The Road So Far...

General Summary

Season 1

Air Ship Escort

Annder Faerun , a local entrepreneur, hired the party to protect his final airship, Soaring, on a trading expedition north to the distant mining island of Baram. The mission was to trade tauros meat, furs, and wood in exchange for steel, iron, and glow stone. Braving most of the dangerous journey, the party soon discovered the fate of the previous sky ships. Other ships had been captured by a group of pirates/refugees. The party was taken to a camp seated high on platforms of strange stone that held both young and elderly--though located at a dangerously low elevation level.
You discovered your captors were refugees fleeing south from some war to the north. Your captors had plans to take the airships they had stolen and continue traveling south. However their plans were interrupted when plant creatures overwhelmed the camp. The party along with the refuges managed to fight off the creatures but they took heavy loses. In the aftermath of the battle, both groups agreed to take a ship and go their separate ways.
The party managed to safely bring the Soaring and cargo to the island of Baram.

NPCs of Note

Ryu Shisa
Dug Llama

Trouble in the Mines

Once the party arrived in Buram they found the trade deal could not be completed due to trouble with the most recent supple of glow stones. The party was allowed to wander the city and told to be patient until the trouble in the mines could be taken care of. One half of the party visited the local Freeholm trading guild in order to warn them of possible trouble to the north and to let them know about an unusual skull they found in the refugee camp. Meanwhile, the rangers found a local pub holding a lively sporting event. Taborlin & Savita … put on the masks, jumping into the arena and reluctantly taking the mantle of the masked wrestlers "The Pincer" & 'The Thorn" and proceeded to drop some elbows in the slam down of the century against the legends "Shadow Cat" & "The Boulder".
After getting a bit of lunch at the Champion's Cup , the highest rated and only inn/tavern in Buram, the party was soon approached by 3 guards. The party soon discovered several miners have gone missing and those who have been sent to look for them have similarly disappeared. Going down into the mine, the party soon encountered the Burrowers, giant acid spitting insects. Stranger still they discover the unusual Kor-rec an intelligent bipedal insect who could communicate telepathically. Kor-rec had been helping the surviving miners and tracking the Burrowers. He revealed that one of them might be making the transition to a queen. The party proceeded to go full orchid man and exterminate the burrowers. The Party, having rescued the miners, was given their agreed-upon reward and the promised trade deal was completed. Taborlin and Savita continued guarding The Soaring on the return trip back to Galam, where they met a couple plucky Freeholm students who were about to change everything...

The Road To The Lost Library

Under the direction of Master Historical Azar, Katrin and Bade set out to hire rangers for the express reason of seeking a lost ancient library east of a recently-discovered ruin … in the deep forest. A task that any ranger recognizes is a suicide mission. However, in true ranger fashion plenty of eager young rangers willing answered the call. Taborlin, Savita, Pur-Ba Solu, Katrin, and Bade set out into the ancient ruins facing danger after danger traveling east towards their goal. On the first day the party made their way through the ruins of an ancient city. The party faced such creature as a giant mantis swarm, the flying sky jaw, a flock of horned kingbirds, and a fallen building full of fungal creatures.
One the second day the party traversed beneath the lightless depths of the deep forest and a haunted swamp. They party had to overcome a swarm of spiders and a restless spirit haunting the swamp.

Electric BUGaloo, BUGaloose

Undaunted by the many trials of the deep woods the party came across an ever increasing array of obviously intelligently crafted traps. The party managed to follow a hunting party of Thri-kreen, led by the shaman Tulu. The party was brought before the Hive Queen, Ka who decided the party would prove their worth with a trial. The party was reunited with their friend Kor-rec and explored the Thri-Kreen Village. The party then enjoyed and contributed to the fledgling Thri-kreen underground music scene and threw the historic first ever Thri-kreen dance party. The part was then informed that their quest from the hive Queen was to recover the Rhinna – a rare mushroom that acts as a panacea and can improve health and prolong life. However, to retrieve the Rhinna one must enter the heart of the Kroach.

