Session 20230615 Mufasa

General Summary

Bertrum's Journal

A Curious Odyssey Unveiled   Upon the wings of ambition, I ventured forth in search of patronage, seeking among the town's wealthy souls a commission to bring forth artistry from the depths of my skill. Like a maestro poised to compose a symphony, I unveiled the treasures that my craft could birth, only to be met with a patron whose desires veered towards the Regent's armed might. The task, a request to forge fifty shields, tugged at the fabric of my conscience, for it meant aiding a potential adversary in the dance of war. And so, with a heavy heart, I declined, preserving my principles over the allure of gold.   Meanwhile, Nightshade and Lyris, two wayfarers of intrigue, delved into taverns' depths, like seekers of forgotten tales. Against all odds, fate conspired in their favour, unveiling a lone soul who shared the whispered secrets of a long-lost treasure, buried within the annals of time for more than two decades. The tale, a lament of misfortune that befell its previous seekers, tantalised our adventurous spirits. Like guardians of enigma, we embarked upon a journey up the river's winding course, guided by Nightshade's keen survival instincts, to unearth this fabled bounty.
In the heart of the search area, concealed in nature's embrace, we anchored our vessel, venturing deeper into the verdant wilderness. Serendipity wove its spell upon our path, as we chanced upon a silver coin, ensnared upon a serpent's head, entwining fortune and peril in a delicate dance. With Nightshade's nimble hand, the snake met its demise, and the sun, approaching its zenith, beckoned us to erect a camp, a respite before the quest's fervent pursuit.   Soon, Nightshade returned, bearing a garnet, crimson as the blush of twilight, plucked from the bosom of an ancient tree. As Lyris and I ventured forth, seeking fuel for our fire, the hand of destiny placed within our grasp two copper wires, revealing themselves as divining rods, conduits of hidden truths. With eve's cloak descending upon the land, a subtle glow emanated from our very beings, suffusing the night with a purple haze. A mysterious phenomenon, a thaumaturgic enigma, perplexed our senses, for it was not the treasure that shimmered, but our own mortal frames.
To further our investigation, Nightshade ventured forth, casting her gaze upon the darkened landscape in search of similar spectral emanations, yet alas, the ephemeral glow eluded her probing eyes. Within the depths of contemplation, enlightenment found me, as I beheld the essence of irony woven within the tapestry of our quest. We stood upon the fringes of the Wyld, a realm where caprice and whimsy reign supreme, and this revelation was confirmed by the mischievous whispers of the pixies, Zipf and Ziggy.   Choosing to rest beneath Luna's gentle vigil, we camped the night, our dreams dancing with the allure of hidden fortunes. As dawn's first rays painted the horizon, we marshalled our spirits, relying upon the divining rods to guide us toward our destined prize. And thus, led by their arcane compass, we arrived at a towering dead tree, its ancient limbs reaching toward the heavens.   With a surge of essence, channeled through my being, I invoked my power to dismantle, deconstructing the timber's corporeal form, unearthing a revelation that lay dormant beneath its roots. From the depths emerged a massive furry arm, signalling the presence of a guardian long entwined with this sacred trove. Prudent caution prevailed as we awaited the creature's emergence, without attacking.   As the mighty arm of the guardian broke free from its arboreal prison, we stood in awe of the creature revealed before our eyes—a leonine figure, noble and fierce, whose countenance bore the mark of the fae. Mufasa, as he was named, spoke with a scattered mind, his inquiries seeking the truth of our purpose and the justification for bestowing upon us the treasure's hallowed secret. Yet, his trust was easily won, and with a honeyed tongue, we lulled him into disclosing the very location we sought.   In a twist unforeseen, Lyris, ever the one to weave webs of companionship, extended an offer to Mufasa, inviting him to join our motley band. Uncertainty gripped my heart, for the repercussions of such an inclusion could ripple through the tapestry of our destiny. Nevertheless, we embraced this curious addition, awaiting the revelation of his purpose amidst our ranks.   With the treasure secured and Mufasa by our side, we embarked upon a homeward voyage, returning to Illalim as bearers of both bounty and enigma. The journey downstream mirrored the meandering path of contemplation, as we pondered the intricate web woven by fate, our minds entangled in the mysteries yet to be unraveled.   Seeking an audience with the town's leader, I brandished the bribe that had been the catalyst for our journey, a token to sway allegiances and ignite the ember of covert cooperation. But before its presentation, I unveiled my suspicions, unveiling a truth obscured by an imposter's façade. The lady who claimed the mantle of leadership, once a humble worker in the tannery, now stood before us, her visage shrouded in perplexity.   I laid bare the inconsistencies woven into the tapestry of her past, the incongruity of her presence in disparate towns, and the fragments of memories that danced within her mind. Her confusion deepened, for she held firm recollections of both tales, as contradictory as the moon's dual nature. The hand of doubt pointed toward the Regent's agents, the weavers of manipulation and erasure, who may have tampered with the delicate threads of her remembrance.   In a moment of clarity, she consented to my plea for analysis, a willing subject in the unraveling of her memories' tangled skein. The web of truth awaited our inquiry, its strands interwoven with the Regent's design. With measured steps, we ventured forth, guided by the hope of illumination, to peer into the depths of her fractured recollections.   Thus, the stage is set for the next act of this grand narrative, where the forces of loyalty and deceit clash upon the vast canvas of Illalim. As my quill etches these words upon parchment, I cannot help but ponder the intricate dance of destiny, the tapestry of alliances and treachery that weaves itself around us. What secrets lie within the recesses of the lady's mind, and how shall they shape our future endeavours? Only time, that ever-fleeting companion, shall unfold the answers we seek, as the story of Bertrum Blumenthall and his intrepid comrades continues to unfold in this enigmatic world. Yours truly   B. B.
Report Date
15 Jun 2023
Secondary Location
Related Characters

