Twenty Years After

Scribe Notes

Summary

Adventure: Twenty Years After

• aka: Dark Memories & Silken Threads

GM: Martin
Season: Winter 826 WK
Night: Wednesday
Level: Medium Well Done

Party

• Silken aka Lady Dark - Female Human E&E, and courtesan of considerable repute - played by Fi
• Axis - Male (formerly Human) Silver Dragon and E&E - played by Greg G
• Amber the Witch - Female Elven broom-riding Witch - played by Jo
• Lysander - Female Elven OG "Namer with big sword" (and wings) - played by Avette
• Mary-M - Female Halfling Namer "the smallest Seraph" - played by Helen C
• Dramus - Fey Prince and sometime Necromancer - played by Mandos
• Mario - Male Human Mind Mage Lothario - played by Dean

Time on adventure

tbc 826 WK to tbc 826 WK

Employer

Jocelyn, Urielite Bishop of Seagate.

Potential for additional employers

Mission

tbd

Pay

Probably

Scribe Notes

These notes are written by different party members. Some of them may be an accurate of events but, on the whole, I (Lysander Treeborne, first scribe) suggest you take them with a grain of salt.

Party (in alphabetical order)

Amber

Witch and dealer of white-hot pain to up to 7 targets (hopefully not party members). She rides a broom and sometimes wears a pointy hat. She assures me she has no warts, but she does have a metallic hawk familiar.

Axel Wagon Mage (Axis)

Lizard wizard (and now actual lizard) – owner of a hoard and some very pungent scallions – and larks. As self-effacing and mildly shambolic as ever

Dramus

your guess is as good as mine, but he brings his own inn, pixies and skeletal hand – and is tragically tall. Somehow, he appears to be a necromancer and a mind mage (shudder). Oh, and appears more fae than elf.

Mario

ridiculously good-looking human mind mage and purveyor of fine wines and charcuterie (we are so doomed). Says he can use the rapier dangling artistically from his belt. We shall see.

Lysander

Namer, warrior and jaundiced Michaeline – big white wings and an array of large swords.

Mary-M

Namer, Samielite and overall adorable cherub (cute little white wings and everything). She has an equally adorable winged serpent pet(?). Also a Namer (because we need more of those).

Silken aka lady Dark

Party leader and self-appointed military scientist (we’re doomed). Being an E$E (sic) mage is the least of her many talents. She is as elegant and put together as ever (and as trustworthy I’m sure).

There are five healers, two of whom are rank 10, three people who have their own wings and one who not only has his own wings but can also carry people around on an exaltation of larks (yes really), one who has a chariot pulled by songbirds (again with the noisy birds) and one who can bring his own inn. How adventuring has changed. You hang out in the forest for five minutes (OK – 20 human years) and adventuring has turned into glamping!!!

We also have courtesans/courtiers, thieves, rangers, assassins, a philosopher/alchemist and a warrior but no actual military scientist because that would be useful.

Our mission (which we apparently decided to accept)

The church had identified 4 possible areas of dark circle incursion. Investigations showed remnants of activity such as animal and human sacrifices but no signs of a dark circle. They want a party of adventurers to investigate the latest incursion, which they have identified through the reliable and accurate arts of astrology and divination, as they look less like paladins (aint that the truth) and more inconspicuous (not).

In their wisdom they have tasked Lady Dark (AKA the Lady Silken) to gather a group for this purpose. A little bit of divine interference has ensured that both Lysander and Mary-M are amongst the party. Others appear to have been available by mere happenstance (hmm, a likely story).

1 Frost 826

After brief introductions (and reintroductions) our motley crew hied ourselves to the Cathedral where we were briefed by Bishop Jocelyn (time has not been kind). The bishop has given us a thurible (incense burner) that helps detect the presence of evil by floating gently off towards it (very useful in the woods where there will be no natural breezes to blow it around).

The area is in the Greenwood which is about 150 miles south and east of Seagate. We did the usual preparation (divinations, enchantments, a three-course meal) and set off the following morning. We trekked all day – oh wait, no we didn’t, we flew on wings, larks, broomstick and chariot – and arrived in a clearing in the Greenwood about 4 hours later. How times have changed. Who knows what the next days will bring? I predict an equal mix of chaos and hedonism. Whatever it is, I doubt it will dull.

