™
REVENGE OF THE CARREDON
Design and Writing: Brian Reeves and Darrell
Hayhurst
Additional Contributions: Deanna Gilbert, Greg
Gorden, Greg Nagler
Editing: Ron Blessing
Art Director: Aaron Acevedo
Graphic Design: Aaron Acevedo, Jason Engle
Cover: Aaron Riley
Interior Illustrations: Chris Bivins, Thomas
Denmark, Talon Dunning, Bien Flores, Maurizio
Giorgio, Gunship Revolution, Tamires Para, Alida
Saxon, Jon Taylor,
Playtesting: Leamon Crafton, Jr., Chris Dugdale,
Crystal Elmore, Lisa Felton, Sam Frazier II, Steve
Goucher, Brendon Hays, Joseph Jones, Elle Lusina,
Brad Mongar, John Pearce, Chris Plotts, Jacob
Ratliff, Robert Schneider, John Thompson, Martin
Wallace
ORIGINAL DESIGN TEAM
Mythos and Game Design: Greg Gorden, Bill
Slavicsek, & Douglas Kaufman, with Ed Stark, Greg
Farshtey, Stan!, Brian Schomburg, Christopher Kubasik,
Ray Winninger, and Paul Murphy
Additional Concepts and Playtesting: Daniel Scott
Palter, Denise Palter, Jonatha Ariadne Caspian, Michael
Stern, Richard Hawran, C.J. Tramontana, Martin Wixted
Torg, The Possibility Wars, and all unique characters,
concepts, locations, and creatures are trademarks and
/ or copyrights of Ulisses Spiele. All rights reserved.
Technical Assistance: Dr. Michael Fortner, Dr. George
Exner
Original Logo Design: Tom Tomita
Revised & Expanded Developers: Eric Gibson, Jim
Ogle, Gareth Michael Skarka, Nikola Vrtis, Stephen
Marsh, Talon Dunning
Nile Empire and Terra Design: Greg Farshtey, Greg
Gorden, Brian Sean Perry, Ed Stark, Michael Stern, and
Ray Winninger
TORG ETERNITY DESIGN TEAM
Writing and Design: Shane Lacy Hensley, Darrell
Hayhurst, Markus Plötz, Deanna Gilbert, Ross Watson
Contributors: Greg Gorden, Jim Ogle, Steve Kenson,
Ed Stark, George Strayton, Henry Lopez, Aaron Pavao,
Angus Abranson, Steven Marsh, Patrick Kapera, Bill
Keyes, John Terra, James Knevitt, Jonathan Thompson,
Andy Vetromile, Joseph Wolf, Jasyn Jones
Art Director: Aaron Acevedo
Graphic Design: Aaron Acevedo, Jason Engle
Playtesting: Jimmy Macias, Michael Conn, Damien
Coltice, Michael Mingers, Michelle Hensley, Ron
Blessing, Veronica Blessing, Tracy Sizemore, Golda
Lloyd, Andrew Harvey, Dale Davies, Ed Rugolo, Scott
Walker, Darrell Brooks, Melvin Willis, James Dawsey,
Brad Rogers, Jamal Hassan, Jeremy Dawsey
1
 INTRODUCTION 4
Adventure Background . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Maul Them All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Beta Clearance! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 A Big Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Adventure Synopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Act Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Ingarta Victorious . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
ACT ONE:
THE MARK OF THE BEAST 8
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Scene One: Oxford Down . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Incoming! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The First Wave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The Goliath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Victory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Scene Two: Hazaar Hazards . . . . . . . . . 11
The Uninvited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Garbing Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The Snubbed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The Feast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Taking Down Tolwyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Scene Three: Ill Omens . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Ritual sacrifice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
A Desperate Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Dark Assassin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
End of Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Scene Four: War Council . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Scene Five: A Ride in the Country . . . . . . 18
A Daring Escape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Aftermath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
ACT TWO:
A VIKING THING 20
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Scene One: On a Boat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Along the Shore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
There’s Always a Kraken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Entering Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Scene Two: Cold Shoulder . . . . . . . . . . 23
The Loudest Voices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Fighting at the Thing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
A Night of Revels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Meeting at the Mound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
The Acorn Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Scene Three: Second Place is the First Loser 26
Dirty Pool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
No Good Deed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Dark Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
And the Winner Is... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
2
Scene Four: Possession is Nine Tenths . . . . 28
The Sea Dragon Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
The Fallen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Scene Five: Clear Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Naddodd Victorious . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Bon Voyage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Aftermath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Threats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Battles at Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
ACT THREE:
FORBIDDEN ISLE 34
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Scene One: House of Leaves . . . . . . . . . 34
In the Stacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
In the ashes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Scene Two: Ill Met in Killarney . . . . . . . . 38
Ross Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Inside the Castle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Scene Three: A Dark Secret . . . . . . . . . . 40
Lough Leane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Inisfallen Abbey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Old Gonegal’s Hut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Ending the Siege . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Scene Four: Bargain with Evil . . . . . . . . 42
The Witch is Dead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Scene Five: Evil Roots . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Aftermath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
ACT FOUR:
SEED OF THE WORLD 46
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Scene One: Descent into the Dark . . . . . . 46
Oona the Seeker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Scene Two: Flowing Underground . . . . . 48
Scene Three: The Hanging Tower . . . . . . 49
The Legend of Creation . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
The Redoubt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
A Crack in the Foundation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
The Fall of Dhagh-Kolduhr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Scene Four: Enemies at the Gate . . . . . . . 53
Scene Five: The Mad God . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
ACT FIVE:
BONE AND STEEL 58
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Scene One: Hoist the Black Flag . . . . . . . 59
Douglas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Fortunato’s Secret . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Port Erin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Scene Two: Beat to Quarters! . . . . . . . . . 62
Flee or Fight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Scene Three: On the Beach . . . . . . . . . . 64
The Old Fort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
The Mermaid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Fire Aboard a Ship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Scene Four: The Deep Blue Sea . . . . . . . . 67
Scene Five: Ship of Death . . . . . . . . . . . 69
The Arrival of Fortunato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Aftermath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
ACT SIX:
AELWARD’S AMAZING ENGINE 72
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Scene One: The Streets of London . . . . . . 72
Burlington House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
The Gyro-Dragon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Tower Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Whitechapel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Scene Two: Eyes in the Shadows . . . . . . . 76
The Unseen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Scene Three: Maze of Alleys . . . . . . . . . 78
Scene Four: The Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Scene Five: Trapped on a Dead World . . . 81
The Dead World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Next Stop, Nowhere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Aftermath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Trapped Forever? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
ACT SEVEN:
UNTWISTING FATE 84
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Scene One: Special Delivery . . . . . . . . . 84
From The Sky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Overland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Underground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
A Warm Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Scene Two: Stalker Showdown . . . . . . . . 87
Dogs of War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
The Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Scene Three: Aspects of Terror . . . . . . . . 89
And So It Begins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Four Essences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Carredon Fragment Behavior . . . . . . . . . . 92
Missing Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
All Quiet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Scene Four: Omens of Darkness or Light . . 94
Tolwyn Lives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Tolwyn Dies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Mark of the Carredon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Knights of the Realm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
The Mark of the Carredon . . . . . . . . . . 95
THREATS AND VILLAINS 96
Stalkers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Other Foes and Allies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
SECRETES OF OXFORD 102
Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Barricades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Blackbird Leys Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Black Collar Pub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Castle Ardinay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Dark Fortress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Dreaming Spires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Oxford Faire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Trenches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Wychwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Recent History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Current Deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Underlying Tension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Local Personalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Pella Ardinay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Laura Maddox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Sheriff John Morse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Knight Colonel Robbie Hathaway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Mister Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
The Sharnhand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
High Priestess Ullian Buvar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Archmagus Wyrwind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE
CARREDON 108
Carrawak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
The Coming of the Gaunt Man . . . . . . . . 108
The Fate of Carrawak . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
New Conquests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Uthorion and Aysle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Tolwyn and the Death of the Beast . . . . . 111
The Gaunt Man Strikes . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
The Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
INDEX 112
3
 R
evenge of the Carredon is a seven act adventure
that takes place in the latter half of the first

INTRODUCTION
year of the war. The events it describes are
not dependent upon other adventures, so this
scenario can take place before or after other cosm
adventures. The outcome determines the fate of
Tolwyn Tancred, a powerful and influential figure
in Queen Pella Ardinay’s court, whose presence or
absence could have a lasting impact on the morale
of the forces of Light, the unity of House Tancred,
and the odds of victory in numerous battles
throughout the realm. By the end of the adventure,
the heroes finally confront an ancient evil and solve
an old mystery, while stopping the machinations
of Uthorion.

ADVENTURE
BACKGROUND
Of the Gaunt Man’s many powerful lieutenants,
few possessed the potential he saw in Uthorion, a
pallid young necromancer from a world where the
boundary of life and death was almost nonexistent.
When Uthorion discovered a Darkness Device of
his own, the Gaunt Man, recognizing his capability,
ceded to him a strange little magic-rich world for
his first conquest: Aysle. The tiny cosm, finitely
bound in a sphere not much larger than the disk
world it contained, was to be Uthorion’s to do with
as he willed.
It wasn’t a gracious gift. The Gaunt Man knew the
strong magic of the place would make it a costly
and long-term project, but at least it would keep
the ambitious potential rival busy, and hopefully
yield spoils eventually.
The armies of Light met the invasion with force,
but one by one they fell, and Uthorion’s dark hordes
swept across Aysle. As a necromancer, Uthorion
was never short of soldiers, and his former master
loaned his own nightmarish forces to tip the scales.
After generations of battle, Uthorion pushed the
forces of Light back to the Valley of the Sword. But
even in this dark hour, victory was not assured.
The harder he pushed, the stronger his opponents
seemed to get. Much of their inner strength came
from their heroes—stalwart Knight Protectors,
Wardens, Magisters, and even the Queen herself.

