The Sundered Isles – Arborean Tears Creative Studio

Session 1: The Relentless

[Nov 7th, 2024]

In a section of the myriads known as the Morien Pit, three travelers arrive on the small island of Taura, heading to the large city of the same name that makes up the bulk of the island. They arrive by merchant ship, but due to the small harbor on the island, they are forced to board a small row-boat to be dropped off at the docks with many other travelers.

One traveler is Elwin, known as Ignus Fatuus. He is 37 years old and hails from the secret islands of the Qan, but he was banished from that society over 15 years ago. He is scarred with burns and wears elaborate fingerless gloves. He has a very serious and obsessive demeanor. He currently is searching for the source of the Relentless undead, the fabled Necropolis. He believes it may be located on the nearby withered island and seeks the wisdom of a local mystic witch called Stormcrow.

The next traveler is Mayfield Goodwin, known as the Mad. He is 25 years old and is quite tall and bulky. He was also raised in Qan society, but was banished as he began to display magical powers of shapeshifting into a powerful cat-like creature. He also seems to have an affinity for cats and travels with a jungle cat companion. He has a long beard strung with elaborate braids and colorful beads. He is gruff and powerful. He seeks to comprehend the magic that flows through him. He has just recently met up with Elwin, glad to have found another banished member of the Qan. He also seeks Stormcrow to learn more about his powers.

The third traveler is Zoro Shaw, known as Deadeye. He is a 24 year old swashbuckler and pirate and a member of the Visen Arrows society. He is bombastic, flashy, but cunning. He carries a brace of pistols with skulls on the handles. He has fled from his home after being accused for being a spy of the Ishana Ascendency Empire. He seeks to restore his name and honor. He travels to Taura to seek his former mentor known as Patch.

The island of Taura is surrounded by high cliffs except for a small cleft where the small harbor sits. A paved road climbs up the cleft to the basin plateau where the walled city is crammed on the small island. Taura is an industrial city, with numerous plumes of smoke and steam belching out into the dusk sky. As the travelers clamor down the road together, the sky grows dark and a thick fog blocks the sky.

It is then that the many travelers become aware of the clamoring sounds of the soggy dead, it is the Relentless, the undead scourge that has become more common in these parts. In the faint light of the torches, the water-sodden corpses shamble towards the travelers. In the chaos that followed, one of the corpses reached for Mayfield, but the giant man rips the creature’s arm off. Elwin falls into his command experience and organizes the travelers to defend the unarmed as they rush towards the city’s gate. The signs of wear on the gate reveals this is not the first time the city of Taura has dealt with attacks from the Relentless.

Zoro rushes to catch up with the group, trying to avoid the undead, but he trips and falls behind. Mayfield grabs a nearby log and rolls it down upon the dead, slowing their momentum. Elwin blows into his torch into a wide inferno, scorching the dead that come close to the back of the fleeing travelers. Zoro tries to catch up, but he is assaulted by a few remaining dead. He kicks and punches at them as they grab him. They manage to tear at his arm, leaving bleeding gashes, but Zoro is able to knock them down in the process.

Session 2: Spies in Taura

[Nov 21st, 2024]

The three travelers reach the gates of the city, leaving the Relentless behind. Once inside the city walls, they meet a desperate middle-aged woman looking for her father. Her name is Blythe Hale, the medicinalist. She says her father is missing, he was with them when they left the boat, but she lost track of him during the undead attack. Elwin is disinterested, but Mayfield and Zoro swear an iron vow to go look for him. Elwin reluctantly agrees to follow.

They are able to trick the undead outside to follow a diversion as they make their way back tot he beachhead. It is there that they find the dead body of her father, Santos. He has seemingly been killed by a poisoned dart in his neck. It is like one of those used by Ishana assassins. There must be a spy among those that arrived today.

The heroes return to the city and tell Blythe what they found. She says her father knew who among the city were spies and she has a list of their names, including Hannah Yarrow a corrupt city official. Mayfield and Zoro swear a vow to protect Blythe from the Ishana assassins, while Elwin swears a vow to find more information about the spy network in Taura.

