The story so far...
Following their adventures during the search for the Ten Tomes, Arcane Fire found themselves facing another change in fortune. Yomi and Silme had disappeared together, taking the Book of Vile Deeds with them. Whether this would eventually prove to be a blessing or a catastrophe remained to be seen, particularly given that Silme had seemingly taken it upon themselves to keep Yomi from getting into too much trouble.
The remaining members continued their travels, but they were not alone for long. Along the way, they encountered a familiar face: Hydrica, the Dragonborn bard who had previously been part of Arcane Fire. With her came a rather unusual new companion, BoBop Na'Faksgivan, or simply Bo, a self-proclaimed changeling currently presenting herself as a tiefling. An Eloquence Bard and Fey Warlock, Bo carried a rather distinctive spiked ukulele and seemed more than happy to demonstrate that she had other appearances available.
As it turned out, Bo had already managed to secure herself a place in Arcane Fire by secretly signing the band's contract through Hydrica. The others were somewhat less informed about this arrangement, but apparently the paperwork was already settled.
There was also a rather unsettling rumour circulating about a new College of Bards. This was supposedly an institution dedicated to removing or banning sound itself. It sounded ridiculous, and surely there couldn't be anything particularly sinister about a college that wanted everyone to stop making music. Still, it was a rumour worth remembering.
Their first major destination was Skalintown, a quiet mining settlement whose streets were almost completely deserted. The townsfolk watched nervously from behind closed windows, and the band's arrival was initially met with suspicion by Sheriff Ronald Gardner. Once convinced that the newcomers weren't bandits or members of the Calamity, the sheriff explained the town's predicament.
Skalintown was expecting an attack.
The Calamity was coming, and the inhabitants were divided between those preparing to fight, those packing their belongings to flee, and those apparently intending to drink their way through the impending disaster. Arcane Fire decided to help. The band joined the preparations, strengthening the town's defences and helping its people get ready for what was coming.
What followed was a sustained series of attacks, with the Calamity bringing wave after wave of danger to the settlement. The preparations, barricades and cooperation of the townsfolk would prove essential. Skalintown was not going to fall without a fight.
Having survived that crisis, the band found themselves drawn into a rather different sort of adventure: a mysterious gothic house, a storm, and an invitation to the Master's Midnight Masquerade.
What initially appeared to be an eccentric theatrical gathering soon became something considerably stranger. Riffraf welcomed the visitors, the Transylvanians performed their famous dance, and Frank-N-Furter made an entrance that was unlikely to be forgotten. The festivities moved from the ballroom to the laboratory, where a creature was brought into existence, before progressing through dinner, the floor show and the increasingly chaotic events of the masquerade.
Naturally, things did not remain a pleasant evening of entertainment. The masquerade turned deadly, and the house's inhabitants and guests became embroiled in a dangerous confrontation involving performances, rebellion and a mutiny.
The adventure also led the band towards the Tomb of Tarraketh Sorrowsong, a place steeped in the history of an ancient Orcish warlord who had pledged himself to demonic powers. Within this dark chapter of their travels, the band encountered the Blood Altar and the terrible machinery of soul extraction.
For Heironymo, the consequences were particularly personal. His soul was taken, leaving him in a state that threatened his very identity. The others were faced with the task of putting things right, eventually confronting the forces responsible and working towards the restoration of their friend's soul.
The crisis was eventually resolved, Tarraketh was confronted, and Heironymo's soul was restored. The experience left its mark, however, and the band subsequently shared a dream in which they encountered Inuaria, a minor goddess of music. Her appearance suggested that their adventures were becoming connected to something far greater than a collection of unusual performances and dangerous encounters.
Their travels continued through the troubles surrounding Werner Village and the Arcane Storm. A devastating quake and the need to save Marcia drew them into another sequence of challenges, followed by a series of trials involving strange chambers, puzzles and tests of their abilities. The compass rose, the flowers, the mirrors and the final challenge all stood between them and their objective.
Victory in the trials did not mean the danger was over. Gwenthas launched an assault, followed by an elemental attack, forcing the band to prove that their abilities extended well beyond playing instruments.
Another mystery then drew them towards a strange entity that had been appearing and stalking those unfortunate enough to cross its path. Investigations led to abandoned mines, a plan to lure the creature into a ritual, and eventually a confrontation that resulted in Percival being recovered. The goblins had also accumulated a rather impressive collection of stolen treasure, which provided an unexpected reward after all the trouble.
Leaving Troit and the mine behind, the band continued onwards.
Their next destination was the Storied Bastion, an extraordinary institution perched high above a wooded valley. Part academy, part retirement home and part enormous archive, it was dedicated to preserving the stories and achievements of bards throughout their lives.
The welcome was generous, although there was a price: visitors were expected to provide stories in exchange for accommodation and meals. The feasting hall was particularly lively, with young performers sharing favourite songs and older scholars recounting their adventures. The band were introduced to Nenji Sehnna, the elected head student, who showed them around the establishment.
