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The Whims of The Winter Court Arc

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The Whims of The Winter Court
Notable Locations: The Sidhe, Mel Shenshir, Neutral Ground
Involved Groups: The Orb Walkers, The Riori, The House of Pride, The House of Sorrows, The House of Vengeance
Preceding Arc: The Order Veracious Arc
Date: 4-2518-5-13
Inciting Incident:The Summons
Concluding Incident:
Notable Incidents:The Tree that Eats


The journey of The Orb Walkers as they travel to The Winter court to give testimony against the actions of Yestris.

Diary of Events

Friday 13th May 4-2518

A summons was received from The Winter Court where the party are to provide testimony against Yestris and the actions she had committed. Travel begins from the city of Mel Shenshir with the help of an escort to guide The Orb Walkers through the Sidhe towards Neutral Ground.

The Escort came in the form of a Drow named Rydol, who is under orders from Octavius to bring the Party through the Sidhe and into Neutral Ground. The group notice a human female wearing a broach consisting of a sword pointed down with wings and a skull and find out there is a new religion beginning to take hold in an attempt to supplant the current God of Death Erebos.


Monday 16th May 4-2518

Travel commences to the Faegift District with the help of the transporter Cul located in the Wolf's Lodge inn. Heading down into the basement of the Wolf's Lodge, the party are instructed to travel down a ladder through the door behind Cul. Climbing down leads them into the Faegift District, climbing out of a well located nearby.

Gathering supplies for the remainder of the journey they run into Gelf, a herbalist who provides them with some potions to aid them in their journey through The Sidhe, forewarning them of the dangerous things known as The Riori. Questioning the Bartender at the Dust-Bowl Inn gives the party more insight into the nature of the Riori, creatures of similar skin to Wyverns though more aggressive and most certainly more intelligent than their flying cousins.

The party finishes their preparations that evening and bed down, resting for the journey through the dark forest which is to begin the next morning.


Tuesday 17th May 4-2518

The journey begins through the Dark forest, heading towards the first "safe zone" in the journey, the frontier settlement of Amrion. The party learn from Rydol that more information about The Sidhe will be available in Amrion. They will have a longer rest in Amrion to ensure they are well equipped for the journey into the Sidhe as the magical nature of the are can prove hazardous for the party members who use magic. As the party rests that evening a set of red eyes stares back at them through the blackness of the night.


Monday 23rd May 4-2518

The Party rests on the eve of the 22nd, 1 day from Amrion. During the night's watch Rydol is attacked, severely injured by one of the eye beams shot by The Riori. While they patch their wounds and the party being their preparations for the day a discussion occurs about how to proceed considering The Riori know of our presence and have clearly been stalking us for the last few days. The decision is made to press on at a slightly quicker pace to attempt to lose the beasts and arrive at Amrion before the eve of the 23rd.

Their travels lead them into a clearing with a single large and glowing rock in the center. Striking the rock cause it to let out a shrill scream summoning The Riori which the party had to defend against. Beating back the Raptor like creatures, the six adventurers manage to hold their ground, fending off the attack until it was safe to rest. Taking a mining pick to the mysterious rock they manage to dig out a mysterious ore, glowing bronze and warm to the touch which they keep in Rhogar's bag to await further identification.

Recommencing their travels, they arrive at Amrion and are greeted by Thilma, Mother of Beasts who provides information on the surrounding areas and shows the party the locations they'll be staying as well as some key individuals in the village; William the Priest and Loris the Dreamer. Talking to Loris, Rydol confirms that they are all able to have their dreams read should they choose to. Upon fulfilling the request Ezra, Rhogar, Valmet and (Bob/Rydol??) left items and fell into a deep sleep dreaming of a realm of cold ice and a tall jagged peak with a dark winged figure, a scene of which Loris also dreamt, much to their shock due to the almost identical nature of the dreams of the 4 individuals. A dream of Ice and Death.


Tuesday 24th May 4-2518

The party of 6 are awoken suddenly by a strange noise, rousing to see that Tilrinel has teleported directly into Amrion, without so much as a clue as to where he was and why he was there. After some discussion it became evident that Tilrinel had been on business with his god, in creasing their religious presence to oust Erebos. This also included a trial by combat between the Champion of Erebos and Tilrinel, the defeat of the prior leading to another battle with their corrupted form, much to the shock and disappointment of the other gods presiding over the ritual. A name stuck with Tilrinel before he was teleported to Amrion, Shormaush Urdal.

