Blood Moon Over Alcamar Part 1

*"I did not want to kill you. But I realise now that the threat you embody must be stopped" - Rhea of House Aerindel to Sofiya Zordova*

## Overview

### Background:

The brave mystwarders were invited to Alcamar to witness the ritual to dedicate Rhea of House Aerindel's twin scimitars to the moon.

Boarding the fish-like contraption from the C.A.S, they travelled through the imposing gates of Stromheim flying over the bleak yet serene landscape covered in dusting of snow with the occasional signs of wildlife peaking out of the coniferous forests of the north.

After ascending the otherworldly series of jagged mountains far removed from the plains of the south, they arrived in Alcamar. The contraption floated over the majestic tiered city gracefully landing on a clearing next to the College of Swords.

Upon arrival, the group was greeted by Akasha (the head of the College of Swords), Althea (Rhea's Aunt) and Elise (Rhea's sister). Brief greetings and pleasantries exchanged, they were escorted to the college. The two heavy wooden doors inlaid with moonstones and gilded with mithral opened revealing a foyer filled with dignitaries and staff; Beyond was a large atrium surrounded by walkways and an opulent chandelier hanging in the middle.

The group entered and made their way to the atrium where they were astounded by the magically imbued tiles depicting a shimmering full moon. Dignitaries and staff socialised with the group; Rosalyn, the head cook, in particular was every so slightly more accommodating than the rest, giving them portions of the famous Snow Cookies.

They retired in preparation for this evening's event.

### Event unfolding during the ceremony of the moon:

As sun set, people were escorted through a winding cobblestone path bordered by fields of lunar flowers. Beyond the inclined path is a megalithic structure sitting atop a mound surrounded by lunar flowers.

> *The Circle of the Moon is a large structure composed of concentric circles. The circles are formed by wide pillars connected with arches. Various bas relief depicting lunar deities and events decorate the stone pillars. The outer circle is a full circle encompassing the sacred grounds of the ritual site. In the centre of the structure lies an altar on top of a dais, surrounding it is the broken inner circle forming a crescent shape.*
>
>

The ceremony started with Rhea, dressed in a fine white gown laden with lunar flower embroidery and cut moonstones on top of her bladedancing armour, entering the inner circle. Akasha along with her right hand called Norrix Battleblades, a green dragonborn, and her left hand, a halfling named Lamia, stood on the dais awaiting for Rhea to rest her two scimitars on the sacred moon altar in preparation for the dedication to the moon.

During the ceremony, The full moon drew close and the lunar flowers started glowing brightly. The silvery light of the moon beamed down to the two swords placed on the altar. Halfway through the ceremony, the moon turned into a blood stained hue; The surrounding area, normally white with snow, were basked in crimson moonlight apart from the faint luminescent glow of the lunar flowers. The crimson light touched Rhea's swords corrupting them and giving them a pale crimson sheen like oil coating the surface of them.

Mist closed in on the congregation and started to attack the people within the circle. During the confusion, a few people were dragged into the mist including Rhea's aunt, Althea, and Sofiya. Natsu Dragoneel with his expertise as a paladin identified the mist-like creatures to be undead. Brett Jermaine turned the undead allowing the brave mystwarders to concentrate on getting the people back to the college with the help of Wendell Archard's drone and Bryn Silvers's efforts to carry as many as possible.

The aftermath was devastating culminating in the death of Akasha. The right hand and the left hand were missing in action and a few dignitaries and staff presumed dead.

### The College of Swords:

The depiction of a full moon, once shimmering in silver light, turned crimson like the blood moon outside. The group realised the severity of the situation and identified safe places to barricade the civilians in.

Worried of the whereabouts of the two other senior staff, the party decided to climb one of the towers to look for signs of life. Brett Jermaine drew his mystical moon card which transformed into a spyglass. The group spotted a female figure approaching the doors. They have identified the figure to be Sofiya but Natsu Dragoneel detected undeath within her. They also realised 4 other figures lurking in the shadows a few metres away from the door.

The group opened the doors to let Sofiya in making sure to slam it to prevent the other figures from following. To their horror, Sofiya revealed her fangs and attacked Natsu. The group managed to do some heavy damage on her between the expert grapples of Bryn Silvers, Rhea's blades, Brett's sacred flame and Natsu's devilish weapon. Unfortunately, she managed to scale the walls with ease thanks to her newly found vampiric powers.

Wendell came face to face with Sofiya on the mezzanine as he was about to join the group down the ground floor. Wendell manage to cast suggestion on her subduing the vampiric handmaiden.

Realising the threat Sofiya impose on the survivors and citizens of Alcamar, the group made a heavy hearted decision to destroy the vampiric hand maiden. Rhea of House Aerindel, being the noble Sofiya and Ana Maria Zordova serves under, took it upon herself to end Sofiya as her noble duty. Rhea, with two scimitars crossed against the prone Sofiya's neck, brought down all her weight to finish off the unfortunate Sofiya but not without being cursed by the corrupted soul of her former friend. One of Rhea's blades appeared to be tainted with perpetually flowing blood as Sofiya muttered one last profanity.

The adventure continued in Blood Moon Over Alcamar Part 2

## Adventurers

* Brett Jermaine
* Bryn Silvers
* Natsu Dragoneel
* Rhea of House Aerindel
* Wendell Archard

## NPCs Encounter

* Akasha, The Head of the College of Swords
* Norrix Battleblades, Green Dragonborn, Right Hand of Akasha
* Lamia, Halfling, Left Hand of Akasha
* Head Cook Rosalyn
* Elise
* Aunt Althea

## Monsters Encounter

* Vampiric Mist
* Sofiya

## Treasure Received

* Two moontouched rapiers + 1 (taken by Bryn Silvers and Wendell Archard)
* Sofiya (Bloodtouched Scimitar) (Rhea of House Aerindel's Transformed sword)