Thus continues the tale that started with Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect. Should you require a brief ((I attempted to be concise!)) recap of the events that unfolded within the Prologue Chapter then please navigate to "The Story So Far" section of this post - a more detailed summary shall be posted at the end of the previous Chapter's forum thread. Suffice it to say, we begin Chapter 1 with our intrepid adventurers having activated a device, the Hawkes Device, which opened a portal between Saltmarsh (Oerth) and the Feyrealm.
Home, Sweet Home
“You all look like you’ve seen a ghost,”Asha chuckles, cheekily smiling at each of the adventurers in turn. Calmly gesturing to the ruined workshop; the Feyrealms version was similar to the workshop found in Oerth, only damaged and with less equipment. The familiar-looking stone arch, complete with the deep-blue portal, its surface shimmering and rippling like sea waves.
“Isn’t this place beautiful?”Asha’s eyes glisten as they take in the surrounding area. Plants of a plethora of different hues coat the walls of the workshop, for it was clear to see that nature had claimed it many years ago. Amber beams of sunlight shone through the broken ceiling, bathing everything in a golden glow.
“Years I spent searching for this place. My dreams would not allow me to forget,” she says in awe. “Don’t you see, I was destined to be here.”Catching her reflection in the mirror, she gasps, and slowly feels her elongated ears and small horns. Smiling broadly, she continues, “what better evidence of my link to the Feyrealm? The old Asha is long gone.”
Looking at the party, she smiles sheepishly. “Sorry, where are my manners? I’m sure you all must have questions. Please, do not be afraid. You freed me from my prison and for that, I shall be eternally grateful.” She allows herself a laugh, it is clear that she is happy almost to the point of being giddy. “Not only did you free me from the prison of being trapped between worlds, but you have also helped free me from Oerth. I much prefer it here, I think.”
“I meant to ask, who are the ghosts?”
Five ghostly knights stand to attention, resplendent in their ghostly armour. One steps forth, a dashing youth, with the air of nobility. He moves to strike at his armour before letting out a mirthful, deep laugh. “Not the most articulate form of communication but it sufficed, did it not?”his voice is both warm and friendly, yet commanding and authoritative. His fellow knights share his laughter, each bowing in turn.
((Captain Tommus Iavas, former Captain of the Astrazalian Guard, whose soul was briefly confined to a tree-like body on Oerth))
The Captain sighs and glances over the area. “Home,” he sighs, before kneeling and touching the ground. He looks over his ghostly hand. “Though I had hoped to return in better circumstances – namely living,” he laughs once more. “I am nonetheless pleased to be back after so many years. We all are.”He glances skywards, clenching his jaw, holding back decades of emotion. “Cendriane, if I am not mistaken.” Even as he says it, you observe a wooded area between gaps in the walls of the workshop.
“It is long past time we rested,” a note of sadness creeps into his voice. “My name was Tommus,”he says with a bow. “Captain Tommus Iavas, of the Astrazalian Guard. Favoured by Lady Shandria herself, my men and I were selected to head liaisons between the Court of Stars and the Great Kingdom of Aerdy. It was in this duty that we perished. I…”he pauses, tripping over his introductory spiel, and steeling himself. “I would ask that should you ever find yourself in Astrazalian, you see find out what became of my family... A selfish request, I know, but I would have them learn of my fate.”
You watch as one by one the other knights begin to shimmer out of existence. Tommus smiles wistfully. “I shall try and stay to answer any questions you may have, though I do not know how long I have. Now I am home, I should rest.”
“Astrazalian! Oh, but you must visit Astrazalian,”Asha beams. “It is a magnificent city. One I have seen many times, but only in dreams!” Noting the unspoken feelings seemingly passing between the party and the former Tree Knight Captain, she pauses and smiles. “I’ll be just outside if you need me.” She leaves the workshop, humming merrily to herself.
Whisked away from their daily lives to a strange Carnival, currently being ravaged by a mysterious illness. Our adventurers found themselves being tasked to investigate by the Carnival Mistress, Lady Isolde, as foul play was suspected.
The adventurer’s investigations unveiled a shadow organisation operating within Saltmarsh, known simply as the Sanguine Cabal. It was found that the Cabal had been using otherworldly parasites to drain the life force from their victims, this life force could, in turn, be used to bolster their own vitality and strength. Once drained, the parasite's victims slowly dried before turning to dust.
Tracking down the Cabal’s movements, the adventurers found their headquarters, an old country estate in the vicinity of Saltmarsh, known simply as Prospect. Aware that the Cabal had taken hostages, particularly a local girl, Esther Freyn, the adventurers set off immediately.
On the road to Prospect, it was clear that the local plant and wildlife were being changed and twisted by an unnatural force; the closer the adventurers drew to Prospect the more apparent this became.
While at Prospect, the adventurers encountered several members of the Cabal:
Casper Brinck - the financial ‘face’ of the cabal was found infested with the otherworldly parasites, having been betrayed by Theodore Sedgewick.
Lexi Rosetta - the hired muscle of the cabal. A particularly fierce pirate captain, known for terrorising the local area and trading slaves, had been set upon by forces, not of Oerth but instead likely originating from the Feydark.
Theodore Sedgewick - the founder of the Cabal. Having fed upon the energy provided by the parasites over the course of the last 4 years his form had been bitterly twisted and resembled something more Lovecraftian in nature; millions of mouths decorating a highly bloated form.
It was found that the Sanguine Cabal had been working closely with a larger organisation known as the Scarlet Brotherhood, which was believed to have been gaining power in and around the Saltmarsh region (particularly within Monmurg). However, it transpired that Theodore Sedgewick had been playing the Brotherhood. Instead swearing allegiance to His Most Profane Eminence, a demon lord of the Abyss known simply as Iuz.
The adventurers were able to defeat the Cabal members one by one; the only member still alive that the party are aware of is Rosie Molloy, the Captain of a shipping fleet, whose flagship was simply referred to as ‘Madame X’. As of current events, Molloy is still at large.
However, not only enemies were found within Prospect. The parasitic creatures, believed to be the aggressor, turned out to be one of the first victims of the Cabal; caged and controlled, taken from their plane of existence forcibly. The adventurers were able to form a bond with the telepathic creature, which had been given the name the Sagacitas, after safely removing several of their infant larvae from a weakened Esther Freyn; thus saving the girl in the process.
Additionally, while exploring Prospect's basement, an older area of the property was revealed. Finding a secret door, hidden for aeons, the adventurers stumbled across an ancient treasure hoard which contained symbolism of the Old Kingdom of Aerdy. Guarding this treasure, the adventurers found an array of curious Tree Knights. These Knights, it was believed, had come from the Feyrealm and were Eladrin, whose souls had been unable to escape Oerth and instead had inhabited the local flora.
Whilst exploring the grounds of Prospect, a woman’s voice could occasionally be heard, though it sounded faint and confused. It was later found that the voice belonged to Asha Hawkes, the person believed to be responsible for creating the Hawkes Device; a device able to create a portal, or rift, in a location where the veil between different planes of existence was thinnest. It transpired that Prospect had been an area known as a Fey Crossing, a place where there was a link between Oerth and the Feyrealm. The Great Kingdom of Aerdy, it was found, had attempted to create a barrier, shielding Oerth from Feyrealm incursion. However, the Hawkes Device had inadvertently caused this barrier to become unstable and degrade.
Over the last 4 years of usage, the Fey Barrier became weaker and weaker and hence the Feyrealm began to seep into Saltmarsh slowly, hence the local fauna and flora becoming altered. The adventurers learnt that, if left unchecked, the veil between the Feyrealm and Oerth would break irreparably. Likewise, should the Hawkes Device be destroyed then this process would be expedited, irrevocably creating a tear between planes.
Armed with this information, the adventurers set out in search of Asha’s workshop, which contained the Hawkes Device. Determined that they should activate the device and travel through to the Feyrealm in an attempt to find potential allies that could assist with the re-establishment of the Fey Barrier, as they had all those many years prior; should the Seelie Court, ruled by the Summer Queen, still exist.
This brings us to the present. The adventurers, having activated the Hawkes Device, travelled through to the chaotic and ever-changing Feyrealm. Only to find themselves in a similar looking, if not more ruined, Prospect. Standing in front of them was a female satyr with red hair, who introduced herself as Asha Hawkes.
But how could that be? The party had seen pictures of Asha and she was human. What further mysteries will be uncovered in the party’s search for would-be allies and a way of saving Saltmarsh from its impending doom?
Perhaps more answers will be uncovered within Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown.
Boyd took a sharp breath at the sudden change of atmosphere. Although the room looked similar to the one he had been in before blinking away the light of the portal, the stark and sudden differences left him gawping, as usual. He grasped futiley at the golden sunlight dripping in through the ceiling, as though expecting it to feel different than usual. His gnarled, weather-beaten face looked not unlike the bark of the tall trees seen through the collapsed roof and open doorframes of the ruin, but his eyes were active in taking in the environment. Finally, he got a good look at the figure that awaited the group.