They spend the night in a nondescript inn, where Zoro finds he is allergic to one of Blythe’s tinctures. The next morning, they ask around town. Elwin and Mayfield learn that Stormcrow the witch is on a small nearby island. Zoro learns that Patch is missing and his whereabouts are unknown.

The heroes then rent a rowboat and head to the small island and meet with Stormcrow. The old, strange woman tells Elwin that the Relentless may be coming from the ruins of the Ancients on the barren island of Ashraven a few days from here. Mayfield then reveals his shapeshifting powers and Stormcrow suggests he may learn more in those Ancient ruins. Zoro then convinces Stormcrow to look out for Blythe in the meantime, as she needs to remain safe from Ishana spies.

The heroes then head over to the Novsk refugee camp where they ask about Patch and Ishana spies. Zoro learns that Patch was helping the camp with supplies, but hasn’t returned for a regular shipment. Elwin learns that the Ishana spies have infiltrated much of the city and are trying to take it over with Hannah’s influence.

The heroes decide to pursue the Ancient ruins on Ashraven. The heroes return to Taura and spend a couple days splitting their efforts. Zoro tries to tail one of the suspected Ishana agents, but is nearly caught before he flees. He is sure they got a good look at him too. Mayfield lends his labor in exchange for supplies and goods for the journey. Elwin researches Ashraven and learns that the Relentless in this area are seemingly more numerous, but less cognizant than the undead he has fought in the past.

The heroes then seek to recruit a crew for their overland expedition and find 4 crewmembers to join them, but it costs them more silver than they would like.

Session 3: The Rebellion

[Dec 5th, 2024]

The heroes prepare their crew for the upcoming expedition to Ashraven to find the ruins of the Ancients. However, the heroes learn that a Ishana corvette ship has docked in the bay outside Taura and is blocking all traffic to and from the island. it seems to be blocking their chance to leave, not that they have found transportation anyway.

Zoro decides to spy on the Ishana delegation from the new ship, and tracks them to the Taura Trade Commission office. Elwin happened to be there talking with the commisioner, when their meeting is cut short so that the commissioner can talk with the Ishana delegates. Elwin listens in and learns that the Ishana are here to negotiate weapons contracts and that the ship will likely be there for the time being, likely as leverage for the trade deal. Meanwhile, Mayfield views the Ishana ship from the beach and notices that it seems to have minimal crew left onboard and may be vulnerable.

The heroes decide to gather a group together to take the Ishana ship by force. Elwin and Zoro gather a large crowd of interested Taurans into the back room of a tavern. Mayfield then begins with a rousing speech to get them to join them. However, the Ishana had spies among them. These two mercenaries draw swords and strike at the heroes. The battle is quick and fierce, with all three of the heroes taking a wound. Mayfield incidentily transforms into his beast-like cat form and he eats one of the mercenaries. Elwin finds a letter on the mercenaries that describe the three of them in detail along with an apartment key. The heroes prevail and Elwin burns their bodies before the heroes escape into the dark alleys.

Zoro locates the apartment and finds it near empty and little used. They decide to use it to hide out and get some rest. Hidden in the apartment, Elwin finds a letter detailing that the mercenaries were hired to collect the bounty on Elwin by the Ishana Ascendancy for a debt he owes for losing a ship out at sea. He takes the letter and decides not to tell his friends about it.

A couple of days go by as the heroes build up anti-Ishana sentiment in Taura, hoping to garner enough support to help them take the ship by force. They are far more careful about screening potential people and are able to gather a crowd together again. This time Mayfield stirs them into a violent frenzy eager to enact revenge on the Ishana. The heroes, however, have to calm the rebels a bit as they locate weapons and other armaments for their makeshift mob.

Eventually, the heroes lead the mob in a well-orchestrated and planned assault on the ship. They sneak to the beach at dusk, and covertly row their way to the ship as night falls. The rebels, numbering 20-30 people then sneak on board and systematically kill the guards on the ship. The ship is theirs!