4
He would need to break the heroes to break the
army. No matter how strong Darkness became,
Light summoned an equal strength, and the
BETA CLEARANCE!
stalemate continued.
This adventure assumes the Storm Knights
The Gaunt Man knew of a fell beast so terrible that
have progressed to Beta Clearance. If your
no hero could possibly stop it: the Carredon. Long
group is only Alpha Clearance don't worry!
ago he had corrupted the spirit of a mighty dragon
The encounters here may be difficult early on,
until it became a creature of foul darkness. As a
but not impossible. If the team is finding things
Horror, such a creature could never truly perish,
too easy or difficult, here are a few options for
and so the Carredon rose again on Aysle. Uthorion
the GM:
realized his former master had just handed him the
key to victory. • Upgrade or downgrade the opponents:
Increase the number of reality-rated foes
When sun set on that fateful evening, Uthorion’s
among them and the Possibilities each has,
forces surged toward the armies of the Light. Flying
include magic weapons (and use them!),
high above them was the Carredon, a dragon unlike
or add Perks like Endurance, Brawler,
any the folk of Aysle had ever seen, borne aloft
Whirlwind, or any Darkness Perk. Try one
on leathery black wings. As Uthorion confronted
of those three types of upgrade first, and
Ardinay herself, high in her tower, ejecting her
add more elements as needed. If things are
soul and taking her body for his own, the Carredon
too hard, leave out reality-rated leaders.
lay waste to the forces of Light. Tolwyn of House
Tancred, one of the Knight Protectors, charged • Increase or decrease the number of foes:
the Carredon in single combat. Her magic sword Upgrading or downgrading is better, but
plunged into its eye. Enraged by this previously- changing the force of numbers is an easy
unknown agony, the Carredon lashed out at her, operation and can be done in a pinch.
piercing her with one massive claw, and launching Anywhere foes are listed as "# per Storm
itself back into the sky. This was the last anyone Knight," simply increase that number if
saw of Tolwyn for nearly 100 years. things are too easy, or reduce it if things are
too hard. Start by a difference of one, and
In it’s pain, the beast returned to its home cosm,
go higher if it's still necessary. Remember,
a fallow place, long ago drained of life and
increasing the number also increases the
Possibilities. Tolwyn came with it, and despite
number of reality-rated versions of the foe
her wounds continued the battle. She eventually
present. Most are Rare, meaning 1 in 10
triumphed.
are rated. It's important to use Combined
Tolwyn’s wound were fatal, but she did not die. Actions and Mob damage with so many
She fell into a fevered trance, haunted by visions foes in play.
of her queen’s spirit sundered from her body and
Only alter the forces if players express that they
a monster wearing her face and ruling in her place.
aren't feeling challenged. Some fights are easy,
Tolwyn staggered through the lifeless world of the
some are hard. What should be an easy battle
Carredon until she eventually reached its end—
could suddenly become very difficult after a
and after that an endless void. Still she plodded on
few unlucky rolls, resulting in Disconnection
for decades, driven by the voices and visions that
and Wounds. A light touch is best—remember
pulled her ever forward.
these are heroes after all!
A century later, she awoke in a hayrick in
Liandar, an entire continent away from the Valley
of the Sword. She still wore her armor but was
weaponless and disoriented. A crofter discovered
her there and immediately recognized the warrior
woman of legend. The war was long since over,

5
 Uthorion vanquished (or so most people thought),
and Aysle saved. Tolwyn knew better, and rode
forth to save her Queen.
The rest is well-known history. But what neither
she—nor anyone else—knew, was that she brought
the Carredon with her. Its cold, tainted spirit clung
to her, its spirit “riding” her own as she made
her way back home. Its curse kept her alive and
protected her from the void. Time spent in the
strong magic of Aysle gave the Darkness strength, a
strength that threatens to consume Tolwyn’s body
and transform her into a weapon for Darkness.
If it succeeds, Tolwyn—and all she represents to
the good folk of Aysle—is lost.
ADVENTURE SYNOPSIS
This adventure is set near the end of the first year
of the invasion. By this time, the heroes have
worked with the Delphi Council extensively, and
are nearing—or already reached—Beta Clearance.
The Storm Knights are in Oxford helping to repel
one of Uthorion’s attacks. At a feast celebrating a
victorious battle, it becomes increasingly clear that
something is not right with Tolwyn. Archmage
Wyrwind discovers the Carredon’s soul riding in
Tolwyn’s body, and prescribes an ancient ritual
to purge it from her, one that requires the heroes
to seek out four artifacts aligned with the four
Essences of Ayslish magic, along with the dead
heart of the Carredon itself.
The Storm Knights depart on a hazardous race
against time to find the four Essences and the
Carredon’s heart before Tolwyn is lost. The heroes
can choose in which order to pursue these pieces
of the ritual. Along the way, they are harassed by
Uthorion’s Stalkers, teams of hardy warriors of the
Dark sent to prevent them from saving Tolwyn.
The trail of the first Essence, an acorn imbued
with Life, sends the heroes to Norway, where
it is said to have fallen from the sky. The Viking
tribes, caught in an escalating dispute, present a
hazardous political atmosphere that threatens to
stop the Storm Knights’ quest in its tracks.
The second Essence is True Knowledge, in the
form of a scroll that carries information in the
6
Adventure Background above. The heroes are
directed to the court of Ellefaine, but a disaster in
the library forces the heroes to cross Elfame and
seek out the true name from the sinister witch, Jinny
Greenteeth. Jinny offers the scroll only if the Storm
Knights purge her domain from the influence of a
Nightmare Tree.
Hunting for the third Essence of Time, a crystal
from the place where Aysle was created, sends the
Storm Knights into the Land Between, a labyrinth
of endless caverns extending deep into the earth.
With their Seeker as a guide, the Storm Knights
traverse these caves, stumbling upon a desperate
force of dwarves trapped in a subterranean keep,
then ending their quest in a massive geode where
an insane demigod is imprisoned.
To track down the fourth Essence, a lyche’s skull
imbued with the power of Death, the heroes go to
the Corsair enclave on the Isle of Man. There they
recruit a Corsair who knows the object of their
quest is aboard the ship of a necromancer-turned-
pirate. The Corsair helps the team track the pirate
across the North Sea, finally battling him in the icy
wastes of the Graves.
Aside from the Essences, the Storm Knights also
need the heart of the Carredon, which means they
must find its body. With only a single Carredon
scale to guide the way, they travel to London, where
a dwarven inventor is rumored to have a device
that can open a gate between Cosms. However,
thieves have stolen a valuable component, and
before the heroes can journey to the Carredon’s
home world to retrieve its heart, they must track
down a powerful thieves’ guild and steal back the
machine’s power source.
At last, all five pieces acquired, the Storm Knights
meet Ardinay and her forces back at Oxford for
the final ritual. The Stalkers that have hounded the
Storm Knights along the way make one final bid
to stop the heroes. The ritual commences with the
various pieces aligned according to prophecy. In an
epic battle, the Carredon is pulled from Tolwyn—
but starts to materialize once freed! Can the Storm
Knights destroy it before it is fully reborn? Or will
the Carredon’s foulness be unleashed upon the
world once more?
 ACT TIMING
Act One sets up the critical problem facing Aysle,
along with the stakes. The heroes are given clues as
to the location of the five components they’ll need to
save Tolwyn. The next five acts, Acts Two through
Six, can be played in any order the players prefer,
as the heroes track down those components one
by one. Once all the components are in hand, the
heroes gather in Act Seven to complete the ritual.
Though they must make haste, there is time in each
act for small diversions or short side adventures.

7
 T
he team starts out in the middle of a war.
Weeks ago, Lady Pella Ardinay asked Quinn
Sebastian for reinforcements. He sent a

THE MARK OF THE

small team of Storm Knights, knowing they’re
more valuable in a fight than companies of regular
troops or supplies. The newcomers haven’t been
on the lines very long when Uthorion’s dark forces
begin their attack.

OVERVIEW
Scene 1: The action starts with the team already in
place in Oxford, helping the defensive lines hold
ACT ONE:

against a push by Uthorion’s forces.

Scene 2: The Storm Knights are invited to feast
with Pella Ardinay as thanks for their deeds in
the previous scene, but the party is disrupted by
BEAST
sniping allies and a curse overcoming Tolwyn—
the Champion of Light!
Scene 3: Archmagus Wyrwind needs protection
during a ritual to divine the curse affecting Tolwyn,
and only the heroes can be trusted for the moment.
Scene 4: Wyrwind shares everything he learned,
and now it’s up to the Storm Knights to choose
where to go next to stop the mysterious curse.
Scene 5: Oxford is surrounded, so where-ever
the team chooses to go next they’ll need to break
through enemy forces to get there!

SCENE ONE: OXFORD

DOWN
Standard Scene. Core Earth Dominant Zone.
The Storm Knights were dropped into Oxford a
few days ago via a Delphi Council Osprey. Since
then, they’ve been attached to the 1st Regiment,
the remains of an armored division stationed near
Oxford and supporting Ardinay’s forces in battle
against Uthorion.
In the short time they’ve been here, the heroes
haven’t met Lady Ardinay herself, or Crown
Prince Edward, rumored to be in the area leading a
column of tanks. Most of their time has been spent
with Major Sean Roberson, a sturdy chap with a
knack for unit coordination and gallows humor.
The 1st Regiment is a reserve at the moment, but