"Well, you got a better deal than Sedgewick. The horns ain't so bad." A quick laugh bubbles up from his belly and he shakes his head in disbelief. "Procan protect, but this is too weird! Is this that place you lot was talking about? The Ceiling court? I expected it to... I don't know... feel different."
When Asha asks about ghosts, Boyd looks upon her with pity, as though she's lost her marbles. He'd heard ghosts stories, of course, but even Boyd knew that they weren't real! He wasn't 7 any more. He looked like he was thinking of a war to delicately inform Asha as much when the ghost of Tommus spoke up. Boyd's jaw went fully slack as he listened to the ghost story.
When Tommus finishes, Boyd points a finger at him, "You're the wood elf!" He states, and looks to his companions to see their (assuredly very surprised) reactions. He suddenly looks a bit melancholy, though, "What happened... did the portal break when you went through? How come you're a... ghost?" Boyd quickly checks himself to make sure he's not see through.
As the profusion of colors and life curls in around her, the items of the workshop seeming to fall in an instant into decay, and disuse, Faila finds herself frozen in horror. It's as if the jungle is coming back, its roots crushing and breaking everything that man has built, destroying it with the tinkling laughter of chaos. Like my whole life was destroyed, and is destroyed again and again, because it's inside me now...
Asha's giddy delight only exacerbates Faila's horror. "But look at you!" she cries, looking at the horns, the ears, the hooves. "You're a monster. Was that what you wanted? To be a monster?"
And then there are the ghosts. But as the handsome youth, shimmering with insubstantiality, goes to strike his breastplate with his fist---suddenly she recognizes him, and a sort of strange relief comes over her features. These are the civilized ones. They are the ones who have fought for so many years to keep the ties strong and solid between the Kingdom and... and this world. Now they're dead... Faila stumbles towards Tommas, falling down on her knees and resting her forehead on the overgrown ground. "Astrazalian," she murmurs. "Good bands on this wild place. Thank you for helping us, good knight Tommas... I am glad you are home... can you help us find Astrazalian, before we are lost?" She shudders as she says this. It's clear this place terrifies her. I want to go home... but, I don't have a home. So somehow, I must stay here.
Something gives way within Nikita as she touches the runes opposite Meresaa, activating Asha Hawkes' device and stepping through the portal. Some resistance or mental barrier that she has maintained almost as long as she can remember. Chafing under the aristocratic and refined expectations of her high elven family. The youngest daughter who spent more time with merchants, travelers and urchins than her own kin. Solidly grounded in Oerth, with the Faerie Kingdom of Celene as an afterthought. Until she found her twin callings of bladesinging and spycraft, then witnessed all of her friends die one by one in their flight from the demons who had discovered their plot. The lone survivor, she, running south to Keoland.
Yet now, the chaos and magnificence of the Feywild flows through the breach in her soul and for once she barely resists its touch. The colors, he blinding light, the life and magic, vibrant and strange, yet part of her. She gasps, feeling both full to the brim and lost amidst a maelstrom.
I have touched the Fey Realm now and it has touched me. There is no going back to the way things once were. Perhaps there never was.
"Not a monster," she murmurs at Faila's exclamation about Asha, but does not press the point. Or no more than any of us are monsters, anyway...
She places a hand on Boyd's shoulder, thinking to reassure the man, but quickly realizing she lacks anything reassuring to say. "I do not think we are at the Seelie Court, though that is a destination. One of the seven courts we may need to seek out. This is Cendriane, our friend said? A lost city."
Seeing the ghost of what Tommus Iavas once was, the captain of the Astrazalian Guard, Nikita bows deeply, reaching for the style her parents had taught her, and that she herself had done her best to forget most of her life. Until now.
"Captain Iavas. We will seek Astrazalian, as Asha Hawkes too has suggested. Any with whom we speak will learn that you and your knights remained true, and that death itself was no bar to your dedication and service. I know you long for rest so we must be quick. Where is Astrazalian? The Court of Stars, you said? Shall we seek out Lady Shandria there? I know that the Fey Realm is ever changing, but any guidance you can provide on how to find and approach the seven Courts may help. As you described with symbols when unable to use words in Oerth, we must recover seven artifacts related to the seven Courts, if I understood your meaning. We are strangely chosen for this task, us four, yet chosen we are, so forward we go."
She proceeds to ask the ghostly Captain Iavas for any advice regarding the location and best approach or contacts for the seven Courts:
The Court of Stars (Astrazalian, Lady Shandria, where Tommus Iavas and his knights once served) - bright yellow sapling, abundant and strong.
The Court of Coral - deep blue sapling, waving though there is no breeze.
The Gloaming Fey - dark purple sapling, beautiful but smelling of bog water.
The Green Fey - emerald green sapling, smelling of pine cones.
The Summer Fey - (Queen Titania, whose statue was in the secret basement room) fiery red sapling, warm to the touch.
The Winter Fey - frosty pale blue sapling, cold to the touch.
The Unseelie Fey (Queen of Air and Darkness, some of whose darker creatures are invading Oerth) - black as onyx, twisted and thorny.
Yet, in the back of her mind as she does, she cannot shake the thought: And from which of these seven Courts did Sahmyr Ami arise?
The tall, blue, robed woman you know as Meresaa reels and puts a hand out to steady herself. She awkwardly lets herself down to one knee and seems to do an impressive job suppressing a violent heave as she manages to retain her last meal out of sheer force of will.
After a moment and a heavy breath or two, she rights herself and stands back to her full, impressive height. Narrow shoulders pulled back imperiously, she clears her throat lightly and regards the motley gathering.
"That was... Well... Quite different from my previous planar crossing."
She takes one long stride to Asha and gives her an analytical look. Several protracted moments pass before she breaks into a large, toothy smile and scoops the young faun into an embrace. Holding her out at arms length, she examines her again.
"Asha Hawkes... We hoped to find you well but I must admit that this ordeal left me struggling to remain optimistic." She lets go of the girl and, again, straightens herself out, seeing to the folds of her robe and brushing off a bit of dirt.
"Please don't mind our young companion, here. I think the horns are quite becoming on you." She glances at Faila. "If we were frightened of everyone who looked different from us, I must say I never would have gotten far with this group," she says with a mirthful chuckle.
Once Asha excuses herself, Meresaa sees her friends' lines of questioning and remains silent as she assesses the ghost knight's responses.
Boyd - "Well met, Master Boyd," Tommus says with a bow. "My men and I were confined within those wooden bodies. Unable to properly communicate, to feel, to..."He stops himself short of ranting. "Needless to say, when we returned to the Feywild our Oerthly bodies were shed. The form you see now is how I appeared in life... well, a little less transparent and a slightly healthier shade. I feel tired, as though ready for a long rest. I shall stay for as long as I can but can already feel my mind slipping." As if to punctuate Tommus' point, his form starts to fade to the point that you can fully see through him.
Faila - Asha eyes you curiously, it is clear that your words hurt her. "I'm not a monster, Faila," she says, attempting to keep her emotions in check. "Do you know what it feels like? To have your parents, your doctors," she pauses ever so momentarily, "your society, and your friends, look at you as though there is something wrong with you? For years, I had to deny that which I knew to be true, told that my mind was gone, or fractured, or required curing." She breaks eye contact with you.
"The only person that never doubted me was Sahmyr. I have spent my life wanting to live in this world," she gestures to the workshop around her. "Well, not specifically Cendriane, but the feyrealm. Its charm, its mysticism, its beauty. Who are you to tell me that this place, or my appearance, is monstrous? The true monsters can be found through there!" She points at the portal through which you came.
"How eager were men to sell their souls? How easy was it for the likes of Sedgewick and Brinck to corrupt and pollute those which surrounded them? Did you see what they did to dear Reggie?" Asha struggles to control her anger, allowing it to wash away from her. "I wear my new appearance gladly,"she gently explains, "as it represents my link to the feyrealm and the fresh start that I always wanted."
As you stumbled towards Tommus, he extends an arm to catch you, momentarily forgetting his current predicament. "Please, Ms Faila," he starts with a kind smile. "You need not fall to your knees,"the elf spirit crouches down in front of you. "I am afraid that I will be unable to accompany you on your journey," he says, his eyes filled with sadness. "You already have the means to track Astrazalian, do you not? The whistle. All you need do is remember our fleeting time together, blow, and the way should be revealed to you. It is Astrazalian where my soul shall reside."
Tommus stands back up. "Though the way may be fraught with peril and the path not always obvious, never forget who you are Faila. As long as we understand ourselves are we ever truly lost? Though the people, circumstances, and places may change, you are the constant." He chuckles. "That said, look to the others for strength, together you have already shown how powerful a force you are; you have overcome so much in such a short space of time, have you not?"
Nikita - As you contemplate the nature of the Feyrealm, you know that your thoughts contain truth; the place leaves a mark on people that cannot be washed away. Fey Touched, the term echoes around your mind, would you escape this fate, and was it even escapable? Or would prolonged exposure alter your appearance, as it had Asha? Perhaps it would change you in other ways, your thoughts, your mind, your magical ability?
