Ancients Alive/The Story So Far

X Worldbuilders:

GM James R

"When I was a child..."

The Story So Far for Ancients Alive can be tracked here on a session-to-session basis, and also seen in the notes of individual characters as seen on any of the pages below:

• Rowan’s Journal

• Red's Story
• Edna's Diary

I. Yro in the Dark Part 1

Characters.

Wanda, Edna, Croach, Tigger, Rosamund

XP Total	XP Each
1000	166

Big Things That Happened:

• Edna, Tigger, and Rosamund introduced at level 3.
• Thriskarn is overwhelmed by Yro and becomes a vessel for his destruction, causing city-wide fires and blackouts. The Church of Aegir is destroyed.
• A strange human named Midnight claims to be sent by Kossuth to stop Yro's destruction using a glowing pendant she was given.
• Croach and Wanda lead a small team (not including Luther/Solem) to the villa Rou-De-Lour which has since burned down. There they encounter an investigator Agotcha who recognizes Croach and Wanda as having been at the scene of the crime previously.
• The small party is ambushed by Banites at the villa. The banites are driven away, and the detective is kidnapped and force to share what he knows about Yro.

Other Things That Happened:

• Father Chonzul and clerics of Istishia appear for the first time.
• The players join the Free Defenders

II. Yro in the Dark Part 2

Characters

Edna, Tigger, Rosamund, Blumenthal, Red, Grindseed

XP Total	XP Each
1950	325

Big Things That Happened:

• When Agotcha calls for help. The existing party splits up and hides in the city's darkness.
• A convoy including Blumenthal, Red, and Grindseed are introduced at level 3 and promptly join the Free Defenders
• When the new convoy crosses paths with Midnight, Edna, Tigger, and Rosamund, they find out there is a way to stop the blackouts, but they'll need to go to the Church of Istishia (per Agotcha's previous interrogation)
• The Church of Istishia is destroyed, with the players barely surviving the blast.
• Yro (and Thriskarn) appear among the ruins and fight against the Banites, the Free Defenders, the Istishian Priests, the players, and the Lyreguard.
• Yro is knocked off Thriskarn's head, is secured (in a pot) and the Lyreguard take command of the situation with the aid of the players.

Other Things That Happened:

• The Lyreguard member Dutharr takes control of the Yro investigation.
• Salreen is encountered for the first time.
• Rosamund "joins" the Church of Istishia
• A banite is intimidated away from robbing a stock broker.
• Red suggests the name "A Choir of Angels" for the group.

Module Tidbit

Midnight paces in the dark "I knew from the start we should have killed him"

We remember last time, you guys were hunting the bounty on "Thriskarn", a dwarf who supposedly has connections to this city wide-outage. We went back to thriskarns home, and heard from some other bounty-hunters of his connection to this crown "Yro". But most importantly, we kidnapped an investigator working for the city, and found a good lead on where he would be going next---the Temple of Aegir, god of the sea.

Unfortunately for us, before we could even get there, the city guard has swooped in, and the loud mouthed detective quickly caused a scuffle dangerous enough to have caused the gang to split. The 4 of us have taken shelter in an abandoned storefront, pillaged a couple nights ago. We've had about an hour to rest. But we have our map, and it's even been marked. Unfortunately getting the crown from Thriskarn could be a bit more dangerous now since the City seems to have the temple guarded and ready for his appearance.

"It's not about being the biggest or most powerful one on the scene, it's about being the most opportunistic. All this chaos is just a window for us to get what we need done."

III. Banite's Bite

Characters

Andif, Wanda, Edna, Blumenthal, Red, Grindseed

XP Total	XP Each
3145	524

Big Things That Happened:

• Before Midnight can apply her pendant to Yro, he overheats from all the excitement, burning a hole through the ground, directly down into an underwater cavern.
• Andif (level 3) who is another Free Defender, witnesses the crown's descent and offers to go down after it.
• The party negotiates with a group of underground Ghost Pirates, after solving the riddle of their curse, safely retrieves the crown.
• Grindseed applies Midnight's pendant to Yro and finally calms the firestorm.

Other Things That Happened:

• Grindseed kills baby ropers.