The heroes then swear a vow to the mob, that if they help crew the ship for thier expeidti0on to Ashraven, they’ll help them expose the corruption of the Ishana within Taura. The heroes also find Lucas Bates, an old acquaintance of Zoro in the brig. He is a troublesome singer and troubadour. The heroes bring the stolen ship to the small island to pick up Blythe as they then prepare their longer trip to Ashraven. Elwin finally connects with Blythe as they find their fates bound together.

Session 4: Dreadnaughts and Ashraven

[Dec 20th, 2024]

Onboard their new captured ship, the Bloodhawk, Elwin and the others check for signs of the Ishana crew to see how soldiers and delegates many might be in Taura right now. Elwin makes a stunning discovery, however. According to the ship’s log, a huge dreadnaught-class ship called the Supremacy, is enroute to Taura to fully blockade the city. They Ishana rightly suspect Taura has been involved in smuggling weapons to their enemies and the Ishana want to control Taura’s weapons manufactories.

The next morning, Elwin, Zoro, and Mayfield make their way back into Taura in order to find a council member that can help them expose the Ishana spies in the city. Elwin tries to get into the city records to see if the legislative records indicate who they might be able to trust. However, he finds that his contact was really an Ishana agent, who attacks him and cuts him before Elwin manages to escape into the crowded streets. Meanwhile, Mayfield tries to get information from some friendly rebels, but they are reluctant to share sensitive information with the outsider. Mayfield resorts to threats and intimidation, souring his relationship with the contact, but he learns that Alisa Qadir is a council member who is friendly with the rebels, but they know the Ishana are watching her carefully.

Zoro decided to follow one of the council members after a session, coincidentily following a finely-dressed woman, Alisa Qadir. He follows her into the back of a weapons shop where she seems to meet with Jasper Kwan, something she apparently does regularly. He was the rebel weapons-dealer that armed the rebels to take the Bloodhawk. Zoro speaks with Jasper afterwards to arrange a meeting with Councilwoman Qadir, but it takes some time.

Eventually, after a day, they meet with Alisa Qadir secretly in the back of Jasper’s workshop. Alisa explains that while the Ishana are unlikely to take Taura by force, the Supremacy could blockade and stop the flow of much needed food into the city, effectively starving the city. The heroes share their information about the Ishana spies, especially Hannah Yarrow on the council. Elwin then speaks up about a desperate plan, to head to Ashraven and find the secret that draws the Relentless to the island. Perhaps they can use this item or information to draw the Relentless to the Ishana and end the blockade. Mayfield convinces Alisa to agree to their crazy plan.

The heroes take off immediately, taking the Bloodhawk and their rebellious crew on a sea-voyage to Ashraven. That night, Mayfield and Blythe bond over their worries with Taura and Blythe missing her father. The next morning, the heroes see a small flotilla with a corvette flagship, a tilting galleon, and a small sloop. They fly the flags of the Visen Arrows. As they approach, the ship warns them that they are blockading the way on behalf of the Ishana Ascendancy. Elwin lies to them and convinces them they are on a secret mission for the Ishana. The flotilla allows them to pass. That night they also see a small sloop in the distance, but they ignore it.

The next day they come close to Ashraven but their ship suddenly encounters rocky shoals. Elwin shouts commands to the crew to act quickly. Mayfield leads the crew to drop the anchor before they crush their ship on the rocks. They barely succeed. They have reached the shores of the lava-fields of Ashraven. The heroes prepare their expedition crew (of four people) and Blythe decides to join them. Lucas Bates (the troubadour) and the crew will hold anchor in a hidden cove until the heroes return.

The heroes make quick progress across the rocky, barren landscape of Ashraven. They gray and blackened plains offer now comfort or respite. They come across a large magma fissure and later a river of lava that winds its way through the blackened landscape. A couple days later, they come across devastated ash-caked structures, remnants of buildings, perhaps. While resting, Elwin discovers a metal trapdoor into what was once a cellar, but finds a cavern with a magma flow. However, he discovers strange phosphorescent mushrooms that illuminate the cavern in a soft blue glow. Elwin and Blythe bond over the mystical discovery, both of them grab samples for later study.

