The Voidwalkers is a real D&D campaign, recorded at the table by HP GameMasters and rendered by Threadfall into a chronicle you can read like a book. The chapters, cast, and lore below are drawn entirely from how the game was actually played.
The party survived a transformation outbreak at the The Salty Ostrich tavern caused by poisoned ale from marked kegs of unknown origin, discovering the affliction converts people into savage, ooze-dissolving creatures rather than undead. Torvald received a mysterious vision from a deep voice while near death, instructing him to travel south and suggesting divine or external involvement in the outbreak. As screams erupted across Snowglen, the party realized the contamination extended beyond the tavern, with the entire settlement descending into chaos and transformation.
The party found themselves trapped in the The Salty Ostrich tavern as the entire settlement of Snowglen succumbed to the same horrifying transformation that had erupted within its walls moments before.
Kaelor Thane woke from a violent nightmare in which he had wandered a subterranean labyrinth for three days, ultimately confronting a massive serpentine creature that burst from a cracked pink crystal and attempted to devour him [1]. Upon waking in Snowglen, he recorded the dream in his journal and discovered other similarly vivid dreams already documented in his entries. After gathering his belongings, Kaelor headed to the Vissarion Mill to work lumber in the unusually harsh morning cold.
Torvald Veyr spent his morning gathering supplies and assisting with farmwork when a village woman approached him seeking help for her daughter Visaria, who had been ill for ten days with symptoms that matched no common ailment. Torvald prepared herbal remedies—pungent wraps and thick berry-flavored syrup—and examined the child, but determined the illness was unfamiliar to him. He advised the mother to keep Visaria warm and promised to return within days to monitor her condition. As evening approached, both Torvald and Kaelor made their way toward the The Salty Ostrich tavern, observing a late vessel arriving at Gruyeva Pier.
Vaelan Voss and Lucia disembarked at Gruyeva Pier after a treacherous ten-and-a-half day voyage from Arkenhath. An overeager seaman named Rooster attached himself to Vaelan, offering lodging assistance and regaling him with lengthy stories about local history, including an account of a sheep stampede from a decade prior. Lucia declined assistance from a deckhand and headed directly toward the The Salty Ostrich. Vaelan recognized Lucia from the ship but chose not to call out, instead enduring Rooster's continued conversation until they too headed for the tavern.
Inside the The Salty Ostrich, Kaelor and Torvald—locals who knew of each other but maintained a low profile—drank in relative silence at the bar. Dimitri, the bartender, served them as Rooster burst through the door, his arrival drawing little enthusiasm from the locals. Vaelan entered and took a table, politely declining the advances of Dubora, a local woman interested in his arrival from Arkenhath. Lucia approached Dimitri seeking quiet accommodations and reluctantly agreed to pay one gold piece per night for a room upstairs. Rooster loudly ordered multiple pints on his unpaid tab, prompting Dimitri's frustration over an outstanding debt of ten gold.
Vaelan found himself buried under multiple ales delivered by Rooster's relentless enthusiasm, while Lucia joined him at the table before moving to observe a card game. At the gambling table, an orc named Oleg played against a dwarf and others, winning hand after hand with Lucia watching as his lucky charm. Oleg rewarded her with a gold coin and offered to cover her buy-in for future games. Meanwhile, Rooster's drunken behavior escalated until he struck a bench with his fist, prompting Dimitri to demand payment. Torvald objected to Rooster taking what he hadn't paid for, and Kaelor stood to his full height in support, sternly telling Rooster to settle his debt. Rooster laughed off the confrontation, claiming he had an arrangement with Dimitri, and ordered another round on his tab.
As Dimitri returned from tapping a new keg, Rooster downed his drink and declared his love for everyone in the tavern—then collapsed, vomiting a green substance before transforming with inhuman speed into something thin, clawed, and red-eyed [2]. Dimitri stood stunned as the transformed Rooster vaulted the bar and eviscerated him, splashing gore across the shelves behind. Other locals began to turn as well, the transformed creatures attacking with savage ferocity. Lucia shot the Rooster-creature in the shoulder with her shortbow while Kaelor vaulted the bar and swung his greatclub, narrowly missing. Delov, the Dwarven gambler, leapt onto the gaming table to scoop up coins before fleeing toward the door. Local patrons panicked, one woman vaulting through a window to escape.
The Turned tore through the tavern's occupants with lethal efficiency. One creature killed Oleg instantly with a claw strike across the neck and chest, then charged Torvald and mauled him grievously before killing a fleeing woman. Lucia attempted a shot from the corner but missed, her hair briefly glowing a different shade of purple in frustration. Kaelor grappled one of the creatures, smashed its head with his greatclub, and watched it dissolve into foul-smelling green ooze. Vaelan's crossbow bolt struck another creature, which hissed in his direction with claws extending further from its hands. When Vaelan assessed the situation, he determined these were not undead but people who had been mutated or transformed.
Torvald impaled one of the Turned through the chin and head with his spear, the creature dissolving into green sludge as it fell. He repositioned a large table to create a defensive barrier, but two more creatures charged him in rapid succession. The first struck him with its claws, leaving him severely wounded; the second brought him to unconsciousness. As Torvald collapsed, he perceived the looming figures with their elongating claws and glowing red and green eyes before losing consciousness. Lucia, witnessing his fall, ran back toward the hearth in frustration and fired at one of the creatures—but accidentally struck the unconscious Torvald instead, inflicting a near fatal wound upon him [3]. She retreated behind the table, muttering in distress.
Kaelor moved to protect Torvald, striking one of the creatures and using his fire giant heritage to deal additional fire damage that destroyed it entirely. Vaelan climbed onto the bar and attempted a crossbow shot but missed, then descended to drag Torvald's unconscious body away from danger. While unconscious and near death, Torvald experienced a vision in a void where a deep, familiar voice spoke to him, identifying him as being of Snowglen and telling him there was work to be done [4]. The voice instructed him to follow its light and go south, where another would show him the way. Radiant light filled Torvald, and he regained consciousness with renewed vigor, immediately casting Cure Wounds on himself before standing and hurling a tankard at the remaining creature.
Kaelor took a severe wound from the remaining creature, becoming bloodied and vulnerable. Lucia rushed to his aid, channeling Healing Hands in a display of miraculous dexterity—simultaneously healing Kaelor, striking the creature with a tankard, and moving with remarkable grace. Kaelor swung recklessly at the creature, his club shattering a table and suffering damage in the process. Vaelan advanced into combat, his short sword strike parried by the creature's claws, giving him a clear view of its horrifying maw—a chaotic assemblage of human, elf, and canine teeth mixed together. Vaelan shoved the creature backward and a bolt of flame jumped from his hands, charring its chest. Torvald, now with holy power coursing through him, cast Guiding Bolt but narrowly missed, then threw a chair that struck the creature solidly. The creature leapt onto the bar with clear intent to close in on Torvald, but Lucia struck it repeatedly with her dagger until it dissolved into green sludge that splashed across the survivors, exposing them to poison.
After the immediate threat subsided, the party took stock of the carnage. Lucia recovered seventeen gold pieces from Oleg's body while Vaelan discreetly collected approximately ten gold from the tavern floor, an action observed by the others. Kaelor confirmed Dimitri was dead and realized that aside from themselves and one woman who had fled screaming, all the locals in the tavern had been slain. Kaelor gathered the bodies near the fireplace and collected samples of the green sludge into vials using his monster harvesting tools. When questioned by the party, Vaelan recalled a critical detail: Dimitri had opened a new keg, and the drinks served from that keg were consumed by all who subsequently transformed [5]. Kaelor moved behind the bar and disabled the tap on the infected keg.
Kaelor examined the bar's interior and discovered the tainted keg bore an unfamiliar symbol—a symbol that also appeared on several other kegs in the back room. Investigation of the bar's documentation revealed a recent delivery docket, yet these particular marked kegs suggested tampering by an unknown party. Dimitri appeared uninvolved in the substitution. Kaelor proposed quarantining the kegs in the cellar. Kaelor, feeling the call to his past rising to meet him in this moment, moved to Lucia and placed his hands upon her shoulder, manifesting a glowing light that cured her of the poison afflicting her from the green sludge. A moment of respite followed as Vaelen joked about being surrounded by healers—then blood-curdling screams erupted from outside the The Salty Ostrich [6]. More screams followed, accompanied by shouting and a low guttural growl, as the sounds of slashing and tearing echoed through the town as the entirety of Snowglen descended into chaos.
Kaelor discovered a Handmade Doll hidden in the rubble of his ransacked home and experienced an intense emotional response upon finding it, suggesting a deep personal connection to the object. Torvald witnessed his family's transformation into The Turned and discovered his mother dead in his home, leading him to a grim realization about his father's past actions. The party reached sanctuary in Dyrbov Michalovich's barn after fleeing through Snowglen, where they learned they remain in grave danger from an approaching threat.
The party barricaded themselves in The Salty Ostrich and rested as screams and carnage echoed through Snowglen, then fled under cover of darkness toward Kaelor's home—only to find it ransacked and Torvald's family claimed by the same horror that had consumed the village.
Kaelor, driven by an inexplicable urge, placed his hands on the critically wounded Torvald and cast a healing spell—an ability he had never possessed before [1]. When questioned, Kaelor admitted he had no idea how he had done it, describing a voice whispering instructions during the tavern battle, urging him to find "her" and head south, following the light. Lucia, uncomfortable with talk of voices, redirected the conversation to practical matters: gathering supplies and deciding where to go next. Kaelor proposed traveling to his home to retrieve equipment, and the party agreed to move together.
The party spent ten minutes quietly barricading the tavern's doors and windows with tables and chairs, then settled into the cold, darkened space. Lucia cast Alarm and took first watch while the others attempted to rest on the wooden floorboards. As the party fell silent for the first time since arriving in Snowglen, the wind howled outside, mixed with occasional screams, the sounds of flesh tearing from bone, muffled growls and scratching, and a gleeful, terrifying laugh as something ripped a victim's head off. The sounds gradually eased after twenty to twenty-five minutes but did not stop entirely. After roughly an hour, the party completed a short rest and prepared to move under cover of darkness.
Kaelor led the party through the forest toward his home, avoiding populated areas and heavy-traffic routes. Lucia heard a sharp snap of a twig approximately thirty feet away and readied her bow, but saw nothing. The party pressed on through the foothills and smaller forest copses along the eastern mountains, encountering a clearing where a child had built a snowman and spotting an abandoned-looking building ahead. As they rounded the building and prepared to cross an open break toward Kaelor's home, they discovered the front door had been bashed inward, the lock mechanism and doorframe damaged by great force [2].
The party rushed inside and found Kaelor's home completely trashed but empty of inhabitants. Kaelor frantically searched for his belongings, ripping his bed from the wall and tearing up the floorboards to reveal a hidden lockbox containing a small book, a Greatsword, Javelins, and a Pendant. He retrieved the weapons with visible apprehension, whispering an apology to Elira Vael as he handled the Greatsword, which felt heavier than its physical weight should allow. Kaelor then tore apart the rest of his home, searching desperately for something he could not find. When Lucia tried to calm him, he slapped her hand away, insisting he could not leave without it. Vaelan observed that the destruction appeared almost staged, suggesting someone had broken in searching for something specific. Lucia eventually found a small Handmade Doll—years old, with matted hair, a loose eye, and a tattered dress—buried in the rubble near the door [3]. Kaelor stopped dead upon seeing it, trembling with an intense stare, and pleaded with Lucia to give it to him. He took the doll, closed his eyes in relief, and tucked it under his chainmail against his chest.
