Harmony Session 0: The Storm Comes

General Summary

The Second Echwink Expedition to Vardura began in earnest in 1110 AC, when enough ships and personnel made it to the continent to begin exploring its lands and uncovering its secrets. Before anyone step foot on the lost continent of Vardura however, they must first visit the island of Valen'taomi, an ancient waystation in the deep-deep of The Vast.

Danger Brewing

One on fateful evening on this tiny island, a nasty storm raged overheard as it was wont to do. In The Sad Elf, the rundown tavern that had seen more use over the past few months than it had in centuries, Keeper Bedlow, the bartender, solemnly served some halfway decent Hee-Haw to a handful of the Second Expedition's brave explorers as they awaited the final leg of their journey. Those in attendance were:

• Azarki Kevin-Kevin, the First Follower of Kharlo the Catalyst and Cleric of the Divine Domain of Exigency.
• Gorr, the mysterious Swampkin from the frozen wastes of The Icehost and purveyor of undeniably delicious berries.
• Dr. Malachi Husk, one of the few maizegrown to have "escaped" to Drembari Isles following the disastrous First Expedition and eager student of his wayward homeland.
• Pilgrim, the Faithwrought construct from the shattered Alerki Ascendency, here to enact the will of the True Sovereign.
• Zoran, a scarred king without a kingdom (or a memory) and judicious legionnaire of the Panoptic Legion.
• CHRONURGY WIZARD, a chronurgy wizard of chronurgic wizardry.
• Pestus, an obnoxious ratfolk with a chip on his shoulder.
• Byzix Flintclaw, a leonin from The Break and paladin of The Reconstitution.

Bedlow was busy serving Pestus and Byzix at the bar when Captain Chu Arkhal slammed open the tavern door, the anger obvious on his face. He glared at the two adventurers at the bar as a crack of lightning silhouetted his huge figure in the doorway. Arkhal had been busy preparing his ship to set sail in the morning when he was informed that Olga Featherstream, intern at the Bari Historical Society, had ventured across The Riven onto the forbidden side of the island in search of a lost temple to Dizmera. Turns out, Pestus and Byzix had lied to Olga and sent her to an untimely demise. With the storm continuing to intensify, the beleagured Captain asked the other adventurers in attendance to help save Olga before anything terrible could happen. Each having met the adorably enthusiastic Olga earlier that day, the six remaining adventurers did not hesitate to help.

A Gloomy Reception

The would-be heroes headed out into black rage of the growing storm and trudged eastward toward the Riven. A small tower, Valen's Seat, marked where a bridge crossed the surging stream. In the doorway of the tower stood Valen, the ancient Emissary to Vardura and 500-year resident of Valen'taomi. His eyes were turned up to the sky, seeming to not care as the rain battered his face. A few of the party attempted to get his attention, but the elf did not respond to even physical provocation.
Pressed for time, the party moved on across the bridge. Gorr got a strange feeling in the back of his neck and turned back to see Valen staring directly at him from the other end of the bridge. A single word telepathically reverberated through Gorr's mind as thunder crashed overhead: DOOM.

A Sudden Strike

Soon enough, the sound of Olga's screams drew our heroes to an old dilapadated building. There, the intern was under attack by several storm spirits, birthed from the raging clouds. Our heroes fought well, but took a beating getting Olga to safety. Just as the last spirit fell, an explosion of thunder rent the sky open as a bolt of lightning struck the ground right in front of them. In the smoking crater stood a huge horned humanoid wreathed in lightning and brandishing a menacing axe. The monster roared and launched himself at the heroes just as Valen appeared out of nowhere and intercepted the monster.
The creature roared with the thundering clouds and Valen's telepathic voice entered the minds of all our heroes: Go now! To the ships! You must leave the island. Kogos means to kill you all!
The adventurers felt no need to argue as Valen fought The Storm Rider and fled back to Port in haste. Captain Arkhal did not doubt the word of the adventurers and sped to ready Tan'net's Revenge. Our heroes grabbed what they could and leapt aboard in a very unexpected departure from the sleepy Valen'taomi. The Captain shouted prayers to Otuna and Dizmera from the helm as he navigated the hurricane-level winds and somehow got the ship out into the open dark waters of The Vast. Valen'taomi disappeared completely into a massive column of lightning-veined stormclouds that disappeared into the murky black of the starless sky.
The sky soon cleared and the waters calmed as the ship continued its midnight journey to Vardura on moonlit seas.

Missions/Quests Completed

Save Olga Featherstream!

Character(s) interacted with

Valen
Captain Chu Arkhal 
Olga Featherstream 
Pestus 
Byzix Flintclaw 
The Storm Rider

Report Date

04 Apr 2024

Primary Location

Valen'taomi

Related Characters

• Azarki Kevin-Kevin