Author Archives: Alexis

Who Are The Allies of The Wilderness God?

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While the group travels across the Westlands away from the First Gate, Alexis addresses Gustav across the campfire one night.

“Gus, level with me.

Last time I asked why you’ll take favors from non-human gods but turn your back on the Grand-Matron of humanity. You sidestepped it, pressed the VahnYir bracers into my hands, and paid the price yourself—a brave move, but it felt like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Since then, you’ve kept refusing the Grand-Matron’s workings, and then turned down a solid tool against Bandesinge and blood magic, and yet you’re fine with the collegium’s spells and Ca’armine’s gifts. I’m not here to put you on trial—I’m here to get this team through the the trials we face in one piece. To do that, I need more than a yes-or-no list. I need your why. If there’s a line you won’t cross, show me where it runs and what it protects. Your compass matters.

Ca’armine takes blessings from the other human gods. I understand that map. Help me read yours.

So talk to me, Gus: why turn down help from allies? What do you trust, what don’t you, and how can I lead so your convictions make us stronger—not weaker?”

Alexis patiently waits for Gustav’s answer. There is no rush on his face or in his body.

Heard of Any Other Bells?

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The group has been traveling through the Westlands and they’ve started moving away from the coast heading back East. After camp has been set up Alexis sits next to Ca’armine. Alexis engages Ca’armine in polite discussions about the travels of the day and then turns the conversation to other things.

“Well, my taciturn friend, I’ve been meaning to ask you what rumors you might have heard regarding and of humanities lost artifacts. We have already found the mantle crafted, or re-crafted, with his power.”

Alexis looks at Ca’armine, waiting for a reply.

Our Lost Comrade. Bravest of Us

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The group has stopped for lunch after they’ve left the First Gate (but before they encounter Illceros’ Spiders).

Alexis addresses Gustav and Ca’armine. “I’m not sure about you Raiden boys, but these western lands have gotten me thinking more about…” Alexis puts his arms out “the bigger things.”

“You both chose to give up Dauntless” Alexis holds up an apologetic hand to Ca’armine “even though you weren’t fully aware of what that meant” Alexis says to only Ca’armine.

“With some time and space, how are you feeling about the ‘Collegium’ holding such a powerful artifact in your cause?”

Alexis looks between Gustav and Ca’armine.

Saddles to Summon Unkillable Steeds

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As the group is all on the surface near the ruined tower where they found and imprisoned Zyrithack, during some down time. Alexis talks to the group

“Some of the greatest human knights, scouts, and explorers used to have saddles that would summon steeds which would never tire. The greatest of these were said to summon steeds that could even carry their riders across the water or open air across chasms.”

“For this kind of exploring” Alexis gestures to the ruins “we could really use some of those saddles. Unfortunately I don’t know where the great knights and scouts could have been housed around these human lands. Perhaps the Collegium has one or two in the bowels. Perhaps there are some in Ederos. Perhaps there are a few between here and Ederos.”

“Red, is this the sort of thing you could figure out? Some essence of the Westlands imbued in saddles, that is brought forth. Or perhaps a creature captured in a saddle that is forced to serve in the form of a horse. Perhaps a creature like Yog’s large cat. Or the 3-armed giant. Or Earyka.” Alexis gives Ethelred a large, playful smile and a wink “How would that work without necromancy? Perhaps there’s a better way.” Alexis waits for an answer from his companion.

The Mystery of the Crown and Hammer

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Over some breakfast since leaving the 1st Gate, Alexis is thinking aloud

“Without Drennos I can go back to my musings.” after a little pause Alexis continues.
“I’m still thinking about the Hammer and Crown, and what the Collegium is supposed to be kept from knowing. What about the history or the nature of those artifacts is supposed to stay hidden? Since nobody but villains talks to non-humans” Alexis says with sarcasm “it seems reasonable that the knowledge that the Collegium doesn’t have was acquired from non-humans… perhaps from some long-lived creature or from some lost library.”

“Perhaps the Crown and Hammer could be items that Dwarves would rally behind, but it seems like they would have to be held by a Dwarf, otherwise they wouldn’t be objects to trade, but objects to use.”

“The simple explanation, the uneducated explanation, is that these items are connected and together they form a symbol of royalty. Similar to a crown and scepter.”

“Less intuitive is that they are somehow items used by some ‘rightful chosen of the Maker’, and the hammer is the real item. It forges something. But this gets into wild speculation.”

“What would be a threat to our enemies, or a great boon to them, from those items, that the Collegium wouldn’t be aware of?” Alexis thinks on this while they all eat together.