The party departed Kaelor's home and moved north through the tree line toward Torvald's home, staying in heavy snow for cover. As they crossed the logging grounds using the mill for cover, Vaelan's foot broke through snow into a hollow created by tree roots, causing a loud crack and sending snow flying. A low growl emanated from approximately thirty to forty feet away, and The Turned rounded toward the party. Kaelor proposed a distraction—casting Light on one of Lucia's arrows to draw the creatures away—but the plan failed as the creatures charged. One of The Turned stumbled into a snowdrift and landed prone at Lucia's feet; Torvald struck it with his newly acquired flail, caving in its head with a devastating blow. As the creature dissolved into green sludge, Torvald was exposed to poison and suffered the poison condition. The battle intensified as more Turned emerged from the tree line. One creature charged Kaelor and slashed across his stomach, then pierced through his chainmail and dealt a second blow to his chest. Kaelor fell unconscious, collapsing into the snow as his life fluid began to flow from his body [4].
As Kaelor lost consciousness, he heard a small voice calling to him from the void—a figure he recognized, asking if he was coming. Kaelor succeeded on a death saving throw and regained consciousness with vitality remaining, awakening face-down in the snow. Spurred by the vision of the figure calling to him, he stood up with tears rolling down his face and swung his maul at the creature attacking Torvald, striking it with tremendous force and nearly cleaving it in two. Lucia marked another creature with Hunter's Mark and stabbed it in the neck with her dagger, watching the gore pour through as it collapsed and dissolved. Meanwhile, one of The Turned grabbed Torvald with one hand, its claws sinking into his shoulder, then drove its other hand through his chest before casting him aside. Vaelan stabilized Torvald with a medicine check, and Kaelor picked up the unconscious dwarf, threw him over his shoulder, and ordered the party to run toward the forest edge for cover.
As Kaelor carried Torvald through the forest, Lucia fed him a goodberry to revive him. As Torvald swallowed, he experienced a pins-and-needles sensation and heard the same voice that had previously granted him power, now warning that his family had been taken by the voice's master and suggesting he seek knowledge in the south [5]. Torvald regained consciousness with vitality and, in shock, told Kaelor to put him down. The party retreated into the tree line and out of sight, hearing in the distance the sound of timber crashing, a shriek, and chaos, followed by a loud snarl, a wailing scream, and then silence. Torvald, driven by the voice's claim about his family and unable to live with himself if he abandoned them, insisted the party press on to his farm to see the truth with his own eyes.
As the party approached the northern parts of Snowglen toward Torvald's home, the village fell into an eerie silence. Torvald caught peripheral movement and glimpsed a small hand moving through a window, then saw Visaria—the child he had helped earlier that morning—emerge from the house with strange red eyes, extended claws, sharpened fangs, and skin pulled tight against her face. In the open doorway behind her, the party could see Visaria's mother with her throat ripped out clean, her body littering the floor. Torvald whispered "Forgive me, child" as Visaria shuffled away. Hesitating before his own home, Torvald broke into a run in panic, stumbled, and slammed against the side of the building with a loud boom. He thrust open the door and crossed the threshold, bolting upstairs to search frantically through the rooms. In the small dining area, Torvald found his mother slumped against a cupboard, her face frozen in confusion and shock, her hand across her stomach holding in most of her lower intestine, her blood turned brown and black from prolonged exposure [6]. A small marked keg sat on the table alongside a half-full tankard that Torvald recognized as his father's. Torvald placed a hand on his mother's head, cut a lock of her red hair with a knife, and wrapped it to place inside his coat, saying his piece in Dwarfish over her body. He gathered his father's armor plating from upstairs and made his way out of the home, pausing in the doorway to look back at his mother's body and express his realization that he now understood why his father had done this to her.
Vaelan led the party toward a barn across the farmyard, holding a flaming ball aloft as a torch. Halfway there, he observed candlelight flickering violently in the barn's doorway, with a figure moving in front of it. A figure in spectacles and a long coat with graying hair emerged from the barn—Dyrbov Michalovich, a gentleman Kaelor and Torvald knew from Snowglen—pleading with the party to come inside and warning that "they" are coming back. The party entered the barn without questioning Dyrbov's presence, and he closed the door, pulling a massive beam across to lock it with Kaelor's help. Inside, hay bales and food supplies were visible; Dyrbov appeared flabbergasted to see anyone who was not dead or turned, and warned that the party did not understand how close they were to the threat. The party reached 2nd level.
Astankova Dimetrivina, a hag exiled from Snowglen a decade prior, orchestrated the town's transformation through poisoned kegs and dark magic as revenge, luring children with enchanted voices before the party defeated her in combat. The party recovered a Hag's Eye—a sentient artifact that watched their every move—and a Hag's Grimoire from her cottage, securing these dangerous objects. Torvald's mother was confirmed dead and his father remains missing, while the transformation curse lifted as the hag fell, leaving the town's fate uncertain and the party's true enemy still unknown.
Dyrbov recognized the creature in the child's drawing and rushed to his books, uncovering the legend of Astankova Dimetrivina—a woman exiled from Snowglen a decade ago who vowed revenge. A haunting voice lured Vaelan into the street, and the party followed the figure in white to her isolated cottage, where Astankova revealed herself as a hag and attacked.
Dyrbov questioned the party about the barn's safety and the unprecedented nature of the transformation event [1]. Kaelor carved the arcane symbol from the marked kegs into the dirt, but Dyrbov had never encountered it in his historical studies. When Torvald mentioned Visaria's illness and the premature appearance of the Borealis lights, Dyrbov suggested the world might be in upheaval. The party debated whether the kegs, the water system, or some other trigger caused the town to turn. Torvald revealed he had found his mother dead and his father missing [2]. Dyrbov proposed investigating Visaria's home and his own dwelling to retrieve his books. The party rested in the barn through the night, and Torvald awoke to see a green eye with white hair staring back at him through a crack in the wall.
After completing their long rest, the party persuaded Dyrbov to accompany them and departed the barn at dawn. They found eviscerated livestock on the frozen pond, surrounded by green puddles. Inside Visaria's house, Lucia discovered a child's drawing depicting a small figure embraced by a larger one with long hair, blue tears, and a distant figure in a hat. When Torvald showed the drawing to Dyrbov, he gasped and rushed to his own home, retrieving a historical account that described children going missing from Snowglen and a woman named Astankova Dimetrivina accused of taking them. Astankova had been exiled and vowed revenge; Dyrbov noted her cottage lay abandoned on the northern outskirts near Yarograd [3].
Vaelan suddenly found himself outside on the street with no memory of walking there. Both he and Lucia heard a voice on the wind saying "Come, little children" before it faded. Vaelan realized the luring sound, the poisoned kegs, and the transformation were all part of a unified magical scheme—likely revenge by Astankova rather than something from the ship [4]. Lucia expressed deep fear, stating the town appeared beyond saving and that advancing north felt like walking into death. Torvald invoked his vow of vengeance for his mother's death, and the party agreed to press forward. They barricaded Dyrbov inside his home and set out into the quiet streets.
Kaelor spotted a figure in white moving west and led the party to follow it along a winding path. As Vaelan stepped beside Kaelor, a shadow rushed before his face and he saw the ghostly visage of a beautiful young woman. Lucia spotted a figure moving behind them in the tree line, and the party heard a woman's voice singing nearby. Visibility behind them worsened, but the path ahead cleared, revealing a frozen wasteland and a building with candlelight flickering from within. Kaelor opened the door and saw a woman sitting by the fireplace.
The woman claimed she knew nothing of magic and lived alone, explaining she had gone outside after hearing screams. She introduced herself as Astankova Dimitrievna and said she had been exiled for deeds she did not commit. Lucia's Insight check found her incredibly captivating and genuine, raising concern that she might truly not know what was happening. When Torvald showed her the child's drawing, Astankova squinted and said she saw a resemblance but had never seen the picture or heard the name Visaria. Kaelor told her he found it convenient that she suddenly knew nothing, and the hag shifted forms mid-conversation, lunging at Lucia and raking her with claws.
The hag cast Counterspell to negate Vaelan's Chromatic Orb, and combat began in earnest [5]. Torvald cast Bless and Healing Word, while Kaelor infused his maul with Divine Favor. The hag clawed at Torvald, but his armor deflected the strike. Kaelor struck the hag with his maul and triggered Divine Smite, and Torvald's Guiding Bolt was consumed by a dark malevolent force. The hag moved out of melee range and unleashed a crackle of lightning across the area, reducing Vaelan to zero hit points. Kaelor moved into range and shattered the Witch's Cauldron on the fireplace, spilling a green miasmic brew across the floor. As the cauldron collapsed, a cylindrical object blinked at Kaelor—a lidless, cat-like eye that stared in his direction [6].
The hag turned toward Kaelor and slammed a poisonous mist toward his nostrils; Lucia used her Lucky ability to impose disadvantage, but the attack still hit. Lucia fired her bow at the hag and picked up the orb as a free object interaction—pink spectral energy arced from the orb into her mind, and dropping her unconscious. Kaelor used Lay on Hands on himself, but his maul swing missed. Torvald's flail swing also went wide. Kaelor made another attack with advantage, committing his final spell slot to Divine Smite, and the strike landed. Consumed by rage at seeing his companions fall, Kaelor transformed into dark mist and purple fire, seized the hag by the head, and forced her body into the fireplace, smashing her fully into the fire with his maul and burning her to death. A rush of energy washed over the party and across the frozen lake, the wind died down, and silence fell as Lucia and Vaelan remained unconscious.
Torvald cast Divine Spark twice, healing Vaelan and Lucia and expending both of his healing charges. Lucia warned Torvald not to touch the orb at her feet, and Vaelan made an Arcana check to understand its nature. He identified it as a Hag's Eye, understanding that it possessed an awareness and was watching everything the party did. Vaelan found a rag and threw it over the orb, then picked up the cloth without touching the object itself, securing the Hag's Eye in his possession. He also collected a Hag's Grimoire—a cookbook detailing recipes and concoctions—from the cooking station. The party stood in the silent cottage, the hag's body burning in the fireplace, as the wind outside died away completely.
Goddess of Knowledge & Wisdom.
A ritual spell cast by Lucia with a 30-foot radius that alerts the caster when creatures enter the warded area, requiring the caster to be conscious to receive the alert. When cast at The Salty Ostrich, the spell was centered around the bar area to cover most of the common area. The spell can be muted by the caster. If the caster is resting and something enters the warded area, the caster must make a Constitution saving throw at disadvantage to hear what is happening; if the save succeeds, the Alert spell wakes the caster.
