Æstora: The Third Dawn

[Kio]

Æstora: The Third Dawn (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lOJHaPi_WvxuBWnObTRIdg-paxNiWUWX5iAhGdAzujY/edit?usp=sharing)

Chapter One: Winter

Entirely overnight, winter has folded Vinespring Valley into it’s deep and silent embrace. Snow has fallen deep and soft, covering the fields, the forest, and the abbey. The light of morning shines through a long expanse of slowly falling snowflakes. In the east, the hills are a sea of white. To the west, the irregular canopy of the forest is covered in a fluffy blanket of snow, like a great beast tucked in to sleep. The abbey itsself stands tall as ever in the hills above the valley, it's high spires and stone appearing no less strong and diligent than the day before, even despite the cozy white cowl it has received in the night. The wall surrounding the abbey grounds stands as proud as ever too, gate shut and locked, protecting all within.

The abbey itsself is simply one huge building, with sectons divided to provide the utility of many buildings. The greatest of these sections is the east-facing church with several other distinguished to the church building's south side. These "attached" buildings form the shape of a square surrounding a central garden. One of the east-facing sections of the mighty building is the dormitory.

The dormitory windows weren't shuttered up last night, so a chilling cold is allowed to creep in. It nips at noses and ears, pushing through mussed blankets to chill the young ones underneath.

The cold wakes Rozes first. She has always felt at home in the heat of summer, but the cold of winter makes her shudder. Blinking awake, she glances around the room drowsily. It is the same old dormitory as ever, walls of dark stone, two windows... open windows. Her bed is arranged alongside three others, heads facing the easternmost wall of the room. Across the room are four more beds, their heads facing the west wall.

In the northwest corner of the room is a simple wooden door leading to the hallway.

The bed to Rozes’ right is a simple wooden thing, similar to her own except it is only half the size. Kekekeke (more commonly referred to as ‘Ke’) lays there now, one clawed foot sticking out from under the blankets, his toothy mouth emitting gentle reptilian sounds that Rozes has learned to equate with snores. The goosedown mattress and woolen blanket on the smaller bed are frayed and ripped in several places (Ke often bares his claws in nocturnal battles).

To the left of Rozes’ bed is another, this one also half-size. No snores from this bed, but poking out from the covers she can see a head of dark dusty brown hair. Only one of her friends besides Ke was small enough to fit into a bed that size: Quinton Dustyfoot. He is the most studious of the group, and always sleeps quietly (in contrast with Ke, who snickers and spews limerick in his sleep often).

The last bed past Quinton’s is the same size as Rozes’. It would be nearly exactly the same, excepting that it has black iron bands, bars, and plates decorating it all around. The Iron is applied sturdily, reinforcing weak points in the bed’s already sturdy construction. It is, of course, Kalaham’s bed. It is empty, though. Rozes knows immediately what that means. He had been up late at the forge (again) and he has probably gotten into trouble with brother Anyon (again).

Directly across from Rozes is a bed (also much like her own). In it sleeps Cael. He is turning over and muttering, as though bothered by a dream. Cael has been having dreams recently. As she sees this, Rozes notes that the monks have been warning about things like this. She can almost hear Sister Fianna chastising him, 'If you keep filling your head with stories of adventure and monsters, you'll end up troubling your sleep with nightmares!' They had all dismissed this as idle talk, meant to spook younglings into their studies... But seeing him now, Rozes can't help but wonder if the sister may have been right...

Come to think of it, hadn't she herself been having strange dreams just now? Something about.. a wheel?... and a cave?

It's no use, the dream is faded away already, only wispy fragments of memory remain.

The other three beds on the west wall are empty... except, wait... One of the beds beside Cael has no sheets. Rozes squints at the floor beneath the sheetless bed. Sure enough, there underneath the frame lies a subtly moving lump. It was Cai, sound asleep under the bed! This was a habit he continuously fell into, and continuously got into trouble over! He must have felt more comfortable under there, but sister Ewyn would always force Cai to drink foul-tasting Snaproot and Cinderleaf tonics, claiming that sleeping on the stones would give him a shiver.

