Secrets of the Seasons P1 - 12/04/2023 - Archie’s Extracts
Apr 18, 2023 21:38:13 GMT
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Post by Andy D on Apr 18, 2023 21:38:13 GMT
On Chance Encounters of the Daring Heights Kind
I was at the Academy, sitting at my reserved desk. I had plenty of research to do. Recently, much of it involved the Feywild. If I could understand the rejuvenative aspects of the Court of Rebirth it could be a breakthrough for my work on humanoid longevity.
I also had a lot of reading to do on Feywild folklore. I wished to learn more about Galan’s claim to do with the puzzle piece I found that had a depiction of a jug of water on it. Galan claimed that finding the piece was extremely lucky, as doing so granted a long life to the discoverer.
The Temple of All Seasons in the Court of Harmony was also a Fey matter for which I intended to plunge head first into the murky depths of its mysterious secrets and related matters. The most important of the ‘related matters’ being; did Kavel’s party make a terrible mistake in helping the mysterious woman they know as Drusilia?
The list of research matters did not, however, consist solely of Fey matters. I also needed to research; teleportation magic, cloning and many other spells.
Furthermore, I had yet to read the K’ul Goran newspaper that, I had heard, quoted me during my impromptu speech at the capital - I was not entirely looking forward to that - the speech I gave, nor reading about it. I couldn’t imagine it would be my best published work - the speech certainly wasn’t one of my best performances. Enhance Ability Eagle’s Splendor can only go so far in polishing up a hurriedly prepared speech!
While I was settling down to study, the young (relative of course - given the proper noun that follows this bracket) Half-Elf, Ms. Raine Carroway came to greet me. I hadn’t seen the gifted magical musician since the time we explored the Angelbark on behalf of Mr. Root Penrosa, along with my more senior wizard fellow, Glint. Raine is delightfully talented with a violin, both musically and magically, and it was a great pleasure to see her again, and be thought of as her go-to wizard for the task of which she had need of one.
My encounter with Raine was not one of chance, given her intention to find me, what was coincidental however, was that she required my help exploring the Temple of All Seasons! Chance had favoured the studious that day, as opposed to the prepared.
Of course, the universe is full of trade-offs. Whilst fate had provided me free transport to the Court of Harmony, it came with the price of an accompanying, junior wizard. Fate had placed young Mr. Mittens McKittens the twelve year old Tabaxi Illusionist in Raine’s party’s care, without the aid of Ms. Calla Prim to help. Calla, the multi-talented abjurer was nowhere to be found, and she is like a responsible elder sister to Mittens. In her absence, it fell on me to be Mittens’ guardian.
On Further Fey Folklore
Raine had assembled two other adventurers to join her. I was pleased to see Corrila, the Half-Drow knife expert. Corrila was with me during the excursion to the Summer Warrens where we fought a near fatal confrontation with an awakened Chimaera statue. Against the Chimaera, Corilla provided the party with substitute muscle in the form of her lion summons. It was reassuring to have Corilla in the party.
For this excursion, it was pleasing to see Corilla wasn’t the only ‘muscle’ on the team, for we had Cechec, the dragonborn rapier master joining us. Cechec’s wagon control leaves a lot to be desired, but his rapier skills are top notch.
As we assembled in Portal Plaza, the Court of Harmony fellow, Kruxeral, was enchanting a gathering of people with a story about an ancient Seelie Queen. It was a lovely tale of hope, much enjoyed by the children gathered, the sort of tale that left a visible joy and wonder on the faces of the young ones. Kruxeral’s tale ended by mentioning that the flower crown of the queen was never found, and he told this part so well that you could see in the children’s eyes the possibility that they might one day, if lucky, find this magical item.
The Temple For All Seasons
There was an encampment of researchers beside the temple, and the researchers came from all across the many Courts of the Feywild.
