D&D 5e: Ashligneous

[Grimsvald]

There is a peaceful and humble town within the white woods of Ashligneous. Its population consists mostly of Humans and Elves, but is not limited to these races. The rare Orc, Gnome, Halfling or even Myconid have been known to call Ashligneous home. The town is not large, but it is grand and beautiful.


The bark of the woods is grey like ash and their leaves are white as snow. The buildings of the town have been made to mimic the esthetic of the woods around them. At a distance the town is nearly camouflage. Tall thin white buildings that are sleek on all sides. The town is illuminated by bioluminescent flowers, which bloom as night falls. These flowers make the town smell sweet like vanilla beans.


One night you find yourself wondering down the streets of Ashligneous just as these flowers are blooming. Cabbage sized lilies open up on the sides of buildings and light poles. The sweet fragrance immediately comes across your nose. You are in deep thought, but accustomed to these streets so you absentmindedly avoid the stag drawn carriages of trade goods. Tell us who you are. Where are you going and why does your mind wonder?

 

[GoonSquadI]

Deep in thought I wonder what my next big feat will be. My name is Valrith and I live in a cabin just outside of Asligneous where I work in secret on spells and my studies. But every so often I leave my solitary life and wander these streets and marvel in its beauty. I've never really been one to like nature as my studies are what keep me occupied. Even as a high elf i would rather study my spells and research books than spend my time watching nature. But my eleven blood makes me desire it ever so often.


I have been working on reading a new book i had managed to get my hands on but after multiple failures i needed to get my mind off of it. That is why i walk down these vanilla scented streets. To forget about my recent failures and to calm myself before i go insane working in solitude.

 

[Grimsvald]

A few shop keeps recognize you while they are closing down for the night. They don't recall your name because they sparingly see you walk through town, but your look is unmistakable. What is it about your look that makes you stand out?


You know a few shops that are open much later than this. The coffee house "exotic blends" run by a wood elf Gazaimir Blueshade. You have spent some frustrating nights here contemplating spell components over a cup of black coffee.


There is also a herbal shop called "Midnight Moon" run by a beautiful human woman, Sarah Evans and her elderly mother, Jaleesa. You don't often buy spell related herbs here, but they have fine teas, healthy herbs and spiritual trinkets.


Lastly there is a large librery here run by a high elf born into the human world. He is a full blood elf raised as an orphen. He was given a human name and happily goes by it, Rupert Kingsley. He is well read and the library seems endless.


Where do you choose to go? Or do you continue to aimlessly walk the streets?

 

[GoonSquadI]

As I walk through the city I get mixed looks. This is probably due to my wizard robes. Wizard robes are not uncommon but mine are different. These specific robes were passed down through my family for 3 Generations now me being the 4. in human time that wouldn't sound to far of but we elves live for over 700 years and 4 generations would make these robes 3000 years old. Not only that the robes have my families crest on the chest which wold set me apart from any ordinary wizard.


As i continue to walk i start to acquire a slight thirst. At this time of night it would be hard to acquire any type of drink if it wasn't from a bar. But one place does stay open late into the night an doesn't have drunks picking fights. I head towards Exotic Blends, I've had a few sit downs with the shopkeep and drank some of his fine coffee. I arrive at the shop soon after, I walk in sit at the bar and order a black coffee with no sugar.

 

[Grimsvald]

Gazaimir sits a cup in front of you with a smirk of pride. The cup is white as the buildings of Ashligneous and the coffee is blacker than a night sky. "This drink is known both as the Black Drink...AND the White Drink. Before the cities of our continent settled there were savage tribes ruling in the white woods. They would drink this beverage in two ceremonies. One of purification and another of invigorating their spirit! When their tribes came up against our armies these two ceremonies became one. The warriors would come together and brew this drink just before battle. To purify their souls in case of death and to fill their body with the energy of those who had died before them. Isn't that fascinating? " He trailed off maintaining his smirk as he made another cup for someone else sitting just a few seats down. " Just as interesting as the history is the process! This coffee is not made from the common Arabica or Robusta coffea plants. No Sir! This native drink is made with a caffinating holly plant. How strange... strange and interesting indeed."


Gazaimir served the other customer and quickly returned to you. "So so...how is your day? Tell me what have you discovered today?" His attention fell souly upon you even as another costumer took their seat. You notice that the other costumer drinking at the cafe' is looking to you as well. They don't seem to be waiting for your story or listening in. The expression on their face tells you that they are trying to remember you.