The faint sounds of voices drift in from the windows on the east wall (along with more frigid air).

Something else also drifts into the room... The smell of food! Already, someone is cooking! It smells fantastic. Rozes can't immediately pick out exactly what's in the smell, but she is suddenly aware that she is very hungry.

The title at the top of this post is a link to the Master Game Document

You all may wake up at your own pace.

You each have a simple brown robe with a smooth black cord for the waist, in addition to any outfits you currently have. Wearing anything but the abbey's normal robes within the walls will invite rebuke, or at least funny looks.

You are each hungry! Going too long without eating might have consequences...

You each have a small chest of belongings at or near to your beds. Please convert at least half of your total gold count into silver and copper, which are more common than gold.

Each of you begin with 3 Fate points. Please find a place on your character sheet to track FATE (preferably at the top of the Features & Traits box as "FATE - 3"
NOTE: You cannot currently use your fate points. You can, however, still accumulate them. If you are taking an action specifically to attempt to gain FATE, please inicate it using the Superscript "FATE"
Example: "My fighter challenges the innkeeper to a game of stonesFATE"


Welcome to Æstora!

[ncpunkin]

Rozes swings her legs out of the bed and onto the cold stone floor it was a very chilly morning but the wafting smell of food was drawing her out of her drowsiness. She stretches her wings and extremities and tries to recall her dream to no avail. The others would be waking soon if not already awake. The cold morning air brings with it a distasteful chill, so she decides to wear an extra layer of common clothes. She quickly adorns her robe over them and cinches the cord tight so that the clothing and her wings are well hidden. Her wings protest as they usually did when she bundled herself so tight, but having so many layers and a hood began to provide warmth and a shield against the cold. 'I wonder what is being made?'

Rozes steps onto the cold stone and drifts lazily by Ke's bed, she had always held fond feelings for the adoring creature underneath. In her studies, she had developed a kindred feeling for him, she had read a number of times that his kind had been slain just for their belongings, appearance or just because a foolhardy adventurer had decided that their kind was a threat. It made her sick to imagine Ke coming to such a fate, She came to his bed side and whispered, "Ke..Ke..They are already making breakfast, come lets be first to grab a plate." She gently jostles her friend and smiles when he comes into the waking world.

Once Ke was robed they would make their way to the door and sneak into the hallway trying to make it to the hall (and the best plates) before the majority of the Abbey had awoken from its frigid slumber. Rozes quickly takes a look around and leads the slowly awakening Ke to what yummy meal awaits them.


[roll0]

[charlesrwest]

A rumbling sound abruptly cuts out as the gentle rhythm beneath the covers interrupted. A fearsome form slowly arises, its coverings falling to the side while its hoard clinks as it shifts underneath it. Luminous eyes blink slowly open and settle slowly on the lowly creature that dares to disturb its long sleep.


"Truly brave you must be to disturb my slumber
Tall one with an ungraceful lumber
Wait, what is that about breakfast I hear?
Changed my mind, you're a dear.
Let's away. You've got my number."


Hopefully will get better with practice.
Sneak: [roll0]

[FunkyMunky]

Despite snoring quite noisily, the moment Rozes spoke, Cai woke, however pretended to slumber still. He stayed under his bed, pretending to snore while listening to the conversation and growing quite hungry due to the smell of a hearty breakfast. Once Cai heard Rozes and Ke ready to go, he quickly yet quietly got up and donned his robes, keeping his necklace of fangs around his neck.

Fiddling with his necklace, he quietly leaves the beds, then rushes to catch up with the two before they get all the food. After all, it takes quite a bit to feed Cai!

Cai calls out to the pair "Morning! Think you'll get the best dishes, do you?"

1d20+3

[Mr Mojo Risen]

Quinton awoke to the cold draft from the windows biting through the thick layer of hair on his halfling toes. He was surprised at the sudden turn in the weather and decided to lay in the warmth of his bed a while longer.