IV. A Day at the Spa

Characters

Andif, Medrash, Jedit, Melvin

XP Total	XP Each
3000	750

Big Things That Happened:

• The Redmane family is introduced and rescued by the team.

Other Things That Happened:

• Medrash stole several dozen magical scrolls
• Jedit starts a family of cats

V. Genesis of the Elementals

Characters

Wanda, Croach, Edna, Blumenthal, Andif, Medrash, Rowan

XP Total	XP Each
4775	785

Big Things That Happened:

• The Redmane Manor is attacked by banites, and the banites attacked by our team.
• We find out how to destroy Yro
• Ulgon of Banite is destroyed (for the first time)

VI. Ancients Alive!

Characters

Solem, Luther, Edna, Blumenthal, Red, Andif, Medrash, Rowan

XP Total	XP Each
10320	2064

Big Things That Happened:

• Yro's existence is made public thanks to the Galik Gazette
• Adventurers everywhere try to steal Yro

• Rowan uses Yro to destroy his hometown of Ambleside and remove heat from Galik

Other Things That Happened:

• Enter Coseismus

VII. Bonds of the Earth

Characters

Edna, Tigger, Rosamund, Andif, Medrash, Rowan

XP Total	XP Each
2100	350

Big Things That Happened:

• Coseismus joins the team.
• Midnight and Edna are kidnapped by Istishians and then later attacked.

VIII. The Cycle Festival

Characters

Red, Grindseed, Jedit, Melvin, Flynn, Barley

XP Total	XP Each
5600	1120

(Note: This session occurred simultaneously with Session 6: Genesis of the Elementals)

Big Things That Happened:

• Barley wins the Cycle Festival and becomes the new Yeoman of Nestle.
• Jedit finally gets a hold of his artifact he's been hunting down.

Other Things That Happened:

• Red forms a new sense of sympathy for Kobolds

• Grindseed and Red chase a false lead and determine very little.

IX. Taking on the Team

Characters

Blumenthal, Andif, Medrash, Lidrana, Lone Wanderer

XP Total	XP Each
3950	659

Big Things That Happened:

• Lidrana and the Lone Wanderer are introduced at level 3
• Edna is rescued.

• The adventuring team of Robin Banks is killed off (mostly)

Other Things That Happened:

• The festival of Kurtulzarfosk was attended!
• 32 Tooth Tommy is arrested.

• We learn that kobolds are selling propritary formulas devised by Blumenthal and his group back in Isonhound.

X. Home Again, Home Again

Characters

Edna, Tigger, Rosamund, Andif, Medrash, Rowan

XP Total	XP Each	Coseismus XP (8%)
2810	468	225

Big Things That Happened:

• Foundation of secret organization: AFEW
• Istishians join the team
• Coseismus Training begins (non present players get 8% XP)

Other Things That Happened:

• Another Ulgon of Banite pops up.

XI. All the Difference

Characters

Edna, Blumenthal, Rowan

XP Total	XP Each	Coseismus XP (8%)
1500	500	120

Big Things That Happened:

• The Banite Headquarters were discovered, and infiltrated
• The Redmane head was destroyed by the Banites

Other things that Happened

• We discovered the Banites are using proprietary oils from Orche-Astere
• We discovered magical darkness is a bitch

XII. Run While You Still Can

Characters

Edna, Blumenthal, Red, Grindseed, Andif, Medrash, Rowan, Lone Wanderer (with appearances from Wanda, Croach, Rosamund, and Tigger)

XP Total	XP Each	Coseismus XP (8%)
11,310	1414	905

Big Things That Happened:

• Father Chonszul, Detective Agotcha, Eddie (the Kobold), and Dutharr were killed by the Banites
• Croach, Wanda, and Tigger were captured by the Banites
• The Headquarters was compromised and the shattered team was forced to go on the run.

Other things that Happened

• We learned about Eyeachtu Xvim (the banite god)
• We picked up a magic orb of air (a possible lead)
• We learned about the kobold network that is smuggling from Isonhound
• Blumenthal perfected his Anti-Eyes potion
• Midnight and Coseismus survived the encounter.

We confirmed from last game that magical darkness is indeed...a bitch

"The City of Galik exploded…with the news that an ancient crown of fire had turned up. Previously thought to be a myth, the Crown of Empyrosis kicked off many hunts.

