Erthe, Wynd, and Fyr: Pre-Evolution Chronicles

The decisions and consequences of the adventuring party known as Erthe, Wynd and Fyr prior to the events in Regolus: Evolution. Comprised of Terra, Ignis and Angelo.
== ARC I: THE SUBTERRANEAN TRAIL ==
While first on the trail left by Stella's kidnappers, the party was initially directed to a nearby cave system, considered too dangerous to traverse by locals, thinking maybe the culprits would be hiding out there. Within the caves, they encountered a vicious goblinoid tribe, but it soon became clear that the goblins were not responsible for Stella's abduction. Unusual for feral dungeon-dwellers, the goblins had abducted 12 adults from local farms and rural villages, keeping all of them alive in various states of biological torture. 
Faced with this grim discovery, the group debated their course of action. Angelo, initially inclined to end the captives' suffering, ultimately agreed with the party's decision to free the hostages and provide what aid they could.
Deeper into the cave system, the truth behind the goblins’ strange behavior emerged. Each goblin bore an inky, writhing parasite at the base of their neck—a grotesque entity they referred to as the "Kindling." The parasites detached and slithered away when their hosts were killed, leaving the unsettling impression of something far more insidious at work.
=== Gizzix ===
At the heart of the cavern, in a vile cesspit, the adventurers encountered Gizzix, the goblin leader. Once a hobgoblin, Gizzix was now grotesquely fused to the cave floor by an intricate web of Kindling that seemed alive. Despite the horror of his condition, Gizzix remained lucid and addressed the intruders.
"The Suneaters mean you no ill will," he declared. "All life is cherished under the light of the Perfected Moons. What brings you to our nest?"
Angelo considered using force and intimidation, thinking that he could put Gizzix to use without forming an alliance. Terra, consumed by grief after the loss of her child, was frantic for answers and retribution. She wanted to cleanse the caves of the Kindling’s influence. Ignis, though more measured, followed Terra’s lead.
Without waiting for further discussion, Terra and Ignis acted. Gizzix was killed, and with his death, the remaining infected goblinoids either went mad or died outright.
Upon leaving the Lightless Cavern, the party left the entrances as they found them.
=== Lightless Cavern Loot ===
* Any number of Kindling Parasites
* Blackblood Tendril (made of Kindling, +1 magical whip which deals poison damage, inflicting poisoned status effect on 3 successful hits)
* Parasitic Mantle (Cloak, attunement, immune to poison damage, resistant to necrotic, gain temp HP on kill = proficiency bonus)
== ARC II: TERROR ON THE TRAIN ==
After spending time hunting for clues and completing odd jobs around Baltos to gain experience and renown, the party receives a lead from a ragtag group of vigilantes operating in the town. These vigilantes report sightings of figures with metallic enhancements escorting children, resembling Stella’s age, onto the Coalition Rail. Strangely, the children are never seen disembarking, and by the time the train reaches its final stop, they have vanished without a trace. Determined to uncover the truth, the group decides to follow one such occurrence and begins their pursuit.
=== The Decision to Pursue ===
Faced with two options for pursuing their target, Terra, Ignis, and Angelo deliberated on their course of action. The Major Route offered a direct approach with a shorter time onboard the train but carried the risk of missing the target entirely. The Minor Route presented a more dangerous path, increasing the chances of being discovered but granting a longer timeframe to locate the missing children. After weighing the risks, the group ultimately decided to take the Minor Route, opting for the extended opportunity to uncover the truth despite the added peril.
=== Journey to Sylokk ===
Taking the Minor Route, the adventurers boarded the train in Sylokk, the capital city of the Minor State Vydirix. Sylokk, located on the north-eastern edge of the southern swamps, was a place caught between a shanty town and a tribal village. The journey to their next destination took a full week on the road. One evening, as they set up camp, disaster struck. A group of deadly assailants wearing dark green robes and white owl masks ambushed the party. Their focus was primarily on Ignis, while the rest of the group was treated as collateral. The attackers spoke ominously: "The Line is sacred, and you, in your insolence, have sullied it. Embrace Æther, as you shall now be returned to it." The adventurers chose to fight until none remained standing. Ignis, trusting in her combat abilities and unwilling to risk leaving any of their attackers alive, made it clear she would not show mercy. Terra, too, instinctively felt that eliminating the threat was the only way forward, especially if this was their first encounter with such an attack. As the ambush unfolded, Terra turned to Ignis and asked if she understood what the attackers had said. Ignis, calm but resolute, replied, “Kinda, but it’s nothing. I can handle it.”
=== Sylokk and the Tensions within the Town ===
Once in Sylokk, the adventurers found the town to be a sad and damp place, positioned too deep in the swamp to fish from shore but too far from the heart of the swamp to be shielded from the fury of the sea. The town was battered and bruised, primarily inhabited by halflings, with a small settlement of the insectoid Krill who had branched out from their central grove in search of expansion. Tensions were high in town, as xenophobic tendencies run rampant in the overlooked quarters of the Mortal States, and the addition of a Rail Station here had only intensified matters as more and more foreigners passed through. 