He listened as his friends quietly left and then summoned the energy to get up and run to the windows and close them. Taking a moment to look out the window at the cold he wonders where his wandering family had decided to stay warm that night. Quinton gets dressed, does his morning meditations and wanders down the hall for what smells like a delicious breakfast.

[FunkyMunky]

Seeing as Cai had to stop for a moment to remember how to move quietly, he paused, then continued.

[roll0]

[Kvard51]

Cael wakes up to an empty room, his sweat-soaked sheets tangled around his legs. His dreams were becoming increasingly disturbing, and he wasn't getting enough rest. It was becoming more and more difficult to think clearly. Which was why it took a few moments for the smell of breakfast to reach Cael's brain...

Cael notes the rough texture of the plain robe as he ties the black cord around his waist. Memories of finer fabrics flash across his mind, but they aren't really his memories. Just the after-effects of the dreams, he guessed. Best to set it aside and get to the dining hall before the others finished off breakfast.

[Kio]

Rozes and Ke open the simple door and emerge into the thin hallway. The hallway has simple walls and a smooth stone floor. Doors very similar to the one they had just passed through mark the entrances to other dormitories. At either end of the hallway is a sturdy wooden door and a set of stairs leading down to the level below. Out here, the smell of breakfast is stronger, and it can be made out more clearly.

Rozes and Ke both can't help but feel a sense of excitement. There is only one thing that smell could possibly be. Friar Ferghus always provides well for the tenants of the Abbey, but this is no simple oat and berry porridge spiced up with cinnamon and nuts. No, this is something special. There is a fluffy sweetness to it, underlined by something hardy and utterly mouthwatering...

MEAT!

It's rare for the Friar to prepare meat. Only on feast days and holidays is meat on the menu, and Fergus NEVER takes the opportunity lightly. There is no doubt this will be spectacular, though neither Rozes or Ke know off the top of their heads what the occasion might be.

Suddenly, thoughts of the food awaiting the two are interrupted by the sound of stomping footsteps. There is a shrill voice approaching quickly from the stairway at the end of the hall.

"... to get him for it this time. THIS time I've had enough. I mean... Holes! In the GARDEN. That little villian! If I were his father I'd..."

This is no good. It's Brother Cahal. He is the nastiest of the three Abbey garden keepers, and there is only one person they could be talking about: Cai!

Or Ke... It could have been Ke as well.... No, probably Cai... Wait, no time for that! Either way, it's not good.

Suddenly Cai makes his entrance! Alarm-bells ring in Rozes' head! Oh no! now they're BOTH here! Has Brother Cahal heard?

In a burst of action, Ke tugs each of Cai and Rozes' robes, managing to unbalance them. He tucks and rolls, and all three of them roll in a bundle into a doorway across the hall. Rozes and Cai lay dazed for a moment as Ke leaps up an pushes the door closed as softly as possible. There is a tense moment of waiting...

"... on Newwinter’s Day as well. If it had been any other day it wouldn't have mattered so much, but on the day before the snow! I've had enough!"

It always seems like Brother Cahal has had enough of something or other. Anyway, his chattering has reminded them all of the occasion! Newwinter’s day! How could they have forgotten! The day that snow falls for the first time is a very special day, a day of feasting in preparation for the long winter.

There are two sets of footsteps outside, then a moment of silence. There is a muttering from a different voice.

“Seems a tho’ young Bruther Cael’s sleep be troubled. I ‘ope ‘e no be ailed.”

It is a much deeper voice, more reserved. It belongs to Sister Deva, the Abbey’s Head Mason. Brother Cahal continues speaking as they move along down the hall.

“Perhaps Shar is tickling his dreams for wandering off into the hills instead of attending ceremony… No matter. I’ll find the rascal and put him to scrubbing the pots! He can’t hide all day...”

Ke hears them descending the stairs, then motions to the others to come along. Ke, Rozes and Cai slip out of the doorway and down the hallway in the opposite direction that the two monks had gone (Which happened to be south). They pitter-patter down the stairs, the sounds of Cai’s bare feet, Ke’s claws, and Rozes’ padded sandals mingling almost musically as they headed in the direction of the kitchens...


