Prelude
A new act of dread was ushered in by the disappearances centred on The Isle of Black, a domain of deep-seated necromantic gloom. The fellowship—Drachen Lokeriyan, Alyssia, Skapa, Khelek Istar, and Dolomir Bloodmark—were charged with uncovering what laid between shadows, secrets, at terrible personal sacrifice.
Chapter 0: The Black Robin
The journey began aboard a vessel captained by the gnome Hanrold Clearby. Upon approaching the island, the laws of nature began to fray: Khelek Istar emerged from the ocean’s surface, manifesting from a ‘mirror realm’, a chilling sign of the island’s arcane distortion. The party took residence at the ‘The Black Rob Inn’, where they encountered the bard Rodwin Vassargo, the rogue Jasper Black, the bar keep Goff, and Barrus St Claire. Here, they learned of the Black Robin, a serial killer who left a calling card of a robin drowned in ink.
Suddenly, they heard noises from outside. When checking, they saw an army of undead coming towards them—they fought and won. Skapa, inspecting the corpses, found defining marks like a golden tooth, and discovered a brutal pattern: a branding of a foetus/baby scratched into the bone and ribcages of the victims—insight uncovered directly on the Isle. That night, Drachen called to his Patron for healing. Who in their conversing, warned Drachen of the Isle, which they called a “hateful pit of necromorphic despair”.
Chapter 1: A Necessary Death
The party went to investigate a supply route on the island, where they found a group of thieves/bandits. The skirmish turned deadly when the thieves succeeded in killing Drachen, his body entirely enveloped by the ground below. In his death, Alyssia reached out to the beyond and made a pledge to protect Drachen at all costs. During the aftermath, the remaining party found perfume, weapons, and notes mentioning ‘Swiftbolt’.
The following day, the party went to explore a cave where monsters had been reported. They encountered a number of aberrations, including a powerful Beholder. During this chaotic fight, a portal opened mid-air and out stepped Drachen. He was noticeably aged and changed by his ordeal, but still alive and returned to the fight.
With Drachen’s return, the party scoured the Isle for further info, where they stumbled across Jasper Black who opened with the infamous: “So, you’ve figured it out…“. What followed was almost complete destruction of the party, who with the aid of magical beans managed to kill Jasper and his undead minions.
Chapter 2: The Moonlit Syndicate
The party returned to Brugrove only to face immediate tragedy. Dolomir Bloodmark was found dead on the boat, and Khelek Istar had vanished without a trace, leaving the remaining members reeling from the compounded losses.
The party reported their findings from the Isle of Black (including the Black Robin, Jasper, and the necromorphic activity) to the King. The King, displeased with their perceived lack of cohesion, especially as Jasper was a known contact for the King, ordered the fellowship to take part in the 200th Royal Arena in a week to improve their teamwork.
The party used their downtime to investigate gods, cults, and personal interests. Then the party entered the Arena, adopting the name: The Moonlit Syndicate (a name chosen by Drachen).
The Arena competition was fierce:
- Alyssia (The Aerialist) and her close friend Aleena Baxter faced off against Davwin Colchester (The Sword of Divine Fury) and Etton Chetstone (members of The Diran). Etton was killed during this bout.
- Skapa (The Offender of Noses) was forced to make a moral choice, ultimately killing both Gnome and Kobold opponents.
- Drachen (The Primarch, Imperium) faced Ayanna Everstride, the formidable Blade of Nyropa.
- The final challenge required the team to hold the arena’s centre point against the entirety of The Diran for three turns, a challenge which The Moonlit Syndicate successfully accomplished, winning the tournament.
Following the Arena, the party learned their next move was toward Valonde. Alyssia had accepted an assassination contract tied to an event in the city, and the Sword of Sorrow compelled Drachen to hunt Methias Rankor, who was known to be travelling to Valonde.
Chapter 3: The Pearled Coast
The party chartered a ship. On their voyage across the Shallow Sea, the Sword of Sorrow led Drachen to Methias Rankor, who was revealed to be Andaraleanbh Beauchêne, Drachen’s brother-in-law and Yondalla’s chosen warrior, tasked with destroying anyone who wielded the accursed sword. The inevitable duel ensued, and Drachen killed his brother-in-law. Arriving in Valonde - The Pearled Coast, Drachen and Skapa then portalled to the Feywild, where Drachen buried Andaraleanbh beside his late wife’s cottage.