The next day, they begin to climb up into the mountainous landscape near a trio of volcanoes that lazily spew plumes of ashy smoke. During the climb, one of the crew members, Chester Ronaldson, slips and tumbles down the rocky hill.

Session 5: The Ruins of Ashraven

[Jan 2nd, 2025]

As Chester begins to tumble down the hill, Zoro thinks fast and slides down the gravel along the side of the hill and catches Chester by the hand before he tumbles off the cliffside. Chester dangles over the edge for a moment until the others arrive to help Zoro pull him up. During the ruckus, a small pack of supplies tumbled down and was lost.

The expedition continues onward, coming down into a wide valley and they attempt to climb the far side. To the north, a lava pool glistens above them, with hardened obsidian around it, keeping it contained. THen out of a nearby lava tube, a massive whale-sized obsidian snake charges out at them. It’s teeth glistening black in the ashen-faded light. The group is immediately demoralized as they realize they have few places to run.

Zoro points out some lava tubes on the far side of the valley as Mayfield encourages everyone to run. Elwin leads the expedition team and Blythe. Zoro rushes to the front of the group, but finds the snake is quicker and cuts them off. Mayfield separates from the others and climbs above the snake, kicking down rocks and boulders at it from above. Unfortunately, some of the rocks tumble into Zoro, and he takes a few hits. Mayfield yells out for the others to head to the lava pool and they do, the snake seems hesitant to follow.

Zoro tries to get up and catch up to the others, but the snake slams him incidentally with its long tail as it chases after Mayfield. Mayfield continues to run towards the lava pool with the snake behind him. Zoro takes cover behind a boulder as rocks tumble behind the snake. Mayfield frantically looks for a way to trap the snake, but finds nothing as the snake leaves him trapped between it and the lava pool. Zoro sneaks high above the snake as Mayfield is attacked. Mayfield fends off the bites but is injured but the creature’s bulk. This injury forces his transformation and Mayfield shapechanges into a large cat.

Zoro kicks down some rocks to cause a minor avalanche to injure the snake. Elwin leads the others to safety, but find that beyond the lava pool is a dead-end, a sheer drop into a chasm. Mayfield and Ramsey leap upon the snake biting and thrashing, making them both vulnerable. The snake comes barreling towards Zoro with the two cats on its body. Zoro blasts it with a flurry of pistol shots. It stops and screams in pain. The snake then throws off Ramsey and Mayfield, sending them tumbling into the rocks. Zoro then reloads and comes around a boulder blasting the snake again, but leaving himself exposed.

The snake bounds on Ramsey and Mayfield, but the two cats avoid the attack and leap upon the snake again, going for its eyes. However, they are flung off again, with Ramsey being bitten by the snake, taking an injury. The snake then turns to Zoro and snaps towards him. Zoro respondes with another flurry of pistol shots, blasting through the snake’s open mouth and blasting out its brain. The massive beast falls at Zoro’s feet, sending gravel skittering down the hill below it. The heroes spend some time to let Blythe treat their wounds and to catch their breath. Thankfully, the wounds are not so severe, and the heroes are ready to press on.

The expedition crests over the next hill and find the grand ruins of Ashraven. What was once an open town scattered in a valley, is now covered in a thick layer of hardened obsidian with a few lava tubes and entrances into the underground remnants of the ruins. Near the entrance of the tubes, the heroes find the black, glass-like cracked remnants of obsidian snake eggs. The expedition finds a remnant of a building sticking out of the glassy ruins and enter into the darkness.

The first chamber is a basecamp of a seemingly previous expedition, one that came here long ago. They are able to take some of the previous group’s supplies and decide to rest for the night. The next morning, they set out through the underground ruins. They step through a series of carved passages that have been cut out of the rock recently, likely by the previous expedition. They then come across the lair of the obsidian snake, finding a live egg. Mayfield bashes the egg and finds goo on the inside.

