November, 625 : Skyfall
With winter around the corner, Armonia and those on its shores ramp up activity before the first snows fall.
With the last expedition to the City of Petals and the discovery of their archives, archeological work is in full swing. The researchers hope the archives will reveal the secrets of the City, Prisoner IX-478, and the mysterious Site E.
Watchmen of metal painted in the Armonian tartan patrol the town of Stanmoor in numbers. An oddity that went unnoticed due to the Land-Spirit requesting adventurers stay away from the estate of Blackaddder. Despite the presence in the town of Stanmoor of a journalist, it was chance, not news, that alerted adventurers to the weird activity in the town.
Winter’s imminent arrival sees the majority of Shi-Ochan diplomats leave Armonia. Packed back aboard their ships with new treatises of friendship and tokens of the Kingdom, they set sail. Without their presence many ports, and port-town taverns feel empty.
Weather over Ancora becomes stormier and stormier as the Gathering draws closer and closer. In magical schools and academic groups people bustle about claiming Guildmaster Stormseye plans a great working for the fields outside the Silver Stag Inn. Supposedly the ritual planned will delve deep and prevent the Fixed-Address from colliding with the Material Plane.
Winds around the great stone ship beached on Solaris whip up to match those over Ancora. Gnolls serving the ship’s master rush about like a flurry of falling leaves. While the obsidian glades keep back the bulk of the Elementals serving the foreign beasts, the Elves report continual scouting parties and raids. Certainly it is the most active the Gnoll forces have been in months.
Watching all the activity from the cold of her cell is the “Sexy Lady Gentleman Thief” Koshchei. While Armonia bustles she appears to wait.
Thanksgiving, 625 : Life Flows On
Long summer evenings begin to fade into autumn. As if sensing the change in seasons to come, the waters around Armonia grow turbulent.
Sailors report strange storm surges in the sea north of Solaris. The storms quickly dissipate after striking land, as if the sky itself is searching for land. Most of the Shi-Ocho fleet has raised sail and departed Armonian waters, but a fair flock remains. All but two of these ships now bear Solari banners as well as Shi-Ochan colours. One of the vessels flying only the visitor’s colours is newly docked and far more luxurious than the ships that left.
Ports buzz with rumours of Shi-Ochans and of spirits. Sailors, mainland and Solari, whisper about a vengeful pirate spirit. It calls out a name and disappears when it gets no reply.
As Autumn descends, the Lord of the Haunted Wood’s absence is noted. Once a constant presence, the Fae Lord has withdrawn into his twisted domain. Some say he is weaving a dark and patient scheme, others that he is licking wounds from battle.
Strange going-ons in Faerie resonate with happenings in Armonia. A foreboding new spire has been erected in north Sterling, rising like a wound against the sky. From its gates, shambling legions of Undead spill forth. Whispers in nearby taverns speak of a single name with dread; Suigam, the vampire.
In Soiveles, the Four Families are set to meet. Said to be the first official gathering in decades, such a meeting has long been thought impossible. Rivalries between the Families have shaped the Trade City’s fate for generations. The location and time of the meeting have been kept secret as has the meeting’s purpose. It must be a matter grave enough to set aside old vendettas… or dangerous enough to forge new ones.
Under Armonia, excavations within the City of Petals continue. Recently a massive bronze doorway locked with some form of puzzle was uncovered. The Mithril Compounding Company has started delivering mysterious missives to certain highly placed, influential customers. Talkative recipients tell that the missives are taking pre-orders for “indiscernible designer simulacra” built “for novelty purposes only”.
Summer starting to fade brings reasons for pleasant excitement. Villages in Hope, especially those heavy in Greenskin population, prepare for the Slugger Festival.
September, 625 : Welcome to Whitehall
Whitehall readies itself to receive its first gathering with the opening of the Undead Kelpie Inn. Nobody’s quite sure what the Adventurers will bring to town, but most people know something they’d like the Adventurers to look into. Locals have been complaining for years about the sounds that come from Handall Hall between solstices. The West Trade Road, and Matty Torrsel’s field, was eaten up by a sinkhole only a few days ago. Not to mention the strange things that are said to happen in the woods around Whitehall.
Already a turbulent time for the area, some locals fear Adventurers will only cause more issues. The Whitehall Magic’s Guild, all two members, haven’t replied to any of the correspondence asking if they’re ready to invest visiting Mage in local circles. It is possible other events have caused their societal obligations to slip their minds. Tensions with a nearby Verdant settlement, Fang Grove, are the worst they’ve been in years. Townspeople blame the Grove for wildlife growing increasingly aggressive and the Grove Verdants shun the Townsfolk. It’s hoped that the newly appointed Commander of Fort Whitehall will smooth relations between Fang Grove and the town, but none have seen the Commander yet.