Over breakfast, William questions the party on what will be said about Yestris at the trial, the reason being that some of the frontier settlements have benefitted from her actions so the support of the people may be in her favour. Speaking with Loris again before departing reveals the dreams were nothing like he had ever previously seen, the discussion of the dreams between the party revealed striking similarities, the likes of which could be construed as an ill omen for the future to come.

Despite this, the now 7, and complete, group of adventurers make their way further into The Sidhe, coming across a large footprint embedded in the dirt, the likes of which most of the party had never seen before. Rydol and Ezra knelt to investigate the tracks, coming to the conclusion that it belonged to a creature known as a Morvudd, who's direction of travel is the same as the party's. This places them on high alert for the foreseeable future.


Wednesday 25th May 4-2518

The day begins with no tangible threats nor any sign of the Morvudd, the trek through The Sidhe continues peacefully. Towards the middle of the day, they come across an area of blackening grass, decomposing flora and roots pulled up from the ground. Rydol informs the group that it may be something known as Black Root which causes the surrounding flora and fauna to decompose. Ezra uses Grim Psychometry to discern some of the history of the Black Root yielding the following:

A tree, large and blooming bearing fruits of all colours. A hooded individual approaches, emptying a sack of mutilated children's body parts below the tree. The hooded figure takes a knee to begin a ritual, branches move unnaturally, opening into mouths as they bend down to consume the body parts.

Pushing forward, most certainly on edge, the group continue deeper into the Black Root infested area. Entering a thicket that has been cleared by some large object cracking and breaking the trees, a rhythmic thumping can be felt in the ground growing with intensity as some clearly large object is heading towards the group,. Form the clearing they make out a large humanoid, stumbling towards them with multiple wounds on it's body, including a large hole in its chest. closer inspection after the giant collapsed to the floor reveals strange blood mixed in with its own. The decision is made to run in the direction the giant came from to catch the beast that had done this.

After a few minutes the break through the thicket into a clearing in the centre of which stands a tall and seemingly lifeless tree. The decision is made to approach the tree, the result of which is a shrill cry followed by a monstrous roar as the Morvudd bursts forth into the clearing. The fight is vicious, members falling prey to the Morvudd's gaze and unable to stand before the monstrosity, further ravaged by the hatred the diseased tree exudes. After the grueling battle, the Morvudd lay dead at the feet of the adventurers. Setting about divvying up the carcass of the monster, the third eye began to wrap itself around Filip's arm, being destroyed moments later by Ezra before any effect of the eye could take hold. They summoned a fire elemental to burn the tree, ensuring the blaze was well set before continuing to their final destination, Neutral Ground.


Friday 27th May 4-2518

2 days after the battle with the Morvudd the party comes to the outskirts of a village, unknown even to Rydol, and seemingly abandoned as Filip makes their way forward to search for any potential threats which may lie ahead. The thatch rooves of the houses come into view when the coast is labelled clear and the party is met with a gruesome sight, houses and huts splattered with blood and a disturbing lack of viscera from what is obviously a complete massacre.

Making their way to the centre of the village they find a runic circle, burnt into the ground with a large symbol in the middle. Rhogar is able to discern that the ritual circle glows faintly red in the ethereal plane while Tilrinel gets a sickening sense of the level of desecration this place has undergone. Marking the area in their minds, unable to do anything for the moment, they leave behind the abandoned settlement and continue on towards their final stop before Netural ground to await judgement at the scales; Procerous.


Saturday 28th May 4-2518

The party makes it's way into Procerous, after a night where the watchmen were made eerily aware of small and beady red eyes watching them from the dark. after discussion with the locals it becomes apparent that the scales are down for maintenance by an individual known as Virgil who has erected a hut in the centre of the town to conduct their magical research. Moving towards the location they are met with a Fae who seems to be engrossed in a book they are holding. getting their attention induces a back and forth discussion about the decisions which will be made and things that are going to be said at the Trial. In return for humoring him, Virgil lets the party ask questions, the likes of which include the location of Valmet's second Scrying Artefact as well as the nature of the strange mineral/ore that was found at the site of the Riori attack. The latter revealed to be Beryllium Bronze; a metal worked by an individual named Riffock, and the former being held by an individual Rydol had mentioned previously named Delsaran.

