Kalh's Campaign Notes

Main: @vagueandominousvibes

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Directory

#player character (#rogan underbite, #aurora nyx, #aaria ok'oree, #zia taleweaver, #koi natica, #frederick, #niko warren, #viliam)

#divine champions (#viliam, #mara the lord of water, #velaldel the lord of fire, #alarion the lord of earth, #kumar rao the lord of air)

#lore (#macawra, #fundat, #cantata)

#session notes cc

NPCs

PC-related: #luca myrk, #adelaide merrill, #wish, #aamira ok'oree

Waldstad: #maggie the herbalist, #granny peacock, #sylvia the barmaid

Rosa Mors: #hyacinth paeleiros, #mother morelle, #alaria va'lielmo, #captain helm bähr, #vorin treskell, #lea peacock

Dictionary

Aaria Ok'oree (she/her) — PC. An aasimar bard who travelled with Koi (PC) and Wish for a while before joining the party in Nordhafen. Suspected to be the next Lord of Earth.

Adelaide Merrill (she/her). A young human woman and the younger sister of Niko Warren (PC). Adopted by Lord Oakenwell, she grew up in Gre'gel and was at age sixteen named the sole heir to the Oakenwell estate and associated wealth and assets. She is an accomplished chronurgy wizard.

Alaria Va'lielmo (she/her). A middle-aged red-haired elf and the younger sister of Velaldel Va'lielmo (Lord of Fire). She is the current leader of Rosa Mors, but would rather spend her time breeding heliconia dragons. Her relationship to Mother Morrell is tense.

Alarion (they/them). A golden tiefling and the current (?) Lord of Earth, residing in Dar Tarium. They are known to have been close to Velaldel Va'lielmo (Lord of Fire) and were last seen in a vision by Aaria (PC), wherein they were held in self-imposed captivity deep underground.

Aurora Nyx (she/her) — PC. A human sorcerer who serves the Lord of Life, is a doctor, and is the next Lord of Fire. She is engaged to Luca Myrk and has a close familial relationship with Velaldel Va'lielmo (Lord of Fire).

Avarium. A place marked on a Li'shay map that indicates the residence of the fifth Cantatan Champion. The place does not appear on modern maps, but Adelaide has suggested that this is the place where the lunar paths cross.

Cantata. One of the three Material Planes, correlates most closely to the Feywilds.

Dar Tarium. The traditional residence of the Lord of Earth.

Daravana. A coastal city in Cantata, built on Li'shay ruins and known for its three noble changeling houses.

Fred (he/him) — PC. A middle-aged orc barbarian who grew up in Nordhafen, and was then sent to Sum Nebuli to train under Kumar Rao. When Tangar fell he returned to Nordhafen, and was there to accompany the party when they set out. Suspected to be the current Lord of Air.

Fundat. One of the three Material Planes, situated between Cantata and Macawra.

Great Old Ones, the. This is an umbrella term used to describe ancient fantastical creatures of Cantata who are powerful enough to hold their own small domains within which the Champions have limited power. They most closely correlate to powerful Archfeys.

Gre'gel. A mountain city in Fundat.

Hyacinth Paeleiros (he/him). A young elf encountered near Rosa Mors, who tends to side with Mother Morrell rather than Alaria Va'lielmo. He is likely to be the next Lord of Life.

Koi Naatica (they/them) — PC. Koi is a changeling bard/warlock who grew up as the youngest of the noble House of Naatica in Daravana. They were at a young age informed that they would become the next Lord of Water, whereupon their cousin, Remus Naatica, promised to go with them to train as their advisor. When Tangar fell, Koi lost all their memories and set up as a guide between Fundat and Macawra. Here they met Wish, their current partner, and later Aaria (PC). They joined the party in Nordhafen.

Kumar Rao (he/him) — DECEASED. An elderly aarakocra, the previous Lord of Air.

Li'shay. An ancient culture that seems to have died out around 5,000 years ago. Surviving technology seems to be in remarkably good condition.

Luca Myrk (he/him). A half-elven young man who has built a career as an army doctor and serves the Lord of Life. He is friends with Rogan (PC) and is engaged to Aurora (PC).

Lunar Avarium. The research centre Adelaide Merrill and Niko (PC) grew up in.

Macawra. One of the three Material Planes, correlates most closely to the Shadowfells.

Maggie (she/her). A red-haired half-elf from Waldstad. She runs the local Herbarium and had a one-night stand with Rogan (PC) before Rogan was imprisoned. Maggie's elderly father was last seen in Rosa Mors.

Mara (she/her) — DECEASED. A blue-haired fey halfling and the previous Lord of Water. In life, she is known to have been friends with Fred, the Lord of Air, and it has been discovered that she had a partner and a newborn child around the time she died, both of whom can be found in the Lord of Water's prism cube. Mara can currently be spoken to through Koi (PC).

Mother Morrell (she/her). A fantastical creature known to be one of the Great Old Ones. She can currently be found in the woodlands surrounding Rosa Mors and is known to have a tense relationship with Alaria Va'lielmo. She was a close ally to Velaldel Va'lielmo (Lord of Fire).

Niko Warren (he/him) — PC. A young human wizard who spent most of his childhood in an orphanage or in the streets of Nordhafen with his two closest friends, Slick and Dolly. He is the older brother of Adelaide Merrill, but was separated from her at a young age. He learns magic by watching other magic users and has a familiar called Luna.

Nordhafen. A costal trade city in Fundat. This was where the party met and set out from.

Peacocks, the. The Peacocks are a family of firbolgs who serve the Lord of Fire and act as caretakers of Rosa Mors. The youngest, Lea Peacock, is friends with Viliam, the Lord of Life, and has been developing some magic powers.

Prism Cube. A prism cube is an object held by each Champion, within which they can keep creatures or objects in temporal stasis.

Remus Naatica (they/them, he/him). A handsome changeling in his forties, the cousin and advisor of Koi (PC). Known masks include Patrocles, a triton with the vibrance of paradise fish.

Rogan Underbite (he/him) — PC. A dwarven fighter, Rogan has spent his life as an inventor of the impossible. He has most recently made news by intending to build a flying machine, which drew the interest of Wish. He is a friend of Luca Myrk, and the two have worked together on a handful of medical inventions.

Rosa Mors. The traditional residence of the Lord of Fire.

Slick (he/him) and Dolly (she/her). Slick and Dolly are young friends who Niko looked after in Nordhafen. Upon leaving, Niko ensured that Slick had a job at the docks and that Dolly was looked after by the temple of the Lord of Life.

Sum Nebuli. The traditional residence of the Lord of Air.

Tangar. The third moon of Cantata, smaller than the other two, that fell three years ago. There are indications that it may have been man-made. The other two moons and Randar and Yriad.

Velaldel Va'lielmo (he/him) — UNKNOWN. A tall red-haired elf, the brother of Alaria Va'lielmo, partner of Alarion (Lord of Earth), and the Lord of Fire. He has a close relationship to those around him, particularly Mother Morrell and the Peacocks, and is revered as a warm and welcoming individual. When Tangar fell, he followed Alarion and has not been heard from since. It is believed that Alarion might know more of his whereabouts.

Venas Adenath. The traditional residence of the Lord of Water.

Viliam (he/him). An ancient elf who travels Fundat and helps strangers. He is the Lord of Life and has been looking for his lost love and for his successor. The former is suspected to be Aaria's (PC) mother, and the second is suspected to be Hyacinth Paeleiros.

Vorin Treskell (they/them). A colourful aarakocra wizard who served Mara at Venas Adenath. They have a suspected crush on Remus Naatica.

Waldstad. A rural town in Fundat, halfway between Nordhafen and Gre'gel. One of the bridges from Fundat to Cantata is found an hour's walk north of here.

Wish (she/her). A red-haired white tiefling and the partner of Koi (PC). Wish is an inventor and patron who has travelled Fundat assisting various universities and scholarly individuals in their magical research.

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #20

Summary: The party arrives in Daravana and discover the remains of the House of Naatica. Battle ensues.

Session secretary: Niko's player

Vera - white skin, dark eyes, different ears.

Rogan - engineering the ship to make it go quicker by focusing on the physical parts and ignoring the magic ones. He succeeds! Power has been returned to the guns.

Koi - checking navigation and approaching Daravana.

Rogan can shift power between weapons and speed.

Fred wakes up and gathers everyone. Tells them about Vera. That she wanted freedom. Fred is convinced this is the entity that was chasing Viliam.

Koi checks in with Mara to ask if she knows Vera. Mara doesn't know. She knows that the creature trapped was an entity not a creature. Mara confesses to Koi that once Koi "knows what she is doing" Mara will leave.

Party talks about Vera's interests and agree Fred will do his best to find out what she wants.

Daravana is deemed unsafe due to "corruption", no ships had come and gone from there. Party made a plan to head to House Naatica. The ship travels through a channel, passing other ships, no discernable damage or life. A ghost town.

Koi remembers the palace might have people holed up in.

Party scouts out the paths.

Man made islands with buildings in the centre and walkways between.

While walking towards the Floating Market, a skeleton is found. No skin, stripped by the elements? Torn clothes, by what? Niko spots fabric caught in doors as if shut on them as the people were leaving. Aaria sees another body in the house.

No sounds of life in this city.

A compound with "Naatica" above it. The party enters.

Koi attempts to message anyone but gets no response. Niko spots one gondola and poses that the family evacuated. The party enters the courtyard to check if the family was able to leave.

Rogan investigates the fountain, Fred heads to the open door. Koi and Aaria head towards Koi's parents' flat.

Koi + Aaria

Enter flat to find the house "stopped". The flat is in a state as the inhabitants appear to have grabbed what they needed and ran.

Koi's mother had been painting an abstract image of her - "Love, mum".

No bodies appear to be there.

Koi notes her mum's paintings are gone so they had time to pack and leave.

Fred

Enters the main manor. Finds the table overturned. With bodies. Fork in the eye of someone.

Explores the manor, empty, no sign of activity.

The party follows Fred to the room. Koi recognises her family strewn about. Nadia ha the fork in her eye. Her husband is holding the fork

Nadia (Lord Naatica), Teran (husband), Mira (successor), Shoal, Cora (Lord Quirin), Lyer (Koi's mum).

Lyer has silver knife in the back.

Niko + Koi try to detect magic but the zombies reach out to grab Niko and Koi. The party fights. Lyer stabs blindly at Koi. Aaria reveals her ascended form.

[The above is a fleshed-out transcription of the following notes]

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #19

Summary: Niko and Fred explore a deep sea settlement, discover a mural and a gold locket, and Fred gets cursed. Fred explores his Champion powers.

Session secretary: Niko's player

Fred approached Niko about walking to see the ruins.

Deep sea ravine with ruins.

Foundation remains reclaimed by the ocean. Deliberately geometric, simpler tha Rosa Mors.

Water Walk

Heavy suit but floating.

Kelp forest covering buildings, fish and other creatures.