"It's definitely something worth contemplating,"Thumbtack says aloud. "How do you think it'll affect me? Did you even stop to consider that as you went through that giant, swirling, blue mass? Typical." Looking around the other, gawping, members of the party, she clears her throat awkwardly. "Oh and a twit-twoo, or some such,"she says dismissively before coming to a perch on your shoulder.
The Captain, not even remotely surprised by the talking owl, bows deeply before you. "You have my thanks, Nikita. I cannot deny that I have felt a level of kinship between us since we first met. Astrazalian is to the east, it floats within the great sea, never staying rooted in one place for too long. I urge caution now not to mix up the floating island the City of Starlight (Astrazalian) sits upon with the Island of Dread. As the name suggests, these are two wholly different places."
"Senaliesse, home of the Summer Queen and Seelie Court, is to the north and, oftentimes, closer. Though you would have to traverse the forests, it may be a harder path. My tip would be to avoid the dragons should you choose this route, they tend to be easily upset." You look to see if he is joking, but his face remains serious. "My suggestion is that you take the river, located to the south of Cendriane, eastwards. Though it tends to frequently change in length, it should be relatively quick to sail to the great sea and find Astrazalian. Once there, petition Lady Shandria and the Court of Stars for assistance, it will help to have her on your side prior to visiting Senaliesse."
"The only issue -- I say issue, one that I am sure you have the wherewithal to resolve -- is that you do not currently have a ship. Swimming, I'm afraid, would be quite treacherous and building a vessel is time-consuming, which leaves the option of finding someone who already has a ship and convincing them to take you." He proceeds to spend the next few minutes reminiscing about multiple seafaring journeys he had embarked on in his time.
"Where were we?" he asks after regaling you. "Oh yes, the artefacts. The previous ones were likely destroyed by,"he lowers his voice and looks to the exit Asha took. "Ms Hawkes, when she first activated her device."
"You must find suitable replacements, though what they are or look like I do not know. Certainly, representatives from the Court of Summer or the Court of Stars would have significantly more understanding. Though wizards from Astrazalian's Grand Colleges are probably your best bet, they were the ones behind the original barrier." He smiles, "another reason to visit Astrazalian, it would seem."
You gain the following information from Captain Iavas:
The Court of Stars
The Court of Stars is a grand assembly hosted several times a year by the Summer Queen. Each of these gatherings is partly a political or business meeting and partly a time of revelry and friendly competition. It is based in Astrazalian, where Lady Shandria rules, and is often where alliances are made or broken. Social codes and etiquette generally govern those attending the Court of Stars behaviour.
The Court of Coral
The Court of Coral encompasses the aquatic and island-dwelling fey, ruled by the Sea Lords. The Sea Lords are Elias and Siobhan Alastai, siblings who oversee the rivers and seas of the Feywild, respectively. The Captain believes that the Sea Lords' domain is to the northeast.
The Gloaming Fey
The Gloaming Fey are associated with dreams, darkness, stars, twilight, and dusk. They swear their allegiance to the Maiden of the Moon, a formidable hunter. She is known to track down any lycanthropes found hunting outside of the Brokenstone Vale.
The Green Fey
The Green Fey are the servants of Oran the Green Lord. He has been known to roam the Maze of Fathaghn from time to time. It is located to the south, near the Plains of Echoing Thunder.
The Summer Fey
The Summer Fey are the most numerous of the eladrin and embody the innate beauty and power of their patron, the Queen of Summer. She is located within Senaliesse.
The Winter Fey
Though the Winter Fey profess to be leaderless, there is one that has more power than the others. The Prince of Frost dwells within The Vale of Long Night which is located far in the east.
The Unseelie Fey
The Unseelie Fey have no true representative among the Court of Stars. They are evil, malicious, and corrupted. Many believe that they draw power or are shaped by a great unknown great evil. In order to find them one would have to venture into the Feydark, Tommus does not know how to do this but suspects that someone within the Court of Stars would know.
Meresaa - Asha smiles at you and curtseys. "A pleasure to meet you in person, Meresaa. It'll not be that bad, you'll see,"she says, a child-like innocence creeping into her voice. "Just you wait until you see some of the fey cities, they're beautiful!"
"I think my appearance must have come as quite the shock." She looks over to Faila. "I'm sorry about my earlier outburst. But this is the first time I've felt like I am truly where I belong."
Even as she attempts to soak up these last words from Tommus Iavas, Nikita can't help beaming at Thumbtack as the owl speaks aloud in the way Nikita has always heard only in her own mind. For a brief, smiling moment, the bladesinger's face is divinely beautiful despite her livid scar.
Yet her tone is dry and deadpan. "To be sure, grumpy wings, we should have left you back on the manor grounds with all the feydark for company." She softens her jest by sharing a ration with her familiar and scratches the spot on her back that she knows Thumbtack likes.
She turns to the others. "I would introduce you all, but then, you've already met her. Only now you have the privilege of hearing with your ears what I hear in my mind day and night. You can thank me later. In truth, she grows on you."
Finally back to the ghostly Eladrin Captain (but including everyone): "So south first to the river to find a vessel to bear us east to Astrazalian seeking audience with Lady Shandria and wizards of the Grand Colleges. Using the whistle should we lose our way. That, along with all you have shared of the other courts is as good a start as we could hope for, Captain. My only other question is this. With Lady Shandria, may we share with her some anecdote or message or memory by which she would know us to speak true when we tell her that we've accompanied you and your soldiers back to the fey realm so you can rest peacefully? Without compromising what is private of course - something harmless but specific so she knows she can trust us?"
With this, Nikita steps back to see if anyone else has any further questions for the fading Captain Tommus Iavas. (She is not intentionally ignoring Asha Hawkes, but imagines that there might be more time later to converse with the red-haired satyr).
Boyd gawps at the talking owl. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, as though thinking of something to say, but shakes his head and turns his attention back to the ghost - he seems to have caught something that Tommus clearly takes for granted. "The Summer Court is often closer? The river changes lengths? What d'you mean? Like flooding you mean, right?" Dismayed by the impending answer, Boyd looks completely lost and exasperated. "How... how does this place work?" He looks to Thumbtack. "Can everything talk? Or is that just on account of that it's a magic bird and all? People are growing horns, rivers are growing willy-nilly and cities are moving around. How do you keep track of this place? It sounds like a dream! And not a good one. Nothing makes sense but you're all acting like it does. What's the sense? First I have to learn about magic, now this..."
Boyd takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. He exhales slowly and attempts to control himself. "Tommus. Can you help me get my bearings? There must be some rules to this place, right?"
He looks to Faila and mouths "this place is crazy!"
"Yes, I know what it feels like," Faila mumbles back to Asha, "and that is why I would not want it to come true. I am glad you feel at home here, but I think Sahmyr Ahmi has deceived you." She sounds fearful as she says it. A vulnerable child herself, she has already felt the draw, and is thankful to think that she's seen through it... for now. But I feel adrift, not sure where, or who I am, and I don't know what might happen... Tommas, that's the problem, you see, I do not understand myself and I am not constant.But she only smiles her thanks to the noble ghostly eladrin, wishing she felt as solid as he seems to be, despite his incorporeal state. That's called irony, isn't it?She pinches her physically solid wrists ruefully. How long will this last? Especially here, he is much more solid than I, though he walks a new path now.
As near overwhelmed as Boyd, she looks to the man as he mouths to her and nods in agreement, then shivers and wraps her arms around herself. "This is a terrible place," she mouths back to him.
Nikita - Thumbtack steps from one foot to the other. "And miss out on all the wonderful conversations we'll undoubtedly have over the course of our adventures here?" Through your bond with the creature, you can tell that she is currently experiencing a mixture of awe and excitement. Thumbtack gladly accepts your offer of a treat and seems contented.
Captain Iavas pauses to contemplate your request. "Mention me by name and tell her,"he breaks eye contact with you. "Tell her, my heart yet soars at the nightingale's song," he says with a wry smile. He, uncharacteristically, rubs at his forehead, "she should know what that means."
Boyd - Captain Iavas looks at you sheepishly. "Now you might imagine how restrictive your world felt,"he explains. "It all felt a little too static, stuck in the mud, so to speak. Without wishing any offence." He looks at you questioningly."Rules? What type of rules? I mean Astrazalian generally exists within the giant sea. It has been rumoured to have once wandered about on land, though this was during a turbulent time of its life, whilst it was still a relatively young city."He turns to the others,"and we have all done things in our youth that we are occasionally not proud of, have we not?"
"Balance,"he adds quickly. "Though things can oftentimes appear erratic and chaotic within the Feywild. A great many things are delicately held in balance... or at least return to being balanced in due course. It is balance that prevents the sky from falling on our heads." It seems that the Captain is only able to provide that rather confusing sentence of words as an explanation, otherwise unsure of the rules of the feyrealm.
Faila - Asha pays you no heed as you mention Sahmyr, instead choosing to hum merrily to herself as she leaves the workshop.
Boyd massages the back of his neck as if to relieve at least some of the stress he's feeling. Finally he sighs, exasperated not at Tommus or anyone else, but at the idea of having to work out how navigation in the Feywild will work. "Thanks, Tommus." He says sincerely, realizing that this is just normal for him. "We'll manage. To the south then follow the river east. Then find this Ass-tra-zay-leen in the ocean." He uncharacteristically gets the foreign word nearly correct on the first try.