A spell maintained by Lucia that triggers when creatures approach the party's position. The spell creates a 30-foot radius alarm around the party's location. Lucia must be conscious to receive the alert; if she is sleeping and a creature enters the alarm's area, she makes a Constitution saving throw at disadvantage to hear the disturbance and be awakened by the spell. The spell can be muted by Lucia. It takes 10 minutes to cast as a ritual, or 1 minute if a spell slot is expended. Lucia cast the spell around the bar common area of The Salty Ostrich and maintained it during the party's short rest; no creatures triggered the alarm during the approximately one-hour period the spell remained active before the party left the tavern.
Anakros is an infernal realm that now resides upon the material plane following The Great Affliction.
The Argent Compact is a government or organizational body that maintains regional offices throughout its territory. It employs agents known as Silencers tasked with tracking and neutralizing unlicensed magic users.
The civilized main continent ruled by the High Council from the Realm's Capitol. It is the most civilized and varied in population and species, containing the Capitol and major settlements. The southern regions of Arkenhath remain largely untouched and quiet, in contrast to areas that serve as places of commerce and troubles. Arkenhath serves as the mainland origin point for sea voyages to the Reach; the journey across the Misty Strait typically takes ten-and-a-half days and is treacherous due to ocean storms and swells. The shortest route across the Misty Strait cannot be safely traveled due to multitude of reefs and rocky outcroppings; ships must hang south and bend around. Rooster, an able-bodied seaman, maintains a small home in Arkenhath. Lucia fled Arkenhath and traveled from Gruyeva Pier to Cape Whalebrooke before boarding a vessel to Snowglen.
A set of plate mail, chain shirt, chainmail, or scale mail armor kept in Torvald's father's closet as a memento from his past. Torvald discovered it in his parents' bedroom among his father's belongings and took it as a memento. The armor was custom-fitted to Kaelor's frame.
A woman accused of taking children from Snowglen half a decade ago who was exiled from the village despite professing her innocence and vowed revenge on the town. She was depicted in a child's drawing as a figure in white with long white hair and green eyes. She was revealed to be a hag who attacked the party and was defeated and burned by Kaelor. Her hut was located on the far reaches of the village of Snowglen. Astankova lived in an isolated cottage on Snowglen's northern edge near the path toward Yarograd. She claimed she heard screams and growling in the night but found nothing when she investigated. When confronted by the party, she shifted from a disguised form into her true hag form. During combat, she demonstrated magical abilities including Counterspell, Ray of Sickness, and a lightning and arcane force attack. She kept a cauldron containing a hag's eye—a lidless, cat-like eye that discharged psychic energy when touched. The cottage contained a cooking station with meals in preparation, a cookbook, and a hag's grimoire detailing the concoctions she had been preparing. After taking significant damage from the party's attacks, Kaelor seized the hag by the head and forced her body into the fireplace, burning her alive. Her death caused a wave of energy to wash outward across the frozen lake, and silence fell over the area.
A legend from half a decade or longer ago wherein children went missing from Snowglen, and a woman named Astankova Dimetrivina was accused of taking them, professed her innocence, was believed innocent by some villagers but exiled anyway, and vowed revenge on the town. Astankova's cottage lay abandoned on Snowglen's northern outskirts near Yarograd. She revealed herself as a hag and attacked the party when confronted about the child's drawing and the missing children. During the confrontation, she cast Counterspell and unleashed lightning magic that incapacitated party members. Kaelor killed her by forcing her body into the fireplace and smashing her with his maul while transformed into dark mist and purple fire. A Hag's Eye—a lidless, cat-like eye that possessed awareness—was discovered among her possessions in the cottage, along with a Hag's Grimoire detailing recipes and concoctions.
The hut on the far reaches of the village of Snowglen where the legend of Astankova Dimetrivina is said to have her exiled. The structure features a door that opens slightly inward, with candlelight visible from within. Inside, a fireplace dominates the main room, with a cooking station and cauldron nearby. The hut contains a cookbook and a hag's grimoire detailing magical concoctions. A mysterious magical artifact known as a hag's eye—appearing as a lidless, cat-like eye that watches those around it—was discovered resting on the floor after the cauldron was shattered. The hag used this eye as a component of her curse. The hut was destroyed when the hag was burned alive in her own fireplace during the party's confrontation with Astankova Dimitrievna.
Averred is the Dark Mother of the pantheon.
A person referenced by Rooster and earlier in conversation, whose identity or location is sought.
Black Sand Bay is the most notable settlement in Famktoush, home to a thriving populace of thieves, connivers, pirates, and some civilised denizens attempting honest living.
A spell cast by Torvald Veyr affecting three allies (himself, Lucia, and Kaelor) with a +1d4 bonus to attack rolls and saving throws. During combat with Astankova Dimitrievna, Torvald cast Bless as an action, blessing himself, Lucia, and Kaelor. The GM confirmed the spell affects spellcasting attack bonuses in addition to weapon attacks. Torvald then used his bonus action to cast Healing Word on Lucia, closing her gaping wound on her flank and stopping the bleeding.
A phenomenon of lights in the sky that come off the Evdokia Mountains, occurring rarely and not expected for another two months before their premature appearance. The Borealis arrived in Snowglen approximately two months earlier than anticipated, coinciding with the emergence of unprecedented creature attacks, the illness affecting the child Visaria, and widespread reports of world upheaval. Some in Snowglen theorize the early arrival of the Borealis is connected to the village's troubles, though the exact nature of any connection remains unclear.
High Chieftain of House Thane and father of Kaelor. Ruled the Skybreaker Clans according to a philosophy of restraint, honor, and duty.
Goddess of Trickery & Jest.
Bymreus is the god of the afterlife.
A location on the mainland where Vaelan Voss found passage to board a ship across to Snowglen.
A suit of custom-fitted chainmail armor hidden behind a loose panel in a side cupboard of Kaelor's home. Kaelor donned the armor after retrieving it and wore it during the encounter with the Turned creatures in the logging grounds, where it deflected at least one claw attack from a Turned creature.
A spell cast by Vaelan Voss that creates an orb of elemental damage; fire was chosen in this instance, dealing 22 points of fire damage on the second casting after the first was countered. During the first casting against Astankova Dimitrievna, the hag used Counterspell to negate the spell entirely. On the second casting, the orb successfully struck the hag in the shoulder, causing her to cry out in frustration. Vaelan used the Empowered metamagic ability with sorcery points to reroll damage dice during these castings.
A spell cast by the hag to negate Vaelan Voss's Chromatic Orb. The hag raised her claws in a sweeping pattern and cast Counterspell, shattering Vaelan's Chromatic Orb mid-flight as the inferno was negated in an instant. She did not merely cause the spell to fizzle—she absorbed the orb entirely and negated it completely, demonstrating she was far from defenseless in combat.
A 1st level spell cast by Torvald Veyr upon himself. Torvald considered casting Cure Wounds during combat with Astankova Dimitrievna but noted it requires touch range, which would have forced him to move and provoke an attack of opportunity. He also reflected that he should have saved his Guiding Bolt spell slot for Cure Wounds instead.
A deity aligned with the opposing faction of the realm's pantheon. Worship of the Dark Mother Averred is associated with dark ceremonies performed in ancient stone structures predating the Second Age, some of which are located within the Darkwild forest of Van Roost.
The dangerous northern region of Van Roost. The Darkwild houses a vast and dense forest, with a canopy so thick that most of the forest floor is covered in shadow. It is a place that has very much been reclaimed by nature, and those that venture forth into the Wilds in search of lost treasures very rarely come back out. Rumoured to hold secrets and knowledge of the Ages before recorded history, most scholars speculate of their secrets, while a nomadic tribe, made up of Gnolls, Furbolgs, Goblins and even a stray Bugbear, have managed to call the region home. The Hoodah Tribe scavenges what they can, and ask very little from their southern neighbours. They keep to themselves and live using the old ways - and are quite formidable for such a primitive group. There is also reports about a large network of interconnected tunnels, chambers and catacombs beneath the forest floor. Ancient stone structures predating the Second Age have been discovered within the Darkwild, containing ritual chambers and passages that show signs of regular use. Evidence suggests these underground complexes have been sites of dark magical activity, including rituals associated with worship of the Dark Mother Averred.
Dax was a partner and friend of Vaelan at the Argent Compact. The two shared a running bet about retirement. Dax was killed in a wild magic surge caused by Mira Ashveil.
A dwarf patron who gambles opposite Oleg, and who attempted to grab coins and flee the tavern during the transformation chaos. They unfortunately met their end because of this decision. Delov is a scholar with extensive historical knowledge who survived the initial transformation of Snowglen. He took refuge in Engelgardt Farm's barn where he provided the party with rations, a torch, and fresh water from the livestock supplies. Delov explained that Snowglen is governed by a council system where one representative from each family meets to decide matters collectively, and that the village has no mayor. He recalled that Visaria had been unwell and that unusual lights had appeared in the Evdokia Mountains, arriving two months earlier than expected, though despite his knowledge of regional history he had never encountered the arcane symbol carved into the marked kegs before. Delov warned the party that based on what he had witnessed they would find only death in the town, though he suggested they could send word for help to Donalensk to the south or Yarograd to the north. He advised that the turned villagers might leave Snowglen to hunt in the wilds if prey became scarce, and recommended investigating the homes of known individuals. The party agreed to help Delov reach his own home on the main street in the northern part of town, where his collection of books might contain useful historical information. Torvald gave Delov a spear to arm him, and Delov retrieved a sickle from the barn wall. After the party consulted his historical records at his home, Delov discovered a legend from approximately half a decade prior detailing how Snowglen had experienced a series of child disappearances, and that a woman named Astankova Dimitrievna was accused of taking them. She professed her innocence but was exiled from the village, vowing revenge against the town for turning on her. Delov confirmed there was a small cottage on the far northern outskirts of Snowglen, heading toward Yarograd, traditionally associated with Astankova. Lucia persuaded Delov to remain behind in his barricaded home to continue researching while the party departed to confront the hag, assuring him he would be safe.
A ritual that takes 10 minutes to cast.
Dhogresus is the God of the Dawn.
The proprietor of the The Salty Ostrich establishment in Snowglen, known for brewing strong beverages. He was killed by Rooster after Rooster vaulted the bar in his transformed primal form. Rooster was the first to suffer the transformation effects in The Salty Ostrich before killing Dimitri. Kaelor noted that Dimitri had an under-the-table deal with Rooster, maintaining a tab and appearing to work with Rooster on shipments of marked kegs.
Director Sable served as Vaelan's supervisor at the Argent Compact, acting as his mentor. Following Vaelan's transformation, Sable personally took command of the retrieval order issued against him.
A bonus action spell cast by Kaelor upon himself, creating a shimmer of dark purple and black energy around his form.
A structure at the docks of Snowglen built fifteen years prior to the current time.
Donalensk is an outlying village on Snowreach that supports the local fisheries. The village is run by an elected Chancellor. It is located to the south of Snowglen and is one of the largest towns in the region; the party considered it as a potential source for aid during the affliction of Snowglen. According to local knowledge, Donalensk lies a half ten-day journey or more to the south of Snowglen, particularly difficult to reach in the current season without proper gear.
Druleena is the Goddess of Purity.
A local of Snowglen that propositioned both Vaelen and Lucia to see if they wanted to share a bed for the night. Succumbed to the transformation effects of a mysterious substance added to the kegs in The The Salty Ostrich.