Niko + Fred investigate the area. Fred is on guard due to his instincts. Niko finds a clay pot with several waves on the outside, patterns constructed with absolute precision (every symbol is the same). Following a path, denser buildings. Statues looking down with armour and weapons. Leads to a square that is clear of kelp, but it's covered in a dome. Statue in centre, female figure arms open, looking down and behind her is a semi domed structure. Upon entering there are symbols on the back wall. Under it is a stone table with a little chest covered in algae.

LEFT: One child figure offering orb to massive face.

CENTRE: Statue from outside, people praying around skirt.

RIGHT: Grand female figure holding moon + stars. People beneath offering magic.

Same person getting older.

Various theories of the creation of Cantata.

Chest contents: antique platinum pieces, sealed golden locket, blue spinal (worth 100gp), ruby (worth 1000gp), quartz (worth 50gp)

Niko notes down the carving and talks with Adelaide. Muses on the creation myths? The birth of a champion? How the champions get their power. Alarion the Lord of Earth. Niko thinks we should head to visit.

Aaria muses that this is the consecration of the champions.

While the party discusses this, Fred gets a feeling/flash of realisation of Tangar (moon) dreading it. The moon surrounded by darkness. The moon is the same in first and last panel.

Niko muses that the fifth champion sacrificed themselves to hold the darkness in the moon. When the moon came down the fifth champion returned.

Koi tries to talk to Mara about when the moon fell: Alarion tried to control the damage. Velaldel went after him. Mara didn't know wha was going on. Fred + Mara were babysitting.

Aaria wonders if the moon champion is a sacrifice to keep the evil in Tangar at bay?

Rogan wonders if the treasure is cursed. Niko casts detect magic and senses enchantment/conjuration. Fred opened the locket and it was empty and in his pocket. The locket has arcane symbols on it, similar in the past, a sentence appears for Niko with Comprehend Language: "We serve the fifth, we serve the fifth".

Koi resurfaces from her conversation. Mara knew Tangar was bad. Either the ritual to put it up there was bad, Tangar was bad, the fact.

Aaria, Koi, and Niko discuss what this means.

Fred talks to Luca about the curse and lifting it.

Fred comes back and the party asks him if he knows anything about recognising the champion spark. Fred casts the spell on Koi and recognises her divinity as Koi the Champion of Water. Niko remembers this spell and begins writing it down.

Aaria talks to Adelaide to check if she has a spark. Fred casts it again on Adelaide. She has a nebula condensing into a black hole and then born again. No divinity though.

To get a baseline for the spell, Fred casts it on Rogan and sees the star again. Traces of divinity. The star is the first to rise at night and the last to fall at dawn.

Fred theorises that Niko + Adelaide togheter could be the end of something.

The party talks about Niko + Adelaide looking at the moon. Niko remembers an ornate breakfast table. Servants bringing food and sister next to him, gold tiefling sat next to them. Dressed nice. Alarion is very familiar to Niko + Adelaide.

Fred doesn't know who told him to separate them. Aurora thinks i was a group decision.

Fred wants to cast the spell on both Niko and Adelaide. As he does all 3 of them begin to float. Fred becomes a more primordial version of himself. Thunder booming off his arms. He's channeling his determination and guild for what he has done to these two people. Fred sees the connection between Niko + Aurora, there is "night" between them, a void. The "night" could be absolute in the starlight, be reborn. The spell ends and Fred collapses.

Fred dreams about a woman white white skin, dark eyes, and long, pointy ears. She asks for his help. He learns that she has children. She says to call her "Vera".

[The above is a fleshed-out transcription of the following notes]

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #18

Summary: In the relative safety of the submarine, the party sets off towards Daravana and Dar Tarium. They discover an ancient map that mentions the potential location of a fifth Champion, kill some jellyfish, and escape undead merfolk.

Session secretary: Aaria's player

The party are in the submarine. Their goal is to get to Dar Tarium.

An ancient world map was found, with main locations (Rosa Mors, Venas Adanath, Dar Tarium, Sum Nebula) identified. A fifth location was also marked, named Avarium. They get the impression it's located in a desert area, closest located to Rosa Mors, but Aurora hasn't heard of it. Aurora copies the map in as much detail as she can.

Adelaide sees the ancient map and recognises it as the place where "the lunar paths cross". The larger two moons, Randar and Yriad, circle in opposite directions, while Tangar used to move in a tighter circle at a lower altitude. This is the only place where the paths perfectly intersect.

Adelaide recalls that she visited or lived at the Lunar Avarium with Niko and their parents. Their parents were researchers of magic, wizards who maybe worked there, but only small spells and cantrips were cast around her and Niko. There were places where they weren't allowed to go — a door she wanted to see behind, but was led away. She remembers white halls, pillars, and tiled floors. It had the shape of some kind of compound.

Adelaide doesn't share with Aaria what her parents did for work, and Aaria thinks Adelaide is truthful when she says she doesn't remember. The lunar crossing point, however, is something Adelaide's parents talked about at home.

During the journey, the sea teems with life. Creatures give space, but it's like trying to wade through a herd of goats. They are stared at by various fauna and merfolk, often with looks of confusion and some fear.

A shift rota was established:

DAY SHIFT

Pilot - Koi

Gunner - Aaria

Engineer - Rogan

NIGHT SHIFT

Pilot - Luca

Gunner - Fred

Engineer - Niko + Adelaide

They expect at least a week's travel, but it could be longer due to currents.

Towards the end of the first day, the light dims. Animal life seems to quiet. The boat is briefly turned off-course by a current, but Koi catches it and manipulates the water to carry them out of the current.

Aurora receives a message from Viliam: "I hope you're safe. I've called a full council. I believe that all of Fundat will stand with you. Some are hesitant."

During the first night the submarine is caught in a jellyfish swarm. Fred uses the submarine's guns to kill over half of them, leaving them adrift as the submarine pushes through.

In the morning the party debates whether to make a detour to Avarium, but agrees not to go there yet. They continue towards Daravana and Dar Tarium as planned, but add Avarium to their to-do list.

The submarine is attacked by undead merfolk. The party stuns them, which allows the party to escape. They note that the merfolk didn't take as much damage as was expected.

The night shift sees underwater ruins, and the ancient map indicates that there was a settlement here which no longer exists on modern maps.

[The above is a fleshed-out transcription of the following notes]

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #17

Summary: The party catches up with family and significant others. In the morning, they make plans for the next leg of the journey and acquire an ancient Li'Shay submarine.

Session secretary: Niko's player.

Rogan and Adelaide

Rogan asked if she trusted the group that had just let them out. Adelaide was cautious but optimistic since they did come and get them and no one knew where they were?

Niko and Adelaide

Niko found Adelaide as she was organising her spell components

Niko overheard Adelaide when she was first told where she was and that she said “I was right”. Niko asked her what that meant. Adelaide’s father Oakenwell explained that she was adopted and knew she would want to look for her birth parents. She’d also dreamed of a town with a river that resembled Waldstad and so began her search there.

Adelaide was made the heiress of the Oakenwell estate when she was 16

Adelaide revealed to Niko that their family name is “Merril”

Niko described his life in Nordhafen: 

how he was raised in an orphanage and then turfed out when he was too old. 

How he grew up on the streets and began to learn magic

When he tried to apply to the college and was almost arrested for assaulting a prominent student and his escape.

Adelaide describes what she knew about their family. Disjointed flashes of her parents. She remembers them talking about their research and knew there were places in the house that she wasn’t allowed to go

Adelaide asks Niko what he knew and he shared the first memory he had of her. Casting encode thoughts he handed her the memory for her to see for herself.

Next morning 

Party met for breakfast and began to establish objectives

Villiam had gone back to Fundat and left Alvin with the party who clarified that Villiam had gone to meet the other champions in Fundat and had asked the party to make their way back to Fundat as soon as possible.

The party agreed that Venas Adenath was better left as is, as it’s currently a safe zone and not in immediate danger.

Rosa Mors is currently being encroached by the corruption and potentially finding Velaldel could restore this, his last known location being Dar Tarium.

Aaria also wishes to travel to Dar Tarium as that is where the Lord of Earth currently is. 

Niko is aware that the Lord of Earth is a part of his past and as Adelaide is seeking their family she wishes to go as well. 

Vorin also says that Dar Tarium was close to figuring out a way to stem the corruption.

Remus offers up the use of an ancient Li'Shay submersible craft that could take us to Dar Tarium via Daravana, Koi's home town. Rogan and Wish go with him to establish its current functionality.

Aurora and Niko

Aurora checks in with Niko how his chat went with Adelaide

Niko expresses he’s more excited than he’s been in a long time and wants to get to know her.

Koi and Mara

Koi checked in with Mara and asks if anything has happened in Dar Tarium? Mara didn’t know anything of significance

Koi offered to talk things out with Mara, Mara offered no response

Rogan, Wish and Remus

Remus took Rogan and Wish to the submersible through the streets. Remus gives a quick but incredible tour through the streets filled with fish and the occasional body. Rogan notes the architecture.

Submersible is a metal structure with flawless joints powered by an arcane core with a non-arcane power back up (which Rogan approves). The submersible has a breathable cabin with space for 8 people, a cock pit, 2 arcane cannons and 3 diver suits that can fit 2 medium and 1 small person each with a 20 hour “breathe time”. 

Party

Rogan reports the submersible is in perfect working order and names the craft “Stingray”

Given the space available on the ship the party worked out who should be going. They agreed that Vorin should take Wish back to Rosa Mors, and that Aaria, Aurora, Koi, Rogan, Niko, Fred, Adelaide and Luca will be in the Stingray.

Aaria composes a short piece, hands it in a note to Vorin to be given to Velaldel's sister (Alaria).

Koi says goodbye to Wish, Koi asks Wish to check in with her other partner but is “uncomfortable” about how that conversation will go and leaves it to Wish’s discretion.

Rogan takes the party to the Stingray where he begins to teach them how to pilot and crew it. For the first leg, Rogan is appointed machinist (M), Koi is pilot (P), and Fred is gunner (G). A second crew will have to be established.

Rogan also scavenges materials from the museum to make adjustments to the small diving suit to make it fit Aurora or Koi.

Todo

Conversations with characters

Rogan and Fred

Fred and Niko and Adelaide

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #12

Summary: Viliam, Aurora, and Aaria speak to various members of the Rosa Mors household. Vorin tries to teleport the party, but the spell goes awry.

Viliam is distracted catching up with Lea Peacock, and learns that Lea has started learning magic (which she is very excited about). She explains that everyone at Rosa Mors had been informed that anyone returning from Fundat might not remember anything about Cantata, and that she had been told to pretend she wasn't familiar with Aurora (and Viliam) unless they clearly remembered. This was framed as a way of protecting everyone involved.

Meanwhile, Alaria leaves the courtyard. Mother Morelle and Aurora follows, but at the door to Alaria's office, Mother Morelle asks Aurora to let her handle this. Aurora concedes and returns to the party, where Viliam finally introduces Lea to everyone.

