A Dream of Dawn

Session 1 - 19/10/25

Ryn - a loud crash of thunder shakes you out of the almost trance you had, staring into the fire. Opposite you, Emory sits, ever scribbling notes in his notebook. He then claps it shut, before turning his eyes to you.

“So why a circus?” As you answer, take a second to describe your character

“You do any act?”

As you finish your conversation, there’s a flash of green light before a loud boom of thunder echoes. You turn your attention to the storm, which has now come closer, and you notice the swirling colors inside it, along with flashes of green, red, purple, and so on.

“Seems our storm has turned into a spellstorm. Splendid. I’m afraid this bridge won’t have enough cover - we should head somewhere more secure, find some actual shelter.”

As he says this, he brings out his spellbook, and starts casting a spell you recognize, as he’s cast it several times during your travels - Phantom Steed. He starts the minute-long casting, as the storm comes ever closer. Rain starts pattering down in a heavy downpour all around you. The bolts of multicolored lightning also start to come dangerously close. Finally, the minute finishes, as this ghostly, horse-like apparition appears, and Emory jumps on, stretching a hand down towards where you wait.

As you reach to grab his hand, Dex save - you are blinded both by light and pain as one of the bolts of lightning flashes down, striking you directly. Your vision then contorts, turns, as the lightning courses through your body, burning where your spellscars are. You see, or rather, feel something like pieces of a tapestry, once beautiful, now scattered. You feel the connection to the pieces, and you feel as they tug at you, almost hungrily, and partly, you feel parts of yourself give. The parts of you are given to the tapestry, and you sense the grandness of it - the massive storm in Epida Amini, the smaller ones all throughout Aetria. Somewhere, you sense parts of the storm delving deep into ruins long forgotten, and you instinctively recognize the feeling of a barrier, with a crack now forming as a piece of the tapestry touches it. This is the last thing you feel before you black out

A week later

Ryn, you now find yourself in this mix between a classroom and a lab, in Emory’s part of the Hall of Councils. Your spellscar still stings a little, but most outwardly damage has been taken care of over this past week. That feeling of weakening did however not subside. Emory has subjected you to several tests and studies in the time since your arrival, and today is no different.

“Now, again - just try and counterspell me.”

He casts mage hand, which Ryn obviously can’t counterspell. He writes something down in his notebook, before turning to the other person in the room - Evander.

“Now you. Try counterspelling.”

Same thing. Emory sighs, notes his disappointment, and writes in his notebook. He then turns to leave, noting something about field tests.

Chance for some roleplay before Emory returns, with a mission from the guild - a group of archaeologists at a nearby excavation site need someone to deal with some awakened statues from the spellstorm, and then to bring some artifacts back to the Aerarium. It’s a ruin site that’s come with quite a few artifacts, and now it’s run into issues deeper in with the spellplague.

Speaking of the Aerarium, swap to Axia.

Axia is likely just returning from an expedition. As she arrives at the Aerarium, Caelia, hopping off the wagon they arrive on, says she’ll start processing their haul, and Axia can go report to Censor Servius. As she does, he greets her, asking how the expedition went. He tells her he’ll let the guild know that she’s coming to pick up payment. He then tells her he’s got another assignment waiting for her at the guild, if she’s up for it. Finally, he hands her a small box, asking her to put it down in the archive - it’s a spelltouched item, going into a special corner of the archive only other spelltouched individuals are allowed into.

Axia can lock herself into the area with a key she’s been given. Down in the archive, she meets Zaerina, a researcher demoted to the archive after being caught trying to steal from Axia. She makes some comment about Axia and her expedition, before Axia can then move towards the guild.

As she goes, switch to Luana and whatever she’s doing. At some point she’s approached by Nai Jiong, a smuggler from the Black Tide, one of the members with connections to the Aerarium.

“Cap’n sends his regards. Got a priority delivery for you. Apparently the client asked specifically for you as well - wants to meet with you to discuss the terms.”

Looking at the address given to her, it’s a place she’s familiar with - The D’Aramis Antiquities & Appraisal.

Making her way there, she’s let in by the guards stationed outside, into this collectors building/museum. Inside, soft golden light shines from lanterns in the ceilings, catching on the glass display cases that line the walls. Each of the cases holds a single object suspended on silk or velvet. The sounds of a violin plays from somewhere unseen. As Luana enters, a woman approaches her.

“Welcome to D’Aramis Antiquities. His Excellency will see you shortly. Please… refrain from touching the displays.”

