Velborough O's

Velborough Woes
Date	05/03/23
Storyteller	Indi
Tier	"Easy"
Player Characters	Illiam Elro, Shreex, Ishi, Sutton, Raijin, Benny Shadetree
Rewards	2x Elixr of Life, 3x Potion of Healing, Prayer Beads, Scroll of Heal, Incomplete Ritual of Fey Abeyance, 325xp
Result	Survived! Barely!
Author	Illiam

Illiam's perspective on The Velborough Sessions.

Part 1: Velborough Woes

After a day's travel, we approached the settlement of Velborough and spoke to Liandra about the temple of Gorum in her dimly lit manor. We were served *white* wine, Apocalypse Wine it's called. Very expensive, 13 plat a bottle.

More towards the mission, Gorum's temple was rumored to be overrun with wild beasts. Getting through that was going to be annoying if we want to keep the artifacts intact. AND OF COURSE, we stumble upon a UNIBUNNY!!! I say of course, I never expected to see a bunny trying to tie a bell to an urn. It didn't take long for us to figure out why, once Benny got a bell spat back in his face and some animals started to get mighty mad about it.

For some reason, it worked when he made choo-choo noises at the urn. It was kind of cute.

The animals were behaving strangely through the whole time, sometimes they were rabid and other times they were just out of their heads...

Except a single snake, that didn't cast a shadow, and turned out to be some sorta evil toothy creature. It smirked at me. We had a feeling that it wasn't most of those creatures faults, though... So we knocked 'em out as best we could. It was goddamn difficult, even AFTER Benny opened the mud pit. We stopped being so nice when they started knocking us dead left and right!!!

Eventually we were able to complete the ritual, barring a few teeth. Whoever said this mission was simple on the flyers must've been out of their mind!

Velborough Lows
Date	05/06/23
Storyteller	Indi
Tier	Trainee, Hard
Player Characters	Raijin, Benny Shadetree, Zeal, Kali, Ishi, Illiam Elro, Tuli Mrysky
Rewards	20gp, 225xp
Result	Success..? We fixed the drainage issue, that's for sure.
Author	Illiam

Part 2: Velborough Lows

A tall, svelte man named Elder Ramiel had commissioned us to clean out some drainage systems. It was simple work, throw muck and toss it out, figure out the source.

Turns out, there were a LOT of issues. One of which, being a dam downstream. Another being that there wasn't an animal around here for a good bit. Another being some purple worms. A bow-tied worm was talking some PARTICULAR bullshit against Zeal, who proceeded to beat it with a shovel before it was quickly jarred. Then the voice was transferred to a squirrel? What in the fresh Hells is going on in this place?

First, a Cold Iron Bell at the manor, and now this... These folks around here know more than they're leading on, and I don't like it one bit. Anyhow, Benny said the squirrel told him about another Druid that was trapped in a sink hole! AWFUL stuff! Of course, we jumped to help.

Quite literally, into some VERY deep water under the sinkhole. However, on land, were a LOT more of those gross mage eater worms! I'm glad I noticed that the water dissolved those little bastards. And Ishi made *quite* the splash, easily taking out the most at once. Though, we quickly realized that the poor Druid was dealing with something much worse. A whole *swarm* of them, trying to pile on at once.

We tried to make a hasty escape, barely successful as the cavern fell in on itself, creating a huge 40ft crater. Then, upon safety, the Druid introduced himself as... Elder Ramiel. He rambled about a thousand eyes, beasts, arms... I'm worried about him, he's speaking of ambiguous eldrich creatures, abberitions. Poor bastard even tried to hydrate himself with WINE, and then immediately passed out after we went over town limits. After pumping his stomach, he still seemed to be fine, other than being completely out of consciousness.

When I looked back, I saw... A radial white flower. All over the town limits, surrounding the town.

They've been taken by the Fae. Shapeshifters, using magically infused bottles that can I only describe with 'infinity'.

Velborough Doe's
Date	05/08/23
Storyteller	Indi
Tier	Trainee, Easy
Player Characters	Benny Shadetree, ALOT, Maki, Iskierka, Raijin, Suttonalia Morroweather, Illiam Elro
Rewards	30gp, 290xp
Result	It's hard to say this is a success, but we did what we were told.
Author	Illiam

Part 3: Velborough Doe's

I learned that I may no longer speak of these events, so I write them in as much detail as I can muster.

Sutton discovered a little detail in the sky when we first approached And that little detail was as if time had paused itself in the sky, and only resumed as we crossed the threshold to Velborough. Unsettling.

Once we approached the Statehouse, for some reason, we weren't greeted this time. Instead we saw the gate was ajar, nobody to tell us what to do. So naturally, we did what we pleased and went in to knock for the proveyers. The only person we got a response from, was another zombified resident. Not *Zombified*, but the man wasn't all there, no regular person was regular here. While I blended into my natural environment of people being taller than me, we finally got lead to the Elder that had commissioned us. In a long shed. A weirdly long shed.

Or, so we thought.

We instead just saw a deer. Big one, just eating a salad. Really cautious, and we were too, rightfully. Turns out that was the elk we were looking for a successor about, and Iskierka's... Pet? Creature? Thought it rightful to attempt to attack the poor thing We ended up having to knock out the poor spooked thing! For some reason, we hogtied it before discovering it had a heart attack. We killed the mascot.

