Session 0
The Dream
General Summary
Night falls over the Lower Lands. A man is sitting by a small, mechanical fire, seemingly jamming a screwdriver into his left arm. It has been a long day of travelling for Z, who is performing a small amount of maintenance on his metal arm to make sure it doesn't malfunction. When finished, he crawls into his tent and closes his eyes.
We see a female elf, sitting cross-legged in an open spot in a forest. She has been hunting for a rare species of squirrel. The Daersquirrel is a silver-furred critter with the tip of its tail like gold. It is only active during the day, however, so Kokiri has decided to rest here for the night. She has prepared a meditation spot, leaves and flowers surround her while her bow rests on her lap. She closes her eyes and drifts away into her thoughts.
We see a man in full captain's outfit sitting at a table in the Tusked Tooth inn and tavern. He has been drinking throughout the night, thinking about the past few weeks and lamenting. When most of the other patrons have either left or passed out drunk on the tables, Jack stands up to head to his room. He gives a nod to Gunthar, the barkeep and ascends the stairs. When he enters his room, he prepares for bed and drifts off on the sea of dreams.
Three figures wake up in a dark room. When they have each risen, the room seems to light up out of nowhere. The three introduce themselves to each other and further inspect the room, noticing the strangeness of the room. Turning gears and cogs of all shapes and sizes seem to be attached to a metal wall. There is no ceiling, only an infinite void of blue eyes looking down at them. At the other end of the room is a metal door, locked through some sort of keyless mechanism. Above it can be seen a clock numbered from one to twelve. In the centre of the room stands a stone bird pool with a button in its centre and an inscription in an old form celestial. It takes her some time, though, through her knowledge of the celestial language, Kokiri is able to decipher what it says.
Z tries to mend the stone, though this fails as some force is keeping the pieces apart from one another. Underneath the name, something is written in the old celestial runes. Kokiri deciphers:
Z attempts to fit it into different slots, though the only one that allows it to be placed inside is the one labelled "Helia, the Starstruck". When it is inserted, another poem appears.
This figure speaks. Congratulating them on making it this far and telling them this is the final challenge, the three are supposed to pull on the chains of the statues to complete it. They say that they will only watch them work and they snap their fingers. Throughout the arena, gates open up and from each gate comes a giant rat which start persuing the three. It's a gruelling battle, with Kokiri almost losing her life, but they are able to pull all the chains. This causes them to lose consciousness.
Each of them wakes up again, Z in his tent, Kokiri in her circle and Jack in his bed.
To those who enter this land of mind and stars, may this first trial test that which so many of the living lack.After debating what to do, Jack decides pressing the button is the only way to move onward. He does so, and the room seems to shake for a second when the clock above the door begins to tick down. 12...11...10... The room takes on a yellow hue as a small rumbling can be heard coming from within the walls. The three stand frozen, not knowing what to do. 9...8...7... The room takes on an orange hue as small holes begin to appear in the walls. Kokiri ushers the other two to get down on the ground. 6...5...4... The room takes on a red hue, black smoke begins to escape from the small holes as the three continue to attempt to protect themselves from whatever will come next. 3...2...1... The red hue disappears along with the holes. A loud click can be heard as the lock on the door opens. The three stare in disbelief at the door, not knowing what just happened. It takes them a second or two to collect themselves, but with renewed confidence, Kokiri pushes open the iron door. Through it, the party finds themselves in what appears to be an open spot in a forest. Z is able to deduce that this is not the outside but that they are, in fact, in another room disguised as a forest. In the sky can be seen dark, shadowy spots where the corners of the room are formed. In the centre of the spot is a tree stump with on top of it a silvery squirrel with a golden tail. The squirrel seems to be holding a golden coin, but when Kokiri tries to grab it, it scurries off into the trees. Upon further inspection of the tree stump, the three see that there is a slot in it, most likely for the coin, and another inscription.
To those who enter this, the second trial. Here I test your agility. In principle, get the squirrel. Good luck.The party decides to split up and Jack manages to capture it again, this time successfully taking its coin. He ties it to a strand of hair given by Kokiri to retrieve it from the slot after he inserts it. However, after he pulls the string the coin has already disappeared. The room rumbles and the tree stump moves aside through an unknown force. Underneath it is a hole filled with an infinite blackness. A series of floating, rotted planks can be seen forming a ladder. After debating its safety, Z decides to descend. It takes him long, around fifteen minutes, before he reaches the ground. Placing his foot, he feels that the floor is covered by a small layer of water. In front of him stands another door, made from the same wood as the ladder. He calls up to his companions, calling them down. Strangely, the other two hear this call with ease, even though Z is so far below. Everyone having safely made their way down, they open the new door, finding that on the other side is an island. The ground is filled with sand, though a single palm tree stands in the centre. Underneath it lies a large stone. Z and Jack enter the room, with Kokiri choosing to stay behind for now. Looking back, Z and Jack see that the door has disappeared, even though Kokiri can still see them. She calls out, and on the other side her voice booms throughout the air coming seemingly from every direction. She decides to enter the room. Before them, on the ground, lies another plank with another inscription.
To those who enter this, the third trial. This is a test of strength, though not one of aggression.Besides the plank lies an axe, which Z picks up. When he does so, the rock underneath the tree stirs. Moving up and down as if it were breathing. When they move closer, the ground shakes as sand begins to flow off of the rock, which rises to reveal a large stone golem. A sign has been hung around its neck which reads "The Guardian". The golem looks at Z and starts to move towards him. Z decides to distract the monster, as Kokiri and Jack take turns attempting to cut down the tree, thinking this is their objective. When Z tries to attack the golem, he manages to break a considerable piece off of it. The piece of rock flies into the air, though through an unseen magic force, it is pulled back onto it. In response, the guardian swipes its arm at Z, hitting him and dealing a large amount of damage. With this distraction, the other two manage to take down the tree, causing the golem to freeze and let out a cry of anguish. It proceeds to slump over, seemingly in sadness. A new door rises from the sand, leading to a room made of dark grey stone. Before they leave, Z creates a new palm tree sapling for the golem out of papier-mâché, instantly cheering it up. The new room is filled with several pedestals, inscribed in common with many names. These pedestals seem to have circular slots in them, with one labelled "Morganne, the Moonlit" having a broken stone in it. The stone is inscribed with some sort of symbol.
Once I was whole, pristine in the sky Pierced through the heart, destined to die Which made me a mother, to those you call gods I remain as a reminder to those who are notSuddenly, another of these stones appears. on the floor.
Tough I seem many, I’m held together as one I light the night sky, with my mother now gone I may inspire your dreams, your stories of love Though now I seek justice, I am waiting aboveHaving read this, at the end of the room a platform lights up. The three decide to stand on it, and the platform begins to rise. The three find themselves in a square arena of sorts, created out of grey stone with blue-green coloured crystals scattered throughout it. There are two basins with a liquid of the same colour in them and in each corner of the room stand snake-like statues with chains hanging out of their mouths. On a podium at the top of the arena stands a large chaise longue, on top of it lies a large figure.
Missions/Quests Completed
Survived the trials of the living.
Character(s) interacted with
Helia, The Starstruck
Report Date
21 Feb 2021