As the group made their way to the station, a commotion broke out in the streets. A fight had started when a couple of Krill were accused of stealing from a leatherworker. The Krill, seemingly frightened, tried to deny the accusations, but their inability to speak Common made communication difficult, adding to the rising tension. The scene was growing volatile, and it was clear that a fragile peace was on the verge of breaking.
Faced with the escalating situation, the adventurers chose to take a firm stance and scold both groups with words and a display of force. Terra, feeling a compulsion to follow her newly chosen path, took the lead in this decision, aiming to assert control over the situation. Though it was difficult for Angelo, he also leaned toward this option, uncertain of the full story but not willing to stand idly by. Ignis, ever adaptable, followed Terra’s lead, ready to support whatever action was required. With forceful words and a display of authority, they sought to defuse the tension, making it clear that such conflict would not be tolerated in their presence.
=== Onboard the Aetherway ===
The Aetherway departed Sylokk, and as the train rumbled away from the swampy town, Angelo’s expertise with the Coalition Rail came into play. Using his knowledge of the Rail’s inner workings, he magically hacked into an unoccupied service car, granting the group a quiet, private space to rest and recharge. With the Minor Route ahead, running north all the way to the station in Redmount and taking just under three weeks, settling in was crucial. 
During the long journey, each of the adventurers found ways to spend their time. Terra devoted herself to understanding and controlling the new powers granted to her by Ystävä. Terra attempted to convince Ystävä to allow her to communicate with her daughter or pass on a message. She also sought to bridge the gap with Ignis, trying to reconnect after their time apart.
Ignis, on the other hand, shared stories with Terra and Angelo about her own past. She spoke of her adventures pirating and her time spent with the Keepers. While she was open about her experiences, there remained a certain guardedness about her deeper thoughts.
Meanwhile, Angelo spent much of his time studying his father’s spellbook, hoping to uncover clues that might lead to the whereabouts of his missing parent. His quest for answers kept him focused, but he also took the time to ask Terra and Ignis more about their own pasts and personal adventures. Terra shared with him the deal she had struck with a powerful being in exchange for help in seeking justice for her child’s killer.
As the days passed, the bond between the three adventurers grew stronger, each of them finding their own way to heal, reflect, and grow amidst the quiet hum of the Aetherway.
=== First Clue: The Children ===
At the end of the first week, during the stop at the coastside port of Duskpoint, a figure was spotted boarding the train with two children—a skittish half-elf boy and a very loud human girl. The figure stood out, wearing bulky robes, with a glimmering red eye in a metal housing visible beneath their hood.
After spotting the mysterious figure, Terra, eager to confront them immediately, was briefly held back by Ignis and Angelo. The group decided to tail the figure to their car before confronting them. Quietly, they followed at a safe distance, watching the figure carefully as they made their way through the train. 
Once at their car, the adventurers confronted them privately. The figure reacted quickly to their presence, showing no surprise in their eye—only cold calculation. Their left eye had been replaced with a metallic, gearbound contraption, similar in design to Angelo’s, housing a flickering red synthetic eye. Other minor modifications across their body made them completely androgynous, with no identifiable racial background. They introduced themselves as "Oracle Zaal," speaking in a talkative yet hostile manner.
When questioned, Zaal responded evasively, "Simple folk like you couldn't possibly appreciate the magnitude of our actions. Change has always required sacrifice." Tensions escalated, and a fight ensued. Despite their aggression, Zaal kept a firm hold on the children, both of whom were now in tears.
Cornered in the cabin, Zaal unleashed a beam of energy from their eye, carving a hole in the side of the train. The fight then moved to the roof, where it intensified. Realizing they were outmatched and outnumbered, Oracle Zaal made a desperate attempt to hurl the children off the side of the train while trying to teleport away.
Ignis focused on pursuing Zaal while relying on Angelo and Terra to save the children. Zaal pushed the children off one side of the train and attempted to escape by teleporting. Ignis managed to grab them just as they reached the event horizon of the spell. This caused a shockwave of force, crumpling the train car and killing four passengers, with many others injured.
Meanwhile, Angelo and Terra managed to save the children, who, though shaken, were unharmed. Despite their efforts, the Coalition did not recognize their actions. However, they were rewarded with the Blessing of Hylan for their bravery.
=== Epilogue ===
As Zaal lay bleeding, the adventurers forced information from them. When Terra mentioned Stella, Zaal coughed up blood and said, "Not my quarry, no no... They're in good hands though," they wheezed. "The master keeps them company, nice and warm in the cradle. We Futurists will take good care of you all. You will see... as we do... you will see..."With their last words, Zaal’s body went still, their threat lingering in the air. The cryptic message left Terra, Ignis and Angelo with more questions than answers, but one thing was clear: their mission was far from over.
== ARC III: FIRST INTERLUDE ==
During the six weeks of downtime, Terra focused on family matters. On one of her visits to her now-empty house, Terra had found a group of Coalition Knights breaking in. They had presented her with a sealed writ from Ines, ordering them to collect all belongings listed as Ines's, including some of Terra's most treasured keepsakes. 
