Campaign Journal #26: Everybody Dies

We rejoin our heroes, immediately after they've spied on that skeletal figure and some mind flayers, learned a great deal about the cult's plans, and witnessed some deadly backstabbing. They're now back in the tower of Rixiilliandrias, where he tells them to get some rest while he sees to their security.

The next morning, everyone is asked to visit Rixiilliandrias's office for a gift. While there...

Raehendra

Raehendra notices a framed cross-stitch of The Greeble Poem:

Beyond the veil where Greebles bide,
In seas of shadow everlast,
Their hunger for the timeless vast,
Beyond the veil where Greebles bide.

Beyond the veil where Greebles grin,
Their uncanny shapes do devour
That which dares pass its final hour.
Beyond the veil where Greebles grin.

- Valyric Paega

Rixiilliandrias and Najima speak of how knowledgable and prophetic Paega was.

Later, Najima says more about Greebles: "As the poem says, Greebles live beyond the veil, outside of the mortal realm. From what we can surmise, they feed upon things that should have ended, but have not: finished time, empty souls, and beings that may no longer be counted among the living. Soulless undead, for example. It is said that they can even strip powers from the divine. That is the extent of what is known. To learn more, you would have to seek out Valyric Paega—who is also beyond the veil. There is a prophecy that—" but she suddenly has to leave.

Sentie

Sentie notices a poster for The Wayfarers Circus, a traveling circus act. The poster includes the portrait of a "hypnotizer" labelled "Evert Varlet", who Sentie recognizes as the man who taught them about magic.

Rixiilliandrias also mentions that Evert Varlet is a member of The Pool, a thieves' guild working in Casseval and Feore, and a relative of Cole Varlet, one of Feore's emissaries to the cultist's ritual.

While there, Rixiilliandrias casts scrying on Sentie's mother, Relia Rancis. They see that Relia (and her husband, Aldric) seem to be fine, though they also appear sad.

Barclay

Barclay also notices the poster for The Wayfarers Circus, including Evert Varlet. Rixiilliandrias shares the same information about Evert Varlet being in The Pool and also a relative of Cole Varlet. He also suggests speaking with Sentie about Evert.

While there, Rixiilliandrias decodes some of Barclay's ritual text with some playing cards. It turns out that the code was something that Rixiilliandrias used in Myrinul, and which was stolen by a Feoran spy:

"At one point, a Feoran spy named Serenthe Galco infiltrated our organization. She attended only one meeting of the Longdays Society, but she 'worked' alongside us at Myrinul for 9 months. She stole a great deal of our work on these four spells (private sanctum, magnificent mansion, teleportation circle, and plane shift), and, apparently, also the card-based cipher that I was using at the time. Without getting lost in the details, early spells that create safe, defensible locations would take it from other places. The magic would actually steal the land, sometimes from far-off places, integrating it with ours. Now, understand that we looked into the possibilities here. At one point, there were discussions about saving extraplanar cities, perhaps even civilizations, by bringing them here. If we had the means, was it not an ethical imperative? Of course, we discovered that there were...side effects of doing so. People could be trapped, hurt, or killed. And then there were the earthquakes.

"In any case, this Serenthe Galco returned to Feore and traded the information for land and title. Within a year, she was Serenthe Galco-Patrox, a member of the royal family. How this information ended up here, in your book, is a puzzle—for another time, though."

The decoded content in Barclay's text includes:

• The difference between early (and dangerous), ritual forms of the spells private sanctum, magnificent mansion, teleportation circle, and plane shift and their modern version.
• Attempts to draw connections between ritual and non-ritual versions of spells. It seems that some non-ritual spells can be made into ritual spells by multiplying the cost (sometimes by 10 or 100), adding more ritual times, or by doing some awful things (like blood sacrifice). Unfortunately, there doesn't (yet) appear to be a way to do this on the fly.
• The text "Morn is a beacon star" with the words "safe harbor" underlined.
• Towards the end, a note about "Limelight Company".

