Campaign Journal #19: The Assassin

Our heroes have just spotted (or perhaps interrupted?) the assassin, a figure dressed as a plague doctor. The figure leaps from the window and opens a glider to escape.

Barclay follows the figure through the window, casting misty step to safely reach the ground. Kodrak jumps and falls, taking damage. Renn casts faerie fire at the figure, illuminating him for those giving chase, before turning back to investigate the room (along with Raehendra and Sentie).

The room searchers find a scrying device hidden on a high shelf. Sentie casts identify and learns that it must be paired to a receiving or watching device. Renn leaves to find another priest in the temple complex, to explain Tverdim's death and make sure they are not blamed for the murder.

Meanwhile, Barclay and Kodrak chase the assassin. Their pursuit leads them to a roomful of actual (plague) doctors attending night class; they helpfully point to where the culprit went. The assassin is quickly cornered and Barclay incapacitates him with suggestion, after which they return to the temple.

Our heroes interrogate the assassin, discovering that he is a kenku working for someone with glowing blue eyes. This person (being?) promised the kenku a name, but is likely stringing him along. Barclay gives him the temporary name Ainen, and he agrees to help the Iron Witch in Fellsdare. Ren casts speak with dead on the body of Tverdim, who confirms all of the information they know so far.

Barclay, Kodrak, Raehendra, and Sentie return to their inn room and introduce Ainen to Heyzzzel. Renn speaks with Dara, Grann's girlfriend, and advises her to lay low or leave town. He then returns to the inn room, where a letter is waiting for him:

Renn,

Good news! One of my agents has located and made contact with Liliani in Nevriath, a town near Suriidae on the Galdor Sea. She was with Decius and several guards—my man recognized a couple as former rangers. She may have been leading them, but my man could not be certain. Liliani would not speak with him, and in fact, urged him to stay away for his own safety. He is keeping his distance and will report immediately if the situation changes.

Bartholomew, via Muire

I shall prepare a coach in case you require one.

Muire

Renn casts speak with dead on the body of Grann, who also says that he was hired by someone with glowing blue eyes. He has little information about his final explosive statue, as he merely carved it and applied the magical runes but did not control it.

Our heroes rest at the inn and make for the Earl's manor around noon. They are shown to a waiting room, where they...wait. For hours. In time, they notice a mob of citizens outside the gates and an equal number of guards plus Dimir inside the gates, holding pikes. Everything is peaceful so far, though it won't last.

Sentie, who can read lips, spots a conversation between Dimir and a high-ranking guard. It seems that Earl Falkor has "begun his experiment" and Lady Shammura, ostensibly the governess, is keeping everyone out. The guard is given orders to kill our heroes, and he gathers a force to head inside. At that moment, a giant statue is seen running toward the manor—the final device. The citizens scatter as the statue dives at the gate and explodes. Dimir and many of the guards are killed. The high-ranking guard and his force were knocked down, but they get to their feet and head inside the manor.

The party leaves the waiting room and sneaks into another room, a bedroom/study, to hide. Sentie notices a secret door and they begin to look for a switch or button, as a crate licks Kodrak's leg—revealing that it is a mimic. An armoire-mimic and a bed-mimic also drop their disguises. We'll begin the next session with that battle!

Soundtrack:

None, due to "technical" issues (I forgot to hit play)

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:

• Ainen, kenku, assassin
• Dara, human, Grann's girlfriend in Falxmed
• Dimir, viceroy of Falxmed
• Grann, human, sculptor/assassin in Falxmed
• Heyzzzel, gnome, artist
• Rana, frog jinn
• Tverdim, human, priest of Gaelid

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

Campaign Journal #18: A Tale of Two Taverns and a Tiefling

We return to our heroes immediately after the viceroy, Dimir, leaves their room. They discuss if they should do something about the Earl of Falxmed, and decide that they must. Paranoid about being watched, they look for sources of magic and find only the party's magical items—including a whistle that Kodrak picked up in Thyrre.

Raehendra and Sentie leave to buy Raehendra a dress. The others examine and experiment with the whistle, eventually blowing it and releasing a "frog jinn", Rana. She isn't much help to them, as she can only grant wishes to frogs. Rana begs not to be put back in the whistle and they free her.

