Session 88

Heroes (lvl 12): Amani, Deet, Gunnar, Hassan, Regall, Ryel 

675 MR - Autumn

The battle rages in the web-choked ruin, where the monstrous Spider—a grotesque fusion of goblin and nightmare—lurks. Once a mere creature of flesh, it has become something far worse, its many limbs striking with inhuman speed, venom dripping from its fangs.

Amani moves through the chaos, her magic flowing outward in waves of healing light. Each spell mends torn flesh and purges venom, keeping her allies in the fight. Deet fires arrow after arrow, each shaft sinking into the Spider’s joints, forcing it to shift and stumble.

Gunnar meets the beast’s charge head-on, wielding a massive greatsword forged to slay creatures like this. The weapon flares with ancient power as it cleaves into the Spider’s chitin, cutting deeper than any mundane blade could. Hassan calls down lightning, searing the monster’s hide, while Regall’s radiant magic weakens its unnatural resilience.

Then, Ryel strikes. Moving with lethal precision, he drives his blade into the monster’s chest, piercing its twisted heart. The Spider lets out a final, shuddering shriek as dark blood pours forth. The cursed essence surges into Ryel, the power of its ancient bloodline seeping into his very being.

The beast collapses, its monstrous form withering. The battle is over, but Ryel’s transformation has taken another step forward.

LEVEL UP!

Session 87

Heroes (lvl 12): Amani, Deet, Gunnar, Hassan, Regall, Ryel 

675 MR - Autumn

In the months ahead, the Empire mobilizes its forces along the borders of the Shadow Forest, while Dhoesone fortifies its own defenses to keep the Gorgon at bay. Meanwhile, the Heroes spearhead a second invasion of the Spiderfell. Their armies cut through the goblin-infested forest with little resistance, slaughtering its cursed inhabitants. But when the time comes to confront the Spider itself, the task falls to the Heroes alone.  

Deep beneath the earth, they encounter the Broken Fang—the last surviving warband still loyal to the Spider, though only out of fear. Their warlord, Skragmaw, offers a deal: if the Heroes spare his tribe and allow them to remain underground undisturbed, he will lead them to the Spider’s lair.  

Before granting his full trust, Skragmaw summons his shamans, who demand the Heroes prove their worth. In the Trial of the Fang, Gunnar faces a massive ogre in unarmed combat, defeating the towering brute. In the Game of Shadows, Ryel wagers a powerful magical relic, yet emerges victorious, keeping both his prize and his pride.  

With their trials complete, Skragmaw guides them deeper into the labyrinthine tunnels until they reach a vast chasm. Earthen platforms, suspended by immense webs, stretch across the abyss. As the Heroes attempt to fly over using magic, monstrous spiders descend upon them, their venomous fangs laced with paralyzing toxins. The battle is fierce, but the Heroes prevail, destroying the creatures and pressing onward.  

Beyond the chasm, they finally arrive at a cavernous chamber—where the Spider awaits.

Session 86

Heroes (lvl 12): Amani, Deet, Gunnar, Hassan, Regall, Ryel

675 MR - Summer

News of the Gorgon's devastating assault on the Giantdowns sends a ripple of urgency through the Heroes as they gather to determine their next move. Gunnar urges immediate action in the North, but the grim reality is undeniable—no army can stand against the combined might of the Gorgon and his colossal dragon, Raizhadik. Once more, their hopes turn to the legend of the Crowns of Dominion, the only power that might challenge the rising shadow.  

Seeking answers, Regall reaches out to his celestial patron, the angel Ashan. But even Ashan knows only fragments—conflicting legends shroud the Crowns' origins, their creation lost to time. Yet in all tellings, one truth remains constant: when the shadow rises, only the united power of the Crowns can oppose it.  

Meanwhile, Ryel slips away from the meeting, unaware that Deet follows him in secret. Alone, he is confronted by Anomander. The dark being urges him to continue slaying awnsheghlien, to feed the tainted blood of Azrai within him, accelerating his transformation into a lord of shadows. When Anomander vanishes, Deet steps from the shadows. She does not condemn him but instead reaffirms their bond of friendship. Yet Ryel, burdened by his curse, refuses to reveal the full truth.  

In private, Amani meets with Anomander. The dark elf lays out a path to power—if she uses the dagger he gifted her to slay more awnsheghlien, their stolen essence will strengthen him, increasing his draconic might and giving them a greater chance against Raizhadik. He pledges his unwavering support in her war but reminds her of the promise he made: when the battle is won, he wishes for them both to leave the tangled web of politics behind and see the world together.  