A local historian of Snowglen, and considered wise beyond his years. Aged in his early fifties, Dyrbov has a modest but helpful collection of tomes, maps and research materials, along with the occasional novel, which he uses to help the people with any research they might need assistance with. During the outbreak in Snowglen, Dyrbov survived and found shelter in a barn on Engelhardt Farm near Torvald's family home. He wears spectacles and a long coat, has graying hair, and possesses a nerdy disposition. Kaelor and Torvald recognize him as an acquaintance, though they have not spoken much and regard him somewhat as a bookworm. When the party encountered him, he emerged from the barn with hands raised in a desperate plea, warning them that "they're coming" and urging them to get out of the way and seek safety. He secured the barn by pulling a massive beam across the doors, with Kaelor's assistance. The barn contained hay bales, candles for light, and food supplies that Dyrbov had gathered. He expressed shock and disbelief at encountering survivors who had not been killed or transformed, warning the party that they were close to that fate themselves.
A human diplomat from the southern kingdoms, Elira Vael was the wife of Kaelor and mother to their daughter. She was known for her wit and compassion. Elira was slain during the Night of Ash while defending her daughter. She was notable among humans as a diplomat and inhabited the regions of Snowglen and Snowreach. A Greatsword belonging to Kaelor bears her name and felt heavier than its physical weight should allow when he retrieved it from his hidden lockbox.
Emraura is a goddess of peace and loyalty.
A farmstead southeast of Snowglen village that occasionally provides shelter in its barns. The party regrouped in the barn after Dyrbov Michalovich fled through the transformed town. Dyrbov provided rations, a torch, and fresh water from the livestock supplies. The party barricaded the barn with hay bales and crossbeams. A sickle hung on the barn wall. Lucia cast Alarm to create a protective perimeter around the barn door. During the night, Torvald observed a figure with white hair and a green-tinted eye peering through a crack in the southern wall, though the figure disappeared before others could confirm the sighting. The party completed a full long rest at the farm before departing at dawn.
Distant mountains from which icy winds roll down toward the Veyr family farm. The winds coming off the Evdokiya Mountains were noted to be unusually chilly and strange in their intensity during the morning of the transformation event in Snowglen. Overland winds washing in from the center of Snowreach and the Evdokiya Mountains were observed stalling but still quite cold as the party barricaded themselves in The Salty Ostrich during the first night of the transformation.
A desolate wasteland in the lower east of the realm, comprising desert dunes and small settlements. Famktoush is home to bloodsport arenas and the nomadic Scattered Bones. Famktoush is rumoured to contain tombs of ancient civilisations and remnants of relics from the First Age, buried within its sands and swallowed up during The Great Affliction. Ancient stone structures and architectural remnants predating the Second Age bearing markings suggesting ties to the time before The Great Affliction are found throughout the region.
A half-full tankard belonging to Torvald's father, found on the dining table in Torvald's home alongside a small marked keg. The tankard's presence, along with Torvald's mother's body slumped against a cupboard nearby, suggested his father had been present at the scene before disappearing.
A cantrip cast by Vaelan Voss as a bonus action after gaining a level, dealing fire damage and charring a target. During the battle at the logging grounds near Engelhardt Farm, Vaelan cast Fire Bolt twice while benefiting from Innate Sorcery, which granted him advantage on the spell attack rolls. The first casting dealt a glancing blow as a Turned creature attempted to flee. The second casting targeted another Turned creature and dealt damage that contributed to its eventual defeat, though the creature remained standing after the initial strike. During the confrontation with the hag Astankova Dimitrievna in her cottage, Vaelan cast Fire Bolt and successfully struck the hag in the shoulder for 22 points of flame damage, causing her to shriek in fury and turn her wrath toward him.
Torvald struck Turned B with his newly acquired Flail and Shield, standing on its chest with one boot and caving in its head with a decisive blow. Torvald swung his flail with disadvantage, striking The Turned and hitting it with the chain around its neck; the creature's cheek and face were torn away by the flail, revealing boiling green goo and bubbling flesh with blood flowing down its face, but it remained standing.
Fryavat is an outlying village on Snowreach that supports the local fisheries. The village is governed through a collective council rather than a single leader or hierarchy.
God of Wealth & Greed.
A spell cast by Lucia that produces berries capable of restoring hit points when consumed; each berry restores 1 hit point and must be administered one at a time. Casting Goodberry requires an action. The berries can be fed to unconscious or incapacitated creatures as a bonus action.
A world-altering event that flattened the layers of the realm together, merging celestial and infernal domains with the material plane, ending the First Age and erasing recorded history. The Great Affliction occurred at the end of the First Age, when an event stopped recorded history from happening and effectively 'paused' time. The years between the First and Second Ages became known as The Great Affliction. Much about the First Age and what caused the Great Affliction remains unknown. Ancient stone structures and architectural remnants predating the Second Age bear markings suggesting ties to the time before the Great Affliction, and tombs of ancient civilisations and remnants of relics from the First Age are rumoured to be buried within the sands of Famktoush, swallowed up during The Great Affliction. Following the Great Affliction, nomadic tribes formed and subsequently settled in the southern regions of Van Roost.
A massive two-handed slashing weapon. Kaelor retrieved this greatsword from his home, handling the weapon with visible apprehension as memories flooded back from holding it. He had not picked up this weapon in a really long time. Upon retrieving it, Kaelor whispered "I'm sorry, Elira" before bowing, suggesting the weapon carries significant personal history and emotional weight.
A dock in the southern part of Snowglen where a vessel arrives carrying passengers including Vaelan Voss and Lucia. Lucia arrived at Gruyeva Pier after fleeing Arkenhath before traveling to Cape Whalebrooke to board a vessel bound for Snowglen. After disembarking at Gruyeva Pier, adventurers were led by a gentleman named Rooster to the Salty Ostrich, a local watering hole. Lucia asked whether any symbols matching those on marked kegs had been visible during the unloading at Gruyeva Pier, but the crates were sealed and bore no markings.
A cantrip cast by Torvald Veyr. During the party's exploration of Snowglen, Torvald cast Guidance on Lucia to add a d4 to her investigation check as she attempted to spot tracks in the fresh snow. Torvald also offered to cast Guidance on himself during an Athletics check while traversing Snowglen's back streets toward Visaria's home.
A level 1 spell cast by Torvald Veyr requiring a spell attack roll with +4 modifier.
A dangerous magical artifact in the form of a lidless, cat-like eye. It appears to watch those around it and seems to be conscious of everything in its vicinity. The hag's eye discharges a burst of psychic energy in the form of pink spectral light when touched directly, causing severe psychic damage and potential unconsciousness. It can be safely handled if covered with cloth and lifted by the cloth rather than the object itself, causing no damage to the handler. The hag's eye was hidden inside a cauldron in Astankova Dimitrievna's cottage on the far northern outskirts of Snowglen. It is currently in the party's possession, wrapped in cloth.
A cookbook and grimoire detailing recipes and concoctions prepared by the hag, found in her hovel's cooking station.
A small treasured possession, 4–5 inches tall and 1.5–2 inches wide, with matted and partially torn hair, a loose eye, and a tattered dress; found in the rubble of Kaelor's home and hidden under his chainmail. Years and years old, with broken parts, a loose eye hanging out of its socket, and a dress that is tattered and torn. When Lucia discovered it among Kaelor's belongings and offered it to him, Kaelor took it with visible trembling, tucked it under his chainmail armor against his chest, closed his eyes in relief, and thanked her. The doll's discovery stopped Kaelor dead in his tracks, and his entire being locked onto the item with an intensity suggesting it held profound personal significance—he begged Lucia to give it to him and would do anything to have it.
Hazelwater is an Elven settlement located on the eastern side of Arkenhath, within the realm of Michenebor. It is regarded by some as the true center of culture or power in Michenebor.
A 1st level spell with range cast by Torvald Veyr. Torvald considered casting Healing Word on himself while at 1 hit point during the tavern combat but ultimately chose to cast Cure Wounds instead. The GM indicated Healing Word has range, in contrast to Cure Wounds. During the same tavern encounter, Kaelor cast Healing Word on Torvald, who was at 1 hit point and poisoned, restoring him to full health (11 hit points). Kaelor had never possessed healing magic before this moment and described hearing an urge or voice compelling him to cast the spell, with no prior knowledge of how to do so.
The ruling body of Michenebor, composed of three officials from across the realm. They are each known as The Voice, The Ear, and The Eye. The Council governs with a just and fair hand and watches over the peoples of the realm.
A deity aligned with one faction of the realm's pantheon.
Holmfirth is one of two dominant larger settlements in the southern civilised regions of Van Roost.
This holy symbol is carved from weathered wood salvaged from the beams of Torvald's family barn. It is carried by Torvald as he journeys beyond Snowreach. Torvald wears it around his neck. He grabbed it during combat in the The Salty Ostrich tavern before casting Cure Wounds on himself. He also grabbed it and uttered a small phrase in Dwarvish before casting Guiding Bolt at a Turned creature, with the holy symbol serving as a spellcasting focus for the spell. During the party's journey north from Dyrbov's home toward Astankova's cottage, Torvald grabbed his holy symbol and clutched it tight while whispering a small prayer under his breath as the party walked toward the house from which the disembodied voice sang "Come, little children, come and play." During combat with Astankova Dimitrievna in her cottage, Torvald pulled out his holy symbol and clapped his hands together to cast Bless on himself, Lucia, and Kaelor, and later pulled out his trusty holy symbol to cast Guiding Bolt at the hag, summoning a ball of radiant light that was consumed by a dark malevolent force and failed to strike its target.
The Hoodah Tribe is a nomadic group inhabiting the Darkwild, composed of Gnolls, Furbolgs, Goblins, and a stray Bugbear. They live by the old ways and keep to themselves, maintaining distance from outsiders. The gnolls that comprise the Hoodah Tribe are demonic-origin hyena-heads created by the demon lord Yeenoghu.
House Thane is a respected goliath noble bloodline whose philosophy emphasizes restraint, honor, and duty over conquest. Their banners united feuding tribes generations before Kaelor's birth.
Hualdir is the God of Dusk.
An ability activated by Lucia during combat that grants additional damage (1d6) and reveals weak points on creatures. Requires a bonus action to cast. Lucia can maintain concentration on Hunter's Mark, allowing her to reassign it to another target on subsequent turns as a bonus action. When applied to a creature, Hunter's Mark reveals information about that creature's vulnerabilities and nature—for example, when marked against a Turned creature, it revealed the creature was built as pure killing instinct incarnate and could not be poisoned or harmed by poison damage.
A magical ability used by Vaelan to cast spells such as Fire Bolt. When activated, Innate Sorcery increases spell attack rolls by 1 and increases spell save DC by 1. Activating Innate Sorcery grants advantage on the spell attack roll. It is marked off as a use on the character sheet when activated. Innate Sorcery does not regenerate on a short rest and requires a long rest to regenerate. Innate Sorcery is a bonus action to activate. Vaelan has a Charisma modifier of +5, which allows him to reroll all three d8s when using Innate Sorcery.
A thrown piercing weapon. Kaelor carries a handful of javelins on his back. During the ambush at the logging grounds, Kaelor kissed his Pendant and hurled a javelin at Turned A, striking it solidly and reducing its movement speed by 10.