The party splits up again, with Kodrak and Renn visiting a working-class bar (the Curious Crow), Raehendra and Sentie visiting a moderately well-to-do bar (the White Chariot), and Barclay searching for a local thieves' guild.

Barclay finds Vare, a Sanaj (tiefling)-run guild friendly with Whitsleaf and speaks with their liaison officer, Tyesca. She warns him that Falxmed has gradually descended into authoritarianism under the rule of Earl Vict Falkor. It only got worse after a "blood witch", Shammura, arrived and became the governess to his three children. The city is teetering on the edge after the guard kidnapped and murdered several townspeople, supposedly for being involved in the attempted assassination of Dimir. Kidnapping seems to be a feature of the Earl's rule, unfortunately.

Raehendra and Sentie visit the White Chariot and speak with its proprietor, Vencek. Raehendra examines the tavern's artwork, a veritable history of Falxmed:

Paintings in the main room:

• Earl Nathye Falkor and Kater Falkor, First Lord and Lady of the Falconmarch [painted in later style]
• Miela Falkor, Lady Falconmarch [painted in later style]
• Earl Kyril Falkor, Third Lord of the Falconmarch [painted in a much earlier style, and perhaps 500 years old]
• [and so on]
• More paintings of earls, sometimes interspersed with stewards (viceroys and chancellors).
• [Most of the artwork features falcon motifs, but this changes to wolf motifs in the most recent several generations. At this point, Raehendra notices that the tavern is mostly wolf-themed, but all of these pieces appear newer.]
• [more paintings]
• Earl Beris Falkor and Olig Falkor, Twenty-Second Lord and Lady of Falxmed; their child, Vict; Vict's governess, Elena Tesar [Raehendra confirms that Elena Tesar was her own governess.]
• Earl Vict Falkor and Tomil Falkor, Twenty-Third Lord and Lady of Falxmed; their children Vseve, Yaro, and Casim; their governess, Shammura

Paintings in the parlor:

• Kajh Falkor and Jehan Falkor, Second Lord and Lady of the Falconmarch; their sons, Kyril and Miros [a painting removed from the main room]
• Miela Falkor and R. of P., Lady Falconmarch and Court Astronomer [a painting removed from the main room]
• Several other Earls who had fallen out of favor
• This room also features all sorts of falcon-themed wood and stonework, much of it moved here from the main room.

Sentie eavesdrops on the Falxmed guardsmen also in the tavern. They are apparently aware that our heroes are not friendly to the government of Falxmed. A plot is underway to kill them if they visit the Earl. However, if they don't visit the Earl, innocent prisoners will be murdered instead. The victims will get blamed for the attempt on Dimir's life. After the guards leave and citizens arrive, Sentie makes some drinks for the crowd.

Kodrak and Renn visit the Curious Crow and listen for information from Kendruta, the proprietor, and the crowd—loosening their lips with rounds of free drinks. They hear many of the stories that Tyesca told Barclay, albeit from the perspective of the working class. Kodrak wrestles a series of dwarves. Renn talks with Dara, a young woman whose boyfriend, Grann, has been missing for several days. He agrees to look for the man.

Our heroes come together to investigate the disappearance of Grann. He is a successful sculptor who apparently gained a mysterious benefactor. The party breaks into his workshop and is creeped out by all the humanoid statues. Barclay and Renn enter Grann's bedroom, only to find the man dead, hanging from a rope. A suicide note is nearby. Raehendra enters the display room, where a statue animates and explodes when it gets near her. This explains the mysterious method of attack against Dimir, which had previously been believed to be "kids throwing rocks".

Barclay stashes Grann's corpse in his bag of holding and everyone returns to their inn. They cast Speak with Dead on the body and learn/clarify that Grann did die by suicide, that he sculpted the statue that was used against Dimir, that he has carved his "largest work ever", and that he confessed to Father Tverdim, a priest of Gaelid in Falxmed.

Our heroes rush to the Hallasar temple and break into Gaelid's room, only to find the priest dead and desiccated on the floor. The presumed assassin, someone in a plague doctor costume, throws a dagger (which misses Renn but sprays him with acid) and leaps out the window!