You are left to wait for a good 15 minutes before the same woman approaches and lets you know he will see you now. She’s led inside the office of D’Aramis. Soft light filters through the heavy crimson drapes at the window. Valen D’Aramis sits at a large desk of very fine make, with a ledger open in front of him.

“Ah. Luana. Sit, if you would. I’ve been reviewing your… outstanding accounts.”

He gestures towards a page in the ledger with her name written in crimson.

“You’ve been busy, and yet - so have interests. Debts, I find, are like good wine - they mature beautifully, but only for the collector.” A small smile. “You’ll be relieved to know, however, that I’ve come across an opportunity for consolidation. A fortunate convergence between your obligations to me and to your more nautical acquaintances.”

“(Indeed. Rough men, crude manners, and yet—)occasionally, they handle things I prefer not to be seen touching. One of my informants brought word of an excavation nearby, with a small team departing later. Among the curiosities unearthed is an item of interest to me - a small amulet, apparently touched by the recent spellstorm. You will ensure it finds its way here, discreetly, before the scholars at the Aerarium lock it away. Think of it this way - this errand is quite a favor from me. Seeing as I hired you through the Black Tide, this will strike two lines from your record - one owed to me, and one to the Tide. A rare kindness, don’t you think? Now, you should hurry and make your way to the guildhall before the team departs.” (Amulet of Protection from Turning)

Once they all get to the guildhall, there’s a thing of Emory commenting Axia is the spelltouched researcher he mentioned.

The caravan takes them to an excavation site a day’s ride out of town. The leader of the dig site, a middle-aged human named Phyllis, explains that the recent spellstorm made some of the relics inside animate, and he needs someone to deal with it. Two archaeologists are already gravely wounded, along with some soldiers. They decided not to risk any more, after they already took down a particularly powerful undead, and sent for the guild.

Inside the ruins an iron cobra and two swarms of books await them. Afterwards, they can rest, and get the wagon with crates to take back. Luana gets eye contact with one of the people packing, who pulls down his shirt a little to reveal a tattoo of a kraken as he puts one of the crates on the cart. They can then rest before leaving in the morning

As they head back, they make it to close before the gates, where there’s just some tents and small buildings scattered outside, when they’re ambushed by a bunch of plaguetouched individuals. With them are a few spelltouched, who go for some of the crates on the wagon, including the one Luana had to smuggle.

Session 2 - 26/10/25

Up above, the party will be approached by the guard, apprehending them. The lead guard here would be Lira, who immediately recognizes Luana, and they bring them in. Because of Emory and Evander, they’d get brought to the guild to be held, as a more neutral party. However, because Lira knows Luana, they’d be searched - Luana can roll to see how well she hid the amulet. If they find it, it gets confiscated. After they get searched, they’re left in their cell for a few minutes, before Sem Ironhand enters, a towering figure with one of his hands a metal prosthetic.

Questions:

• “Walk me through exactly what happened from the moment you left the excavation site to when the attack began.”
  • Then the attack itself
• “Were any of the spelltouched relics unsealed or activated prior to the ambush?”
• “Was anyone in your group carrying unauthorized artifacts?”

Here, Cassian enters. Man around 50, short, blond hair and bright, inquisitive eyes. Beautiful, black gold-trimmed armor, and a clear air of authority, as the room quiets as he enters - “Please, continue. I’ll only observe.”

• Did anything else get stolen? (if key isnt mentioned)
• Describe what happened when Evander vanished
• “What contact did you have with the Bloom before this mission?”
• “You said they fled with crates. How many? And with what?”

As there’s a moment’s quiet, Cassian would start speaking

• “A regrettable incident. I’d like a few clarifications, for the Emperor’s peace of mind, and for the Senate’s records.”
• “I’m told several relics were destroyed during the fighting. A shatter spell, yes?”
• “Effective, certainly. Still, it complicates the record - anything destroyed under Guild supervision must be documented - Otherwise the Senate is forced to assume negligence. I’m certain that isn’t the case here, of course.”
• Turns to Axia - “Am I correct that a key to the Spelltouched Archive was among the stolen items?”
  • “You were its assigned handler, yes? Then you understand why both the Senate and the Aerarium will expect its recovery. In the hands of those zealots, the Azure Bloom, it could quickly turn into a threat.”
• “And this matter of Evander, Aschenwald. You say he was taken, not complicit?”
  • “Dimension door requires willingness, does it not? So how are you saying he was dragged along?”
  • “Well, for now, we’ll treat the Aschenwalds as blameless until proven otherwise. I’m sure your family will appreciate this.”
• “That will suffice. The Guild will compile your statements and forward them to the Curia.
• For the sake of everyone involved, let’s keep this contained — no reason to make a spectacle of it. The Senate has little patience for public scandal.”
• Lira one of them carrying an unregistered relic
  • “Of course.”
  • “Confiscate it, and log it as guild evidence until it’s cleared. But that’s where it ends.”
  • He raises his hand when Lira starts to protest
  • “We’re not dragging this through the courts — not when nobles and researchers are already under scrutiny.”
• As Cassian leaves, he notes to Sem that he wants written statements from everyone before they’re released, but then they’re free to go.