With Lea's help, they go to find Conrad — a human who came through from Waldstad shortly before Cantata was shut off from the other worlds — in the dining hall, where dinner is being rationed out from the head table. The operation is overseen by Grandpa Peacock, and Viliam takes a moment to check in with him. Aurora heads out into the gardens.

The remaining members of the party have a conversation with Conrad, and Conrad asks about his daughter, Maggie, who is the herbalist in Waldstad. The party confirms that Maggie is alive and safe, though they may have inadvertently triggered her memories.

While speaking with Conrad, Viliam faintly hears Alaria and Mother Morelle arguing through the wall. He excuses himself and goes to check on them. Alaria expresses her frustration and tiredness that she, who is supposed to be the leader at Rosa Mors in Velaldel's absence, isn't privy to all information, and that she never wanted to be in this position in the first place. Viliam encourages her and Mother Morelle to work together going forward, then leaves them to resume their conversation.

Viliam returns to the dining hall where he casts Create Food and Water to add to the rations, then offers to do a detection spell on Niko to figure out Niko's connection to everything going on.

Viliam and Aaria then go to speak with Grandpa Peacock. Grandpa Peacock takes them to a quiet corner of the kitchen, behind some sacks of flour, and tells them about the day the moon fell — that it was something that could be felt throughout Cantata, though not necessarily seen — and that there was a group of elves south of Rosa Mors who worshipped Tangar. He also explains about Lus Umber, the final month of the year, when magic seems to become more potent.

Viliam then goes out to find Aurora, and they have a conversation about trust, about Niko, and about Alaria and Mother Morelle.

Meanwhile, Aaria speaks to Kilian Peacock, one of the hunters of Rosa Mors, about the world beyond the Safe Zone. Kilian explains that it's grey and barren, that they sometimes see creatures moving out there, but that they themselves never cross the actual boundary.

Aaria then goes to check on Alaria and Mother Morelle. When she leaves, she passes Aurora as Aurora comes to speak to Alaria and Mother Morelle. Afterwards, Aurora shares with Aaria that she (Aurora) has a secret that she can't tell Aaria yet, but that she wants Aaria to be aware that there are things she's holding back. She reassures Aaria that it won't change anyone's life or death whether tey know the secret.

Aaria shares with Aurora that she doesn't like Rosa Mors, and that she doubts she'll like anywhere else in this world. Still, she looks forward to visiting the other domains. Both she and Aurora think they'll likely end up venturing beyond the Safe Zones.

In the dining hall, Viliam expends the rest of his spell slots to cast Create Food and Water, then the party prepares to leave. Vorin goes to gather his things (with Fred's help), while Aurora and Viliam say good bye to Lea.

Fred and Vorin reemerge carrying a lot of Vorin's papers, and Vorin draws a teleportation circle in the courtyard. It flickers and almost goes out, but keeps until everyone has moved through. The party emerges in a dark chamber, feel like they hit an invisible barrier, then bounce back and go unconscious.

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #11

Summary: Aurora has conversations with the individual party members. The party exits the tower.

Aurora first invites Fred to join her. She shares some of her recently regained memories — particularly memories pertaining to Fred being the Lord of Air. She then brings up Niko, and explains Fred's role in bringing Niko to Fundat. Fred dislikes this and says that if the Lord of Air is the kind of person who separates children from their families, he doesn't want to be him. Fred also insists that Niko should know. Aurora fears that it might reawaken Niko's childhood nightmares, which are tied to some sort of terror that the Champions of Cantata shared.

It becomes an argument between Fred and Aurora, which settles somewhat as Aurora says she'll tell Niko some of it, but not all, and Fred says that he can't stop her, but isn't pleased with the situation.

After their conversation, Aurora invites Koi upstairs. They speak lightly about what Aurora recalled regarding Koi and Mara, and Koi feels guilty and distressed about the situation with Aaria. Aurora comforts them.

While they speak, Fred and Niko investigate the tower for the magic items Vorin mentioned. Using Detect Magic, they make their way to the top of the tower. As Fred opens the trapdoor above the top of the staircase, it slams open. Aurora appears from her chambers, where she's speaking with Koi, and chides Fred and Niko. Fred and Niko persuade her to let them keep looking. In the uppermost chamber, they find an Emerald Pen (given to Niko) and a bag of Dust of Disappearance (given to Aurora).

After her conversation with Koi, Aurora speaks with Niko. [Insert summary later.]

Aurora then speaks with Aaria. Aaria is still in somewhat of a mood, so Aurora offers her whiskey. Aaria asks if Aurora knew the Whisperer. Aurora didn't. They discuss the implications of the Champions being gone, and Aurora explains what she remembers of Alarion.

Aaria is still on the fence about becoming a Champion. She lights a candle and tries to pray to Alarion. She's successful, and for a little while, they speak. She asks about Alaria, then about Velaldel. Alarion admits that the last time they saw Velaldel was "at the fragments, the shards", but can't make themselves say more about Velaldel's state. They warn Aaria about investigation the shards — for now — and instead ask her to learn and seek knowledge of Cantata. Alarion admits that Fred, Aurora, and Koi were sent to Fundat to give them a fighting chance against the power that has infected Cantata.

When Aurora and Aaria come downstairs, Aurora gestures for Viliam to join her upstairs. Meanwhile, Fred sits at the foot of the statue of the Lord of Fire and invites Aaria to join him, to mediate between her and Koi, but Aaria is still tense and the they pivot to discussing the Champions instead. Aaria asks if Fred can hear prayers, and Fred takes a moment to listen. At first he hears nothing, then he begins to pick up the impression of voices swirling in the back of his mind, like whispers on a breeze. He finds it somewhat disconcerting.

Leaving Aaria to herself, he then checks in on Koi.

Upstairs, Aurora and Viliam discuss Niko and his role in all this. Aurora then goes upstairs to Velaldel's study and tries to pray to him, but hears no reply.

The conversations wrap up and the party makes arrangements to exit the tower. Aurora wants to seal the tower after them, and so sends everyone else (including Mother Morelle) out first to distract. Viliam is supposed to make it look like he has cast some magic on it, but outside he finds the courtyard more or less empty, except for a lanky, blue firbolg girl. Seeing her, Viliam recognises her as Lea Peacock and remembers his many visits to Rosa Mors. Overwhelmed, he invites her to hug him — which she does, almost knocking him over — and he completely forgets to make it look like he is the one sealing the doors.

Miffed, Aurora seals the doors, only to then catch the eyes of Alaria looking directly at her from across the courtyard. There is a look of anger, bafflement, and sadness on Alaria's face.

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #10

Summary: Aurora and Viliam enter the tower of the Lord of Fire, Aurora remembers her past, and many conversations happen.

AARIA & ZIA

Aaria speaks a little longer with Alaria, then asks if there's anything Alaria can offer that might be of use to the party. Alaria suggests messenger pigeons, though the pigeons tend to vanish if they fly beyond the Safe Zone. Currently, the pigeons are primarily used by the hunting party and are kept by Kilian Peacock, the Pigeon Master.

Aaria and Zia leave Alaria to tend to the heliconia dragons. Inside the dining hall they notice a commotion in the courtyard and hurry out. They emerge at the same time as Niko and Fred, led by Vorin, emerge.

NIKO & FRED

Niko and Fred try to figure out if there's anything at Rosa Mors that might help them in their endeavours — specifically something of a magical nature. Vorin mentions that Mara, the Lord of Water, used to keep magic items close by her, so any magic items at Rosa Mors would likely be kept in the tower of the Lord of Fire. The tower is sealed, but they could have a look at trying to open it. He leads Niko and Fred outside, emerging at the same time as Aaria and Zia, and discover a commotion in the courtyard.

AURORA & VILIAM

Viliam and Aurora investigate the tower. The double doors are firmly closed, with a scorched handprint where the doors meet. Viliam encourages Aurora to try to open it. He then tries to shield her from view and pretends to command the doors to open, while she summons fire and presses her hand against the handprint. The handprint is noticeably larger than her own hand, presumably belonging to the Lord of Fire.

The doors open and Viliam ushers Aurora inside. They bar the doors and explore the ground floor — a statue of the Lord of Fire in their divine state, behind which a spiralling staircase winds up. At the back are two doorways, one filled with black emptiness with the Sylvan words for 'Hear the crackle' carved into the arch, while the other leads to steaming warm baths.

On either side of the staircase are pillars with empty braziers. Aurora lights the braziers, steps onto the first step, and is immediately struck by all the memories that had been erased. (Note to DM: See player notes from sessions 9.1–9.7.)

With her memories intact, Aurora goes to the top of the tower and finds it undisturbed. She and Viliam then sit on the steps she explains some of what she has recalled: becoming an apprentice to the Lord of Fire; meeting Zia and Mara; Fred being the Lord of Air; Viliam having been her friend; a conversation with the Lord of Fire about some great terror that haunts the Champions of Cantata; the things she learned about Niko and Niko's sister.

She asks Viliam for advice, and Viliam — in a moment of introspection — says that he has been acting out of fear, and that he wishes for her to choose how to act in this situation. She decides to speak to Mother Morelle, and asks if Viliam can fetch her. Afterwards, she thinks she would like to speak to the rest of the party members.

Viliam goes downstairs, and upon opening the doors discovers that they were not as stealthy as they tried to be. A number of people have gathered, including Alaria, who is surprised that they managed to open the tower. She makes it clear that she would like to investigate it once Viliam is done. Off to the side, Grandpa Peacock is trying to convince some of the soldiers that they didn't see Aurora using fire to open the doors.

Viliam invites Mother Morelle in, and Aaria, Zia, Niko, and Fred join. Aurora is upset that the rest of the party is there and takes Viliam aside to explain that she wanted to confirm details with Mother Morelle before speaking to the rest of the party, and that she wanted to speak to them one-to-one as she saw fit. Somewhat overwhelmed by the memories of the life she has lost, she then heads to her own chambers and breaks down sobbing. Viliam remains on the stairs, trying to figure out what to do.

The rest of the party pretend they weren't trying to listen in. While they wait for Aurora to return, Mother Morelle makes use of the baths.

Aaria takes the opportunity to confront Zia about Zia's multiple names and, supposedly, withholding her identity from Aaria. Zia tries to explain that most of what she knows now she only learned in the last few days. Aaria, still upset and distrustful, goes to pace around the baths.

Niko and Zia talk for a while, and Zia asks Mara if it's safe to reveal herself to this group. Mara, in her usual unhelpful manner, confirms that Cantata is safer for changelings than Fundat or Macawra.

Aaria returns and asks to speak to Mara. Zia acts as the go-between.

Viliam comes downstairs, shortly followed by Aurora. Aurora explains to the party that she's regained a lot of memories — some of which include Zia, Fred, and Niko — and that she would like to share bits of this with them one-to-one. She apologises to Aaria for having no memories of Aaria prior to meeting on this journey.