When the Heroes reconvene, their course is set. First, they will hunt down the cunning Spider—an awnshegh who eluded death once before, saved by the power of his bloodline. Then, they will journey to the Khinasi lands in search of the Suncrown. Only when all the Crowns of Dominion are gathered will they stand a chance against the darkness looming on the horizon.  

Session 85

Heroes (lvl 12): Amani, Deet, Gunnar, Regall, Ryel

675 MR - Summer - Rjurik Highlands

Gunnar, third son of High-King Sigurd, journeys south from his northern holdings to his father’s castle on a routine supply run. As he and his retinue crest the final ridge overlooking Lemnjohen, a dark plume of smoke coils into the sky. As they draw closer, the full horror unfolds before them—a vast army of orogs and goblinoids lays siege to the capital, their ranks swarming the city walls. Worse still, a colossal dragon leads the assault, bathing the streets in fire.

Carving through the horde, Gunnar fights his way to the great hall, now engulfed in flames. Inside, he finds his family making their final stand against the Gorgon himself. The monstrous warlord cuts down High-King Sigurd and Prince Sasha in swift, brutal strokes. Queen Kolina meets an even crueler fate, her form petrified in an instant beneath the Gorgon’s baleful gaze. Bleeding and gasping for breath, Princess Huralla flees the carnage, only to stumble upon her cousin, the court mage Taliesin. He greets her with a reassuring smile—before driving a dagger between her ribs. The betrayal is complete. Taliesin, long in league with the Gorgon, has orchestrated this massacre.

Gunnar knows there is no victory to be had. With a final surge of strength, he hurls the Gorgon back and seizes his father’s sword and crown before fleeing into the night.

Outside the ruined hall, he looks skyward as a giant eagle descends—Arch-Druid Huralla, come to spirit him away from the slaughter. As they take flight, the grim truth reveals itself. Across the city, shadowy portals remain open, through which the enemy forces poured in unseen. A realm spell—one that could only have been cast by the mage controlling the land’s Sources. Taliesin the traitor.

Gunnar and Huralla escape to Dhoesone, where Queen Niobhe offers them refuge. Through sorcery, Gunnar sends word to Regall, who gathers Thalion and Amani to weigh the dire consequences of this attack.

But Gunnar does not remain idle. As the rightful heir, he wears his father’s crown with pride and sets forth to the Realm of Jentilak. There, he demands an audience with Queen Rowena and King Trevan, parents of the traitor. The meeting turns sour—the Queen refuses to denounce her son and demands that Gunnar relinquish the crown. The air is thick with tension, the threat of violence lingering. Sensing the storm on the horizon, King Trevan calls for an adjournment.

The reckoning has only begun.

Session 84 - Start of Season Four

Heroes (lvl 12): Amani, Deet, Gunnar, Hassan, Regall, Ryel

675 MR - Summer

A New Dawn

The Empire of Anuire stands at the precipice of a new era. A year has passed since the death of the Emperor and the coronation of Amani, the chosen of destiny, as Empress. With the weight of a fractured realm upon her shoulders, she has begun the arduous task of uniting her people. Her first decree shattered the oppressive grip of the Azariel faith, restoring the freedom of religion across the Empire. This bold reform has won her the favor of many, yet has sown the seeds of resentment among the devout.

Anuire’s strength is bolstered by the unwavering support of the Rjurik kingdom, for Amani’s bloodline traces back to the mighty Jotunulf. In the shadowed heart of the Empire, the once-cursed Shadow Forest—long a bastion of darkness—has been purged, and the land stirs with the slow breath of renewal.

To solidify her rule, Amani has spent the past year traversing her dominion, securing oaths of fealty from the great dukes of Alamie, Tuornen, Mhoried, and Boeruine. By her side stands Lord Thalion, a master of diplomacy, whose silvered words turn even the staunchest hearts to her cause. Yet despite whispered proposals and noble offers, Amani remains unwed, choosing duty over alliance.

In her absence, the city of Anuire has not stood unguarded. Regall, newly appointed Hand of the Empress, holds the heart of the Empire firm. Having settled his affairs and entrusted his duchy to his wife and their newborn twins, he ensures that no shadow of chaos dares threaten the capital.

Beyond the political sphere, the enigmatic Ryel walks the thin veil between the mortal and the divine. Splitting his time between the Vos lands and Anuire, he pursues the secrets of the lost gods, aided by the arcane pathways that now bind the two kingdoms together.

The Tumult of Brechtur

Far to the west, whispers of war drift upon the winds. The legendary Crown of Fortune has been unearthed, and the realms of Brechtur bristle with unrest. Rivals clash in open fields and shadowed halls, each vying to seize the artifact and the power it promises. The fate of Brechtur hangs in the balance, teetering upon the edge of ambition and steel.