As Quinton gazes out the window with thoughts of family, he notices something else. Outside in the yards, there is some commotion. It is within the tall Abbey walls, inbetween the Abbey’s pond (totally frozen over now) and the Abbey’s small grove of apple trees (all stripped of their harvest, bare branches now bearing loads of snow). As the halfling looks closer, he sees that the commotion is in fact a vigorous snowball fight! Some of the youngest brothers and sisters seem to have built up some semblance of walls and defenses, and are currently pelting each other with chilly projectiles!

Quinton remembers last year on Newwinter‘s day, there had been quite some rivalry between several self-proclaimed “snow-combat-teams.” The “team” he had been on, including Ke, Rozes, Cai, Kalaham and Cael had... well, lost.

After a bit, he emerges into the hallway, glancing down in the direction the monks had gone. He heads in that direction, toward the Hall. He descends the stairs, glancing up at the tapestries lining the stairway walls. Images of Gods, interacting, fighting over mortals, working together with mortals, giving gifts to mortals, punishing mortals. Quinton can vaguely recognise most of the stories, many of them cautionary tales teaching lessons about the nature of the Gods and the Mortal Races. He always notes them as he passes, and sometimes wonders if he will ever end up depicted on one.

Quinton emerges into the central garden. Around, arranged in a square surrounding the garden, are all of the buildings that make up the Abbey. All of them are attached to make a semblance of one large building. Everything in the garden is covered in a thick coat of snow, and the cold is even more biting here, though the tall buildings shield the halfling from the wind. He heads north along the east side of the garden’s cloister. He passes the carved stone doors to the Chapter House. He looks up at the great door for a contemplative moment, then Ke, Rozes and Cai come bustling out from a doorway to the kitchens, a pudgy human sister waving a spoon at them!

“Be off with ye!! If’n ye want food, go on to the Main Hall, ye treacherous young’uns!” Despite her tone, she smiles fondly before she shuts the door. Upon meeting up with him, the three of them start whispering to him about what they spied, and what they suspect is being served as they head for the Main Hall...


Cael wakes, and the echoes of his dream stay with him a little while longer. There was a cold windowless corridor… a forest… the sensation of thirst… the dark… the light... a door… a cave… and something else… It was hard to remember now. Either way, he is glad for the cool air of the room. To the others it was nipping, but to Cael it is a boon.

As he is leaving his room, he sees a few other simply-robed figures emerge from the surrounding rooms. They are young monks like him. Sister Le’anna is an elf, slightly younger than he, slender and fair-haired. Somehow, the way she moves manages to make the simple brown robe appear graceful. She and sister Alis ( a slightly older human girl who had a knack for bossing people around ) are chatting already, contemplating what is for breakfast. The other, Brother Aeron, is a tall human boy with curly dark hair and broad shoulders.

Le’anna notices Cael and smiles, while Alis only gives him a small, judging glance. Before Cael knows it, Alis has swept Le’anna down the corridor, and Aeron is placing a heavy hand on Cael’s shoulder.

“Hoo! Glad to see I’m not the only one up late, eh? Haha! Are ye’ all right, Cael? Ye’ look paler than usual. Hoho!” He grins wide, and walks with Cael towards the Main Hall...

Out in the Main Hall, there is a veritable breakfast feast afoot! The room is filled with fantastic smells both sweet and savory. There are three pots at the ends of three great tables each simmering and steaming. The smells of vegetables, meats, and spices rise from each of them. Kitchen workers busy themselves pouring bowls to pass around to the brothers and sisters seated along the tables lengths. In big wicker baskets lay loaf after loaf after loaf of fresh bread. Bowls of butter accompany the baskets as they are passed around the table and bread is split between the smiling brothers and sisters. Platters of crisp bacon, chopped apples and cheese are all past about with equal gusto and more staff from the kitchens bring refreshed platters every few minutes.

All of this, though, pales in comparison to the great feast’s main event. Arranged in the center of each of the three large tables is a huge cake-walled flan! The smells of sugar, cream and berries rise from the huge desserts. Even even though it seems like the whole Abbey is in residence for the merry feast, the flans still have hefty portions remaining, and it simply wouldn’t do to waste any!