8
 Uthorion has a host of unpleasant weapons in his magical arsenal.
Roberson gently jokes that he expects everyone to
be content and waist deep in goblins or whatever-
they’re-called very soon.
He’s not wrong.
INCOMING!
Roberson and the Knights are in a large vehicle
bunker about 50 meters behind a main trench
line—a line which traces the edge of the Oxford
hardpoint’s sphere of influence—when reports of
enemy activity break out. The first wave is projectiles
fired from siege engines inside Uthorion’s distant
castle. Whatever the catapults are launching
detonates explosively when it hits the ground, and
makes a horrifying shrieking sound along with the
bangs and rattles of destruction. The Dark Army’s
catapults just don’t have the range that Core Earth
artillery does, however, and all the shots fall far
short of the front-line.
What was left of the city between the warring lines
is thoroughly pounded to rubble, leaving a broken
no-man’s land of low ruined walls and rubble. The
Challenger tanks in the bunker fire shots back at the
distant castle in reply, mostly striking blue magical
shields or landing on the intervening ground—
adding to the din and destruction.
This opening volley is mostly about working the
nerves of the defenders and making enough noise,
so no one can detect the magical tunnels being dug
towards the edge of the trench line. It also provides
broken cover for the unlucky lurks and large
surface troops soon to attack the trench head on.
Storm Knights don’t need to test for fear or any
psychological effects, but grant a Possibility if a
character deepens the drama by breaking under
fire, or if someone tries to use persuasion and give
a stirring speech or a performance to keep the
soldier’s spirits up!
9
 There’s no point in charging forward into the
trenches or the bombardment area yet. Roberson
tries to halt any impetuous charges with a gentle
“Steady on,” and a suggestion to save it for the real
attack, but if a Storm Knight is determined to go
out and get blasted, grant them a nice 3 Wound hit
(Soak-able) for their trouble.
THE FIRST WAVE
After an hour the shrieking explosions stop, but the
battlefield isn’t quiet for long. Sounds of gunfire
erupt from the Core Earth lines, as distant lurks
begin advancing through the rubble. The advancing
troops are about 1000 meters away, so anyone with
enough range can join in with the appropriate
penalties, plus another –4 for Concealment and
Toughness 10 cover.
Close range fighters may be chomping at the bit to
move forward and get into the action by now, and
farther down the line a group of three tanks charge
forward over the trench and towards a mass of
lurks there. The good Major still wants everyone to
hold back and remain in reserve. “Bloody lunatics.
Steady on.”
After the heroes have a chance to make one or two
attacks at long range, the situation changes again.
Several pits open up just outside the trench, and
waves of howling lurks leap from them to engage
the soldiers on the line. Now—finally—it’s time
to act! Flip a Drama Card and begin a regular
encounter. The lurks are in two equal groups. One
group is inside the trench battling soldiers hand-to-
hand. From the bunker they have –4 Concealment,
Toughness 10 Cover, and watch out for Friendly
Fire! The other group is still emerging from tunnels,
and have the same Cover and Concealment, but no
friendlies to get in the way. The heroes start at a
range of 50 meters.
• Lurks (4 per hero): See page 100.
THE GOLIATH
Once the onslaught from the tunnels is dealt with,
a new emergency draws the embattled Storm
Knights’ attention. Some distance down the line
where the tanks moved forward, a massive beast
lumbers towards the line. It would stand 40 meters
tall, except it’s hunched over and carrying what
10
looks like part of a castle tower on its back—a spire
from the Dark Fortress itself!
Artillery shells and spells rain down on the
creature, but detonate against a wave of blue energy
about 100 meters away from it—the same kind of
shield effect that protects Uthorion’s mighty castle.
A scholar or conjuration test intuits that the shield
is useless against attacks closer than 100 meters,
but there’s a little gunfire from the line where the
creature is that’s breaking through.
This kind of unexpected situation is exactly what
the Storm Knights are here for, and now Major
Roberson and his men drive them to the breach
in under a minute. This is enough time for Action
Pools to reset, but there’s no scene change so no
new cards are drawn—and there’s no time to
recover any lost Shock.
At the edge of the shield effect, reality-rated
characters feel the telltale tingle of shifting axioms,
and the reason there’s so little return fire from troops
and vehicles inside the shield becomes clear. The
beast is carrying some kind of massive Talisman,
and now an Aysle Pure Zone is in effect. Roberson
and his vehicles turn back unless the characters
bid them to move forward, but the Pure Zone
disables vehicles and weaponry in the hands of
Ords completely and immediately. British soldiers
have taken to carrying smithed short-swords at all
times, so they aren’t helpless, but there are more
than enough lurks supporting the creature to keep
any troops busy with the left-over.
• Lurks (3 per hero): See page 100. There are
more around, but all are engaged with other
soldiers.
• Goliath: See below.
GOLIATH
It’s not entirely clear what kind of beast the goliath
was before Uthorion’s mages did their grim work
on it. Now it’s blinded, covered in thick metal
plates, and carrying what looks like the remains of
a stone tower on its back.
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 8, Mind 6, Spirit
8, Strength 22
Skills: Dodge 10, find 5, intimidation 10, tracking
8, unarmed combat 12
Move: 12; Tough: 26(4); Shock: 22; Wounds: 5
Equipment: Enhanced Talisman (see Special
Abilities below)
Perks: —
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Thick iron plates +4.
• Enhanced Talisman: Everything within 100
meters of the goliath is an Aysle Pure Zone. If
the tower it’s carrying is destroyed (Toughness
25, 5 Wounds) the effect immediately ends.
• Mindless: The iron sheath on the beast’s head
renders it impervious to intimidation, taunt,
and the effects of telepathy and similar spells
or miracles. The casing is Toughness 20 with 3
Wounds, and if destroyed, this special ability is
eliminated and the beast flees!
• Monstrous: The goliath stands over 30 meters
tall. Attacks against it gain a +4 bonus. It is
immune to Interaction Attacks unless the foe is
also Monstrous.
• Protective Field: The goliath gains +20
Toughness against attacks from more than 100
meters away. If the tower it carries is destroyed
(see Enhanced Talisman above), this effect
immediately ends.
• Stomp: The goliath is drawn towards the foe
with the most Possibilities, and stomps him.
This attack uses unarmed combat, ignores any
Visibility penalties, and hits a Medium Blast
radius around the target too—which isn’t good
news for any lurks engaged with the target! A
hit deals the goliath’s Strength damage (22).
VICTORY
Once the goliath is dealt with, a cheer goes up from
the other defenders and a groan spreads through
the lurks. They flee in disarray back towards
Uthorion’s fortress. Most don’t get very far, felled
by assault-rifle fire or elven arrows.
Trying to follow up with an attack into the Ayslish
Dominant Zone is ill-advised at the moment, as
Uthorion has a much larger host in reserve and
significant magical defenses in place as well. All
that’s left to do for the day is remain on patrol in
case of a ruse and accept the congratulations of the
mixed forces of defenders who survived.
THE UNINVITED
Lady Ardinay intended for all the Storm
Knights to be invited to the feast. Unfortunately,
she’s delegated the job to Kale Liander, and
he intentionally snubbed one of the heroes to
make trouble. He claims it’s because he hates
the person if caught—but actually he’s working
for Darkness and is using this opportunity to
drive a wedge between Ardinay and the Delphi
Council.
He chooses his target carefully. Edeinos are
easy marks since they make humans and the
folk of Aysle uncomfortable alike. Anyone
with a connection to Darkness, real or assumed
from reputation also makes a good choice since
no one would question his hatred—and many
would support his move against such a “hero.”
If no easy target presents itself he’ll choose
the brashest and least charismatic character
possible and make up a phony snub. “I
nodded at her in the market and she refused
to acknowledge my gesture,” or something
equally difficult to refute.
It’s not that Kale is trying to keep the character
away, but rather hoping the character comes
anyway and makes a scene. Such ill-manners
won’t change Pella Ardinay’s opinion, but
could shift the opinion of other stuffy lords
and ladies and start a few cracks in the alliance.
SCENE TWO: HAZAAR
HAZARDS
By evening a page delivers an invitation to the
triumphant Storm Knights—all but one. See The
Uninvited sidebar about who is excluded and
why. The page himself has no idea, he just delivers
a scroll that reads:
Brave Warrior of the Light,
You are cordially invited to Castle Ardinay upon this
eve to share a feast with Her Majesty Pella Ardinay,
Lady of Light. She wishes to toast your triumph and
honor your contribution to the war upon Darkness.
11
 Lady Ardinay’s seal is pressed into a drop of wax THE SNUBBED
at the bottom of the parchment. Once the message
The Storm Knight without an invitation must
is delivered, the page bows deeply, and then
decide what to do about it. Simply not going is an
sheepishly mentions that Lord Kale Liander bid
option, but one to discourage. Hint that the hero
him to mention that dining with the Lady of Light
was an important part of the victorious battle and
is considered a formal courtly affair, and that the
deserves to be there, and something may occur at
warriors should dress accordingly.
the feast.

GARBING UP Pro-active types might try to do something about

Most Storm Knights don’t bring formal clothing
along on missions, and unless they’re from Aysle
it doesn’t quite fit anyway. Of course, a hero could
simply come as they are, but that might provoke
trumped up gossip that the Storm Knights don’t
respect Ardinay.
If the invitees do attempt to dress up, they have
a few options. The simplest is to request clothing
from the 1st Regiment, the unit they’re attached to.
Roberson is the point of contact. Roll a persuasion
test and compare the result to the Garb Table
below to see what the quartermaster can provide
or scrounge that fits. More independent (or
connected) Storm Knights may opt for a trip to
the Oxford Market, and use streetwise for the test
instead. The Wealth Perk makes this test Favored,
and playing a Connections Destiny Card makes it
Favored and grants a +3 bonus.
It’s expected that warriors bring a weapon or
two, but this is a dinner engagement, not a battle.
Wearing armor over garb reduces its effectiveness
by one level, and coming in heavily armed reduces
it a further level.
it immediately and discover exactly why one of
the team was excluded. Any Easy (DN 8) test of
various skills (stealth to follow the page back to his
master, streetwise to check for rumors, persuasion to
gain help from allies) all lead to Kale Liander. He’s
open about his disdain for the excluded member
of the group, and haughtily suggests it would be
an insult to come to the feast anyway—secretly
hoping to fluster his mark into doing exactly that.
There’s little anyone can do to make Kale change
his mind, but at least they know he’s an enemy.
It’s possible to sneak into the party with a
Challenging (DN 12) stealth test. Success means
the character gets in without being seen by any
guards, and most guests—including Lady Ardinay
herself—have no idea the intruder wasn’t invited.
Kale, however, does, and arranges a scene to
“arrest” the intruder at an inopportune moment.
It’s also possible to simply go anyway. The castle
guards protest, but won’t turn away a Storm
Knight—no matter how rude their presence may
be. Allow a persuasion test to see how many people
notice the commotion at the gate, with a failure
drawing plenty of derisive looks and comments
during the feast. Success or better keeps it to

GARB
Clothing Style Result Effect
Dreary: cheap and Less than 10 Persuasion tests during dinner are Disfavored. “Did you
inappropriate battle lurks in the mud in that?”
Presentable: adequate but 10+ Persuasion tests during dinner are unmodified. “My
forgettable apologies, I didn’t realize you were a Knight.”
Elegant: stylish and 15+ Persuasion tests during dinner are Favored. “Our mode
impressive of dress is very becoming on you!”
Resplendent: royal and 20+ As Elegant, plus the character gains a Possibility when
striking Lady Ardinay herself offers a compliment. “You look
radiant, a true paragon of the Light!”

