The Search

In the autumn of 1292 BA, the newly formed Expeditionary Force was put to the test. Deployed in the east of Ásaterra, the Expeditionary Force was sent to the Hunsow, also known as the Dream Forest. The forest was not often traversed due to the ancient mists which lingered amongst the trees, which over time befuddled the minds of those who strayed from the established safe paths and settlements. Upon entering the forest, the party was approached by a cloaked figure who identified themselves as a scholar and claimed that the reported disturbances within the forest were due to an artefact. However, they were unable or unwilling to provide any further information about this artefact, which provoked distrust in some members of the party, whereas others wished to follow the scholar further into the forest. The scholar led the party to a clearing shielded from the mists by some form of magic and directed them towards a clue concerning the artefact’s location. Several members of the factions headed to the Crossroads, while others remained to guard the camp. Those who stayed behind were attacked by strange cultists, with odd coins in their pockets. Unsure of their purpose, they gave the coins to Spyder of the Guild of Croesus for safeguarding. Others who had remained began to have strange encounters with a teddy bear named 'Jack'.

Meanwhile at the Crossroads, Merryn of the Dark Sun uncovered another clue pointing towards the Silvian Gate. Following the trail, the mist began to addle the minds of the party, and they began to see figures from their past calling to them from the mist, confusing their minds. Once again, they uncovered a clue, but the party found themselves lost in the mists, and only just managed to find their way back to camp, where Lady Larka spectacularly vomited on Leo of the Legion. However, several members of the Dark Sun had ventured out of the safety of the camp to find their Commander. Their minds confused by the mist, they tried to lure their companions outside of the camp's boundaries. They were forcibly subdued and dragged back to safety. From inside the camp, the party saw several lost people stumbling past the area. However, once they set foot in the safety of the camp, these people were overcome by pain and lashed out. They were restrained by the Legion and questioned, but it soon became clear that the mists of the Hunsow had robbed them of all sense. Jack of the Dark Sun killed them cleanly to put them out of their misery, much to the fury of the Legion and the Guild.

The next incident to test the faction was a young woman in distress seeking refuge in their camp. After questioning, it was revealed that she had suddenly started exhibiting magical powers, and had accidentally set her home on fire. Soon after, two Cataphracts of the Legion, Jacob and Eauxi, arrived, and accused the party of harbouring a wanted murderer. The factions dissolved into chaos with disputes about territory boundaries and who had the jurisdiction to arrest the girl; the mages of the Circle trying to protect the girl, and some members of the Legion even trying to talk down their comrades. During the confusion, Lady Alecto and Jack of the Dark Sun attempted to smuggle the girl away; however, they were spotted and Jacob attacked the unarmed Alecto from behind, causing the rest of the Dark Sun to attack. The Legion tempered their wrath, but agreed that the Cataphract needed to be brought to justice.

With this issue resolved, the party returned to their search for clues, and encountered a stranger known as Sir Gerald of Federa who claimed to have an artefact to aid in their search. Sir Gerald’s price for this clue, however, was marriage to a member of the party; after much debate, Leofric of the Dark Sun was volunteered, and a short ceremony took place, securing the Expeditionary Force the clue. The next location was revealed to be the Bone Pit.

Gathering themselves and powering on through the mists, the party was once more sorely tempted and tested by the figures from the mist; their lost loves, their dead parents, the voices of those they held dearest called out to them. Magne of the Dark Sun rose to the occasion, singing a rousing war song as they travelled to drown out the voices of these phantoms. The next clue was recovered, and it spoke of Nitphil, deity of Chaos. The Guild wanted to summon the god, which the Dark Sun was against, however, they were overruled, and Sir Julian of the Legion began conducting the ritual. While Nitphil agreed to aid them, they demanded a price; a favour to be redeemed at a later date. Urbicus of the Guild undertook this bargain. Unfortunately, Julian lowered the wards before dismissing the god, unleashing chaos on the party.

The final clue led them to the nearby statue of Queen Anara I, where the Circle uncovered an old tome which they identified as having come from the destroyed library, Lyverva. They began to return to the city, however they suddenly all found themselves paralysed. The Scholar had returned, displaying incredible magical power, and took the tome from the party before vanishing. The party retreated to Lentrita for the night, swearing their revenge.

   The next morning, they began to track the Scholar, battling against the forces they summoned, and the befuddled denizens of the mist. Undead creatures of unimaginable strength were summoned by the Scholar, an adept practitioner of necromancy, but finally, Magne of the Dark Sun struck the killing blow and the factions retrieved the book. In the battle, Thel Thalion, leader of the Legion of the Maor Dli was killed. An attempt was made by Nykterion of the Guild to transform her into a vampire, but it was a risky process, considering her heart had already ceased to beat. Although she awoke, her body rejected the transition and she was destroyed during the binding ritual.

On opening it and studying the book they had retrieved, the Circle recognised some of the symbols inside the book from the arm of Lord Thunder, the person they had encountered on the first meeting of the factions. As they prepared to leave for Lentrita, a familiar Dark cloaked figure appeared. Lady Death approached them and congratulated them on their task, explaining that through their discovery of the ancient tome, they had begun to restore the higher magics to Ásaterra.

### Outcome

The Higher Magics, lost since the destruction of Lyverva, the Grand Archives, during the Civil War began to return, enabling player characters to access Tier 3 spells. The levels of natural magic across Ásaterra began to increase. Jack the teddy bear seemed to bond with Shaylee of the Circle of the Arcane. A member of the Cataphracts apprehended by the Expeditionary force, Eauxi, was pardoned and went on to join the force. His companion, Jacob Goblar who slit the throat of Alecto Blackthorne, was imprisoned, awaiting trial.