In a side chamber, they find a scroll left by the previous expedition that details an artifact called the Shadow’s Calling, a mysterious orb that seems to draw the Relentless towards it. Elwin also find a mysterious curved dagger created by the ancients of this city. The expedition then finds a secret door that leads into a hall with faded frescoes. They learn that a pre-sunder civilization dwelt here long before it was lava fields, before the world was sundered. They find evidence that the people found a meteorite that landed nearby and they fashioned it into an orb.

The heroes the come across a tomb that seems safe and out of the way. Mayfield and Zoro spend a moment to bond, boosting Zoro’s morale as he was beginning to have some dark thoughts about the expedition. The group then heads into a narrow lava tunnel, which immediately loses stability and rocks tumble down on the expedition. Zoro leads the others with a quick dash, as Mayfield tries to hold the rocks back. Thankfully, no one is seriously injured.

They then come across a chamber with six crystals in the ceiling with beams of light shooting down on six people wearing old-style clothes who seemed trapped in stasis by the light enveloping them up on short daises. Zoro tries to sneak past the crystals, but it “sees” him and he is captured by a light beam that replaces one of the people on a dais with himself, now in stasis. The older man who was freed, falls unconscious on the ground.

Mayfield throws a rock at the crystal above Zoro, it bounces off and all the crystals glow red for a moment and discharge electricity. One of the crystals then fires a red beam downward and disintegrates the body below it.

Session 6: The Orb of Shadow’s Calling

[Jan 16th, 2025]

Wanting to save Zoro, Elwin carefully examines the crystals and finds a set of control crystals embedded into the nearby wall. He begins to manipulate them erroneously and another person caught in the stasis field is immediately vaporized by another beam of energy. Elwin makes some more assumptions about how the device works, and despite his conclusion being wrong, he gets lucky and inadvertently releases all those in the stasis fields and the device is disabled.

One of those freed is a young man named Merick who introduces himself. Zoro talks with him and learns that their expedition was trapped her 42 years ago. Unfortunately, Elwin just accidentily vaporized their expeidtion leader and chief archaeologist, Delguard. The second in command, an old woman named Meera Ashcroft shares what little they know about the ruins of Ashraven.

Zoro tries to befriend them as they share their food and water with the released time-travelers, however, the seem to learn that Zoro, based on his tattoos, is a member of the Visen Arrows, and this puts them off. They are of the Ishana, and in there time the Visen Arrows was still at war with the Ishana Empire.

After the break, the heroes lead the crew into the next chamber, which seems to be a small altar room with a strange semi-translucent smooth orb up on a pedestal. It is the Shadow’s Calling. Elwin carefully grabs the orb and tucks it into his bag. The heroes then lead the crew quickly out of ruins towards the surface.

As the heroes head out of the complex, the Relentless, driven by the power of the orb begin shuffling in to block their way. The heroes find themselves trapped in a large chamber with the undead pouring in through the side doors. Zoro tries to rush foward, but gets surrounded. Mayfield throws a column of stone to clear the way around Zoro, but finds himself now surrounded.

Elwin tries to push the group through the room as the others distract the zombies. Zoro blasts them with his pistols, but finds he is out of readied guns. Mayfield rips out the arms of some of the zombies and uses them as weapons against the throng. Mayfield is hit and transforms to his monstrous cat form, leaping into the fray to bite, scratch, and tear through the throng. Elwin uses his fire magic to blast at the zombies, but leaves Blythe and the crew exposed. Zoro is hit hard and tries to flee and crawls to safety, arming his pistols and blasts away the zombies near the crew.

Mayfield continues to fight off the horde of zombies, but takes a few hits, as does Ramsey. Elwin tries to escape, but doesn’t get very far. Zoro then fires at the zombies around Elwin, freeing him from the zombies, but finds himself cornered. Elwin then summons more fire magic, blasting the way clear. Mayfield pushes through the clearing, leading the way with everyone behind them as the zombies continue to pursue them. The heroes make it out of the ruins and rush back across the ash-laden landscape towards the ship. The zombies do not follow them outside.