The previous day, Barclay had mentioned Aldus Patrox as one of the Feoran emissaries, and that plus the note about Limelight Company reminded Rixiilliandrias of several things:

• First, that Aldus Patrox has a reputation of one who lacks ambition (as a cardinal). But he wasn't like that as a young man.
• Second (and related), he finds a poster for for The Limelight Company, a theater company based in Fellsdare, Loril. At the top is one of the lead actors, Aldus Patrox. Barclay notices two portraits near the bottom, a man and woman who bear a passing resemblance to his parents.

After some conversation with Rixiilliandrias, Barclay also learns the following:

• The events with Serenthe Galco happened about 400 years ago.
• In his youth, Aldus likely benefited from a great deal of leeway that most royals are given. He was able to explore the world and see or experience things that are frowned upon, as long as it's not obvious heresy. Officially, it's to learn about the heretical West so that one can more easily defeat them. Unofficially, it's because the rules rarely apply to royals.
• The Limelight Company went out of business perhaps 20 years ago.
• Barclay has heard of their patron, Morning Golden, but the name was never interesting or conspicuous enough to research.
• The Church of the Adamant, of which Aldus is a cardinal, is more..."liberal-fascist" than the sect preferred by Casseval. They're a little more open to what's included in their holy texts, but still generally awful in practice.

Later that day, our heroes engage in several activities:

• Barclay and Sentie discuss Evert Varlet.
• Sentie copies some scrolls into his wizard spellbook.
• Kodrak explores the tower, touches everything he can, tries on old theater costumes—and takes a few with him.
• Renn finds a nice glass enclosure on a level filled with plants and animals, and hotboxes. The hookah in the room suggests that this may be its actual purpose.
• Barclay casts sending (four times!) and speaks with Evert Varlet after many years.
• Barclay to Evert Varlet: "It's... me. Your name has come up. Many other names. I have many questions. More concerns. Can we speak? Please. Safely, quietly, soon. Please... Uncle."
• Reply: "Hey BK, good to hear you're alive. I'm working on something important. Incredibly important. But I can step away for a few moments."
• Barclay to Evert Varlet: "I'm... stopping a cult? A dead god? Eastern emissaries. I just learned you are a caster!? Ugh, no, and... my... <sigh>... are they... okay?"
• Reply: "Denise and Gregeth are here, working on the same project. We'd love to show you but it may take some time. Possibly years. Sorry."
• Barclay to Evert Varlet: "... They're... there!? After all this time? What... what project? What is happening. Can I... help? Should I? How can I find you? When? Where? ... How?"
• Reply: "It's a long story but The Limelight Company smuggled them out. Our project is secret but could save many people. Perhaps worlds."
• Barclay to Evert Varlet: "I know a bit about that. A bit about a lot of things. I may be able to help. Contact me soon. Them, too."
• Reply: "I've heard. Be careful. Particularly with Cole, my second-cousin, once removed. He's a teenager and a true believer. Please be gentle. And safe."

Rixiilliandrias later gives Barclay and Sentie the combinations to four teleportation circles:

1. His public circle at Pallistae Starling-on-Tinsley. He warns that it may be disabled at times, and is always "sequestered"—meaning it puts everyone arriving in some place safe, but not necessarily some place they can leave from immediately.
2. A private circle north of Fellsdare.
3. A public circle near Arcea.
4. A private circle in Callad. He suggests they not use this portal without Kodrak.

Everyone (our heroes, Rixiilliandrias, Najima, and Hazephas) gathers for a discussion about how to proceed going forward. Najima reminds everyone that they face a partially resurrected dead god, who will still be immensely powerful. He'll also be impossible to harm unless they return his horn, which will make him even stronger—but also able to be killed. Raehendra says that she learned about Greebles, and suggests they are the solution. Najima confirms this.

However, to get to the Greebles (and to Valyric Paega, who can provide more information about them), they must pass "beyond the veil". That means severing their souls from their material bodies. It's basically like dying. They'll also need to light a candle to Sister Vara, a death goddess.

They take a long rest to prepare. Renn prays to his god, Lioris, to ensure this is all fine. He is visited by an errandthane, Ylreat, who says that it is.