Aaria seems upset that everyone around her have more or less been confirmed to be champions or apprentices of champions, and Viliam offers to cast a spell to identify whether she might be one of them. Aaria agrees, and Viliam discovers a seed of divinity within her that indicates she may become the next Lord of Earth, as well as a divine heritage originating in Fundat. He asks about her parents and learns that her mother's name was Aamira — the same as the woman he once loved, a thousand years ago.

Aaria shows Viliam the box she has which contains her mother's possessions, including a ring with inscriptions along the inside. Viliam recognises this ring as a gift once given to Aamira.

Rattled, Viliam then turns to Niko to do the same spell on Niko, but Aurora asks him not to. Aurora apologises the Niko, but doesn't explain further in the moment. She suggests that it might be too dangerous for Niko to accompany them any further, but Niko is determined that one of the missing people — Rogan, Wish, Luca, and Adelaide — might be related to him, and that he'd like to find out.

Taking the opportunity, Zia then apologises to Aaria again and reveals to the party that she is a changeling called Koi, and shows the party her different personas and masks. Having a lot on her mind, Aaria goes back to pace by the baths.

Niko offers Koi Luna for emotional support, and Viliam tries to encourage her. Aurora asks Fred to join her upstairs for the first one-to-one conversation.

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #9

Summary: The party arrives in Rosa Mors and meets Alaria Va'lielmo.

The party has a long rest. Viliam advises them not to mention their associations with the various champions when they reach Rosa Mors. Zia and Niko decide to disguise Aaria, successfully making her look like a regular half-elven woman. Aaria decides her new name will be Phyllis Cassidy, and that she will adopt Niko's accent while wearing this disguise.

As they proceed towards Rosa Mors, Viliam asks Mother Morelle about the configuration and situation of the Court there. Mother Morelle explains that the Court is scattered, in that various individuals have vanished — most never to return.

The round climbs slowly upwards, and around noon they crest the final peak, finding themselves at the top of an open cauldron with a hill towards the north-east. The road winds down to the bottom of the cauldron, where two other roads meet it, creating a crossroads roughly aligned with the cardinal directions, where the northern road winds up the hill towards a pink marble castle of with four towers, the walls surrounded by red-and-pink rose bushes.

Clustered around the crossroads is a small town surrounded by hundreds and thousands of tents and half-constructed log buildings. As the party descends through what is, in effect, a small city, it becomes clear that the big majority of these are refugees: children, elderly, and families.

To draw attention from the rest of the party, Viliam reveals his lance and shield, and straightens to his full height as he assumes the divine persona of the Lord of Life. People take notice, and the further the party moves through the city, the more people gather along the roads to watch and whisper. Zia notices that the population seems to be made up of mostly humans and half-elves, with some elves, firbolgs, and fairies.

Viliam keeps an eye out for anyone who might be ill or injured. Eventually he comes across a single ragged tent set apart from the others. People make way before him, and he lifts the flap to find a dark-skinned woman with silvery hair, similar to Aamira Ok'oree in appearance. Her breath is hoarse and shallow, and she seems to be asleep. Nearby, Viliam sees a small family of other humans, also dark-skinned and silver-haired, and asks them whether he may enter the tent. The father nods, and Viliam steps within and cures the woman. She seems taken aback and is initially unsure of who Viliam might be.

Viliam returns to the road and continues leading the party towards the castle. At the crossroads, they find houses that seem to have been built like little shops. From there, climbing up the hill, the houses slowly become more grand and extravagant. Some of these have been opened to refugees, while others have not. Viliam takes note of the houses that have not.

Outside the gates of the castle, Viliam suggests that Mother Morelle goes ahead alone, so that Alaria Va'lielmo's impression of the party isn't tainted by her feelings about Mother Morelle. Mother Morelle agrees to this.

Through the gates, the party finds the road covered for some 30–40 feet, by a tall arch which then opens onto a courtyard with the large northern tower directly ahead, barracks and housing to either side, and the formal halls around the corner.

Clerics, soldiers, druids, and a few paladins line the walls as the party enters. Viliam catches sight of a firbolg with dark blue fur — the same colour as the fur of the Peacocks in Waldstad. In the centre of the courtyard, Mother Morelle has made herself comfortable and is slowly grooming herself. One of the doors to the formal halls opens and two individuals stride out to meet the party: a tall elven woman with curly red hair, halfplate armour, and a longsword (Alaria Va'lielmo); and a human man in his fifties, with armour and a sword (Captain Helm Bähr).

Alaria sternly welcomes Viliam. Viliam explains that the party is here to find friends captured by the Watcher, and that they're trying to make their way to Venas Adanath. Alaria suggests they speak privately, and leads the party to a small windowless office next to the banquet hall. One wall is covered with a large world map, on which four locations are circled. One of these locations is Rosa Mors.

Sitting in the only chair (behind the desk), Alaria asks that they speak candidly, and asks "what the fuck" the party is doing here. Everyone exchanges glances, then repeats that they're looking for a way to find their friends. Alaria is begrudgingly convinced of their sincerity. Viliam asks about travel times and modes of transport, and Alaria says they have no access to Rosa Mors' Sanctum or the Lord of Fire's tower — meaning they have no access to secure teleportation circles. She also says that magic has been failing, and that there has been no communication or travel between the Safe Zones for almost a year now. The party asks about the large birds, and Alaria's demeanour softens somewhat as she explains that it is the last remaining flock of heliconia dragons in Cantata.

She goes on to say that travel to Venas Adanath would take months, but they could speak with Rosa Mors' resident wizard, Vorin Treskell, and see if he has any suggestions. Viliam suggests Niko speaks to Vorin, and Alaria sends Captain Bähr to find the wizard.

Viliam then asks if he may take a look at the Lord of Fire's tower, to which Alaria snorts humourlessly and wishes him good luck. Viliam grabs Aurora and heads out towards the tower.

Aaria asks if she may see the heliconia dragons, and Alaria agrees to take her to the gardens. Zia joins them.

NIKO & FRED

Niko and Fred wait outside the office for Captain Bähr to return with the wizard. While they wait, Niko seems nervous as he looks around the grand marble halls. He has a memory of white halls, robed figures, and a lighthouse, but doesn't know which part of his childhood it's from — whether he was used to grandeur like the halls of Rosa Mors or not.

Through the windows onto the courtyard, Fred sees children playing: a dark blue firbolg girl with thick, green braids; and two elven boys who look remarkably like Hyacinth Paeleiros — likely two younger brothers. One of the boys is missing half a leg and moving around on crutches.

Captain Bähr returns with a small aarakocra coloured like a superb fruit dove. They are wearing embroidered blue robes with a white sash around their waist, and is carrying a silvery white staff with a little blue light at the top, as well as an armful of books and notes that seem to try to escape with every hop they make. A pair of thick, round spectacles are perched on their beak.

Niko and Fred ask whether this is Vorin, and Vorin introduces themselves. They discuss teleportation for a short time, and Vorin explains that higher-level spells are unpredictable, sometimes failing and other times completely sapping the caster. To explain better, they invite Niko and Fred to join them in their chambers.

As they are about to leave, Captain Bähr stops Fred and asks about the pendant Fred has been wearing since the attempted robbery of the caravan during their journey from Nordhafen to Waldstad. Fred explains, and Captain Bähr says it's a family heirloom. He asks about the two boys doing the robbery. Fred confirms they are alive. Fred then asks if Captain Bähr wants the pendant back. Captain Bähr agrees, and a soft, sad expression appears on his face as he regards the pendant for a little while, before hiding it away in a chest pocket.

Vorin leads Niko and Fred to one of the houses in the residential part of the castle, up a central staircase, to a small ensuite on the top floor with a window overlooking the rose-covered hill outside the castle walls and the forest beyond, stretching into the horizon. The room is covered in books and scribbled sheets, and there are notes, letters, and illustrations pinned to the walls. Three cold half-finished cups of tea are scattered about, as well as bits of food. Some robes and tunics have been crumpled up on the floor at the foot of the bed.

Here Vorin explains to Niko that, the last they heard, attempts were being made at stabilising spells and magic. Wizards under the Lord of Earth were making some progress there, trying to incorporate certain charms and incantations into pre-existing spells to circumvent the instability. Similarly, there were some attempts at neutralising the aberration. Niko asks if he might be able to perform teleportation magic, and the conversation turns to the mechanics of teleportation, Niko's skills, his self-taught abilities, and how he might refine these. Vorin is thoroughly impressed that Niko has come so far on his own and, after a look at Niko's spellbook, suggests points of improvement.

While they are talking, Fred keeps an eye on Luna and snoops around the room looking for bits to eat. He finds some oatmeal biscuits and a bag of nuts.

AARIA & ZIA

Alaria leads Aaria and Zia through the banquet hall — a grand chamber with long tables and benches, and a dais backlit by the southwest-facing windows. Behind the central chair is an enormous stained-glass image of a red-haired elf in black armour edged with flames. The sunlight pours in, casting colours across the floor.

Aaria asks if that is the Lord of Fire, which Alaria confirms.

They head out into the gardens, where there are neatly kept rosebushes and perches hammered into the turf. Some 20–30 heliconia dragons are present — large, raptor-like birds with enormous beaks, red feathers, and golden wings. Alaria explains that she used to breed heliconia dragons before she came to Rosa Mors, and that these are the only ones that made the journey. The oldest of the flock, a heliconia dragon called Lucy, is twenty-five. In captivity, they can live to be about 40.

Aaria asks how Alaria came to be the leader of Rosa Mors, and after some consideration, Alaria explains her journey of training to become a druid, of her home-town being led by an archdruid, and of the archdruid leaving her in charge when they set out to seek an end to the aberration. Alaria then led the people of her town to Rosa Mors, where she found the court scattered after Velaldel's departure. People looked to her for leadership, and she felt that she had no choice but to do what she could.

Aaria asks why they haven't gone to Fundat, to which Alaria reminds her of the Watcher and that the crack between the worlds only appeared a week ago. They are supervising it, but want to ensure nothing ill will come of it if they move through. As it stands, she has over 6,000 people here in Rosa Mors to look out for, and the Safe Zone is slowly shrinking. She guesses they may have a few years still, but feels in her gut that it's less than a year. The only solution she can see, for Rosa Mors and Cantata, is some kind of miracle.

Alaria then asks Aaria's name, and Aaria introduces herself as Phyllis Cassidy. They shake hands. In the background, Zia has been playing music for some time. The heliconia dragons start singing, a beautiful crooning sound that fills the early afternoon air.

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #8

Summary: The party ventures deeper into Cantata, towards Rosa Mors, and finally meet Mother Morelle. Viliam remembers his long-lost love; Aaria has a vision of her mother and Alarion, the Lord of Earth; and Zia dreams of Mara, the previous Lord of Water.

The party follows the brick road deeper into the forest. Trees rise tall on either side, like the pillars of cathedrals, and vanish into shadows above. Faint daylight seeps down, revealing moss-covered banks and tufts, fallen trees, half-rotted stumps, and little white flowers that fade into the distant twilight. Every thirty feet, the road is flanked by marble pillars with bronze braziers on top holding flickering flames that illuminate their immediate areas.