"Ohhhhhh..." he frowns sadly at the incorporeal form "you didn't even get to enjoy your home for long after all that waiting."He moves to maybe shake the ghost's hand or give him a hug before guessing at the impossibility of the act. "You... take care of yourself now." He looks to the ancient canopy above with golden light streaming through, then looks back to the Captain and waits for him to disappear.
Nikita bows solemnly once more to Tommus Iavas. "We will tell Lady Shandria if and when we arrive in Astrazalian. I promise."
Like Boyd, she realizes that the ghostly Captain's incorporeal form does not allow her to touch him. Nevertheless, she moves near him and stands as if leaning her head on his shoulder with an arm on his back. A familial, intimate gesture, as if from a close younger cousin seeing him one final time.
"I imagine you're quite anxious to get to your well-deserved rest, Captain Iavas. But one last question, if you're able to persist just a moment longer," Meresaa interjects for the first time.
"If all seven factions of this realm were involved with the original creation of the barrier, do you think one or more of them could be responsible for orchestrating its removal? Do you anticipate trouble or repudiation from any particular court once we reach it? Or would you believe this Sahmyr Ami character -- who we've heard so much of -- to be some sort of rogue acting of his own volition?"
She glances to one side and then back with a grin.
"I apologize. That's far more than 'one last question'... Once inquisitive gears begin to turn, it's difficult to halt them." She inclines her head slightly toward the captain.
Boyd - Tommus' voice is quieter now, as though he is speaking over a great distance. "Don't worry, Boyd," his voice whispers. "I have an eternity of enjoying my home, for this is where my spirit can finally rest." You feel nothing but cool air as you move to hug the Captain, but he smiles nonetheless. "You take care as well, friend," he whispers with a wink.
Nikita - Tommus fades as he nods and mouths, thank you.
Meresaa - There is a brief pause before a Tommus' voice responds to your question. From the level of strain, you can tell that it is taking a lot of effort for the Ghost to respond. "Sahmyr Ami? It is not a name I am familiar with. You are familiar with both Seelie and Unseelie Courts... both have actors that have hatched nefarious schemes before... Their relationship is strained at the best of times... If this Sahmyr is responsible for the current blight affecting Oerth, neither court are likely to claim ownership."
You are reminded of the times Asha communicated with the group whilst she was trapped. Her voice strained as though travelling a great distance, blowing on the wind. Tommus softly adds, "the magical ability this Sahmyr would need to communicate across planes is quite... substantial. Could it perhaps be a greater force disguising their identity? Perhaps even..." Rather frustratingly, the voice fades before it can finish the thought, leaving the group alone.
Workshop
The workshop seems quieter and less welcoming since Tommus' departure. The rustle and creaking of the woods add an eerie tone to the proceedings. Much of the building has been reclaimed by the surrounding wildlife; any workbenches, chairs, or tools are either caked in dust or grime or are rusted beyond use. You are able to surmise that nothing of value remains and that the workshop has been left vacant for some time now (likely hundreds of years).
New Prospect, Cendriane
Outside, the sun bakes down. You notice the remnants of a building that might have, many years ago, looked a little similar to Oerth's version of Prospect. However, the version of Prospect that you left behind was remote and far removed from the local town, existing very much as its own gated property. The fey version was entirely different in that regard, for no sooner as you stepped out of that little workshop containing the breach between planes than you were greeted by a sprawling open mass of roads and ruined buildings. Located at the top of a hill overlooking the once-great city of Cendriane, this version of Prospect sits.
Forget the tiny sea town of Saltmarsh, Cendriane is huge, and you currently find yourselves in its centre. Dark twisting forests as old as the world encroach into the city, their tendrils wrapping like veins around the ruined buildings, living and pulsating. Yet some of the city's former splendour remains, as you look upon large crystal towers rising through the treetops like polished skeletal fingers emerging from the earth. The city's desolate streets sprawl through the wood like spiderwebs, creating a unique harmony between nature and the ruins of the once-proud civilisation.
Signs of battle can be seen, serving as stark reminders of reality in this otherwise ethereal city; dented, rusted armour encases skeletal remains, broken and battered weapons litter the streets, and large ballistae bolts now sit idle and moss-covered. It strikes you then that there is no birdsong here, no signs of life, nothing but the pall of silence surrounding the city's architecture.
Hawkes
Sitting down outside the workshop, her hands cradling her legs, is Asha. She looks up at you as you take in the sights of Cendriane, her eyes still full of wonder and awe. "Isn't it beautiful?" she beams. "So, any idea where you're going to go first?"
Faila shivers and wraps her arms around herself as Tommas finally fades away completely, leaving the overgrown workshop desolate and lonely. After a moment, Faila retrieves her patchwork Skurra cloak from her backpack, and wraps it around herself. Although it's not particularly cold out, it seems to warm her from the inside, and that's where she feels coldest, anyway. Anxious to leave the abandoned workshop, Faila ducks her head underneath her hood and steps outside into the ruins of the city.
She stands in awe, looking up at the towering spires, the webbing of foliage and road patterning out across the landscape. Yet something shrinks inside of her, and she wants to run away from his place as fast as she can. All the worst of the woods and of civilization, and none of the good of either.
"We... we are going to Astrazalian," she says to Asha.
Morning - Day 1? - Somewhere on the outskirts of Cendriane
Trials and Tribulations
Trepidation gnawed, filling his mind with thoughts of what might come to pass should he fail. Like a mouse whittling away at a sunflower seed, it had started. Yet as he progressed closer to Cendriane that little mouse had grown into a starving, savage dog and the seed into a haunch of beef. Staring up at the cursed city, he contemplated the task he had been given.
Sure enough, signs of stagnation had already begun to affect the surrounding area. Life that had once been verdant and rich now felt static and strangled. Thoughts of Mithrendain pricked at his mind; was Cendriane going to suffer a similar fate? And if so, could similar restrictions and confines, left unchecked, destroy the mysticism, enchantment, and most importantly balance of the land? Sadness struck him now. Could life lose its colour? Or its spice? Certainly, the forest he had traversed until now felt soulless when compared to the vibrancy of Astrazalian or Senaliesse.
Now he stood on the precipice. Another step and he would enter Cendriane. Memories swirled, bringing tidbits and morsels of information to mind, his collected knowledge of the cursed city. Long had folk steered well clear of the abandoned city and its dangers, preferring to stay on the perimeter of the forest. Others, more ancient than he, had spoken of a once-glorious city, the jewel of the feyrealm. Yet the most prominent, unshakeable thought in his mind was one of war. All who traverse the feywild know the stories of the long and bloody war between eladrin and drow, the stain that had so irreparably tarnished this once-radiant place. Giant spiders, displacer beasts, and owlbears were now believed to make their lairs in mansions where noble eladrin once dwelled. Worse still, ghostly spectres, unable to find rest, were purported to roam the streets at night, reenacting their final living moments over and over again.
"Well this is as far as I go,"squeaked a voice from behind him. Tegid Pugh had been a rather stalwart guide over the course of his travels to date; always going the extra mile with a cheery, "yep-yep," or a "Yessir, Mr Lordoff, sir." On more than one occasion the potbellied, little kobold had been indispensable, ushering his firbolg client this way and that, but generally always out of danger. "No, sir,"the no came unnaturally to Tegid, "no way, no how. I ain't going no way near some undead, cursed city. No sirrr." It was clear that he was terrified of Cendriane, the very thought chilling him to his core. "They'll rot your face righ' off, if you lettum. The ghosties tha' is. Bes' you avoided it Mr Lorrof. S'all 'ere in this book." The book he referred to -- the conveniently named Heroes of the Feywild -- was clearly scrawled by Tegid himself, yet remained his authoritative guide to all things concerning the feywild. On more than one occasion it had been brandished and its verse read aloud, generally to reinforce a point that the potbellied kobold himself was making.
((Tegid Pugh, the Potbellied Kobold. Traveler, guide, author of at least one semi-serviceable book, and an all-around good sort.))
Many times over the course of the journey it had to be explained to Tegid that the title was "Lord of," not Lordoff or Laroaf, or Low-roof; "s'what I said, Lorrov Autumn," was a response received on more than one occasion. Suspicion had quickly fallen between the two traveling companions as to whether Tegid was purposefully mispronouncing the name or not; though his cheeky, go-getter, demeanor frequently remedied the situation.
"Anyjob, you got an idea-of where y'gonna go or what y'gonna do when you do reach the city?" The question, though simply put, unearthed a realm of possibilities. Where did he want to go? Where would his investigations lead? He knew he had to go for it, take the plunge, and enter the campaign- errr - city.
Faila - Asha smiles and nods. "Very good Ms Faila,"she says, clapping her hands together. She beckons toward the desolate and overgrown streets. "Any idea on how to navigate your way through Cendriane? I had half a mind to try and map the city from Prospect outwards. Still, the streets look pretty clear, I'm sure you'll find your way quick enough."
