Character Introductions & Setup
- The group finalizes character names and backstories:
- Krish Two Fates – coin‑flipping, ceremonial‑garbed warrior from Dhruv.
- Quinlan Ashwick – edgy, agile character connected to the Savawell Thicket.
- Vien – charismatic, social, and upbeat upperclassman from Lux Arcanium.
- Sabra Speardancer – flashy, spear-wielding dancer from Samitra.
Each character arrives at Lux Arcanium, the magical academy where envoys from multiple kingdoms have gathered to investigate the world‑wide crisis known as the Breaking—when the sun stopped moving 20 years ago.
Orientation & Calibration Combat
- The Arch‑Magister Valessa Dora welcomes all groups.
- Your party is grouped together; adjacent is another group including Mira Ashwyn and a brooding Dhruv native named Kael (who clearly recognizes Krish).
- Instructor Ser Korrin guides your group into a magical test chamber to assess combat capabilities.
Combat Highlights
- The group battles three training constructs connected to a central pylon.
- Several players spectacularly miss their opening attacks.
- Once Quinlan lands a hit, the constructs activate.
- A red pulse sweeps the building, turning constructs hostile (white → yellow → red).
- The group fights back:
- Sabra’s spearwork,
- Quinlan severing cables,
- Krish and Vien contributing attacks and magic.
- They ultimately defeat the constructs, and Quinlan destroys the pylon with a dramatic arrow pull.
Valessa confirms these red pulses are happening more frequently, always tied to strange activity around the Savawell Thicket.
Crisis in the Courtyard
As the groups gather for debriefing, another red pulse hits:
- Statues crack,
- Lanterns burst,
- Screams echo outside the hall.
A tentacle panther appears and begins terrorizing students.
Party Response
- Krish attempts to herd students through a door (fails repeatedly until he checks the doorknob).
- Sabra engages the beast directly.
- Vien uses magic to calm panicked crowds.
- Quinlan helps force the doors open and distract the creature.
Eventually:
- The beast is driven away,
- Students are ushered to safety,
- Valessa quietly pulls the party aside.
The Missing Professor & the Big Discovery
Valessa reveals the professor Alera Vorun is missing.
The party investigates her trashed study:
- Papers everywhere,
- Glass shattered from lanterns after the pulse,
- Chalkboard scribbled with crossed‑out city names and a star-shaped diagram connecting the five great kingdoms.
Found Document
The party finds a research sheet titled: “The Harmonic Fracture: A Study of Savawell Thicket” Major revelations:
- The Thicket is reacting to a failure in the planetary engine stabilizer rig.
- Entry into the Thicket requires aligning five harmonic frequencies:
- Rhythm
- Heat
- Wind
- Memory
- Light
- These must be restored in order, each located somewhere in the world.
- Alera believed the first harmonic, Rhythm could be found in Galathea’s ancient star charts, at their capital Consteletica.
Party Goals & Next Steps
- The Arch‑Magister requests the group prepare for immediate travel.
- She confirms their group calibrated as Tier 1 (barely).
- She asks for their party name; the group decides on:
✨ The Star Seekers ✨
Their likely first destination: Galatea, to recover the Harmonic of Rhythm.