Record Keeper Artolos was there to greet us. He was disappointed not to see Calla among our party, but delighted we were three to help with the exploration. Artolos reassured us that he had managed to speak to Jasper since last we saw him, when he teleported to safety. Jasper is reportedly fine. Jasper, was however absent, but Galan and Nettle were once again with Artolos. So too was the little, clothed mouse Omnis, who my companions saw interacting with Jasper before Jasper teleported. I enquired about this, and yet Artolos was confused about my observation of Omnis. I put the confusion down to my ageing mind and third hand account of the matter, and yet, I am not convinced my mental faculties are at fault. The awkwardness of the interaction soon passed when Kruxeral produced the container with the cold iron key. Artolos was not keen to handle the item, even if it was protected in the box. I volunteered to carry the item, which was appreciated.
Kruxeral departed, but we were then joined by, what seemed to be, a representative of all the Courts, with a noted absence from the Winter Court. Politics - can be found on all Planes.
Due to my extensive reading, I was able to register that the satyr depicted on the large stone covering the entrance to the temple was of Goodfellow. Artolos remarked that it was an ode to wild magic.
As we entered the Great Hall (a Hall of Changing Seasons), I was delighted to finally see what my young friend, Kavel had described to me some months ago. I was not treated to a live changing of the seasons, but the springtime environment was a delight. I also wondered if anyone on the Material Plane had ever constructed a river in the interior of a building before. The Feywild is extraordinary.
We were joined further by three more researchers.
A brief Summary of What is Known About the Temple For All Seasons (so far)
- The temple unearthed itself a while ago.
- Queen Titania was aware that a group of adventurers had explored the ruins.
- I shared with Artolos and Galan my third hand account of Kavel’s party’s exploration.
- It is known that there are brass levers that can be employed in at least the Great Hall of the temple to alter the seasons in the Hall.
- It is a place for the gathering for members of the different seasonal courts. The purpose for which is unknown.
- The temple has evidence that suggests there were Unseelie practices happening inside as well as Seelie ones.
- The headless statue in one of the early anti-chambers has yet to be identified.
- Even for the Fey, the Temple represents old magic.
On the Manifested Mind of a Scrivener’s Spellbook
The entrance was as Kavel described, a twenty feet high door decorated with the five heads of the Chimaera. However, unlike how it was for my tall friend, there was a room beyond the door for us. Kavel’s party’s experience when opening the door was that they were teleported back outside, and Derthaad then had possession of a hunting horn - the precise item Drusilia wanted him to procure for her. I brought up this point of difference with Artolos and the flank of researchers. Upon retelling my third hand account of Kavel’s party’s adventure and discovery of the hunting horn, my account was met with quiet consideration - still, it appears, not enough is known to yet determine whether Kavel’s party made a mistake giving Drusilia the hunting horn.
Beyond the door was a large stony cavern with stalagmites and stalactites throughout. The only natural light to be found came from the Hall behind us. On the opposite end of the cavern from the door we entered, was another large door. This door, however, was made entirely from cold iron and required two keys to operate - one of which we had in our possession.
Between the two doors and somewhat to the right was a large hole with a pool below, with some stairs to the side. Above and to the left a ridge some fifteen feet high leading into its own cavern.
I sent my spellbook’s awakened mind up to the ridge to explore for me. The Mind’s permanent link that allows me to see and hear what it sees and hears is a wonderful feature for safe exploration - the ability to cast spells through it; even more so. I did not need the later feature though to discover something interesting. I found the nest of the statue chimaera that we fought in the Summer Warrens, as well as a fascinating bird-like symbol, which appeared to be identical to the less visible one we found on the chimaera’s plinth. A combination of researcher and adventurer explored physically what my Manifested Mind could not, and they found a container space for two keys, but neither key was there.
The second of the keys was found in and beyond the pool down the hole, where we encountered a Nymph named Lily. Lily was very helpful in helping us obtain the second key, which Raine retrieved for us. Lily made mention of a queen that kept dangerous things behind the door we intended to open. From what Lily told us, and the nature of a door made from a Fey fatale material with a double lock; it was beginning to seem that the door was an entrance to a Fey prison.
Continues in Part 2