Nikita cannot help but notice the trepidation touching Boyd and enervating Faila. She wonders why she does not feel the same herself. By all rights she should. She suspects that for Meresaa, trepidation is nothing more than an abstract concept to be studied with dry amusement and slight scorn.
"We should head south to the river as Tommus said, though directions may be fluid here, and it is hard to judge the best way through Cendriane. Perhaps the whistle? To show us the best path to Astrazalian? Thumbtack, let's have a quick look around, but stay close."
Nikita sends her owl friend up no more than 20' to scout for danger as she herself looks around the surrounding streets for anything hidden.
The firbolg stood silent as Tegid posed his question, taking the city in as he drew a deep breath of the stagnant air, ripe with decay. Closing his eyes, the firbolg broke the silence by letting out a massive guffaw, "HOOO!Hold your ground, brave Tegid. Surely you would not think I would journey all this way to just take in the sights?"He let out another jovial laugh, pointing at the grim landscape before him in jest. "Forsooth, I shall venture forth to Cendriane, as the Court wishes. Regretfully, the nature of my visit is rather mundane," another laugh, "Yet of some great import to the Summer Queen all the same."
As compared to the kobold, the firbolg eclipsed his companion in both height and girth. Standing near eight feet tall, his massive frame seemed relaxed despite the unwelcoming nature of the woods around them. Removing his travel gloves, he rubbed his meaty paws together, letting the damp air add moisture to calloused skin. A warmth emanated from his being, as he wore an inviting expression on his features and ease about his posture. Scratching at his beard, he continued to assess the situation, showing nothing but confidence the task he had before him.
He checked his gear, pulling loose straps fast and unfurling his massive cloak of leaves that had been somewhat tangled from the last bit of the trek. As he ran his hands through the cloak, the quilt of leaves crackled and snapped as if alive with vibrant energy and life. Now free from snags and bunching, the cloak rippled ever so slightly against the large figure. Upon closer examination, a natural transition in the color of the leaves is present, with softer and yellow-hued foliage rounding out the top, moving to darker and darker shades of orange and auburn until the very edge of the cloak, which was lined with the driest and darkest leaves.
Patting his surcoat to shake out the last bit of dirt, he regarded his companion once more, "You have done well, brave Tegid, this much is true." He passed a warm smile down to the Kobold before continuing, "The Lord of Autumn shall take his leave from here. Though I hope you find your compensation from the court worthy of your service, know too that you shall always have a seat by my hearth."
The firbolg respectfully took leave of the kobold, wishing him safe travels. As Tegid passed out of earshot, the firbolg regarded the sudden quiver in his hand. "Can you feel it too?" he whispered. His brow furrowed for a moment before softening back into a relaxed expression. His raucous laughter from earlier ensured whatever lay before him knew that his approach was eminent, as the Lord of Autumn wanted. Clearing his thoughts, he pressed onward into the mires awaiting him.
Your eyes sweep the cityscape. In the far distance to your left, you find what you seek, a winding, snake-like river, its waters an unusual shade of purple. Unfortunately, there appears to be no clear path without having to delve further into Cendriane. Otherwise, you might risk taking a longer route through the vast fey forests themselves.
The streets are eerily quiet save for the rustle of leaves in the wind. Keeping your eyes peeled for any places of interest you note a strange circular metal pattern on the floor (see below). Oddly, in stark contrast to the rest of the area, the ivy obscuring this pattern is beginning to recede; you note marks where the ivy has once grown.
Thumbtack
Thumbtack flies off and briefly scouts the area before returning to you. "Verily, I swear this city is void of life," she pipes up. "The lack of any other birds in the sky is a particularly ill omen. We birds are a discerning bunch -- far more than the average land-dweller -- and if no others have chosen to frequent this locale... well forsooth, it could be that something hidden yet deadly roams these streets. I beg caution, Nikita. If danger arises then I can simply fly away. Alas, you are a little more restricted in that regard."
Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown
Thus continues the tale that started with Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect. Should you require a brief ((I attempted to be concise!)) recap of the events that unfolded within the Prologue Chapter then please navigate to "The Story So Far" section of this post - a more detailed summary shall be posted at the end of the previous Chapter's forum thread. Suffice it to say, we begin Chapter 1 with our intrepid adventurers having activated a device, the Hawkes Device, which opened a portal between Saltmarsh (Oerth) and the Feyrealm.
Home, Sweet Home
Characters
Meresaa - Vedalken Artificer - shadow1784
Nikita Tantsora - Elf Wizard - Tybard
The Story So Far
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Boyd took a sharp breath at the sudden change of atmosphere. Although the room looked similar to the one he had been in before blinking away the light of the portal, the stark and sudden differences left him gawping, as usual. He grasped futiley at the golden sunlight dripping in through the ceiling, as though expecting it to feel different than usual. His gnarled, weather-beaten face looked not unlike the bark of the tall trees seen through the collapsed roof and open doorframes of the ruin, but his eyes were active in taking in the environment. Finally, he got a good look at the figure that awaited the group.
"Well, you got a better deal than Sedgewick. The horns ain't so bad." A quick laugh bubbles up from his belly and he shakes his head in disbelief. "Procan protect, but this is too weird! Is this that place you lot was talking about? The Ceiling court? I expected it to... I don't know... feel different."
When Asha asks about ghosts, Boyd looks upon her with pity, as though she's lost her marbles. He'd heard ghosts stories, of course, but even Boyd knew that they weren't real! He wasn't 7 any more. He looked like he was thinking of a war to delicately inform Asha as much when the ghost of Tommus spoke up. Boyd's jaw went fully slack as he listened to the ghost story.
When Tommus finishes, Boyd points a finger at him, "You're the wood elf!" He states, and looks to his companions to see their (assuredly very surprised) reactions. He suddenly looks a bit melancholy, though, "What happened... did the portal break when you went through? How come you're a... ghost?" Boyd quickly checks himself to make sure he's not see through.
As the profusion of colors and life curls in around her, the items of the workshop seeming to fall in an instant into decay, and disuse, Faila finds herself frozen in horror. It's as if the jungle is coming back, its roots crushing and breaking everything that man has built, destroying it with the tinkling laughter of chaos. Like my whole life was destroyed, and is destroyed again and again, because it's inside me now...
Asha's giddy delight only exacerbates Faila's horror. "But look at you!" she cries, looking at the horns, the ears, the hooves. "You're a monster. Was that what you wanted? To be a monster?"
And then there are the ghosts. But as the handsome youth, shimmering with insubstantiality, goes to strike his breastplate with his fist---suddenly she recognizes him, and a sort of strange relief comes over her features. These are the civilized ones. They are the ones who have fought for so many years to keep the ties strong and solid between the Kingdom and... and this world. Now they're dead... Faila stumbles towards Tommas, falling down on her knees and resting her forehead on the overgrown ground. "Astrazalian," she murmurs. "Good bands on this wild place. Thank you for helping us, good knight Tommas... I am glad you are home... can you help us find Astrazalian, before we are lost?" She shudders as she says this. It's clear this place terrifies her. I want to go home... but, I don't have a home. So somehow, I must stay here.
Something gives way within Nikita as she touches the runes opposite Meresaa, activating Asha Hawkes' device and stepping through the portal. Some resistance or mental barrier that she has maintained almost as long as she can remember. Chafing under the aristocratic and refined expectations of her high elven family. The youngest daughter who spent more time with merchants, travelers and urchins than her own kin. Solidly grounded in Oerth, with the Faerie Kingdom of Celene as an afterthought. Until she found her twin callings of bladesinging and spycraft, then witnessed all of her friends die one by one in their flight from the demons who had discovered their plot. The lone survivor, she, running south to Keoland.
Yet now, the chaos and magnificence of the Feywild flows through the breach in her soul and for once she barely resists its touch. The colors, he blinding light, the life and magic, vibrant and strange, yet part of her. She gasps, feeling both full to the brim and lost amidst a maelstrom.
I have touched the Fey Realm now and it has touched me. There is no going back to the way things once were. Perhaps there never was.
"Not a monster," she murmurs at Faila's exclamation about Asha, but does not press the point. Or no more than any of us are monsters, anyway...
She places a hand on Boyd's shoulder, thinking to reassure the man, but quickly realizing she lacks anything reassuring to say. "I do not think we are at the Seelie Court, though that is a destination. One of the seven courts we may need to seek out. This is Cendriane, our friend said? A lost city."
Seeing the ghost of what Tommus Iavas once was, the captain of the Astrazalian Guard, Nikita bows deeply, reaching for the style her parents had taught her, and that she herself had done her best to forget most of her life. Until now.
"Captain Iavas. We will seek Astrazalian, as Asha Hawkes too has suggested. Any with whom we speak will learn that you and your knights remained true, and that death itself was no bar to your dedication and service. I know you long for rest so we must be quick. Where is Astrazalian? The Court of Stars, you said? Shall we seek out Lady Shandria there? I know that the Fey Realm is ever changing, but any guidance you can provide on how to find and approach the seven Courts may help. As you described with symbols when unable to use words in Oerth, we must recover seven artifacts related to the seven Courts, if I understood your meaning. We are strangely chosen for this task, us four, yet chosen we are, so forward we go."