Two narrated scenes take place:

Viliam. Your divinity — your domains — are inexorably tied to Fundat. At your core, you are a Champion of Fundat, a fundamental force only slightly younger than the plans themselves. Entering a different world always raises uneasiness in the back of your mind — a feeling of uprootedness, like you have stepped out of your front door and found a vast, unknown world before you. And yet, you are not helpless, for travellers exist everywhere — even in Cantata. And you recognise that you are not a prime deity here, but you are not unknown; whispers touch your mind — “Keep my sons safe” — “Protect our path” — “Bring them home” — “Bring them home” — and you know the divine part of yourself, the true Lord of Life, is embracing these prayers that have gone unanswered since Cantata’s Champions vanished.  You have taught yourself distance, to remain rooted in the present while some subconscious part of your mind handles the everyday mundanity of divine tasks, but here, in this world that is both new and old and deeply terrifying, you take stock of what you hear, and you find a familiar voice — a thin thread of golden light that winds between the trees, beneath the roots, into Cantata itself: an image of a tall, dark-skinned woman, in her forties, with silvery curls glittering like starlight. She turns and looks at you, her eyes sparkling like bottomless pools of radiant life, and she smiles. “Hello, old friend. Do you remember me yet?”

Viliam now remembers the face of the woman he once loved, Aamira Ok'oree.

Next:

Fred. The last couple of days have shown signs that there may be more to it, but in your heart, you know Nordhafen has always been, and will always remain, your home: the streets you roamed as a child; doing your best to stay out of trouble; coming home with scraped knees; helping the your dad at work; helping your mum at home; helping the neighbours with home repairs and decorating for festivals and that little celebration when the couple down the street finally, successfully, delivered a daughter — Some might have called it a small life, but it was full, brimming with life, laughter, joy, and sorrow. It was home. Walking down this cobblestoned road, your feet tread unfamiliar ground, and yet these memories come back to you, carried by a gentle gust of air that tousles your hair and brings a warm vividness to your mind. You look around, and it is like a foggy morning has cleared: colours present themselves in ways you have never perceived; whispers fill your surroundings — the natural chatter of the world itself — and yes, Nordhafen is your home, but this feels damn good too. Fred, roll me a d12. Until your next long rest, you have [1d12] temporary hit points. 

Aaria then receives a vision. In this vision, the forest closes around her into an underground tunnel. The roof is held up by interwoven roots. At the end of the tunnel lies a green hollow with multiple other tunnels emerging into it. Sun filters down through large apple trees. In the centre of the hollow stands a carved wooden statue, life-sized, of an armoured woman with a sword in her hands. Her face and curly hair is that of Aaria's mother.

Aaria approaches the statue. Ivy climbs up along it. It must have been there for a long time.

Reaching out, Aaria places her hand on the statue. The wood is smooth, polished, and pulses under her touch. A warm glow emerges from beneath her palm. The statue opens its eyes and says: "She's here."

The surroundings then rush past Aaria — down another tunnel, further and further, through winding, underground chambers, into the bedrock of Cantata — until she arrives in a domed chamber. In the centre, roots have pushed down to create a cage. Within this cage sits a golden tiefling with antlers instead of horns. They must have been beautiful once, but that beauty has given way to sunken, green eyes and jutting bones.

Aaria approaches the cage. She touches the roots. A golden glow pulses from her palm. She tries to push the roots apart to free the tiefling. The tiefling tells her to leave it be, that the cage is there to protect everyone else. They then introduce themselves as Alarion, or "what remains of the Lord of Earth". They will remain imprisoned here in their domain, in Dar Tarium, either until they die or until their successor takes up the mantle of the Lord of Earth. Aaria asks what happened, to which Alarion says: "Your predecessors made mistakes. We thought we did the right thing." They then admit that the previous Champions of Cantata tried to kill another Champion. They tell Aaria to be careful, that she has little time, but that (for now) she is concealed.

As the vision begins to fade, Aaria turns to run back to the statue of her mother. She never makes it. The last she hears is Alarion's request: "Please put Velaldel out of his misery."

The vision vanishes and Aaria realises she is running down the brick road, back the way the party had just come. She stops. Zia follows to check on her. Aaria admits she had a vision, but doesn't elaborate.

The party proceeds. The more perceptive of the group begin to notice the forest teeming with life: creatures scuttling out of sight; the furry back of something vanishing between the trees; the slim limbs of a white, horse-like creature with a single horn protruding from its forehead. Above them, the large red birds with raptor-like feet continue to follow, slowly coasting from one branch to the next.

They stop for lunch. Aurora and Viliam wander off to talk. Niko asks Aaria about the Message cantrip Aaria has been using, and acquires a piece metal string from her to practice with as he begins to decipher the cantrip.

Zia settles down to rest against a tree and feels the tree adjust around her, making itself more comfortable. She drifts off into a dream-state, wherein she's underwater in some kind of pool or lake. Around her drifts seaweed. Among the seaweed she catches a glimpse of purple as Betta emerges.

The scene alters, so that Zia and Betta are in some sort of white marble-like structure with a domed roof above. It overlaps with the underwater scene in the way dreams often do, looking like one thing but feeling like another. Betta changes into Mara, the blue-haired halfling who was the previous Lord of Water, though Zia can still see the outline of Betta around her — almost like Betta contains Mara.

Zia and Mara have a conversation about Zia's past and her purpose now. Mara confirms that ferrying people between Macawra and Fundat was an important part of Zia's work, and that prior to coming to Fundat, Zia was training to become the next Lord of Water. Mara clearly doesn't know the details of Zia's life prior to arriving at Venas Adanath (the domain of the Lord of Water), but provides the following insights:

although Zia looks to be in her mid-twenties, she is actually in her mid-forties;

Zia was born to the House of Natica, a family that resided in Daravana;

Zia's mother was called Lyer Natica, and Zia's father was Piccasso;

Zia was identified as the next Lord of Water when she was twelve, but only came to train when she was twenty-one or twenty-two;

the triggering event that sent Zia to Venas Adanath was rescuing a small ship that had been caught in a sudden storm outside the ports of Daravana;

Zia spent some time at the University of Daravana studying music and art.

Mara confirms that this conversation is happening entirely within Zia's head, that it's likely a dream, and chastises Zia for trying to help when Mara was raising the boundary that separated Cantata from Fundat and Macawra.

Zia eventually tries to figure out how to wake up. She settles into a beanbag-type of stool her mind summoned into the dream and waits. While she waits, Mara asks if Fred is still around. Zia confirms that he is, and that he has learned to levitate one inch off the ground. This makes Mara laugh heartily. She asks Zia to tell Fred she said hi — when Fred remembers her.

Zia finally awakes to find Aurora and Viliam back. Niko has foraged for herbs and found some basil and oregano, which Viliam has added to the party's lunch for slightly more pleasant rations.

The party resumes their journey. The road seems to be slowly sloping down. Eventually they reach a bridge across a longer lake. Next to the bridge are two black foals grazing on grass and moss. Across the bridge, further along the bank, they spot a lithe woman in a plain green dress. The woman, perhaps twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, has dark chestnut-coloured hair bundled in her neck. She seems to be bathing her feet.

Viliam greets the woman, while Aaria checks her out. The woman replies in a pleasantly melodious voice. She introduces herself as Sylvia, and Aaria immediately remembers Sylvia the barmaid, from the Perlen Tavern in Waldstad. She seems to recognise some of them, notably Aurora, and says she remembers Aurora coming through some years ago. She also refers to Velaldel, the Lord of Fire, by first name.

The party crosses the bridge. As they reach the other side, Aaria approaches Sylvia to check if Sylvia is alright. She asks if Sylvia lives nearby, and Sylvia gestures some ways off along the bank. Sylvia then asks Aaria to hold something for her. As she asks, a green glow emerges in the depth of Sylvia's eyes as Sylvia casts Charm Person. The spell fails, but Aaria still accepts the bundle of seaweed Sylvia hoists out of the water. The seaweed immediately grapples her.

A brief battle ensues, wherein Viliam cuts Aaria free while while Aurora casts Hold Person on Sylvia, effectively paralysing Sylvia before she can do anything else. The two foals, meanwhile, speedily clip-clop across the bridge with their eyes clearly set on food as they attack Zia. One gets a bite out of Zia's shoulder. Fred comes to help Zia.

More seaweed shoots out from the water to grapple Aaria, but Viliam persuades it to release her. When Aurora releases the spell on Sylvia, Sylvia changes into a kelpie and calls the foals off, snarling at Viliam: "LEAVE."

The party hurries on, climbing up a steeper hill until the loose sight of the bridge and the lake.

They continue walking. Eventually, Viliam, Zia, and Aaria catch sight of a large creature speeding towards them. It looks like a large, elongated bear. It has longer legs, pointy ears with tufts at the tips, and a long tail with a poof of fur at the end.

Viliam ushers the party off the road, to let the creature pass undisturbed, but the creature slows and turns golden eyes upon them. Its pupils widen into round circles as it observes them. "Hello, Viliam," it says, and Viliam guesses (correctly) that this might be Mother Morelle.

Together with Mother Morelle, the party continues their walk towards Rosa Mors. A lengthy conversation ensues, wherein Mother Morelle confirms and reveals information, some of which Zia runs by Mara in her head:

Mother Morelle states that the Watcher north of Waldstad was created by Mara when she raised the boundary between Cantata and Fundat. Any prisoners taken by this Watcher will be captured within Mara's Prism Cube.

Zia asks Mara about this, and learns that Mara's Prism Cube is on the top shelf to the right in her bedroom, by the foot of her bed. This is in Venas Adanath, the domain of the Lord of Water.

Mother Morelle suggests that Zia might have had a different name once. Aaria is somewhat upset that she doesn't know Zia's true identity, and Zia explains that she used to take different names while travelling.

Mother Morelle recognises Aurora, who she says trained under Velaldel, the Lord of Fire, for a short amount of time. A friend of Aurora, Luca, came to visit occasionally.

Mother Morelle is far older than Viliam, and has seen many Lords of Fire come and go. Describing them, she says that Velaldel was "like the sun itself". The one before him was particularly stern, then there was one who was gentle, and one who was young.

She explains that Velaldel (the Lord of Fire) and Alarion (the Lord of Earth) went out to face the curse that descended upon Cantata when Tangar fell, while Mara (the Lord of Water) and Fred (the Lord of Air?) took the apprentices (Zia and Aurora) to Fundat for safekeeping.

The curse is a form of aberration that seeps into things and corrupts them from within.

There are rumours of Velaldel's whereabouts, but nothing that Mother Morelle knows for certain. Alarion, meanwhile, she has heard "crawled back to his domain" to willingly be imprisoned. He has, supposedly, been infected with the aberration.