## Oath Sworn in Ashes Kaelor Thane is a goliath paladin driven by vengeance. Once the honored eldest son of High Chieftain Boruun Thane, he lost his wife Elira and daughter Lyanna in a massacre at Skybreaker Hold. He has sworn an oath to hunt down their killers, and this sacred duty has become the compass by which he navigates his existence. His past remains largely closed to his companions; when retrieving treasured possessions from his ransacked home during the outbreak in Snowglen, he whispered an apology to Elira, revealing the depth of grief he carries but refusing to elaborate further. ## Three Days in the Dark Kaelor survived a transformation outbreak at the The Salty Ostrich tavern in Snowglen caused by poisoned ale from marked kegs of unknown origin. The affliction converted people into savage, ooze-dissolving creatures rather than undead. As contamination spread beyond the tavern, the entire settlement descended into chaos and transformation. During the outbreak's chaos, Kaelor and his companion Torvald were both compelled by a mysterious voice toward the south with promises of power and reunion. After fighting through transformed townsfolk and nearly dying in combat against the Turned, the survivors barricaded themselves in a barn with Dyrbov Michalovich, a local who warned them time was running out before transformation claimed them all. ## The Labyrinth Below Kaelor experienced a vivid and terrifying dream in which he found himself alone in an unsettling underground labyrinth for three days, moving through corridors filled with dripping water with a lit torch in one hand and blade drawn. Consumed by a sense of dread and desperation, he searched for a way to the surface, believing his companions long destroyed. His only perceived escape was a portal that revealed a beast trapped inside a giant crystal—which burst forth and lunged to devour him before he woke in a pool of sweat. ## Suspicions at the Ostrich In the immediate aftermath of the outbreak at the tavern, Kaelor pieced together details from the chaos: the marked kegs from which Rooster had been served seemed central to the affliction. He noted that Rooster maintained a suspicious under-the-table arrangement with Dimitri the bartender, conducting himself as though he owned the place and was untouchable. Kaelor suspected the poisoned ale and the kegs themselves were tied to Rooster's involvement, though whether they originated from a recent shipment or elsewhere remained unclear. His attention to these details suggests strategic thinking beneath his warrior's bearing. A small book hidden in his home was rediscovered after the fall of the Salty Ostrich, and he appears to covet it.
Kaelor's home is located roughly a mile from the Salty Ostrich, accessible via a approximately 25-foot open break across ground from a nearby building. The front door had been damaged, with the lock mechanism broken from the outside. The interior was found ransacked with no one present. Kaelor's bed was torn and bore claw marks, with his belongings scattered throughout the violated space. Vaelan determined through careful examination that the break-in and destruction appeared staged: the claw marks and savagery did not quite match what would be expected from a random attack, suggesting someone had searched the premises deliberately. A hidden lockbox was discovered beneath floorboards under Kaelor's bed, containing a small book, a large hefty hammer, a greatsword, a pendant, and a suit of chainmail bearing a blue shield crest symbol. The weapons and armor felt heavier than their physical weight suggested. Kaelor discovered a small handmade doll, only a few inches tall, with matted hair partially torn away, a loose eye, and a tattered dress—clearly a treasured item years old and damaged.
Large slabs of ice that float slowly and silently to the continent's northwest of Snowreach.
Kelna is one of two dominant larger settlements in the southern civilised regions of Van Roost.
Goddess of Creation.
A large maul retrieved by Kaelor from his ransacked home. Kaelor handled the Greatsword with visible apprehension and whispered "I'm sorry, Elira" before bowing, suggesting the weapon carries personal significance tied to past events. During the combat at the logging grounds, Kaelor gripped the maul tightly but his initial strike against Turned C went wide and missed. Later, when Turned C pierced through Kaelor's chainmail and drove him to unconsciousness, Kaelor awakened with renewed resolve after hearing a child's voice calling "Papa?" and raised the maul, bringing it down with all his remaining strength onto Turned C's shoulders, smashing through the creature's skull and obliterating it.
A cantrip available to Torvald Veyr. During the party's retreat through the logging grounds near Snowglen, Torvald cast Light on an arrow provided by Lucia as part of a plan to create a distraction by firing the glowing arrow toward Kaelor's house. Lucia's shot went awry and she tumbled backward, firing the arrow straight up into the air instead of toward the intended target, causing it to arc approximately one hundred twenty to two hundred feet into the air like a firework before descending and landing near the party.
A lock of red hair cut from Torvald's mother after her death. Torvald removed it as a memento while she lay mortally wounded in the dining room of his family home, her body bearing severe trauma to the abdomen. He spoke a prayer in Dwarvish over her before the party departed to seek shelter.
## Fresh Off the Boat Lucia disembarked at Gruyeva Pier after a treacherous ten-and-a-half day voyage from Arkenhath. She declined assistance from a deckhand and headed directly toward The Salty Ostrich tavern. Vaelan Voss recognized her from the ship but chose not to call out to her. Inside The Salty Ostrich, Lucia approached Dimitri the bartender seeking quiet accommodations and reluctantly agreed to pay one gold piece per night for a room upstairs. She joined Vaelan at his table before moving to observe a card game where an orc named Oleg played against a dwarf and others. Lucia watched as Oleg's lucky charm, and he rewarded her with a gold coin and offered to cover her buy-in for future games. ## Blood and Green Sickness When Rooster collapsed vomiting green substance and transformed into a clawed creature with glowing red eyes, Lucia shot the Rooster-creature in the shoulder with her shortbow. She attempted another shot from the corner but missed, her hair briefly glowing a different shade of purple in frustration. As the tavern descended into carnage, she witnessed Torvald fall unconscious after being mauled by the Turned. Lucia ran back toward the hearth in frustration and fired at one of the creatures—but accidentally struck the unconscious Torvald instead, inflicting a near fatal wound upon him. She retreated behind the table, muttering in distress. Lucia rushed to Kaelor's aid when he became bloodied, channeling Healing Hands in a display of miraculous dexterity—simultaneously healing Kaelor, striking the creature with a tankard, and moving with remarkable grace. When the final Turned creature leapt onto the bar with clear intent to close on Torvald, Lucia struck it repeatedly with her dagger until it dissolved into green sludge that splashed across the survivors, exposing them to poison. After the immediate threat subsided, Lucia recovered seventeen gold pieces from Oleg's body. She observed Vaelan discreetly collecting approximately ten gold from the tavern floor. ## Through the Treeline The party barricaded themselves in The Salty Ostrich as night fell. Lucia cast Alarm near the bar, establishing a thirty-foot detection radius that required her to remain conscious. She stood first watch while the others attempted to rest on the cold wooden floorboards. After roughly an hour of rest, the party prepared to depart as night fell and exited through a bedroom window. Lucia heard a sharp snap of a twig about thirty feet away and readied her bow, but perceived nothing. At Kaelor's ransacked home, Lucia offered Kaelor warm clothing and attempted to calm him, but when he did not respond, she tried to restrain him by grabbing him around the waist—he pushed her away and continued searching. Lucia discovered a small handmade doll, only a few inches tall, with matted hair partially torn away, a loose eye, and a tattered dress—clearly a treasured item years old and damaged. Kaelor stopped entirely when he saw it, trembling with intensity, and retrieved it from Lucia with expressions of gratitude. ## The Arrow Went Up As the party moved through the logging grounds near the Vissarion Mill, Vaelan stepped into a hidden hollow and attracted the attention of creatures. Torvald devised a plan to distract the approaching creatures by having Lucia fire an arrow with a Light spell cast upon it in the opposite direction as a decoy. Lucia attempted to fire the glowing arrow toward Kaelor's house to serve as a distraction. The shot went awry—she tumbled backward and fired the arrow straight up into the air instead of toward the intended target. The arrow arced approximately one hundred twenty to two hundred feet into the air like a firework before descending and landing near the party. Combat began. Lucia engaged a Turned in close combat after it charged toward her and fell prone in the snow, firing her shortbow at point-blank range. She attempted to disengage and move toward a fence line, provoking an attack of opportunity that missed. Another Turned charged directly at Lucia, slashing across her stomach with its claws and dealing a severe wound. Lucia used her bonus action to mark one of the Turned with Hunter's Mark, sensing its nature as pure killing instinct built from primal savagery—she learned the creature was immune to poison. She struck the marked Turned with her dagger, and the creature's flesh bubbled and degraded into green viscera as it dissolved into a pile. ## The Face at the Wall and the Child's Drawing The party reached a barn at Engelhardt Farm where Dyrbov Michalovich warned them they were running out of time. Lucia cast Alarm as a prepared spell, creating a protective perimeter around the barn door, then found a loft and settled in to rest. When Torvald spotted a shadow moving beneath the barn door in the night, Lucia was roused by Kaelor and watched from the loft, but saw only snow falling outside with no sign of the figure. By early morning, the party completed a full long rest and Lucia performed a perimeter check, though fresh snow had covered any tracks. At Visaria's home, Lucia searched the upstairs loft bedroom and found a book containing children's drawings. The first depicted two stick figures embracing—the larger with long hair, oversized red lips, and tears, and a small distant figure wearing a hat. She found additional drawings: one of the small stick figure alone in a square room with a bed, crying, and a final drawing showing the small figure smiling and holding hands with a stick figure wearing a long white flowing gown, with long white hair and green eyes, surrounded by snow-covered trees. ## Come Little Children At Dyrbov's home, as the scholar consulted his historical records about Astankova Dimitrievna, Vaelan suddenly moved outside into the street with no memory of how he got there. Lucia ran after him, and both heard a brief, fading voice on the wind saying "Come, little children" before the sensation dissipated. Lucia expressed concern that heading north toward Astankova's cottage was suicidal, but Kaelor and Torvald argued that eliminating the source was the only way to prevent the curse from spreading. Lucia requested that Dyrbov remain behind to continue researching, and she and Torvald helped him barricade the building by securing windows and pushing furniture to reinforce it. The party departed and began heading north, with Lucia taking a rearward position to watch for threats and conceal their tracks as the wind began to pick up. As the party moved through snow-covered streets, Lucia watched the rear guard and spotted a figure moving behind the group in the tree line, warning Torvald though he saw nothing but trees. The party heard a disembodied voice singing and advanced into a frozen wasteland where they approached a building with flickering candlelight visible from within.
God of Luck & Fortune.
Lyanna is the daughter of Kaelor and Elira, born during the first snowfall of winter. She was murdered and abandoned in the snow beyond the eastern cliffs during the Night of Ash.
Wooden kegs marked with an arcane symbol, kept at The Salty Ostrich tavern in Snowglen. The marked kegs contained a tainted substance that, when consumed, caused the drinker to transform into a Turned creature with glowing red eyes. Rooster, a mainland gentleman known for arrogance and unpaid debts, was the first to turn after finishing a drink from a marked keg. The arcane symbol carved into the kegs was unknown to Dyrbov Michalovich despite his extensive historical knowledge. The tainted goods worked in concert with enchantment magic, suggesting alchemy and enchantment were being used together as part of Astankova Dimitrievna's curse on Snowglen. A marked keg was found on the table in Torvald's family dining room beside his father's half-full tankard and a bubbling green puddle, indicating the marked kegs were distributed beyond The Salty Ostrich.