They were also warned about the Bastion's fondness for secrets and its rather generous supply of wine, ale and mead.
The adventures continued through further encounters, including the events remembered in Tubthumping, and eventually brought Arcane Fire into the Legacy Vaults.
Here, the importance of their ongoing quest became increasingly apparent. The band had been searching for ways to improve and amplify their instruments, and two particular works had become central to that ambition: the Manual of Electric Amplification and the Manual of the Arcane Resonance Network.
The former promised a way to achieve the amplified sound they had been seeking. The latter offered a means of restoring the magical network through which resonance could travel.
But these were not simple books that could be picked up and read before heading off to the next tavern.
The Legacy Vaults, the Shadowspire and the strange Resonance Wraiths revealed that something much more complicated was happening. Musical pitch, rhythm and tone colour became important elements of the challenges ahead, while the band began to understand that the very foundations of magical sound were under threat.
They also encountered the wider consequences of the Colleges of Unsound and Silence, whose apparent interest in suppressing sound was becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss as a harmless rumour.
Along the way, there was still time for a festival, complete with food stalls, games, a haunted house and the usual opportunities for Arcane Fire to find themselves involved in something unexpected.
The Golden Dragon Magical Pawn Shop provided another memorable stop, complete with its own musical jingle, an assortment of magical goods and plenty of opportunities for trading.
Further encounters followed, including dangerous creatures, mimics, liches and the continuing threat of the Resonance Wraiths. The return to Shadowspire brought several of these musical mysteries together, while Gribble's actions in saving Hydrica provided another important moment for the band.
And so Arcane Fire found themselves once again facing an uncertain future.
They had survived the Calamity, gothic horrors, soul-stealing rituals, magical trials and increasingly strange encounters. They had reunited with old friends, acquired new companions and continued to develop their abilities as performers and adventurers.
But their greatest challenge was still ahead.
The first spire of the Arcane Resonance Network had been repaired, but the network was far from restored. The components needed for Electric Amplification had not yet been gathered, let alone assembled into the finished device.
The Colleges of Unsound and Silence remained out there, the Resonance Wraiths continued to threaten the world of music, and Shadowspire still held secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Arcane Fire had found the beginnings of a way to bring music back to the world. Now they would have to discover just how much the world stood to lose if they failed.
And, as always, there was probably a song about it somewhere.
Following their adventures during the search for the Ten Tomes, Arcane Fire found themselves facing another change in fortune. Yomi and Silme had disappeared together, taking the Book of Vile Deeds with them. Whether this would eventually prove to be a blessing or a catastrophe remained to be seen, particularly given that Silme had seemingly taken it upon themselves to keep Yomi from getting into too much trouble.
The remaining members continued their travels, but they were not alone for long. Along the way, they encountered a familiar face: Hydrica, the Dragonborn bard who had previously been part of Arcane Fire. With her came a rather unusual new companion, BoBop Na'Faksgivan, or simply Bo, a self-proclaimed changeling currently presenting herself as a tiefling. An Eloquence Bard and Fey Warlock, Bo carried a rather distinctive spiked ukulele and seemed more than happy to demonstrate that she had other appearances available.
As it turned out, Bo had already managed to secure herself a place in Arcane Fire by secretly signing the band's contract through Hydrica. The others were somewhat less informed about this arrangement, but apparently the paperwork was already settled.
There was also a rather unsettling rumour circulating about a new College of Bards. This was supposedly an institution dedicated to removing or banning sound itself. It sounded ridiculous, and surely there couldn't be anything particularly sinister about a college that wanted everyone to stop making music. Still, it was a rumour worth remembering.
Their first major destination was Skalintown, a quiet mining settlement whose streets were almost completely deserted. The townsfolk watched nervously from behind closed windows, and the band's arrival was initially met with suspicion by Sheriff Ronald Gardner. Once convinced that the newcomers weren't bandits or members of the Calamity, the sheriff explained the town's predicament.
Skalintown was expecting an attack.
The Calamity was coming, and the inhabitants were divided between those preparing to fight, those packing their belongings to flee, and those apparently intending to drink their way through the impending disaster. Arcane Fire decided to help. The band joined the preparations, strengthening the town's defences and helping its people get ready for what was coming.
What followed was a sustained series of attacks, with the Calamity bringing wave after wave of danger to the settlement. The preparations, barricades and cooperation of the townsfolk would prove essential. Skalintown was not going to fall without a fight.
Having survived that crisis, the band found themselves drawn into a rather different sort of adventure: a mysterious gothic house, a storm, and an invitation to the Master's Midnight Masquerade.