Soundtrack:

Robin Carolan & Sebastian Gainsborough - The Northman (2022)

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:

• Dara, Grann's girlfriend in Falxmed
• Grann, sculptor/assassin in Falxmed
• Kendruta, proprietor of the Curious Crow Tavern in Falxmed
• Rana, frog jinn
• Tyesca, liaison officer of Vare in Falxmed
• Vencek, proprietor of the White Chariot Tavern in Falxmed
• [unknown], assassin

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

Campaign Journal #17: Finally at Falxmed!

Our heroes reach the toll bridge into Falxmed and pay the tax/toll collector, an ogre named Harold, and his "old friend" imp, Hazephas. Sentie takes a liking to Harold and wants to chat, but Barclay urges the party onwards.

Almost as soon as they arrive in Falxmed, the heroes begin to hear wolves, ever closer throughout the day. They even spot the wolves on a far-off mountain cliff, and they appear larger than the wolves our heroes have encountered.

While they travel, Barcley uses sending to gain more information about Raehendra and her parents. Her parents were put on trial and found guilty of enslaving kobolds in their shop, along with a handful of subordinates. Wendlaf, the cultist of Eltheodir who Raehendra remembers her parents once discussing, was strangely not mentioned at their trial. Raehendra also remembers an instance when her parents don't remember Grindhalf, a manager who was also found guilty at the trial. It seems unusual that they wouldn't remember, although Raehendra is known for her flightiness and perhaps her parents are the same?

Barclay and Sentie discuss religion, and Barclay suggests that Sentie's god, Corus, is not the positive force that Sentie believes he is. Sentie walks into the woods and prays to Corus—and a being answers. However, Sentie understands that it is a being of darkness, not light. Two celestial messengers, Hyathe and Sorvelle, arrive to warn Sentie about Corus, explaining that he is a god of death and deceit. They urge Sentie to scrutinize Corus before putting his faith in Him.

Our heroes reach the peak of some foothills and find the Top o' the Hill Inn, a place that Gerne recommended, burned to the ground. Aevyr quickly investigates the smoldering ruins and finds evidence of arson but no bodies. A sign indicates that this was punishment for "harboring terrorists", signed fancifully "J".

The party hears movement in the woods and prepares to fight the wolves they've heard all day, only to be surprised by a buck, which is immediately slain by a hunter, an older woman named Radya. She invites the party to her home, where she runs an orphanage. Radya recounts stories about Falxmed, about how the land is cursed, about a recent attack on the viceroy Dimir, and about the tyrant Earl Vict Falkor. She also mentions the Earl's governess, Elena Tesar; Raehendra remembers her own nanny, also named Elena—an intriguing coincidence?

Sentie again visits the woods during the night and disfigures his tattoos of Corus. Raehendra, Kodrak, and Radya find him and bring him back to the group, where Renn binds the wounds.

The next day, our heroes continue their journey, first riding through a village that closes their doors and windows, and finally into the capital city. Once inside the gates, they immediately see some dead bodies, strung up for the attack on Dimir.

The party continues to the Bartholomew & Company offices, where the local agent, Mousek, thanks them for their efforts. As promised, he gives Kodrak a well-crafted axe and a Ring of Proof against Detection and Location to Barclay. Mousek gets them a set of rooms at the inn next door, where they discuss what to do next. They mostly agree to investigate the Earl, Vict Falkor, and stop him if possible.

At that time, they are interrupted by soldiers and the viceroy, Dimir. He welcomes them to Falxmed, and quells any concerns that they are being investigated for the attempt on his life. He also invites them to meet the Earl at their convenience. Dimir then goes on to say that he recognizes Raehendra, and he knew her parents—in fact, he had tried to get them to expand into Falxmed but they chose Lyrum and Myruna instead. Dimir closes by implying that he can't believe Raehendra got away with the crime of slavery.