The Banites hunted it for it's power

The Clerics hunted it to keep it safe

The Adventurers hunted it for it's price

But it was in the possession of a selfless few who dedicated themselves to destroying it.

While a few of these heroes guarded the crown, others began the next step of the hunt---locating the crown's three cousin weapons. A Staff of Earth, a Wand of Water, and an Orb of Air.

To aid them, they joined forces with a fire cleric, an earth cleric, and a small group of water clerics.

Now working with the elementalists to hunt these primordial ancients, the group made many strides. Round table discussions with the various factions gave us many leads.

But despite the progress, the opposition still lurked. Though the rival adventurers were taken down, they weren't all taken in.

And while the Banites were infiltrated, they were far from stopped.

And now today, we wait with baited breath as those selfless few face their most difficult decisions yet."

XIII. Interlude: The Problem with Scrying

Characters

Edna, Andif, Medrash, Rowan, Lone Wanderer (RIP)

XP Total	XP Each	Coseismus XP (8%)
610	122	49

Big Things That Happened:

• We found out there are many eyes on the group in the form of at least half a dozen scrying sensors.
• One scrying sensor was revealed to be Lucian of Laergul, still trying to bring Andif home.
• Andif and Medrash left the group to hide out in Jewelspar and train, and more importantly get some of the sensors off the party.

Other things that Happened

• Lone Wanderer bit off more than he could chew and tried to fight a hill giant by himself, and died.
• Medrash took Lone Wanderer's blanket and fastened it into a cape.
• Medrash trained to be a bard.
• Andif and Coseismus got real awkward when we found out Andif "isn't his type"
• Visited Wheldrake.

XIV. Final Winter of the Eladrin

Characters

Edna, Blumenthal, Red, Grindseed, Maverick (lvl 4), Ynnis (lvl 4), Chet (lvl 4)

XP Total	XP Each	Coseismus XP (8%)
8580	836	468

Big Things That Happened:

• Chet, Ynnis, and Maverick all appeared in the city of Warukami at level 4
• Chet underwent a procedure to release his Inner Demon, giving the team a friendly fiend they can use.

Other things that Happened

• Visited Warukami
• Chet was sent to fulfill a debt to Dutharr now that the latter has passed away.
• A mysterious investigation involving someone named Mahabuta and a frozen lake begins

XV. Sea, Flame, and Ice

Characters

Blumenthal, Red, Melvin, Jedit, Ynnis, Chet, Lone Twin (lvl 4), Caoilfhoinn (lvl 4)

XP Total	XP Each	Coseismus XP (8%)
3420	478	274

Big Things That Happened:

• The waters of Warukami were unfrozen
• Enter Frori, ice sorceress with small tolerance for shenanigans. Some say she's cold.
• Big news about the Orb was revealed through Mahabuta shortly before her death.

Other things that Happened

• Lone Wanderer's friend Lone Twin stumbles upon the party while hunting bounties and looking for info on his old friend.
• Jedit and Melvin once again cross paths, and on a mission to hunt gems, stumble into something much bigger than treasure.
• The gnome Caoilfhoinn (pronounced Keylin) proves vital at warming a frozen heart and impresses the team.
• Big Goats.

XVI. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way Home From Jewelspar

Characters

Edna, Medrash, Red, Grindseed, Ynnis, Maverick

XP Total	XP Each	Coseismus XP (8%)
2240	373	179

Big Things That Happened:

• Ynnis reconnects with his Valenford family and reveals his curse to his sister.
• Andif and Ynnis learned magical reduction and growth magic.

Other Things That Happened

• Medrash beats Lucian within 10% of his life.

• Maverick and Red play social worker as they discover a "shadow child"
• Edna learns that her new shadow magic CAN affect creatures who are plane-shifted.

Rumors

• Istishians have left Galik
• Golkont Hawk Mage has Magical Gem Egg
• Free Defenders infiltrated by Dopplegangers
• Missing Children Player Adventurerer
• Dragon Turtle sightings
• Mt Krogran Nearing Eruption
• Sightings of a Beholder in Galik Sewers
• Sorcyst Balde found and brought to Galik but Stolen
• Temple of Bane invaded in city raid
• Ru Delour excavation reveals 6 Radonis Calfenris Paintings
• Crane Family Golem has been found.