After two quick days, they reach the ship, finding it ready to launch immediately. They set sail and take off towards Taura. Mayfield and Zoro both form a keen bond and friendship with Blythe after the experience. Meanwhile, Elwin studies the orb and learns that it is a weaker portion of the same magic that created the Relentless in the first place. He spends the next couple days studying the orb and enhancing his own knowledge of magic and sorcery. After that journey, Mayfield is enthused with overland travel, and Zoro decides to keep a trusty blunderbuss on hand after the zombie attack. On the ship, Zoro and Mayfield are treated by Blythe, Elwin opts for someone else on the crew to treat him. Zoro feels dismayed by his wounds.

During the trip back to Taura, the Bloodhawk runs into the Supremacy, the dreadnaught they knew was heading for Taura. It is a clear afternoon and they see it from afar and are likewise seen by their ship. They consider flying the burned out Ishana flag that once adorned the vessel, but decide instead to stay their course and outrun it to Taura. However, the wind seems to work against them and they only drift closer and closer to the Supremacy’s weapons range. Nestled in Elwin’s travel bags, the orb thrums with dark power, as if projecting misfortune to their interwoven fates.

Session 7: A Narrow Escape

[Feb 13th, 2025]

The heroes rush to aid the ship. They try to get the ship to turn around and use the gusts of wind to help them flee, even though it is away from Taura. However, as the ship turns, a crewmember is knocked overboard by a swinging spar. Mayfield rushes to save the man, throwing a barrel and rope and pulling him up. The Supremacy keeps gaining on them, cutting off their angle.

Elwin disappears into the crew cabins, losing himself as he gazes at the orb. Mayfield takes command in Elwin’s absence, he heads down to the hold with some crew and they begin dumping extra supplies to lighten the ship. Zoro drops down to the cannon deck and has them prepare the cannons for when the Supremacy is within firing range. Mayfield then gets the crew to position the sails to maximize the wind. Zoro helps steer the rudder and the Bloodhawk sails quickly, but the Supremacy is aimed to cut them off.

Mayfield climbs the mast and helps push the final sail into position, the ship lurches forward as the wind takes it. However, the Supremacy is now within cannons range. A barrage of cannons fire at the Bloodhawk, smoke fills the gap between the ships. Thankfully, Zoro is able to quickly steer the ship and avoid the deadly barrage. Mayfield heads down to the hold again and grabs whatever he can find to bolster the hull and reinforce it. Cannon fire slams the Bloodhawk, but Mayfield’s bolster helps keep it together.

Zoro returns to the cannon deck and commands them to return fire, blasting away at the large ship. The two ships exchange more fire and the Bloodhawk takes a few hits. Mayfield takes the wheel and has the Bloodhawk avoid slamming into an atoll ahead as more cannon fire is exchanged. Mayfield and Zoro both suffer assault as a few cannons strike the Bloodhawk. Mayfield is able to resist his transformation. The Supremacy closes the gap and they fire grappling hooks to catch and pull the Bloodhawk next to their enormous vessel.

Numerous Ishana soldiers drop rope and climb aboard the Bloodhawk, firing pistols and drawing sabres. Mayfield and Zoro shout to the crew to prepare the dinghys and escape. The enemies outnumber the Bloodhawk’s crew at least ten to one. Mayfield leaps into melee fighting off the invaders, but this keeps him quite occcupied. Zoro manages to sneak away from the enemies coming down into the cannon deck and he slips into the crew quarters. He manages to break Elwin out of his dark trance and Elwin snaps out of it. He hands Zoro the Shadow’s Calling and rushes to help the crew escape with his sorcery. Zoro takes the orb and sneaks back to the top deck with a side ladder.

Mayfield fights for his life, surroudned by enemies. He takes a hit and immediately transforms into a large cat. This frightens his enemies and he tears into them, felling many. But more take their place. He keeps the enemies distracted as the remaining crew get the dinghys ready for escape.

