Bahlmiv

Timeline 379 d.A.

The Empty Cabin

The group arrived at Elms’ home, a modest cabin they had never entered before. Usually, the old man attended to them on the porch, or they cooked together in the garden shed. Finding the door ajar, they stepped inside. The interior was simple but filled with books. In the kitchen, a high-quality skillet and butcher knives hung on the wall. The air smelled of rosemary and wood.

Beside the kitchen were bottles of alcohol and barrels for vegetables. On Elms’ messy desk, they found scattered scrolls, open books, potions with strange markings, and a quill from Etauzz. In the bedroom, the wardrobe was open, and a note lay on the bed.

Suddenly, a group of Sachai attacked the house with fire arrows.

[[ F’ward ]] managed to rescue the Sunlight Skillet and the recipe for Akko Ribs. Ravan read the note on the bed, which Kelsir had tried to snatch away. They also found sketches of “ [[ Dragonira ]].” Jayhanic and Kelsir tracked Elms’ magic signature, concluding he had headed toward the town. The group fought off the Sachai, winning the battle and finding a [[ Time Orb ]] and a mysterious key. Ravan felt paralyzed and helpless during the fight, upset that he couldn’t protect his people better and sickened by taking a life.

In town, the group visited “The Sleepy Ettin,” the famous local tavern. They spoke with [[ Bremia ]], the owner, and [[ Julius ]], who noticed their bloody and frightened appearance.

They visited [[ Kino ]], a magic merchant who knew of Ravan’s origins. He sold them magical items and gave them an important amulet to help them see [[ Subah Sitara ]]. Another figure, [[ Dith ]], explained enchantments to Kelsir and showed him a crimson jewel that could connect with [[ Subah Sitara ]], though it was expensive.

Jayhanic spotted [[ Cerchio ]]. [[ Cerchio ]] spoke about the upcoming event, the “ [[ Ath ]],” and offered to guide them. He revealed that Elms had a project: to use powerful transmutation magic to briefly transform into [[ Subah Sitara ]] so that everyone—even those without magical items—could see the great dragon.

[[ Fran ]] wanted to attack [[ F’ward ]], but [[ Cerchio ]] stopped him, arguing that a man with such good culinary taste couldn’t be evil. [[ Cerchio ]] proposed a fistfight. [[ F’ward ]] won (or earned respect), and [[ Fran ]] was forced to accompany them for half the journey.

On the road to the [[ Ath ]], [[ Fran ]] walked ahead to a door standing alone in a pasture. He bowed, opened it, and walked through. Nothing happened—it was purely symbolic—but he said his goodbyes and turned back.

Later, the group found a destroyed caravan with feathers and giant footprints. Nearby, a pale violet elf—an [[ Abad-Raat ]]—was meditating behind a force field. He telepathically warned them: “You are straying. If you want to see him, be prepared to open that secret part of yourselves.”

Continuing on, an Owlbear with a scarred face approached Kelsir, smelled him, and then nuzzled [[ Fran ]]. Suddenly, [[ Fran ]] threw the group into the bushes as a hunting party of [[ Herkes ]] wolf-riders appeared. The group fought and defeated the hunters.

They encountered a group of floating, silent elves who made a specific hand sign. Suddenly, a giant figure—a [[ Tanza ]]—appeared. It was [[ Cerchio ]] in disguise. He guided them toward the [[ Ath ]], taking a shortcut past the stones of [[ Asu ]] and giant swords embedded in the earth.

They camped by the river [[ Terronte ]]. [[ Cerchio ]] bonded with them over lost mothers. Before dawn, [[ Cerchio ]] gave special tea to [[ F’ward ]], spoke a blessing in his native tongue, and revealed his true form as the [[ Staron ]] in full armor before leaving.

A fleet of [[ Na’mor ]] ships from the [[ House of the Black Deer ]] appeared. The group was suddenly attacked by [[ Reshk ]] thieves and a strange “Zombie-like” humanoid. After a fight, a mage named [[ Stella ]] arrived from the boats, magically chaining the creature and [[ F’ward ]]. She spoke of her cousin [[ Jidea ]], the builder [[ Ums ]], and a search for a mage.

The [[ Na’mor ]] shared fresh bread baked by [[ Balan ]], a famous baker Ravan recognized. As they marched on, they passed a cliff where the body of a giant with a sword in it lay; [[ Na’mor ]] were climbing it.

Later, in a silent forest, they were surrounded by violet-robed assassins from the [[ Smiling Coffin ]]. One bowed to [[ F’ward ]] and vanished.

The Dragon

At the [[ Ath ]], they saw incredible races from all over [[ Quynth ]]. [[ Ith ]], a dwarf surrounded by harmless flames of creation, welcomed them to the altar. Elms was there, apologizing for his disappearance.

As they held their amulets on the blue platform, darkness fell. [[ Subah Sitara ]], a dragon made of stars and pure mana, appeared in the sky. It brought a sense of peace and memories of loved ones to everyone in the group.

To the crowd’s amazement, [[ Subah Sitara ]] duplicated. It was Elms transmuting himself! He then transformed into a giant turtle, and then into a violet whale swimming through the stars. A voice echoed: “The universe welcomes us… Fly, free souls, fly to the stars.”

Suddenly, a black ball of greenish fluid and blood shot from below, striking Elms in his whale form.

The vision ended in death. The group woke up near [[ Dargentta ]]. [[ Ikiro ]], [[ Ith ]]’s right hand, gave them a letter from [[ Ith ]]. It explained that [[ Zcaros ]] had attacked, forcing [[ Ith ]] to chase him. [[ Zcaros ]] had taken Elms’ dying body. [[ Ith ]] revealed that [[ Bahel ]] had been hiding inside the old gnome all along.

