Session DR1

Session DR1 occurred on 7 March 2021. It was the first test session to explore the onboarding of additional GMs. The session is included in the canonical game events. The players were Big Spoon (Tyriok), LaurenDanger (Bea Naturalis), Psychoxero (Romeron), and Silvyr (Valdenar). The goal of the session was to explore mountains to the SW of Dryvault and also to scout the Rust Brother's Lodge.

## Summary

The group departed Dryvault and went south-west , finding an abandoned campsite near an excellent fishing spot in 011.024. The campsite was inhabited only by a Strange Cat.

The next day the group attempted to travel south-west again, but were foiled by fog and forced to return to their old campsite. The next day Romeron led them successfully to 010.025 where they discovered a strange glass city at the center of which there was a magical glass kiln being operated by Glass-Singer Vera. She told the group she had been drawn there by dreams and that if they were able to fill a glass beaker with Blood Mist the machine promised to control the Blood Mist. A vision offered that night by the Strange Cat, which had followed the group, indicated that this is risky.

The group then moved on to 009.024 which proved to be a large overhang. The saw the Rust Brother's Lodge in hex 008.024 and also that there is no reasonable way to the overhang peak from the north or north-west. They were nearly ambushed by Trolls who live in that area, but were able to escape and made their way back to Dryvault.

## In-character tales

### Romeron's tale

*Test-DR-1*

Left Dryvault to the South-West crossed the river to a undulating hills. Found an abandoned campsite (11.24) that was occupied by a cat, the cat was extremely hostile towards me for unknown reasons but seemed to enjoy the company of my companions. As we left the camp towards the mountains Bea lead us towards them but we got surrounded by fog and nearly got lost but I lead us out of it. After the failure of morning we started are trip again only to be lead to the fog again at this point my anger boiled over and I cursed heavens and earth for us being cursed by this bad luck, but Valdenar snapped me out of it. I'm sure the cat is the reason for all this horrible luck.

We rested another night in the same camp site and recovered are senses and in the morning finally as I took the lead we reached the mountains. The cat followed us to the mountains and having noticed this I forgot to look where I was going and crashed into a pane of glass, it shattered on impact but I avoided the shards with my reflexes. As we looked we saw a massive buildings made from glass and as we ventured forth we saw a dwarf hammering and singing inside a glass building. Vera as we learned the dwarfs name said she had been brought to this location as a vision quest, I didn't trust her but still said I'd take the glass jug to Osric to see if he was willing to complete her quest. We stayed the night at this creepy location I slept like a baby and as we left the next day during our hike Valdenar told about a dream he had while in the glass structure, but most of this went right over my head I don't really understand religious symbolism nor care enough to learn.

As we traveled in the mountains the terrain turned to much more difficult to traverse and as we reached the final edge I could finally see it. The Rust brothers lodge in the distance but there was no path from our location and would have to turn around. As we were going to leave we saw them eyes a lot of eyes, troll eyes several pairs at least a half dozen. I was sure this was the end but Valdenar once again had the guts and intelligence to make the trolls understand we did not wish to fight but if we had to we would take several of them with us. This is now the second time Valdenar has talked us out of trouble and more I travel with him more I believe in his quest given by his god....

### Bea's tale

Test DR-1 The Wreckage Session

After a morning in Dryvault we set forth over Flow’s Crossing to the southwest. We would explore the mountains though none of us were the best of explorers. This would hinder us in time.

We thought we heard laughter and conversation amongst the small outcroppings of the scrub plain and I tried to sneak around and discover who was speaking. I slipped and tumbled over the ledge. I laughed at my folly and turned, but I did not see the being who had spoken, but there was an old, abandoned camp site with a small housecat sleeping on a bed roll. We searched and found no signs of anyone else. It was a lovely site and we stayed the night with the company of a new feline friend. This is a very safe place to stay, and the cat will keep you company.

We attempted to set out the next day but a fog foiled my attempts to lead us to the slope. Lost and disheartened, we returned to the camp, spending the next full day there, setting out to fish and take time to train in skills. Our supplies replenished and our bodies rested, we departed for the mountain. As we climbed, the trees thinned and the peak seemed bare, but Romeron stepped into something and quickly sprung back with a shattering of glass. Valdenar was able to discern that glass buildings adorned the mountain and were somehow connected in flesh-like tendrils or some such construct. We navigated toward the centre and there met Veya, a dwarven lady who worked glass with her voice. She believes she can stop the bloodmist, but whether this is true or not is unknown.

The next day we travelled to the next mountain in hopes of surveying the basin and sighting the Rust Brother’s Lodge. The mount is like a sharp spire that overhangs the land and the basin, and it cannot be crossed, lest you hang underneath the spike in a most perilous attempt to climb upside-down.

When we turned to leave, we could see that there were many shadowed little caves under other spires, and eyes peered out at us. They were trolls. More than half a dozen, watching us. Yet led by Valdenar we put on fierce, brave faces and they did not emerge into the sun to hinder our departure. We immediately decided to return to Dryvault, as trolls are disease filled and may be brave enough to risk sunlight to make us into meals. A few we could fight. More than a half dozen? Such risks are too great.