 

[GoonSquadI]

I pick up the cup directly in front of me and take a quick sip ignoring the person staring to my left. "I've been working on a new book that I'm trying to decipher but I haven't had much luck. I can out and took a stroll to take my mind off of it, if I would had stayed any longer trying to figure it out I would have gone mad!" I took another sip from the bitter tasting coffee. Its smell was of the finest roast that i have had in a while. And for the price it made it that much better. As I took sips from the coffee the person to my left kept their gaze centered on me but i tried to ignore it. After a while a turned to the person and asked in a polite tone.


"Excuse me, I noticed that you had you gaze fixated on me for a while now. Is there anything I can help you with?"

 

[Grimsvald]

"OH! Umm, uh..sorry. Are you a learned wizard? Like a proper caster and crafter of spell? I've always wanted to be a wizard myself. But I've never managed to cast a successful spell. I study endlessly in my home, collecting relics and magic items with my inheritance. Unfortunatly I recently stumbled upon a relic I can't handle...I..I seem to have triggered it some how and now I am unable to get into my study! Wirling winds and some kind of arcana energy..I can't manage it." He moves a seat closer.


"Do you think you could help me with it? As payment you can keep the item! I payed 4,000 gold for it and its clear that the piece holds some kind of great power."


He is a human in his late teens, clearly in over his head. He wears green and gold robes clearly meant for a wizard. They are freshly bought from an expensive shop that caters to wanna be magi. His hair is medium length and messy dirty blonde and his eyes are a dark brown.

 

[GoonSquadI]

I raise my eyebrows and rub my chin as I say "Very interesting. I'll tell you what. I'll go and take a look at the Item and do what I can to seal it. If I succeed with little consequence to me I'll take it off your hands. But if I'm hurt In any way I expect you to cover any damage done. From what you said I doubt that would happen but I can't be to certain. I'm low on funds and if I get stuck with any type of charge I'll be on the streets in a month. Now with that said is there any more information that you can give me about this item? Looks, weight, how old you might think it is, is there and inscriptions? This is all very important or else I'd be going in there blind." I take a long drink from my coffee and finishing it "At this moment anything you can give me will help you get your study back"

 

[Grimsvald]

" When I bought the item item it was about the size of my fist. A rustic looking black stone. It was unworked and unpolished. It looked like a raw chunk of obsidian with a purple arcane shine to its surface. Blue runes were etched into its flattest side. Something dwarvish....dethek script. I believe it said Winter's Grasp. When I attempted to say this in dwarvish the stone grew cold. Too cold to touch. Frost formed on the surface and chilling blue steam rose from the runes. Dark blue ice began to form on it creating sharp spikes and bladed edges. I sat back for an hour watching this effect take over my entire desk...then the wind started...bitter cold and wet."


He adjusted himself in his chair and tried to regain some composure. "I hope some of these details help. Yes I can pay you for your injuries. Here, let me start by paying for your coffee." The boy throws some silver onto the table. " Let me know when you are ready to go."

 

[GoonSquadI]

"Thank you. I am ready now just show me the way" I stood up from where I was sitting "let's make haste before the situation gets worse."

 

[Grimsvald]

Gazaimir and the other customer wave you out, "Hope you enjoyed todays brew! Have a good night!"


The boy leads you through town. You find youself walking unfamiliar roads and passing stores you didn't know existed. The boy complains about the cold weather and puts on a heavy black coat to cover himself. You can see his right hand is trembling blue, but the weather is warm.


At the end of this journey you are in front of a small mansion. Two stories and 10 rooms. The house and the yard around it is dark. Looks like it has been vacant for months. A single light source eminates from within the building, a soft blue glow in the upper right room.


"It's no mistery which room is my study" he coughs. " I cannot bare to come with you." He says cletching his right arm with his left hand. "The pain is too great when I get close to the rune." You find it hard to believe his pain has progressed so much. Its almost like talking to a different person at this point.

 

[GoonSquadI]

When I noticed the unfamiliar part of town I became suspicious ever so slightly. Even more so when we came up to the seemingly abandoned mansion. While standing in front of the mansion I turn and look at the boy noticing his arm "Your arm is blue, why is that? I would assume from the stone but why didn't you tell me before?" I step back observing while waiting for a reply.

 

[Grimsvald]

"I...I nicked my finger on one of the bladed edges of the rune as it formed in my hand. At first it was nothing but a painful chill at the wound. Now, as I return, it is like the rune calls to my wound. The stone gives power to my pain causing it to spread like infection. I fear what may happen if I get any closer." He pulls out a small notebook and chalk pencil. Struggling to jot down notes one handed. He coughs, "That is interesting isn't it."


The light in the window pulsates and the boy falls to his knees dropping the book. "Damn!" His teeth clench in pain. "I need to make some distance between me and this stone or it is going to have my life..can we meet back at the coffee shop when you're done?"