XVII. Set Sail for Grumbar

Characters

Edna, Blumenthal, Andif, Medrash, Rowan, Chet, Lone Twin, Caoilfhoiin

XP Total	XP Each	Coseismus XP (8%)
7880	985	630

Big Things That Happened:

• The Ellipses sets sail. Arriving in Amusa after a week long voyage along the coast.
• Rowan, under mind control, unleashes his first bout of WIld Magic, revealing smiting abilities he had no idea he had.

Other Things That Happened

• Chet begins an investigation to solve the mystery or who...or what...Rowan is.

• Caoilfhoinn died, shot down by pirate cannon fire, only to be revived by Edna.
• Lure Lights almost drown Medrash, Chet, and Rowan.

XVIII. Yro or Hero

Characters

Edna, Blumenthal, Andif, Medrash, Red, Grindseed, Maverick, Ynnis, Chet, Caoilfhoiin, Aritian (lvl 5)

XP Total	XP Each	Coseismus XP (8%)
36,900	6150	2952

Big Things That Happened:

• Staff. Enough Said.

Other Things That Happened

• The STEALTH SQUAD is born.
• The Banites are gone.

XIX. Midnight Falls

Characters

Blumenthal, Maverick, Ynnis, Chet, Caoilfhoiin, Aritian

XP Total	XP Each	Coseismus XP (8%)
2350	392	188

Big Things That Happened:

• The Kossuthians who died against the Banites and Grumbarans were buried
• Midnight's body was found, and the crown and pendant recovered from it
• Aritian and his small clan of embrics take custody of the crown [now housing Midnight's soul] and join the team.

Other Things That Happened

• Half the party was in custody of the Grumbarans after the batle for the staff.
• Chet and Ynnis had an amazing off-screen battle.

XX. Attack of the Flying Hawk Mage

Characters

Edna, Andif, Medrash, Ynnis, Chet, Caoilfhoiin, Aritian

XP Total	XP Each
6720	960

Big Things That Happened:

• WE GO WEST TO PTERIS!
• Sparklemas was celebrated!
• A group of gnomes were rescued, and sightings of unusual water activity was learned from the castaways.
• Golkont the Hawk Mage was encountered. As well as his Roc, Shasa.

Other Things That Happened

• Rowan turned into a pumpkin and also learned more about himself.
• Andif made an excellent captain.
• Chet's father refuses to fund his adventure.
• Lots of downtime, crafting, gambling, carousing.

XXI: The Memories of Elves

Characters

Edna, Tigger, Rosamund, Blumenthal, Red, Maverick

XP Total	XP Each
3410	569

Big Things That Happened:

• Tigger begins to have visions of the past, her childhood? It all seems linked to the Staff of the Marsh.
• Nim joins the team, a child of tiefling heritage who Maverick has chosen to foster, in return for information about sneaking around the city.
• Red relives her past in a few uncomfortable ways and comes to a decision.
• Information on the War of the Essence was discerned out of elderly eladrin at the Jewelspar Living Library veterans' home. A lot of information.
• A mysterious paladin is encountered at the Living Library.

Other Things That Happened

• House Eiolhoin is discovered in Jewelspar, a "noble house" made entirely of teenagers and children who are abandoned and live in hiding from the law.

XXII: By Land or By Sea

Characters

Edna, Blumenthal, Red, Grindseed, Rowan, Maverick, Ynnis, Chet

XP Total	XP Each
8483	1061

Big Things That Happened:

• The team fought a STORM GIANT, who they brought to the table for peacetalks after a long and fatal battle. While talking, they learned Golkont had brokered a deal that the Storm Giants would work together to summon the orb, and in return, he would reveal the location of a real, live Dragon in the realm.
• Ynnis learned how to reverse his curse.

Other Things That Happened

• We met Ynnis' college buds: Colwan (human) and Garrison (elf)
• Chet lost his bag and all his items
• Edna met a barkeep on the road and contemplated opening her own mobile tavern.
• Chet and Ynnis also debated opening a tavern but lost all their materials.
• Blumenthal and the child Nim had near death experiences.
• Nim stole an alchemy jug from Blumenthal but gave it back.
• Nim stole a moonflower figurine from Red but gave it back.