She proceeds to ask the ghostly Captain Iavas for any advice regarding the location and best approach or contacts for the seven Courts:
Yet, in the back of her mind as she does, she cannot shake the thought: And from which of these seven Courts did Sahmyr Ami arise?
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
The tall, blue, robed woman you know as Meresaa reels and puts a hand out to steady herself. She awkwardly lets herself down to one knee and seems to do an impressive job suppressing a violent heave as she manages to retain her last meal out of sheer force of will.
After a moment and a heavy breath or two, she rights herself and stands back to her full, impressive height. Narrow shoulders pulled back imperiously, she clears her throat lightly and regards the motley gathering.
"That was... Well... Quite different from my previous planar crossing."
She takes one long stride to Asha and gives her an analytical look. Several protracted moments pass before she breaks into a large, toothy smile and scoops the young faun into an embrace. Holding her out at arms length, she examines her again.
"Asha Hawkes... We hoped to find you well but I must admit that this ordeal left me struggling to remain optimistic." She lets go of the girl and, again, straightens herself out, seeing to the folds of her robe and brushing off a bit of dirt.
"Please don't mind our young companion, here. I think the horns are quite becoming on you." She glances at Faila. "If we were frightened of everyone who looked different from us, I must say I never would have gotten far with this group," she says with a mirthful chuckle.
Once Asha excuses herself, Meresaa sees her friends' lines of questioning and remains silent as she assesses the ghost knight's responses.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Mis'tuv (Halfling Fathomless Warlock) - The Voyage of the Fallen Star
Meresaa (Vedalken Artillerist Artificer) - Destination Unknown
Hutton Crowcreek (Human Fighter) - Curse of the Crimson Throne
Boyd - "Well met, Master Boyd," Tommus says with a bow. "My men and I were confined within those wooden bodies. Unable to properly communicate, to feel, to..." He stops himself short of ranting. "Needless to say, when we returned to the Feywild our Oerthly bodies were shed. The form you see now is how I appeared in life... well, a little less transparent and a slightly healthier shade. I feel tired, as though ready for a long rest. I shall stay for as long as I can but can already feel my mind slipping." As if to punctuate Tommus' point, his form starts to fade to the point that you can fully see through him.
Faila - Asha eyes you curiously, it is clear that your words hurt her. "I'm not a monster, Faila," she says, attempting to keep her emotions in check. "Do you know what it feels like? To have your parents, your doctors," she pauses ever so momentarily, "your society, and your friends, look at you as though there is something wrong with you? For years, I had to deny that which I knew to be true, told that my mind was gone, or fractured, or required curing." She breaks eye contact with you.
"The only person that never doubted me was Sahmyr. I have spent my life wanting to live in this world," she gestures to the workshop around her. "Well, not specifically Cendriane, but the feyrealm. Its charm, its mysticism, its beauty. Who are you to tell me that this place, or my appearance, is monstrous? The true monsters can be found through there!" She points at the portal through which you came.
"How eager were men to sell their souls? How easy was it for the likes of Sedgewick and Brinck to corrupt and pollute those which surrounded them? Did you see what they did to dear Reggie?" Asha struggles to control her anger, allowing it to wash away from her. "I wear my new appearance gladly," she gently explains, "as it represents my link to the feyrealm and the fresh start that I always wanted."
As you stumbled towards Tommus, he extends an arm to catch you, momentarily forgetting his current predicament. "Please, Ms Faila," he starts with a kind smile. "You need not fall to your knees," the elf spirit crouches down in front of you. "I am afraid that I will be unable to accompany you on your journey," he says, his eyes filled with sadness. "You already have the means to track Astrazalian, do you not? The whistle. All you need do is remember our fleeting time together, blow, and the way should be revealed to you. It is Astrazalian where my soul shall reside."
Tommus stands back up. "Though the way may be fraught with peril and the path not always obvious, never forget who you are Faila. As long as we understand ourselves are we ever truly lost? Though the people, circumstances, and places may change, you are the constant." He chuckles. "That said, look to the others for strength, together you have already shown how powerful a force you are; you have overcome so much in such a short space of time, have you not?"
Nikita - As you contemplate the nature of the Feyrealm, you know that your thoughts contain truth; the place leaves a mark on people that cannot be washed away. Fey Touched, the term echoes around your mind, would you escape this fate, and was it even escapable? Or would prolonged exposure alter your appearance, as it had Asha? Perhaps it would change you in other ways, your thoughts, your mind, your magical ability?
"It's definitely something worth contemplating," Thumbtack says aloud. "How do you think it'll affect me? Did you even stop to consider that as you went through that giant, swirling, blue mass? Typical." Looking around the other, gawping, members of the party, she clears her throat awkwardly. "Oh and a twit-twoo, or some such," she says dismissively before coming to a perch on your shoulder.
The Captain, not even remotely surprised by the talking owl, bows deeply before you. "You have my thanks, Nikita. I cannot deny that I have felt a level of kinship between us since we first met. Astrazalian is to the east, it floats within the great sea, never staying rooted in one place for too long. I urge caution now not to mix up the floating island the City of Starlight (Astrazalian) sits upon with the Island of Dread. As the name suggests, these are two wholly different places."
"Senaliesse, home of the Summer Queen and Seelie Court, is to the north and, oftentimes, closer. Though you would have to traverse the forests, it may be a harder path. My tip would be to avoid the dragons should you choose this route, they tend to be easily upset." You look to see if he is joking, but his face remains serious. "My suggestion is that you take the river, located to the south of Cendriane, eastwards. Though it tends to frequently change in length, it should be relatively quick to sail to the great sea and find Astrazalian. Once there, petition Lady Shandria and the Court of Stars for assistance, it will help to have her on your side prior to visiting Senaliesse."
"The only issue -- I say issue, one that I am sure you have the wherewithal to resolve -- is that you do not currently have a ship. Swimming, I'm afraid, would be quite treacherous and building a vessel is time-consuming, which leaves the option of finding someone who already has a ship and convincing them to take you." He proceeds to spend the next few minutes reminiscing about multiple seafaring journeys he had embarked on in his time.
"Where were we?" he asks after regaling you. "Oh yes, the artefacts. The previous ones were likely destroyed by," he lowers his voice and looks to the exit Asha took. "Ms Hawkes, when she first activated her device."
"You must find suitable replacements, though what they are or look like I do not know. Certainly, representatives from the Court of Summer or the Court of Stars would have significantly more understanding. Though wizards from Astrazalian's Grand Colleges are probably your best bet, they were the ones behind the original barrier." He smiles, "another reason to visit Astrazalian, it would seem."
You gain the following information from Captain Iavas:
The Court of Stars is a grand assembly hosted several times a year by the Summer Queen. Each of these gatherings is partly a political or business meeting and partly a time of revelry and friendly competition. It is based in Astrazalian, where Lady Shandria rules, and is often where alliances are made or broken. Social codes and etiquette generally govern those attending the Court of Stars behaviour.
The Court of Coral encompasses the aquatic and island-dwelling fey, ruled by the Sea Lords. The Sea Lords are Elias and Siobhan Alastai, siblings who oversee the rivers and seas of the Feywild, respectively. The Captain believes that the Sea Lords' domain is to the northeast.
The Gloaming Fey are associated with dreams, darkness, stars, twilight, and dusk. They swear their allegiance to the Maiden of the Moon, a formidable hunter. She is known to track down any lycanthropes found hunting outside of the Brokenstone Vale.
The Green Fey are the servants of Oran the Green Lord. He has been known to roam the Maze of Fathaghn from time to time. It is located to the south, near the Plains of Echoing Thunder.
The Summer Fey are the most numerous of the eladrin and embody the innate beauty and power of their patron, the Queen of Summer. She is located within Senaliesse.
Though the Winter Fey profess to be leaderless, there is one that has more power than the others. The Prince of Frost dwells within The Vale of Long Night which is located far in the east.
The Unseelie Fey have no true representative among the Court of Stars. They are evil, malicious, and corrupted. Many believe that they draw power or are shaped by a great unknown great evil. In order to find them one would have to venture into the Feydark, Tommus does not know how to do this but suspects that someone within the Court of Stars would know.
Meresaa - Asha smiles at you and curtseys. "A pleasure to meet you in person, Meresaa. It'll not be that bad, you'll see," she says, a child-like innocence creeping into her voice. "Just you wait until you see some of the fey cities, they're beautiful!"
"I think my appearance must have come as quite the shock." She looks over to Faila. "I'm sorry about my earlier outburst. But this is the first time I've felt like I am truly where I belong."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Even as she attempts to soak up these last words from Tommus Iavas, Nikita can't help beaming at Thumbtack as the owl speaks aloud in the way Nikita has always heard only in her own mind. For a brief, smiling moment, the bladesinger's face is divinely beautiful despite her livid scar.
Yet her tone is dry and deadpan. "To be sure, grumpy wings, we should have left you back on the manor grounds with all the feydark for company." She softens her jest by sharing a ration with her familiar and scratches the spot on her back that she knows Thumbtack likes.