Lamenting the discussion after being told to come back at 1am to await judgement from the scales, the party breaks with Valmet heading to the local temple and the rest heading to the local tavern to discuss some of the information that had been given to them by Virgil. After a short while a blinding light shone through the doorway of the tavern, accompanied by a sense of contentment. rushing to the temple they were awestruck to learn that Vamet's had prayed to Athreos to remove the Necronomicon Page from our possession. A prayer that was heard and answered.

The party beds down for the night and wakes at 1am the next day to begin the judgement of the scales.


Sunday 29th May 4-2518

The party stands before the scales, unsure of the nature of the task they will be given once stepping onto the scales. Stepping onto them the first time elicits no reaction. Puzzled, Virgil analyses the scales coming to the conclusion that a single individual has been vetoing the party's access to The Sidhe. Further details inidcate that it's Akordia who seems to be denying the party access. Virgil recommends they head to a location known by Rydol to contact Akordia and sort the unresolved issues out to grant the party access into Neutral Ground.

Travelling to the nearby river Chiafboif and locating the small island surrounded by running water near which 5 pillars are placed with dishes for the items required for the ritual. Herbs are placed in the dishes along with a Topaz ring before liquid is dropped into the pool and a square reflective surface appears. The surface divides over and over again, at the end of which a familiar figure rises from the reflective surface though they do not sound like the Akordia which Valmet and Rhogar remember, he sounds almost distant. After apologising and subsequently confirming that Rhogar and Valmet were unaware of the threat Ghurrix posed. Akordia confirms that the worlds they have seen in the Underdark are worlds that have previously been consumed by Khnith-Hgor, whom Akordia knows now as Shormaush Urdal. He tells the party that the time they have to prepare is running out, that the party has enough time to say their goodbyes and that Ghurrix will be back, destroying all in his path to attain more knowledge, if even just a scrap of it. Akordia says his goodbyes and states he will now let the party through to Neutral ground to convince The Fae of Yestris's evil.

Returning to Virgil they once again step on the scales and are greeted by a figure familiar to Ezra... (Jeevan Finish this off please)

Arrival and Trial at Neutral Ground

Monday 30th May 4-2518

They party arrive at the outskirts of Neutral ground and are greeted by the sight of incredible megastructures unseen by most and can only be described as a Citadel of sorts. In front of them is a path, scattered with the debris and dried husks of individuals and creatures who strayed too close to the area without the prior consent of The Winter Court. At the end of this path is an abnormally tall humanoid, resting a sword point down between their clasped hands. Rydol had previously described an entity known as the Gatekeeper who stands to ensure no unwanted individuals are able to get into Neutral Ground while also maintaining the inner peace within the confines of the walls. The gatekeeper informs the party of where they are permitted to go within Neutral Ground and informs them of some rules which will be respected while they are within Neutral Ground:

  • Ritual Magics which do not harm others will be permitted.
  • Be respectful of the Fae.
  • do not start fights with Dustlings.
  • Do not take what is not allowed to be taken.
  • Do not bring in others who are not invited.

They are also informed that Rydol's presence will allow them access to some of the House of Pride Constructs. Furthermore, the party is informed of the fact that they will be questioned by the 3 heads of the Houses of The Winter Court; Octavius of The House of Pride, Virgil of The House of Sorrows and Miron of The House of Vengeance. Some more questions reveals useful information about Octavius and the other heads of the houses along with the proper etiquette for meeting Fae.


The gatekeeper informs the party to remain still, for which they are teleported to Octavius' Office of residence. They are led by some of the servants towards Octavius' office to which they are beckoned within. Discussion ensued and further details are gleaned about the story of The Scarlet King, an additional tale which sheds light on the full story of the entity, though the information is incomplete and the individual who will be able to shed more light on the remainder of story is non other than Miron; a Fae who apparently has no qualms removing Dustlings from the world if they so much as look at him the wrong way. Additional information regarding the Whore of Molloch is provided, shedding light on the nature of the ritual conducted in the Grim Psychometry conducted by Ezra on The Blackroot.

