Meanwhile...back at the Ranch...
The campaign that I am currently running has existed, in one form or another since 1994. There are dozens of characters who aren't currently "active", all of whom are still doing their own thing while the "main group" of player characters are engaged in this cross-world adventure. Every so often, I provide the players with a "Meanwhile…", letting them know what's going on back home and on the other worlds they have visited. It is my hope that this gives them a sense of continuity and puts the events of our story into perspective. This is one of those updates. I hope you all enjoy.
Meanwhile (Part Five)
In the Grimmlands…
A wall around the Smurf Village turns aside floodwaters released by the destruction of a dam on the River Smurf. The recently installed King Smurf blames a nearby band of Red Caps and declares war against the vicious fey.
King Jack Horner, his memory finally restored and his rightful place upon the throne reclaimed, rises from bed. He makes his way into the privy to attend to his morning routine and peers into the mirror. He has to stop and look once again when he sees something he had never noticed before – streaks of gray appearing in his dark hair.
Elaina, Maya, and Reyna reach the city of Hamelin. They reunite with Knives who confesses that he is ready to leave town (although he does not admit, they suspect that he is absconding with most of the town’s treasury). The women and the fox board the Jolly Roger and set sail, destination, Arendelle.
Malazzarr reaches out with His divine senses, questing for the energy of this world’s other gods and finds none. Puzzled, He relaxes his focus and finds…something on the moon. He wills Himself there and He arrives on the green sphere of cheese. He approaches the tower, opens the door, and strides inside. Within He discovers massive telescope. Two men and a throng of bald, stunted elves scurry about. One man calls out to the other, “I tell you, it is definitely spreading!”
The other replies, “Yes! It is! This is unprecedented!” he cries as he scrawls notes on a sheaf of paper.
The small elves begin tugging at the men’s sleeves, drawing the men’s attention to Malazzarr.
“What is it you are talking about? What, exactly, is spreading?” the God of Progress asks.
The first man faces the god, “The Narrative is failing. For who knows how many years, this world was static, unchanging. Certain people did not age and were free from the specter of death but now, King Jack is going gray! It seems to be centered on the place of her death but it is spreading outward. We haven’t determined how quickly yet but it seems to be several miles every day!”
Malazzarr frowns, absorbing the man’s words, “Perhaps, you should start at the beginning. What is this ‘Narrative’ you speak of?”
As the brothers, Wilhelm and Jacob, explain, Malazzarr’s mind goes to work. While listening, He extends His senses once more, searching the world below for the Narrative as the Brothers Grimm tell their tale. As they near the end of their story, Malazzarr finds what He is searching for - energy, a quiescent entity without form or purpose, in one of the forests below.
“And now that She is gone and everyone is aging, does that mean they can also die? How far will the effect spread? Will just the Core of the Grimmlands be affected or will Oz and Neverland and the Aesop Islands too? Will the curse on the elves be lifted? There are so many fascinating possibilities!”
Malazzarr returns His focus to the two brothers. “Come. There is something you must see.” Malazzarr extends His hand and the Brothers, without knowing why, take it and in the blink of an eye, find themselves standing outside a small cottage in the woods.
“Enter. It is waiting inside for you.” Malazzarr commands.
The two brothers walk forward and open the door to the small home.
Within, they see the Narrative – a swirling mass of energy, full of potential and promise, the embodiment of all that could happen. Jacob and Wilhelm extend their arms and the Narrative flows into them, filling them with the divine. Their minds expand and they see all of the possibilities this world has to offer, both wonderful and terrifying. The rush of power staggers both but as the moment passes, it strengthens Them and They stand against the waves of energy.
In another moment, the Brothers Grimm gone and in their place stand the Narrator and the Historian.
Malazzarr looks upon the two new gods and asks, “Now, what were You saying about a curse on elves?”
The trio of gods returns to the moon and time passes. Malazzarr, the Narrator, and the Historian turn Their collective attention on the Helpful Elves and the curse that plagues them. “It would seem that the damage already done cannot be repaired but, we can stop it from inflicting any more harm than it already has.”
The three deities weave Their magic, robbing the curse of its power. As the spell comes to an end, the elves stop working and look up at their liberators. “Thank you!” they cry. “How can we ever repay you?” they ask. Malazzarr looks upon the elves and smiles, “Give gifts to those less fortunate than you, especially children. Do so in My name and I will consider whatever debt you may feel to be paid.”
And thus begins the Yule Tradition in the Grimmlands.
- - - - -
On the world of Nehwon…
Gabel Ratchett of the Scribes' Guild is promoted to the position of First Speaker.