The Fungal Forest

The party lead by Tulu made its way to the Araumycos a deep chasm which holds the kroach. On the way out of the city the party met a group of Thrikreen lead by Ti-ka escorting a pair of “Greenmen” to see Ka. Taborlin steadily progressed his ongoing mastery of the Thrikreen language. The party finally arrived at the Araumycos and delved deep into the chasm facing untold dangers in the hazardous and toxic fungal jungle. The party made its way to a cave in the heart of the kroach to an intimidating vast mycotic cathedral. While using her familiar, Poe, to explore the cave and retrieve the Rhinna both Po and Katrin succumbed to a siren song calling them to stay and rest. After grabbing the Rhinna, the entire region began to shake and all of the attention in the Kroach was focused on the party. Taborlin took the Rhinna and began to recklessly spring at full speed across the Araumycos towards their Thri-Kreen allies on the cliffs above. He was pursued by the forces of the Kroach. The rest of the party followed in his steps, dodging the thralls and spawn of the Kroach. In their flight, nearly every member of the party met their end. Taborling, hanging from a cliff and surrounded by the spider-like Kroach spawn, was rescued by the Thri-Kreen above. The rest of the party arrived battered and bloody at his heels, but sadly Pur-Ba was poisoned and carried by her companions. She succumbed to her wounds shortly before making it out of the Kroach. The party buried their fallen ally and returned to the Thri-Kreen Village only to be greeted by someone unexpected.

Stick it to the Man-tis

At the gates of the Thri-Kreen Village, the party suddenly found their escort paralyzed as they were approached by a tall dark purple Thr-Kreen. This one was different than the others. She claimed to be the sire to Ka, the next Ka-to-be if you will. She strongly requested the Rhinna so that she might be able to bring it to Ka herself. Katrin, able to charm the princess, managed to convince her to reveal her plans and history with Ka. Ka has been using the Rhinna to extend her life long past what was natural. Normally, before the next in the royal line was awoken, a Thri-Queen would first implant her sire with her own memories. However, the current Ka-to-be was never given these memories and it doesn't seem that Ka has any plans to cede leadership anytime soon. The princess fears that she would be set aside, so she decided to steal the Rhinna and force Ka to hand over leadership. The princess managed to fight off the charm effect and resumed fighting the party. After a fierce fight, Ti-Ka arrived and was able to subdue the weakened princess into a deep slumber.
Ka revealed to the party that Ka's plan was to actually give the Rhinna to Ti-Ka in order for her life to be extended so that she may advise the princess after Ka's passing. Ka also informed the party that she had intentionally allowed the princess to grow up without the burden of her memories so that she could develop into her own individual. However, Ka regretfully said that the recent actions meant that the princess was not mature enough to transition as a leader. Ka provided the Green Men the party had met earlier as guides to the Lost Library and requested that the princess accompany them to learn more about the outside world. Ka polymorphed the princess into the new party member, Ka-Rin.

Over the Forest, and through the Forest, to the Forest we go...

The party made its way into the West, on their way to the lost library, following in the path of a monstrous creature which the Green Men guides only call "The Beast". Taborlin learned that these Green Men had met his father roughly ten years prior and again only a few years ago following his mysterious disappearance from the Southern Islands. Through dialog, the party learns that the Green Men had been travelling south to warn the Thri-Kreen of troubling human activity near their home in the north.
The party managed to survive the dangerous deep part of the forest, even besting a wounded Terrorfly, eventually finding themselves at the long-sought ancient library. However, at some point in their journey, one of the Green Men guides, La, had disappeared leaving Raulk to be the party's only guide.

Halls of Ancient Knowledge

The library consisted of a large cube-shaped building which had remained locked and untouched for centuries. The party entered the building with assistance of an unlocking spell via Bade. As the party enters the ominous darkness, Bade warns them to touch nothing. The party discovered in the gloom, rows upon rows filled with tens of thousands of books from a long-forgotten age. The library held many ancient secrets and grim truths, not least of which was that its former keepers lay entombed within. Late in the night, Raulk was able to reunite with his sister. She tells him that she needs to return home, but that he should stay with the humans and learn more about why they are entering their forest home lately. After spending a night in the library, Bade completes his log and report and calls for a Freeholm airship to pick them up.