The townsfolk that SUDDENLY have a personality, decided that the collective consciousness did not appreciate our actions and looked on in horror.

Ello, a large goat man, seemed a bit more panicked after we told him what had happened. He announced that he was the elk's caretaker, and started to mix powders about what we had done. This turned out to be the first time I'd ever seen someone successfully J.O. a dead animal. Guess that wasn't enough for the man, he demanded we bring a 'suitable heir'. Though I suppose the proper phrase was "plead" for us to find a swift replacement, as he scrawled a map. There was fear in this man's tone. The hug I recieved was saturated in anxiety in doubt.

Once we arrived to the forest that was about an hour out, things were... Strangely tranquil. We took advantage of the calmness to make a plan, which meant Benny and Sutton made a plan. A solid one at that, waiting downwind to patiently befriend a couple elk for... Town mascot breeding, I suppose.

Sneak squad went to flush out some Elk

Trap squad does the obvious thing.

Trap squad did a great job with setup, while Sneak squad *became* the downwind. Benny had an eye on a trail, until it lead us to a... Fairy circle. Meanwhile Trap squad happened upon a couple Elk, just waiting around. At least one of our teams did the objective! While the other one continued to uncover shitstorm after fucknado after pissfest.

Sneak Squad, however... We discovered that the Fairy Circle is IN FACT, A FAIRY CIRCLE. We were granted an Audience with Rovendil of the Western Woods. One of three that rules the forest. The other two, are apparently Sagiventius and Poinsetia his brother and sister. The former of which, was practically juggling Trap Squad while the latter resided deeper in the woods. Thankfully, Rovendil cast a spell of Telepathy to Sataventius in order to wish protection to Trap Squad from Sagiventius. It was kind of the Fairies and Pixies to clean us up during our conversation before we were reunited.

"The Master", apparently, had granted these kind Elk refuge from the First World. I hope to learn more of this figure, as when I asked, Rovandil simply glanced to the sky.

May Sir Knifesnout the Famed Fae Poet rest in peace, as this ever-ticking mental reminder to return in an exact week rings in my head.

Dear GODS, I thought we saw Ello get struck down by lightning in the Townhouse, but now he's in ALOT?!?! Then Raijin grabbed some fancy wood, put it on a goat, and THAT GOAT is Ello?! Then... I lost Ello.

I didn't see this "The Master", but I felt him. It was true horror in my soul. I lost too many people to this guy.

Velborough Doughs
Date	05/10/23
Storyteller	Indi
Tier	Trainee, Easy
Player Characters	Ishi, Raijin, Suttonalia Morroweather, Benny Shadetree, Tuli Mrysky, Dar, Illiam Elro
Rewards	250xp, Familiar Tattoo, Greater Smokestick x3, Ring of Discretion x2, Lesser Spiritual Warhorn, Ventriloquist's Ring
Result	This didn't feel like a success, but we did what the letter said.
Author	Illiam Elro

Part 4: Velborough Doughs

Here again. With the ever-changing weather, still clouds, in that disgusting orb of a plane.

The same place where Ello pushed me as I lost him. Cool. I went to check where I buried the necklace that housed his soul, thankfully it was still there.

Rain trickled down sparcely as we made our way to the statehouse. I can't tell what's useful information anymore and what isn't. It all feels like it could mean something. The people here are still saying the same thing. "Howdy, Traveler." "Have a good day." "Don't know nothin' about that." Even when we ask about things that clearly exist to them, like the damn bakery we're supposed to go to. When we went towards the estate, the rain began to come down a bit harder. Moreso as we were leaving, until we noticed it had stopped just a bit outside the estate.

Towards the valley, things were a bit more unkempt. Wild, one might say, as we approached a strangely luxurious building. Though we didn't smell baked goods coming from the building, though. Despite it having a *bread sign*, almost clearly indicating this is the bakery.

The group gave a knock, and the door opened. To nobody. That is, until a young human woman ran up towards the opening with a lantern, apparently surprised to see us? Strange, since she seems to be the one who had commissioned us. Her name is Ello. Her name is Ello. Why is her name Ello. Why is her name Ello?!?!

This place is unlit. This woman insists that bread cannot be baked without "The Mother". She went on to describe the scene where an Elk apparently took her Mother, and I'm inclined to believe one of the three Elk Guardian siblings. They wouldn't do that for no reason. I need to talk to Rovendil about why he an' Vii look alike, anyway, so this seems like a good excuse.

The Master is watching, I know it in my soul. At least this bakery has cats. One calm white one, and one adorable vicious black one, and they're both adorable. And... One of the cats is named Ramiel? Three Ramiels, two Ello's, and one me going insane.

As "Ello" lead our way through the light drizzle, across the pasture, and pointed us to the Elk's domain. It's only occasionally nice to be correct, I'm grateful this is one of those times. The further we ventured into their forest, the kinder the aura felt. The rain stopped, and we approached the creek once more. All we found was some yellow sap on a tree once we crossed, and the forest didn't answer my call to speak to Rovendil.

Dar, Benny, and Tuli immediately investigated the tree scrape with the yellow sap. Apparently, it's yeast. We encountered Sagiventius and his herd, but he didn't pay us any mind.