They boarded the [[ Valor Doko ]], a warship piloted by [[ Agmar ]]. On board, Ravan and Jayhanic trained, and [[ F’ward ]] brewed tea that gave visions of [[ Malkia ]] and [[ Bahel ]]. [[ Agmar ]] was transporting a prisoner, [[ Oruk ]], who told Jayhanic about his world.

Dargentta and the Brotherhood

In [[ Dargentta ]], Ravan fulfilled a blood contract by delivering [[ Oruk ]]. [[ F’ward ]] sensed giant footsteps nearby. At the drop-off, an illusion of [[ Diz ]] appeared and took [[ Oruk ]] away to [[ Rosales ]].

The group joined the [[ Brotherhood of Terectosa ]], meeting [[ Rosi ]] at the tavern and signing up with [[ Dom ]]. They entered a tournament against [[ Antephora ]], [[ Calit ]], and [[ Bromor ]].

Just as the third round ended, [[ Zcaros ]] crashed down from the sky. He created an illusion, killed [[ Rosi ]], stole valuable items from the players, and left behind the massacred body of Elms, nailed to a shard of wood from the [[ Hunting Door ]].

In the [[ Brotherhood of Terectosa ]] library, Kelsir found writings by [[ Diz ]] and a “ [[ Red Grimoire ]]” containing the story of the [[ Blood Shell ]]. Jayhanic copied magical patterns. [[ Hela ]] learned that [[ Gohr ]] (an old comrade of [[ Antephora ]]) was hunting a beast called a [[ Lunacera ]].

Ravan, [[ F’ward ]], and [[ Afath ]] went to find a rope maker for a special bow. They found the shop of [[ Rona ]] and her son [[ Copo ]] with help from a guard named [[ Alur ]]. They discovered [[ F’ward ]]’s staff was magical.

Kelsir and Jayhanic visited [[ Catalea ]], an alchemist. She cured Jayhanic’s necrotic damage and helped restore Kelsir’s hair in exchange for the [[ Necrotic Tome ]]. [[ Catalea ]] then vanished.

The group reunited at [[ Hon ]]’s diner. Kelsir apologized and left to resolve a personal matter; it was the last time they saw him that day.

The Search for Gordol

After realizing that Kelsir had vanished and finding one of his rings on the floor of [[ Catalea ]]’s shop, the group heads out to find [[ Gordol ]].

As the players make their way to [[ Gordol ]]’s residence, they find the front door standing open. It has been forced—a door marked with traces of magical reinforcement. Upon entering, they see what appears to be a merchant’s lobby; [[ Gordol ]] apparently deals in currency exchange. However, if the players investigate further, they discover it is not just a money-changing house, but also a hub for trafficking [[ Soul Seals ]] and unstable magical artifacts.

If the players search the area, they find a [[ Potion of Chaos ]] and the [[ Thori’s Bow ]].

Deep inside the shop, they find a note from [[ Gordol ]] that reads:

“The little light I found in this place helped keep me sane. You already know how this world is; sometimes I enjoyed walking through the cleaner neighborhoods. Today I understand why. It was never about who lived longer or who held more power. To my dear friend—in your loneliness, today I understand you. You are the son of a lost lineage, of voices and customs that are no longer even a memory. This will likely be the last time I dedicate a few words to you, [[ Son of Loh ]]. Be careful with [[ Kaule ]], if that is his true name; he poses as someone more powerful—poor wretch. The fool tried to steal the [[ Crimson Seal ]] from me; I managed to hurl it into the portal before he could see it. It seems [[ Kaule ]] wants to contain a subordinate of [[ Baphomet ]] named [[ Nodex ]]. He promised him power in exchange for helping him overthrow the [[ Dargentta Alliance ]]. Your best course of action is to use my chest—crush what lies inside without hesitation!—and find that seal. Be careful; I do not know what may lie on the other side of that portal.

P.S. I left your commission hidden behind the bookshelf where you used to play as a child.”

Engraved in a [[ Ryo ]] dialect: “May the script of this letter reveal itself to those who, in their innocence, wish to see the world as it truly is.”

Inside the chest lies [[ Gordol ]]’s heart, tied with a silver ribbon engraved with an ancient dialect: [[ Āeksio Vezof ]]. On the bookshelf, they find a shortbow and a potion.

The Portal and Beyond By destroying the heart, the players open a portal. On the other side, they find themselves in a warm, subterranean terrain. It is somewhere north of [[ Piok ]]—a [[ Kube ]] tomb with [[ Viciri ]] inscriptions on the walls. If the players investigate, they find information regarding the [[ Kube ]] of [[ Dermakia ]], their origins, and the [[ Spian ]].

[[ Afath ]] confesses to them that [[ Kaule ]] was an old friend of his, with whom he trained and learned everything about magic in [[ Isterasse ]]. He tells the adventurers that they both shared a feeling that the world functioned through a type of magic different from the one everyone else knew. [[ Kaule ]] could not stop and attempted to find an answer to that doubt, making deals with celestial entities and even demons.

The group decides to seek help from the [[ Brotherhood of Terectosa ]], where they find only the cook, [[ Elise ]]. She provides them with food rations and shows them the Brotherhood’s armory. There, they find useful items and decide to venture through the portal.

After the battle, in a nearly hidden corner of the subterranean chamber, they find an elderly woman. She greets them with gratitude, rejoicing at having visitors after more than 2,000 years of solitude.

The group’s current tasks:

• Get materials for the bow string.

• Help [[ Afath ]] find and milk a [[ Lunacera ]] (worth 500 gold to [[ Hon ]]).

• Find [[ Bahel ]] and chase [[ Zcaros ]] to stop a dangerous ritual.

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