There's No Place Like Freeholm

The party arrives at the mysterious island, university, and city of Freeholm. The excitement was soon eclipsed by the arrival of Captain Aliya Ferat, with her heavily-damaged airship slowly limping into the hangar. Aliya was instantly bombarded with questions about the circumstances in the North, including missing embassies and other airships. Her weary crew silently shuffled off the ship. While she mentioned wild magic storms and difficulty with repairs, her explanation was cut off as she and her ship were engulfed in flames--taking 3 other airships with her and setting the hangar ablaze. The party was quickly ushered out but soon found themselves playing medic to the injured and, as the fire raged out of control, dashed back inside to save those trapped in the fire. Due to their discovery of the library and their heroic actions at the fire, the non-Freeholm members of the party were allowed the rare opportunity to visit Freeholm and travel freely as long as they were under the supervision of Bade and Katrin. The party took this opportunity to attend a few classes and eat at the cafeteria before their meeting among the Freeholm masters.
The meeting with the masters went as one might expect, with Taborlin offering to guide some of the Freeholm workers on a collection mission back to the library to recover the books. The party met multiple NPCs, many of whom were friends/family of Katrin and Bade.

Escape from Freeholm

Shortly after their meeting with the masters, the entire meeting room was caught in a fiery explosion that left half of the masters dead and the rest injured. Taborlin and Ka-Rin chased down the saboteur but he was left in no state to answer any questions. Under the direction of Master Jetray Voss, the party chased down the remaining spies. Unfortunately, the spies had already succeeded in crippling Freeholm's defenses. The party's victory was short lived as a massive foreign air fleet soon invaded. Taborlin, Bade, and Ka-Rin along with most of the Freeholm citizenry were able to seal themselves in the island's lower levels while Master Voss and his students and staff slowed down the advancing northern soldiers. Meanwhile, the rest of the party (along with the artificers Surin Tan and Taago Silat) escaped the island in an experimental, and very fast, airship nicknamed The Dragonfly and retreated south to the relative safety of Galam as the First Battle of Freeholm came to a close.

The Coming Storm

Upon reaching Galam and informing the mayor, Choden Garza, of the looming threat, the party aided the mayor in assembling the forces of Samui and sent the ranger Heelda Lhukpa to warn the northern islands of Galam. Taago began to aid the city in bolstering defenses while the party and Orla were sent out to the surrounding nations to request aid. The party gathered what they could from Tearran and Ranma before returning back with just enough time to take part in the planning of the defenses for Samui. To secure help from Ranma, Katrin Hoheital made some monetary deals with an enigmative guild member, Dryden. Sano Shisa and Siristi joined the party from Tearran and Ranma, respectively as specialists directly aiding the party. Settling on a three-team approach, the party boarded their ship and took off.

Battle of Galam

The party split into 3 distinct boarding parties to attempt to head off the approaching fleet. They were able to breach the hull and detonate 3 airships in total. Raulk, Sano Shisa, Tashi, Savita, and Katrin Hoheital were able to narrowly escape a crashing airship to land in the middle of the chaotic battlefield, wounded and tired but very much alive. The party managed to rescue the injured Ortega just as the rangers began a tactical retreat to the city plaza while wyvern riders buzzed down from above. The party was attacked by a solo wyvern, only to be summarily rescued by a second wyvern and rider wearing Koryo colors.
The rider looked down at the party as if they were a hand of cards that he was unsure if he should bet on, but decided that he would meet them at a nearby island at midnight should they survive the fray.
When smoke cleared and the last of the invaders lay slain, an exhausted party took in their surroundings and rested. The reinforcements from Ranma finally arrived including mages, airships, sellswords, and supplies. As things settled in Samui, the party prepared the meet the mysterious wyvern rider on a small island that night.
Wearily travelling, the party met Xin-Rye, a wyvern rider for the Koryo army. Xin revealed himself to be a reluctant recruit from Lu Jing--one of the first territories conquered by Koryo during the first stage of their war of expansion. Xin offered information on the enemy with the proviso that the party would use it in their resistance against Koryo and eventually work to free Lu Jing and reinstate the heir to the Lu Jing throne, Song Lu.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To War We Go