Gabel is notoriously long-winded and disliked equally but mildly by both the Mercantile and Guild Factions of the House of Commons. He does, however, enjoy the support of the city's temples as his scribes are often employed to copy and translate texts.
The former First Speaker Yasimina Poznauskis arrives in the city of Ilthmar.
Much of the rioting has been brought under control by the personal guard contingents of the nobility and Thorvold No-Clan’s mercenary band. Clerics of Tyaa walk the streets, spreading the gospel of their goddess, seeking to sweep up the disenfranchised worshipers of the slain Rat God. They are opposed by Hisvin, the wererat who led the rat uprising in Lankhmar years before, his daughter Hisvit and Erastus, the semi-divine son of the Rat God himself.
In between training sessions with his new animal companion and mount, Romulus begins experimenting on the tree in the courtyard of Malazzarr’s temple. He knows that it is somehow connected to the tree planted on the Isle of Iron Statues but has yet to determine how to access that connection. The tree resists all attempts at divination but the archmage is persistent and after several weeks of failures, casts a Gate spell directly on the tree. The tree begins to glow and a line appears in one of the whorled patterns of the wood and slowly begins to spread, revealing a cobblestone courtyard with grass poking up between the individual stones. Romulus passes through the portal and enters the courtyard itself. The portal closes behind him after just less than a minute, leaving him inside the courtyard. There is plenty of light to see by although there is no discernible source for it.
As he looks around, he sees that there are three archways – the one he just passed through, one that opens onto a hill overlooking the sea and one inside the curtain walls of a castle. Fog roils in the spaces between archways. Romulus stops and thinks. The archway he came through would return him to Lankhmar; the seascape is most likely the Island so the last archway must lead to his companions’ location. But, he has no way of knowing how recently the third tree was planted or if the group is still anywhere in the area. He decides to return to Lankhmar and check the courtyard daily, both to see if another archway appears and to catalog its properties.
The Fist of Five Plus One departs the Great Gray Land of Thar after abandoning their months-long search for Vobryx's Warhammer. They return to Daggerdale and take up residence in Malcolm's tower to wait out the winter.
Orc chieftain Obould and his horde claim the mountainous region north of the Evermoors and west of the Moonwood as the Kingdom of Dark Arrows.
To counter the rise of Obould’s Kingdom of Dark Arrows and thwart future evils of the North, High Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon gathers the leaders of the region to council. From Old Delzoun, the Moonlands, and the Rauvin Vale come elf, human, and dwarf lords to seek answers to their common troubles. Out of that oft-stormy meeting comes the High Lady’s Alliance, a confederation of city-states known as the League of the Silver Marches.
Meanwhile (Part Five)
In the Grimmlands…
A wall around the Smurf Village turns aside floodwaters released by the destruction of a dam on the River Smurf. The recently installed King Smurf blames a nearby band of Red Caps and declares war against the vicious fey.
King Jack Horner, his memory finally restored and his rightful place upon the throne reclaimed, rises from bed. He makes his way into the privy to attend to his morning routine and peers into the mirror. He has to stop and look once again when he sees something he had never noticed before – streaks of gray appearing in his dark hair.
Elaina, Maya, and Reyna reach the city of Hamelin. They reunite with Knives who confesses that he is ready to leave town (although he does not admit, they suspect that he is absconding with most of the town’s treasury). The women and the fox board the Jolly Roger and set sail, destination, Arendelle.
Malazzarr reaches out with His divine senses, questing for the energy of this world’s other gods and finds none. Puzzled, He relaxes his focus and finds…something on the moon. He wills Himself there and He arrives on the green sphere of cheese. He approaches the tower, opens the door, and strides inside. Within He discovers massive telescope. Two men and a throng of bald, stunted elves scurry about. One man calls out to the other, “I tell you, it is definitely spreading!”
The other replies, “Yes! It is! This is unprecedented!” he cries as he scrawls notes on a sheaf of paper.
The small elves begin tugging at the men’s sleeves, drawing the men’s attention to Malazzarr.
“What is it you are talking about? What, exactly, is spreading?” the God of Progress asks.
The first man faces the god, “The Narrative is failing. For who knows how many years, this world was static, unchanging. Certain people did not age and were free from the specter of death but now, King Jack is going gray! It seems to be centered on the place of her death but it is spreading outward. We haven’t determined how quickly yet but it seems to be several miles every day!”
Malazzarr frowns, absorbing the man’s words, “Perhaps, you should start at the beginning. What is this ‘Narrative’ you speak of?”
As the brothers, Wilhelm and Jacob, explain, Malazzarr’s mind goes to work. While listening, He extends His senses once more, searching the world below for the Narrative as the Brothers Grimm tell their tale. As they near the end of their story, Malazzarr finds what He is searching for - energy, a quiescent entity without form or purpose, in one of the forests below.