After some deliberation, we went on to follow the trail as whispers to Raijin guided us. The whispers told him we were looking for Poinsetia, Rovendil and Sagiventius' sister. As we traveled, Dar for some reason decided after saying we were burning daylight, for us to take a break. I wasn't about to argue, the setting was becoming more unsettling as the trees thinned out and the colors became more muted. Normal, for most folks. Though, then Raijin's shadow split began to speak.

It was a shadow form of a fawn named Emme, claiming to be hiding from The Master. He had attached Himself to Raijin, and guided us through him. It told us to play The Master's game, and to stay ignorant. To find the Spirit Binder, and bring it to the light. Or to the ruins of what was once built. But whatever we do, we must do it in the light. The Master's domain is in the dark.

I'm writing this down as fast as I can, but this is all happening so fast... One second, we're walking, and the next, Tuli runs off to catch a rat!? The poor thing lacks a hind leg. We quickly learned it was an undead possum, that was... Uh... Playing dead? We kept finding more as we went on, some rats, some horses, some creatures without heads altogether. I want to believe this is a hopeful sight, but it's all quite morbid...

The yeast splotches on the trail kept getting more and more fresh as we went on, and ahead was an Elk standing over a yeasty hole. Poinsetia. Poinsetia was direct, but quite polite about the situation at hand. I have a great respect for her, even after she exploded into separate seemingly-sentient parts that proceeded to attack us.

An eye flung fire at me, a hoof tried to hoof Sutton in the face, it was insane! We thought Poinsetia was bad enough, but then the damn WALKING BLOB OF YEAST began to crawl out of its hole! Wave after wave of misery washed over us, some more than others as the fight carried on. I'm still shaking, but Sutton seemed unfazed as she danced with her shadowey opponent. A horrifying trial, I felt pain in my soul the whole time. But it felt like a necessary awfulness.

Poinsetia commended us for our strength, but noticed the sun leaving and immediate made haste.

On our way back, the rain turned to storm. A torrent of weather beating us down all the way to the bakery. Emme apparently had left us some rewards with "Ello", and we insisted on leaving swiftly after the fact. The storm was awful on our way back, the lightning flashing intensely as we crossed the threshold. I swear, I saw him. I saw The Master looming over us.

I think we displeased him. How do we play a game when we don't know the rules?

((The page is spattered with liquid drops. It's easy to deduce that it's not all rain.))

Velborough Shows
Date	05/11/23
Storyteller	Indi
Tier	Trainee, Easy
Player Characters	Tuli Mrysky, Ishi, Suttonalia Morroweather, Zeal, Benny Shadetree, Illiam Elro
Rewards	300xp
Result	Success, we're learning more.
Author	Illiam

Part 5: Velborough Shows

The clock in my head demanded I come back. I have no clue what a gotdamn Spirit Binder is, but gods willing someone coming along does. We began exchanging items for safety's sake, when Sutton said that Hiromi might have a clue. We couldn't get ahold of her, so we ended up getting a mom lecture from Sutton instead. Admittedly, it was probably a good idea. I haven't been good at hiding my anxiety yet.

Seven hours left, 23 minutes, and the seconds keep ticking. Overcast again. Torrential downpour over the statehouse, and off to the right of it as well. But over us, sunshiny days. I put on my social mask, and go to get the necklace.

When a rabbit approached me, and suddenly I was in contact with Emme once more. He seemed very focused.

We will need to follow the rabbit, if we wish to get to the land of the forgotten. I must bind the six to get to the central chamber. Doing so without His(The Master's) attention is imperative. Emme was very concise with these words, he didn't want his Gaze. The Shrine, we were told is where the Lost go to be Remembered. Due to its shroud of Moonlight, Emme could not go in with us. He may only exist in the shadows, and there are apparently no secrets in the Temple. As we rose over the hills, we saw that the fairgrounds was surrounded in an awful tornato. Weathered twister, with the calm eye of the storm simply being the fair itself.

Benny, being the Gods send he is, gave me some flayleaf to smoke up on before entering the Temple of Apparent Truths. Then the rabbit we were following fucking noclipped through the ground? Tuli quickly deduced that it was an illusory shroud over the location of the Temple, which turned out to be one for Ashava. Thank Gods, finally some comfort in all of these awful happenings. Knowing She watches me makes this a bit easier, despite the temple being in disrepair.

Leaves rustling, when suddenly a silvered arrow took the poor bunny out. AND THEN ONE TOOK ME AND SUTTON IN THE SHOULDERS? This big ol' Elf is pretty damn mean!? Why would they do this when they also follow Ashava?! This poor Desecrated Soul, seeing their anguish when I cried out, it hurt me so badly. I don't like the idea of fighting this, but we have no choice. THEY GREW A RAMIEL DURING THE FIGHT?! Is this why everything has the same name?! AND HOW DARE THEY TRY TO PRY BENNY FROM THE MORTAL COIL!? This is getting bad, why are they able to summon Ello and Ramiel?!

What are these harbingers of souls just HANGING AROUND while we're getting attacked?! Oh I see, they're looking to take our souls to mold for The Master's game. A twisted fate, in Ashava's Sanctom. Recycling souls, instead of letting them pass on freely. Like Hells if I'm going to let this happen. I don't care HOW polite those pretty cow ladies are.

That fight was awful. Truly miserable. As we managed to free Bralani, he granted us Three Truths.

Our first question; Who is the Master? Sasmi The Glorious is his True Name.

