Biweekly Monster-Psycat (Panthera Psiona)

The total darkness that only a thousand feet of solid rock could produce enveloped Taleris. It was a safety blanket unlike anything else he could expect down here. His life detecting circlet warned him of something moving through the empty darkness nearby. He stopped, slowing his breathing and staring into the black. He could hear the beast’s measured breaths. 

It would soon pass. Taleris resisted the urge to reach for his dagger as it drew near. Suddenly a pair of glowing eyes turned and locked onto him. How could it know! And then there were five rushing all over him. He drew his sword, meeting only air as claws bit into him.

Seeking a Robber

With another new arrival in Haven, the adventurers meet another week.

On Monday, August 12th, another new adventurer passes through the portal to Haven from Enoch:

• Peter (KeM): a farmer serious about his personal spirituality and fitness. (Level 1 Human Monk with Natural Empathy, Climb, and Jump from backstory and some Double Jump and Agility from past experience.) He received an elegant pen that can transform into a sword upon command. He leaves behind his land, animals, and equipment for the opportunity to be an explorer.

He arrives in the Citadel House to find some prior arrivals discussing a potential visit to the Satyrs as escorts for Matthias’ people he wants to send:

• Jonathan (JaA): Level 1 Human Musician.
• Simon (JeA): Level 1 Human Druid.
• Lonir (MaC): Level 1 Elf Thief.
• Verdis the Prickly (HuS): Level 1 Human Fighter.

Velder’s Cave

“Up, down, left, left, down, right… or was there an up in there?”

“Don’t tell me you’re lost. What’s the point of this anyway. You said there was a treasure in here. Can’t be much of one; I can barely squeeze through here in this armor. Who would haul treasure into this maze? “

“This treasure is very light, no bulk at all.”

“What kind of treasure is that?”

“The best kind: knowledge.”

Biweekly Item-The Rebel Spear

Sugyk contemplated the spear embedded upright in the mud before him. It always returns. How many champions had taken it? Eventually each would fall, but wherever they fell, the spear returned. Now war was at their caves again.

Sugyk steeled himself and plucked the spear from the mud. The dripping and grumbling sounds of the caverns seemed to slow and he felt a sense of celerity come over him.

He was about to turn and rush to combat the encroaching foe when a chill came over him. He looked around to see ghosts of past champions surrounding him.

“Do you think yourself more able than us to bring victory to our people? Then prove yourself!”

Return to the Troll Bridge

With another new arrival in Haven, the adventurers meet another week.

On Monday, July 29th, another new adventurer passes through the portal to Haven from Enoch:

• Jonathan (JaA): a traveling musician with a heart full of wanderlust. (Level 1 Human Musician with Riding, Persuade, and Haggle from backstory and some Second Hand and Emulate from past experience.) He received a golden mandolin to supplement his mundane one. It seems to have power over time itself. He leaves behind the freedom of the open road in search of greater adventure.

He arrives in the Citadel House to find some prior arrivals planning to deal with the returned troll under the Timberford bridge:

• Thorn (NaA): Level 1 Dwarf Cleric.
• Simon (JeA): Level 1 Human Druid.

Biweekly Monster-Hectarm

Vidius paused, listening. The others stopped at his signal as he squinted against the inky black of the cavern ahead; beyond the well of light from Galza’s softly glowing sword he could hear a sound, repetitive and sharp, growing nearer. Was it webbed feet slapping on the stone? Dozens of them at least. He signaled the others back, but the sound was accelerating closer, the slapping now coming impossibly fast. He got his first glimpse of the source in the blue light and turned in a panic to run.

Too late. The ball did not quite reach the walls on either side, but the arms protruding from it did. Soon they were all tumbling wildly, bashing against the wall, held by strong arms on the sides of the massive ball as it continued to hurtle down the cavern.

Margon’s Palace

Margon’s mighty palace was also built in preparation for his coronation. When he died in battle against Vardor, his son, Mardain, who was with him on the campaign sent a number of his personal guard back to Taurkiev to slaughter the women of Margon’s harem, in order to prevent potential challenges to his rule. Mardain did not survive the ongoing campaign and no king ever dwelt again in the palace at Taurkiev. With the kingdom splintering, the servants left the palace, the dungeons flooded, their occupants forgotten, and the royal city emptied.

Biweekly Item-Well of Lost Reflections

“Delvirin?”

“He was going into the temple. He took the ring.”

“That ring. He goes to the temple only to justify wearing it. He’s become obsessed with it.”

“Can you blame him? It’s a powerful tool.”

“It makes him reckless—” A third drow appeared at his shoulder, a mirror on a chain around his neck, a ring held near it.

“What does the temple justify?”

“Delvirin! Our, um, our presence here.”

“We were discussing intentions to reassign us.”

“Quite. I dislike how hard the Well makes it to eavesdrop. Until I can get a convex mirror, I shall have to practice. Please, keep talking.” He put a ring on his finger, again vanishing.

The Contaminated River

Adventurers continue to make their way to the temple in Enoch to join the mission to Haven. 

On Monday, July 22nd, three more adventurers are gathered in the temple at Enoch to go through the portal:

• Verdis the Prickly (HuS): a bandit whose band was down on its luck and hiding in the wilderness. (Level 1 Human Fighter with tracking from backstory.) He received an axe that burned him to touch. He is leaving his band of bandits and a special lady friend to go to Haven and continue his efforts taking from the pompous rich.
• Lonir (MaC): a pick pocket who grew up as a lonely urchin in Enoch itself. (Level 1 Elf Thief with climbing, hiding, and lying from backstory.) He received a crystal that glows or doesn’t at his will. He leaves his few friends looking for a second chance at a better life.
• Lash (WaB): a son of a farmers who took to stealing to care for his family in a desperate year. (Level 1 Human Thief with riding, natural empathy, and lying from backstory.) He steals a mysterious and ornate dagger from a surprisingly deep pock at finds it brings him luck. He leaves his family and friends at the promise of adventure.

Play Report-Aftermath

With Benquil exhausted from wounds and magical healing, the party looks for a place to eat and rest a while. They follow their footprints in the ash back to the giant door at the bottom of the temple. Once there, they eat and Lamila takes a 5 hour watch during which she hears a brief rushing wind and sees the door shake. She tells Benquil about it when she wakes him and he takes a 3 hour watch with nothing of note. During Leo’s 5 hour watch, he hears the wind twice more, but nothing else.