Our heroes take a portal to a waterfall, where they jump in and "die". They eventually "wake" in the Shademark. While there:

• Kodrak appears younger, with an orangish beard.
• Renn has shadowy, tendrilly angel wings.
• Raehendra wears nobles' clothing.
• Barclay wears upper-class scholars' robes until he magically changes them to his normal clothing.
• Sentie looks the same.

They are now in the care of Sister Vara, a death goddess. In addition to Sister Vara, they also meet:

• Anwel, fey oracle
• Caelia, priestess of Sister Vara
• Elena Tesar, governess of Raehendra Tiddlybumpkin and Vikt Falkor
• Host, half a skeleton
• Orphan, a girl
• Orrox the Blind and Helpless, elderly beholder
• Tarric, agender scarecrow
• Tharylitrionus the Five-Eyed, agender spectator, scientist
• Valyric "Val" Paega, human, once wrote a volume on Greebles
• Xorn of Truth "Xot", xorn

They briefly explain what they're doing: finding Greebles to defeat Eltheodir. Raehendra catches up with Elena and chats with Val. Kodrak and Sentie chat with Tarric. Sentie also asks Orrox plenty of questions.

Unprovoked, Tharylitrionus the Five-Eyed says that "'Eltheodir' is more of a mistranslation or misreading of an older runic language. You see, the old runes can be read left to right, or right to left, or back and forth. Sometimes meandering even, which I suppose I'm doing right now. In any case, rather than 'theo', it should be 'ithe', meaning 'wave'; 'el' is more like 'ill', the same word we use today, but back then it had a meaning closer to 'evil'. So 'evil' plus 'wave'. 'Dir' is more or less accurate; it's simply a plural word ending. Ill-ithe-dir. Evil waves." He floats away.

Eventually, our heroes are each given a bag of common materials needed within the Shademark, which includes candles, incense, paper coins, sage, salt, an Unfiery flint and steel, and an Unfiery Torch.

Raehendra is given a single Shadow Compass. Caelia explains, "To use it, the bearer must think of their destination and not lose their own light."

Tarric says, "If you find your light diminishing, tell a happy memory, sing a cheerful song, or do anything that brings joy to your heart and the hearts of those around you."

Host then says, "If you need to return, light an Unfiery Torch and stand within its unglow."

Orrox warns, "If you encounter any denizens of the shadow, it's best to do what they ask, if only to avoid drawing further attention to yourself."

Val concludes, "When you're ready, open and walk past that door there. You'll soon meet The Wise One, who will help you navigate to the Greebles."

They do so and eventually find The Wise One, who asks what they seek. Raehendra says, "Greebles". The Wise One intones:

Your journey has seven steps:

1. Walk Between the Tentacled Statues.
2. Walk Widdershins around The Standing One.
3. Light incense for The Seated One and pass on its left.
4. Defeat The Promise-Breaker. No others need be harmed.
5. Walk The Path of Greebles.
6. Open the Well of Souls.
7. Only then can you negotiate with The Mouth of Greebles.

And that's where we'll join our heroes next time!

Soundtrack:

• Daniel Pemberton, The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance, Vol. 1 (2019)
• Daniel Pemberton and Samuel Sim, The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance, Vol. 2 (2019)
• DesertX, EP01 (2024)

The Main Cast, our player characters:

• Barclay Stone (he/him), human bard (college of eloquence)
• Aevyr, his imp familiar
• Kodrak Kukkerlun (he/him), dwarven fighter (battle master)
• Raehendra Tiddlybumpkin (she/her), gnomish ranger (hunter)
• Renn Summerstar (he/him), elven cleric of Lioris (twilight domain)
• Sentie Rancis (they/them), human wizard (school of transmutation)

The Supporting Cast, non-player characters:

• Hazephas, imp, familiar of Rixiilliandrias
• Najima
• Rixiilliandrias of Pallistae Starling-on-Tinsley, wizard
• Ylreat, Sedeyrran Errandthane
• The Wise One
• The Dead
• Anwel, fey oracle
• Caelia, priestess of Sister Vara
• Elena Tesar, governess of Raehendra Tiddlybumpkin and Vikt Falkor
• Host, half a skeleton
• Orphan, a girl
• Orrox the Blind and Helpless, elderly beholder
• Sister Vara, death goddess
• Tarric, agender scarecrow
• Tharylitrionus the Five-Eyed, agender spectator, scientist
• Valyric "Val" Paega, human, once wrote a volume on Greebles
• Xorn of Truth "Xot", xorn

See the full cast list at Campaigns in Elsemorn—now with photos of the miniatures used in the game!

