Ashes of Time II: Wind Blows, Rain Falls

Sliver

Doomer Boomer

Nonagon Infinity

**Ashes of Time II: Wind Blow, Rain Falls** was a Brigade oneshot, the second in a series of three run by guest DM Nick P. The oneshot followed Alexstrasza, Baz, Doomer, Sliver and Nonagon as they seek information about the mysterious Koyne. They discover Koyne's murder of an innocent child, and attend a gala. After revelry, the discover that the town's leadership intend to attack the Brigade. After sneaking into a meeting with Koyne and Lucy F. Bull-yon, the woman leading F.I.R.E. for Bahn-Hapeye, they attacked Koyne. The fight ended with a draw, and the Brigade members returned home with the knowledge of an impending attack, and the threat of Koyne even more dire.

## Prompt

It’s been one month since a group of Brigade members returned from Bahn-Hapeye, and as she promised before, Eve has been sending letters back to the Brigade on her progress investigating the followers of Koyne inside the city. Her letters have been delivered every week by Rowen, the older man who navigates the Rade River and its smaller tributaries, ferrying passengers throughout several towns and cities in the Moonrise Valley.

Today, on the day when another of Eve’s letters is supposed to arrive, Rowen’s boat floats into the harbor with no one steering it. It’s not until several concerned townsfolk pull the boat up to the dock that they discover the truth: Rowen lays face down in a pool of blood on the deck of his ship, a knife wound in his back. As others lament the loss, a message found on Rowen’s body is brought to the Zenith, addressed to the Brigade. As it’s opened, it’s clear to see from the handwriting that this is another of Eve’s notes.

```
Brigade members,

I think I’ve discovered something important here. One of the clerics was seen stepping into Lady Bull-yon’s mansion as an honored guest. She’s the one who runs this city and if they get to her, things won’t be pretty. I need some help investigating further though, the guild may have caught wind of my poking around.
There’s supposed to be a formal gathering at Bull-yon’s mansion in a few days’ time, I managed to snag some invitations that I’ve enclosed in this letter. When you get to the city, ask Vi about me at the Troll, she’ll know where I am. See you soon.

Eve

```

Further inspection of the parcel that contained this note reveals a total of 6 invitations to a formal gala at Lady Lucy F. Bull-yon’s mansion in three days’ time. As discussion brews around who should go to Bahn-Hapeye begins, another more gruesome discovery is also reported: Rowen’s face, which had been covered with bandages when the body was found, is missing completely, looking as if someone had sliced it clean from his face.

## Entry

The group tried to meet with Eve, however when they found her room, it was covered in lamp oil. Sliver teleported into the room to try to save Eve, but someone else was in the room and ignited the oil. We tried to save the Eve, but it was too late. After investigating the body, we used Speak with Dead to discover more about her and discovered that it was not Eve; it was a person wearing a magic mask that made her look like Eve. It was a child wearing a magic mask that made her look like Eve. After investigating the body a little further, we got the mask off. Then we took the murdered child to her parents house to ensure they would know what happened.

Leaving with low spirits, we attended the gala. The food and the dancing revived our spirits a bit, and Sliver was able to make a friend with another Master of the Particulate. Eventually a woman came out and made a grand speech about how the Brigade was undermining the city, and... blah, blah. Nonsense. Koyne was next to her, so we knew it was just lies, slander, and manipulation.

Sliver turned invisible and went on ahead to scout the area, and the rest of us went out onto the balcony and scaled the walls to get to the upper floors undetected. Baz has noodle arms, so Alexstrasza carried them over her shoulder.

Once up there, we found the door that lead to where the woman and Koyne had gone and listened. We immediately heard Sliver attack, so we busted in and started a tussle. Unfortunately, Koyne is a filthy, lying, murdering, hateful, cheating piece of trash, so we were forced to call it a draw and return to the Brigade with the threat that they were coming to invade the tower. Koyne also asked us for his acolyte back.

## Gallery

Oneshot banner, Lilgreenfox.Ashes of Time II doodles