2 Frost 826

This being the true and accurate representation as dictated to me by my Master Lord Dramus. Where he has not supplied information I have sought information from other parties involved and included their dictations as presented. - Tobias Pendleton (Scribe)

Upon performing a Detection of Evil via the provided thurible the party did head off to the east in an exultation of larks. Arriving at clearing the party spied a stone circle with 3 fallen stones. Some of the stones hae been covered in blood and there is a shallow grave nearby.

The standing stones are faintly magical but are not trapped warded or cursed.

There are three bodies, two whole and one bisected with the the top half remaining. The bisected entity is the remains of cervitaur (A centaur but more expensive [A little deerer])

Speaking to the Fallen

My master then tried to speak with the fallen but they did not wish to communicate. So the Wiccan Lady spoke via cards and determoned that they came from the Fastness of Girwyllan and were on their way back from The Cloisters when they were captured at night in the Greenwood and a couple of days later killed. They are part of a church to the dark powers and are working against another sect.

Speaking to a pixie

My Master then went of to speak to the fae hoping for a better response than recieved from the deceased meeting a friendly Pixie both Gnarled and Gnerled. Learning that centaurs and cervitaur have been more common since summer and do not belong here. Also lets us know about the evil Satyrs with Goatlike faces As well as a Boneyard, a large circle and a number of smaller Circles.

Dinner and Bed

We then walk to Adjepbar via Dream for dinner and sleep. As they entered Dream they saw, in the distance to the north, a storm the group believe represents an incursiuon from Furfur The Earl of Storms and Lightning.

3 Frost 826

Runes found beneath the Portal Tomb site.

Mario here to provide you with the next installment of our adventures
We head back to the Greenwood from Adjepbar after dinner and a good nights sleep. Dramus and Amber have eaten something that has not agreed with them so they unfortunately are forced to stay at our base camp
We recap the timings noted from the first evil clearing - The circle was dedicated to a power in autumn, the crystals present nearby were gathered some time later, then the circle was reconsecrated to another power recently
We now know that Furfur was the first power and has cultists based at the Cloisters. This explains the storm seen in dream which also manifests in reality throughout the day
The second power we also now know as being Marchosias

We plan to find another clearing which has evil detectable by the thurible. Lysander takes off under walking unseen to scout for a possible circle based on patterns and thurible smoke
She spots a small clearing with two large upright stones with one large stone leaning at an angle on them, apparently this is called a portal tomb. It is about 6 miles from base camp
We set off in various styles of movement, though no songbirds to improve our stealth. We approach cautiously to look for evil doers but find none present
No movement, nothing on esp/telepathy but the thurible smoke points to the stones. They are old magic, primal, Druidic earth magics
We trace the smoke with a wizards eye into the entry of the stones and find a narrow staircase leading down. Mary M throws a ball of light down the stairs, Took genes prevail
We decide to follow the light orb. Lysander finds fibres set to show someone has passed through. We avoid them and progress down to the bottom of stairs into a narrow cleft. Eldritch drawings are noted on the walls, less tits and more tentacles, disappointing
An opening off to the right, a small ossuary, to the left another, the end of the cleft has dead heads on poles and seems to be the source of the evil the smoke is attracted to.
We investigate, head killed 3 days ago, similar time as deaths at first sacrifice area, pole is bestial magic, name of magic is dedication. While there we find a feather that I work out was from a raven belonging to Stolas.

Mary M and myself start long divinates, about 90 mins in an evil group approaches a sleeping Silken within the stones. Silken had mentioned having a nap while waiting, her location of choice leaves a lot to be desired.
Thankfully the alarm is raised by Mary Ms pet which was watching for trouble at the top of the stairs. Axis wizard eyes the group, 12 human sized goat faced satyrs plus 2 minotaurs.
The group are confused by the sleeping beauty and are working out what to do. Not knowing yet whether they are friend or foe, we attempt a dissemble with some success.
I sneak up and out invisible which they do not detect, then I ‘enter’ the clearing to rescue my sleeping lady. They are confused but not aggressive and allow me to converse with them to find out they are followers of Urox and that we should not be here, very dangerous.
After some bluff and bluster we toast the success of their endeavours and Silken and I leave the clearing together. Unfortunately we have found out they are going downstairs, other than the 2 minotaurs, to where the party are hiding