Down in the Undercity, Evander comes face to face with the Gardener and his gang. They introduce themselves, and then say they have to move, and it’d be much preferable if Evander came along willingly. As they move, the Gardener says that he knows how this all looks, but there is a reason to the madness that is their attacks, but he is doing it for a reason.

He would go back to the Azure Bloom’s hideout - Old, collapsed ruins, overtaken by blue-glowing fungus. The stone walls pulse faintly with veins of light, and in the center of the room, there’s this pedestal with a strange item on it, this many faced orb.

As the gardener arrives, people turn to him, nodding or bowing. He’d take Evander somewhere private, along with Halril. Here, he’d do his best to explain the situation. He starts with why they are down here - many of the members are those touched by the plague, and oftentimes leaning towards being plagued more than just touched, which is why they were shunned. He explains that he was also caught by a spellstorm, which is when he saw the truth of what the spellplague really is. When mystra’s died, it didn’t destroy the weave, change it, no, it freed it. Freed it for its true purpose - molding the world in the something new, bringing a new age, evolving. And we spelltouched are the heralds of this new age. Evander and The Gardener were among those with a will strong enough to not be broken by the spellstorms, but the gardener, as the one now tending the seeds of this new age, has found a way to help along evolution, to stave off the plague itself. But he needs spelltouched relics to do so. So yes, he does steal and raid caravans, but its for the betterment of the world, and to save his people here. To guide along evolution. it is also why he has the key now.

After some more conversation, evander would be locked up. while they would like to have a spelltouched noble on their side, they cannot trust him yet. he stays the night.

in the morning, after the party gets released, emory can lead the party to where the azure bloom is. he might explain this as because he researches spellplague, hes kept an eye on them, although insight checks reveal theres more to it.

Potential talks

• D’Aramis
  • Disappointed if amulet got found
  • Happy if brought
  • both times he’s heard of the party’s recent involvement with the azure bloom, and they have an item he wants. luana should get it. if she succeeds, that might just be enough to tie up her debt
• The Aerarium
  • they insist that axia must bring the key back asap

Afterwards, whenever they’re ready, Emory can lead them down into the undercity. He takes them to an old, rusted sewer grate. He explains that while most entrances into the undercity are guarded, this one isn’t, as there was a collapse years ago here, where the tunnel collapsed into the lower levels - so there’s a bit of a drop, but one he can circumvent with feather fall. He tells the rest to climb down a ladder and then jump.

He’d cast feather fall, and the party would safely land in the darkness within the labyrinth they’re now in. These tunnels here look to be old maintenance tunnels, mostly collapsed. Everything is bathed in a cold blue light from Emory casting light. Moss grows over most the walls, and the air is heavy. The travels take them through several different tunnels, some which open up into larger rooms, or cram down to tunnels barely able to be moved through. Emory leads them confidently ahead. At some point, in a larger room, they see a beautiful mural, showing a scene of priests and commoners and others bowing down to several figures standing at the top of some large structure, backdropped by the sun.

Eventually, the scenery would change to suddenly being somewhat bioluminescent, in the same way the party saw before with spelltouched places, and emory would tell them they’ve arrived, and to please attempt to keep civil.

In here, they can have a conversation with the gardener, much like evander did. The gardener will neither give up the stabilizer or the key, but is willing to talk, as long as it remains civilized. If it doesn’t, he’ll ask them to leave. He’ll also give up Evander, but only for another hostage, as a safety for now. He promises they wont be held for long. If it turns to combat, he will say they dont want to kill the party, so if they flee, they can, but the azure bloom will defend themselves.

Session 3 - 07/11/2025

The party gets a short rest in the time they’re knocked out. They also realize that the antimagic field in the cell is gone for some reason.

Out in the lair are just a few members, who look very hurt. If the party looks around, they’d find the table where it looks like someone’s been crafting spell scrolls. There’s a scroll of telekinetic crush on the table. There’s also a small chest with 1 standard and 1 greater healing potion, and a potion of maximum power

When the party starts heading back, they realize they have to find their way out. Investigation or survival checks.

