Earthdawn: Adventure Log 23 - Rainbow in the Dark

This is the twenty-third Adventure Log in an ongoing series about Earthdawn. Introduction and Index.

Note: This is not a canon event.

In this version of Barsaive, the northwest is a hotbed of political activity just below the surface. Glenwood Deep has been deeply involved in these machinations for some time, even if the vast majority of the populace are unaware. In particular, they have a strategic location between Iopos and Ishkarat; inhabiting the primary route between the two.

On the whole, the windlings of Glenwood Deep keep to themselves, but they have an incredible intelligence network spanning the entire province - windlings do make the very best spies (when on task). Information is disseminated in secret to those who can make use of it. At times, these are the Windmasters themselves. Whether it is under the cover of darkness, or the guise of a minor skirmish far off course, the work under the guidance of the Warmaster to keep the two ambitious powers in check.

This has lead to uneasy alliances with other powers in Barisave, including Blood Wood and, most recently, the urshan. Many of these decisions are troubling to the windlings of Glenwood Deep, particularly the relationship with Blood Wood, but they trust their Warmaster whose line has led them for generations.

There are problems. Notably, the Warmaster does not have an heir, nor a successor. Also, her methods have been getting considerably more brutal. The entrance of the urshan into the province has only made things worse, and the shifting balance of power is forcing Iopos and Ishkarat to act more swiftly and recklessly than they would prefer.

Adventure Log – 023 Rainbow in the Dark

Written By: Elmod, From the Other Side of the Well, of Glenwood Deep

Date: 22 Charassa – 25 Charassa, 1508 TH
Group Name: Mismatched Steel

Group Members

Bongani the Scout
Coriolis the Swordmaster
Elmod the Nethermancer
Honeysuckle Sunspray the Windmaster
Ting the Swordmaster

The Rainbow Pride festival and tournament continues.

In the morning, I find Regia making a small doll that I must force her to tell me who of - and she seems remarkably knowledgeable about doll constructs - intending to make the doll for Mistriel. I take the doll away eventually and encourage her that this is not a good idea.(1)

I do find Mistriel and she gives me a brooch that turns out to be a Thought Link charm, and she suggests to use it with Honeysuckle's competition, which we do.

During the competition of matching stones and riddles, with the the help of Ting and Bongani's historical knowledge, we help Honeysuckle pass the round.

I hang out with Mistriel and try to learn more about her. Mostly she has a lovely neck, though she has some bad previous experience with Horror constructs, so that went poorly.(2)

A lot of orks and now clowns are around the festival.

Ting and Honeysuckle visit with Physt(3) and enjoy making friends.

The next round is the penultimate test in the tournament. It is a small tunnel that thwarts Physt. Honeysuckle and a few others are in the final four as end tournament competitors.

More orks, possibly scorchers or Skull Wargs(4) with thundra beasts, have arrived in town and the ambiance is threatening.

As the tournament is about to begin, I hear my mentor's voice behind me and find Mestoph there. Mestoph says hi, he's been netherwalking a fair bit, when Mistriel shows up, alarming Mestoph in recognizing each other. My new brooch starts glowing as Mestoph crashes into the astral plane - gone. About then I also notice the orks start attacking the urshan and all hell breaks loose.

Then Regia pokes Mistriel and tries to activate her finished doll - luckily as expected(5) without effect. I leave the encounter to find my band mates and give protection.

In the melee, I learn Ting and Honeysuckle are pursuing the clowns. I scare off one of the slower clowns that scared Ting. He probably went insane after that.

We all give chase to the clowns.

Rasp(6) attacked me and I tried to give him Pain while he seemed to resist it. He jumped at me again and landed a gruesome blow. I yielded to him, he took me with a blade to my throat - and then Ting jumps at him while he slits my throat.

I don't remember after that.

Honeysuckle revives me with a last chance salve and we try to recover. At least Ting also fell in the attempt to avenge me.(7)

We recovered a little and eventually have an audience with Poison Wing and Honeysuckle is awarded the prize for the tournament - which was also the blade of Honeysuckle's father, Firefly. And Poison Wing is her mother.(8)

The perhaps war with Iopos looms as we recover from our wounds in Glenwood Deep.(9)

*     *     *

(1) So. Creepy. Seriously. Though, having read all of this, maybe the doll knows something.