Returning to Valonde, they immediately began investigating the target of Alyssia’s contract: the Lockraven estate. Their investigation uncovered an invitation to the Lockraven’s Gala, where Ayers Lockraven was set to be inducted into the Council of Valonde’s ruling Plutocracy.
The team executed a heist: Ayanna Everstride (now an ally) and Drachen entered the gala as guests, while Skapa and Alyssia snuck in with the mission to kidnap Alaric Lockraven to free him from a life of control. After successfully completing the heist with the boy and loot taken directly from the Lockraven Vault, the party regrouped at their boat.
Chapter 4: The City of Thieves
The party immediately set sail for The Lost City - City of Thieves. They spent several days in the city, making their headquarters at The Fox’s Gambit, where Drachen paid for their lodging.
During their time here, they met many faces: Madame Viatrix who gave Tarot readings to each of the Syndicate, Nester Tarrenshade who rudely barged into Skapa’s room demanding his money, Captain G.C., who they fought and killed for information, Kitty Hess, who welcomed the party in The Fox’s Gambit, Picket ‘The Gutter’ Larry & Lorenzo ‘The Skinner’ Larry, who performed their act on the Fox’s ring, Rosie Velez, who was hunted by almost every guild in the City, Sebastian Hetfield & Rusty, who welcomed and aided Drachen once again and has now taken over the Smugglers & Pirates Guilds thanks to the party killing Captain Jeesea, Gurk, who fixed Skapa’s lungs and offered his chaotic help, The Silken Noose (Orven & Myra Veyl), who gave contracts and riddles, and finally The Damned, who control what little laws the City has.
During their time here, Furgus, whom the party knew as both a magical shop owner and the leader of The Diran, appeared, providing insight into a figure named Avel Lockraven, and a considerable growth in income for the Lockraven family. Furgus also looked into the book the party found in the Lockraven Estate (the History of the Forgotten War), which on a Nat 20 History check, Furgus exclaimed and then teleported away. Shortly after, Captain Hanrold Clearby appeared again, delivering the Moonlit Syndicate’s first Royal Quest from King Sedulus II: investigate and aid the people of Maloren, who were reporting disturbances.
Chapter 5: The Puppeteer
The party arrived in Maloren to find it in ruins, of undead and crazed Clerics & Paladins. It was found out that they were servants of Bahamut, which Drachen figured is very similar to what the History of the Forgotten War spoke of, where servants to a god may lose their mind upon their god’s death. The Moonlit Syndicate also found out that the Clerics were attempting to brew a potion with similar affects to ‘Mind Blank’ to protect their minds from their god’s death, but it was halted due to a shadowed figure coming in the night and slitting their throat with expert precision. In addition to that the party located Lord Elric of Maloren, who they quickly discovered was an imposter. They took the knocked-out imposter to The Silken Noose (the assassin guild in The Lost City), where one of the guild leaders, Orven Veyl, killed the imposter. In exchange, Orven & Myra provided the Syndicate with crucial intelligence: information on assassins’ ability to teleport through mirrors (Mirror Step), and the location of the Black Robin (The Sword and Chalice), which lay west of The City of Thieves. During this interlude, Drachen communed with his Patron, seeking answers of who they were, only to be told that their identity was protected by enchantments placed by an ally: Mask.
The trail led the Syndicate to the Sword and Chalice Tavern. They found Rodwin, Aleena, and their goons. The skirmish was swift and brutal. Aleena escaped using a mirror, utilizing the knowledge the party had just acquired.
With her dying breath, Rodwin wheezed that she was merely a blade and manufactured memories, stating: “I’ve been watching you since the start. You survived my blade… but that’s all I was — a blade and manufactured memories. I never chose the names. Swiftbolt pays. Swiftbolt names.” As a final, desperate act, Rodwin cast Mending on the mirror beside her. In the glass, a shadowed figure stood where their reflections should have been—eyes like black stars, steady, patient… watching. The true mastermind pulling the Robin’s string: Swiftbolt.
Recorded by Douglas Montgomery, Royal Historian of Brugrove