At some point, they come across some ruins. Axia gets a sudden realization as she walks through, that there’s text written on the walls - at this point most is faded, and the room, whatever it was, has crumpled, but four words remain. She knows their meaning, cuz she has studied the same words before - Expand. Conquer. Endure. Eternal.

Before she could even mention the translation, as Luana lays her eyes on them, she understands them and feels a rising feeling inside her, like the words compel her to do something. What it is, she doesn’t know, and she can just shake it off.

First is DC 20

• • If they beat it, Nothic encounter, but after they find their way out.
  • If fail, roll again
• DC 15
  • If success, the veil then out
  • if fail, roll again
  • Stole a figurine of wondrous power, lion, but spelltouched so randomly appears
• DC 15
  • If success, Mimic then out.
  • If fail, roll again
• DC 15
  • If success, out
  • If fail, find some dawn shit?

Nothic

Everyone rolls survival, lowest makes wisdom save or deception check

Evander

• “Strange wizard you are. Did other wizards also have to cheat to pass? And where is your magic now? Where is your lucas?”

Axia

• “That scroll… such hidden knowledge. Such intrigue. Such… power. Does it make you mad? mad like mom? mad like me?”
• Expand, Conquer, Endure, Eternal

Ryn

• “Ryn, Matheo, Leticia, Eduard, Elijah, Darya… how many names before you forget who you really are?”

Luana

• “You’re scared. How long till its no longer just the arm? How long till youre no longer just Luana? Has she already rotted?”

The Veil

• The party hears voices up ahead of 3 people, and looking ahead, they see a few criminals, talking about their recent score. It’s a small figurine in the shape of a lion, but even at a distance, it’s clearly spelltouched. they discuss how they’re gonna sell it now that its spelltouched, when it twitches and the one holding it drops it, causing it to transform into a lion.

As the party makes their way through the undercity, Axia suddenly recognizes some of the tunnels, and they all see markings from the Aerarium, and they realize they are at the excavation site in the scriptorium. Soon after they arrive, they hear an explosion in the direction of the Aerarium.

Over there, it is a battle. There’s a large hole into the archive, and several azure bloom members are inside. Some are caught up in the fighting with the guards outside, while some scramble to get spelltouched items.

The Gardener still doesnt wanna kill people, but halril will overrule his commands once the party shows up, and the plagued aren’t fully in their right minds to not just smack people. Once stuff starts going bad, Cassian Varro will show up, causing the Gardener, badly hurt, to cast dimension door to flee.

Cassian might comment how the Aerarium is watched closely by the emperor, and by extension the praetorians. He also notes that this is a compelling argument for Evander not being with the Azure bloom, and that he heard his parents are worried for him.

Axia can talk with the Cursors, who are impressed with her handling of the situation, even if it was her card that was lost. They wanna give her something for her help in stopping them, but also to prove herself again. She can get to be the new leader for Site C-42

The Aschenwalds

Aleksander

• Clinical, very upfront.
• “I’m not angry, but I am very disappointed.”
• The family name, the city’s expectations.
• Never gets angry nor proud.
  • praise is rare, but valuable

Michaelis

• More whimsical, emotional
• Talking about the sacrifices, guilt tripping.
  • We wanted you to have a better head start to life than us, but you’re throwing it away
  • look at the strain you’re putting on your brother, who just wants to support you

Both view any failing on their children’s part as a willful and deliberate choice to hurt the family/ ungrateful

Them scolding emory for not controlling evander in front of him like he’s not there.

They will say to Evander to go stay in his room overnight, as they have things to talk about, what they’ll do with you.

The Proposal

The next day, the Aschenwalds mention that due to the growing unrest within Aurastis about the Azure Bloom and other spelltouched items, the Senate will have discussions about what to do, both with items, research and spellscarred individuals.

Because of all that has happened, the rumors about Evander and both him and Ryn being spellscarred, the Aschenwalds deemed it best that Evander should go do some assignments outside Aurastis itself. It would also be good for training, seeing as Emory believed it would be best that they get some field experience. They would explain that there is this site C-42, which Axia, who they’re familiar with, is becoming the new head of, and they think it best that Evander and Ryn go with. Of course, once they have checked out the area itself, the Aschenwalds will be setting up a more permanent location there, as the surrounding area is great for their research, and it’d look good if Evander was their representative.

Lucas shows up before they leave?

Session 4 - 12/12/2025

We kick off the session at the breakfast. They tell Ryn and Evander to get their things in order and report at the guild. When they eventually leave, Luana and Axia are outside.

