A Difference

"**A Difference**" (1x01) is the first episode of the campaign.

Six humble attendees of the annual Banesbreak festival find themselves thrown headlong into history, both the making and breaking of it, in the premiere episode of a thrilling new adventure.

## Synopsis

### The Legend of Banesbreak

The story begins in Borros in 1277 PT.

While the book was a success, the world seems to be mimicking some of the same ails. The province has become but a puppet state for the Republic. Nevertheless, the Banesbreak festival still takes place in Highpoint every year, which is where our story begins.

### Part I (before the break)

It's Autumn, calm. The leaves are changing, but warm tones cover the city. The Banesbreak festival is taking place. Everything you could want is there, a circus, rides, stands; all gathered to celebrate the downfall of Oris Ki'dyr-Southmarch.

A fire has erupted in the circus tent and sneaking away from it is Kurse. She wild shapes into a strawberry-blonde hamster and runs towards the food tent. She drops the wild shape behind the food tents to find a festival barker noticing her. He approaches her and introduces himself as Devin (sp). He leads her farther away to the staff areas and offers a deal: he can get her out but she has to pose as one of Banesbreakers for the new statues. He offers her five gold and she agrees. He leads her to another tent where she can stay. He then leaves to collect other people to pose.

Somewhere else, a game of Fairy Man's Gambit is deep in session. Playing amongst the folk is Gybe. He feigns complete ignorance on to how to play the game. However, he wins seamlessly and takes all the gold of 15 silver and other winnings. A festival barker appears and offers him a flask as congratulations and Gybe mimics his accent instinctively. The festival barker confesses he approached him to get him to join the models for the new statues. Gybe agrees and the barker tells him he'll give him the flask and 5 gold for the work. Then, he guides Gybe to the tent and takes off to find more models.

Meanwhile, Astrid and her mother, Alette (sp) are walking through the festival. An old friend of her mother appears, Lorelei (sp). They begin conversing. Nila is muddling around fancy stalls, looking for someone to help her. Eventually, she finds the woman she's been informed (by Myrra (sp)). Spotting her, Nila approaches Lorelei and waits nearby. Lorelei wraps up the conversation and joins Nila. Nila presents Lorelei with a relic from her childhood, as well as the fabric she was wrapped in as a child. Lorelei confesses she can't translate it after losing all her notes from moving. She hands Nila back the cloth and tells her to look elsewhere for help. And as soon as Lorelei is gone, the festival barker appears and offers, ultimately, 6 gold for her to model for the statues. She agrees and is led to the same tent as the others.

Overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle, Luca is gingerly exploring and sketching. He stops a painter and they discuss the painting, resulting in the painter adding more details to the art. The festival barker approaches Luca and offers him a chance to meat a legendary Aarakocran sculptor. The barker gives him an apple and leads him to the tent.

Astrid is helping her mother with potions ingredients. Her mother busies looking for things they need while Astrid looks at the poisons. Astrid buys Brindlebar (sp) for 1 silver and she puts away in one of her vials. After she walks away from the stall to meet back with her mother, the festival barker approaches her and returns something she dropped. Astrid confesses it's her first time at the festival and he asks if she would be interested in posing for the statues. Her mother pleads with her to do it and Astrid agrees. The barker then leads her to the tent as well.

Sitting in her chapter and drinking tea, Prythiv is discussing how empty something inside her feels. She is urged to wake up and finds herself sitting on the floor holding a folded wax seal paper torn in half and a small silver fork with the emblem of the republic senate stamped in it. She stands up from where she was sitting amongst dirt, and is completely immaculate. She slips the fork into her pocket but continues to rolls her finger over the seal. She cannot remember where she is but finds a sign of the festival and enters to try and regain her senses. After a moment, she realizes the festival barker has been speaking to her. He introduces himself. She gets the impression he wants to say something and asks him what he needs. He asks her to do him a favour that will help her recover. Prythiv then zones him out as realizes she has a book at her side. It's a thick square tome and she begins to get the impression to stay at the festival. He offers her 6 gold as well. He takes her to the tent to complete the set. On the way, Prythiv notices an old Elven man, in a ragged black tunic, unable to not notice his piercing electric-blue eyes. He is walking with a cain, holding perhaps a book. She approaches him. He apologizes for staring. She asks about his dream and he rambles then urges her to follow the barker. She casts guidance and he disappears into the crowd.