12
whispers and glances, but a good portion of the
court thinks the worst of the “disrespectful” Delphi
Council representatives.
THE FEAST
Castle Ardinay is within the Aysle Dominant
Zone, so any players with Cosm Cards must switch
for the banquet. The main hall is simply decorated
and kept warm by a large, open hearth. A main
table has a chair designated for the Lady of Light
herself. Lady Tolwyn Tancred sits to the right,
arms crossed and looking angrily across the room
at the petty lords and ladies. To the left is another
empty chair, this one for Archmagus Wyrwind.
He’s somewhere about, muttering to himself and
trying to stay out of any courtly pleasantries.
There are various long, wooden tables for
everyone else. The Delphi Council, including the
group and Major Roberson are seated at one such
table. The major houses, Tancred, Gerrik, and
Liander each have their own. A dwarven woman,
Gertha the Sharnhand keeps one table enthralled,
and another is filled with laughing British soldiers.
The main floor is open, with room for small clusters
of people. The soldiers are at Prince Eddie’s table,
but alas he’s not in Oxford at the moment.
Rather than staying at her seat, Pella Ardinay is
moving from table to table, spending a little time
speaking with each, and is soon headed towards
the Storm Knights. There’s time to do a little
exploration or mingling before she arrives, but not
much.
MAKING AN IMPRESSION
As Ardinay arrives at their table it’s time for each of
the Storm Knights to test persuasion and see what
kind of impression they make on her. On a failure
she introduces herself, thanks the Knight for their
deeds, and smiles tightly hoping to move along.
On a success she makes a little small-talk and asks
about the heroic deeds of the battle. On a Good
result she takes notice, asks how Quinn Sebastian
is doing, and what the hero plans to do after the
war is won. On an Outstanding result she invites
the lucky Storm Knight to sit at her table—a rare
honor sure to make the rest of the court jealous.
COURTLY INTRIGUE
If any player has the Courtly Intrigue Cosm Card,
now is the perfect time to play it. The side effects
could stem from however the uninvited guest dealt
with the situation, but a few new wrinkles could
add social pressure to the situation.
A hot-headed knight from the Gerrik household
may become smitten with exactly the wrong Storm
Knight. One of the Core Earth soldiers—after
drinking a little too much—asks Sharnhand if
dwarven women have beards, and the conversation
ends in violence unless a Storm Knight intercedes,
potentially irritating one group or the other. For
some reason a pair of mean Tancred maidens take
unseemly delight at slighting one of the Storm
Knights, pointing and giggling at their table.
Incidents like these raise the tension at the event
and show the cracks forming in the alliance. The
group’s actions can help settle things down or
make them worse. Either way, Tolwyn observes
any incidents with increasing scorn from Ardinay’s
table. If approached she declines to converse,
stating simply she is no mood to speak. If pressed
she goes berserk and attacks as outlined below in
The Final Insult!
THE FINAL INSULT
Unbeknownst to anyone, a malicious and cursed
spirit resides in Tolwyn Tancred, slayer of the
great Carredon, an evil dragon-like creature that
terrorized Aysle a hundred years before. She was
changed by the event, and she’s seething with rage.
Witnessing the petty rivalries and annoying
jockeying before dinner has left her on the verge
of snapping. If she hasn’t already gone berserk, the
final straw comes when the first course of dinner—
small roasted game hens—is served, and Kale has
insured the uninvited Storm Knight isn’t served,
even if the situation was previously resolved.
Once the omission is pointed out he smugly
proclaims:
“Oh, that meal was sent to the stables, where the
animal who was to be served it belongs.”
Whatever the party’s reaction, Tolwyn’s is more
extreme. She flips over her table, sending Ardinay
and Wyrwind tumbling, and launches herself at
Kale Liander. Flip a Drama Card and let the heroes
13
 decide whether to engage or not. On her first action,
Tolwyn, now with glowing red eyes, takes a bite
out of Kale’s torso. If left alone, she slays him on
her second action and then begins moving against
innocent bystanders.
BERSERK TOLWYN
Attributes: Charisma 10, Dexterity 12, Mind 9,
Spirit 12, Strength 13
Skills: Dodge 19, find 12, maneuver 15, melee
weapons 23, reality 15, trick 12, unarmed combat
17
Move: 12; Tough: 13; Shock: 14; Wounds: 4
Equipment: Veil Piercer (magic longsword,
Damage Strength +5/18, AP 5, while berserk
Tolwyn can’t draw and use it, but a crafty hero
might take it and use it against her)
Perks: Endurance, Whirlwind—her many other
Perks aren’t active while she’s in this state.
Possibilities: 5
Special Abilities:
• Bite/Claws: Tolwyn bites and slashes as
though she had fangs and claws, but has neither
and deals only Strength damage (13).
• Mindless: In this state Tolwyn is impervious
to intimidation, taunt, and the effects of telepathy
and similar spells or miracles.
TAKING DOWN TOLWYN
Even without access to most of her abilities and
weapons, Tolwyn is an extremely dangerous
opponent. If she KOs (or worse) one of the heroes,
then Wyrwind finally recovers from his battering
and knocks her out with a spell at the end of the
next turn. If the group manages to defeat her with
Wounds, Ardinay rushes forward to stabilize her
friend and begs the Storm Knights not to kill her. If
Tolwyn is KOed with Shock or non-lethal Wounds,
Ardinay thanks them for staying their hands.
The feast is officially over, and Ardinay and
Wyrwind ask the Storm Knights to help them carry
Tolwyn’s body deeper into the castle to examine
her and discover what’s behind this unsettling
outburst.
14
SCENE THREE: ILL OMENS
Standard Scene. Guards assemble and keep
everyone else in the main hall as Pella, Wyrwind,
and the Storm Knights hurry Tolywn towards the
Archmagus’ tower. Any conversation about what
happened is deferred until they arrive.
“The walls here have grown ears of late,” the Lady
mutters, “but we might speak freely in the tower.”
Once inside the chamber, Tolwyn is laid down
inside a ritual circle on the stone floor, and Wyrwind
busies himself readying books and components.
Pella can share what she knows already.
Tolwyn Tancred is her rock. She was a hero and
friend a hundred years ago, and in the final battle
against Uthorion’s darkness she faced and slew
a gigantic horror known as the Carredon. Many
call the Carredon a dragon, but it wasn’t. It was
a creature from some older, greater darkness.
Tolwyn was assumed killed along with the beast
as both disappeared. In that battle, Ardinay herself
fell, and was possessed by Uthorion for the past
century—until Tolwyn’s surprising return. The
warrior cut down the possessed Pella, sending
Uthorion’s spirit skulking away, and then revived
her with a radiant touch. For the last year they’ve
fought Uthorion together, chasing his army of
Darkness here to Earth. If something was amiss,
she was blind to it.
Ardinay is wistful, recalling this story, and does
her best to answer any questions. She’s certain
Uthorion has one or more spies in place within the
castle and turns to the Storm Knights, based on
their recent actions, and since Quinn vouched for
them.
“That vile fiend has so much to answer for,” she
spits, “and I shall see to it he does. It is...uncommon
for humans to live as long as Tolwyn and I have. She
is the only person from my old life, the life before
Uthorion, who remains to call me friend.
“After her return she was my strong right hand. My
Champion of Light, as she was before. She showed rage
in battle, but I thought it was the same righteous anger
I wield as a weapon against the Dark Lord. I see now
that something was inside of her. Something festering
and evil. I hope only that there’s still time to save her.
Aysle needs its champion. I need my friend.”
 RITUAL SACRIFICE
When Pella is done speaking, Wyrwind is ready
to proceed. He points out something interesting
on Tolwyn, what looks like a birthmark on her
right forearm in vaguely the same shape as the
Carredon’s head. Her friend doesn’t recall ever
seeing that before, which seems to confirm the
Archmagus’ suspicions.
“If I’m right, this is all to do with the Carredon that
Tolwyn slew so long ago. It wasn’t a dragon. Like
Uthorion, it was something corrupt, something from
the great Darkness beyond Aysle. Perhaps it’s as
eternal as Uthorion seems to be, and its mark upon
Tolwyn has some greater meaning.
“I have everything needed here to bring forth True
Knowledge, but such magic is deep and powerful. I
shall be...vulnerable for a time. If Uthorion has spies
ready to strike, now would be their best chance. Light
knows how long they’ve been waiting for just this
circumstance and opportunity.
“I’ll need Lady Ardinay’s assistance for this. The rest
of you be ready, if anything is disturbed before the
ritual is complete, the results could be catastrophic.”
Wyrwind gives the Storm Knights a few minutes
for any preparations they wish to make, and a page
brings in any members of the group who missed
the feast.
The ritual itself takes over an hour. Heroes who
wish to have duration or concentration based
powers active may, but rather than rolling endless
tests, just apply a Fatigue effect (usually 2 Shock)
to anyone keeping effects going for the duration.
For most of the ritual, no attack comes. Wyrwind
looks increasingly sickly and haggard. Ardinay
looks almost crazed from grief and concentration.
Images swirl about the room:
• An acorn falls from the sky through an aurora
into a gloomy valley. The snow and darkness
retreat from the vicinity where it lands.
• A skeleton with a glowing skull pilots a
ruined ship through a storm as the wind blows
and lightning crackles.
• Deep under the ground, a geode forms a
screaming face made of white and purple
crystals.
• A green-skinned hag grins while reading a
scroll, and looks directly at the Storm Knights
as though she can see them viewing her.
• A strange contraption whirs in the background
of a completely dead world. All that’s visible
is a collapsed tower and the rotting corpse of
what looks to be a massive dragon.
After an hour, sudden darkness falls over the
room.
A DESPERATE ATTACK
The darkness in Wyrwind’s chamber is Mage Dark,
so everyone suffers a –6 penalty on anything that
requires sight, including melee attacks. The casting
was Outstanding, so regular Dark Sight Perks have
no effect in offsetting the penalty, but a light spell
or true light may banish the effect. It came from an
item the assassins carried, and counts as DN 16 to
dispel.
The darkness lasts 3 rounds, during which
time assassins leap into the room and attempt to
dispatch the Storm Knights before moving on
to Wyrwind and Ardinay, since both are already
occupied. This isn’t a surprise attack, the heroes
were specifically on guard for such an action, so
initiative is normal for both sides once darkness
falls and the commotion starts.
• Dark Assassins (1 per hero): see below.
“THESE AREN’T REALLY
ASSASSINS. ASSASSINS CAN
SEE IN THE DARK AND
DON’T WHINE LIKE THIS.”
-TWOREK
15
 DARK ASSASSIN
These “assassins” aren’t hardened spies, but
normal transformed people working around the
castle. Uthorion has threatened their loved ones
with fates worse than death, and these poor souls
have spied and are now pressed to attack. None of
them have Darkness Perks, and some openly weep
or apologize for what they must do—and over their
inevitable impending fate. Each has a rune on his
or her forehead, drawn in blood, that insures this is
their final mission.
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 7, Mind 6, Spirit
6, Strength 7
Skills: Dodge 8, find 7, intimidation 8, maneuver
8, melee weapons 8, stealth 8, taunt 7, trick 7,
unarmed combat 12
Move: 7; Tough: 7; Shock: 6; Wounds: —
Equipment: Poisoned Dagger (damage Strength
+1/8, a hit that equal or exceeds Toughness deals
1 Wound each round for 5 rounds)
Perks: —
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Death Rune: When an assassin is KOed or
killed, he or she explodes, dealing 14+1BD
damage to everyone in a Small Blast radius.
They automatically detonate at the end of their
fifth turn.
END OF LINE
After the last of the assassins explodes, there’s a
final massive crack of energy from the ritual circle,
knocking everyone to the floor. It may not be
initially clear if the final burst of energy is caused
by an assassin’s detonation ruining the ritual or
some other factor.
Wyrwind looks much older, Ardinay is shaken,
and the room itself looks different—the floor and
walls are bare and the room itself is smaller.
The Archmagus is exhausted but says he saw
what he needed to. He bids the Storm Knights to
get some rest and meet back tomorrow, once he’s
had time to cast a few more spells and confirm a
few of his suspicions.
16
SCENE FOUR: WAR
COUNCIL
To the amazement and concern of all, Castle Ardinay
has transformed into a much plainer structure. The
floorplan is roughly the same, but the splendor is
gone. There are murmurs throughout the alliance
that something has gone terribly wrong, and Core
Earth and Ayslish warriors alike are fretful.
Soon enough there is a call from Lady Ardinay
and the Archmagus to gather for a secret meeting.
Once everyone arrives, it’s Wyrwind who speaks
first.
“True Knowledge—the truth—extracts a heavy
price. In truth, I’m a sickly old man, you see. In truth,
this magnificent castle is a transformed school. Hardly
opulent and by no stretch a fortress. My tricks are laid
bare, but then so too is the truth of the Carredon.
“I wouldn’t have had the vocabulary to describe it
if we hadn’t joined the war here. It is a creature of
Orrorsh, a horror of the Gaunt Man whom we now
know serves as a kind of master to Uthorion. I saw
a vision of what it was in another world long ago,
and the Gaunt Man corrupted it, twisted it into the
fearsome beast it became.
“If the creature falls, its corruption rests within
whoever slew it, there to grow until strong enough to
be born anew in the body. It’s Tolwyn’s cursed fate to
become the reborn Carredon herself—but she is a child
of Aysle, and Aysle has magic of its own.
“We can draw the cursed essence from her, separate
that which is Aysle from that which is Orrorsh. To
do this we need ritual components. Ayslish magic
is built on a foundation of four prime essences: Life,
Death, Time, and True Knowledge. We need a focus
for each, what we call a paragon foci in magical terms.
We also need a paragon foci of the beast itself, the
corrupted heart from the original Carredon’s corpse.
The visions of the ritual showed where paragon foci of
these essences may be found—or at least as near as I
could divine.”
The Archmagus has marked a map of the Ayslish
realm with five locations.
• The scroll is a focus of True Knowledge,
and is within the Emerald Isle. He suggests a
visit to Dublin and the Fae Court there to get