Whether they go to the Aerarium or the Guild, Servius is there talking with two people. The first is Vardan, the secondary Overseer of C42. Axia has definitely heard his name floated around in the Aerarium, having been overseer on other larger sites. The other is Averine.

They get introduced, and Vardan tells about the plan. Whenever Axia gives the go, Vardan is gonna lead the caravan of people and equipment along the road to C42, while the party will take the boat to Dionara, and take the road from there. The team who scouted out the place for building the archaelogical site went silent recently, and the party needs to make sure it’s still safe. Vardan will wait with the Caravan in Castra Aureum until he gets word from Axia. If unable to be cleared, they can find a secondary location a bit of distance away from the original C42. He also tells them about the Caravan Retinue.

He also gives the party 500 gp to use if they wanna get ready with items.

As the party leaves, Luana is approached by Leaf, fairy with mechanical wing and arm, who asks about what Luana wanted.

The Retinue (hex 8A6730)

• Overseer
  • Vardan
    • Allocating labor
    • Logging findings
    • Ensuring survival basics
• The Crew
  • Will scout out ruins and take care of dangers and such
• Field Archeology team
  • 10
    • Diggers
    • Brush-cleaners
• Structural Survey Crew
  • 2
    • Shore up unstable tunnels
    • Identify load-bearing stone
    • Construct temporary supports
    • Detect areas likely to collapse
• Wardcraft Assistants
  • 2
    • Mages who will ward potential dangerous magics
• Camp Laborers
  • 6
• Scribes and record-keepers
  • 2
  • Leaf Falconforest
    • Cataloging finds and maintaining logs
    • Transcribing markings.
• Quartermaster
  • Manages rations, tools, replacement equipment, medical supplies, ammunition and weapon storage.
• Beast Handlers
  • 2
    • For the pack animals
• Medical staff
  • 1 cleric, 1 assistant
• Custodian
  • 1
  • Hieron
• Security detail
  • 2 custodian sentries, 4 regular guards.
  • Mazara
• Logistics runners
  • 3
    • Move messages and smaller supplies
    • Run to outposts
    • handle emergency fetching.

Travel to C42

• A small boat is prepared for the party, taking them to Dionara where they can spend the night at the Infamous Halberd.
  • Captain is Dwarf, eris

Village attack

• Sends large part of its guard out to deal with lizardfolk spotted
• Attacked by lizardfolk, party helps
• guard captain is killed, mr wyvern takes over
• mayor thanks the party, lets them stay in tavern overnight
• next day, mayor and wyvern argue loudly, cause wyvern doesnt want to send more guards to rescue those captured and kill the draconians.
• send party, 30 gp pr kill
• (2 wyverns? revenge quest)

After a days travel, the party sees the village of Acris in the distance, and its on fire. They get there, and its being attacked by Lizardfolk, knocking out commoners and putting some in carts and taking them away. The party helps them, and at some point, an emerald scaled wyvern flies overhead with a roar, and the lizardfolk start retreating after that. After this a dwarf approaches, saying he’s the city’s mayor, grateful for their help, and says they can stay the night for free. He’s named Berlun. He explains that a large portion of the guard is away as there had been a lizardfolk sighting recently. He also asks the party’s name

The next morning, the party hears arguing downstairs, and sees downstairs that Berlun is arguing with a gold dragonborn, Tarhun. Berlun yells that yesterday Tahrun was good to send the guards away to deal with lizardfolk, but now he can’t spare them to save the kidnapped commoners. Tarhun responds that no, they can’t spare the men in case the lizardfolk attack again.

Berlun explains that this is Tarhun, the new guard captain after yesterdays attack where the previous died. He then suggests that the party could go save the kidnapped people and deal with the issue of the lizardfolk. He’ll pay the party 50 gp per lizardfolk killed, and 50 gp per saved citizen. And if they kill the wyvern that they saw, that’s an additional 150. Tarhun leaves in anger as the party agrees.

Guards chasing criminal

• Guards are looking for a criminal, who the party will not have seen. However, he is actually hiding among the party’s hirelings
• He’ll wait in the bastion until associates come.
  • prolly a nivarian dude, and spy(?). but hes found out by someone else.

Item

Ring

• Cast revivify, which can also reverse the effects of stuff like vampirism and lycanthropy on a willing creature instead of restoring to life.

C42

• everythings on lockdown as they unearthed where a vampire nightbringer was slumbering
• other undeads came out and destroyed a large part of the site, causing the rest to lock up.
• those who tried to run got chased down.