Still unsure of their nature, the remaining party (Axis, Mary M and Lysander) hide in the first small ossuary hoping they will pass by and allow their exit
They almost pass by, but one of their number smells them and they start to search. A bit of ventriloquist trickery gets them chasing shadows elsewhere and the party sneak their way up towards the waiting minotaurs
The party have noted that the 12 goat faced satyrs reek of evil, so we pivot to plotting their destruction using the stairs as a choke point
Silken and I try to take out the minotaurs with spells, the sleep from Silken was effective, my control person was resisted and the alarm was raised. Just as the party arrived at the remaining minotaur, I got it under control and we now controlled the top of the stairs
The satyrs charge up towards us and Mary M calls her holy fire down upon them, they melt rather well. A sleep and mental attack leaves only a few plus a shaman down the stairs
We move forward to stop the shaman incanting however he calls forth an avatar of Marchosias just before him and his remaining minions are also introduced to the holy fire of Mary M
Lysander and I move to engage the avatar. While it tramples and breathes on us, Lysander deals many strong blows and I manage to finish it off. We regroup to plan our next move.

Buffs & Mil Sci

Buffs

Long Term (assumed always on)

Magic (caster)	Rk	Effects	Duration	Si	Ax	Am	Ly	MM	Dr	Ma
Fireproofing (Dr)	10	Protection from non-magical heat and fire	11 hrs
Fire Armour (Dr)	10	+44 ablative armour against magical fire	11 hrs
Dark Vision (Dr)	7	Cat Vision	8 hrs

Self Only

Magic (caster)	Rk	Effects	Duration	Si	Ax	Am	Ly	MM	Dr	Ma
Mind Shield	Rk	+10+2/rk% vs M.Att.	1+2/rk hrs						6	8
Wraithcloak	Rk	+32% Def +6 AP +21 Stealth	10.5 hrs						20
Holy Armour	Rk	+37%, 17 retributive -17 Stealth	8.5 hrs					16
Force Shield	Rk 24	+50% Def, ablative protection	12.5 hrs							Y

Short Term (cast when needed)

Magic (caster)	Rk	Effects	Dur	Si	Ax	Am	Ly	MM	Dr	Ma
Enchant Weapon (Ax)	17	+18 BC%, +6 Dam. +7 vs Phn/Nm	22 min
Spectral Weapon (Dr)	16	+17 BC%, +6 Dam. Can hit Insubstantial	21 min
Weapon of Flames (Ma)	13	+14 BC%, +7 Dam.	18 min							Y
Mind Speech (Dr)	6	7 people communicate Telepathically	70 min

Cast by minions and retainers

Magic (caster)	Rk	Effects	Dur	Location	Si	Ax	Am	Ly	MM	Dr	Ma
Strength of Stone (Ent)	20	+20 either ST or END	21 hours	Asheth
Armour of Earth (Ent)	20	+42% Def 1pt Armour	21 hours	Asheth
Water Breathing (Splosh)	16	Can breathe Underwater	17 hours	Tower
Water Proofing (Splosh)	10	Water proof objects for 55 days, or entities for 33 hours	Variable	Tower
Waters of Healing (Splosh)	14	Heals for D-5+14. Cost 200sp for Perm	17 hours	Tower

Senses and other stuff

Capability	Rk	Effects	Dur	Si	Ax	Am	Ly	MM	Dr	Ma
Sense Danger (%)		Mind Talent (or equivalent)							63%	75%
Detect Ambush (%)		Ranger (-5/rank of opposition)							138%/118%	130%
Enhanced Vision		Pierce fog/obscurement								11
See Invis (Rk)		Effective rank for seeing invisible			20				20	11
Stealth (%)		Standard / Ranger Outdoors			20			97%	84%/96%	119%
Sense Mana (Rk)		Can see Mana Flows							15
Fae Sight		Can See Through Illusions							< Rk 9
Dimensional Sight		Can See Adjacent Dimentions							15ft
Sense Death		Can Detect Deaths							130ft

Misc

Greater Enchantment

(Ax) rank 20: +21 all areas for the season

(Myrrh courtesy of the bishop)

Enhance Enchantment

(Ax) rank 11-13: 65-80 seconds

Remove Curse

(Dr) MA 32 (62 if urgent)

Heroic Aura (Mario)

+6% SC, +2 Damage, +6% Defence, +2 Damage Reduction, +11% vs Fear checks.