Soundtrack:

Robin Carolan & Sebastian Gainsborough, The Northman (2022)

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:

• Corus[?], sun god[?]
• Dimir, viceroy of Falxmed
• Harold, ogre, tax/toll collector
• Hazephas, imp, friend of Harold
• Hyathe, an aulxa [celestial messenger] of Vallo, god of light in the Hallasar pantheon
• Mousek, human, agent of Bartholomew & Company in Falxmed
• Radya, [human?], orphanage owner
• Sorvelle, errandthane [celestial messenger] of Currend, goddess of the day, knowledge, and light in the Sedeyr pantheon

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

Campaign Journal #16: Action-Oriented Ambush

 Addendum from the last session:

• Barclay's ritual spellbook has been updated to add new spells.
• Sentie gains a Mantle of the Hummingbird, a Cloak of the Bat but flavored after a hummingbird and based on light instead of darkness.

The party is still awake after inspecting their new or upgraded items. Barclay heads to the port to see if he can get their cargo available sooner; Renn and Sentie go with Barclay to keep an eye on him. Raehendra goes back to bed. Kodrak goes for a run.

Barclay gets the ship moved to the front of the customs queue. Gerne makes arrangements for their cart while Barclay sells his plundered spyglass to Eofra. Gerne tells them to watch for highwaymen, to pay the merchant rate of 20g per person when they get to Falxmed, and to stop at the Top o' the Hill Inn for the best food outside Fellsdare. Kodrak finds the three getting ready at the port. They pick up Raehendra and depart Myruna.

After a couple days of travel, the party fights highwaymen—or highway...persons? Their leader is a woman, after all, as are several of the bandits. [I used the "action oriented monsters" from MCDM's Flee, Mortals! book: a Knave, 2 Brawlers, 2 Trickshots, and an Owlbear!] It was a difficult fight: Renn is repeatedly knocked down and Kodrak ends the battle with only a fraction of his health remaining. One hostage, an archer, is taken.

Barclay and Kodrak investigate the bandits' camp and find a reluctant bandit practicing an "I quit" speech. He's sent on his way. They locate the treasure horde, which includes some gold, scrolls, a magical Wire of Comprehend Writing, and a runic spell page that heals. The hostage shows no remorse for his deeds and is slain.

Our heroes get back on the road and soon find themselves on a floodplain with a river in the distance—and the Falxmed border! As the afternoon passes, they come to the toll bridge and find an ogre toll-taker and an imp playing chess. The ogre introduces himself as Harold...where we'll pick up next time!

Soundtrack:

Basil Poledouris, Conan the Barbarian (1982) and Conan the Destroyer (1984)

Christopher Larkin, Hollow Knight (2017)

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:

• Eofra, Captain of the Errandgull in Brass
• Gerne, Bartholomew & Company agent in Myruna
• Harold, ogre
• Unnamed imp
• Some bandits

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

Campaign Journal #15: In Myruna

Our heroes speak with Mili, a middle-aged dwarven woman who is (at least temporarily) running Dweorfton after the deaths of its priests and elders. She doesn't know much, but she confirms that the cultists of Eltheodir were all slain.

Kodrak goes for another run around the city and discovers the wide variety of human vendor food and drink: lizard on a stick, meat pies, "roc" wings, wolf nipple chips, durian, and gnomish root beer.

Raehendra, Renn, and Sentie return to Captain Eofra's home, where they are staying. Renn gets some rest while Raehendra and Sentrie work on hobbies and chat about Barclay.

Barclay investigates the assassinations of Myev and Haymil, wife-and-husband sheriff-councilors. This involves speaking with the two guards at Myev and Haymil's home (and stealing the couple's locked chest), Ol' Jack at nearby "Murder Alley", and apothecary/sewer explorer Theren. It turns out that Myev and Haymil were investigating (a) some magical pages that had recently appeared on the black market and (b) anyone asking questions about those pages—which includes adventuring party the Silver Hare and also our heroes. Barclay surmises that the assassin exited the sewer in "Murder Alley", entered a skylight in the home of Myev and Haymil, and murdered them from above.

Barclay explains everything at their temporary home. There is a general sense of unease, bordering on paranoia, as our heroes discuss the assassin's probable targets—including themselves. Sentie sends a message to Bartholomew: "Sentie here. Assassins are after people in contact with the books. Keep on the lookout. They are of the highest caliber." Bartholomew replies: "Thank you, will be on my guard. Stay safe."

That night, Renn wakes Kodrak, Raehendra, and Sentie and brings them outside. His concern is that Barclay is the assassin. They discuss it and come to no conclusions except to keep an eye on him.

