Tales from Etheraz: 2/22 Training Day Recap

Greetings, troubadours, troublemakers, and trailblazers! 

I, ATLAS THE BARD, have narrowly escaped capture to bring word of the group of adventurers known as the PC Party. Recently, the party settled briefly at a tavern in Tohani to regroup, train their skills, and look forward to the coming days. Unfortunately, I was deeply and maddeningly lost in the woods and by the time I arrived at the tavern, the party had since left. Oops! The following information comes from my friend Pavel, a scout who was with the party (and was not lost in the woods), and Kyran, the lead alchemist in the PC party. 

The party entered the tavern to cheers and congratulations! Apathy and Despair, horrible scourges upon the land, had been purged. Though the mood was merry, the party could not rest for long: they were warned that Apathy and Despair may return, due to the improper way they were banished. The region of Tohani was safe, but perhaps not for long… 

Suddenly, my friend Pavel the scout burst into the tavern. Urgent news! The Hollowed of the Coltar Spawn of Hatred were attacking House Blakka’s gate. These horrible monsters were unlike anything Pavel had ever seen before: they took the form of warriors fallen in battle, with swords and spears sticking out of open wounds, and with strange, grotesque animal parts protruding from them. Upon being slayed, they exploded into a whirlwind of fire. Everyone agreed: this was quite concerning.

Dear readers, this next part pains my heart to say: I seem to have missed a crucial event in my past report. I apologize deeply – even bards make mistakes sometimes (though very rarely). At the very end of the battle against Apathy and Despair, party member Harper turned on Makota and attacked her, killing her where she stood. Her reasons for turning on her dear ally are unknown to me, but I suspect they may have had something to do with the enchanted crown residing on Makota’s head. Thankfully, the adept party healers were able to stabilize Makota before any damage had been done. 

Now, it seemed Makota was out for revenge. With a piercing yell, Makota slays Harper where she stands using a mysterious force that seems to originate from her crown! She storms out of the room, strife incarnate, revenge having been served. Harper is healed by her allies, and the matter seems to have been settled. An eye for an eye, I suppose. 

The party then advanced into the woods upon hearing screams and the sounds of battle. Rushing into a clearing, they discovered Gurney Blacksteele, mentor and warrior, looming over the corpse of a bloodied monster. That isn’t a particularly unusual sight; if you wander these woods enough, you’re bound to find monsters. But, the monster laying at Gurney’s feet was no ordinary Hollowed. It bore the markings of Apathy and Despair’s henchmen, but corrupted… The formerly bone-white monster was marked with red. 

Fear passed through the hearts of the party. These markings could only mean one thing: that Hatred’s influence was spreading, leaching into the land and getting more aggressive. What was once a faraway threat, powerful but distant, was now getting closer to confrontation. 

No other choice was clear but one: the party had to find a way past Blakka’s gate, through the blockade, to find Hatred and strike it down. Filled with determination and fire, the party spent the rest of the day training vigorously, pushing themselves to the limit to prepare for the grave days ahead. As twilight set upon Tohani, the party set out on what may be their biggest challenge yet. 

(And then I arrived. Drat!) 

Dear reader, do not let these tales concern you. Keep your head down, your swords up, and remember that they cannot capture every one of us. Soon, the party will be upon Blakka’s forces. Let Blakka quake where they stand!
And remember: Fight together, or die alone. 

This is blog written from the perspective of an in-game NPC intended to catch players up on what they missed during events!