Every time tent opens, Kurse hides. Luca mimics this behaviour. Nila is chatting with Kurse. Gybe is perched up high. Astrid is reading an herbalist book, occasionally making eye contact with Nila. They hear the end of a presentation on the main stage. It is Ava Mendax, welcoming the festival. The gnomish woman, looking like a ball of yarn in her warm clothes, comes down the steps and into the tent. She lights a cigarette, congratulates them on being models, and leaves. As they discuss Ava's book, Kurse explains she's read the first page (the table of contents) only. She then quickly explains she's from the circus, despite being clearly dressed to be from the circus. She continues to explain how they would hide books to try and read them. Astrid inquires if she's been hurt and Kurse laughs as she answers "oh, yes".

Astrid gives Kurse a snack and introduces herself. There's a bit of arguing outside. Prythiv recognizes the elven man and gets closer to the tent. He insists the guard give them something then leaves. The guard enters shortly after and is holding a parcel wrapped in cloth, shaped like a book. He gives it to Prythiv. The guard leaves and Pry opens it. Kurse asks if she'll read it to her. It's a first edition of The Legend of Banesbreak. There's a note stuck to the cover that reads: "Keep this close. Do not make the same mistakes." and on the reverse a line in old Eursian (sp) Elvish which roughly translated to "Son, Protect, Conceal, approximately A Continuance". Gybe reads the note over her shoulder. Prythiv stores the book and Nila introduces herself, while offering a drink. Pry says she will happily the read the book to Kurse. Kurse curls up by Pry as she begins to recite it from memory.

Not long into the story, an Aarkocran woman pops her head into the tent and greets them, explaining she will be sculpting them. She beckons them out to follow her. Astrid grabs some more snacks and Kurse sees and mimics before following everyone else. Behind the tent is a massive black slab. She directs them together and asks them to pose heroically. Kurse poses gracefully, appearing almost to float. Nila pulls out her axe & flask and quirks a smirk. Gybe takes both his daggers out, crosses his arms and leans against the slab. He, however, is eyeing the entrance. Prythiv drops onto the ground to make a three-point stands, holding up her book as if she were drawing a rune. Luca hovers in place, with his fists raises and his face making a wary expression. Astrid poses as if casting a spell. Pry continues to read to Kurse as they hold the poses.

The light around seems to dim with heavy clouds. It feels almost as if there is static in the air, making hairs stand on end. The winds rise. It feels like more than a storm. The winds become brutal, tearing apart the festival. The sculptor goes flying. Kurse grips the ground with her boots and grabs hold of Nila and Prythiv. Astrid makes a frenzied grab for Luca, lifting herself into the air in the process. Gybe leaps off the slab, grabbing Luca's wings, crashing the three of them to the ground. The festival goers are fleeing, leaving the grounds deserted except the old, ragged elf with the piercing blue eyes. He seems to focus himself, but slowly walk toward the group. Gybe uses feline agility to close the gap, holding his hand out. Nila supports him with a line around his waist. The elf is mumbling something, moving his hand rhythmically. Gybe gets his arm and it seems to steady him a little.

Closer now, Kurse can sense the conjuration, evocation and abjuration in the air — some magics even more than she can identify. The elf's hands move nearly too fast to follow. A blinding light flashes and six silhouettes appear, bloodied and in ruin, unrecognizable. Out of the light steps another, larger, regal, male half-elf follows, radiating power. Immediately, Astrid readies an eldritch blast. The ragged elf reaches the group, sans Gybe. Gybe is perched behind the new figure, holding his daggers at ready. However, a hand grabs Gybe by the throat and lifted from the ground. Immediately, he jams his daggers into the arm, stopping just short as they encounter an energy surrounding the arm. Luca grabs Astrid's waist to lift into the air.

The ragged elf's final words bellow. He shouts to the group as they feel themselves fading, "Find me. Save Highpoint." And everyone is pulled into darkness.

### Part II (after the break)

Everyone walks atop one another outside the city at night. Rain covers the group, only reprieved by slightly warmer weather. Astrid is poked by a stranger, wondering what they're doing outside the pub at 3am.

## Featured Characters

### New

* Astrid
* Gybe
* Kurse
* Luca
* Nila
* Prythiv

## Quotes

* "That is correct. I've never played this game at this table." — Gybe
* "I'm Kurse, don't tell." — Kurse
* "Do you want us to kill someone for you?" — Nila
* "It's a HimBird!" — above game