Campaign Journal #25: Rixiilliandrias of Pallistae Starling-on-Tinsley

We return to our heroes aboard a boat/barge piloted by the ogre Jarold down the River Tinsley. Jarold hands out gifts to his new friends/passengers:

• To Barclay, a large nugget of fool's gold.
• To Kodrak, some flax seeds, a burnt toy, and a diagram on how to make a ball.
• To Raehendra, a bottle of perfume.
• To Renn, a vial of will-o-wisp remains.
• To Sentie, some hot peppers, hot sauce, and capsaicin.

The voyage takes two days, during which they pass several elven towns and villages. Eventually, they arrive at what appears to be an open field—although the river ahead of them is roaring, divided by some invisible structure. Jarold docks the boat, and the party disembarks.

Renn casts see invisibility and sees not only the bridge in front of them (which explains the river's behavior) but also a walled city, now falling to ruin. Everyone hears a commotion on the other side of the bridge, and Renn sees a door shattered by three creatures.

Our heroes battle a modified/upgraded Barrowghast, Sword Wraith Warrior, and Specter. The Spector is quickly destroyed by Sentie, and the Sword Wraith Warrior is taken down by a few hits from Kodrak, Raehendra, and Renn—but the Barrowghast takes many hits before it drops. Then it rises again and takes several more hits before Sentie dispatches it. Unfortunately, most of those hits release plumes of poisonous gas, harming everyone around the Barrowghast. After the battle is over, Renn heals most of the party's wounds.

Hazephas the imp appears and invites our heroes into Rixiilliandrias' invisible tower. They meet Najima, who seems to be some kind of...invisible secretary? Then the party is escorted to a small theater where they enjoy snacks and a stage magic performance by Rixiilliandrias—who asks that they call him "Andrias".

Barclay explains everything to Rixiilliandrias, with help from the rest of the party, in hopes that Andrias can fill in the blanks. Rixiilliandrias explains that Myrinul was, at one time, a center of magical research until they made the connection between the ever-increasing earthquakes and their work. Myrinul was shut down, and everyone swore a "soul-oath" not to divulge certain things. (In short, Rixiilliandrias is willing to help but cannot directly intercede in areas involving his soul-oath—including the dead god.) Rixiilliandrias also explains that his research and experiments at Myrinul involved the runic spell pages. They granted him his long life, though they drew that life force from the people of Pallistae. Rixiilliandrias is now doing what he can to destroy the undead and make the city habitable again. He also explains that his magical experiments led his wife, Miela, to leave him, and his brother-in-law, Kajh Falkor, to desire a longer life and eventually resort to vampirism. This was centuries ago, but it is clear that Rixiilliandrias is depressed from the loss and death of his wife, not to mention guilt at the many lives he took.

At this time, they sleep while a manic Rixiilliandrias rebuilds the teleportation circle to Githis. He soon wakes our heroes and takes them through a series of teleportation circles—which should make them untraceable—and then drops a scrying device into the Githis circle. A circular screen opens, showing all that the scrying device sees.

The scrying screen is blank for about twenty seconds, but in time they discern light. The scrying device is moving on some kind of device, through rooms and hallways that are strangely rounded, with skeletal protrusions. Everything appears uncomfortably organic. Features that look like pores or organs dot the walls, leaking some liquid. Eventually, the scrying device is deposited on some crates in a small room.

Nearby is a table and a cultist in purple robes. On the table are a lantern and a glowing body, the only sources of light in the room. The body appears to be speaking. Sentie can read its lips: "—emissaries from Casseval...still unknown. Feore sends...a Corusene cardinal...he is a cousin to their king."

Our heroes realize that the body is that of Dimir, the exploded viceroy of Falxmed. It appears to have been sewn back together, though roughly.

The cultist asks, "when are the emissaries to arrive?" Dimir's body responds, "the first of Haws." That is almost exactly a month away.