The Trials of Khinasi

In the sun-drenched lands of Khinasi, Sultana Nura el-Arrasi fights to forge a unified kingdom from the flames of civil war. The Crown of the Sun remains lost, and her legitimacy is challenged by those who seek to sunder her rule. Yet she is not without allies. King Hassan of the Masetians stands at her side, his strength and influence a bulwark against those who oppose her. Though the Sun Mages whisper against their union, his power—both at sea and in commerce—may be the key to securing her throne.

While Hassan courts the Sultana, his dominion over the southern seas grows. His navy flourishes, his merchants prosper, and his name becomes legend among the trading guilds. Yet fate weaves a complex web, for even as he pursues one queen, another story unfolds—Commander Kleio Kidemonas has borne him a child, a symbol of strength born beyond the bounds of wedlock.

The Rjurik March

In the northern wilds, the Rjurik people stand unshaken under the rule of High-King Sigurd. His sons, eager to prove their worth, push into the untamed lands, seeking to reclaim what was once lost. Yet dire rumors stir—along the border of the Gorgon’s Crown, legions gather, and the specter of war looms on the horizon.

Among the restless, Gunnar, third son of Sigurd, carves his own destiny. With his brother Varri at his side, he ventures into the frigid expanse once tainted by the White Witch’s curse. Bound by duty and love, he seals his betrothal to Princess Siobhan of Dhoesone, forging a future upon the anvil of conquest and unity.

The Secrets of Vosgaard

In the harsh expanse of Vosgaard, the unity of the realm is a fragile thing, held together by the iron will of its rulers. King Gregor and Queen Deet maintain their dominion with strength, wisdom, and the vigilant guardianship of two silver dragons. Yet even power cannot defy the hand of fate—for though they rule unchallenged, they remain childless.

Determined to uncover the cause of their misfortune, Deet turns to her sister, Alyona, High-Priestess of Kriesha. While she seeks the wisdom of the divine, she does not waver in her duty, traversing the unforgiving realm to aid those who struggle against the cruel hand of nature. In the face of adversity, she remains a beacon of strength, for the fate of Vosgaard is hers to shape.

A World on the Brink

Across the known lands, powers rise and destinies intertwine. The Empire of Anuire stands reforged, yet its future is not yet secured. The fires of ambition burn in every kingdom, and shadows lurk beyond the borders. A new dawn has begun—but whether it will be an era of unity or strife, only time shall tell.

Session 83 - End of Season Three

Heroes (lvl 12): Amani, Deet, Gunnar, Hassan, Regall, Ryel

674 MR - Summer

The party strides into the grand throne room, where the Emperor awaits, wearing the mythical Crown of the Empire. With a voice dripping with charisma and malevolence, he attempts to persuade the heroes to lay down their arms and join him in ruling the empire, proposing Amani as his bride. Yet, the righteous fury of the heroes, kindled by two decades of tyranny and death, is unyielding.

Battle erupts, shadows springing to life as Thalion and Malik launch their assault on the Emperor. But the Emperor’s dark magic is formidable, inflicting excruciating pain on those who dare to oppose him.

Malik is the first to fall, the Emperor’s ruthless strike piercing his heart and siphoning his bloodline, ensuring he cannot return.

Desperation grips the heroes until Amani plunges her magical dagger into the altar that feeds the Emperor’s shadowy power. In the reflective surface, a gauntleted hand emerges. Seizing it, Amani summons Anomander from beyond the veil.

With Anomander’s immense magical prowess now bolstering them, the tide of battle shifts. The climax arrives when Anomander transforms into a colossal black-scaled dragon, cleaving the Emperor in two with a single, devastating bite.

The heroes reclaim the crown, and Anomander places it upon Amani’s head, crowning her Empress. As the Emperor's dark power dissipates, the undead in the streets crumble to dust, and the rebel dukes' armies surge forward.

A jubilant crowd gathers in the main square outside the imperial palace. When Empress Amani steps onto the balcony, a resounding cheer of glory and victory echoes through the air.

* * *

Far to the north, in the depths of his foreboding lair, the Gorgon whispers to the shadows. 

"The Bloodline of Roele has returned..." he hisses. 

Fiery eyes blaze with renewed hatred in the darkness as the ancient dragon growls ominously.

The Emperor's Brides (dead)

Caliane "The Empress" - killed by Gunnar

Sariene "The Storm" - killed by Ryel

Fauve "The Lion" - killed by Deet