She turns to the others. "I would introduce you all, but then, you've already met her. Only now you have the privilege of hearing with your ears what I hear in my mind day and night. You can thank me later. In truth, she grows on you."
Finally back to the ghostly Eladrin Captain (but including everyone): "So south first to the river to find a vessel to bear us east to Astrazalian seeking audience with Lady Shandria and wizards of the Grand Colleges. Using the whistle should we lose our way. That, along with all you have shared of the other courts is as good a start as we could hope for, Captain. My only other question is this. With Lady Shandria, may we share with her some anecdote or message or memory by which she would know us to speak true when we tell her that we've accompanied you and your soldiers back to the fey realm so you can rest peacefully? Without compromising what is private of course - something harmless but specific so she knows she can trust us?"
With this, Nikita steps back to see if anyone else has any further questions for the fading Captain Tommus Iavas. (She is not intentionally ignoring Asha Hawkes, but imagines that there might be more time later to converse with the red-haired satyr).
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
Boyd gawps at the talking owl. He opens and closes his mouth a few times, as though thinking of something to say, but shakes his head and turns his attention back to the ghost - he seems to have caught something that Tommus clearly takes for granted. "The Summer Court is often closer? The river changes lengths? What d'you mean? Like flooding you mean, right?" Dismayed by the impending answer, Boyd looks completely lost and exasperated. "How... how does this place work?" He looks to Thumbtack. "Can everything talk? Or is that just on account of that it's a magic bird and all? People are growing horns, rivers are growing willy-nilly and cities are moving around. How do you keep track of this place? It sounds like a dream! And not a good one. Nothing makes sense but you're all acting like it does. What's the sense? First I have to learn about magic, now this..."
Boyd takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. He exhales slowly and attempts to control himself. "Tommus. Can you help me get my bearings? There must be some rules to this place, right?"
He looks to Faila and mouths "this place is crazy!"
"Yes, I know what it feels like," Faila mumbles back to Asha, "and that is why I would not want it to come true. I am glad you feel at home here, but I think Sahmyr Ahmi has deceived you." She sounds fearful as she says it. A vulnerable child herself, she has already felt the draw, and is thankful to think that she's seen through it... for now. But I feel adrift, not sure where, or who I am, and I don't know what might happen... Tommas, that's the problem, you see, I do not understand myself and I am not constant. But she only smiles her thanks to the noble ghostly eladrin, wishing she felt as solid as he seems to be, despite his incorporeal state. That's called irony, isn't it? She pinches her physically solid wrists ruefully. How long will this last? Especially here, he is much more solid than I, though he walks a new path now.
As near overwhelmed as Boyd, she looks to the man as he mouths to her and nods in agreement, then shivers and wraps her arms around herself. "This is a terrible place," she mouths back to him.
Nikita - Thumbtack steps from one foot to the other. "And miss out on all the wonderful conversations we'll undoubtedly have over the course of our adventures here?" Through your bond with the creature, you can tell that she is currently experiencing a mixture of awe and excitement. Thumbtack gladly accepts your offer of a treat and seems contented.
Captain Iavas pauses to contemplate your request. "Mention me by name and tell her," he breaks eye contact with you. "Tell her, my heart yet soars at the nightingale's song," he says with a wry smile. He, uncharacteristically, rubs at his forehead, "she should know what that means."
Boyd - Captain Iavas looks at you sheepishly. "Now you might imagine how restrictive your world felt," he explains. "It all felt a little too static, stuck in the mud, so to speak. Without wishing any offence." He looks at you questioningly. "Rules? What type of rules? I mean Astrazalian generally exists within the giant sea. It has been rumoured to have once wandered about on land, though this was during a turbulent time of its life, whilst it was still a relatively young city." He turns to the others, "and we have all done things in our youth that we are occasionally not proud of, have we not?"
"Balance," he adds quickly. "Though things can oftentimes appear erratic and chaotic within the Feywild. A great many things are delicately held in balance... or at least return to being balanced in due course. It is balance that prevents the sky from falling on our heads." It seems that the Captain is only able to provide that rather confusing sentence of words as an explanation, otherwise unsure of the rules of the feyrealm.
Faila - Asha pays you no heed as you mention Sahmyr, instead choosing to hum merrily to herself as she leaves the workshop.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Boyd massages the back of his neck as if to relieve at least some of the stress he's feeling. Finally he sighs, exasperated not at Tommus or anyone else, but at the idea of having to work out how navigation in the Feywild will work. "Thanks, Tommus." He says sincerely, realizing that this is just normal for him. "We'll manage. To the south then follow the river east. Then find this Ass-tra-zay-leen in the ocean." He uncharacteristically gets the foreign word nearly correct on the first try.
"Ohhhhhh..." he frowns sadly at the incorporeal form "you didn't even get to enjoy your home for long after all that waiting." He moves to maybe shake the ghost's hand or give him a hug before guessing at the impossibility of the act. "You... take care of yourself now." He looks to the ancient canopy above with golden light streaming through, then looks back to the Captain and waits for him to disappear.
Nikita bows solemnly once more to Tommus Iavas. "We will tell Lady Shandria if and when we arrive in Astrazalian. I promise."
Like Boyd, she realizes that the ghostly Captain's incorporeal form does not allow her to touch him. Nevertheless, she moves near him and stands as if leaning her head on his shoulder with an arm on his back. A familial, intimate gesture, as if from a close younger cousin seeing him one final time.
"Farewell."
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
"I imagine you're quite anxious to get to your well-deserved rest, Captain Iavas. But one last question, if you're able to persist just a moment longer," Meresaa interjects for the first time.
"If all seven factions of this realm were involved with the original creation of the barrier, do you think one or more of them could be responsible for orchestrating its removal? Do you anticipate trouble or repudiation from any particular court once we reach it? Or would you believe this Sahmyr Ami character -- who we've heard so much of -- to be some sort of rogue acting of his own volition?"
She glances to one side and then back with a grin.
"I apologize. That's far more than 'one last question'... Once inquisitive gears begin to turn, it's difficult to halt them." She inclines her head slightly toward the captain.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Mis'tuv (Halfling Fathomless Warlock) - The Voyage of the Fallen Star
Meresaa (Vedalken Artillerist Artificer) - Destination Unknown
Hutton Crowcreek (Human Fighter) - Curse of the Crimson Throne
Morning? - Day 1 - Fey-Prospect Workshop
Ta-ra Tommus
Boyd - Tommus' voice is quieter now, as though he is speaking over a great distance. "Don't worry, Boyd," his voice whispers. "I have an eternity of enjoying my home, for this is where my spirit can finally rest." You feel nothing but cool air as you move to hug the Captain, but he smiles nonetheless. "You take care as well, friend," he whispers with a wink.
Nikita - Tommus fades as he nods and mouths, thank you.
Meresaa - There is a brief pause before a Tommus' voice responds to your question. From the level of strain, you can tell that it is taking a lot of effort for the Ghost to respond. "Sahmyr Ami? It is not a name I am familiar with. You are familiar with both Seelie and Unseelie Courts... both have actors that have hatched nefarious schemes before... Their relationship is strained at the best of times... If this Sahmyr is responsible for the current blight affecting Oerth, neither court are likely to claim ownership."
You are reminded of the times Asha communicated with the group whilst she was trapped. Her voice strained as though travelling a great distance, blowing on the wind. Tommus softly adds, "the magical ability this Sahmyr would need to communicate across planes is quite... substantial. Could it perhaps be a greater force disguising their identity? Perhaps even..." Rather frustratingly, the voice fades before it can finish the thought, leaving the group alone.
Workshop
The workshop seems quieter and less welcoming since Tommus' departure. The rustle and creaking of the woods add an eerie tone to the proceedings. Much of the building has been reclaimed by the surrounding wildlife; any workbenches, chairs, or tools are either caked in dust or grime or are rusted beyond use. You are able to surmise that nothing of value remains and that the workshop has been left vacant for some time now (likely hundreds of years).
New Prospect, Cendriane
Outside, the sun bakes down. You notice the remnants of a building that might have, many years ago, looked a little similar to Oerth's version of Prospect. However, the version of Prospect that you left behind was remote and far removed from the local town, existing very much as its own gated property. The fey version was entirely different in that regard, for no sooner as you stepped out of that little workshop containing the breach between planes than you were greeted by a sprawling open mass of roads and ruined buildings. Located at the top of a hill overlooking the once-great city of Cendriane, this version of Prospect sits.
Forget the tiny sea town of Saltmarsh, Cendriane is huge, and you currently find yourselves in its centre. Dark twisting forests as old as the world encroach into the city, their tendrils wrapping like veins around the ruined buildings, living and pulsating. Yet some of the city's former splendour remains, as you look upon large crystal towers rising through the treetops like polished skeletal fingers emerging from the earth. The city's desolate streets sprawl through the wood like spiderwebs, creating a unique harmony between nature and the ruins of the once-proud civilisation.