A skill check used to stabilize a dying creature and prevent death saving throws. A successful Medicine check (DC 5) stabilizes a dying creature, who no longer makes death saving throws but remains unconscious until regaining 1 hit point through healing spell, another method of healing, or 1 hour of time. A failed Medicine check (result less than 5) results in a death failure.
Mekphin is the god of madness and misery.
A realm in the Second Age, year 1174 Post Affliction, comprising four major regions: Snowreach, Arkenhath, Famktoush, and Van Roost. Michenebor is located to the southeast of Snowreach. Hazelwater is located within Michenebor and is considered by some to be the true center of culture or power in the realm. Michenebor is steeped in magic and lore, with mystery woven throughout. The realm experienced upheaval of immense magnitude some 1,000 years or more prior, leaving the world in ruin; it is only now beginning to rebuild and find peace after the chaos that was wrought. In the far northwest of the realm lies a small island coated in ice and sleet, which holds the beginning of an adventure that will shape the very future of the realm and all those that dwell upon it. The realm has settled into a quiet calm prior to recent events in the settlement of Snowglen.
Mira Ashveil is a sixteen-year-old orphaned wild mage whose uncontrolled magical surges have caused catastrophic destruction. Her magic detonations devastated three villages and killed Dax and two junior operatives. Her magical incident awakened Vaelan's dormant magical potential.
A body of water between the mainland and Snowreach covered in fog with treacherous reefs and rocky outcroppings that cannot be safely navigated without magical means to remove the mist.
Goddess of Destruction.
A catastrophic attack on Skybreaker Hold in which Kaelor's family was killed. The gates were opened from within, indicating the assault was orchestrated by someone with internal access and sufficient power to breach the hold's defenses.
A one-use magical device designed to permanently sever a mage's connection to the Weave.
God of Beauty & Nature.
An orcish or half-orcish gambler who plays a card game involving reaching 21 without going over, and offers to spot Lucia gold if she brings him luck again. Killed during the transformation event in The The Salty Ostrich. He gambled opposite a dwarf patron named Delov.
A necklace that Kaelor retrieved from a hidden lockbox beneath the floorboards of his home. Upon finding it, Kaelor exhaled with massive relief. He placed the pendant around his neck before donning his chainmail armor. During combat against the Turned creatures at the logging grounds, a Turned creature's attack nearly shattered the pendant as it pierced through Kaelor's chainmail. In battle, Kaelor kissed the pendant before hurling a javelin at an attacking Turned. The pendant appears to hold deep personal significance to Kaelor, though he has not disclosed its meaning to the party.
Phera is a goddess of contentment and generosity.
God of War & Battle.
Goddess of Fertility.
A spell cast by the hag that manifests as a swirling green mist in her palm, requiring a Constitution saving throw and dealing poison damage on a hit. During combat with Astankova Dimitrievna, she unleashed Ray of Sickness against Kaelor, who succeeded on a Constitution saving throw but still took significant poison damage, severely compromising his health.
A heavyset, stout, portly seaman from Arkenhath who befriends Vaelan Voss aboard the ship to Snowglen and enthusiastically shows him around the village, known for talking extensively and lacking social finesse. Rooster was the first to suffer the transformation effects in The Salty Ostrich and killed Dimitri after vaulting the bar in his new primal form. He was killed by the party during that conflict. Rooster was a gentleman from the mainland known for arrogance and brashness, and had accumulated debts around Snowglen—he owed a 20 gold piece tab at The Salty Ostrich and owed the proprietor 1 gold piece. He drank from the marked keg at The Salty Ostrich and transformed immediately after finishing his drink, triggering a cascade of other transformations throughout the town. Kaelor later theorized that Rooster and Dimitri may have had an arrangement involving the marked kegs, noting Rooster's apparent special status at the tavern and his demeanor of untouchability around the establishment.
Goddess of Chance & Risk.
A cantrip cast by Torvald Veyr.
A nomadic group inhabiting Famktoush. The Scattered Bones are desert nomads who search endlessly for ancient artefacts and relics buried in the dunes. Scholars suggest they have already discovered significant wealth and power, moving from place to place to keep their secrets hidden.
A celestial plane that now exists within the material realm, having collided with each other during The Great Affliction.
Shatterclaw Clan is a prominent Orc settlement located to the south of Arkenhath, considered by some to be the most prominent in the realm.
A reaction spell cast by Vaelan Voss that does not provide defense against AOE saving throw attacks. During combat with Astankova Dimitrievna, Vaelan attempted to cast Shield as a reaction when the hag unleashed a lightning and arcane force AOE attack. The GM ruled that Shield would not help in that instance because the hag's attack was not an attack roll but an AOE that was simply lighting up the place.
Field operatives of the Argent Compact who track and capture unlicensed magic users. The bureau prefers candidates with no innate magical resonance.
A confederation of goliath tribes united generations before by House Thane's banners. The clans valued strength and were historically ruled according to principles of hospitality, justice, and mercy.
Skybreaker Hold is the seat of House Thane, located in the frost-veiled peaks of the northern ranges. The hold was destroyed during the Night of Ash, when its gates were shattered from within.
A small book that Kaelor seems to covet. It was hidden in his home and rediscovered after the fall of the Salty Ostrich. Kaelor retrieved it from a hidden lockbox beneath the floorboards of his bed, pulling it out along with a large hefty hammer and later a greatsword and javelins. He grabbed the book instantly upon discovering the lockbox.
Snowglen is the only village with a port on Snowreach and serves as the continent's pseudo-capital, situated at the edge of the world. The town features ice-crusted docks and serves as a haven for weary sailors, smugglers, and forgotten souls. It is inhabited mostly by halflings, humans, and dwarves. Halflings are among the ancestral peoples whose origin contributes to the culture of southern Van Roost settlements, with a modest population. It is known as the place where Kaelor settled in exile. Snowglen is the birthplace of Torvald. The town maintains trade connections through its docks, which serve as a port for merchant vessels. The settlement has a cove and expansive fields. Snowglen experiences unusually harsh winter conditions. The northern part of the village contains a logging area. A location called Gruyeva Pier serves as the port for arriving vessels. The Salty Ostrich is a tavern within the settlement. During the session's events, the entire settlement of Snowglen succumbed to a horrifying transformation that spread from The Salty Ostrich, with inhabitants converting into primal, clawed creatures with red and green glowing eyes before being destroyed, reducing the town's population significantly and leaving the settlement in chaos. Dubora was a local of Snowglen. Lucia arrived at Snowglen by vessel after fleeing Arkenhath, traveling from Cape Whalebrooke with minimal possessions. Torvald's mother was mutilated and his father's body went missing, presumed turned into green mush, during the transformation incident in Snowglen. Astankova's Hut lies on the far reaches of the village. Snowglen is governed by a council system in which one representative from each family meets to decide matters collectively; the town has no mayor. The village is described as usually very beautiful. Visaria, a child, lived in a home within the village and fell ill with a sickness unlike any Torvald had previously treated in Snowglen; her mother was found dead in the home with her body and intestines scattered across the floor. During the transformation, Visaria herself became one of the Turned, with red eyes, clawed hands extended three to four inches, sharpened fangs, and skin pulled tight against her face. An arcane symbol was marked on kegs stored at the back of The Salty Ostrich; the symbol was unknown to Dyrbov Michalovich despite his extensive historical knowledge of Snowreach and the realm. Unusual lights, referred to as the Borealis, appeared in the Evdokia Mountains approximately two months earlier than expected. Rooster, a mainland gentleman known for arrogance and unpaid debts, was the first to turn after consuming a drink from a marked keg at The Salty Ostrich. Engelhardt Farm is located within or near Snowglen. A frozen pond exists within the village where eviscerated livestock with remains scattered across the ice were discovered, colored with green residue matching that which appeared when the Turned were killed. Dyrbov Michalovich, a scholar documenting the history of Snowreach and the realm, made his home on the main street in the northern part of town and possessed a collection of books. Kaelor's home was ransacked during the transformation, with belongings scattered and claw marks across the bed indicating violent intrusion; Kaelor discovered his home had been deliberately searched. A building belonging to a farmhand employed by Yesikovas exists in the foothills near Kaelor's home; the building appeared unoccupied during the evening of the transformation. Torvald's home is located in the farmlands near Engelhardt Farm on the opposite end of town from The Salty Ostrich. A barn stands across the farmyard from Torvald's home and was found to contain Dyrbov Michalovich sheltering inside with hay bales, candles, and food supplies. Torvald's father, presumed transformed, went missing from his home during the incident. Torvald's mother was found dead inside Torvald's home slumped against a cupboard with severe abdominal trauma; a marked keg and a half-full tankard sat on the table beside her body, with a bubbling green puddle nearby. A small white fox was encountered in a clearing near a snowman constructed by a child, emerging from snow near Torvald and then scurrying away to the south. During the night following the initial transformation, wind howled across Snowglen, muted screams of locals were heard, flesh was torn from bone, and terrifying laughter echoed as creatures killed victims; the violence gradually eased but did not stop over the course of twenty to twenty-five minutes. A green aurora light was visible in the night sky during the party's escape from The Salty Ostrich. Logging grounds exist between Vissarion Mill and Torvald's home, requiring the party to cross open terrain to reach the farm. Blood was spattered across the roadway to the southwest of The Salty Ostrich visible in fresh snow under starlight.
A historical period shadowed by missing children and the exile of Astankova Dimetrivina, accused but never proven guilty of involvement. Astankova vowed vengeance upon her exile and established a cottage on Snowglen's northern edge near Yarograd, where she lived in isolation for a decade before orchestrating the town's transformation through poisoned kegs, a unified magical scheme involving a luring voice that called "Come, little children" to draw victims, and dark magic that corrupted the townspeople into the Turned.
A small island northwest of Michenebor, known for being cozy yet treacherous. Covered in snow drifts, scrub forests, and dominated by the Evdokiya mountain range in the north. It is governed by village councils and known for fisheries. It is a refuge for those fleeing their former lives, as evidenced by Kaelor's arrival after abandoning his titles and family name. The Veyr family maintains a farm in this region, enduring the brutal winters and harsh growing conditions characteristic of Snowreach. Snowreach is home to dwarven farming families who maintain traditional clan customs, and halflings from both lightfoot and stout lineages are among its inhabitants. Both dwarves and halflings are counted among the ancestral peoples whose cultural origin contributes to the character of Snowreach and southern Van Roost settlements. During an unseasonably harsh winter, the settlement of Snowglen in Snowreach fell victim to a widespread transformation plague when poisoned ale from a tampered keg was distributed at the The Salty Ostrich tavern, causing patrons to transform into primal, monstrous creatures with clawed hands, red and green glowing eyes, and mixed human, elf, and canine dentition. The transformation spread rapidly through the town, resulting in the deaths of most local inhabitants and plunging Snowglen into chaos. The affliction was perpetrated by Astankova Dimitrievna, a hag who had been exiled from Snowglen approximately half a decade prior after being accused of child disappearances. She vowed revenge against the town and lived in isolation in a cottage on the far northern outskirts of Snowglen, heading toward Yarograd. The hag used multiple forms of magic in concert—alchemy and enchantment—to distribute tainted goods and lure victims with an enchantment compelling them to approach her dwelling. She kept a grimoire detailing her concoctions and maintained a hag's eye, a dangerous magical artifact. The party defeated Astankova by burning her alive in her cottage fireplace, which released a wave of energy across the frozen landscape and ended the curse afflicting Snowglen. The Evdokiya Mountains are characterized by overland winds that bring extreme cold to the region. Snowreach has experienced a surreal cold during an unseasonably harsh winter, rendering nearby farmlands unfarmable and unmanageable, with fields abandoned for approximately two months. Snowglen lies to the north; Donalensk lies to the south, approximately a half ten-day journey or more in the current season. The Gruyeva Pier serves as a port of entry for the island.