Battle of Buram

The party gathered with their allies: mercenaries from Ranma, Zupa Sharwa--Andamen's First Ranger, and Rajheet--the personal mage to Ranma's Sultan. The party flew to Buram under the cover of darkness and utilized the lower mine tunnels that they discovered earlier on their adventures in the mines. Following a fierce battle with unusual insectoid enemies, some of the party members--namely Taago & Zupa suspected that Raulk may be more than he appeared. The party continued up into the lower mines were they met up with Odsman and several other familiar Buram natives hiding from the above invasion. The party armed the insurgent Buramese and made ready a clandestine strike against the enemy leader; a Koryo priest named Krozen Zoric.
The party was able to infiltrate the Koryo base, eventually making it to the Hall of Ancestors by disguising themselves as Koryo soldiers. After an intense battle, the party was able to slay one of the enemy commanders, Krozen the Brutal Fist. With the help of the Buram insurgents, the party was able to fend off the majority of the scattered Koryo forces. Simultaneously, the second half of the operation headed up by Dryden was able to capture all but one of the enemy aircraft parked at the Buram landing pad. All but one which was currently escaping into the distance.

Loose Ends

The party, along with Rajheet and Dryden, gave chase and boarded the enemy airship. The assault team slaughtered their way through the soldiers and brutually maimed the last surviving Koryo priest, Rodion. Flying the half-destroyed airship back to Buram, surreptitiously christened The Lame Duck, the allied forces began planning the liberation of Freeholm.

In Buram, the newly formed Free Trade Consortium (FTC) struck a deal with Katrin and Taago as representatives of the Freeholm Trade Guild. Freeholm recognized the FTC's claim to the captured Koryo ships, and Katrin and Taago were each given 3% ownership of the FTC, with Freeholm itself receiving 27%. Meanwhile, Zupa invited Raulk to a meeting of the elder druids and rangers wherein Raulk disclosed his true nature, giving the Galam Rangers more insight about party members than Taago does.

Battle of Freeholm

The party infiltrated Freeholm using the captured lame duck, under the continued disguise of Koryo Soldiers returning from the very-real Battle of Buram. As such, the party successfully started infiltrating the base. Their ruse was found out as Sane of the Evil Eye intercepted the party while some of the Freeholm survivors began fighting their way up through the lower levels. Finally, Bade and Taborlin led a third team up the side of the island as part of a three-headed attack. Casualties were heavy on all sides, including some unfortunate friendly fire as a fireball from Katrin caught Master Tavisha Barr in an already-weakened state, turning her into little more than charcoal. Eventually, Freeholm was liberated, though not without much loss in both population and infrastructure as nearly all of the Freeholm windfarms, greenhouses and solar panels were destroyed.

Interlude

The allied forces had driven out Koryo from the south and as the smoke cleared it became clear that Freeholm would never be the same. Nearly 1/3 of Freeholm's population was missing or dead and its trade capability and resources were demolished. The IFTC, now based out of Freeholm, was contracted by the allied forces to expand and modernize thier collective airship fleet. A new master's council was elected by Freeholm along with a new headmaster, Timur Tvess. Katrin learned the joy of interest and debt repayment (only 375 gold left to go). Raulk sent the druids Zupa and Mendala with a report to his people in the north. As the united southern forces prepared for war it was decided that an information gathering and espionage team would be sent north with a newly-built airship, The Fortune's Favor. It's mission, to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where...admittedly, probably multiple men, women, and/or bugs have gone before!

Season 2

The Journey North

Setting out on the newly-christened ship, The Fortune's Favor, the party headed towards Zhang Qundao in hopes of keeping their promises to Xin-Rye. Their mission, liberate Zhang Qundao and free the captive rightful ruler, Song Lu. Surely, they'll remember that, right?

First Stop

Arriving in the north, the ship lands on an island with a long-ruined city. The party encounters a number of strange people, including a man dressed in black reading poetry and a hermit with symbiotic plants growing on/in him. Apparently, the man had been on his own so long, he forgot his own name. Finally, there was a cave filled with small cannibalistic humanoids. The party fought and fled, not seeing much of a reason to stay, and continued on their way north.