Session 5 - 16/12/2025

The lizardfolk are fairly easy to track because of the cart trails leading to their lair. They get there and see the entrance, where the three carts are parked, and a few lizardfolk guards are standing around it.

Following the mineshaft, theres immediately a trap. DC 13 to dodge the oak log swinging down.

First room

• Lizardfolk gnawing on bones, talking in draconic. if trap was activated, they hide to surprise the pcs
• 3 sticks of dynamite
• tools

Down stairs

• several lizardfolk and the corpses of people from the village. the lizardfolk pray in draconic to ogremoch for the bounty the wyvern brought them before tearing into them. the wyverns are a boon from ogremoch, and feeding and helping them will provide strength to the tribe, and thus more meat and power in the future
• Two healers kit, pouch with standard and greater healing potion.
• Disinfectant herbs and fungi, enough for two uses
  • if applied as an action, removes poisoned condition.

As they keep moving, they hear someone cry out. They see a lizardfolk approach a mother and child, while someone else runs further down the mine, followed by a lizard. however, as they hit the tunnel that goes down, the lizard hesitates, looking back and seeing the party.

Downstairs, the party find a mostly open cavern, where they see two places, where commoners, unconscious, are chained up, with strange packs of green venom hooked into their chest. they all look sickly. DC 20 perception or medicine realizes slight draconic features.

once the party starts looking into freeing them, Tarhun shows up, telling them they shouldve stayed away. theyre turning the humans into hybrids, and using them in a ritual to regrow his tail

Hoard

• 65 plat, 550 gp
• Robe of useful items
  • Riding Horse with a Riding Saddle
  • 10 gems worth 100 GP each
  • Wooden ladder (24 feet long)
  • Bag of 100 GP
  • Bag of 100 GP
  • Open pit (a 10-foot Cube), which you can place on the ground within 10 feet of yourself
  • Rowboat (12 feet long)
  • Riding Horse with a Riding Saddle
  • Spell Scroll of Sending
  • Wooden ladder (24 feet long)
  • Wooden ladder (24 feet long)
  • Open pit (a 10-foot Cube), which you can place on the ground within 10 feet of yourself
  • Portable Ram
• Emerald Archive
• Spell scroll of vortex warp

Session 6 - 06/01/2025

The party gets ready to leave. As they do, they can get a cart to ride on for convenience.

It’s cloudy overhead, and dark outside. As it turns to night, party can do a DC 25 Stealth check to see emerald wyvern overhead.

Castra Aureum

Tavern

• The Boiling Cauldron
• Tavernkeep Katya

Magic Item Store

• Perplexing Primordial Oddities
• https://5emagic.shop/shop/perplexing-primordial-oddities-57e0357ec
• Soot

C42

• only 3 people remain alive, hiding out in various buildings. The rest were killed when the tomb was opened.

Desert Tomb

• Statues of Couatls around the tomb with eyes lit radiant.
• Elemental Couatl was summoned and has stood guard for a millenia. As long as he remains, Nahzir can’t leave the tomb.
  • Nahzir was a vampire who got locked in the tomb a millenia ago. He spent time working on a magic item that allowed him to get rid of his vampirism, while maintaining control over the undead, so he gets rid of the downsides to vampirism.

Session 7 - 15/01/2025

Nahzir’s notes

• They seal me in this tomb, thinking me defeated. But I am patient. Me and my spawn will prevail. Their defense will fail eventually. Someone will free us. It is inevitable. And when this happens, I will have my revenge.
• Curse this damned hunger. I will live eternally, yes, but this hunger torments me endlessly. To be a vampire gives me great power, great control, yes, but by the gods, I wish these drawbacks were not such a hindrance. I cannot even look forward to seeing the sun again once I am free. But alas, the power comes at a cost that I cannot rid myself of… (it skips a couple of lines down). Unless…
• With the second ring I attempted to suppress the curse continuously using the magic of the guardian couatls. It was partially successful. My hunger dulled for a while, but it returns stronger than ever. Suppression will not do. The curse must be cut entirely. Thankfully, I have time to make another.
• I have done it. The ring works. I don’t recall when last I did not feel this insatiable hunger. It is euphoria. And soon, when my spawn - which still seem compelled to serve me - find a way to free me, I will see the sun rise once more. It will be beautiful. While this tomb has held me, it seems that undeath cannot. It brings me hope that not all fates are eternal. Yet, I dread what I may have to resort to to escape.