Session Reports

Session 20221215 Getting to know the caravan
Session 20221222 Hatra Attack
Session 20221228 Oakhollow
Session 20221229 Madame Emerald
Session 20230112 Chevalier of the Fifth Harmony
Session 20230119 Flute Negotiations
Session 20230126 Fair Folk on Fair Folk Action
Session 20230202 Resting in Kajeth
Session 20230209 Kajeth City Fraud
Session 20230216 Reframing the caravan
Session 20230223 Velier and Ikal
Session 20230302 Yeddim don't climb
Session 20230309 Calibration
Session 20230323 First Blood then Vodka
Session 20230330 Fallen Lapis
Session 20230406 Building Gavirat
Session 20230407 Concert of Death
Session 20230413 Pemmican
Session 20230420 Enter Fear Eater
Session 20230424 Resting in Kajeth II
Session 20230427 Just a load of treats
Session 20230504 Davala
Session 20230511 Jackdaw's Ambush
Session 20230518 Jackdaw's Camp
Session 20230525 Solars?
Session 20230601 Solars!
Session 20230608 Illalim
Session 20230615 Mufasa
Session 20230622 Cloud Over Winter's Moon
Session 20230629 Blank Ford
Session 20230727 Triple Conclave
Session 20230803 Dream Loom and Manse
Session 20230810 To the Serene Monastery
Session 20230817 Training Montage!
Session 20230824 Bloody River
Session 20230831 Brightside
Session 20230907 Finally Chanta
Session 20230914 Golden Leaf Canal
Session 20230921 Air-boat to Plenilune
Session 20230928 Swearing to the Bull
Session 20231005 Against the Tear Eaters
Session 20231012 Death manse delving
Session 20231019 It's a trap
Session 20231026 Giving it away
Session 20231109 Scavengers and demands
Session 20231116 Amira
Session 20240509 Artifact Shopping
Session 20240516 The Diplomatic Gambit
Session 20240523 Treaty Negotiations
Session 20240530 Rubylak
Session 20240606 Treaty & Revolt
Session 20240613 Velvet Plum horror
Session 20240620 Directors & Rangers