Lu Jing

Team Drop Kite infiltrated Lu Jing from below, entering through a large prison camp wherein Koryo soldiers were forcing POWs to clear the forest around the base of the island. The party soon realized that the occupying force was much larger than any they had faced before. Additionally, many of the population were marked by strange dark growths on their flesh. The party soon managed to make introductions to The Green Turbans , a rebel group operating within the city. After conferring with them, the party realized that they would need even more allies, electing to head south to the smaller islands of Zhang Qundao.

The Court of the Dragon

The party was looking into the ruins of an old fort at the suggestion of Xin-Rye when they found a camp of rebels in an abandoned fortress. In the camp, the party met with the leading council which included the last two members of the Longyan Clan, a sorcerer bloodline that ruled the southern end of the Zhang Qundao archipelago prior to the Koryo invasion. After the party's anti-Koryo intentions were clarified, they were allowed to rest for the time being.
The party was approached by Ming Longyan who challenged them with a quest to go to the Dragon Fort, the ancestral home of the Longyan, nestled inside a mountain beyond the town of Suijing. Ming requested the party to enter the fort and retrieve a cache of magical items from a secret vault to be used against the Koryo forces.
In the same night, Oyu Cho proposed that the party could aid in the war effort by liberating the besieged soldiers currently trapped at the Lion Fort.

A Tale of Two Parties

The party elected to accept both quests simultaneously, splitting up into Team Lion Fort and Team Dragon Fort. See those individual entries for the teams' exploits whilst separated.

Prison Break

Upon reuniting with the Longyan Clan at the Water Fort, the party was whole once again. Both teams shared their experiences and the Krilan Village forces were introduced to the clan's rebels and allies. As battle preparations were made to strike the Lu Jing Prisoner of War Camp, the party flew back to the previously-assaulted dreadnaught and met with the victors of the assault, a group of knights from Baishan and Gauchou. Negotiations were short as it was universally agreed upon by the crew that the Baishan soldiers were "dicks". However, the party did learn about a potential military operation: Operation Meteor. This would involve plummeting a dreadnaught into the heart of Lu Jing, likely killing the vast majority of the population and leaving the city in rubble. The party elected to act quickly, retrieving Ka-Rin, the newly-sentient Bambi, and smuggling out Ziv at the same time. They also met with some of the moth riders of Gauchou, a pacifist organization that is currently mostly supporting the Baishan war effort with healing and transportation.

Assault of The Lu Jing Prisoner of War Camp

Traveling through the forest, the Longyan Clan rebels and the warriors from the Krilan Village moved to take up two fronts from the flat recently-deforested land at the edge of the Forest. The party was flown by Poe inside of Bambi's extradimensional heart and dropped into the deepest part of the prison. Intending to act as a diversion, the fighting was fierce from the beginning as the party had to take out multiple waves of soldiers, warlocks, and priests but eventually succeeding in causing enough damage, chaos, and distraction that allowed the more traditional fighting forces to take the upper levels. After a short run-in with some elite wyvern-riders, the battle-party continued the momentum into Lu Jing proper. They discovered a haunting visage of people and animals sickeningly infected with bulbous, exploding, mind-controlling cysts (who were definitely not zombies). Mostly running from them, eventually the wounded party was faced with the high priest holding Lu Jing. His creepy, decaying form was separated from this mortal coil and the day was won.