Herbalist Lunch/Broth

?? rk ?, Meal 4 FT or Broth 4 FT

Watch Order

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
1		2		3		4		5		6

Marching Order

Skirmish Formations (Front)
Default	Double File	Single File ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???

Calendar

Winter: Frost 825 (7)
	Moonday		Duesday		W'ansday		Th'rsday		Frysday		Reapsday		Sunday
		Samhain	1	Guild Meeting Seagate	2		3		4		5		6
	7		8		9		10		11		12		13
	14		15		16		17		18		19		10
	21		22		23		24		25		26		27
	28		29		30		1		2		3		4
Winter: Snow 825 (8)
	5		6		7		8		9		10		11
	12		13		14		15	Solstice	16		17		18	Yuletide
	19	Days of Chaos	20	DoC2	21	DoC3	22	DoC4	23	DoC5	24	DoC6	25	DoC7
	26	DoC8	27	DoC9	28	DoC10	29	DoC11	30	Twelfth Night	1		2
Winter: Ice 825 (9)
	3		4		5		6	First Plough	7		8		9
	10		11		12		13		14		15		16
	17		18		19		20		21		22		23
	24		25		26		27		28		29		30

Appendices

Astrology Readings

tbd

Letter to Silken

Lady Dark,
Sworn Servant of the Powers of Light,
It is with considerable reluctance that I write to you now.

Twenty years have passed since Rashak the Destroyer, Mistress of Masada was cast down and the great manifestation of the Dark Circle broken beneath fire and sanctified steel. All hoped that her evil had been wholly extinguished, yet time has proven otherwise.

You will no doubt know of the northern outbreak, wherein Rashak’s surviving acolytes bore fragments of the Circle into the cold provinces of Jurgenmark and sought to seed it anew. By the courage of adventurers of your guild and the sacrifice of loyal Western Kingdom forces, that horror was contained and burned away.

Elsewhere there have been lesser recurrences: hidden crypts, blighted fields, circles found carved beneath ruined chapels and abandoned villages. Each, by grace and vigilance, destroyed by our martial brothers and sisters before it could take root.

But now a more concerning pattern has emerged.

In recent months, our diviners and wardens have marked several manifestations of the Circle in widely separated regions. Yet when our knights and clergy arrive to investigate, they find nothing. No taint. No corruption. No lingering necromancy. Only signs that something had been there and was gone before we could reach it.

The Circle appears. The Circle vanishes. This troubles us greatly.

If this remained a purely martial issue we would send our loyal Church brethren, but as the enemy shows a new deviousness and cunning, our mind turned to your unique talents.

We have recently detected a new manifestation in the Greenwood, that forested area north of Brastor, hard against the Ildrisholm Hills and not far distant from the site of the great victory of Light at Carson's Switch.

For this reason, and by authority granted me by Tomás Xerxes, Archbishop of the Unified Western Church, I hereby call upon the oath you swore before the Inquisition in Seagate in that Year of Tribulations 800 WK.

You swore your obedience, modesty, and chastity until the Dark Circle was banished forever. Therefore, you are requested, and, by your vow required, to take up this onerous charge once more.

Gather such companions as you deem trustworthy. Travel where these signs of corruption lead you. Investigate this area. Discover whether Rashak’s evil survives in hidden form, or whether some deeper darkness now moves beneath its name.

Attend on me in Seagate before your departure. You shall have the support of the Unified Church within reasonable measure: letters of passage, access to our archives, sanctuary where it may be found, and such bounty as our treasuries can responsibly provide.

As additional inducement should this matter be resolved to the satisfaction of the Inquisition, your oath shall be considered fulfilled in full and without reservation; you shall be released from all further obligations to the Church and from the office and burden of Lady Dark.

May the Light yet guide your path and reveal what hides in shadow.

Bishop Jocelyn,
Cathedral of the Dawn
Seagate