MARKED MAP
LOCATIONS
N
&
Y
6
more information about Jinny Greenteeth, the
creature holding it in the vision. (See Act Two,
page 43.)
• The acorn is a focus of Life. The valley it’s
in is north of Oslo. Spies say some kind of
emergency meeting of the Vikings, called a
Thing, is coming up soon. Even outsiders are
tolerated peacefully during a Thing, so any
attempt to go for the acorn should coincide
with it. (See Act Three, page 34.)
• The geode is a focus of Time, and it’s located
below in the Land Between. To find it the group
needs a Seeker. Wyrwind knows a candidate
named Oona who can be found in Bristol.
Bristol is also a good port to sail from for any
quest that needs to be reached by boat. (See Act
Four, page 46.)
• The corsair skull is a focus of Death, and
can be found near the Isle of Man. Ardinay
notes that there is a Delphi Council safe house
Z
in Douglas that might make a good base of
operations once the search commences. (See
Act Five, page 58.)
• The Carredon’s heart is outside of Aysle, its
secrets are impenetrable to the Archmagus.
However, he recognized the contraption in the
vision as the work of a dwarven inventor named
Aelward. Aelward was last seen in London.
To reach the heart they need something from
the old Carredon. Ardinay gives the party a
scale, a keepsake from the old battle revered
as a trophy today, and bids them not to lose it.
If it is lost, the Storm Knights must return to
Oxford, and the only substitute is a finger from
Tolwyn! (See Act Six, page 72.)
Pella asks that the Storm Knights collect these five
items and return. With the illusion of the castle
dispersed, she must remain to steady the alliance
and help repel the press from Uthorion’s forces,
sure to come once he detects any instability. With
Tolwyn down and the heroes away, she expects it
17
 to be difficult but promises to hold out as long as
possible.
The team may discuss which item they intend to
go after first. If there’s any question of whether they
should take this mission without consulting the
Delphi Council, Ardinay reminds them that she’s
the local director so it’s definitely an approved
mission. She won’t order the heroes to go, it’s a
dangerous mission, but the fate of Aysle realm
hangs in the balance.
Uthorion’s forces encircle Oxford, so no matter
where the group chooses to go first, they’ll need to
break through the enemy lines on their way. The
most likely destination is Bristol, for a Seeker or
passage to Dublin, the Isle of Man, or Oslo, but it’s
also possible to head for London. If a Storm Knight
happens to be a Seeker they’re pulled south. They’ll
need to break out of Oxford to find the right route
down, but not by very far. Ardinay has already
spoken to Major Roberson and he’s prepared a
“carriage” for them when they’re ready to leave.
SCENE FIVE: A RIDE IN
THE COUNTRY
Dramatic Scene. The carriage waiting for the team
is Roberson’s Challenger 2 tank, named “The
Redcap.” It’s not exactly standard procedure to
loan a four-Million Pound, 62 ton, heavily armed
war-machine to just anyone, but he believes in the
mission, and surrounded by Aysle, no Ord could
get very far with it anyway.
“Just be certain to bring it back when you’re done, I’ll
have hell to pay if I have to report that I misplaced it.”
Roberson gives an hour’s worth of lessons to
any volunteers with adds in land vehicles, so they
can drive it and shows anyone with adds in
heavy weapons how to load and fire the cannon.
Those without adds may still learn and attempt
to use the vehicle, but a Mishap for an untrained
driver high-centers the tank, forcing the crew to
abandon it, and a Mishap on the gun destroys it.
If no one has an axiom that supports the tank, the
offer is awkwardly withdrawn, and a much more
dangerous horse-ride is in order.
18
“THE REDCAP” CHALLENGER 2
The Redcap has enough fuel to drive about 400
kilometers—plenty to make it to any locations in
inside Britain and back. The hardpoint at Bristol
has diesel fuel. London, however, hasn’t been
resupplied since the war began, so odds of finding
fuel there are low.
• Speed: 60 kph (11); Tough: 31 (10); Wounds: 4
• Armament: 120mm cannon (Damage 30, AP
10, Range 2k/4k/8k, 50 ammo), two 7.62 mm
machine guns (Damage 19, Range 250/1k/4k,
Long Burst only, ammo 250).
• Fast: Speed grants a +2 bonus to complete
steps in a Chase or a −2 penalty to be hit.
• Juggernaut: The vehicle may ignore its MR
while gaining a step in a Chase, but it suffers
a collision.
• Passengers: 4.
• Maneuverability: −4 penalty to land vehicles
for defenses or chases.
• Very Large: Attacks against the T-90 gain a +4
bonus due to its size.
A DARING ESCAPE
Mechanically, the breakout operates the same
whichever direction the party chooses to drive
the tank. It operates similar to a Dramatic Skill
Resolution using land vehicles (or beast riding if
horses are used instead). Each step is Standard DN
10 difficulty, and the tank’s Fast (+2) does apply to
this test.
• Step A: Cross no-man’s land and avoid mass
enemy formations or large monsters.
• Step B: Smash through any small outposts
guarding the roads to the destination.
• Step C: Move swiftly through the overgrown
woods where transformed roads become
narrow.
• Step D: Leave behind any forces still in
pursuit.
There’s no hard limit to the number of turns it
takes to complete Step D and escape, but each turn
the escape becomes more dangerous as Uthorion’s
forces mobilize and get closer to the breakthrough.
At the end of the first round, the tank and anyone
outside it suffer 5+1BD damage. At the end of the
second that becomes 10+1BD, then 15+1BD after
 AFTERMATH
the third, and so on. An Opponent Fails card or a If Uthorion’s forces manage to destroy the tank,
Villain Setback stops this automatic damage for each hero has one last chance to make a Very Hard
one round. This isn’t a Chase, so a Last Ditch Effort (DN 16) stealth test to slip away while they celebrate
may be attempted if the conditions call for it! and burn the “corpse” of their foe. Anyone who
On the first round, three Lurks manage to latch fails, or who fell to damage riding apart from the
onto the tank. They can’t hurt it, but they do Stymie tank, is captured or killed. Alive or dead, Uthorion
its tests so long as three remain. Each round on the learns their secrets, and the forces of Light are
Villain’s turn, another three latch on, and if there going to have a bad year unless the survivors can
are ever nine or more, the tank’s tests become Very find reinforcements and complete the mission on
Stymied. Heroes may face the damage for people their own!
outside the tank and emerge to attack the pesky More likely the heroes escape to Bristol or London,
foes. If the heroes are in anything less than a tank, and the army of Darkness can’t afford to break
these lurks are normal opponents each round their encirclement of Oxford to chase them. The
instead! Dark Lord dispatches a team of Stalkers (see page
Inside the tank, the most important position is the 96) to catch the trail of the escapees and discover
driver. Not only is she the only one making the what they’re up to.
test to gain steps, but if she disconnects, the Where the Storm Knights head from
tank transforms into a small frigate—the here is up to them, but they know the
kind that floats on water—and is useless clock is ticking against both
for escape. One character may use the Tolwyn and Oxford.
machine gun on top of the turret
against lurks. Another two may
fire the main cannon and
the other machine gun to
support the driver’s test—
eliminating obstacles,
suppressing enemies, and
so on. A spotter may also
attempt to support the
driver with find or land
vehicles. The other, more
dangerous, role is going
outside to scrape lurks off
the hull!
• Lurks (3 per
round): see page
100.

TOLWYN
TANCRED

19
 T
he group decides to seek out the acorn in
Norway. Their visit coincides with a meeting
of the clan leaders, called a “Thing,” and the
Delphi Council is recognized as an enemy clan—
and as such has the right to send representatives to

A VIKING THING
the Thing. The acorn is somewhere North of Oslo,
but Oslo is the starting point since that’s where the
Thing is being held. No fighting is allowed during
a Thing, so this is the best chance to check out
Norway and find the paragon item of Life before
it’s too late.