“And now that She is gone and everyone is aging, does that mean they can also die? How far will the effect spread? Will just the Core of the Grimmlands be affected or will Oz and Neverland and the Aesop Islands too? Will the curse on the elves be lifted? There are so many fascinating possibilities!”
Malazzarr returns His focus to the two brothers. “Come. There is something you must see.” Malazzarr extends His hand and the Brothers, without knowing why, take it and in the blink of an eye, find themselves standing outside a small cottage in the woods.
“Enter. It is waiting inside for you.” Malazzarr commands.
The two brothers walk forward and open the door to the small home.
Within, they see the Narrative – a swirling mass of energy, full of potential and promise, the embodiment of all that could happen. Jacob and Wilhelm extend their arms and the Narrative flows into them, filling them with the divine. Their minds expand and they see all of the possibilities this world has to offer, both wonderful and terrifying. The rush of power staggers both but as the moment passes, it strengthens Them and They stand against the waves of energy.
In another moment, the Brothers Grimm gone and in their place stand the Narrator and the Historian.
Malazzarr looks upon the two new gods and asks, “Now, what were You saying about a curse on elves?”
The trio of gods returns to the moon and time passes. Malazzarr, the Narrator, and the Historian turn Their collective attention on the Helpful Elves and the curse that plagues them. “It would seem that the damage already done cannot be repaired but, we can stop it from inflicting any more harm than it already has.”
The three deities weave Their magic, robbing the curse of its power. As the spell comes to an end, the elves stop working and look up at their liberators. “Thank you!” they cry. “How can we ever repay you?” they ask. Malazzarr looks upon the elves and smiles, “Give gifts to those less fortunate than you, especially children. Do so in My name and I will consider whatever debt you may feel to be paid.”
And thus begins the Yule Tradition in the Grimmlands.
- - - - -
On the world of Nehwon…
Gabel Ratchett of the Scribes' Guild is promoted to the position of First Speaker.
Gabel is notoriously long-winded and disliked equally but mildly by both the Mercantile and Guild Factions of the House of Commons. He does, however, enjoy the support of the city's temples as his scribes are often employed to copy and translate texts.
The former First Speaker Yasimina Poznauskis arrives in the city of Ilthmar.
Much of the rioting has been brought under control by the personal guard contingents of the nobility and Thorvold No-Clan’s mercenary band. Clerics of Tyaa walk the streets, spreading the gospel of their goddess, seeking to sweep up the disenfranchised worshipers of the slain Rat God. They are opposed by Hisvin, the wererat who led the rat uprising in Lankhmar years before, his daughter Hisvit and Erastus, the semi-divine son of the Rat God himself.
In between training sessions with his new animal companion and mount, Romulus begins experimenting on the tree in the courtyard of Malazzarr’s temple. He knows that it is somehow connected to the tree planted on the Isle of Iron Statues but has yet to determine how to access that connection. The tree resists all attempts at divination but the archmage is persistent and after several weeks of failures, casts a Gate spell directly on the tree. The tree begins to glow and a line appears in one of the whorled patterns of the wood and slowly begins to spread, revealing a cobblestone courtyard with grass poking up between the individual stones. Romulus passes through the portal and enters the courtyard itself. The portal closes behind him after just less than a minute, leaving him inside the courtyard. There is plenty of light to see by although there is no discernible source for it.
As he looks around, he sees that there are three archways – the one he just passed through, one that opens onto a hill overlooking the sea and one inside the curtain walls of a castle. Fog roils in the spaces between archways. Romulus stops and thinks. The archway he came through would return him to Lankhmar; the seascape is most likely the Island so the last archway must lead to his companions’ location. But, he has no way of knowing how recently the third tree was planted or if the group is still anywhere in the area. He decides to return to Lankhmar and check the courtyard daily, both to see if another archway appears and to catalog its properties.
- - - - -
Back on Faerûn…The Fist of Five Plus One departs the Great Gray Land of Thar after abandoning their months-long search for Vobryx's Warhammer. They return to Daggerdale and take up residence in Malcolm's tower to wait out the winter.
Orc chieftain Obould and his horde claim the mountainous region north of the Evermoors and west of the Moonwood as the Kingdom of Dark Arrows.
To counter the rise of Obould’s Kingdom of Dark Arrows and thwart future evils of the North, High Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon gathers the leaders of the region to council. From Old Delzoun, the Moonlands, and the Rauvin Vale come elf, human, and dwarf lords to seek answers to their common troubles. Out of that oft-stormy meeting comes the High Lady’s Alliance, a confederation of city-states known as the League of the Silver Marches.
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