Forgotten Memories and Macaran Report
General Summary
Observed from underfoot
The party collected themselves and compared notes from what occurred in the recent battle with the strange, metallic automatons. Uudar, specifically had some interesting information to share. She showed the party her journal, which had two distinct forms of handwriting. She showed the party the page:
They'll be coming here soon, you should really leave.A wiry, elderly gnome woman had tapped Lehiri on the shoulder with her crook. She warned the party that she and others she knew had encountered these creatures before, and they would be coming here in greater numbers to discover the source of the disturbance. She offered them a ride to her island, a place of relative safety. They agreed, and the party joined Spixi, her Dwarven companion they found by the lake, Bofot, and traveled via longboat for about three hours to the North West. As the party neared the island, Spixi welcomed them to Macaran, named after the Macar, a species of small, pine forest dwelling primates that love to steal from visitors and harass fishermen near the island.
by Melissa Tse
The Island of Macaran
A short hike from the shore and a few swatted Macar later, the party arrived at The Town on Macaran . Spixi said the town did not have a name and was simply referred to as "The Town". Macaran did not appear to be a very large island, possibly 25 acres, and the small village took up a large clearing near the center. On the dusty, beaten trail that ran down the center of the town, the party was able to observe the entirety of The Town, and the 8 primary buildings that took up the main street. The party decided to find accommodations for the evening in The Swallow's Pride. Inside, the party found a large, open room with five tables capable of seating 8-12 people, and a central hearth that appeared to be made of metals and leathers, contrasting the wooden construction of the majority of the village. The pub portion of the tavern also boasted a massive wrap around bar that took up the majority of the room. While the tables were mostly empty, the bar was completely packed. Tashan, the barkeep, was hurrying about bussing spots at the bar and taking orders, laughing with the patrons. She motioned for the party to take a seat at the tables and took their order. A few moments later, she called to the back and Ian Gantheon came with food and drink, a young human that stuck out like a sore thumb among the rest of the village in their middle to old age.
Alas, you march, and I shall stand, my watch will not soon end. Until the faceless mask is lifted, returning you home again.
The Au'Marui Ruins
The next day, after the town closed the bar down drinking their sorrows away, the party set about exploring the town and seeing what they could find. Members visited Dried Roots, The Anvil, and Gelic's Legacy before gathering to speak to Aerafel, "The Boss", at her home and office. There was some initial confusion, as Aerafel thought that the adventurers had been sent to strike out against the creatures they had seen on various islands. She pointed out on a map three islands they have been spotted on, referring to once as "The Place". She claims they also patrolled the waterways between the islands, increasing the danger for their fishing vessels, and driving merchants away from the town. Suddenly, someone burst in claiming Aerafel needed to come to the center of town immediately. Bofot had returned from a fishing expedition, claiming to be chasing a school of whitefish near "The Place" when two vessels launched from the shore and pursued him. He narrowly escaped and they broke pursuit as he approached Macaran. The party questioned Aerafel about the place and why they were so adamant to avoid it. She explained:When the curse was broken, our memories washed over us in great waves. We were asleep during the war, controlled by Buroz and sent to do his bidding. Some could not handle what had happened, my heart weeps for those whose families died at their own hands. Many wandered off, some killed themselves, but we remained, unwilling to return to the places we brought so much destruction. We first tried to land near the place, a site of a terrible memory from the war. We all recounted with terrifying detail the slaughter of wood elf families, all by our hand, as we marched through their sacred site. We could not bear the place, and left, landing here to create the town. Some power draws them there, but what we do not want to discover.
After a conversation with Tashan, Ian requested the opportunity to join the party and assist them. They rested and set out in the middle of the night, planning to arrive on the island at daybreak. The party moved to the northern tip of the island, toward a low hum sound coming over the trees. Partway down the trail, Ian in the lead stepped on a small object. He warned the party that he had stepped on something dangerous. Looking under his boot, there was a small, carved stone. He picked it up and investigated it, handing it back through the party to see if anyone recognized it. Yendor took a small, carved wooden object out of his pouch and held them side by side: identical badger trinkets. Looking into the ruins ahead of them, the party spotted a statue, partially covered in moss, in the shape of a badger, as the automatons began to rise up from behind the walls and move about.
That son of a...