The seat of the High Council's power, where The Three conduct their governance. The Capitol is a multicultural hub of trade, industry, and culture located on Arkenhath, the civilized main continent. It serves as the center of governance for the High Council over the varied settlements and populations across the realm. The city is organized into distinct subregions: a mercantile district, a temple district, a guild district, and a bordello district.
A term used to describe the pantheon of Gods and Goddesses that exist within the realm of Michenebor. It is said that the High Father and Dark Mother cannot exist without one-another, and the lower deities that they govern are all the perfect antithesis of each other. While the High Father weighs heavily upon the Order of all things, the Dark Mother counters with her drive for Chaos.
A gigantic swirling storm localised in the middle of the large open water that make up the Kirtona Seas, both mages and local fisherman are baffled by the constant buffeting winds and lightning storms that pervade the region. Oddly enough, The Maelstrom never moves. It remains in the same place, covering a region of the ocean some two hundred miles wide. Many have speculated about it's purpose, it's meaning... some have even braved to see what lies at the heart of it... but not a single soul who has dared has ever returned.
The Maw is the entrance to a large network of interconnected tunnels, chambers, and catacombs beneath Van Roost. The caverns are home to creatures that prefer darkness and cold environments.
An establishment in Snowglen where Dimitri serves as proprietor and brews strong beverages. A mysterious substance was added to the kegs here, causing transformation effects in patrons including Dubora. Oleg was killed during the transformation event. Rooster was the first to suffer the transformation effects and killed Dimitri after vaulting the bar in his new primal form before being killed by the party. A small book that Kaelor seems to covet was hidden here and rediscovered after the fall of the establishment. The party took the battle to The Salty Ostrich during the initial transformation event in Snowglen. A marked keg discovered at The Salty Ostrich was suspected by the party as the trigger for the townspeople's transformations, though not everyone who drank from it was affected. Kaelor theorized that Rooster and Dimitri may have had an arrangement involving marked kegs, noting Rooster's apparent special status at the tavern and his tab with Dimitri. The tavern's storage room contained marked kegs and bottles of wine. After the initial battle, the party barricaded the tavern's doors and windows with tables and chairs, placed a table atop the cellar door, doused the fireplace, and took shelter inside during the night while transformed creatures prowled outside and attacked survivors in the village. The party escaped through a bedroom window the following morning and subsequently did not return to the establishment.
Local civilians who have succumbed to the effects of a spell or poison that has mutated them into primal, beast-like versions of their former selves. Irrational, without mercy and looking to only destroy with primal savagery, The Turned... as far as anyone knows, cannot be saved, and need to be destroyed. The Turned bear glowing red eyes. When killed, The Turned leave behind a green residue. The Turned possess claws extending three to four inches in length and are capable of piercing chainmail armor. They move at high speed across snowy terrain and can climb or leap from rooftops. The Turned emit low growls and shrieks, and some display the ability to recognize and pursue specific individuals by scent and essence. When wounded, The Turned's flesh bubbles and festers with green substance, and their bodies may dissolve into green sludge upon death. The green residue left behind is poisonous; contact with it requires a Constitution saving throw to resist the poison condition, which lasts approximately one hour if contracted. The Turned appear immune to poison as a condition. Some Turned demonstrate tactical awareness, charging at bloodied or wounded targets and attacking with advantage against compromised opponents. The Turned's claws grow longer as they sustain injuries during combat.
Theldir is the god of endurance, persistence, and honour. Followers revere him for his embodiment of steadfast resolve and unwavering integrity.
Theorem is a cat companion belonging to Vaelan.
## Healer of Snowglen Torvald Veyr spent his morning gathering supplies and assisting with farmwork in Snowglen when a village woman approached him seeking help for her daughter Visaria, who had been ill for ten days with symptoms that matched no common ailment. Torvald prepared herbal remedies—pungent wraps and thick berry-flavored syrup—and examined the child, but determined the illness was unfamiliar to him. He advised the mother to keep Visaria warm and promised to return within days to monitor her condition. As evening approached, he made his way toward The Salty Ostrich tavern, observing a late vessel arriving at Gruyeva Pier. ## The Green Death and the Voice in the Void Inside The Salty Ostrich, Torvald drank quietly at the bar, maintaining a low profile among the locals. When a drunken mainland gentleman named Rooster refused to settle his tab, Torvald objected to him taking what he hadn't paid for. Kaelor Thane stood in support, but Rooster laughed off the confrontation. Moments later, Rooster collapsed, vomited green substance, and transformed into a thin, clawed creature with red eyes. The transformed Rooster killed Dimitri the bartender, and other locals began turning as well. Torvald impaled one of the Turned through the chin and head with his spear, watching it dissolve into green sludge. He repositioned a large table to create a defensive barrier, but two more creatures charged him in rapid succession, the second bringing him to unconsciousness. While dying, Torvald experienced a vision in a void where a deep, familiar voice identified him as being of Snowglen and told him there was work to be done. The voice instructed him to follow its light and go south, where another would show him the way. Radiant light filled him and he regained consciousness with renewed vigor, immediately casting Cure Wounds on himself before standing and hurling a tankard at the remaining creature. After the battle, Torvald was cured of poison by Kaelor, who revealed he had never possessed healing magic before that moment—Kaelor described hearing an urge or voice compelling him to act. Torvald recounted his own vision to the party, explaining the whisper in his mind urging him to find "her" and head south. ## Through the Treeline to Blood and Ashes After sheltering in The Salty Ostrich through the evening, the party departed at nightfall to reach Kaelor's home. Torvald spotted blood spattered across the roadway to the southwest as they exited. Kaelor carried him through the deep snow to help him move faster through the forest. A small white fox stopped within five feet of Torvald before scurrying south into the foothills. At Kaelor's ransacked home, Torvald received a large hefty flail from Kaelor for use in combat. He revealed to the party that he had family in Snowglen and expressed urgency to check on them—his home lay in the farmlands near Engelhardt Farm. The party traveled through the logging grounds, and when Vaelan's misstep attracted approaching creatures, Torvald devised a plan to have Lucia fire an arrow with a Light spell cast upon it as a distraction. In the ensuing combat against multiple Turned, Torvald moved to flank a prone creature and struck it with his newly acquired flail, crushing its head as it dissolved into green sludge. He was exposed to poison as the creature dissolved, contracting the poison condition for one hour with reduced damage. He attempted to swing at another Turned with disadvantage due to being poisoned and missed. The party fought their way to Torvald's family farm at Yesikova, where they discovered his mother's corpse on the floor of the barn, her body torn apart. Torvald's father was missing. The lone survivor on the farm, Dyrbov Michalovich, pulled them into the barn and warned them they were running out of time. ## The Drawing and the Legend After resting in the barn, Torvald awoke during the night and noticed a shadow moving beneath the barn door. He found a crack in the southern wall and peered through, encountering a face with a green-tinted eye and white hair staring directly back at him—a normal eye, not the glowing red eyes of the Turned. He woke Kaelor and described the figure. The party completed their rest and traveled to Visaria's home, where they found the child's mother dead, her body scattered across the floor. Lucia discovered a book of children's drawings upstairs, and the final drawing showed a small figure smiling and holding hands with a stick figure wearing a long white flowing gown, with long white hair and green eyes, surrounded by snow-covered trees. Torvald recognized the figure as matching the entity he had encountered at the barn. He tore out the final page and placed it inside his jacket pocket. Torvald retrieved the drawing to show Dyrbov, who led the party urgently to his home to consult his historical records. Dyrbov discovered a legend from approximately half a decade prior: Snowglen had experienced child disappearances, and a woman named Astankova Dimitrievna was accused of taking them. She professed innocence but was exiled from the village, vowing revenge against the town. Torvald and Lucia helped Dyrbov barricade his building before the party departed north toward Astankova's cottage. During the journey, Lucia spotted a figure moving behind the group in the tree line and warned Torvald, though he saw nothing but trees. ## The Woman in White and What Came After The party heard a disembodied voice singing "Come, little children, come and play. Don't be afraid, my darling. Come, little children, come and play" as they advanced through a frozen wasteland. They approached a building with flickering candlelight visible from within and entered to confront the source of Snowglen's affliction.
The place that Torvald chose to rest his head along with his mother and father. Torvald discovered his mother mutilated and his father's body missing - presumed turned into green mush - after the transformation incident in Snowglen. The home is located along the street in Snowglen, positioned such that the party passed by it while traveling toward Engelhardt Farm and beyond. Torvald was somewhat distracted as the party passed by his home, knowing full well what lay in that region. The home is situated in the farmlands near Engelhardt Farm, on the opposite end of town from The Salty Ostrich. Upon entry, the party found the dining room where Torvald's mother lay slumped against a cupboard with severe trauma to her abdomen, her face frozen in confusion and distress. A small marked keg sat on the table beside Torvald's father's half-full tankard, with a bubbling green puddle nearby, indicating Torvald's father had been transformed. Upstairs, Torvald's parents' bedroom contained a set of Armor Plating that his father kept from his past. The home contained basic supplies and food that had not been contaminated. Torvald cut a lock of red hair from his mother's head as a memento and spoke a prayer in Dwarvish over her body before departing.
Torvald's mother, found dead in the dining room of Torvald's family home with severe abdominal trauma and a look of confusion frozen on her face; she was slumped against a cupboard. A marked keg and Torvald's father's tankard sat on the table nearby, along with a green bubbling puddle. Torvald cut a lock of his mother's red hair, wrapped it, and placed it in his coat as a memento before departing, speaking a farewell in Dwarfish.
Tovyurt is an outlying village on Snowreach that supports the local fisheries. The settlement is governed through a collective council rather than a single leader or hierarchical authority.
God of Nature & Elements.