What are his intentions? The Master seeks to protect his menagerie of souls, and to escape them from the cycle of apocalypse that is Kelek. I was right, this place IS separated from the rest of Kelek.

How do we break The Master's plans? Without the menagerie, this realm serves no purpose. Bring the spirits of the Collectors here, and they can be freed. The three of the wood (Elk), and the three of the town.

I got to hug this spirit before he left. I hope he knows that I do not resent him for actions that weren't his own.

We went to the fairgrounds, storm swirling with THREE tornadoes circling the one around the fair. But for the first time, the townsfolk had their own stories to tell. Hearing them be themselves brought joy to my heart, but the day after, it all went back to the way it once was.

Truly depressing, yet I'm forced to smile.

Velborough Droves Pt. 1
Date	05/12/23
Storyteller	Indi
Tier	Trainee, Hard
Player Characters	Bliss-Retold-Till-Eternity, Benny Shadetree, Illiam Elro, Raijin, Suttonalia Morroweather, Hiromi
Rewards	275xp, 100gp, Rovendil's Left and Right horns, Sagiventius Blessed Nodachi
Result	Success, we're moving forward faster than I expected.
Author	Illiam

Part 6: Velborough Droves

The party I commissioned found me standing asleep in the street. What a way to start the mission. After passing my notepad around to Bliss and Hiromi, we began to head towards Velborough once more. Hiromi told us the flowers are called "Mangolia" flowers. Haven't heard of 'em, but that makes sense for this Fae craziness, especially since the bright and sunny weather didn't quite make any.

We decided it was a good idea to head to the forest Westside, making a visit to Mother's Bakery. The cats greeted us, I couldn't help but give the white one some good scritches. Meanwhile Emme was controlling the black cat, quickly moving to Hiromi and back. Hiromi told us that Emme said The Master was busy checking out how we shithoused Ashava's Temple. Precious little time we have, to find all six souls to bind. Our group went further West into Sagiventius' territory and beyond. Thankfully, he wasn't around to glare menecingly at us, I don't think. I've still been nodding off as I walk. Very grateful that Sutton could guide the way on this, because she knew *exactly* where to go.

When we arrived to Rovendil's sanctom, he didn't... Seem pleased. Understandable, given why we were there. Each one of us pleaded our various cases, I will never live it down and I wish to cast Un-Alive on myself, if that's ever possible. At the very least, Rovendil was receptive. He told us we could find Sagiventius towards the Fairground, and the full name of all else we must find including himself;

Rovendil, Splendor of the Wood

Poinsetia, Wrending Rot and Regrowth

Sagiventius, The Indominable Branch

The Tender of Space Below

The Servant in the Statehouse

Lady Maria of the Western Clock Tower

Rovendil then surrendered himself, much to our surprise. Hoping choosing his own fate, and follow in his Mentor's footsteps while giving Sutton her name back. We presume this is Emme, that Mentor he's talking about. Before he went into Hiromi's vessel, however, he asked me and Benny why we returned time and time again, and... He and I have a habit of helping. We couldn't help it, and.. Dear Gods, he shed his horns to us about it. They feel magic.

We then went towards Sagiventius' battleground. He was expecting us, Rovendil warned him. It took us a moment, but we decided to be as careful as we could on approach. Any chance of avoiding combat would've been preferred, we're never that lucky. Bliss began setting snares and the like, anything to assure our survival of this.

Upon approach, Benny thought it wise to taunt Sagiventius. Which, I suppose we weren't able to avoid a fight anyway, but it feels a bit overkill. Eh, that's why I adore the guy. So then it ran me down. Cool, that hurt a lot. This fight was quite intense, thank the Gods Raijin had that Alchemist's Fire onhand, and Hiromi came along... I don't think we would've survived otherwise. Raijin was also the one to deal a final blow. Upon Sagiventius' defeat, Raijin's Nodachi got imbued with some of the guardian's power, as he swore a rematch upon the man. The grand Elk faded to light, which then found itself drawn into Hiromi's Vessel. This... Hurt. A lot. Like, physically, I think I got some cracked teeth. Two down, six to go.

We had to run our way home, a storm beast hunting us down all the way out.

Velborough Necrose
Date	06/15/23
Storyteller	Indi
Tier	Trainee, Hard
Player Characters	Illiam Elro, Kali, Raijin, Mother Crow
Rewards	275xp, 50gp each
Result	A narrow success.
Author	Illiam

Part 7: Velborough Necrose

Not a lot of folks this time, just myself and three others. I'm very anxious.

Snow hampered our travels a bit, but the roads were safe enough to travel upon. Planning was sparce, knowing Poinsetia is sooner to fight than to speak. We're hoping she'll hear us out, but none of us are expecting it.

Given that we didn't have Hiromi with us, and Kali wasn't wise on using her gourd, I thought that Ello's necklace might be a bit of help for us. I decided a half-sleep state would be wise, to keep a smile on my face.

That smile quickly faded when I saw myself pulling up the necklace. But it wasn't me. But it was sorta-me.

What the hell is this sorta-me doing taking the necklace and running to the statehouse!? Rude!

Turns out the not-me, is claiming to be my cousin named Inune, and made of glass. Very kind, but very concerned. They claim to enjoy flowers and be 19 years of age. Far too young to be my cousin. I don't like this, it feels like Sasmi wants me for his menagerie.