Adventurers aren’t the only strangers expected soon in Whitehall. Shi-Ochan ships continue to gather around Armonia. The latest wave of Shi-Ochans have gone to strange lengths to buy or contract out all of the horses they can lay their hands on. A large force further bolstered by these riderless horses gathered near Hope only to set out like a wave for Whitehall. Rumours say they left their camp as soon as a Lion Zoan arrived.
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Victoria Day, 625 : Visitors From Afar
Spring turns to summer and the Peoples of Armonia brace for a heated season.
On Solaris, obsidian glades hold back the tide of sand that has arrived with the great stone ship. Solianna assures all that unlike the storm, stone will last. With the Baron yet to put forward a valid alternative and Sir Melchiorre missing, the Elves of the Isle warrily rely on the Lady’s word.
At Daggerford, a new ship docks. Flying similar flags to the previous it bears the same design language but on a larger scale. From the ship come dignitaries that are as social as the previous were reserved. Daggerfords citizens warmly greet the visitors, then grow sullen as local taverns are drunk dry.
The devastating attack on Mork’Rast, and the petrification of its inhabitants has resulted in calls for capture of those responsible; but the only two known members of “The Blooded”, one Ruul Goredrinker and one Kanoth Spinebreaker, have proven impossible to locate. Their continued freedom has resulted in some angry citizens of Gaius demanding the expulsion of all Goblinoids from the County. While the Nobility has not taken such severe measures, reports are that a number of Goblinoids have been taken into custody for their “own protection” only released after the Sheriff deemed it safe.
Noble order has confined the wizard Roqfalier to his hometown but suspicions about him have spread far across Hope. Nonsensical glyphs and imitations of writing have crept into works as far south as Vernatti. Blame for this strange presence from a stranger frontier waits on the wizard’s doorstep.
Research into what has been discovered to be crystalized magic has progressed rapidly. Fenwick is confident in his finding, but less so in containment measures. The scholar has found a prosing lead and waits on the Gathering to explore it.
Due to the efforts of adventurers, a possible cure for the parasitism that has driven Armonians mad has been developed. The creation of long hours, the breakthrough could stop the infection before it spreads further.
In the Estate of Primrose, the Armonian Archaeology Society continues work on the newly discovered ruins. Dubbed The City of Petals explorations have already uncovered a clockwork creature. The exploration of the lower hallways promises further wonders.
Jürgen’s Lode Mine is up and running. Locals hope for iron but are cautious of Deep Rock’s reputation for delving greedily and dangerously.
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Easter, 625 : The Raven’s Portent
The snow and ice of the winter begin to recede as the days stretch into spring.
All through the winter months the guardian storm around the isle of Solaris has blown. Walls of wind and lightning have served their purpose keeping out the strange vessel of stone and gold that threatens the island. These same great winds have weathered the coasts of Solaris, exposing the entrance to a forgotten subterrane. Despite their protective storm a spreading dread has blossomed on the island with the spring. Towns on the northern coast have been evacuated and important wildlife have been guided to the southern shore.
At the port of Daggerford on mainland Armonia, a strange ship has docked. It bears no resemblance to the behemoth lurking near Solaris, but it also comes from the north. Above the ship flies a banner displaying a golden lotus on an emerald field. The last winter snows have kept the crew and passengers of ship confined to the port where townsfolk remark on their strange costumes and rigid manners.
Across the nation, merchants dust last autumn’s leaves from their stalls. The Gobby Lobby announces a plan for a Trash Sweep, a grand event for garbage enthusiasts to turn their trash into Goblin treasures. In Hope, a new mine is slated to open under the direction of a Dominion mining company.
New scientific discoveries bloom like flowers. Ruins near Primrose’s beaches show architecture that matches no known Armonian civilization. The Archwizard Roqfalier boasts of an incredible advancement in Planar travel. Sadly though, the Lorekeeper Ulric can’t be found to provide aid or comment on these discoveries. Ulric’s fellows at the Archives are hopeful he is merely preoccupied with research, but have launched a quiet search in case the disappearance is more serious.
Not all is good with the spring surge of animals and plants. Feast and Famine plague the countryside hunting at will. Survivors of the beasts say that the two babble about waiting for worthy prey. The Forest of the Silver Maple remains closed to any that oppose the Lord of the Haunted Wood. Corrupted Fey stalk out of the Forest’s boundaries and twisted plants emerge from their winter slumber in nearby estates.
As the rains of spring fall, the adventurers take the field.
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