The House of Bloom

The House of Bloom was, at one time, a large botanical garden in the northern, forested section of Aedok. It was maintained by a family of five; the father (Woden) his three daughters (Indrii, Malbarin, and Estrianna), and his son (Jino).

There was a large gallery house and green house where plants and vines from exotic and mundane. It was an attraction which impressed numerous residents and attracted travelers from all over. The House of Bloom would grow and sell exotic plants from the nursery outside the building as well.

There was also a detached building which served as the living space for the family so that they could always be close by for the house and the garden.

Unfortunately, the family is believed to have suffered from a great tragedy. The father, for unknown reasons, slowly descended into madness and then violence. The rumors stated that he went mad and attacked his children. He killed his son and then went after his daughters. They were able to escape the house and flee into the woods without being caught. However, it is rumored that they were hunted down in the forest surrounding Aedok and killed by the now insane father.

The bodies of the daughters were never found, and the father was never seen again. The local residents have heard noises coming from the house over the years, though no one has ever been seen there. They believe that the house is now haunted by the family. Because of this belief, the house has been left on its own; it now slowly becomes overgrown by the plants and forest which it used to showcase.

Adventure 08 - The Road to a Cure

2016-11-17

5th Month (the Beast), days 20 through 29

The PCs arrived in Aeodok after their adventure through Summit Cavern intent on acquiring the House of Bloom as a potential home base. After haggling a deal with the local land owners, they decided to take care of the hauntings still present in the house until a later date; they had more pressing needs. Namely, Aghlamore the Orange was in partial possession of the samurai's mind.

The PCs headed east towards the town of Kavis, about 9 days travel away. Along the way, the Pcs did find two large stag beetles which proved to be hostile. After getting trampled a couple of times, the PCs were able to defeat the vermin and come out alive.

They continued on, only to find a small party of Dark Horse mercenaries seemingly looting some bodies at a campsite. The leader of the group, Thrennis, greeted the party and explained that they were contracted by the local constabulary to investigate the disappearance of a squad from the Shade Army. The mercenaries found the bodies and were investigating the scene when the PCs arrived. After some discussion, the mercenaries were left to their task, and the PCs moved on.

The PCs ran across some twigjacks several days later. After they were surprised, the twigjacks caused quite a bit of damage to the party with their splinterspray attack. However, the PCs prevailed and lived to talk about the encounter another day.

Near the end of the journey, the PCs happened across a family heading west to Aedok. The Hilden family were farmers whose farm (about 1 day south of Kavis) suddenly withered away, as if some magic had wiped all of their crops clean and sterilized the ground. Bad fortune followed the, as their wagon wheel broke and a horse ran away.

The PCs were able to mend the wheel and they volunteered to search for the horse. They could hear the sounds of a horse in the distance, and moved to investigate. There they happend across a human female, who lashed out at them. Aided by some magic, she caused significant damage to the PCs' health as well as their strength. Fortunately, the PCs were able to take her down, and when she was killed, her true form 0 that of a green hag - was revealed.

Reputation Modifiers

• +1 Reputation with the League of Merchants for assisting the Hilden family on their way to Aedok.

Contacts

• Thrennis Rancaller - Dark Horse Lieutenant
• Ceno Hilden - Farmer from Kavis, but also has ties to the League of Merchants

Information Gathered

• The Shade Army have been targeted in the area by an unknown group.

 

Adventure 07 - Summit Cavern

2016-11-10

5th month (The Beast), days 12 through 19

The group went to explore Summit Cavern, a cave just three days east of the city-state of Aedok. Summit Cavern is a natural cave which existed for a long time before being sealed off by landslides. In recent years, erosion has opened the cave yet again.

The PCs arrived and started to search through the caves. About 20 minutes into their expedition, they found a large opening and were set upon by a group of Dark Creepers. After a short fight, they gathered up their loot and continued on.

In the southern cavern, they found a patch of Thallus Brume, an underground moss which emits a small purple mist. This patch of Thallus Brume was large enough that the resulting mist was toxic to breathe. The PCs decided to hold their breath as they entered the cavern. While passing through, they encountered a Myceloid, who was unaffected by the mist. The Myceloid fought with the PCs and infected two of them with Purple Pox, a disease which reduces the PC's Wisdom and Constitution. Melir was able to remove the effects on Cain, but Ryoma had to suffer the effects for the rest of the adventure.

After moving through the southern cavern, they reached the western cavern. Halfway through it, Pannan noticed a patch of Fulgurate Mushrooms. They attempted to sneak passed it while Mordin attempted to burn them out using his torch. Unfortunately, this triggered the electrical blast which hit himself and Cain (Pannan was able to avoid the damage). This also alerted the Cave Troll which was in the area. After a few rounds of combat, the troll was brought down and Cain finished him off by burning his body.