The following morning, the party awakes to the scent of brimstone and sweet incense. They discover that their magical items have all...changed:

• Kodrak's greataxe and hammer have merged into a Greataxe with a meteor charm; it grants an extra attack on critical hits and reveals anything invisible within 60 feet.
• Raehendra's bracers of archery have gained the ability to store items, such as arrows.
• Renn's glaive has gained a racial damage buff that can be changed daily.
• Barclay and Sentie's item changes are still to be determined.

Barclay and Renn are immediately suspicious about the brimstone and the intrusion into their belongings. They each call out for the Catamount, a rakshasa (devil) that our heroes freed in the dungeon below Thyrre. (At the time, he gave his name as Ilfa Thurk.) The Catamount denies being involved.

Our heroes prepare to leave Myruna—if possible, doing whatever they can to push up their departure—to get to Falxmed.

Soundtrack:

Austin Wintory, Abzu (2016) and Traveler: A Journey Symphony (2022)

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:

• The Catamount, rakshasa
• Mili, dwarf, new head of Dweorfton
• Ol' Jack, (likely) unhoused alcoholic
• Theren, apothecary, sewer explorer
• 2 unnamed guards

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

Campaign Journal #14: Chaos in Myruna

We return to our heroes, all currently separated:

A dwarven librarian approaches Kodrak hesitantly and tells him of murders and desecration at the local dwarven temple, and that their Shard of the Light of Sentor has been shattered. On the wall are the words 'Eltheodir has risen'. This mirrors a similar cult ritual in Lyrum—though our heroes stopped that one.

While walking, Sentie sees two guards outside a building. As he passes, a third guard flings the door open and vomits in the street. Sentie glances inside and spots two corpses on the floor, blackened and contorted. This also mirrors some assassinations in Thyrre.

The revision mentioned in our last journal happens: rather than saying that everything is quiet in Myruna, Barclay's liaison officer Reda advises him that the town is in chaos: "Everything's gone to shit. A cult murdered some dwarves at their temple in Dweorfton [dwarf-town]. A council member almost got murdered in a carriage. Some guards are missing. We're involved in none of it. We knew about none of it. The higher-ups are shitting bricks. About the only thing going right is the pirates. Haven't seen 'em for weeks."

Barclay visits the curio shop Eyefuls & Trifles and speaks with its owner, Phenrey Byshe. Phenrey is shaken by his earlier conversation with Sentie, who had tried to sell his (copied) runic spell page; he isn't sure if Sentie was being truthful, was there to rob him, or, perhaps worse, was a foreign agent who would drag him off in the night.

We jump back to Sentie, who helps a mother with a sick child. She says that she's been waiting for a doctor all day, but when she finally saw one, he was running away. Sentie also tends to Ol' Jack, who says the town guards have been messing with him by rotating the manhole cover in "Murder Alley".

Raehendra explores town, visits a bookstore, and gets into a fight.

Renn buys wine for the evening and runs into the Silver Hare, the adventuring guild they met in Lyrum.

Eventually, everyone returns to Captain Eofra's home, where they are staying in Myruna. (In the meantime, Eofra has dropped off 750 gold pieces and two baskets of food. Renn pockets the gold.) Barclay gets upset at Sentie for attempting to sell the runic spell page, as it's tied in with everything they're doing—and potentially to the assassinations as well. Barclay burns all of Sentie's notes.

The following morning, our heroes visit tiny Dweorfton, a small walled area of Myruna, and offer their help at the dwarven temple. In an extended ritual, their partially repaired (but uncharged) Shard of the Light of Sentor is recharged—and so is Kodrak's smaller shard.

We leave our heroes as they are about to speak with the newfound leader of Dweorfton.