Interlude in Lu Jing

Currently, the story sits at the precipice of continuing war. The city of Lu Jing was freed with an interim council comprised of Xin-Rye, Ming Longyan, Jochen,La, and Eritrea Silat leading the city-state for the time being.
The crew managed to rest, recuperate, and take on some personal missions during the 2-month establishment time of the Lu Jing Government Council. The party was gifted a currently-unoccupied estate in the city to act as their forward base/headquarters for the meantime and Taago assisted Lev in a transition into the estate's steward, maintaining a communication center (also builty by Taago) and tending to the party's business inquiries on their behalf whilst the party is out of town. Meanwhile the FTC had a shareholders' meeting, attended by Katrin and other shareholders in which the consortium's interests for dispensable income were split amongst R&D projects (notably Taago's Bold aircraft), encouragement for continued Southern unity via peacemaking and appeasement for Ranman uncertainty, and shareholder profits. Said appeasement was performed via Siristi with aid from Savita and Ka-Rin who warded off assassination attempts during the important venture. Upon returning to Lu Jing, Savita and Raulk when on ranging missions around Lu Jing to stabilize the food supply following the revolution. Meanwhile Bambi also aided the food supply in establishing a sustainable meat source in the form of giant cricket farming with accompanying roadside food stand. A large amount of sustainable food was paramount to Bambi's (so-far) successful attempt to train the captured Koryo wyvern, Bubblegum. Lastly, both Katrin and Raulk looked into revitalizing the Lu Jing government and city life with cultural projects. Katrin has worked on refurbishing the wizardry academy in Lu Jing and Raulk created a Krilan/Thrikreen language school for Lu Jing citizens, thereby closing cultural gaps in the interim.

Quelling Northeastern Influence

The crew had amassed a few potential avenues of continued efforts in the north: oust/liberate Grey Guard, liberate Suijing, or meet with General Ras of the Koryo military who had sent correspondence to Lu Jing in the preceding months. The crew elected to meet up with warriors from Baishan at the small northern island of Taeyang. Along the way, the inaugural combat flight of The Bold was performed, with great success but reinforcing its primary use as a scout or evasive vehicle as one volley from an average-sized Koryo airship was enough to almost take it out of the sky. Upon meeting there, the Baishan soldiers, the crew, and the allied Gauchou Moth Riders set off for a sabotage mission in the Grey Guard military outpost.

The Battle of Grey Guard

Assisted by their Moth Rider friends, the party split up to lead a sabotage effort against the Grey Guard encampment under cover of nightfall. Meanwhile, their allies from Lu Jing launched a small airship fleet and the Baishan airship navy continued coming down from the north. The plan was to sabotage and incapacitate a number of Koryo airships before they had the chance to mobilize, and when they did, to mitigate their efficacy by having them surrounded. The teams found approximately 40-50 airships, including a dreadnaught. Some were already in the air and mobilized, but most were in docking bays. The teams managed to take out 18 of the ships, some more subtlety than others before a general alarm was raised and the battle began in earnest.
The core party members, comprising one of the detachment teams, infiltrated what appeared to be a command outpost or fortress during the heat of the battle. Therein, they encountered severe magical resistance in the form of a number of elite Koryo soldiers and warlocks. The fighting was fierce, and many of the party members were knocked unconscious or temporarily died, but by the skin of their teeth, they managed to escape. The fortress, ablaze from the actions of the party, subsequently exploded, leaving what enemies that may have been inside with an unknown fate.
On the flight back to Lu Jing, the Fortune's Favor had an unexpected visitor. General Raz, the Immortal, the leader of the Koryo attack on Baishan.

An Uneasy Alliance

After agreeing to work with General Raz for the time being, the party made their preparations and began the trek north. Meeting up on the currently unoccupied island of Taeyang, they made their way under cover of darkness to an abandoned village. There, they met up with their very recent former enemies from The Battle of Grey Guard who managed to escape the explosive fort. The Koryo officers had "made openings" on their crew for the party to take the place of, and soon began the journey to the Koryo capital. While onboard, the party members learned of the vague layout and workings of the Koryo capital and Katrin Hoheital remembered that she, in fact, does have a sister who is still lost. Even more, said sister is in the Koryo capital. The group stayed undercover as they landed in the heart of the capital's docks.

A Capitol Offense

Making their way from the docks, the crew quickly learned of the amount of currency they were given as well as the basics of navigation. They rented two rickshaws and made their way to meet up with Oriana Hoheital at the grand library near the Eastern side of the city. They did so, discovering coffee (brown tea) and met up with Jimitri at the coffeehouse while Katrin Hoheital met up with her much more-comfortable-than-expected sister in the library proper. Oriana worked on The Brigadar's compound as a researcher and artificer and was quite content with her current station. After the meeting, the crew went to the Koryo Capitol Undercity and saw how the lower class members lived.
The party even took in some local entertainment in the form of a professional Hoop Ball game, which was enthusiastically attended by all.

Report Date

05 Feb 2023