Watching her shatter her feet to save her reputation hurt, but the sound felt worse somehow.

Inune told us that The Servent is the Master of Velborough, I was correct to presume it was Ello. However, it seemed a woman adorned in jewelry and a long black robe answered the door only to turn us away. The door keeps opening for us. Then Hiromi seemed to call for Kali on the inside of the manor, and it made us all run a cold sweat.

We didn't HAVE Hiromi with us this time, only on our last adventure. Kali then began to talk to herself, I realized Emme was attached to her. I took Emme onto my shadow, and demanded answers.

Apparently the servant HAS been trying to make my likeness. Emme and Ello are siblings, it seems, and The Master is frantic over the loss of Ello. I wonder how that happened.

The overcast drizzle continued through our journey to Poinsetia's domain, even into the forest. His influence is spreading. We can't even see Sagitventus' wives, which was admittedly disheartening. When we arrived to her domain, Poinsetia was nowhere to be found. Not her creatures, not any piece of her. Mother Crow was the first to figure out that the forest began to return to us, in the strangest of ways. The trees were malformed, turned to animal and humanoid shapes. Some of them looked resembling, of Elk and Goats... It hurt to see, I couldn't help but pray for them. I hope my dance reaches their souls.

Poinsetia addressed us via explosive rabbit, insisting that we had *taken* Rovendil and Sagiventus. Now given, we did have to fight for Sagiventus, I took personal exception to the prospect that we had stolen Rovendil. Even with what I had said, Poinsetia is insisting on a fight, and I can tell this one won't be as easy...

We met her, and she showed fear of her loyalty being questioned. Fear of our possible success, fear of being hunted... It hurts to think that it's boiled down to this, and I can't imagine my dreams will sit any more pleasantly afterwords.

Dear gods, we're so absurdly outmatched, I have no idea how long I have to write this

The writing gets significantly more sloppy

Raijin is getting ate by a ribcage, and Mother Crow is a glass cannon, I'm getting stared down by a GIANT?! This is terrifying! Thank GODS for these massive attackers, otherwise I feel like we woulda been a stain on the ground. We somehow survived without even a single person going down, we worked very well together...

Though this was... The most aggressive I've ever been, it feels like. Poinsetia decided to try and draw my ire, say I didn't know what I was doing. All she said was that I was ripping her safety from her, that I didn't know what the real world was about. I told her that she has sequestered herself, decided to ignore the world that rebuilds itself, that grows time and time again. That we insist on living, on thriving despite the world being against us.

She relinquished her soul to us after that point, asking us to cut down what I can only describe as 'soul trees', but the sky tried to take it. I didn't like that the sky was taking what didn't belong to it. I took it back, with all of my magical force that I could muster into my hand. Poinsetia was going with us, because I want to know her soul will either rest or revive by the end of this Hells.

The storm took us out, throwing us from the bounds from a great height. The landing hurt real bad.

Really bad. It might've been worse, but... For some reason, Raijin and I didn't get hurt nearly as bad. I could've sworn I saw Raijin grow flaming wings.

That's nothing compared to what I saw.

The Master is *pissed*, but I don't... Actually think I care. We should still wait a while before returning, considering how hard we should've landed.

Velborough Lowest Lows
Date	6/22/23
Storyteller	Indi
Tier	Trainee - Medium
Player Characters	Siltmean the Craftrat, Raijin, Mother Crow, Kali, Illiam Elro
Rewards	275 exp, 30 gp each
Result	Success
Author	Siltmean

Part 8: Velborough Lowest Lows

Seems I'm writing the report on this today, Illiam was very out of it. This series of events is mostly second-hand for me, so I will do my best to detail it.

The Approach

• Arriving at the stormy town, path is blocked by a tornado
• Raijin suggests going left to the river to sneak in
• Extremely windy past the threshold, storm itself is just a storm
• Dodging semi-sentient cloud creatures we investigate a sinkhole by a shed
• Crab creatures in water around flooded shed, "Trilobites" Raijin called them
• Path thought to be a no-go until those standing in the water hear a voice in their minds
• "You have come seeking me. I am the tender of space below, and you have come to trap me."
• Mother Crow informs us the tender is looking for a replacement
• Raijin spots sentient clouds gathering, intending to head our way
• Try to hide in the vineyard, too well trimmed
• Water around shed drains, invitation to enter
• "The questions you ask are wise ones, come to me and we will find a replacement"
• No choice, had to go into the flooded sinkhole

The Journey Down

• "You must have faith if you are to find the one to replace me, come down"
• No spots for air, too dark
• We have to keep going, I almost hesitate, no chance to turn back, too late
• Feel yearning, forced urge to keep going deeper
• Nearing the end, a large bubble rises up for us
• We quickly take a breath from it
• Tender warns us we will need it for what comes next
• We must prove we are worthy to replace them, or will drown like many before
• The tender asks questions in a story format
• If we answer in an approved way, an air bubble is provided to prolong us
• Singing around us, no discernable path in the dark
• Cannot see each other, we must do what we can to survive and win this challenge