Mother Morelle recognises Niko, though he was much younger when she saw him last. He mentions his dream/vision of the golden tiefling, who Mother Morelle confirms to be Alarion. She says Niko and Adelaide were brought through Rosa Mors, on their way to Fundat, when they were very young. According to her, they were sent away to be kept safe, though she doesn't know what from.

Aaria asks if any of the Champions tried to kill each other, which Mother Morelle denies. Zia checks this with Mara, who laughs at the notion. She says Velaldel was too good, that Fred wouldn't have tried to, and that although Alarion was a bit weird, they were ultimately kind. The archives of the Avarium might have more information, according to Mara.

Aurora asks what Mother Morelle is. Mother Morelle declines discussing this, simply saying that she is the last of her kind.

Mother Morelle suggests the party keeps quiet about their identities when they reach Rosa Mors, as Alaria, the Head of the Council, is not necessarily someone to be reasoned with at this time. There is an implied history of disagreements here. Alaria supposedly exiled Mother Morelle from the Council on the grounds that Mother Morelle encouraged Velaldel (the Lord of Fire) to rush out into battle unprepared.

Velaldel is Alaria's brother.

In Cantata, the souls of the dead go to the Lord of Earth. Life is generally considered the domain of the Lord of Water.

Throughout this conversation, whenever Zia dipped into her own mind to speak to Mara, Mara was entertaining herself by juggling various pieces of fruit.

Towards the end, Zia asked how and why Mara died. Mara explained that of herself and Fred, it made more sense that she should give her life to protect the Planes, because Fred was more familiar with Fundat than she was. As the Lord of Water, Mara therefore performed a massive divine feat that separated Cantata from the other Material Planes and erased everyone's memories of Cantata. Channelling this much divine power was more than Mara was able to handle, so her mortal body disintegrated. What remains in the back of Zia's mind is but a fragment of Mara's spirit.

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #7

Summary: Fred has revelations about his youth and learns to fly. The party enters Cantata, and Viliam reveals his identity.

Aaria, Aurora, and Niko stay overnight at the Perlen Tavern, while Viliam, Fred, and Zia camp by the river.

At the Perlen Tavern, Aaria prays to the Whisperer before bed. The Whisperer appears to her as before, and she asks questions about where the party is headed — whether they'll still be with her there, whether she should go, what awaits her, why they're only talking to her now, after years of ignoring her. The Whisperer is evasive in their answers, stating only that they want Aaria to go to Cantata. Before the Whisperer leaves, they tell Aaria to remember her mother.

In another room, Niko makes notes of arcane nature, while Aurora in her own room takes medical notes of the party.

In the morning, Aaria, Aurora, and Niko have breakfast at the tavern, buy baked goods from Böhler Bakery (bread, lemon cake, chocolate cake, and a tray of almond croissants), and stock up on paper and ink. They then set off back to the river to meet the others.

Meanwhile, Zia is trying to process her last conversation with Viliam. Fred joins Viliam by the campfire to settle for the night and enjoy a cup of tea. They talk about life, family, and love, and Fred remembers a series of images from his youth:

He's helping his dad on a construction site, repairing someone's mansion, when a heavy beam falls towards his dad's head. Fred reaches out to stop it, but is too far away. Still, the beam freezes. In Fred's mind, the air solidifies around the beam and sets it gently down on the ground.

He sits in his bedroom and hears his parents argue.

He walks with his dad to the Temple of Life in Nordhafen. On the steps he sees Viliam waiting for them.

In a completely different place, he meets an ageing bird person (aarakocra) similar to the one he has seen in his dreams.

Fred immediately reaches for arms and threatens Viliam, asking what Viliam knows about him — what Viliam has to do with the bird person — and in this moment Viliam remembers bringing Fred to Kumar Rao, an elderly aarakocra.

Viliam admits to only now recalling this. Fred expresses concern about becoming someone else, and wonders whether his dreams about flying were true. While he contemplates this, he has other memories: training with Kumar, the deep drone of Kumar's voice, studying Aerodynamics: Book I. He also remembers dining with Kumar, reading a letter from his mum, and Kumar offering to support his parents financially.

Fred decides to test whether the flight translates to real life. He stands up, his axe in his hands, focuses on flying, and manages to lift an inch off the ground for 6 seconds before landing again.

In the morning, Viliam and Zia forage and find a bush of gooseberries and a Mother's Rest. They return to the campsite at the same time as Aaria, Aurora, and Niko return from Waldstad with two bags of baked goods.

During breakfast, the party discusses what to do. They debate waiting for Mother Morelle to arrive. Aaria checks in with Hyacinth, but all has been quiet on both sides. Fred tries to replicate flying, but fails. Aurora mentions knowing that people can become Champions.

The party decides to test the limits of the crack between Fundat and Cantata. Viliam disapproves and sits some distance away.

First, Aaria ties Fred's rope to one of the almond croissants. Fred tosses it through the crack, and Hyacinth picks it up. Using Mage Hand, Niko then stealthily floats a slice of lemon cake through, and the air visibly wobbles. Hyacinth picks up the rope and ties it to a tree on the other side. He happily devours the croissant and lemon cake.

The party then debates trying to sneak through the crack. Hyacinth uses the Light cantrip to catch Aaria's attention and asks what they're planning, then warns them that if they try to come through, he will stop them.

Zia finally turns to Viliam and asks him if there's anything he can do. Viliam has been quietly conversing with his associates, informing them of Cantata's existence, asking for advice, and requesting that a garrison be stationed at this location.

He offers Zia the Ring of the Cautious Traveller, saying it will allow her to disguise herself. Zia is confused by this, as she can already disguise herself, and the rest of the party begins to question Viliam's intentions. Zia eventually accepts the ring. Viliam then offers Niko an unused spellbook, which tongue-ties Niko for a while. Viliam then does his best to reassure the party that he wants to help them and ensure their safety. Aaria asks whether Viliam thinks Zia might be in more danger than the rest of them, but Viliam says his gift is based on his conversation with Zia the night before.

Aaria asks Zia what happened the night before, as Zia over breakfast had said nothing of note happened. Zia says she had a memory of Fred carrying herself and Aurora out from Cantata, and about how she lost her eye.

Once the questions and worries have somewhat settled, Viliam approaches the boundary between Fundat and Cantata and commands it to let them pass. And it does. One by one, the party steps unhindered through.

What they see first is this: an overgrown riverbank, with moss curling around the edge and condensation dripping into swirling eddies of water; little star-like flowers glowing against the green; enormous, gnarly roots winding into the water, and rising far above, trees with the first branches starting 10–20 ft above the ground. Red raptor-like birds with long necks watch from distant branches.

Pillars of pink marble stand on either side of what was once the base of a bridge. Brass basins on top of the pillars hold flickering flames. A cobblestoned road leads off between the trees, between mossy banks and roots, and kneeling before a small campfire is a young brown-haired elf with golden eyes and white armour.

The elf struggles to speak as they arrive. Viliam introduces the party, and the elf slowly stands. He acknowledges that he's Hyacinth, the one they have been speaking to, and that Viliam is the man from his visions.

The party asks about Mother Morelle and Rosa Mors. Hyacinth says that the road will lead to Rosa Mors, and that Mother Morelle will be a day or so away. He then sends a message to Mother Morelle, saying, "They are here, in the company you expected."

Fred asks what Hyacinth means by this, but Hyacinth struggles to form words as he looks at Viliam. Fred then turns to Viliam. Viliam suggests Zia explains, but Zia refuses to. Viliam then reveals that he is the Lord of Life, one of the five Champions of Fundat.

Zia corroborates this, and Fred recognises the similarities between Viliam and statues of the Lord of Life in Nordhafen. Aurora is shocked to find her deity present in mortal form and begins to inch away in the direction of Rosa Mors.

While the party digests this information, Viliam confirms what Aurora said over breakfast: that people can become Champions; he himself has been one for over 2,000 years, and he is seeking his successor. He again states that he's deeply concerned about the situation with Cantata, and what might have had the power to wipe it from the memories of the Champions themselves.

Fred goes after Aurora and encourages her to speak to Viliam. When she stutters and tries to explain that she can't make herself look Viliam — look the Lord of Life — in the eye, Fred picks her up onto his shoulder and carries her back to the party, placing her right before Viliam. Viliam explains that even though he is the Lord of Life, he himself is still quite mortal and doesn't hear people's prayers.

The party decides to set off towards Rosa Mors. Hyacinth warns them that spells sometimes go awry. He mentions the four Safe Zones again, and says they're focused around the Cantatian Champions' seats of power: Rosa Mors (where they currently are), Sum Nebuli, Venas Adanath, and Dar Tarium. Aberrations usually can't make it into the Safe Zones, though strays occasionally find their way through.

Aaria leaves Hyacinth with a loaf of bread and several almond croissants.

As the party begins to leave, Hyacinth calls after Viliam: "My Lord, what would you like me to do?"

Viliam clearly feels uncomfortable about everyone suddenly looking at him as a Champion, and tells Hyacinth to come find him when Hyacinth is able to.

Once the party is out of earshot, Viliam apologises to the party for not revealing himself to them, but hopes they understand why preferred not to.

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #6

Summary: The party visits the Flachwasser, find a crack between worlds, and speak to Hyacinth.

The party reconvenes at the Perlen Tavern. It's early afternoon. All their sources seem to be pointing north of Waldstad, so they decide to head that way, towards the river.

As they come through Waldstad and reach the overgrown path that runs north through the woods (the Walden), Zia—who has some familiarity with paths—remarks that this one looks like it was frequently used, then suddenly came into disuse a couple of years ago. Viliam takes a moment to tap in with the Lord of Life, and sees echoes of the people who travelled this path before them. Passing around them, he sees the impressions of merchants, soldiers, and travellers, but he also sees familiar figures: three firbolgs, barely any younger than Granny Peacock and her daughters/granddaughters; a familiar orc leading two young women away from the river, all three differently dressed but clearly recognisable as Fred, Aurora, and Zia, and Zia is clutching her eye; the same orc, this time carrying a blonde boy, maybe 6 or 7 years of age, away from the river; then himself, carrying a blonde girl, maybe 6 or 7 years of age.

Viliam asks if anyone remembers coming this way before, and explains his visions. Niko remembers being carried away from something—he doesn't remember what—and being reassured that everything would be alright. At the time, he didn't know the voice, but thinking back he recognises it as Fred's. Niko then remembers a blindfold being removed, and seeing this path and the world as though for the first time.

Aaria has second thoughts about everyone going to the river, wondering if Viliam's visions might be premonitions of things yet come to pass. Viliam casts Warding Bond on Zia and Niko, and Niko casts Mage Armour on himself.

As the party reaches the end of the forest, they see a path winding down a steep slope, some 60ft from the river. Where the path meets the river, stand the rotted remains of a bridge, and lying in the bridge's place is a ladder stretched across the river. In the middle of the river, directly above the ladder, is a rift, approximately 3–4ft wide—large enough for a medium creature to squeeze through. The rift looks as though a sheet of glass has cracked and been forced apart, revealing a view of a different world through the crack. The river itself is 30ft across.