## Arrival in Snowglen Vaelan Voss disembarked at Gruyeva Pier after a treacherous ten-and-a-half day voyage from Arkenhath. An overeager seaman named Rooster attached himself to Vaelan immediately, offering lodging assistance and regaling him with lengthy stories about local history, including an account of a sheep stampede from a decade prior. Vaelan had noticed Lucia aboard the ship but chose not to call out to her when he spotted her heading toward The Salty Ostrich. He endured Rooster's continued conversation as they too made their way toward the tavern. ## The Green Sickness Erupts Inside The Salty Ostrich, Vaelan took a table and politely declined the advances of Dubora, a local woman interested in his arrival from Arkenhath. Rooster buried him under multiple ales delivered through relentless enthusiasm. Lucia briefly joined Vaelan at his table before moving to observe a card game. When Rooster's drunken behavior escalated into a confrontation over his unpaid tab, Vaelan observed as locals Kaelor Thane and Torvald Veyr stood to confront him. The situation deteriorated rapidly when Rooster collapsed, vomited green substance, and transformed into something thin, clawed, and red-eyed that immediately killed the bartender Dimitri. During the ensuing chaos, Vaelan's crossbow bolt struck one of the transformed creatures, which hissed in his direction with claws extending further from its hands. When he assessed the situation, he determined through his knowledge that these were not undead but people who had been mutated or transformed. He climbed onto the bar and attempted another crossbow shot but missed, then descended to drag the unconscious Torvald's body away from danger. After the locals in the tavern had been slain by the creatures, Vaelan recalled a critical detail when questioned by the party: Dimitri had opened a new keg, and the drinks served from that keg were consumed by all who subsequently transformed. ## First Steps in the Wasteland Vaelan discreetly collected approximately ten gold from the tavern floor after the battle, an action observed by the others. When Kaelor proposed sheltering in the cellar until nightfall, Vaelan expressed discomfort at being confined with strangers he had only just met. The party debated their options and eventually barricaded themselves in the tavern to wait out the initial outbreak. When Kaelor later suggested splitting the party to send Lucia ahead as a scout, Vaelan argued against it, noting she would have no safe way to relay information. The party agreed to move together as one unit. As the party traveled through the forest toward Kaelor's home, Vaelan stepped into a hidden hollow created by tree roots beneath fresh snow, falling about two feet and creating a loud crack of wood. The disturbance caused snow to fly up and attracted the attention of creatures approximately thirty to forty feet away. When Torvald devised a plan to distract the approaching creatures with a glowing arrow, the shot went awry and combat began. Vaelan activated Innate Sorcery and cast Fire Bolt against one of the Turned, dealing a glancing blow as the creature attempted to charge the party. At Kaelor's ransacked home, Vaelan investigated the state of the dwelling and determined through careful examination that the break-in and destruction appeared staged—the claw marks and savagery did not quite match what he would expect, suggesting someone had searched the premises deliberately rather than attacking randomly. ## The Barn and the Voice The party fought their way to Torvald's family farm, where they discovered Torvald's mother's corpse and met Dyrbov Michalovich, who pulled them into a barn. When the party discussed the source of the affliction, Vaelan noted that not everyone in town had been drinking from the marked keg at The Salty Ostrich, suggesting the contamination might be more widespread. He observed that Rooster, a mainland gentleman known for arrogance and unpaid debts, had been the first to turn after finishing a drink from the marked keg. The party spent the night in the barn. By early morning they had completed a full long rest and began moving through Snowglen's back streets toward Visaria's home. When Dyrbov later consulted his historical records and discovered the legend of Astankova Dimitrievna, Vaelan stood in Dyrbov's ransacked home listening to the account. A low hum became audible on the wind from outside—a sound that proved intoxicating, compelling him to move outside into the snowy wasteland despite the party's presence. Vaelan suddenly found himself outside in the street with no memory of how he got there, disoriented by the noise. Lucia ran after him, and both heard a brief, fading voice on the wind saying "Come, little children" before the sensation dissipated. Vaelan realized through magical knowledge that the enchantment drawing them outside, combined with the tainted goods that had affected Rooster and others, suggested multiple forms of magic working in concert—potentially alchemy and enchantment together. ## The Hag's Cottage As the party moved north toward Astankova's cottage, a figure in white appeared in the distance. Kaelor pointed out the figure, but the apparition vanished before others could clearly see it. Vaelan moved to Kaelor's side and suddenly saw a haunting ghostly visage of a beautiful young woman appear directly before his face. The party advanced through the frozen wasteland and approached a building with a door slightly ajar, flickering candlelight visible from within, and heard the soft hum of a voice. The party confronted Astankova Dimitrievna in her isolated cottage and discovered she was a hag responsible for Snowglen's affliction. A brutal battle ensued that left both Lucia and Vaelan unconscious. Kaelor ultimately burned the hag alive in her own fireplace, and silence fell across the frozen wasteland. ## Current Standing Vaelan Voss remains with the party in Snowglen following the death of the hag. He has witnessed the transformation of an entire settlement, survived multiple encounters with the Turned, and helped identify both the vector of infection and the source of the curse. His understanding of multiple forms of magic working in concert proved crucial to understanding the nature of the threat. The aftermath of Astankova's death and the fate of Snowglen's transformed inhabitants remain unresolved.
A small continent in the far northeast, divided into civilised southern regions and the vast Darkwild forest to the north. The Darkwild contains ancient stone structures predating the Second Age with markings suggesting ties to the time before the Great Affliction. At least one such structure has been discovered housing a ritual chamber with evidence of dark ceremonies associated with worship of the Dark Mother Averred. The structure contains multiple levels, with passages leading into deeper underground complexes showing signs of regular use. Van Roost is located within the realm of Michenebor in the Second Age. Ancient tombs and relics from First Age civilisations are rumoured to be buried within the sands of regions affected by the Great Affliction.
Vethara's Crossing is a mid-sized trade city that served as the childhood home of Vaelan. The Argent Compact maintained a regional office within the city.
A 6-year-old blonde-headed child living in Snowglen who has fallen ill with an unfamiliar ailment during the unusually harsh winter. Kaelor treated her that morning, providing remedies for a fever he had not seen before in the region. She has since transformed into one of the Turned: her eyes have become a strange red color, her hands bear claws extended three to four inches, her teeth have become fangs, and her skin is pulled tight against her face. Her mother was found with her body and intestines scattered across the floor of their home, preserved by the cold. Visaria's mother had brought the child to Torvald that morning, complaining she was very sick with an illness unlike any he had normally treated in Snowglen. A book containing children's drawings was found in the upstairs loft bedroom of Visaria's home; one drawing depicted the child alone in a square room with a bed, crying, and another showed the child smiling and holding hands with a stick figure wearing a long white flowing gown, with long white hair and green eyes, surrounded by snow-covered trees—a figure matching the entity Torvald encountered at Engelgardt Farm. The drawing suggested the child may have been trying to tell her mother about the creature, only to be dismissed as imaginative.
A woman living in Snowglen who sought Torvald's assistance when her daughter Visaria fell ill. She was found dead in her home with her throat ripped out, discovered by the party when they witnessed her transformed daughter Visaria emerging from the doorway and moving erratically toward the street. Visaria and her mother were living alone; nothing was known about Visaria's father or the circumstances of his absence, as this was never discussed or brought up by Visaria's mother. When the party later discovered Visaria's book of children's drawings in the loft bedroom of their home, the first drawing depicted two stick figures embracing—the larger figure with long hair, oversized red lips, and tears streaming down its face, with a small distant figure wearing a hat far off in the distance of the image. The party found Visaria's mother dead inside the home with her body and intestines scattered across the floor, preserved by the cold.
A mill in Snowglen where Kaelor works chopping wood. The party spotted movement in the streets toward the mill while moving through the logging grounds near the Vissarion Mill. A transformed child named Visaria shuffled southward toward the mill and the Salty Ostrich after the party encountered her near her home.
A metal cauldron on a fireplace stirred by the hag containing a green miasma brew that ignites when spilled on flames. During combat with Astankova Dimitrievna, Kaelor shattered the cauldron with his maul, causing it to collapse and spill its contents across the floor toward the flames.
Yarograd is an outlying village on Snowreach that supports the local fisheries. The village is governed by an elected Chancellor. It is located approximately 5 days travel north of Snowglen and may house private guard forces. Yarograd is referred to as the pseudo-capital of Snowreach. It is one of the largest towns in the region; the other major settlement is Donalelsk to the south. Aid could potentially be sought from Yarograd in response to Snowglen's affliction. A cottage on the far northern outskirts of Snowglen, heading toward Yarograd, was traditionally associated with Astankova Dimitrievna.
A property to the south and southeast of Snowglen village that may provide barn shelter, though not always open to travelers.
Farmers who employ farmhands in the region of Snowglen. A farmhand employed by Yesikovas resides in an abandoned-looking building in the foothills northeast of Snowglen; the building was unoccupied during the night of the Turned assault, with the farmhand expected to be either at home or at the Salty Ostrich.
Zonir is the High Father of the pantheon in the Realm of Michenebor.
Goddess of Pestilence.
Large, stealthy goblinoids known for ambush tactics. Bugbears are a goblinoid sub-type, kin to goblins and hobgoblins. At least one stray individual has been encountered among the Hoodah Tribe in the Darkwild.
Dwarves are a sentient people whose members include individuals such as Torvald and Kaelor. Dwarven communities maintain traditional clan customs; notably, dwarven farming families inhabit settlements such as Snowreach. Dwarves are counted among the ancestral peoples whose origin contributes to the culture of southern Van Roost settlements. Dwarves possess natural darkvision, though individual capability varies; Kaelor initially believed dwarves were universally good in the dark but later clarified he could not see in darkness. Dwarves speak Dwarvish as a language; Torvald spoke a prayer in Dwarvish over his mother's body.
The elves maintain settlements dotting the eastern side of Arkenhath, and some folk consider the Elven settlement of Hazelwater to be the 'true' capital of the continent. Elves are an ancestral people whose origin contributes to the culture of southern Van Roost settlements.
A component of the Hoodah Tribe inhabiting the Darkwild.
The gnolls comprise a component faction of the Hoodah Tribe, which inhabits the Darkwild. As hyena-headed humanoids, they bear the demonic origin of their kind, created by the demon lord Yeenoghu.
Small, cunning humanoids found throughout the world. A component of the Hoodah Tribe inhabits the Darkwild. Goblins are a goblinoid sub-type, kin to bugbears and hobgoblins.
The Skybreaker Clans represent the traditional goliath societies, historically valuing strength above all else. House Thane emerged within this culture as a notable exception, teaching that true strength derives from restraint and honor rather than raw power alone. Kaelor belongs to this people.
Halflings are a species found among the inhabitants of Snowglen and Snowreach. Halflings are among the ancestral peoples whose origin contributes to the culture of southern Van Roost settlements. As a species, halflings include two main lineages: lightfoot halflings and stout halflings, who share a common halfling heritage.
Humans are a sentient humanoid species. Notable members include Elira Vael, a diplomat from the southern kingdoms. Humans inhabit the regions of Snowglen and Snowreach. In Snowglen, humans have been afflicted by a transformation that converts them into creatures referred to as "the Turned," which possess claws, enhanced strength, and emit green sludge upon death. The transformation appears to spread through unknown means, affecting both adults and children. Kaelor's family is missing from Snowglen; Torvald's mother was killed by his father, who subsequently vanished; and the child Visaria was transformed into one of the Turned. The affliction has caused widespread death and destruction throughout Snowglen's population.
Fierce, tribal humanoids known for strength and aggression. Major settlements exist on Arkenhath, notably the Shatterclaw Clan to the south. An orc named Oleg was present in the The Salty Ostrich tavern in Snowglen, where he played cards and won repeatedly until he was killed by one of the Turned during the transformation outbreak.
One of the ancestral peoples whose origin contributes to the culture of southern Van Roost settlements.