(2) So. Creepy.

(3) Obsidiman Purifier with a strange fascination of blood charms. His logs are fascinating in the insight they provide to obsidiman culture and thought because of how atypical they are for an obsidiman.

(4) Possible, but an awfully long way from home. Also, we have not heard of the Skull Wargs leaving the area. They are primarily focused on Ardanyan.

(5) Can something actually be both lucky and expected?

(6) A t'skrang mercenary. He cleans up messes and does unsavory things for Iopos.

(7) What are friends for?

(8) Verify this. Forge this log and eliminate the final sentence. Place the original in the sealed archive.

(9) Received and edited by Ela Pono

As should be obvious, the contents of this log were what the character experienced, rather than everything which happened. Because there was an awful lot which was not captured. There was also quite a bit which dealt with the author which was deliberately withheld. Is it ironic when the scribe omits all of the details related to him which he doesn't want out there, but is more than happy to record the same for others involved as off-hand comments? It certainly amuses me.

Nonetheless, this is a session which laid the groundwork for some major events taking place over the next few arcs. A number of factions were involved in the events which went down at the festival, all operating with different goals. There was a significant counter-intelligence asset of the windlings which was put into play to draw out other factions. This was followed by using their new allies, the urshan, as a display of force, culminating in an object lesson.

It was an arc which re-energized everyone and was a lot of fun with a great deal of group involvement, information revealed, and lots of action. This was the primary goal. There was also some surprising character growth for the three returning characters. Two characters retired at the beginning of this arc for some which were a better fit. The end of the session was pretty grim. Brutal public executions as a statement will often do that. It also planted the seeds indicating the Warmaster, Poison Wing, may not be right in the head. Also, incredibly dangerous.

Earthdawn: Adventure Log 22 - Rainbow Connection

This is the twenty-second Adventure Log in an ongoing series about Earthdawn. Introduction and Index.

Note: This is not a canon event.

The Rainbow Pride Festival is an annual-ish celebration in Glenwood Deep open to everyone. The ostensible purpose is for all windlings spread across Barsaive to return to the homeland to share stories, connect with old friends, make new friends, and celebrate life in a raucous display of color; the color of a windling's skin will tell a story of where they have been recently.

All Namegivers are welcome and Owl City is temporarily expanded by Elementalists to allow for greater than usual occupancy. Envoys from some of the major players in Barsaive who prefer to operate behind the scenes will often meet in the surroundings which provide more discretion than other potentially politically charged arenas.

The major draw for many is the festival which features a prize each year. Anyone who is a Journeyman adept may enter, though the various rounds are setup to weed out all non-windlings as they progress. Cheating is prohibited, of course, and will get you removed from competition if you are caught, but also expected. If your friends won't cheat for you, why do you have such terrible friends?

Adventure Log – 022 Rainbow Connection

Written By: Elmod, From the Other Side of the Well, of Glenwood Deep

Date: 5 Charassa – 21 Charassa, 1508 TH
Group Name: Mismatched Steel

Group Members

Bongani the Scout
Coriolis the Swordmaster
Elmod the Nethermancer
Honeysuckle Sunspray the Windmaster
Ting the Swordmaster

Our group has been staying in Travar for some time, losing some of the members for other pursuits(1).

Finally, we have decided, Ting, Honeysuckle, and I, to return to Glenwood Deep for the Rainbow Pride Festival(2) there. We book travel by airship, the last one out of Travar.

Outside of Travar, we are deposited at an arapagoi(3) and book travel on a surprisingly well-armed ship. The boatmen are amazingly drab and uninteresting. We met another elf ensign, Coriolis, along the way to Glenwood Deep.

We arrive outside Glenwood Deep and make the day's journey to Owl City(4) and observe the colorful celebration getting underway.

Since this is the first time I have returned to Glenwood Deep for some time, I pay a visit to my parents. I relate some of my interesting adventures and ask them some different questions about my parentage, birth, and Mestoph's involvement(5). Apparently Mestoph saved my life when I was born with his physician skill(6). They didn't quite take to Regia yet(7), but are happy to see me.