Zoro swings by a rope to the side of the Supremacy and climbs to a cannon window and throws the Shadow’s Calling inside the ship. He then finds he is fired upon by enemies shooting pistols from the Bloodhawk’s deck. He uses the rope to run sideways along the side of the Supremacy, avoiding the gunfire. He then spots Lucas fighting for his life and taking a mortal wound as a sabre pierces his chest. Zoro is forced to flee the other way, unable to save Lucas who drops dead to the ground.

The topdeck of the Bloodhawk partially collapses, leaving Mayfield cut off from the crew and the dinghys. Zoro lands on the Bloodhawk and blasts the nearby enemies with his scattershot, opening a way towards Mayfield. Mayfield then tears through the enemies, Zoro leaps upon Mayfield’s cat-form back, as Mayfield grabs Ramsey by his neck scruff in his mouth. Mayfield then pushes through the remaining enemies and leaps out into the water towards the escaping dinghys.

Mayfield returns to his normal form as he and Zoro climb aboard a dinghy with four crew. Elwin and Blythe are in the other dinghy with another four crewmembers. Only 8 crew survived the attack, all the expedition crew and the ancient people they found in the ruins were killed. The two dinghys desperately make distance from the ships, heading towards the atoll they passed. Zoro tries to improve morale with a speech, but his shaken voice only demoralizes them.

Mayfield grabs a crewmember who has seemingly given up and stopped rowing, tossing him into the ocean behind them. Morale immediately improves as they all row furiously to appease the angry Mayfield. Zoro is appalled and throws a rope to the man, but he is too exhausted to hold on and he drowns before Zoro’s eyes. Before Zoro can complain to Mayfield, the large man simply barks at Zoro to row as well.

The two dinghys reach the atoll, with everyone collapsing on the sandy beach beneath the few scattered palm and coconut trees that adorn the sparse island. In the distance, they see the two ships working on repairs.

Session 8: Return to Taura

[Feb 27th, 2025]

Elwin gathers their supplies together and ensures they have enough to get by for the time being.
Mayfield makes a camp and everyone rests overnight. The heroes spend the rest of the evening reflecting on what happened.
Flashback of Elwin exploring the void depths of the orb.
Blythe treats Zoro and Mayfield as Elwin meditates on his magical fire.
Mayfield and Zoro have a heart-to-heart to discuss what happened, but Mayfield doesn’t feel like he did anything wrong.
Zoro argues with Elwin to reign Mayfield in, Elwin promises to help.
Zoro watches both ships sail away as he watches the sun set.
Elwin then talks to Mayfield to tell him to be softer towards Zoro. Mayfield gives minor reassurance to Zoro.
Elwin leads the team to build a catamaran with the two dinghys as Zoro checks the supplies.
The heroes set out on the catamaran and come across the Bloodhawk, they decide to send Mayfield down to explore, and he runs into a hungry shark.
Zoro tries to help, but Mayfield punches the shark in the face and swims away to the catamatan.
They then come across a small ruined worn pyramid, Zoro swims out to it to pull the catamaran closer, and cuts himself on some rocks.
Zoro finds a message written by the Qan, it seems some died upon this ruin as the Relentless overcame them.
The next evening, they watch the setting sun, they spot a pirate vessel, a sloop that moves in towards them with 20 crew on board. They get close into pistol range
COMBAT
Elwin falls back to dodge shots as firing blast back and forth.
Zoro leads with a blast of pistols, but he finds they have more firepower and he is forced to seek cover.
Mayfield dives into the water and swims towards the encroaching vessel.
Elwin is being blasted by gunfire, but he manages to find a secure spot.
Elwin coordinates the crew into an active defense as the pirate ship gets closer.
Mayfield reaches the other vessel and climbs the rope, but its cut and he drops hard into the water.
Zoro is forced to drop to the ground and hide from the blasts, he is grazed in the calf but rolls with the shot and pulls out his scattershot, driving fear into the nearby pirates.
The ships collide and the pirates leap aboard with sabres drawn.
Elwin blasts them with fire as as they leap aboard, the pirates are scorched to ash.
Zoro then emerges and blasts the pirates with his scattershot, driving holes into many of them. Unfortunately he is now exposed.
Mayfield tries to swim away as they shoot at him, but takes a shot in the ass near his spine.
Elwin steps up and blasts the remaining pirates with intense flames, but he also finds that his new sorcery from the Shadow’s Calling interacts with him. THe flames are tinged with black sorcery and it ricochets back on him and burns his own flesh.
EXPEDITION:
The heroes claim the pirate sloop for their own, but they lose two more crew members.
The heroes spot a galleon in the distance struggling against a whirpool, they fly the Novsk Beacons flag, a gorgon. As the heroes continue on, they see the galleon get pulled below the sea.
The heroes come across a schooner flying an independent flag of a wolf. They were whale hunters. They learn that the blockade is active, but no Relentless have been seen.
The heroes arrive outside Taura where they see the Supremacy docked, blockading the port.
The heroes get their sloop to Stormcrow’s island to speak with the old wise woman.
What does she know of the Shadow’s Calling?