Viliam casts Detect Good and Evil. He picks up on a presence that seems to stretch along the centre of the river, as far as the spell allows him to sense. The presence is, at its core, celestial, but has a touch of aberration to it. Other presences in his vicinity are Aaria (celestial) and Zia (fey).

Viliam asks the party to stay back, and explains that he has seen things like this before. These are spectral watchers, usually created by Champions to protect or guard an area. If the people they are looking for—Rogan, Wish, Luca, and Adelaide—have been taken by the watcher, they will have been placed in stasis on a demi-plane, sort of like being put in a bag of holding, and will in theory be safe. Watchers are only triggered if they perceive a threat, and what constitutes a threat will have been defined by the Champion who created the watcher.

Aaria decides to approach the rift and tries to send a message to Wish using the Message cantrip. She gets a reply in a language she doesn't understand. She messages back, and after a moment, she gets a reply from a young male voice who seems to understand her, and who she in turn can understand. A length back-and-forth occurs, during which the party learns:

The young man is an elf/part elf who goes by Hyacinth Paeleiros. Hyacinth is a Light Cleric of the Lord of Fire, and lives in the Safe Zone surrounding Rosa Mors in Cantata.

Cantata is a third world, similar to Fundat and Macawra, that has been cut off from Fundat and Macawra with a "divine weave". Cantata was cut off 2–3 years ago, after their third moon, Tangar, fell from the skies and caused war, famine, and illness to spread across the land.

Four Safe Zones were established by the Champions of Cantata (Lord of Water, Lord of Earth, Lord of Air, and Lord of Fire) to keep the war, famine, and illness at bay. Within these Safe Zones, people are safe. Outside, beings are aberrated and magic keeps going awry.

The Lord of Water and the Lord of Air passed into Fundat before the "divine weave" separated the worlds.

The Lord of Fire and the Lord of Earth are still in Cantata, though anyone who tries to contact them is never quite right again after. Hyacinth says he could try, but he doesn't want to, as he has two younger brothers who need him to look after them.

Rosa Mors is the centre of the Safe Zone established by the Lord of Fire, and is where the Court of the Lord of Fire used to be. This is where Hyacinth has been living for the past 2–3 years, since he and his brothers left the family farm in Lepidaria to seek refuge in the Forest.

Hyacinth has had two visions of an elderly elf with a big beard, the last vision being a week ago when the weave ruptured. Hyacinth was making lunch for his brothers when he heard a knock on the door. He turned around to see the elderly elf. "They're coming," the elderly elf said, then vanished. Hyacinth was not frightened, as he believes the old man has good intentions.

The person who might be able to answer more specifically about the watcher and people caught by the watcher, is Mother Morelle, who resides at Rosa Mors. Hyacinth summons here, but says it might take a couple of days for her to arrive at the rupture.

Viliam has a couple of recollections. He remembers Morelle DomCopia, a Li'shay (elf-adjacent race) from Cantata. In his memory, Morelle was over 6ft tall, with white skin, eyes as black as soil, and a mantle of green leaves cascading down her body. He recalls her having one of the highest positions within the Court of the Lord of Fire.

Viliam also recalls being told that Tangar, the third moon of Cantata, was deteriorating.

When being told about Tangar, Niko remembers sitting in a woodland hollow surrounded by trees, with a small fountain-like geyser in the centre. Tunnels and doorways lead from the hollow, into underground caves and tunnels. In the memory, he looks up at the moons: the two big ones, close to their intersection, and the third, like a white star, directly above the treetops. He doesn't know why he's looking at the moons, just that he's looking. While he sits there, a golden tiefling places a hand on his shoulder and suggests he return inside to go to bed. The tiefling has gold, flowers, and laurels hanging from their horns, and smiles warmly at Niko.

During the conversation, Zia examines the weave and tries to figure out how far upriver it goes. She then reaches within herself, asking Betta if Betta knows anything. Zia then has a memory she does not share with the rest of the party. (DM-note: How Zia lost her eye.)

The party decides to split up while they wait for Mother Morelle to arrive. Viliam, Zia, and Fred stay by the river overnight to keep an eye on the rift, while Aaria, Niko, and Aurora go back to Waldstad to try to figure out who Rogan Underbite might have visited and spend the night in actual beds.

Back at the Perlen Tavern, Aaria asks Sylvia the barmaid some more questions about Rogan, and learns that while Sylvia was working that evening, Rogan was asking about herbs and botany. There are two places in town to get plants, so he might have gone to one of those. He didn't leave with anyone, but he might also have found someone to spend the night with.

Niko comes across a couple talking about a strange guy asking about a dwarf (Niko was the strange guy), and the girl says her mother saw a dwarf visit Maggie the herbalist a week ago. Niko grabs this information, catches up with Aaria, and heads directly to Maggie's Herbarium.

They find the Herbarium closed for the day, but persistent knocking draws Maggie out. Aaria convinces Maggie to talk to them about Rogan. Maggie invites them in and makes them some tea, then explains that Rogan came around asking about the aerofleet plant that grows north of Waldstad, fixed some plumbing issues she had, and stayed the night. Maggie says she herself hasn't been north of Waldstad in a few years, and some prodding makes her suddenly remember that her dad went that way some years ago to restock and never came back. She had completely forgotten. She's visibly shaken by this recollection, but the house always being in disrepair suddenly makes sense, as it's her father's house and he has been gone for months, if not years.

Aaria tells Maggie they think Maggie's dad might be wherever Rogan is, and that hopefully they're all fine. She entreats Maggie to stay in Waldstad, maybe talk to some friends, and promises that she and Niko will look for Maggie's dad.

Aaria and Niko then excuse themselves and return to the Perlen Tavern to have a drink and go to bed.

Meanwhile, Viliam communes with the Lord of Life. He and Zia then have a private conversation on the riverbank that leaves Zia somewhat shaken. (DM-note: This is about Betta and the Lord of Water. Zia does not share how she lost her eye.)

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #5

Summary: Aaria and Zia interrogate a barmaid, Fred and Aurora get pastries and cake, and Viliam eats pancakes.

Aaria, Zia, and Niko head towards the Perlen Tavern. Along the way, Niko splits off to go speak to people in the streets, to hear if anyone's heard of Wish or Rogan Underbite.

At the tavern, Aaria and Zia speak to Sylvia, a human barmaid in her early twenties—blonde bangs, large ear rings, and (in Aaria's eyes) an attractive figure. Sylvia tells them Wish was there a week ago, with three others: a dwarf, a wealthy lady, and a bland guy whose face she doesn't recall. The party stayed overnight in rooms rented by one Rogan Underbite, though the dwarf went out in the evening and didn't return until the morning.

Aaria and Zia get each their glass of a fruity beer called lumiere, made by the local brewery, and get a table. Other patrons include a man day-drinking in the corner, and two people either having a late breakfast or an early lunch.

Fred and Aurora make their way back from the mayor's, bickering like an old married couple. They stop at Böhler Bakery, where Fred treats them to a chocolate croissant (for Aurora) and two slices of raspberry and white chocolate cake (for himself). They make for the tavern, where Aurora reveals she's somewhat uncomfortable with the atmosphere taverns normally garner. Fred reassures her, and they join Aaria and Zia.

Zia takes the stage to play gentle lunch music.

After speaking to Dr Schmidt, Viliam heads to Granny Peacock's Pancakes—a stone-built square tower, two floors, with children's paintings on the lower stones and a little flowery herbal garden surrounding it. Inside, a Alena the firbolg greets Viliam. She has rich blue fur and thick green hair with golden tips. She tells Viliam to take a seat upstairs, and that she'll come take his order shortly.

Upstairs, Viliam finds a panorama view of Waldstad. Most of the tables are small, made for two, with candles and fresh flowers. He sits by the north-facing window and lights the candle on his table. Alena comes up and takes his order. While he waits, he observes the Walden, the forest beyond Waldstad, and sees birds flying across the tree tops.

A couple, two young men, arrive and sit by one of the other tables. (One of them is the young man who served Fred and Aurora at the Bakery.) Alena comes up with a plate of three fluffy pancakes arranged around a blue sugar flower of a design Viliam has never encountered. Viliam asks about the flower, and Alena reveals that Granny Peacock calls it a 'Dream on a Plate'. Viliam asks how the firbolgs came to be in Waldstad. Alena says they travelled there some 2–3 years ago, from some village to the north, and settled here. Apparently the tower used to be a kindergarten.

Viliam eats the pancakes, then heads downstairs to pay. Another firbolg—Gloria—also young, though shorter and rounder, takes the payment. In the corner, Viliam sees an elderly firbolg with greying fur, grey streaks in her hair, and little round spectacles perched on her nose, hunched over a table and a lamp making detailed sugary works. He compliments the flower he had, and Gloria laughs and says Granny Peacock learned the art from her grandfather, but that she's not taught either of her grandchildren yet.

Viliam then heads towards the tavern, where he finds Alvin already warming his seat at Aaria, Zia, Fred, and Aurora's table.

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #4

Summary: The party is attacked by a diseased deer and arrive in Waldstad.

The party travels with Adrian Tanzer, a half-elf in his late twenties, for the remainder of the afternoon and evening. The road is distinctly narrower than the main road from Nordhafen to Gre'gel, and continues to slope faintly up towards a wooded horizon. Fields of wheat and grass grow on either side, untouched by sea or salty air.

While they walk, Adrian and Fred chat, and Fred recommends Adrian try "the old man's tea", implying it's "the good stuff".

When they set up camp for the night, Adrian dons studded leather armour and equips himself with weapons (short bow and two short swords), and takes a swig of some kind of flask. He warns the party not to wander off. He's to keep watch all night, and they're welcome to keep watch with him should they wish to.

Fred takes first watch, alongside Adrian. This night, he's keenly aware of the sound of crickets, of the smell of grass and cooling soil, and of how far away from Nordhafen he is.

During the second watch, Zia hears something moving in the field beyond their camp. She alerts Adrian, and they go to the edge of the firelight when a hoarse, bone-chilling scream cuts through the air. Adrian shoots towards the sound. Out of the field and the darkness barrels what must once have been a deer: bloated, with predator-like teeth and lips that curl into a snarl, a second head growing from its neck, with visible wounds where the skin and fur has split to permit it. It lashes out, teeth narrowly missing Adrian and Zia.

The rest of the party wakes up—Fred and Viliam move to help Adrian and Zia, while Niko, Aurora, and Aaria keep back. Fred deals a significant amount of damage, but it's ultimately Viliam's spear that brings the creature down.

Adrian checks that no one has been injured, then goes to retrieve an oil cloth to wrap the carcass and bring it back to Waldstad, for Dr Schmidt to examine. While he does so, Aurora and Viliam examine it for themselves: Aurora carefully performs a partial autopsy, finding the joint in the neck where the second head seems to have sprouted from, and identifying the second one as only a week old, while the rest of the deer is a couple of years old. Using magic, Viliam detects an infection in the deer's blood and saliva. He warns everyone to clean up properly after handling the deer, and Aaria assists with prestidigitation.