There is a space at the farthest table where most of the younger Abbey monks have gathered, and there are plenty of empty spaces with plates and tools. There, sitting at the table with his back to them, was the sturdy figure of a young hill dwarf, easily recognizable to his friends as Kalaham. Perhaps he has had a stern talking-to for spending too much time metalworking and not enough time tending to his other chores.

[Mr Mojo Risen]

Quinton gazes over the selection of delicious foods picking out where his favorites are. He chooses the best spot with access to the most options and no regard to where the others are sitting. Fortunately there are enough open seats in the area for everyone to sit near by and he gestures to a few of the prime spots with a friendly smile... after claiming the best for himself.

Normally Quinton would not be very social. Although not unfriendly and never rude, the past few years had made him rather sullen and a bit of a loaner. At the moment however there was a feast and not but the breaking of the world would keep Quinton from enjoying a good feast, and maybe not even then. An almost comical change comes over Quinton as he grabs himself a plate. The first of the other monks begin to take their seats and he cheerfully tosses plates at their spots and begins to fill up his own.

"Are we going to do the snow combat tournament this year?" he asks as the others began to settle in.

[ncpunkin]

Rozes can't help but laugh at what happened as they were chased from the kitchen, "That was close." she commented as they made their way to the main hall. The main hall's grander was second only to the massive desert in front of them. Mika began piling all sorts of food onto her plate and eventually took a spot by Quinton. Quickly grabbing some bread as it made the rounds Mika almost purred as she slathered it with butter and bit into the warm softness. She nodded her head at Quinton's question but was more interested in making a bread and meat sandwhich to devour.

Rozes eyes kept glancing at the wall of flan trying to decide how much food she could eat and still have room for a hefty portion of the delicious cake.

[charlesrwest]

Agreed.
It was a close shave indeed.
But now there's flan
So let's eat as much as we can
It's time to feed."


As soon as they reach the table, Kekekeke deftly grabs a plate, completely fills it with flan and then darts under the table. Soon, a soft hiss emerges.


"Berries so sweet
My my my, what a treat.



[roll0]

[Kvard51]

Cael smiles back at Le'Anna, ignoring Alis when she sneers at him. He falls in with Aeron as they walk to breakfast, enjoying the company of the other boy. "I'm fine, Aeron. What kept you up late? Dreams?"

As they enter the Main Hall, the aromas from the feast remind Cael how hungry he truly is. He loses track of Aeron in the melee around the tables, but manages to fill his plate with fresh bread, butter, plenty of tangy cheese, and the little sausages he loves before finally falling into a chair on the other side of Rozes. He quickly butters a thick slice of dark bread, smiling at the horned girl. "Morning to you, Rozes."

[Kio]

As Cael walks with Aeron, the larger human boy runs his fingers through his own dark, curly hair.

"Dreams, ho yes! Dreams of drinking me da's ale while 'e shears all the sheep! Hohoho! No, me da's no slouch, let me tell you..." The cheerful youth regales Cael with tales of the stump that he and his pa had to pull up to make a section of land good for plowing. It was a simple story, but Aeron managed to make it sound as though it were life or death since he and his father had sworn not to go home for supper until the task was finished.

When they reach the Main Hall, Aeron immediately begins to look around anxiously, as though searching for someone. He pats Cael on the back and heads off in the other direction.

Brother Cahal comes close to the table twice, eyes passing over the children each time with all the sharpness of a fox eying a pen of chickens. Not once does he see Kekeke under the table, and eventually he moves on, getting himself a bowl of soup and sitting with the other abbey garden keepers, mumbling about how he has had enough.

There are a few pleasant moments of eating, as hungry stomachs are filled with hot breads, hearty cheeses, and delicious meats.

Rozes +1 FATE
Cael +1 FATE
Quinton +1 FATE

Kekeke fills himself up with the creamy, sugary mixture of Allberry flan! While it is not exactly healthy, it IS delicious, and he feels the combination of sugar and berries filling him near to bursting with energy!