Elemental Couatl

• The couatl is not a true couatl, but one summoned in the same image and spirit as one. It has its divine command, which it has followed. As long as it stood, Nahzir could not leave the tomb. It has been hiding in this room, posing as a flaming skeleton to trick the undead of the tomb.
• Because Nahzir has been slain, it no longer has a task, and can pledge itself to a new cause, like that of those who helped defeat Nahzir and free it from its task

Loot from tomb

• Keoghtom’s Ointment - 4 doses
• 30 PP, 350 GP
• Scroll of Gentle Repose
• 4 gems worth 100 gp

Session 8 - 18/01/2026

Ylagan

• Ylagan is part of a family of Spirit dragons, dating back thousands of years. They’re from around the Nivarian empire/regnum aurelia.
• These dragons study the ruins of Regnum Aurelia, and have a secret place they collect all their findings, a shared hoard of knowledge
  • It is revealed once the dragons are 50. Ylagan is 48, and his mother died a year ago, fighting a beholder who was threatening part of the land.

Gith

• The gith have several creches in Aetria. Old portals to the astral sea are scattered around the continent, and some of these they have taken to creches, as many of them also are already filled with ruins and such where they can just take over.

Session 9 - 27/01/2026

As the players near the ruins, they make perception to see swarms of ravens gathering. over 20 sees some are magical with shadow magic

Outside the ruins themselves is a small camp, with a single scout out there. Its Shar followers, from aelthars “cult”. If spotting the characters, it tries to alert the other sharrans with a sending stone, which the crusader has.

The doors to the actual ruins are locked. A single word in Deep Speech is written on the doors - Eternal. It needs to spoken to enter

The Esharim Teleporter

Rooms

• Coffins
  • The various coffins are all broken, and look to be some small chambers to sleep in. Large skeletons inhabit them
• Darkmantles
  • Darkmantle automatons drop from the ceiling, attacking the people walking first into the room.
• GM’s
  • Strange whispers can be heard from inside small holes in the central pillar. Once they approach, wisdom saves and initiative.
• Roper
  • Once they approach the hallway, chains come out of the top room, pulling some of them towards it.
  • When first entering the magic ring or ending turn there, Dex 14 or 2d4 fire damage.
• Large room at the top has the 4 words Expand, Conquer, Endure, Eternal
• Treasure Room
  • https://5e.tools/items.html#nolzur’s%20marvelous%20pigments_xdmg
  • https://5e.tools/items.html#ring%20of%20evasion_xdmg
  • https://5e.tools/items.html#javelin%20of%20lightning_xdmg
  • 2 greater healing potions
  • 73 PP, 564 GP

Teleporter

• The party can realize that this is some advanced device connecting to other locations, maybe even planes. They can activate it by “kickstarting” it with some kind of magic. Evander also feels a strange magnetism towards it, like hes being drawn to the power.
• Once activated, Evander fully gets drawn and stuck to, and feels that he has to power through to get it fully activated. As it activates, devices start spinning, and a magical afterimage of evander appears.
• As it starts, the dreamfract revenant appears to defend the tech.
• To succeed, Evander must pass 3 DC 18 Constitution saving throws.
  • Each party member can take an action to study the console, or guide/help evander however, and by doing so they reduce the DC by 2.
  • Each failure gives evander a point of exhaustion.
  • Each success makes the planar tree tattoo light up even further.
  • Once succeeding, Evander gets the ability to cast mirror image with an amount of mirror images equal to half his prof bonus, rounded down. He can cast this on other people too, giving them an image of him that tries to take an attack
  • He also gets the ability to take magic actions to boost circle casting.

Sanctum of the Dawn

• The party will arrive here fighting the Dreamfract revenant. After 1 round, a man steps out of the portal, sees the DF and punches it with radiant light
• Hes skeptical cuz luana but they were fighting the esharim

Session 10 - 03/02/2026

The man in this realm introduces himself as Arthen, the Spear of Dawn from the Veylran Order. History checks would remember the myths of Regnum Aurelia, and who Arthen is.

He seems suspicious of Luana specifically, because he senses her connection to Caecus. same goes for axia, if she brings out the scroll. If Luana ends up mentioning her rot, Arthen seems confused but says she should go back to where she got the rot, figure out what it is.

Before they leave, he MCW’s and gives a symbol to show once theyre out on the other side.

The other side, to their probable surprise, is The Domus Praetoria. When they come out, they’re immediately surrounded by praetorians, questioning their intent, and soon after, Cassian Varro shows up, and explains a little about the veylran order.