Aurora and Viliam take samples of the blood, which Aurora keep. Adrian wrap the deer and bind it tightly, and hoist it onto the cart.

Meanwhile, Niko asks Aaria how she was able to terrify the creature during the fight. They discuss the different ways in which they cast spells, and Aaria offers to show Niko how she casts spells, to see if it's something he can learn.

After the encounter, Fred and Aurora have each their cup of Viliam's tea:

Fred dreams that he's in Nordhafen, in the temple of the Voice of Fundat, kneeling in front of a shrine with his mother. He's a decade younger, and his mother is lighting a candle for his father who recently died of illness and old age. Fred is perturbed, as he left both his parents alive and healthy in Nordhafen only a week ago. He hugs his mother and the dream shifts: he's drifting in mist, directionless. Walking forward, he finds a ledge of sparkling rock, and when he tosses himself over the edge, he flies. He rises up above the mist, to the palace on the mountain top, and sees the sunrise glitter in the stonework. He lands on the nearest landing platform. A door at the end opens and a guard welcomes him back, saying that breakfast is ready. When Fred walks through the door, he wakes up.

Aurora dreams that she's in the Rose Garden: a beautiful, lush garden of roses and pink quartz statues. She's standing on a round platform, together with an elf with curly red-golden hair and glittering jewellery. The elf shows her how to manipulate fire by creating a trickling waterfall of it, from the top of his palm, to his fingertips, then trickling down and fizzling out. He tells her that it's important to be able to control it. When she tries, she partially recreates it, which seems to please the elf.

Viliam and Adrian talk. Adrian explains that Waldstad has been aware of this creature for a few days, and that it has stalked the outskirts at night. He himself is a part-time monster hunter, which is why he's ferrying the party from the main road up to Waldstad, instead of the usual coachman. When he's not monster hunting, he works at the stables.

They don't know much about what has caused the deer to become like this, only that it spreads through bites. They've been lucky that no humanoid has been caught yet, but they've lost some livestock that they've had to put down. Dr Schmidt is currently researching the disease to try to find some antidote.

Viliam then asks if Adrian has seen a white-skinned red-haired tiefling come through Waldstad in the last week. Adrian hasn't noticed a tiefling, though there was a wealthy young woman who dropped her horse off at the stables just over a week ago, who talked about travelling with some companions. She said they were staying at the Perlen Tavern.

In the morning, Adrian stows his armour and weapons, and prepares Klara the horse. Fred tells Viliam he doesn't want any more of the tea that's been making him dream, and warns Viliam to be careful with it, as not everyone might be able to handle it.

An hour or so before noon, they arrive in Waldstad. Adrian points out the Perlen Tavern. Aurora takes note of Mugs'n'Bugs, one of the stores at the square, and sees a display of jars and medicinal herbs through the window.

The party goes directly to the Garrison, where Adrian and Fred unload the carcass and the crates Fred is delivering. Dr Schmidt, a scrawny elf with glasses and bony fingers, comes out to briefly inspect the carcass and sign Fred's papers. When Fred asks whether anyone would be able to approve leave time, Dr Schmidt suggests Fred talk to Sir Corrint, the mayor.

Meanwhile, Zia, Aaria, and Niko head off to the Perlen Tavern to ask about Wish, the tiefling. Viliam instructs his bearded dragon, Alvin, to follow the crates and find out what's inside them. Viliam then helps carry the carcass upstairs, to Dr Schmidt's research area. Various chemical tests are undergoing in different parts of the room. A separate table has been prepared, with oil cloth around it to avoid contaminating the floor. Dr Schmidt directs them to place the carcass there.

Viliam asks Dr Schmidt about the disease, but Dr Schmidt doesn't seem to know much more than Adrian has already shared. All other instances have been burned to avoid a further spread.

Aurora and Fred go to the Mayor's Cottage, a five-minute walk from the Garrison. They argue the whole way—about Fred using nicknames for everyone ("old man" for Viliam, "doctor lady" for Aurora, etc.), and about their dreams. They're so caught up in the argument that, when they reach the gate to the Mayor's Cottage, they don't notice the Sir Corrint there until, during a lull in the argument, he asks if he can help them. He approves Fred's leave, and tells Aurora they know Dr Myrk stayed at the Perlen Tavern for a night, then headed north through the Walden, but beyond that he seems to have vanished. If Waldstad can be of any further assistance to her, he places himself at her disposal.

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #3

Summary: Some of the party members have visions. They arrive at the juncture to Waldstad.

DAY 4–6 (ON THE ROAD)

What follows is three uneventful days on the road. The caravan progresses at a steady pace, and party slowly warms up to each other and to the idea of travelling together.

Viliam continues to pursue the possible connection between them. In conversation, Zia recalls sitting on a raft travelling down-river. Present with her is Viliam, as well as a blue-haired halfling. In the memory, she has the distinct feeling that Betta is shared between herself and the halfling, and that she and Betta are only starting to get to know each other.

Afterwards, Zia draws the halfling's portrait and shows it to Viliam, upon which Viliam recalls the halfling's name: Mara.

The evening of the fourth day comes, and Viliam offers Fred a cup of tea. That night Fred dreams of a palace built into the sparkling top of a mountain. Inside this palace, Fred is in a great hall, levitating. A stern voice is instructing him, but when he turns to see the speaker, he wakes up.

The following morning, Fred attempts to ascertain whether Viliam added any particular substance to his tea. To Viliam's knowledge, he hasn't, but Fred is convinced something is up with it. That evening he gets Aaria and Luna to also try it. All three of them have vivid dreams:

Luna dreams about running through the most beautiful green fields.

Aaria dreams about a garden in her village, her mother—hair like silver, and a gown like silky cobwebs—and of being lifted into her mother's arms. Her mother smells of petrichor and flowers, and there is a deep sense of belonging.

Fred dreams about plummeting towards clouds far below. Above him, a voice tells him to focus on flying, and after a couple of tries, he manages it. When he looks up, he sees the face of a large bird-like humanoid. He asks who the bird-like humanoid is, to which the humanoid only says, "You know me".

They share their dreams over breakfast on the sixth day. Viliam attempts to figure out if something really is up with his tea, but when he goes through his notebook, he can't seem to find the right recipe. Eventually he realises this particular blend has a crucial ingredient (redberry—soft leaf, small, white fur, blue tinge) that only grows on the slopes of a sparkling mountain—and that, if he is to continue to supply this tea, he will eventually need more.

Between all this, Niko has a memory of playing with a toy wand and imagining to be a wizard. In this memory, a blonde blue-eyed girl wants to also play with the wand and tries to wrestle it from him. He wins and she's unhappy about it, the way children usually are.

The party travels on with the caravan. In the late afternoon, they reach the juncture to Waldstad, where a boy with a book in his hands waits on a horse-drawn cart. They load Fred's cargo into the cart and leave the caravan.

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Notes: Session #2

Summary: The party begins to form as they get to know each other and exchange experiences.

DAY 2 (ON THE ROAD)

At the end of Session #1, Viliam noticed a cloud of dust quickly approaching on the caravan's trail. Now, the cloud closes in and turns out to be two young men — barely out of boyhood — sharing a horse. Both have tanned skin and sandy hair, with bandanas pulled up to over their noses and dusty capes obscuring their physique. The one holding the reins has a slight point to his ears, while the other is distinctly human. Both carry short swords.

Fred notices they both wear standard military boots with reinforced steel toes and a small insignia on the side.

Around the party, time stops. There is a noticeable absence of sound as the human stranger begins to get off the horse. The pointy-eared one clutches something against his chest. Fred prepares to charge, but Viliam calls him back and asks the strangers what their business is. Aurora, with Fred's intimidating presence, convinces the strangers to keep going and raid another caravan.

As the strangers leave, time resumes and the pointy-eared one discards what he had been holding, which Fred collects: a roughly hewn cobalt stone wrapped with fine silver threads, attached to a leather cord. Fred considers it spoils of battle and puts it on. Viliam identifies the stopped time as some form of the spell Time Stop. Niko convinces Fred to let him attempt to identify the cobalt stone, but casts Prestidigitation instead to cause a flash of light. He warns Fred the stone might be a dangerous item.

During the caravan's lunch stop, Aaria and Zia are offered complementary tea and biscuits. Viliam sends Alvin to attempt to steal some tea from the caravan's storage, to figure out what type it is. Alvin is semi-successful: he gets caught, but the teabag he stole is already wet, so he absconds with it. Viliam identifies it as an average black tea with floral overtones.

Over dinner that night, the party attempts to figure out why they were unaffected by the time stop. Conversation reveals they all received the same message from Rogan Underbite, and that Zia and Aaria know Wish, that Aurora knows Rogan and Luca, that Fred, Niko, and Viliam know none of them, and that no one knows Adelaide.

Aaria is convinced they ought to help Rogan, with Zia, Aurora, Viliam, and Niko willing to help. Fred is hesitant due to his job and commitments to his parents, but Viliam offers to hire Fred's services (3gp per day, doubled after Rogan and co. have been found). Fred remembers the terms of his assignment and agrees to discuss time off with the Garrison in the hopes they might approve it. Aurora offers to assist.

DAY 3 (ON THE ROAD)

In the early pre-dawn morning, Aaria is visited by Sussorra (the Lord of Dreams/the Whisperer), who tells her that they want to see her flourish, that she is to keep an eye on the old man (implied to be Viliam), that she is to say hi to the Lord of Life when she meets him, and that Wish is beyond their sight. Aaria wakes up and goes to sit outside, falling asleep by the remains of the campfire. Viliam, who only needs 4 hours, wraps her with a blanket when he wakes.

Later, when the party asks, she says she was inspired to compose music.

During lunch, Aurora pays the caravan driver 20gp to get Niko and Viliam seats in the covered carriages. She doesn't tell them she's the one who paid.

With the third day being an overcast, though peaceful day, the party has plenty of time to converse. Conversation returns to Rogan's message and what they might expect. Most importantly, they try to work out what connects the party-members — why the six of them?

As the question comes up, it strikes Viliam that he recognises Aurora, Zia, and Fred. He doesn't know where from or in what context, but he has met them before. This sparks a suspicion that something has been hidden — memories vanished from their minds by magic means. It reminds him of his lost love — a beautiful woman, dark skinned with silvery hair, braided, like starlight — whose name he realised two years ago he doesn't remember.

Zia talks about travelling, and has the distinct impression she used to always have company in her travels — a sense that she was never alone. When she has this revelation, Betta awakens in the back of her mind, and she sees that Betta is aware and watching. Zia asks if Betta is alright, to which Betta says, "No."

Eventually, the party reaches the end of the day and everyone retreat to sleep. Viliam sits on the steps outside a carriage to watch the stars, while Niko finds a space to curl up on the floor of the same carriage in which Fred and Aurora are.

[kalh-plays-dnd]

Southern Sík: Map