My Perspective

• Swam the depths aimlessly
• Triangulated the direction of source of singing through vibrations and direction of ripple across my knife
• asked two fairly standard questions, one correct one not
• Located a large crystal, no entrance found
• Keep moving in direction of noise heard before
• Feel a disturbance ahead, never find it
• Disturbance soon after disappears
• Asked a bizarrely long and nonsensical question
• Answer that we need to finish the job
• Appear back above water
• Giant version of Mother Crow fighting the cloud creatures
• The job apparently done, we leave while the giant Mother Crow protects us

What I missed

• Kali found her way upwards
• Discovered rust monsters in the water
• Raijin also discovered the crystal
• Willed himself through by believing Oni can walk through crystal
• Discovered it is a long tube going up and down
• Travels down, discovers siren-like creatures that attempt to draw him in
• Illiam and Mother Crow attempt to manipulate reality around them
• Illiam wills water away, fails to will air in its place
• Realizes we must contest the will of the tender to achieve anything here
• Mother Crow answers many questions
• Attempts to will into place light cast from their eyes
• Fails, sight is taken instead
• Illiam attempts to will light into the space
• Fails, develops a weakness to light
• Discovers the rules of the space are determined by the strongest will
• Attempts to will into place that we have already succeeded, unknown result
• Mother Crow asserts that she is the new Tender of the Space Below
• Becomes in-charge of asking questions of others
• Asserts that breathing is no longer necessary
• Asserts that there are two ex-tenders now
• Ex-tenders assert that there is a second, opposing Mother Crow
• Opposing Mother Crow must do the opposite of our Mother Crow
• Ex-tenders also assert that there is no air, never was, and one can only exist in this space through willpower
• Illiam wills themselves in front of the ex-tender
• Tender is a large, pale, squid-like creature with a thick cloud of mucus about it
• Tries to will away the soul of the ex-tender, loses grip on previously collected souls instead
• Ex-tender wills themself into the story
• Opposing Mother Crow asserts that our Mother Crow has no willpower
• Fails, our Mother Crow turns it on the opposing Mother Crow
• Opposing Mother Crow can no longer sustain their existence, disappears
• Ex-tender is finally convinced to surrender
• All four souls collected by Illiam
• Mother Crow "Finishes the story", asserts that they are towering above mountains, returns us to the surface
• Mother Crow is bound to the space as the new tender, until a new one can be found
• Giant version of Mother Crow is fighting against the clouds, protects us on the way out, dies trying
• Mother Crow asserts that the Tender of Space Below has no power, cannot be used against us by the master now

The Story

• "I am alone. I am hungry. Where am I?"
• The kitchen
• "I am in the kitchen. There is no food. I am alone. What do I do?"
• "I go to the garden"
• "I am in the garden. I am hungry. I am alone. What do I do?"
• "I eat a tomato"
• "I am in the garden. I am eating a tomato. I am alone. What do I think of my meal?"
• "It's an okay meal"
• "I am in the garden. I am eating a tomato. It's an okay meal. I discard the tomato. What do I do?"
• "I wander into the forest"
• "I am wandering into the woods. I am sated. I am alone. It is becoming dark. What do I do?"
• "I am in the woods. It is becoming dark. I am sated. I am alone. I search for civilization. What do I find?"
• "I find a friend"
• "I am in the woods. I am sated. I am looking for civilization. I have found a friend. My friend is hungry. What does my friend do?"
• "My friend searches for food."
• "I am in the woods. It is dark. My friend is hungry. My friend is hunting me. What do I do?"
• "Run"
• "I am in the woods. It is dark. My friend is hunting me. I run. How am I running?"
• "Slowly, confidently, because my friend is not my friend, and thus my friend is not"
• "I am in the woods. I lack purpose. There is no one hunting me. I am sated. What do I do?"
• "You do not lack purpose, for you exist, and everyone exists for a purpose. You go to find that purpose"
• "I am in the woods, I am not alone, I am sated, the former tender is now here, what do I do?"
• "I embrace the tender"
• "I am in the woods, I am sated, I am bracing the former tender of space below. What do I do?"
• "I ask the former tender a question"
• "I am in the woods, I am embracing the former tender, I intend to ask the former tender a question. What question do I ask?"
• "Who or what were you"
• "I am in the woods, I am sated, I am embracing the tender of space below - or at least what once was the tender of space below. I have been asking questions of it. It has agreed to come with us. What is it I desire?"
• "To finish the mission"
• "I am in the woods, I tower over trees, who is with me in the woods?"
• "Illiam is with me in the woods. Raijin is with me in the woods. Kali is with me in the woods. Siltmean is with me in the woods."
• "I am the tender of space below. I am a crow, old and bent. Face a map of wrinkles swaddled in heavy colored cloth."
• "Ever onward, the space below is tended, by an old, wrinkled crow. Blind with mouths for eyes and a void behind them. The crow may tell a story, but nothing more."
• "The crow will tell their story. It will await its end. The story will end with the death of the master. The crow awaits that day."