And so we have achieved the goal, the lodge is revealed, and we know of a new mystery of glass that will be left for others to unravel.

### Tyriok's tale

*Available here.*

Test Session

Day 1, We crossed Flow’s Crossing into (011.024) with Bea leading the way and Romeron scouting for danger. As we moved into the countryside, Romeron heard some laughing, Bea volunteered to sneak ahead and get a better view, she slipped on some wet rocks and fell down in front of a slight cave with an old weathered camp, and no living persons, but a seeming domesticated house cat that Romeron grabbed, it scratched at him and he tossed it at Bea, who caught it and put it down and tried to feed it. As Romeron slept through the evening to keep watch at night, Valdenar went down to the river and caught some fish for the cat while Bea made camp and I kept watch. Valdenar gave the fish to the cat, and made it clear to the animal that this fish was “payment” for our sleeping in this camp. Despite initial impressions I think this cat is just a cat. We slept un-interrupted.

Day 2, We set out trying to make our way into (010.025) but a fog descended from the mountainside and Bea couldn’t find her way through it, and we got lost. I lost myself in the fog for a while, but we returned to camp we had made the previous day and rested again. Valdenar came to me and asked for training in some basic sword moves. I began to train him in the school of the Heavenly Star, it felt strange imparting upon him the lessons I learned so long ago.

Day 3, Bea’s rations ran out the night before, so she and Romeron went down to the stream and fished, and came back loaded with fish. As I finished training Valdenar in the more defensive techniques that Otsa taught me. Valdenar started to cook the fish, cooking four of the five into rations, I kept watch as Bea and Romeron went back to the stream for more fish, and came back again loaded down with fish. They seemed to have found an ideal fishing spot, perhaps this stream has been blessed by Flow.

Day 4, We set out again to head up into the mountains (010.025), with Romeron leading the way and Bea keeping watch. We worked our way up the forested mountainside, as we reached a less steep portion of the forest Romeron turned around, looking behind the group and bumped into something that shattered, leaving a pile of broken glass. As the trees thinned out up here, they were replaced by large glass...objects...structures, I’m not sure what to call them, but Romeron broke one. Valdenar spotted a central structure and we begin making our way towards that, as we got closer the glass structures got bigger, some of them were buried in the ground like basements. In the distance we spotted a room in the large central spire with carpets and a large kiln that was in use, by a dwarven woman who was singing, in a way that reminded me a little of Skarn’s Stonesinging. Her name is Vera, and she has discovered the art of “Glass-singing”. She believes that the glass structures and buildings are a device to “tame” the Bloodmist, she was given a dream, perhaps by Huge, or some other deity. The final step of completing this device is that she needs a glass jar filled with Bloodmist. She very much believes in her destiny, especially after we told her about Osric and the abilities of his armor and that the first people she’s met in such a long time know someone who can withstand the mist. As we slept that night in Vera’s hold, I noticed during the night the Kiln does not consume any fuel, it just is hot, hot enough to keep the glass molten. Oh, and the cat from the camp we found has followed us. It’s starting to grow on me.

Day 5 (010.025->009.024) Valdenar relayed a strange dream he had while sleeping in Vera’s Kiln, with facsimile of the glass city on the faces of a die and as it spun, the side with a “six” on it made him feel -Rest of Dream here- As we moved forward, the terrain become more rough, with stalagmites rising out of the ground here. The mountain here is a large promontory which means that this is the end of the “road” here as it were coming from this direction. As we stood on this large spike of rock, looking out over the landscape we were able to spot the rumored Rust Brother’s Lodge (008.024). As we turned to leave, we saw in the shadows of all the large, jutting outcropping of rocks are humanoid eyes…this area is Troll Country. I loosened my sword in it’s scabbard as we tried to posture and show these trolls that we were not to be trifled. The trolls remained in their holes, which was good because I counted at least six sets of eyes. As we neared Flows Crossing, the cat that had been following us on our whole trek, stopped and perhaps returned to the abandoned campsite in the hills. (011.024)

### Valdenar's burned journal

*Singed fragments of a page thrown too carelessly into the fire:*

...fear that I have not the skill to fulfill the purpose given me. Thankfully Tyriok was gracious enough to teach me basic swordplay. At least I will not embarass....

...am lacking in sound wisdom concerning this creature. For as I mentioned earlier, it seems to be more than just a cat. As we slept in Vera's crystal palace, it gave to me a vision. I was in a void, and the cat accompanied me but was of great size. Before me I saw a gambler's die, and on each face of the die was a version of the City of Glass we had entered. On the crossed swords I saw a vibrant city of light. But on each face as the die turned the city became more and more foreboding, until above the skull I saw a city of terror and dread. The cat, turned somehow into a cat-like wolfkin, acknowledged me before I woke.

I know this vision is not of Raven but still it rang true - a warning that Vera's plan is steeped in risk. And even now despite Rhodendor's intervention I do not think I could stand before the Blood Mist. I hope soon to be able to consult with you on this matter and with....

...unable to locate the White Raven. The mountains are full of trolls and I feared I had thrown away my new life for nothing, but we were able to put up a bold face and escape before the day ended...