OVERVIEW
ACT TWO:
Scene One: Getting to Oslo isn’t easy, even without
a fleet of Viking raiders hunting for them. Ice is
thick this year, and sea monsters don’t respect the
“no-fighting” rules of the Thing.
Scene Two: The group attends the Thing and
meets the leaders of the different factions within
the Vikings. The Vikings have a problem too, and
the acorn seems the solution—but the man tasked
with recovering it is murdered!
Scene Three: A race is on between the heroes and
the different clans to be the first to claim the acorn.
However, not everyone has honorable intentions.
Scene Four: The Storm Knights reach the acorn,
but they aren’t there alone and have some tough
decisions to make.
Scene Five: Getting out proves more difficult than
getting in. Clan Bjanni and Uthorion’s stalkers are
waiting at the piers to stop the Storm Knights from
leaving—with or without the acorn.

SCENE ONE: ON A BOAT

Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. If the
group has already made contact with the Corsairs
in Act Five, that ship is their most likely means
of getting to Oslo. If not, or if things ended badly
with the pirates, there’s a longship—technically a
merchant ship called a knarr—docked in Bristol,
crewed with transformed sailors loyal to Core Earth
and happy to take on the mission to Dublin (Act
Three), the Isle of Man (Act Five). or Oslo for an
undisclosed price paid by the Delphi Council. The
ship is the “Wanderer,” captained by Dan Larsen.

20
 Giants may get bigger when they are angry, unfortunately for everyone.

THE WANDERER each Storm Knight attempt a Strength test with

any adds in water vehicles added. The test is Easy
The ship only has a crew of five and spends most
(DN 8) in the Irish Sea and then Hard (DN 12) in
of its time under sail rather than using oars. The
the North Sea. Failure causes a Fatigue effect that
captain and crew test with water vehicles 10 when
doesn’t wear off until the hero spends more than a
necessary. The crew are all Ords, and Captain Dan
day back on dry land.
happily stands aside if a Storm Knight with adds in
water vehicles takes charge in an emergency. The most efficient course is to take the Wanderer
to Dublin, then the Isle of Man, then follow the
Top Speed: 10 kph (7); Tough: 15; Wounds: 3
northern shoreline and cut across to Oslo either
Very Large: Attacks against the ship gain a +4
with the Wanderer or Corsairs. It’s also possible
bonus due to its size.
to follow the shore south through the Aysle/
Maneuverability: –4 penalty to water vehicles for
Cyberpapacy mixed zone—especially if the crew if
defenses or chases.
afraid they’ll miss the Thing if they take too long
Passengers: 30
getting there.
Weapons: None.
The Vikings aren’t raiding at the moment, which
ALONG THE SHORE keeps encounters light for the journey. If they
travel south the Wanderer passes through a Reality
The journey by sea takes about two weeks in the
Storm with the usual effects. One of the corsairs is
Wanderer, or one week in a faster vessel. Captain
spotted in the Irish sea, headed north towards the
Dan charts the safest course possible, but the Irish
Isle of Man to divvy up some spoils and do some
Sea, and especially the North Sea, are rough and
carousing, so they’re not interested in the unladen
dangerous thanks to constant reality storms. Have
Wanderer.