Soundtrack:

Austin Wintory, The Banner Saga (2014), The Banner Saga 2 (2016), The Banner Saga 3 (2018)

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:

• Ol' Jack, (likely) unhoused alcoholic
• Phenrey Byshe, owner of Eyefuls & Trifles
• Reda, Whitsleaf liaison officer in Myruna
• [Unnamed mother]
• The Silver Hare, adventuring guild
• Aldire, half-elven fighter
• Hainan Halfheart, dwarven cleric
• Irinduith the Ever-Fair, elven ranger
• Meera Haemuund, human wizard
• Nellandus of Gauwhil, human rogue

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

Campaign Journal #13: Fleeing Pirates and Chasing Clues

We return to our heroes at four in the morning, on a merchant ship sailing the Hallas Sea north of Loril. Renn Summerstar is partying with the crew when a 15-foot-tall projection of Lady Ilyavoe, the Ironwitch of Fellsdare, appears on deck—fulfilling Renn's request to meet. She answers questions from Renn (and later, Barclay) and clarifies her role in their adventure, which is mostly tangential:

• Bartholomew spoke with Ilyavoe about his realistic dream/vision of the party. She advised him to trust it, or at least look into it.
• Later, when her "spy" returned with the three books, hiding them in a well in Thyrre, she hired Bartholomew to return them.
• Her role as Ironwitch is to observe and counter external threats to the nation of Loril, primarily from the lands of Casseval and Feore. She is aware of internal threats (like Galix and the cult of Eltheodir) but they are outside the purview of her office.
• She closes by telling Renn and Barclay that three ships, presumably pirates, are on an intercept course with their own vessel. Their only hope is to alert the crew and sail as quickly as possible to Myruna.

For the next five days, our heroes assist the ship and crew wherever possible:

• Barclay inspires the crew, gives critical (magical) suggestions, and later causes a pirate helmsman to steer his (pirate) ship into another. Aevyr, his imp familiar, steals a spyglass from a pirate lookout.
• Kodrak assists the crew with turning the sail, a necessary maneuver as they tack into the wind.
• Raehendra fires cannons and later fiery arrows, critically damaging one ship and drawing pirate crewmembers away from their jobs to put out fires.
• Renn generally stays out of the way, though he later magically enhances the crew.
• Sentie creates energy drinks for the crew and rains fire upon the pirate ships.

In time, the ship reaches the safety of Myruna, where it will take several days to clear customs. The party is sent to shore to spend that time as they see fit. The captain, Eofra, allows them to stay at her home, as a thank-you for their assistance.

Kodrak goes for a run around town, when his shard of stone again communicates with him. It indicates that it is a "Shard of the Light of Sentor" but is still only partially active. Kodrak visits a library for more information—which we'll get to next session.

Raehendra also visits a library, but for information about Greebles. The librarians find two books for her: one does mention "Greebles" but it is clearly a typo; the other, by an author named Ippan, seems to back up some of the details in Valyric Paega's journal.

Sentie visits a curio shop and offers to sell (a copy of) the runic spell page. The shopkeeper clearly recognizes the document (by mention alone) but pretends not to, and curtly asks Sentie to leave.

Barclay visits the local Whitsleaf guildhouse and speaks with his liaison contact, Reda, getting the lowdown on local activities. [He is told that little is happening in Myruna, which we'll have to...revise next week.] He also runs into a former Whitsleaf guild member, Giry, who tells him that people were looking for him in Fellsdare, just after Midwinter. Remembering that Bartholomew's dream happened at Midwinter, Barclay sent a message to the dwarf via sending stone: "At Midwinter, did you task people to search for me using shadowy sketches of me? And what's the status on that Proof vs. Detection charm?" Bartholomew replied: "Yes. Needed to know identities/intentions of group. Hope you understand. Whitsleaf subtly inquired, leading to job. My agents in Falxmed have lead on charm."

Renn visits the library for information about the time known as Scymrelde. The librarians research the mention and relay what they have found:

The Scymrelde or Scymralth was a (likely legendary) time shortly after the sun Morn was put to sleep (also likely legendary). The sleeping sun bathed the planet in magical essence, which allowed spells to be created. These early spells had few safeguards, which wreaked havoc on people and the land alike. The mages who survived learned to control their spells while everyone else sought shelter for at least a generation.

Soundtrack:

Joe Hisaishi, Princess Mononoke (1997)

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:

• Ilyavoe, human, the Ironwitch of Fellsdare
• Eofra, half-human, ship captain
• Walthy, the cook's boy
• Ship crew
• Giry, human, thief and former member of Whistleaf
• Reda, Whitsleaf liaison officer in Myruna

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