Signs of battle can be seen, serving as stark reminders of reality in this otherwise ethereal city; dented, rusted armour encases skeletal remains, broken and battered weapons litter the streets, and large ballistae bolts now sit idle and moss-covered. It strikes you then that there is no birdsong here, no signs of life, nothing but the pall of silence surrounding the city's architecture.
Hawkes
Sitting down outside the workshop, her hands cradling her legs, is Asha. She looks up at you as you take in the sights of Cendriane, her eyes still full of wonder and awe. "Isn't it beautiful?" she beams. "So, any idea where you're going to go first?"
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Faila shivers and wraps her arms around herself as Tommas finally fades away completely, leaving the overgrown workshop desolate and lonely. After a moment, Faila retrieves her patchwork Skurra cloak from her backpack, and wraps it around herself. Although it's not particularly cold out, it seems to warm her from the inside, and that's where she feels coldest, anyway. Anxious to leave the abandoned workshop, Faila ducks her head underneath her hood and steps outside into the ruins of the city.
She stands in awe, looking up at the towering spires, the webbing of foliage and road patterning out across the landscape. Yet something shrinks inside of her, and she wants to run away from his place as fast as she can. All the worst of the woods and of civilization, and none of the good of either.
"We... we are going to Astrazalian," she says to Asha.
Autumn Calls
Morning - Day 1? - Somewhere on the outskirts of Cendriane
Trials and Tribulations
Trepidation gnawed, filling his mind with thoughts of what might come to pass should he fail. Like a mouse whittling away at a sunflower seed, it had started. Yet as he progressed closer to Cendriane that little mouse had grown into a starving, savage dog and the seed into a haunch of beef. Staring up at the cursed city, he contemplated the task he had been given.
Sure enough, signs of stagnation had already begun to affect the surrounding area. Life that had once been verdant and rich now felt static and strangled. Thoughts of Mithrendain pricked at his mind; was Cendriane going to suffer a similar fate? And if so, could similar restrictions and confines, left unchecked, destroy the mysticism, enchantment, and most importantly balance of the land? Sadness struck him now. Could life lose its colour? Or its spice? Certainly, the forest he had traversed until now felt soulless when compared to the vibrancy of Astrazalian or Senaliesse.
Now he stood on the precipice. Another step and he would enter Cendriane. Memories swirled, bringing tidbits and morsels of information to mind, his collected knowledge of the cursed city. Long had folk steered well clear of the abandoned city and its dangers, preferring to stay on the perimeter of the forest. Others, more ancient than he, had spoken of a once-glorious city, the jewel of the feyrealm. Yet the most prominent, unshakeable thought in his mind was one of war. All who traverse the feywild know the stories of the long and bloody war between eladrin and drow, the stain that had so irreparably tarnished this once-radiant place. Giant spiders, displacer beasts, and owlbears were now believed to make their lairs in mansions where noble eladrin once dwelled. Worse still, ghostly spectres, unable to find rest, were purported to roam the streets at night, reenacting their final living moments over and over again.
"Well this is as far as I go," squeaked a voice from behind him. Tegid Pugh had been a rather stalwart guide over the course of his travels to date; always going the extra mile with a cheery, "yep-yep," or a "Yessir, Mr Lordoff, sir." On more than one occasion the potbellied, little kobold had been indispensable, ushering his firbolg client this way and that, but generally always out of danger. "No, sir," the no came unnaturally to Tegid, "no way, no how. I ain't going no way near some undead, cursed city. No sirrr." It was clear that he was terrified of Cendriane, the very thought chilling him to his core. "They'll rot your face righ' off, if you lettum. The ghosties tha' is. Bes' you avoided it Mr Lorrof. S'all 'ere in this book." The book he referred to -- the conveniently named Heroes of the Feywild -- was clearly scrawled by Tegid himself, yet remained his authoritative guide to all things concerning the feywild. On more than one occasion it had been brandished and its verse read aloud, generally to reinforce a point that the potbellied kobold himself was making.
((Tegid Pugh, the Potbellied Kobold. Traveler, guide, author of at least one semi-serviceable book, and an all-around good sort.))
Many times over the course of the journey it had to be explained to Tegid that the title was "Lord of," not Lordoff or Laroaf, or Low-roof; "s'what I said, Lorrov Autumn," was a response received on more than one occasion. Suspicion had quickly fallen between the two traveling companions as to whether Tegid was purposefully mispronouncing the name or not; though his cheeky, go-getter, demeanor frequently remedied the situation.
"Anyjob, you got an idea-of where y'gonna go or what y'gonna do when you do reach the city?" The question, though simply put, unearthed a realm of possibilities. Where did he want to go? Where would his investigations lead? He knew he had to go for it, take the plunge, and enter the
campaign- errr - city.((Enter stage left, Mr Lord_Sheep.))
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Faila - Asha smiles and nods. "Very good Ms Faila," she says, clapping her hands together. She beckons toward the desolate and overgrown streets. "Any idea on how to navigate your way through Cendriane? I had half a mind to try and map the city from Prospect outwards. Still, the streets look pretty clear, I'm sure you'll find your way quick enough."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Nikita cannot help but notice the trepidation touching Boyd and enervating Faila. She wonders why she does not feel the same herself. By all rights she should. She suspects that for Meresaa, trepidation is nothing more than an abstract concept to be studied with dry amusement and slight scorn.
"We should head south to the river as Tommus said, though directions may be fluid here, and it is hard to judge the best way through Cendriane. Perhaps the whistle? To show us the best path to Astrazalian? Thumbtack, let's have a quick look around, but stay close."
Nikita sends her owl friend up no more than 20' to scout for danger as she herself looks around the surrounding streets for anything hidden.
Nikita Perception: 17
Thumbtack Perception (advantage due to owls' Keen Hearing and Sight): 15
She pulls out the strange, guiding whistle and prepares to use it if no one has any objections.
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
The firbolg stood silent as Tegid posed his question, taking the city in as he drew a deep breath of the stagnant air, ripe with decay. Closing his eyes, the firbolg broke the silence by letting out a massive guffaw, "HOOO! Hold your ground, brave Tegid. Surely you would not think I would journey all this way to just take in the sights?" He let out another jovial laugh, pointing at the grim landscape before him in jest. "Forsooth, I shall venture forth to Cendriane, as the Court wishes. Regretfully, the nature of my visit is rather mundane," another laugh, "Yet of some great import to the Summer Queen all the same."
As compared to the kobold, the firbolg eclipsed his companion in both height and girth. Standing near eight feet tall, his massive frame seemed relaxed despite the unwelcoming nature of the woods around them. Removing his travel gloves, he rubbed his meaty paws together, letting the damp air add moisture to calloused skin. A warmth emanated from his being, as he wore an inviting expression on his features and ease about his posture. Scratching at his beard, he continued to assess the situation, showing nothing but confidence the task he had before him.
He checked his gear, pulling loose straps fast and unfurling his massive cloak of leaves that had been somewhat tangled from the last bit of the trek. As he ran his hands through the cloak, the quilt of leaves crackled and snapped as if alive with vibrant energy and life. Now free from snags and bunching, the cloak rippled ever so slightly against the large figure. Upon closer examination, a natural transition in the color of the leaves is present, with softer and yellow-hued foliage rounding out the top, moving to darker and darker shades of orange and auburn until the very edge of the cloak, which was lined with the driest and darkest leaves.
Patting his surcoat to shake out the last bit of dirt, he regarded his companion once more, "You have done well, brave Tegid, this much is true." He passed a warm smile down to the Kobold before continuing, "The Lord of Autumn shall take his leave from here. Though I hope you find your compensation from the court worthy of your service, know too that you shall always have a seat by my hearth."
The firbolg respectfully took leave of the kobold, wishing him safe travels. As Tegid passed out of earshot, the firbolg regarded the sudden quiver in his hand. "Can you feel it too?" he whispered. His brow furrowed for a moment before softening back into a relaxed expression. His raucous laughter from earlier ensured whatever lay before him knew that his approach was eminent, as the Lord of Autumn wanted. Clearing his thoughts, he pressed onward into the mires awaiting him.
Nikita/Thumbtack's Perception check:
Nikita
Your eyes sweep the cityscape. In the far distance to your left, you find what you seek, a winding, snake-like river, its waters an unusual shade of purple. Unfortunately, there appears to be no clear path without having to delve further into Cendriane. Otherwise, you might risk taking a longer route through the vast fey forests themselves.
The streets are eerily quiet save for the rustle of leaves in the wind. Keeping your eyes peeled for any places of interest you note a strange circular metal pattern on the floor (see below). Oddly, in stark contrast to the rest of the area, the ivy obscuring this pattern is beginning to recede; you note marks where the ivy has once grown.
Thumbtack
Thumbtack flies off and briefly scouts the area before returning to you. "Verily, I swear this city is void of life," she pipes up. "The lack of any other birds in the sky is a particularly ill omen. We birds are a discerning bunch -- far more than the average land-dweller -- and if no others have chosen to frequent this locale... well forsooth, it could be that something hidden yet deadly roams these streets. I beg caution, Nikita. If danger arises then I can simply fly away. Alas, you are a little more restricted in that regard."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)