21
 THERE’S ALWAYS A KRAKEN
The trip to Oslo doesn’t quite go uninterrupted. The
first sign that something is amiss is an overturned
hull in the water ahead—a fishing schooner by
the size of it. Captain Dan means to get closer and
look for survivors, but will grudgingly comply if
the team takes the less heroic option of skirting the
area to keep a low profile.
There are no survivors in sight, and if a Storm
Knight is brave enough to swim down into the
cold water (automatic Fatigue) and investigate the
wreckage, there’s no bodies aboard, and signs of
significant damage—the mast is snapped and the
roof of the cabin is missing. Give the hardy soul a
Possibility for the effort!
As the swimmer is investigating or any other time
that’s dramatically appropriate, the culprit makes
its appearance, a monstrous, giant squid! Captain
Dan calls it a kraken, even though this beast isn’t of
quite the mythical proportions that name evokes.
The creature wraps its tentacles around the ship,
trapping several crewman, and unless it’s dislodged
quickly, the Wanderer is doomed. Freeing the ship
takes the form of a Dramatic Skill Resolution, but
instead of a regular skill test, each step requires an
attack that deals 16 or greater damage to resolve!
If all four steps, each representing a tentacle,
aren’t resolved within five rounds, the ship goes
down, the kraken devours the crew, and the Storm
Knights are left to their fates.
While that’s going on, the beast attacks the heroes
with its other four tentacles! Only one character
may try to complete the current Step as usual, but
anyone can attack the monster itself. If it takes three
Wounds or is KOed, it retreats under the waves
and won’t hassle any other vessels for a long time.
KRAKEN
This kraken is huge, but not mythical in size—only
about 15 meters long. It’s learned to capsize small
ships and then feast on the sailors as they swim for
safety. The creature’s thick shell isn’t applied to
its statistics, since most attacks are directed at its
tentacles or flesh. Its face and body usually remain
submerged during an attack, so attacks against the
creature itself suffer a –2 penalty from atop a ship.
22
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 8, Mind 5(A),
Spirit 10, Strength 16
Skills: Dodge 10, find 8, maneuver (12), stealth 10,
trick (10), unarmed combat 13
Move: —; Tough: 16; Shock: 14; Wounds: 4
Equipment: —
Perks: —
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Bite: Damage Strength +2 (18), only against
Restrained targets.
• Fear: Kraken are nightmares of the sea. When
a massive tentacle first snakes up onto deck test
willpower or Spirit or become Very Stymied.
• Mindless: Kraken are immune to intimidation
and taunt interactions.
• Tentacles: The creature’s lashing tentacles
may target up to four foes, up to eight meters
away without suffering Multi-Target penalties.
Tentacles default to a grappling attack, so a
Standard hit deals Strength −2 damage (14), a
Good hit deals the full 16 damage and Restrains
a foe, and an Outstanding hit also Stymies the
target. A kraken may Multi-Action to use both
its Bite and its Tentacles in the same round.
• Swim: Speed 10 in water.
• Very Large: Attacks against the kraken gain a
+4 bonus. Targeting tentacles with a Called Shot
has no bonus or penalty, and a Wound reduces
the number of tentacle attacks the creature may
make.
ENTERING PORT
There are hundreds of longships docked in Oslo.
The Wanderer isn’t hassled by patrols, and is
allowed to anchor without incident. If the Storm
Knights don’t mention they’re attending the Thing,
Captain Dan is sure to mention it—his crew looks
Viking enough, but he isn’t taking any chances.
If the Wanderer was destroyed by the kraken, a
longship picks up the surviving heroes. They’re
taken prisoner unless someone thinks to mention
that they’re representatives for the Thing, after
which the captain grumbles and offers to take them
back to the port for the proceedings.
 SCENE TWO: COLD
SHOULDER
Standard Scene. Aysle Pure Zone. Even from
the water, the mighty Strumsted fortress is
visible, arching into the sky like Uthorion’s Dark
Fortress in Liverpool. Oslo stretches out around
the fortress, with halls, homes, and smoke from
hearths throughout the valley. The entire city is
transformed—the Vikings made short work of the
many hardpoints from the old city. The population
has also largely transformed and adapted by this
point.
At the docks the Storm Knights are met by a
heavily armed group of berserkers, who gruffly
ask the intruders’ business. They grudgingly admit
that all are welcome in Oslo—for the moment—
because of the Thing, but warn that violence at a
Thing is forbidden. He who strikes a blow shall be
killed, and their clan must transport the remains to
Kjollen where the dishonored dead are taken.
The crew of the ship elect to remain behind and
keep the ship ready to sail at a moment’s notice. If
asked any questions about Oslo or the Thing, the
dock guards jeer that they’re warriors. If anyone
wants to try to split hairs on what counts as
violence—fists, blades, magic—they just grin and
taunt the heroes to try something and find out.
For lodging, the visitors may stay on their boat—
assuming they still have one—or stay in the city
itself. A hall has been set aside for emissaries, and
if they end up staying at it, Naddodd (see page
32) the frost giant is camped outside as well.
The main focus of the Thing is a square near the
gates of the Strumsted. Each clan gathers there as
speakers take to a mound to make arguments and
attempt to sway the crowd. Up until now the Thing
has focused on territorial boundaries and resolving
some long-standing squabbles between the clans,
major and minor, but as the Thing nears its end
there are three major topics left to address the next
day, all of them relevant to the Storm Knights:
• Most of the clans have requested that Thorfinn
rescind his order that dead who aren’t slain in
battle be buried in the dangerous lands to the
north.
FIGHTING AT THE
THING
Any attack, including perceived witchcraft,
brings the combined might of the thousands of
Vikings present—including Uthorion—down
upon the heroes. If there’s only one offender,
they are executed on the spot by Judges of the
Thing after a short “trial,” but a dead hero
does at least offer the disgraced group an
opportunity to go north into Kjollen without
further trouble. If the whole group fights, they
must flee or their adventure ends here. The
ritual can proceed—with difficulty—without
the acorn, or they could try another way.
Breaking the peace of the Thing also counts as
a stain on the Delphi Council’s reputation with
the Vikings and puts an end to the desire of
any clan to support them over Bjanni.
Before a hero rolls an attack, remind them
of the potential consequences, and allow one
last chance to stop. Likewise, the Vikings
themselves are on edge and frustrated. The
right taunt gets a Viking to strike—and he’s
dealt with swiftly and harshly as above. In
most circumstances even a Player’s Call won’t
get a Viking to attack. Instead he stalks away in
a rage and plots future revenge.
• Some clans have considered breaking away
from Thorfinn and going it alone or joining the
Delphi Council instead.
• Finally, the acorn that fell from the sky. All
the Vikings seem to agree it’s from Yggdrasil
and note the gloom storms that plague Kjollen
have moved southward—but don’t touch the
valley where the object fell.
THE LOUDEST VOICES
While navigating the Thing, certain leaders stand
out from the crowd.
23
 THORFINN BJANNI
Angar Uthorion himself is present at the Thing,
watching over his clan and making sure he doesn’t
lose popular support among the Vikings. He
speaks little, and laughs off any charge of being
Uthorion, with the statement that it’s not so bad
to be accused of being the man in charge of this
glorious raid which has brought so much wealth
to his people. If something unexpected occurs and
Uthorion’s combat statistics are required, see the
Aysle Sourcebook.
TROFASTR BJANNI
Bastard son to Thorfinn, Trofastr leads the clan
while his “father” is away at the Dread Covenant
in Great Britain. He’s ambitious—perhaps too
ambitious—but ultimately loyal to the creature he
believes is his father. See page 32.
THE JUDGES
Judges of the Thing are drawn from across the
clans, and are usually skalds. Judges usually are
seen but not heard, unless the sacred rules of the
Thing are violated in some way. They call out
for people to speak at the mound and adjudicate
executions should violence break out. They remain
silent unless enacting their official duties.
NADDODD
The emissary of the Storm Giants. He came hoping
to secure the release of the Chained Ones—
frost giant thralls of the Bjanni clan, used in the
Strumsted fortress and in sieges. The Bjannis
weren’t interested in any hostage exchange, so
now he’s seeking other means, including getting
the acorn and trading it to the Vikings, in exchange
for freeing some of the giants. He’s a glum creature,
always quick to point out someone’s mistakes or
assume the worst possible result of anything is
what will happen. See page 32.
INGARTA SJODREKKA
The charismatic leader of the Sea Dragon clan,
Ingarta is chaffing under Bjanni’s leadership, and
regrets taking her people over the maelstrom
bridge on this endless raid. Trofastr has attempted
to broker a secret alliance with her during this
Thing, which is technically against the rules as all
dealings must be publicly addressed at the mound.
She hasn’t agreed but hasn’t brought the matter to
24
the Judges’ attention either. She’s most interested
in ending the practice of burying dead in Kjollen.
See page 32.
HEKKR “MAUL-HAND” STURLOUDIR
Maul-Hand doesn’t have much to say, but he says
it at the top of his lungs at all times. As leader of
his clan, his main concern is the spreading gloom
storms, since there’s nothing there for men to fight.
They simply lay down and die in the darkness,
losing any chance at an honorable death. He desires
the acorn, believing it can protect his people from
such a fate. See page 32.
A NIGHT OF REVELS
Beginning in the evening, the Vikings drink, sing,
and boast of their victories. The Storm Knights may
join in the festivities or sit them out, as desired.
Naddodd the giant has no place in tables or around
the fires, and so he sits in the courtyard by the long
house, grumbling to himself and anyone who
listens about the plight of the chained giants.
Boasting is a test of persuasion, and is akin to
spreading tales of Glory. Anyone with the Story
Teller Perk is Favored for the test. A success gains
acceptance from the Vikings, and prompts a
rebuttal of a tale of defeating a Core Earth warship
under cover of a magical fog. A Good result marks
the Storm Knight as the clear victor, and earns some
respect around the city, along with a Possibility. An
Outstanding result gives the Vikings serious pause
to consider the power and abilities of the Delphi
Council. Persuasion tests are Favored for the rest of
the Thing.
Those partaking in drink must make a Strength or
Mind test (player’s choice) to moderate or tolerate
the consumption of alcohol. Failure leaves the hero
Stymied all morning the next day.
MEETING AT THE MOUND
The next morning everyone gathers, and the Judges
announce the next topic of the Thing: burial of the
dead. Currently those who fall in battle have the
right to a pyre or to be left on the battlefield. The
rest are to be taken to Kjollen, the Graves to the
north. This places a heavy burden on the village
young, elderly, and farmers.
 It is Thorfinn himself who puts the matter to rest
immediately.
“The edicts of the Dead don’t just come from Angar
Uthorion, Lord of the Lower Dark. They come from
the gods. The same vision that told me of the Great
Raid, and the torrential bridges that brought our
ships here to this land of gold and plenty, also spoke
to me of death here. Our strength in battle is from our
warriors. They not only go to the glorious afterlife, but
for each who falls, two of our foes in this world become
enlightened and transform to embrace our ways. We
have all seen this happen!
“But for every one of us who falls to sickness or
age, our enemies grow stronger instead. The gods
themselves shun these souls, and the only way they
may be redeemed is through Kjollen. There is no debate
to be had here, only the hard path of ice and courage,
and the weak path of death and defeat. I welcome any
who would walk the other path say so now and leave
our alliance.”
No Vikings have a reply to this, and the Judges
quickly poll the clan leaders for any who wish to
break with the clans. None do.
INGARTA AND MAUL-HAND
Next, the Judges call for the Delphi Council envoys
to take the mound and make their case to any clans
who wish to join them. This may feel like a surprise
to the characters, and that’s how the clans prefer it.
They intently listen to any facts the Storm Knights
wish to present, and then the questions begin:
What portion of the spoils and thralls taken during
raids does the Delphi Council keep?
As allies, how does the Delphi Council intend to
keep the clan from falling to other Vikings?
Can they offer treasure or magic as an incentive to
join? Perhaps a map to other areas to raid?
What does the Delphi Council intend to do about
the frost giant menace? (Naddodd is particularly
interested in the answer to this question.)
After answers are given, the heroes may make a
single, Nearly Impossible (DN 20) persuasion test
to sway the crowd. On a success, Ingarta declares
that the Sea Dragons shall leave the alliance and
test the Storm Knights’ claims. The rest of the clans
discuss silently and intently, but no others are near
to switching sides.
25
 THE ACORN MATTER
Finally the Judges call out to address reports that
an Acorn of Yggdrasil has fallen near Kjollen, and
to discuss what the portents mean and which clan
should possess this boon. Thorfinn again speaks,
and ends the debate as swiftly as he ends most
duels.
“The Norns gifted me with visions of this event too.
The rumors are true, the object that fell is a seed of
Yggdrasil itself. It fell in the Hallingdal valley, and
no gloom ice may overtake the valley in which it takes
root.
“Such a treasure is a gift from the gods, and so it’s
fate must not be decided by squabbles and favors. It
must be decided by valor. I propose any clan who
wishes to claim it, come forward now and let the race
for it begin!”
All the clans readily agree, and several contenders
step forward: Trofastr for Bjanni, Ingarta for the
Sea Dragons, Maul-Hand for the Sturloudirs,
Naddodd for the giants, and of course the Storm
Knights, unless they mean to pursue the prize
by clandestine means. All but Naddodd are
accompanied by five to ten of their best warriors.
Thorfinn notes with a wicked smile that the Thing
remains in effect until the victor returns—but the
no violence rule only applies within Oslo. What
happens elsewhere is beyond the sway of the
Judges. With that the clans all beat their shields
and roar, and the race is on!
SCENE THREE: SECOND
PLACE IS THE FIRST
LOSER
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. Each
group takes a conspicuously different route out
of Oslo, towards the mountains and valleys to
the north. Acquiring a map of the region, or just
following roads to Hallingdal, is simple enough
and doesn’t require a test. It’s chilly inside Oslo
valley, but once into the mountains, it becomes
actively cold. Characters who don’t already have
supplies and cold-weather gear can either make a
Very Easy (DN 6) persuasion test to acquire what’s
26
needed along the way or a Standard Strength test to
tough it out. Failure results in Fatigue.
This race isn’t done as a Chase, but as a series of
three decisions. For each one the group can choose