The cultist doesn't say anything, but seems to be waiting for something—or someone. Out of the shadows glides a skeletal figure, dressed in fine clothing, floating several inches above the ground. Its eyes are a flaming, baleful blue. The figure moves its jaws, as if speaking, but without lips Sentie cannot translate.

The cultist nods and says, "and what of the meddlers, the ones who killed Vict Falkor? Tell me about them." The body of Dimir says, "two humans.... An elven priest of the night. Their leader is Kodrak, a dwarven lord. There is the daughter of Wendlaf's imprisoned business partners, the gnomes. She may be seeking revenge...perhaps funding their group. It is unclear how much or how little they know." At that, the body ceases glowing and seems to relax. The speak with dead spell has ended.

The cultist says, "this matches the accounts of those slaughtered at the watchtower. As you inferred, Benefactor." The cultist bows. The skeletal simply floats there, as if lost in thought. 

Eventually, the skeletal figure produces several scrolls from its robes, places them on the table, and begins talking. The cultist frowns and says, "but I had hoped to be present for the return of The Endless and Timeless One." The skeletal figure speaks for some time and the cultist appears relieved. He puts his hands together in gratitude.

The cultist takes a scroll and casts sending from it, then speaks: "the Cassevallan and Feoran guests arrive the first of Haws. The ritual must be completed by the third. Do not keep them waiting." He pauses for a reply and casts from another scroll. This time, he says, "if necessary, we can make our Lord fully corporeal after he is brought through. A search for the horn is already underway." There is another pause, and a third sending: "yes, I can vouch for the Benefactor. I'm placing you in charge for now. I'm being sent to Fellsdare for a secret coronation." A final pause, and the cultist looks at the skeleton. "It is done."

The skeleton briefly speaks. The cultist replies, "no, they understand secrecy. They will wait for word from me. If there is a problem, they know to march on Fellsdare and we will meet them there." The cultist puts his hands back together. "If you don't mind my asking, what kind of coronation did you have planned?" he asks.

The skeleton makes a brief motion and a slash appears at the cultist's throat. Blood sprays across the table. Another motion from the skeleton lops off the cultist's hands. The man crumples to the floor in a pool of blood.

The skeleton waves and the walls fade away. Apparently, they were illusory! In the distance, on (what they assume is) the actual wall, there is a massive orifice filled with swirling magic. Everyone experiences an ominous, sinking feeling in their guts—even through a scrying device, this orifice exudes some terrible magic.

Near it are a couple of blueish creatures with tentacles on their faces. They begin to hover closer but the skeletal figure holds up its hand. The blueish creatures drop to the floor and bow deeply, then proceed to walk. Clearly, they are not accustomed to walking and it must cause them some discomfort. Nevertheless, they approach the cultist's body and crack open its skull, then devour its brain.

The skeletal figure turns away, its body language not expressing disgust but mere disinterest. It glances in the direction of the scrying device, and for a second it feels like the figure is staring our heroes in the eyes—before it performs a hand movement and the device goes black.

Rixiilliandrias suggests that they return through the teleportation circles immediately.

Soundtrack:

• Daniel Pemberton, The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance, Vol. 1 (2019)
• Daniel Pemberton and Samuel Sim, The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance, Vol. 2 (2019)

The Main Cast, our player characters:

• Barclay Stone (he/him), human bard (college of eloquence)
• Aevyr, his imp familiar
• Kodrak Kukkerlun (he/him), dwarven fighter (battle master)
• Raehendra Tiddlybumpkin (she/her), gnomish ranger (hunter)
• Renn Summerstar (he/him), elven cleric of Lioris (twilight domain)
• Sentie Rancis (they/them), human wizard (school of transmutation)

The Supporting Cast, non-player characters:

• Hazephas, imp, familiar of Rixiilliandrias
• Jarold, ogre
• Najima
• Rixiilliandrias of Pallistae Starling-on-Tinsley, wizard
• Unnamed Cultist
• Unnamed Lich (The Benefactor?)
• Unnamed Mind Flayers

See the full cast list at Campaigns in Elsemorn—now with photos of the miniatures used in the game!