Velborough Throes
Date	6/22/23
Storyteller	Indi
Tier	Expert - Medium
Player Characters	Femi, Sister Stille, Dar, Kali, Gewnevere, Raijin
Rewards	250 exp, 15 gp each
Result	Technical Failure
Author	Username

Part 9: Velborough Throes

Great, I got stuck with writing this stupid log. So borrrrrring. Well whatever. They keep talking about how this place is soooo dangerous and like fairy tales. Like any other place isn't also super dangerous. They talk about walking around or through or something. I wasn't even really paying attention. Does it really matter? They chose the road I guess. Large stone building with a clocktower. I think that is our target. It don't look right though, doesn't belong. Atop the tower is an eye of a storm. Tendril touching atop the tower. Ew. Pinpricks of yellow watching us. Creepy. Then we opened a very large door and then traveled around I guess and there were these creepy people things that all said the same thing after each other. Very creepy. Yet again. DO NOT SLEEP HERE. Person named Lady Maria showed up, now scolding us about not meeting a statemaster or something first? I don't know, her voice sounded creepy too. Says we can ascend a tower or something to talk to her bout something. Gotta defeat her children or something? Wonder if it's her actual children or like mechanical creations she just calls her children like a weirdo. Dar is weird and calls or us to 'cause suffering'. Lady Maria really likes elementals apparently. Saucers and Brimstone are a thing apparently too? Fiery dogs and giant plates. Who knew.Then we had to fight Basilisks and their daddy. I don't know why I must say daddy like that, but there is a simple compulsion to do so. THEN, after them we had to fight like a big snake dragon with lightning with like a crystal pedestal shooting lightning crystals or some such. Then we took all the loci or however it is spelled or said or whatever. We didn't kill the dragon and get that loci so good luck future people! It was brutal, but hey you might be going in completely refreshed. Good luuuuuck!

Velborough Grows
Date	7/13/23
Storyteller	Indi
Tier	Expert - Easy
Player Characters	Raijin, Illiam Elro
Rewards	200 exp, 15 gp to split, 2x Oil of Plant's Bane, Sturdy Satchel
Result	Mostly a success, we left a single creature-tree.
Author	Illiam Elro

Part 10: Velborough Grows

People are losing interest. It's just me and Raijin. I don't like this setup, so we're going to fulfill Poinsetia's wish of cutting down her unique trees. Setting off to aim at daybreak was a good idea, plenty of time to try to get *around* Velborough instead of going through. I especially don't like the intensity of the storm over what is apparently the Clocktower, Raijin pointed that out to me.

Shit must've hit the fan last time folks were here.

Going around was rough, but a combination of my magic, and Raijin being big and strong, it wasn't as awful as I thought it'd be. Just took some time to get over the mountain pass.

Cutting down the trees was a bit unnerving, considering they were lookin' at us. And then bleeding. Making Raijin faster in order to attack was a good idea, we probably shouldn't have gone with just the two of us. But the fight itself was a little... Embarrassing, to say the least. The trees we came to cut down were... Fleshy, boney, veiney... This was very uncomfortable, it was like an incubation chamber for adult zombies. The bodies it made, were... BODIES, like mortal bodies, missing a nervous system and a brain. They weren't rotting zombies so much as half-formed people. Homonculi, almost. Like someone was trying to mass-produce... People....

We kept going on through, taking on living tree after living tree, when we decided to leave the one shaped like a Bear for last. The fight against the wolves was a lot more difficult, given that they could attack VERY well together.

In terms of how many were left, t'was only the bear when we decided to flee. I hope Poinsetia will believe us to be working in good faith. As we climbed the peaks around Velborough to avoid The Master's gaze on the way back as we did in, we saw that the storm somehow had gotten worse over the Tower. Must be pissed off or something.

Velborough Throes Redux
Date	7/15/23
Storyteller	Indi
Tier	Expert - Difficult
Player Characters	Raijin, Illiam Elro, Hiromi, Serene Leyvald, Timid Thistle, Zeal
Rewards	+1 Scale Mail, Rakuyo, Sanguine Fang, Cloak of the Bat, Spellbook, Wand of Haste lvl3, Potion of Moderate Electricity Retaliation(2), Moderate Healing Potion (4), 60gp, 350xp
Result	A narrow victory, at a great cost.
Author	Illiam Elro

Part 11: Velborough Throes Redux

More turnout. Raijin filled us in on what we can expect, including that it takes 20 gotdamn minutes to scale this tower without rest. Gods, gonna have to ration my spells for this.

We decided to take down the Bear Tree before facing the torrent of storm that was beating down on the nonstop chiming clocktower, which was... Much easier, with more people. Took no time at all.

The trek to the tower was much more rough, seeing a poor man and what seemed to be his son trapped in the storm. Hiromi, disguised as a fox, pitched them a shield to cover the hole in their tarp as we went along our way. As we got closer, we see that the clocktower's rings was actually... Attempting to fend off from the storm, energy waves emanating from each chime was forcing it away. We managed to enter without notice, but Serene charged ahead and apparently drew the ire of a weird noodle of a Basilisk.

Some beasts started barking, one jumped through fire and became a fire creature, it was chaos being found out so early in the fight.

[the writing gets much more quickhanded here]

I tried to make Serene faster, she LOVED that. Wanted to make Zeal faster, but he ran ahead too quickly. Must've not needed my fast. OR HE WAS TRYING TO AVOID GETTING LIGHTNING CHAINED OW.

We're getting swarmed fast, I don't like this... That basilisk thing managed to stun Serene and that took a hard hit against us as a whole. LARGE DRAGON!?! This thing looked like a celestial abomination on first sight, I swear, but DAMN did it pack a punch! Or rather, electric shot. Lady Maria is NO JOKE. She was also saying something about this all being consensual?! Which makes no sense, given that we've been almost pulled in a number of times. After what I saw with Ello, it all just... Doesn't make sense. The Master's dread was so strong. This fight is awful... Zeal and Serene are barely still fighting with all of their strength, I couldn't keep going, Raijin is gone to Velborough's cycle... I feel awful watching them fight while I just sit here, helplessly trying to protect a fallen man's corpse instead of those still fighting to the very end...