The others are preparing for the festival tournament(8), dancing, and otherwise.

In search of information about Regia's wood-tree(9) and met an interesting dark and bandy fellow, Bongani, that knew exactly where the wood was near Death's Sea and guarded by skeorx.

The Warmaster, Poison Wing(10), opens the ceremony and announces the prize of the tournament is Firefly's Heartblade(11).

The first even is a race through the forest which Ting and Coriolis manage to succeed, and Honeysuckle of course. Bongani and I helped a little to help the odds.

The second event was a search for razor flowers in a living maze. Ting and Coriolis failed, but Honeysuckle does with with a map from Bongani.

Much time is spent drinking at night. I met a lovely Horror hunter named Mistriel. She inquired about Mestoph and may be interesting to collaborate with later(12).

I went to see Mestoph with Mistriel, but could not find him or his house, though toured my old apprentice grounds. It seemed rather smaller than I remember(13).

Ting meets some strange t'skrang and has a good time(14).

Bongani and Honeysuckle suggest we look in Mestoph's house for clues where he went. It appears that someone was there recently - looked "lived-in" - but that may be an illusion. It also looked like another group of six people were also at the house looking around. Still no luck...(15)

*     *     *

(1) Good luck, Jak'Tak. I hope you find the heart of Cara Fahd. Note: Create reference between that file and this file.

(2) To say this is something of a haphazard event is to put it mildly. Still, windlings always seem to know when it will take place, even if they cannot actually put a date to it. This is one of their biggest holidays open to Namegivers from all over. There are good indications representatives from great dragons attend every event for their own reasons.

(3) Must be Ishkarat.

(4) The cultural center for windlings across Barsaive and the only location truly open to other Namegivers. Also the only other location where things are on the ground and can accommodate people of any reasonable size.

(5) This is not something which normally makes it into an Adventure Log. What is going on here? We need to know more about the background here and his connection to Mestoph.

(6) This statement seems innocuous, but either this is a different Mestoph, or there is something else going on here. My money is on the latter. Note: Start library Adventure Log pool.

(7) You think? I have seen this creepy doll and... that is all I will write. She could find me.

(8) The tournament is a very big deal, a way of honoring young windlings who are coming into their own. Technically the tournament is open to anyone, but structured so only a windling can win.

(9) What? I feel like there is some innuendo hiding in this statement.
(10) She is bad news. She was a part of the Adventuring Group, "Four Fathers". 
(11) Wow. I didn't even know he had a Heartblade; we need to know more about this item.
(12) I'm pretty certain this is a euphemism. I cannot find any information about a Mistriel who hunts Horrors. This is concerning.
(13) That's what she said.
(14) Pretty straight forward, but I wonder if he knows what he just entered into the Library of Throal for eternity?
(15) Received and edited by Ela Pono

This story arc came after a long break in playing where I was going through some burn out. In many ways, it could have been the conclusion to the story where some secrets are revealed and even more questions are posed. Beyond all of this, it was meant to be fun.

The setup for the festival was to allow for everyone to participate in some fashion, even if they aren't actually competing. Each of the events granted a significant advantage to windlings, relying on their natural abilities. The race was significantly easier for anyone who was small and could fly, being able to navigate through shortcuts. It was specifically designed to take eight minutes to fly the course; anyone over 12 minutes was cut.

In the maze, the tricks were using astral sight to see the carefully hidden (to normal eyes) directions to each of the flowers, in addition to being able to fly so the extremely difficult flowers could be reached.

Both of these had the characters not competing actively involved in helping their allies, even forming new alliances over beating the spread and getting paid. Oh yeah, there was some serious betting taking place. From sneaking in and getting an advance lay of the land, to countering other cheaters, and using any trick to put other promising competitors at a disadvantage. There was a great deal more taking place than just what was on the field.

There was a greater lesson behind all of this which windlings take to heart: the world is big and hostile to windlings; they must learn to work together to get every advantage they possibly can, while never letting anyone else know their secrets. The tournament isn't necessarily about who is the best, it is about who is the best windling.