Aurastis

• Unrest is slowly starting with the discussions of spellplague. party will get weird looks as well as theyre going around.
• They might hear of more attacks around the city, but the attacks havent had many actual spellplagued behind them. still, theyre blamed
• At the aurarium, Decius’ office has been cleared out, and if asked, people are hush about it
  • Praetorians came because he started finding out stuff about the primals
  • there’s a note in his office just saying “not real gods?”
    • hidden
• if they go to the aschenwalds, an assassin and 1 or 2 mage hunters.
  • sent from NE, cuz they no longer need their research

Underdark

• Beholder Zombie + 1 spectator
• Otyugh
• grick ancient + 2 gricks
• Phaerimm Agent willing to trade a chime of opening
• Quaggoth Thonot + quaggoth
• Xorns craving gems

Session 11 - 10/02/2026

Around Aurastis, unrest is starting to happen as discussion of the spellplague is taking place. The party would get a side glance every once in a while, and hear talks of some recent attacks.

Lucas, as the head of the Archaeology and Magitech research council had one of his workers apparently finding and working on smth regarding primals, but before Lucas could get a follow-up, Landis Reeve, the worker, had disappeared. He warns Evander to be careful, and that he doesn’t think they should talk more about it. If deciding to do a perception check, Evander can spot someone spying on them.

Underdark encounters

1-2

• Drow w. mage

3-4

• Zombie Beholder w. Spectator

5-6

• Quaggoth Thonot + Quaggoths

7-8

• Gricks

9-10

• Otyugh

11-12

• Drow warriors

13-14

• Roper that pulls into a hole 30 feet deep, with skeletons and treasure
  • 750 gp
  • Armor of Piercing Resistance

15-16

• Camp of previous adventurers
  • Gold Music Box (2500 gp)
  • Periapt of Wound closure

17-18

• Phaerimm Agent

19-20

• Xorns craving gold coins.

Session 12 - 24/02/2026

Underdark encounters

1-2

• Drow warriors

3-4

• Zombie Beholder w. Spectator
  • The spectator is bound to serve the undead master, but it swears to stop once the zombie is dead.

5-6

• Quaggoth Thonot + Quaggoths
  • They hunger for easy food, party is easy food

7-8

• Gricks
  • If the gricks aren’t spotted, they follow until the party rests where they attack

9-10

• Otyugh

11-12

• Drow w. mage

13-14

• Roper that pulls into a hole 30 feet deep, with skeletons and treasure
  • 750 gp
  • Armor of Piercing Resistance

15-16

• A Xorn craving the clay of a clay golem
  • He will ask the party to help him soothe his craving, in exchange for gems or guidance through the underdark

17-18

• Phaerimm Agent
  • The Phaerimm has a Brooch of the Elements. It senses the magic is strong with the party and is willing to trade the brooch for a similar or stronger item.

19-20

• Camp of previous adventurers
  • Gold Music Box (2500 gp)
  • Periapt of Wound closure

Khundrukar

• Luana would eventually start recognizing the tunnel systems, and they would see signs of Duergar activity. Eventually, they’d reach the gate to Khundrukar, where two guards would stop them, asking their business here. The party can either get in by paying 50 gp each, or making a persuasion 18. After a few minutes, the doors would be pushed open from the inside, and Skorri Brommik would exit the gates, having been notified of their arrival by a small mechanical spider, which he tosses a small gear to eat.
• https://5emagic.shop/shop/bitterveins-apothecary-9aca367db
• The duergar city is tense and on more watch. Strange reports have happened from the direction of Zhaerivra, and scouts have found signs of stronger-than-average individuals roaming close to the city. The city of zhaerivra itself has also been locked down recently, as if getting ready for something.

Session 13 - 17/03/2026

Bel and Syndris are here to take out Malrik.

Bel came back into the underdark after the group split off. “People always talk about how much worse the underdark is, but you people up top ain’t any more deserving of saving. So might as well just continue down where I thrive.”

12 years ago, Syndris released the rot into Zhaerivra, having been targeted as the top people had strayed from Lolth’s worship. The rot was to pass through, and anyone worshipping Lolth would be protected. It was not meant to be survivable.

Luana surviving is a wild anomaly, especially when taking into consideration that the rot is still in her\.

Malrik came here in the past few years because he and the head family, the Rilynths, had been wronged by the Zyn’quar Morin, and he manipulated them into giving him the resources to do his super soldier research. They now wanna use it to spread influence and take power back, gain back status.

Bel and Syn are fine to take the help from the party, as long as they don’t get in the way of their goal.

Zhaerivra

• Whenever a party goes around, they have to succeed a group stealth checks to not be spotted by guards roaming around.
• It’s basically on lock down. No one in, no one out. If the