 

[GoonSquadI]

"Yes of course" I attempt to lift him back to his feet, His body cold to the touch even through the heavy coat. "I'll look at your arm as soon as I get back to you. For now try and make your way back to the shop"

 

[Grimsvald]

He accidently grabs your shoulder with his wounded hand when being helped up. The cold from his wound is so intense it hurts. You feel the chill eacho through you. He removes his hand as soon as he notices, "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to. Sorry.."


He stands on shaky legs and nods. I'm hoping by the time I reach the coffee shop this pain will have subsided. Thank you for helping me when no one else would.." he walks away towards the shop.

 

[GoonSquadI]

I turned and looked at the mansion in front of me. "There's something off about all of this" I thought to myself "better keep my guard up." I walk slowly towards the front door the unkempt lawn and dark Windows made this place seem abandoned but from what I knew it was that apprentices house. I walked up to the door and walked in.

 

[Grimsvald]

The air inside is damp. You can feel the weight of this humidity on your skin, but it's not hot. The house is rather cold even from your first step in. Maybe 50 degrees.


It smells old and stale. You can see dust collected on every surface. It even floats in the air. But there is a path where dust has been swept off the floor by pacing feet and an expensive robe. Clearly the boy walks these halls.


One of the painting by the staircase is a family portrait. Slightly less dusty than the rest of the house. In this picture you can see the boy who gave you the task years younger. A mother a father and a brother stand around him.


From here you can see the cold blue glow in the study. It is up the stairs and to your rights. You also know there are 5 more rooms on the bottom floor.

 

[GoonSquadI]

I slowly walked through the the main room of the house. Taking in its dank smell with every breath. "I'd better take a look around" I said to myself "there's gotta be something on why his parents are gone." I make my way to the closest door visible to me and walk in.

 

[Grimsvald]

You enter a dining room that looks ever more dilapidated than the entrance room. Paint peels from the walls and spider webs cover the corners. Dusty silver candelabras decorate the long almond colored table. Unlike the main room there is no clearing swept on the floor here, it remains untouched. Three paintings hang in this room. Two of them include the whole family, but they are cut up by a knife. The final painting includes only the child you met. This final painting is much more recent and undamaged.

 

[GoonSquadI]

I slowly walked around the room scanning ever detail in this room. Other than a painting that looked like it was new nothing seemed out of place. I took a long look at the picture of the young man that sent me here. He was sitting motionless looking at directly at the viewer and if seen from different angles it appeared that he was turning as well. This made a chill go down my back but I shrugged it off.


With just a picture of the youth I wondered what happened to his parents. "Are they dead or missing?" I thought to myself. I stood there staring at the painting for a good while. Then it occurred to me that the celler would be the next best place to look.


I left the room that I was in and looked by the stairs to the next level as this was the usual spot for it.

 

[Grimsvald]

The cellar door is slightly splinted on the left and right side. You imagine the young boy leaning his head against it, crying and bashing his fists against the word. There is a feeling of pain and rage lingering in this doorway.


Around chest level there is writting that has faded over time. Something carved into the wood with a dull instrument many years ago. It reads, 'DONT LET THEM IN'. It is now that you notice these doors used to be boarded shut...now they are not.


As you open the door its busted hinges creak. The sound slightly echoes down into this dark room. It is almost complete darkness beyond these stairs. Some pin holes of moon light manage to break through the overgrowth outside and the moldy windows.


The smell here is different. It's more damp, dirty, moldy, but there is something new. A sent of old death. Will you proceed?

 

[GoonSquadI]

I Drew my Longsword and began walking down the steps. The pungent smell made me gag and it became stronger as I continued to walk down.

 

[Grimsvald]

As you walk down the stairs one of the wooden steps breaks under your weight. You catch yourself, but not without stumbling a few steps down. Your first foot off the stairs sloshes into thick water. Debris collects around your ankle and the stench at your nose becomes too much.


You can't hold it back and vomit over the stair railing. The sparing rays of moon light reveal that this liquid contains at least 2 old male corpses.

 

[GoonSquadI]

Once I recovered I took a long look at the room and the bodies. The taste of coffee vomit still lingering in my mouth.

 

[Grimsvald]

What you see is a slightly flooded basement. The waters are black and warm. The two bloated old corpses float around aimlessly, slowly decompossing and being devoured by vermin. Something other than the bodies moves in the black water, you suspect its rats, but cannot be sure.


The corpses look to be armed rogues. Possible intruders rightfully killed. They are so long dead it is hard to tell anything about them. There may not be much more information to gather in here.