Earthdawn: Adventure Log 15 - Steel Magnolias

This is the fifteenth Adventure Log in an ongoing series about Earthdawn.Introduction and Index.

The Glenwood Deep presented here has been developed and tailored for this particular campaign and contains a number of details that wouldn't be considered canon. That being said, Glenwood Deep is forested region between the Scol Mountains and Serpent River in the Northeast of Barsaive. Near the t'skrang House Ishkarat and the city of Iopos on the Serpent, the windling tribes that call this region home struggle to maintain a fierce independence from those allied powers and any others (including nearby Blood Wood).

Within the largely unspoiled forests of Glenwood Deep reside most of the windlings in Barsaive, some would call it infested with them (both charitably and uncharitably). The various tribes within the woods are in a constant state of war with each other. This continual fighting may stem from old grudges to simple boredom, but never results in serious injury. It is simply a part of life within Glenwood Deep, but serves to keep all windlings (Windmasters in particular) prepared for combat against any that may invade their home. Given their significant disadvantages in size and frequently numbers, their practice with guerrilla tactics and traps against each other to gain any advantage they can serves as a strong deterrent.

While windlings are not the only Namegivers to call it home, very few non-windlings find life within the trees suitable. Mostly elves with the occasional human make a place for themselves there and generally that is within Owl City. The tribal nature has the advantages low impact to the forest and the ability prevent invaders from capturing homes, but makes trade with outsiders difficult and relationships with other political entities virtually impossible. Thus Owl City is the cultural center of Glenwood Deep and considered "base" for all ongoing tribal conflicts, and off-limits (though a well-played practical joke is always appreciated).

Constructed as a part of the forest, most of Owl City rises above the ground with walkways between the various trees. The ground is sized almost exclusively for larger Namegivers (with attention always paid to ensure that obsidimen feel welcome) - it exists primarily for their convenience, after all. It is from here that the Queen of Glenwood Deep tries to keep track of her flighty people. The ruler (Queen or King) is selected in a fashion that most windlings aren't entirely certain of - one simply appears and if they do a good enough job, no one has a problem.

The other permanent structure within Glenwood Deep is the secret location where Windmasters learn their Discipline: Raccoon City. It is absolutely forbidden for any non-windling to ever learn its location and very few non-Windmasters ever know beyond rumors. It is from here that the primary defense for Glenwood Deep trains and shares any new tactical developments. The leader of Raccoon City and the Windmasters is the Warmaster of Glenwood Deep. They are elected from the corps of Windmasters by their peers and typically serve for life. The current Warmaster has also taken the position of Queen - a combination that is convenient with the additional authority it gives to the figurehead of the windling "state", but also because the rest of her people are terrified of telling her no.

Adventure Log – 15 Steel Magnolias

Recorded By: Sogun of Ayodhya

Date: 18 Rua – 08 Mawag, 1507 TH
Group Name: Mismatched Steel

Group Members

Honeysuckle Sunspray the Windmaster
Jak’Tak the Weaponsmith
Sogun the Messenger

We’ve set sail on an airship named Dreams of Chorrolis to Glenwood Deep(1). By my calculation, we should be there in five days. The things that fly in the skies are the things of nightmares. Beast of air with a wingspan of more than 40 feet that are more teeth than beast.

We finally dock in a small frontier town, more of a trading post than anything else. We bed down in a cheaper inn for the night. A group of troll cavalry are massing in the North. I met a man with boots that allow him to travel 100 miles a day.

We reach the second half of our journey. We find ourselves on a riverboat that the mere mention of Ting would get us thrown overboard. Our westward journey is a longer one than I would have thought, and sees as it’s about to get longer. We seem to have stumbled across a village that has been impaled on spikes. This looks like scorchers. The act of impaling live people is a common practice of their people(2).

We finally come upon Glenwood Deep. It is a rather nice change from our recent somber events. Our greeting in Glenwood Deep was a little more uneasy than I thought(3). After some awkward tension we are lead to Owl City(4). The city is riddled with traps. The whole city is built into the trees.

As a true adventuring group we hit up the bar the first chance we get. We partake of a very sweet wine known as keesris(5), brewed from the keesry berries. It’s a little more than a simple syrup with about 2% alcohol. We had to get a barley wine in order to get a proper drunk going.