The meeting with Octavius ends and the party make their way to the one of the other locales of interest, the Bloodletting Circle; an arena where combatants can fight a variety of creatures, constructs and humanoids. They are greeted by Cain, a halfling who is in charge of collecting wagers, paying combatants that survive the rounds and cleaning up the remains of those who don't. Sending the party into the field pits them against aberrations of horrific stature, forcing diseases unknown onto those unlucky enough to face them, the dreaded Balewing and grotesque Warp Spawn. A difficult battle ensues with Valmet crippled by a hunch caused by what is later known as Warp Touch, Rydol flying to meet the Balewing with Bob and Rhogar temporarily banishing the Balewing before releasing the banishment to continue the fight. Questioning Cain it becomes clear that both Miron and Octavius were watching the fight, with a reward of 2517GP won by the party. The group head back to The Sad Song Inn and rest in preparation for the agreed return to the Bloodletting circle the next day.

Tuesday 31st May 4-2518

The party wakes and heads to the back to the Bloodletting Circle and are informed by Cain that they have the option to fight some of Miron's "experiments" which he no longer has use for. 5 are available to fight which the party decides is going to be enough to keep the battle challenging yet entertaining. They were not prepared for what they faced, monstrosities named The Wretched, The Hungry, The Angry, The Lonely, The Lost. The battle was fierce, Valmet struggling to maintain every party member in the grueling fight, Tilrinel exhausting themselves to near death and Ezra dying, only to be brought back by Valmet when the last creature was slain. Prides were hurt and insights into the way the group can improve their battle strategies for future encounters with many creatures of a hardier nature. Licking their wounds the spend the next few days recovering and planning what is going to be said at the council, collecting their knowledge and unifying their story.


Thursday 2nd June 4-2518

Collation of the Party's stories on Yestris and discussion of the how to handle the resurgence of Adec who is being required to give testimony as well.


Friday 3rd June 4-2518

A friendly chat with Adec.


Sunday 5th June 4-2518

The day of the trial arrives, the party cleans themselves to ensure they look clean for the questioning ahead. Departing from the Inn towards the direction of Octavius' office with Rydol in tow, they come across a very large building which they are sure wasn't there when making their way through the area on prior occasions. A few Drow mill about the entryway before moving out the way to let the party pass. Walking through it becomes apparent that the hallway which guides the group is not consistent with the external architecture. Walking in to a room bathed in a soft blue light there is a long table below a dais containing three exquisite chairs, two of which seat a familiar (Octavius) and an unfamiliar figure of pale skin and slightly balding. Instructed to sit down, the pale man begins to speak, revealing himself to be Virgil, asking for the identity and allegiances of the individuals standing to give testimony.


Octavius begins the line of questioning by opening about the Incident at Irci:

  • What Happened the first 2 times?
  • What was encountered at the cleansing and how was it cleansed?
    • Cleansed by removal of the Wight nest, the Banshee and Wraith which had made their home there.
  • Why did Zah-Hak let the party live after disrupting the ritual?
    • He was more concerned with the well being closed compared to the methodology for closing the well itself.
  • What is the explanation for what happened in the Well?
    • There was a set of challenges before the meeting with Humilitas who told the party at the time that closing the well would require a sacrifice.
    • There was a second entity of a malevolent nature whose offer the prior part had rejected.
    • What and was the Nature of the deal and why was it taken?
      • Hickaxe would bind Vistrum to the Well of Souls as a form of atonement for the events which had occurred at Irci, he felt the blood of the village was on his hands for not preventing the massacre.
      • This allowed the party of the time to traverse back to the Mortal Plane.
    • Were we aware of Ostium's parallel plans?
      • Ostium is found to be an Ancient Blue dragon whose brood resides in The Sidhe.
      • The ritual was similar to the one Conducted by Zah-Hak although located differently geographically.
      • The ritual has no relation to the whore of Molloch and the desecrated village remnants.


The Second line of questioning from Octavius draws upon the Party's knowledge of Yestris' Drow Servant, Darvissa:

  • Some brief details about the actions of Darvissa are provided by Octavius and Virgil before in depth discussion about events is held.
  • What abilities did Darvissa possess, specifically any new or unusual ones?
    • Incorporeal abilities accompanied with a rumor she had befriended a Night-Wraith.
  • The Warsworn that worked with them, what were they like?