XXIII. "Golkont Always Docks in Dardin"

Characters

Aritian, Blumenthal, Chet, Edna, Rowan, Ynnis

XP Total	XP Each
9545	1591

Big Things that Happened:

• Both the team and Golkont were tricked by a Mysterious Paladin, each believing the other had the Wand. A party-turned-confrontation between the two sides led to the truth being deduced shortly before the paladin arrived. He had the wand himself, and wrecked shop while Golkont used the Sorcyst Blade to get others to "safety."
• The Ellipses was sunk by Golkont's majordomo Kagutsi, accidentally exploded by Rowan's wild magic fireball, and intentionally further destroyed to help those trapped in the hold escape a watery grave.

Other Things That Happened

• Aritian discovered the Crown worked in Dardin, and a watery form summoned by the Wand walked onto Pterish shores. The primordial artifacts work unlike how we'd expect.
• Edna became certified for a Road-Housed Road House and rebranded The Ellipses as The U.S.S. (the Underserved Seamen Service). She would deal with food, while Blumenthal would masterfully brew drinks.
• Ynnis gained fame as the Lord of Limerick at the opening party of the short-lived U.S.S., a step towards undoing his curse.

XXIV. The Secret of the Sorcyst Blade

Characters

Edna, Red, Grindseed, Andif, Medrash, Melvin, Jedit

XP Total	XP Each
17025	2432

Big Things that Happened:

• Enter Tenorixion.
• Jedit reveals he has been carrying the Orb on his personal adventure, unknowing of its true nature and value.
• The Stealth Squad becomes the Shadow Squad and is mercilessly killed off.

Other Things That Happened

• Edna's curse was removed
• Red, Medrash, and Jedit became cursed
• Gloomenthal escapes

XXV. Do Bronze Dragons Dream of Electric Sheep?

Session 25 was split in half, with an ongoing battle against the Paladin for one half the team, while the other dealt with....this!

Characters

Edna, Red, Grindseed, Andif, Medrash, Melvin, Jedit, Ynnis, Rowan, Aritian, Blumenthal, Maverick, Chet

XP Total	XP Each
15,500	1108

Big Things that Happened

• Tenorixion's memory reveals the mysterious Eladrin paladin to have once wielded all four artifacts in the War of Essence. He used their power to bound and sunder the elemental chaos, but went one step too far and tried to destroy the elemental planes. He was stopped by his fellow Eladrin and left for dead.

Other Things That Happened

• In searching Tenorixion's mind, the party learns more about the artifacts. The Crown of Empyrosis can be used in the southern half of the realm, the Staff of the Marsh in the eastern half, and the Orb of Gales in the air.
• Grindseed remains a perpetual badass.
• The party retains their three artifacts, despite a wand-powered assault by the paladin.

XXVI. Quelmar's Flash Freeze

It has been 3 months since we gathered on that frozen coast. It feels a bit like a lost. Tenorixion would later let us known that the Paladin was long gone from his cave when he returned. Though we had three artifacts, we now knew only the combined power of all four artifacts is strong enough to destroy them...if destroying them is still what we want to do.

In these long and cold months, the team has had little to do together. Some have wandered off, marking the quest a failure. Others have stayed strong and kept pushing on the path to save the realm. In any case, the once bonded team we saw in Tenorixion's cave is scattered.

Today we see a small group that has persevered, as they follow up on a mysterious message that has come their way....from an unlikely source. (Croach)

Characters

Croach, Andif, Medrash, Melvin, Jedit, Rowan, Chet

XP Total	XP Each
12925	1847

Big Things that Happened

• The Paladin froze the realm in an Arctic Autumn, waiting for the party to relinquish their three Primordial Artifacts.
• Half of the team returned to their daily lives, the mission having been considered a failure. Those who DIDN'T give up followed up on a lead that might reveal where the Paladin is.
• The Paladin was discovered, and thanks to Croach the team was given insight on where the Paladin will be in the future, having mapped out his movements around the realm.

Other Things That Happened

• The team fought a Remorhaz
• The team navigated an encounter with an Immoth

• Croach and Bird Person returned with an eyepatch and key information on the Paladin's movements.
• Second away from killing Melvin, Jedit saved his partner by stabbed the Paladin with the Sorcyst Blade to save the tracking party.
• The Paladin slayed Tenorixion despite Medrash's valiant efforts to save his ancestor.