We dance! Well, I try to dance, but ended up breaking things.

We get our morning breakfast “sugar” and then head to work.

Jak works the forge for some time before Jak is sent out to gather metal from metal plants. During a second trip through the metal forest to mine crystal, we encounter bears riding bears(6). I’m not making this shit up, there were bears that were riding bears! We manage to bring the bears and the windlings to an understanding. Then, after we drop off the crystal, we party with the bears and windlings. I share maps with the bears(7).

The next day we return to the somber overtone that we started with. Firefly, the Weaponsmith training Jak, died today(8). It was a sad day. After sending the bear people South, we head back to Throal.(9)

(1) That place is absolutely infested with windlings.

(2) Also common to House Ishkarat - both scorchers and the t'skrang blame it on each other, but I think Iopans introduced them both to the practice.

(3) Windlings are uneasy around outsiders.

(4) The "capital" of the windlings.

(5) Ugh, that stuff is foul.

(6) What? This doesn't make any sense.

(7) Something important is missing from this story.

(8) If that is the Firefly then this is more than a sad day. This is a tragedy for the province. He was truly a decent Namegiver and beloved by everyone who had the fortune of meeting him. Especially since he died so young. Everyone should read some of his Adventure Logs, "Four Fathers".

(9) Received and edited by Ela Pono

*     *     *

Narratively, I think this is one of the best sessions of the campaign. While there wasn't any real action in it, it worked in all the right places and had excellent pacing. There was tension in a number of areas, wonderment, getting to know and care about someone, and then a distinct feeling of loss. The log itself has left a considerable amount out, but part of their activities involved aiding Firefly, the windling Weaponsmith, by gathering metal and crystal for to use in completing his Heartblade. He died the following morning, the weapon bundled up, noting that it was for the Queen, and his apron left for his recent apprentice, Jak. The series of events leading up to that moment were rather touching and affected the table as they realized he was gone just as he had accomplished his life's goal. The full extent of this would only be revealed later, and even then not yet in its entirety.

This session also introduced the urshan, indeed as noted in the log: bears that ride bears (urgarlshan). They were created to make the world bigger than just the province and introduced to create an element that will keep things unstable. The host that the players encountered were scouts ahead of the main body, refugees looking for a new home. No matter where they settle within the province, they are going to cause problems. This is effectively a new nation that is coming to settle and despite their peaceful intentions, they are more than willing to fight for a place. The more disturbing questions that have started to arise are: what exactly are the running from? They will only say the vulfaider, but what that is, it is still a mystery.

The journey to the Scol Mountains, both with and without Firefly (the latter for Jak to retrieve the material to craft his item involved in gaining a Circle), had some tension in it. It was a good series of scenes, showcasing some of the more alien changes that the Horrors wrought on the land; both terrible and beautiful in its own way. They found evidence of changelings in the area, windlings twisted by the Horrors that are now compelled to shape bones into art. But they went out specifically searching for trees - the steel magnolias. Trees that absorbed minerals from the ground and turned them into flowers of metal that can then be easily collected and forged. Meant to be a cruel joke by turning something beautiful into something deadly (those petals are sharp!), they are still beautiful, but chilling as the wind rustles the leaves and flowers, causing alternating tinkling and screeching sounds.

On their return, narrowly avoiding cave trolls, the players encountered the urshan and that almost went sideways a number of times (failed Etiquette and Speak Language rolls resulted in someone trying to buy one of their children instead of a mount - oops). The ending had the excitement of power-brokering an arrangement between the urshan and the Queen, which still has consequences in the campaign. That excitement was tempered in the end with the death of Firefly - it was bittersweet for everyone.

I wanted to explore some different themes in this session, as well as introduce some new elements of the metaplot. It was about juxtaposition - joy and sorrow, beauty and horror, fear and triumph, victory and loss. Never intended to be the most exciting adventure ever, it was intended to have some long term consequences, to sow seeds to reap at a later date. There are still some moments in this session that are talked about, and others that are studiously avoided. Even if only present for a short time, he was something of a father figure for those present. In some ways, more than they could possibly have realized.