So Many Lost (Dwarven) Cities

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At some point when the group is all together after Zyrithack has been enslaved in the black blade. The group is talking about what happened. Alexis speaks.

“Zyrithack mentioned Thun-Bül-Dor. Given the twisted path Zyrithack took to get to this location at this time, it could be anywhere. Given how close the legendary dwarven city of Dura-Intun was, maybe Thun-Bül-Dor is just as close. We know there are Dwarves under the Twins, and that the dwarves used to control the top of the Twins as well. There are Dwarves under Mount Sutheron, and perhaps they used to control its peak as well. Perhaps Mount Sutheron was Thun-Bül-Dor. Or the fabled Nadden-Tor. Maybe every major mountain used to hold a dwarven city. Maybe there are old dwarven cities abutting Middlebar fort. That could be a major boon for the rebels if that was true.” Alexis thinks on this for a moment.

“Maybe Mount Lanos has a dwarven city. Maybe Thun-Bül-Dor. Maybe Mount Kobos. Maybe even Nadden-Tor!” Alexis gets a far-off look and a smile starts creeping up his face. “Or… Mount Avernus…!” Alexis looks more serious “No. That doesn’t seem right.”

“I need to get a map of all the major mountains. They could all have dwarven cities!”

Baalrex… No Good Dead Goes Unpunished

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Later in the evening after the group has seen Baalrex for the second time and Alexis has the silver coin. The group is in their shared room.

“I’ve been wondering why Baalrex has taken an interest in us. Many interesting things happen in the Collegium, so I thought less about it there. But his showing up here has me wondering about what drew him to us specifically.” Alexis looks thoughtful.

“Given how he exerts a mechanistic, rigid effect on the world, I wonder if our defeat of the Abyssal Lords’ champion earned us an audience with his lordship.”

“Or perhaps something to do with Telosh’s Pit? This doesn’t seem likely, but I can’t rule it out.”

“Perhaps someone has acted as an unwanted intermediary on our behalf and suggested to Baalrex that he solicit us for ‘business’.”

Alexis alternates between studying Baalrex’s silver coin and looking at his companions.

Strange Findings Below: Anti-Hood Graffiti in an Ancient Script

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Honored Undersecretariat, Custodian of Hood’s Wisdom,

While I regret deeply that my companions and I had to leave our fair city in haste, I wanted to send you a message both to let you know of our departure, and also to let you know of some unusual markings in the sewer. The message we found was “Death to the God of Death”, which was perhaps only a little out-of-the-usual, but the fact that it was both in an ancient script and also written relatively recently piqued my interest and thought your interest might be piqued as well. Below I have included the specific script as best as I could transcribe it and also a map to the location in the sewers. Unfortunately, the only path I know of get to that location is through a sewer-cover close to our shared “acquaintance”, The Spider. For this reason I have also included the location in the city of the sewer-cover close to the Spider as well as a map from the sewer entrance to the area in the sewer used by the Spider. You are welcome to visit the Spider, or avoid her, as you see fit, but I wanted to provide as much information as you might find useful.

With the blessings of the gods we shall meet soon, and hopefully in our fine city.

May our shared vigilance hold strong against the shadows cast by the Dark Hand. With the highest respect,
XX

The Reality Under The Copper Hills Fort

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The Crimson Calling is sailing on the Gilded Zephyr, having been smuggled from Sutheron and heading to Llanos port. Alexis kneels down next to Ethelred, who is continually studying the documents from the Collegium, holds the red jasper around his neck, and chants something while his other hand forms precise forms and seems to get a little blue.

For the next many hours Alexis sits next to Ethelred, thinking. Occasionally one of the Calling will ask him for something, or about something, and he will respond and then go back to his focused thoughts. For some portion of his reverie he writes or draws in his book.

The next morning at breakfast clears his throat to get the group’s attention while he idly walks a copper coin across his knuckles. “Yesterday I studied the ritual room with the demon under the Copper Hills Fort. As we had suspected it was human magics calling upon demon magics. Nothing about the magics was anything I’ve ever encountered before. Not the sorcery on the sword, not the summoning. But I could clearly make out two intertwined magics: one demonic, and other was of Avv.”

Next Shadow Blade Moves

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While the Crimson Calling is aboard the Gilded Zephyr, Alexis approaches Rask.

“Having slipped free of the Shadow Blades, what is their next move? How long will they wait in Sutheron? How will they try to pick up our trail? Obviously, we didn’t know the resources they have in Sutheron that they might be able to call upon, but let’s assume the resources are minimal when it comes to tracking us; I want to know what the Blades will do on their own.”