XXVII. The Cold Before the Storm

Characters

Wanda, Edna, Red, Grindseed, Blumenthal, Maverick, Ynnis, Aritian

XP Total	XP Each
5750	822

Big Things that Happened

• Wanda had a vision remarkably similar to Midnight's Vision in Session 1
• The Kossuthians Wanda and Aritian shared a heart-to-heart, and using their combined visions and god-given words, pieced together the method of destroying the Crown of Empyrosis (without destroying the realm).

Other Things That Happened

• Grindseed because the Chieftan of his clan, returning the gift of "Purpose" to his home tribe, tasking them with helping save the world. This finally accomplished the whole reason he came to Galik in the first place.
• Edna opened a second Edesian, finally accomplishing the whole reason she came to Galik in the first place.

XXVIII. Waterfalls

Characters

Edna, Red, Grindseed, Blumenthal, Maverick, Ynnis, Aritian, Andif, Medrash, Flynn, Croach, Melvin, Jedit, Rowan, Chet

XP Total	XP Each
80,600	6200

Big Things that Happened

• The Paladin was defeated in the Arctic Altercation, as well as dominated versions of Golkont, his majordomo, and his pet roc.
• The Wand was obtained and the Arctic Autumn was ended.

Other Things That Happened

• The Orb was used for the first time by Croach. With Aritian wielding the Crown and Melvin wielding the staff, all four primordial artifacts were used simultaneously in this battle.
• Andif miraculously prevented the Paladin from escaping in the final hour, using a ring to wish he would stay in the cave designated for combat.
• Lucian Digennaro was killed by the Paladin.

XXIX. Epilogue I: Blood and Money

Characters

Caoilfhoinn, Ynnis, Jedit, Melvin, Chet, Rowan, Maverick

Endings

• Catster is celebrated, the Gnomish holiday that allows all cats in the realm to talk common.
• Ynnis published his book, The Final Winter of the Eladrin, and became a Sexton. With this fame and fortune, he could have gotten his body back from the hag. Instead, he chose to remain a goblin and avoided Zilla's trap.

• Jedit rescued 37 cats, keeping them safe in his ark, while Caoilfhoinn in cat form would act as his animal therapist.
• Caoilfhoinn reunited with her sister Cethfhas and adopted 3 kittens.
• The lords of Galik gifted the crew 1,000,000gp. Melvin made off with approximately 239,000gp from book sales and sleight of hand.
• Chet summoned the real Chaz and rekindled their friendship.
• Rowan let go of his fear and wild surged twelve times, removing the curse and completely transforming into his true tiefling self. He proposed to Coseismus, who said "Yes."
• Maverick founded a children's shelter in Jewelspar called the House of Tenorixion. Ynnis pledged a portion of proceeds from his book towards the shelter, ensuring that it will be funded for a very long time.

XXX. Epilogue II: Ancient's Absolution

Characters

Edna, Blumenthal, Red, Grindseed, Andif, Medrash, Aritian, Croach

Endings

• Edna met her God (Edesia?), proving she really was a cleric all along. Edna ultimately sacrificed herself, taking Midnight's place in the Crown of Empyrosis to allow the team to finish the job.
• All four primordial artifacts were severed from the elemental planes, leaving them powerless trinkets.

• Red and Blumenthal jointly took over the Edesian in Galik. Blumenthal briefly reconnected with Dahlia, his once-coconspirator that had sold his recipes to the kobold "Snap Dragon" black market.
• Medrash inherited the title of Bronze General and led the Norixius clan in protecting Tenorixion's hoard.
• Kossuth bestowed the position of Flamekeeper to Aritian.
• Grindseed lost all four limbs in lava but never lost his hope while leading his nomadic bugbear tribe. He finally discovered the purpose of his Bag of Six Demons: to be epic merch of Marilith Manson and the Six Demons.
• Croach reunited with Bird Person.
• Andif, Croach, Dahlia, and possibly Grindseed embarked to seek revenge on the haughty Ison rich who had left the poor to freeze in the Arctic Autumn. Grindseed would always insist on journeying to the Plane of Fire to somehow rescue Edna's soul.