What initially appeared to be an eccentric theatrical gathering soon became something considerably stranger. Riffraf welcomed the visitors, the Transylvanians performed their famous dance, and Frank-N-Furter made an entrance that was unlikely to be forgotten. The festivities moved from the ballroom to the laboratory, where a creature was brought into existence, before progressing through dinner, the floor show and the increasingly chaotic events of the masquerade.
Naturally, things did not remain a pleasant evening of entertainment. The masquerade turned deadly, and the house's inhabitants and guests became embroiled in a dangerous confrontation involving performances, rebellion and a mutiny.
The adventure also led the band towards the Tomb of Tarraketh Sorrowsong, a place steeped in the history of an ancient Orcish warlord who had pledged himself to demonic powers. Within this dark chapter of their travels, the band encountered the Blood Altar and the terrible machinery of soul extraction.
For Heironymo, the consequences were particularly personal. His soul was taken, leaving him in a state that threatened his very identity. The others were faced with the task of putting things right, eventually confronting the forces responsible and working towards the restoration of their friend's soul.
The crisis was eventually resolved, Tarraketh was confronted, and Heironymo's soul was restored. The experience left its mark, however, and the band subsequently shared a dream in which they encountered Inuaria, a minor goddess of music. Her appearance suggested that their adventures were becoming connected to something far greater than a collection of unusual performances and dangerous encounters.
Their travels continued through the troubles surrounding Werner Village and the Arcane Storm. A devastating quake and the need to save Marcia drew them into another sequence of challenges, followed by a series of trials involving strange chambers, puzzles and tests of their abilities. The compass rose, the flowers, the mirrors and the final challenge all stood between them and their objective.
Victory in the trials did not mean the danger was over. Gwenthas launched an assault, followed by an elemental attack, forcing the band to prove that their abilities extended well beyond playing instruments.
Another mystery then drew them towards a strange entity that had been appearing and stalking those unfortunate enough to cross its path. Investigations led to abandoned mines, a plan to lure the creature into a ritual, and eventually a confrontation that resulted in Percival being recovered. The goblins had also accumulated a rather impressive collection of stolen treasure, which provided an unexpected reward after all the trouble.
Leaving Troit and the mine behind, the band continued onwards.
Their next destination was the Storied Bastion, an extraordinary institution perched high above a wooded valley. Part academy, part retirement home and part enormous archive, it was dedicated to preserving the stories and achievements of bards throughout their lives.
The welcome was generous, although there was a price: visitors were expected to provide stories in exchange for accommodation and meals. The feasting hall was particularly lively, with young performers sharing favourite songs and older scholars recounting their adventures. The band were introduced to Nenji Sehnna, the elected head student, who showed them around the establishment.
They were also warned about the Bastion's fondness for secrets and its rather generous supply of wine, ale and mead.
The adventures continued through further encounters, including the events remembered in Tubthumping, and eventually brought Arcane Fire into the Legacy Vaults.
Here, the importance of their ongoing quest became increasingly apparent. The band had been searching for ways to improve and amplify their instruments, and two particular works had become central to that ambition: the Manual of Electric Amplification and the Manual of the Arcane Resonance Network.
The former promised a way to achieve the amplified sound they had been seeking. The latter offered a means of restoring the magical network through which resonance could travel.
But these were not simple books that could be picked up and read before heading off to the next tavern.
The Legacy Vaults, the Shadowspire and the strange Resonance Wraiths revealed that something much more complicated was happening. Musical pitch, rhythm and tone colour became important elements of the challenges ahead, while the band began to understand that the very foundations of magical sound were under threat.
They also encountered the wider consequences of the Colleges of Unsound and Silence, whose apparent interest in suppressing sound was becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss as a harmless rumour.
Along the way, there was still time for a festival, complete with food stalls, games, a haunted house and the usual opportunities for Arcane Fire to find themselves involved in something unexpected.
The Golden Dragon Magical Pawn Shop provided another memorable stop, complete with its own musical jingle, an assortment of magical goods and plenty of opportunities for trading.
Further encounters followed, including dangerous creatures, mimics, liches and the continuing threat of the Resonance Wraiths. The return to Shadowspire brought several of these musical mysteries together, while Gribble's actions in saving Hydrica provided another important moment for the band.
And so Arcane Fire found themselves once again facing an uncertain future.
They had survived the Calamity, gothic horrors, soul-stealing rituals, magical trials and increasingly strange encounters. They had reunited with old friends, acquired new companions and continued to develop their abilities as performers and adventurers.
But their greatest challenge was still ahead.
The first spire of the Arcane Resonance Network had been repaired, but the network was far from restored. The components needed for Electric Amplification had not yet been gathered, let alone assembled into the finished device.
The Colleges of Unsound and Silence remained out there, the Resonance Wraiths continued to threaten the world of music, and Shadowspire still held secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Arcane Fire had found the beginnings of a way to bring music back to the world. Now they would have to discover just how much the world stood to lose if they failed.
And, as always, there was probably a song about it somewhere.
Comments
Post a Comment