I feel like scum.

At least the rest of us lived, courtesy of Hiromi and the coins that Timid had made. At an awful cost, but we've managed to take Lady Maria's spirit. I want to try to commune with these spirits in order to get everything straight.

As we recuperated and readied for escape, we saw some... Creatures that looked like Serene fighting off the storm. I hope they're friends of hers.

Velborough Finale: Knows and No's
Date	8/6/23 - 8/8/23
Storyteller	Indi
Tier	Expert
Player Characters	Raijin's Spirit, Illiam Elro, Aleth, Damian Brooks, Kali, Maki
Rewards	550xp (jointed Missions), Velborough Snowglobe, (List incomplete atm)
Result	Success... We think.
Author	Illiam Elro

Velborough Finale

Short turnout today. I don't feel good about this, but last time I said that, we turned out doing better than I expected. Arriving is Hell. The weather is miserable, and practically a wall of hail and winds. It pelts us, particularly Maki, pretty hard. Storm clouds are domed around a particular area, and as we breach the dome, we see the battle. The Serene-like lookin folks, fighting on as if we had never left. Some of them almost taking a swing at us, on accident.

Failed to find that old temple, failing to get to the Clocktower... I have no idea how this keeps turning me around, but this hail is awful so we're going into the Statehouse to regroup. Maki said I have 'criminal eyes'. What does she know?! Arriving to the statehouse was more simple than I'd like to admit, given the lack of success with our two prior destinations. The fence has been ripped away and thrown to the ditch. Glad I had us tied together. Inside is comfortable. But is... Shockingly empty. No Serene-people, no mean people, completely barren. I don't like this either, but at least we announced our presence out of courtesy. Time to explore.

Velborough Finale: Part 2

Raijin appeared before us, in a flash of lightning. I got to hug him. For real, this time. I don't know if that means he got my Dream Message at this point, but I don't care. He's insisting we fucked up, insisting upon it. That the people here were hiding from the Serene-like folks.

He's coming back with us, after this place is assuredly safe. We have to help him, but we're stuck behind this giant stupid gate. The other paths seemed to be filled with Guard Elementals. I tried to ask them for help after a benign one approached, but Damian got mad that it zapped Lobo, and... Proceeded to explode. Like, literally. Folks were going everywhere while I was trying to scream and plead for a council with The Master, but my words were unheard and I was losing track of the team.

Maki happened upon a... Pocket space, within the building. Kali stepped in, while Damian found a different one that we both entered. Everything disappears on either side, depending on where you stand. Might've been right about it being a pocket space, we can't even hear the storm from these rooms.

The Clergy spoke of a Night Creature, somewhere from Fingerling. They're concerned, but unsure what to do. The woman seeming to 'lead' this sect, or simply rank above the two, was much more calm about things. A Vampir, she finally said, is the job of a group to attain. It was illusory. Or an echo. I can't tell, it feels like everyone populates this room when nobody is actually here. Where in the fresh Hells is The Master?!?! He pulled the breath from Damian's lungs and mine when I wanted an audience of courtesy rather than of curt addressing. Did not end in my favor.

Kali and Aleth were dealing with other echoes, while Maki broke into a third one, unbeknownst to me. While they were accompanied by "Me". Other Me, fully completed and no longer looking like a strange cousin.

Luckily, Other Me was more than willing to just not fight. They're a lot more like me than I thought, it's kinda nice. Could use a little more cognition on the decision-making front, but overall a cool dude. However, the citizens that Kali found were whipped up into a frenzy. Justifiable, since Aleth just shot a guy after I asked everyone not to hurt folks. Managed to convince Other Me to be helpful to the citizens (despite being advised to 'not help us'), in an attempt to calm them down while Kali and I soak up the 'hits'. No idea where Aleth, Maki, and Damian went off to, but hopefully they're off to find The Master.

Turns out they were entertaining Not-Hiromi. She was healing everyone against their will, which was the tipoff that it was not at all Hiromi, just like Other Me isn't exactly me. Kali wasn't exactly happy about this development, so we began to target Not-Hiromi while Other Me helped us. We followed the chaos towards outside, where we see a winged humanoid with a flaming sword. I pleaded for the fighting to stop, but the chaos reigned on. Raijin came with three... Elemental warriors?! They're fighting these winged creatures!

Other Me is insisting on helping the giant Wind thing that almost killed me and Raijin, and I wanna help Other Me?! And even Raijin doesn't know about this Giant Wind despite it almost killing us the one time?! The wind monster tried to run for the door, but... Then it disappeared. So did Raijin's spirit-ey allies.

Unbeknownst to everyone, Maki has...

Ended Velborough. Killing a man named Reynold (who Maki calls 'Robert') upon his wish, swiftly.

Velborough has collapsed. The demiplane had shattered, with that move, and we had to leave. A Deva tried to take Raijin away, but I didn't let that happen. I collected him in my circlet, and all of us made our way out. Other Me couldn't join us.

All that was left behind was a snowglobe on a pitch black stand. I took it, to never forget Velborough and what we had done.