Allberry Flan
Made using a supreme assortment of berries (along with milk, eggs, sugar, and cream) Allberry Flan is a mouthwatering dessert. It’s large variety of berries (and its liberal dosage of sugar) results in a brief energy spike!

Grants advantage on physical activities once per minute for 30 minutes after consumption - doesn’t stack

Kekekeke gains the effects of Allberry Flan!


There is a faint 'tink-tink' sound of metal on metal, barely enough to grab attention, but a hush falls over the hall. It is easy enough to follow the looks of all the monks to a figure standing at the northern end of the central table. The figure is tall, with a thin, wrinkled face. Abbot Elidor is a stern man, and not particularly pretty to look at, but with a good heart. He puts down the cup he had tapped and surveys the large room. Once he is satisfied he has everyone's attention, he raises his arms and speaks.

"Brothers and Sisters, all. We gather here on Newwinter's Day to celebrate both the end and the beginning of a season. We give thanks to Chauntea for allowing us our bountiful harvests, and we submit to Auril that she may leave us to our peace this winter. We celebrate with this feast, the grace of the Gods, by whose grace we may live. Therefore, we believe."

All those gathered spoke together, half solemn, half cheering "Therefore, we believe!"

Then the feasting continues in earnest.

For a moment, though Rozes' words catch in her throat. She blinks. For a moment... behind Abbot Elidor...

Rozes looks around to the others to make sure they had seen it too...

Quinton meets her gaze, eyes knowing. He had seen...

They look at Cael. He gives a tight nod. He had seen...

They look a Cai. Cai is shivering, some unknown sense causing him to shudder. He had seen...

Ke hadn't seen.

It had been a figure, wrapped in an impossibly dark robe. Its shape was mostly human, excepting that where it's head should have been there had been only a huge, bare eyeball. An eyeball fixed intently on... them. It had been there, staring at them with that grizzly eye... then it was simply gone.

A quick glance around the room makes it clear that no one else had seen the thing. How could they all continue on merrily, having seen something like... like that.

A few tense moments pass. What to do? Should they tell someone? Should they run? Was it only imagination? Cael and Rozes recognize it as something from their dreams. But how can that be? Is it possible that they are dreaming still?

They don't get enough time to think. From seemingly everywhere at once a low, incomprehensible hiss fills their ears, crackling like oil spilled into a fire pit. It rises to a deafening tone. Cael, Cai Rozes, and Quinton all begin to rise, looking about, with plans to run, to get help, to hide, to do anything but stay and listen to the maddening sound.

It was made even more maddening by the fact that everyone around seemed oblivious to the horrific noise. Monks kept eating, talking, drinking, their faces rosy-cheeked and content, blind to the younger monk's pain.

Ke hears the sound and sees the others begin to rise. He is out in a flash, looking up at Rozes, then at Cael, seeing the confusion on their faces. He tries to ask them what was going on, but all words are swallowed by that hissing, sizzling noise.

With horrible suddenness, all sound ends. In front of Ke, there is a figure. Draped in black. The human part of the creature stands at relaxed attention, but where the head should be is nothing but a hideously huge eyeball, the pupil fixed directly on Ke. For a long moment, Ke can't move. Cael stands gripped by the staring gaze of another of the eyeball creatures, Quinton by another, Rozes by another, and Cai by yet one more. The creatures have hungry, questioning gazes.

Click here for music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHR1OeE-q9w)

Quite suddenly, the Main hall is empty. The eyeball creatures have vanished. All of the monks have vanished. The tables stand empty, with no food or drink to be seen. Color and heat seem to have been drained away, and the smells of fresh food have been replaced by the thin scent of stale.

Motes of dust hang in the stagnant air, catching the grey light filtering in through the once-colorful windows.

To the south stand two doorways leading out to the garden cloister; they are cold and dark, letting in a shuddering chill. To the west are the grand doors leading out to the Meddle Hall; from that direction there emits a faint yellow glow...

Five are present, none more.

Shimmers and shudders of dreams pass through your minds. You remember this place faintly...