She allowed the knights to take what Ines had requested, hoping it was temporary. Despite their estrangement after Stella's death, Terra still longed for reconciliation. She asked the knights to send a letter to Ines, explaining her actions. The letter ended with: "I'm doing this to provide for our daughter even after death. Trust me."One night, Angelo had an especially lucid dream. A horse, shrouded in magic and power, appeared before him and blessed his Sacramentum, enhancing his elemental abilities. Before he awoke, the steed instructed him, "Seek your destiny where winds blow and grass ceases to grow."Just over a month into their downtime, a strange ship had docked in Baltos. An envoy of robed, masked figures had stood at the deck, and a booming voice had echoed across the city: "Give us our pariah, reckless exile, return to face judgement before sunrise on the morrow, lest we reduce the city to rubble." The Keepers had come for Ignis. Ignis did not let the Keepers take her and dispatched them expediently.
Additionally, during the solar eclipse, Terra received a vision. She drifted in a fog of cosmic mist, surrounded by barren yew branches. There, she had encountered a devilishly handsome dark-skinned man in a finely tailored suit. Though she had never seen him before, Terra had instinctively known who he was. Ystävä had grinned coldly and begun to recount the tale of the Godkiller Coven.
== ARC IV: GODKILLER HUNT #1 ==
Ystävä had called upon them, through Terra, to hunt down the three liches who comprised the Godkiller Coven. These three mortals— a wizard, a warlock, and a sorcerer— had made a pact with each other to attain godhood by killing a god. They breached the Godsleep and somehow overpowered Ystävä, killing them. This caused Death to reject the three casters, who became the first Liches of Regolus. Ystävä had provided them with the location of the former wizard, Maravia; she was disguised as a professor of Necromancy at the Collegium Magicae.
Angelo preferred breaching the Collegium undetected, believing it was the safest approach. Although Terra had suggested using a partial deception to gain access, he felt involving the Coalition would complicate matters. After some debate, he and Ignis convinced Terra to go along with the stealthy plan, agreeing that slipping in without drawing attention was the best course of action.
=== Infiltrating the Collegium Magicae ===
They infiltrated the Collegium, though their presence did not go entirely unnoticed. Magical wards throughout the halls triggered alerts, drawing guards trained to detect and counter magical interference. Engaging in brief skirmishes, they dispatched their foes swiftly and silently to avoid raising a broader alarm. Recognizing the need for a more discreet approach, they shifted their focus to finding a magical means to obscure their presence and bypass the formidable defenses.
The Collegium's central castle-like structure connected to four specialized towers: the Tower of Creation (Evocation, Conjuration), the Tower of Dominion (Illusion, Enchantment), the Tower of Revelation (Divination, Necromancy), and the Tower of Evolution (Transmutation, Abjuration). Maravia, disguised as Archmage Evelyn Grenfall, was teaching in the Tower of Revelation.
=== Encountering “Archmage Grenfall” ===
Upon breaching the Tower, they found "Archmage Grenfall" leading a lesson on Puppetry of the Deceased for her advanced students. She spoke to Angelo, Terra and Ignis: "Well well well, I thought I felt some fresh auras parading around the grounds. Are you here to study? You'll have to prove your worth..."The air in the lecture hall was thick with tension as "Archmage Grenfall" observed the intruders with a sharp, calculating gaze. Her advanced students, oblivious to the danger in their midst, sat attentively, hanging on her every word as she discussed the finer points of animating the dead. Terra’s mind raced, weighing their options. To strike now would mean risking the lives of the students, but any delay could give Maravia time to strengthen her position. Ignis bristled beside her, every muscle tense with the urge to act, while Angelo kept his focus sharp, waiting for the right moment.
Feigning ignorance, they played along, asking questions and blending into the periphery of the room, all while studying Maravia's movements. Her mastery of Necromancy was evident, every gesture deliberate and steeped in power. Yet, beneath the surface of her poised demeanor, there was a glimmer of recognition—a hint that she knew her enemies had come for her. When the lesson concluded, Maravia’s tone turned cold and commanding. She invited them to "prove their worth," her words dripping with mockery. Before they could respond, she unleashed her power, casting a spell that wrenched them out of the lecture hall and into the depths of the Collegium, where her crypt awaited.
=== The Crypt Beneath the Collegium ===
In this space, surrounded by her dark relics and rituals, Maravia revealed her true, undead form, wielding immense power. At the back of the chamber, bound within an arcane iron maiden, was the real Evelyn Grenfall, her magical essence siphoned to sustain Maravia’s strength.
Faced with dire choices, Terra and Angelo focused on saving Evelyn while battling Maravia, determined to subdue the Lich and free the captive Archmage. Ignis, however, took a riskier approach, hunting for Maravia’s phylactery amidst the chaos. Their combined efforts proved effective—Evelyn was freed, and with Maravia’s phylactery destroyed, the Lich was slain, her power shattered.
With Evelyn alive and liberated, the group not only survived but also earned her gratitude. Their trespassing was forgiven, and they were honored as guests of the Collegium.
== ARC V: FUTURIST COMPOUND RAID ==
== ARC VI: SECOND INTERLUDE ==
Category:Regolus