporting medium-length greasy black hair that fell to his shoulders. He appeared dejected, and an undeniable odor clung to him.
Shiro: A small, fox-like humanoid known as a Vulpin from the distant land of Kozuka. With orange and white fur, he stood out among the predominantly human and elf populace.
Recognizing an opportunity, Zephyrion approached them with a proposition: to join forces and undertake a guild quest involving a kidnapping north of the city, between El-Makath and the town of Alban. Each had their own reasons for needing the reward, and after some hesitation, they agreed. The newly formed party registered with the guild under the name "Mor Cala."
Chapter 2: Into the Wilds
Setting out northward, the group camped overnight before arriving at a modest farmstead. The distraught farmer and his family recounted how goblins had kidnapped their daughter. Grateful for any assistance, they pointed the adventurers in the direction the goblins had fled.
Following the lead, Mor Cala traveled until dusk when they stumbled upon an unexpected sight: a crudely built fortress guarded by goblins. This was unusual, as Shade Blights like goblins and orcs typically lacked the intellect to construct or communicate beyond grunts and squeals.
Formulating a plan, the party decided on a stealthy infiltration over the back wall, using a fire at the front gates as a distraction. Flaming arrows ignited the wooden gates, and as the goblins scrambled to address the blaze, Mor Cala scaled the rear of the fortress.
Chapter 3: Flames and Fury
Their distraction proved too effective—the fire spread rapidly, engulfing parts of the fortress and forcing the party into direct confrontation with a horde of goblins. Amid the chaos, Shiro narrowly avoided death when a ballista bolt grazed his side.
Fighting their way towards the central cave entrance, they encountered a caged Matron Warg and her pups. The formidable creature broke free, attacking with ferocity. Though they managed to defeat her, the battle left the party severely weakened.
Pressing on, they faced the Goblin Warchief. Strangely, the goblins communicated in an unknown language, unlike anything the adventurers had heard. The Warchief proved a deadly foe, nearly killing Shiro and Zephyrion. In their dire moment, a surge of energy revitalized them, unlocking newfound abilities that turned the tide of battle.
Chapter 4: Shadows of a Larger Threat
With the Warchief defeated, they found the kidnapped girl. Mahvra comforted her while the others gathered loot from the cave. Among their findings were notes detailing plans for multiple kidnappings—a targeted list implying a mastermind behind the goblins' actions. The name "Sylas" surfaced as a possible orchestrator.
As the fortress burned behind them, Mor Cala returned the girl to her grateful family and reported their findings to the Adventurers Guild. They requested a meeting with Darvok Blackscale, the guild leader, to discuss the unsettling evidence. Darvok promised to investigate further and keep them informed.
Chapter 5: Unseen Enemies
In the days that followed, the group undertook various tasks within the city. A visit to Esmerelda's Aether Emporium led to commissioning a powerful magic blade for Shiro, crafted from a Lightning Aether Stone.
One evening, as they returned to the guildhall, they spotted a masked harlequin figure etching a rune into the building's exterior. Riven recognized the symbol and shouted a warning, but it was too late—the guildhall exploded, rendering them unconscious. As their vision blurred, the harlequin mocked them before disappearing into the shadows.
Upon regaining consciousness, they assisted Darvok in sifting through the wreckage. The attack was linked to a mysterious group known as "The Harlequin Brotherhood." With few leads, Darvok urged them to continue their investigations, hinting that answers might lie beyond the empire's borders.
Chapter 6: Journey to Melgia
Mor Cala agreed to escort a caravan led by Faraday, a Dragonborn merchant, to the Kingdom of Melgia. Before departing, they visited Emberforge, a renowned weapon and armor smith. The owner loaned them a blade named Whisper, provided they advertise his forge along their journey. Mahvra accepted the responsibility, adding the weapon to her arsenal.
On the road, they encountered members of "The Veil," operatives of the enigmatic Night Mother, searching for powerful artifacts: a set of daggers, a halberd, and a bow imbued with her essence. A skirmish ensued, but The Veil retreated, leaving an ominous promise of future encounters.
Later, the caravan was ambushed at a bridge rigged with explosives. The attackers, identified as the "Iron Brand"—a notorious group involved in slavery and the poaching of magical creatures—seemed intent on acquiring Faraday's cargo. Suspicion grew among the party about the true nature of their escort mission.
In a desperate move, Shiro used a peculiar squirrel-shaped whistle he had found earlier, summoning a pack of blink dogs that helped turn the tide of battle. Afterward, curiosity drove the party to inspect the caravan's contents. They discovered black daggers shaped like raven feathers—the very items The Veil sought.
When The Veil reappeared, the party, recognizing their depleted strength, reluctantly handed over the daggers. Parting on uneasy terms, The Veil assured them their paths would cross again.
Chapter 7: Farewells and New Beginnings
Upon reaching New Drach, Shiro was met by a childhood friend bearing grave news: his mother was on her deathbed. Torn between duty and family, Shiro chose to return to his homeland, bidding an emotional farewell to Mor Cala.
Shortly after, the group encountered the Iron Brand once more. This time, they were pursuing Oosmir—a man with the perpetual appearance of a young boy, whom Mahvra recognized from her village. They aided his escape and continued to the port city of Umbra.
In Umbra, they visited a tavern frequented by Oosmir. Discussing their recent troubles with the Iron Brand, they caught the attention of Wulfrand, a mysterious figure clad in black armor. Sensing their mutual interest in dismantling the Iron Brand, he followed them outside.
Chapter 8: Into the Blightwood
Confronting a captive from the Iron Brand, tensions flared as Mahvra, provoked by Riven and enraged by news that her homeland—the Blightwood—was under attack, executed the prisoner. The act weighed heavily on her conscience.
Recognizing their aligned goals, Wulfrand joined Mor Cala. United, they set their sights on the Blightwood, determined to thwart the Iron Brand's destructive plans and uncover the truth behind the shadows looming over Nidira.
Transition to "The Chronicles of Nidira: Brand of the Blightwood"
With new alliances forged and old friends departed, Mor Cala ventured toward their next adventure. The journey ahead promised greater challenges as they delved deeper into the mysteries threatening their world. This marked the end of the "Mor Cala" arc and the beginning of the next chapter: "The Chronicles of Nidira: Brand of the Blightwood."
Report Date
11 Feb 2023
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