Once the PCs reached the northern cavern, they discovered the alchemist lab. After springing the trap which protected it, Pannan and Cain searched the lab while the warriors continued through the cave. Two snake swarms attacked them. The snakes did their damaged, and even poisoned each of the fighter's at one point during the combat, but eventually, the snakes were dispersed.

The alchemy table had a riddle which implied that a mixture left there could grant visions of the future. The PCs successfully determined which ingredients were needed to create the mixture. The visions they saw are listed as follows:

1 - Mordin saw a vision of a black forest with a ghostly shape sweeping back and forth among the trees. The shape splits apart until three distinct ghostly images of women were seen. The ghostly mists look directly at Mordin and fly toward him. Before they reach him, each of the ghosts disappear, crying in pain.

2 - Cain saw a vision of a large flat land and an empty sky. He saw to men walking and talking together. As they approached, they became argumentative, then violent toward one another. They attacked each other. From the surrounding ground, more men rose up and fought alongside each of the men. The vision ended as an immense battle unfolded.

3 - Melir saw a vision of the flat void. From the ground below, trees begam to rise up and take form. Eventually, an immense forest stood before him. After a large gust of wind sweeps through, some of the trees seemed to take on bestial forms. They uprooted and began to walk the ground freely. The vision ended when the zombie-like trees see Melir and charge toward him.

In the last part of the cavern, there was a small campsite with a red and white striped fish in a glass bowl. Ryoma picked up the bowl which triggered a conversation with the fish. He began to speak of who he was and where he came from when the spirit within the fish possessed the mind of Ryoma. The spirit's name is Aghlamore the Orange, and he claims to be the lord of the House of Orange. He telepathically can communicate with Ryoma, and tells him that he wishes to be brought back to his home (which he says is near Lake Draskin) where he can remove himself from Ryoma's mind.

Unfortunately for Ryoma, he now has two minds in his head. The PCs are now returning to Aedok to make arrangements for the House of Bloom (which they are taking control), and then they plan to seek out the House of Orange to remove the possession in their samurai's head.

The Origin of Magic

In an age long ago, the Ancient from the former world, Saelabylaer, returned to Scandiaca in human form. Her intent was to live one full life as a mortal; from her own birth, through her mortal death. She experienced the world through mortal eyes, and gained a more full understanding of the ways of mankind.

During this life time, she married, and gave birth to three boys. Her children grew up to be strong-willed men. It was at this time that Saelabylaer decided to grant the gift of magic to her sons. To the oldest, Cadyn, she granted the power to pull magical energy from the world around him. All of the world possessed magical potential, and Cadyn was gifted with the ability to create magic from these components in the form of sorcery (arcane magic). To the middle child, Renzu, she granted the ability to tap into spiritual energy from the aether. The forces of nature and all other living things provided all of the power needed to drive this theurgy (divine magic). To the youngest, Anvir, she granted the ability to pull magic from within. Anvir was able to create his own magical energy from his own mind and body (psionics).

With her sons now in possession of a power no one else controlled, she sent them out to teach others of this power. Cadyn was the most charismatic of the three boys, and he wandered from town to town teaching those who would listen. As he traveled on, word of his powers attracted more that became his following. He was able to spread the power of arcane magic to many others. His teachings were effective, and those who learned from him went on to mentor others in the arcane arts.

Renzu was the wisest of the boys, and he formed shrines and temples so that those who wished to learn divine magic could seek him out. As word spread of his abilities, people flocked to his temples and learned his craft. In time, many others heeded his calling and divine magic spread to many others. He was able to spread the knowledge of his power to others, and they went on to provide the teachings to others.

Anvir was the most intelligent of the three boys. He sought out the most intelligent of the populace, hoping to spread word of his power and abilities to others which he deemed intellectual equals. However, Anvir was very particular of whom he taught. He believed that only the brightest of all mankind should wield such power. Though others learned from his meditations, the magic of psionics spread slowly compared to the other forms of magic.

Anvir feared that too much arcane and divine magic would unbalance the world. This trepidation was further fueled by jealousy because his following was so much smaller than the other two brothers. He felt as though Cadyn and Renzu were providing their gifts to too many, and that magic was something only the worthy should possess. He set it upon himself to use his psionics and his followers to reduce the influence of other magic in the world.

After killing numerous followers of sorcery and theurgy, Anvir set his eyes towards his brothers themselves. Using his skills and his cunning, he killed Cadyn, and then Renzu. Furious, Saelabylaer sought out her last remaining son and confronted him. Before facing him, she removed her gift and left him powerless. She destroyed him, and then destroyed all of those who followed him. In the end, psionics had been removed from the world of Scandiaca.

She vowed never to reveal its power to anyone else, and she returned to Heathandrus, leaving Scandiaca alone again, forever. Though the knowledge of psionics had gone, in time, other mortals eventually figured out the secret of its power themselves. Once again, psionics was present in Storm World.