Session 9: The Rebellion

[Mar 27th, 2025]

Stormcrow relays a failed expedition of Taurans to find the Shadow’s Calling many years ago.
Stormcrow tells of a underwater cavern that connects up to Taura.
Heal and gather supplies
Mayfield and Elwin bond as Mayfield is worried about the Shadow’s Calling’s hold on Elwin.
SEA CAVE
Waterfall, blocked path by rocks, but underwater way through.
Zoro fights off a venomous snake.
Elwin dries out things with his fire.
Find a letter from Alisa Qadir (councilmember) seeking help form the Visen Arrows.
Centipedes attack, burned by Elwin.
Multilevel cavern, rising up.
Maze like wet tunnels. Explore them, run into dragon-like snake.
COMBAT
Elwin leads the way reversing down a different tunnel.
Mayfield waits and strikes at the creature as it turns the corner. The spear pierces deep into its face.
Zoro rushes in and blasts it with his scattershot, it writhes and bites at him.
Mayfield pulls the spear back and jabs the spear through its lower jaw into its skull.
EXIT
The heroes then find the exit of the cavern and through the woods and enter into Taura.
The heroes reach Alisa Qadir’s door, but find they are ambushed by prepared soldiers.
COMBAT
Elwin blasts open the door with sorcery and they are able to rush inside.
Guards press into Zoro but he whips out his scattergun and blasts them and joins the escape.
Mayfield topples some boxes, blocking the way into house.
Elwin scans the house and finds a backdoor and hears Alisa screaming.
Mayfield moves some furniture to block the way in.
The heroes push through the back door and escape into the alley, with Mayfield taking the injured Alisa over his shoulder.
EXIT
The heroes are now wanted for kidnapping Alisa and they cannot find a safehouse and must stay on the move.
The heroes then hide out at Blythe’s apartment. Blythe treats Alisa. They learn the the Ishana have all but taken over with hundreds of soldiers. There are two administrators that have the authority to force a vassalage of Taura. One is in governor’s mansion in the city, the other is on the Supremacy.
Elwin learns that the city administrator goes for a walk each evening in the woods outside the city.
The heroes ambush and capture the administrator and use him as bait.
The heroes head to the shore, and find the Relentless gathering around docks.
The Supremacy blasts the undead with cannon fire.
The heroes return to Taura and try to rally the townspeople, but they meet fear and resistance.
Zoro eventually is able to spread the word secretly and there is a large gathering of Taurans despite the Ishana guards. The people are roused against the guards and they execute the administrator.
The heroes lead battalions of rebels against the Ishana and run them out of the city.
The Relentless surround the waters underneath the Supremacy.

Epilogue

[Apr 10th, 2025]

The heroes lead the rebellion to drive out the soldiers of the Ishana Ascendancy. Meanwhile, the Relentless climb the Supremacy’s anchor and get onto the ship. The ship erupts into chaos which eventually leads a desperate soldier to light up the black-powder room. The ship explodes, felling the Relentless and defeating the Ishana Ascendancy’s blockade on Taura. The Shadow’s Calling was blasted far into the sky and is presumed to be lost somewhere deep in the ocean.