the Fast option or the Slower option. Choosing all
the Fast options wins the race, otherwise someone
else reaches the valley first. The heroes don’t know
the exact mechanics of this, but impress upon them
that each decision is either gaining them time or
losing it.
If one of the heroes is extremely fast—the flight
Pulp Power for example—they might go on ahead,
essentially taking the Fast option on all three
encounters. It takes long enough to find the acorn
itself that whoever is next on the scene arrives as
it’s discovered. Hopefully the first group on the
scene is the rest of the heroes!
DIRTY POOL
The northern mountains are covered in thick
blankets of snow but aren’t especially difficult to
cross. The most efficient route the characters can
devise follows a high mountain pass, and offers a
surprising opportunity: one of the other groups is
ahead of them, but below, and the conditions on this
face of the mountain are prime for an avalanche.
It wouldn’t take much, a large shoved rock, a burst
of gunfire, or a spell, and half the snow on the peak
would tumble down onto the other group. Such an
avalanche could conceivably kill the Vikings, but is
certain to cut them off and slow them down. A find
test (Easy DN 8 if the group has binoculars, scopes,
or something similar) identifies the competitors as
Ingarta Sjodrekka and her Sea Dragons.
• Fast: Start the avalanche. Ingarta arrives in
Hallingdal for the showdown, but she’s alone.
She has no idea the Delphi Council caused the
avalanche unless they admit it, but she suspects
them if they used gunfire to trigger it.
• Slower: Let the opportunity pass. Honorable,
but Ingarta and her team have a good head
start, thanks to their shortcut.
NO GOOD DEED
Another dilemma faces the Storm Knights along
the way. There are fresh tracks in the snow—
too many to miss, so no test is required. There
are streaks of blood and chips of bone along the
tracks, indicating it’s a force of at least a dozen
undead, probably gospog. A standard tracking test
determines there are 24 of the creatures total. A
Good Success or better identifies them as draughrs
rather than gospog.
The village of Gol is just off the Storm Knight’s
route and directly along the path of the tracks.
Even without a map, distant smoke from chimneys
alerts the team there’s a settlement that way.
• Fast: The Storm Knights don’t need to engage
at all, and can continue on their primary
mission. The village might be fine.
• Slower: The team diverts to pursue the
monsters and protect Gol. This takes valuable
time, even if the combat is
resolved quickly. They catch
up just as the undead are
arriving at Gol. The creatures
intend to slay one person each
and then drag the bodies North for
their own purposes. The village is
grateful for any intervention, and
offer warm coats for any who don’t
have one, but they don’t have
anything that speeds the heroes
on their way.
• Draugr (24): See page 31.
DARK TIMES
It’s growing dark as the team closes
in on the valley, and storms brew
overhead. Here, closer to Kjollen, the
roiling clouds produce softly falling
snow, and the colors of the landscape
begin to fade into a dull gray. This
is a Gloom Storm. The heroes have
likely heard of this phenomenon,
but even if they haven’t, they feel
a creeping despair and dread
as the snow falls, and every
instinct in their body tells them
to seek shelter.
On the bright side, shelter is
readily available. If they
helped Gol, the village is
happy to retreat indoors and serve warm drinks
and sing cheerful songs as the storm rages. Even
farther down the road cabins and small villages dot
the land, and no one turns away strangers when
the Gloom is falling.
• Fast: The heroes risk the storm and press on
through the snow. Treat this as a four hour
Gloom Storm. Each hour, a character must
test survival (based on Spirit rather than Mind)
or lose 1 Possibility. If a character has no
Possibilities the storm deals 1 Wound, which
can’t be recovered by any means other than
natural healing. The group may seek shelter
after any hour, but that means going slower.
• Slower: The group remains indoors by a fire
as the storm passes. It’s dark by the time the
storm is done, but the return of
color shows the danger has passed.
The only evidence of of the storm is
a few gray, utterly still birds, perched
in trees where they perished.
AND THE WINNER IS...
If the heroes took the Fast option in
all three encounters, they arrive
in the valley first. Of the others,
Ingarta arrives first, then Maul-
Hand, and finally Naddodd.
Trofastr never intended to head
for the site—he’s waiting back in
Oslo to take the acorn from the
winner.
If the group took one Slower
option, Ingarta is first on scene to
claim the prize. With two Slower
options Maul-Hand and Ingarta are
battling over the spoils when the
heroes arrive. If all three Slower
options, Naddodd is on his way
back to Oslo to use the acorn
as ransom.
Whatever the order
of arrival, the struggle
to get and keep the
paragon item occurs
as a separate scene.
27
 SCENE FOUR:
POSSESSION IS NINE
TENTHS
Dramatic Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. The valley
of Hallingdal is relatively warm, similar to Oslo.
No snow clings to the ground. The grass is green
and lush, and the trees look much healthier than
those that have weathered Gloom Storms. Clear
rivers and lakes run through the forested valley,
and mundane wildlife is abundant here.
It takes time for the first person on the scene to
locate the acorn. It’s nightfall by the time the first
people arrive, and seeking it at night isn’t possible.
The true object is at the center of a ring of good
weather and bountiful life, so a flying character or
a swift tracker can narrow down its location very
quickly. There’s a small crater where it landed, and
it takes time to dig through the disturbed dirt to
where the acorn is embedded.
There are plenty of acorns in the valley, but the
correct one has an unmistakable magical aura. Still,
another acorn might be substituted temporarily for
the real one with persuasion or alteration contesting
the opponent’s find. Divination automatically sees
through the ruse unless alteration is used.
THE SEA DRAGON CASE
The first person to reach the acorn has the legitimate
claim, either the Delphi Council or Ingarta. Ingarta
is alone. The rest of her team were either killed in an
avalanche or fell to the Gloom Storm. If she arrives
first she’s wary of the heroes, and argues that she
won the acorn fairly, and if the Delphi Council is
honorable they’ll respect her claim and let the Sea
Dragons retain custody.
If she’s the second to arrive she acknowledges
that the Delphi Council won, but beseeches them
to give the acorn to her clan. With it they can bury
their dead as Bjanni demands without fearing the
Gloom Storms and other dangers of Kjollen.
Whichever side has the advantage, make the heroes
justify their insistence to keep the acorn. They don’t
know it yet, but if they choose to let her have it, it’s
possible for the ritual to go forward, but it’ll cost a
life instead—either Wyrwind’s or possibly one of
28
the Storm Knights’! Savvy negotiators may offer to
give Ingarta the acorn after the ritual is complete—
if the ritual doesn’t destroy all the components. (It
does.) A character with any magic skill can hazard a
guess with a Near Impossible (DN 20) test to guess
the price of substitution, or whether the acorn may
survive the ritual.
MAUL THEM ALL
Once negotiations with Ingarta conclude (or
break down) coarse laughter heralds the arrival of
Maul-Hand Sturloudir and his team of berserkers.
Sturloudir has been itching for a fight for weeks
thanks to the Thing, and he’s not about to pass up
a chance to slake his thirst for blood. The acorn is a
bonus, but no offer to give it up is tempting to him,
it just encourages him to attack even faster.
If the heroes are the third to arrive on the scene
Maul-Hand is attacking Ingarta as his men cheer
him on. She’s alive and fighting—barely—but falls
quickly if the Delphi Council doesn’t intercede.
Even once they do, she’s too hurt (2 Wounds) to
join the battle unless the Storm Knights attack her
or try to steal the acorn for her, in which case she
joins the Sturloudirs against a common foe!
There’s no surprise attack here unless the group
approach with stealth. The berserkers are enjoying
the match, but not to the exclusion of doing their
duty and keeping watch for the other participants.
• Ingarta Sjodrekka: see page 32.
• Maul-Hand Sturloudir: see page 32.
• Sturloudir Berserkers (2 per Storm Knight):
see Berserkers on page 31.
A BIG PROBLEM
The ground shakes as Naddodd the giant finally
arrives. He’s twice as tall now as the when the
group last saw him. Some giants, the reality-rated
type, can change size and grow larger when they’re
ready to fight. Naddodd definitely looks ready for
a fight.
The exact timing of his arrival is up to circumstances
and the GM. A Setback for either side could
bring the giant lumbering into the battle with the
Sturloudirs, and he strikes first at whichever side
drew the Setback. Afterward he attacks one Storm
Knight and one berserker each round unless one
side or the other becomes a clear threat to him.
If all the Sturloudirs have fallen it’s possible to
negotiate with Nadodd. He wants the acorn just as
Ingarta does, but he only wants it so he can ransom
it for the release of several Chained-One giants
enslaved at the Bjanni fortress. Unfortunately, that
would put the item in Bjanni hands, where it’s
unlikely the Storm Knights cold ever recover it.
Unlike Ingarta, he’s confident he can win a fight
with all the tiny creatures here and uses threats
as his primary point of negotiation. “Just give
me the bauble or I’ll stomp you all into paste and
then spread you on my bread!” Without a Near
Impossible (DN 20) persuasion test backed up by
a good idea or a Near Impossible intimidation test
to convince the giant he doesn’t have quite the
advantages he thinks he does, things turn violent
again.
If the Storm Knights took all three Slower options
they’re last to the scene, and Naddodd has the
acorn in his possession. Ingarta’s broken body lies
by the crater. She’s still alive, barely. Maul-Hand
and his men are in hiding, hoping to ambush the
giant on the return trip. If challenged about Ingarta,
Naddodd just shrugs, and answers any inquiry
about the acorn with “None of your stinking
business!”
• Naddodd: see page 32.
THE FALLEN
Ingarta and Maul-Hand are both important
figures to the Viking Clans, and Naddodd, though
belligerent, is a moderating voice for the frost
giants. Some or all of them are likely to fall in battle
here, and it’s up to the heroes if they’re taking steps
to keep any of them alive.
If Ingarta or Maul-Hand are defeated but revived,
they expect to be ransomed back to their clans
by the Delphi Council for gold—in fact they’re
disappointed, bordering on insulted, if that isn’t
the heroes’ plan. If released, each owes the group
a favor. If the Storm Knights are ever defeated by
Vikings, the fallen character should reappear and
set them free, declaring things even. If simply
left alive, the valley is pleasant enough that they
recover and eventually make their way back to
their clans.
Naddodd’s people have no tradition of taking
hostages or paying “the man price” for someone,
but he tersely grunts his gratitude if revived. He
makes one final plea for the acorn, in hopes of
freeing his fellow giants, but doesn’t press the
matter if refused.
None of the vanquished attempt to bother the
group again, and they don’t return to Oslo,
preferring to skulk back to their clans without
making a spectacle in front o f the Bjanni. One thing
they all agree on: Trofastr is neither honorable nor
trustworthy, and the Storm Knights should expect
an ambush of some kind at their ship the moment
the Thing is over.
SCENE FIVE: CLEAR
SAILING
Standard Scene: Aysle Pure Zone. The trip back to
Oslo is uneventful—assuming the Storm Knights
go back. Their ship is waiting for them, but it’s
possible to divert to another port and try to hire
someone or cross to Sweden and then into Core
Earth Europe without a ship at all. Such a journey
takes time but avoids potential ambushes and gains
an airdrop from Germany to their next destination.
Most likely, however, they return to gather
any of their remaining belongings and the crew
of whatever ship they arrived with. Oslo is no
longer quite as busy. The Thing isn’t officially
over, but the smaller clans have left or are in the
process of leaving. The Bjannis remain since this
is their territory, along with the Sea Dragons and
Sturloudirs, waiting for their victorious champions
to return. Thorfinn Bjanni is no longer in the city—
the business of the Dread Covenant awaited him,
and there was no more pressing business for him
at the Thing.
INGARTA VICTORIOUS
If Ingarta holds the acorn, a feast is organized, and
she’s heaped with praise. Trofastr makes no move
against her while her clan is present, but he’ll take
his ire out on the more vulnerable Storm Knights
29
 before they leave—see Bon Voyage, below. The Sea
Dragons aren’t close enough to help with that fight
directly, but spread word of Trofastr’s treachery to
the other clans, sending more Vikings to the Delphi
Council’s side.
Ingarta doesn’t return without the acorn. Her
clan appreciates it if the heroes inform them of
her condition and whereabouts—unless they were
responsible for her death and defeat.
NADDODD VICTORIOUS
Things are a little trickier if Naddodd has the acorn.
He’s a good diplomat for a frost giant, which is
to say he’s a terrible diplomat. He demands the
release of all the Chained Ones in exchange for the
acorn. Trofastr offers one giant’s freedom instead—
Naddodd’s choice. He hopes to goad Naddodd
into violence, and then the whole Bjanni clan can
fall upon him and take the acorn as spoils. That
plan works unless the Storm Knights intercede in
some way. Persuasion on the giant forces Trofastr
to trade five Chained Ones for the acorn, 10 on a
Good Success and 15 on an Outstanding Success.
Neither side is particularly happy about the deal,
but they each grudgingly agree. Naddodd is
quietly grateful. Trofastr swears revenge for the
intrusion into Viking politics—and takes it in Bon
Voyage, below.
Without the acorn Naddodd doesn’t return to
Oslo at all, and trudges north to rejoin his people
if he survives.
HAVE FUN STORMING THE CASTLE
A deal between the giants and Trofastr leaves the
acorn with the Bjannis, which the heroes may then
wish to liberate. It’s held inside the Strumsted:
part maelstrom bridge, part fortress. It has sheer
walls, magical defenses, and countless Viking
guards. Penetrating the fort to gain the treasure is
a Dramatic Skill Resolution. Three of the steps are
Near Impossible (DN 20) stealth tests. Step C is a
Near Impossible (DN 20) find test instead.
Invisibility grants a +6 bonus on stealth steps. Other
preparations such as wall crawling spells or items
grant a +2 bonus. The steps are minutes apart, so the
spells only apply if the caster goes inside. Likewise,
pathfinder or similar divination spells grant a +6
30
bonus on the find step. A connection or other means
of inside information grants +2 bonus. Extra people
can come along to assist or take different steps, but
each extra person is a cumulative –2 penalty to all
steps. If the job isn’t finished within five rounds the
intruder is caught and never seen again. Thieves
beware!
BON VOYAGE
Whether victorious or not, it’s in the Storm Knights’
best interest to get out of Oslo as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, no matter how quickly they move
there’s one obstacle in their way: Trofastr Bjanni.
He and his men are loitering on the docks in front
of the heroes’ ship, weapons at the ready. There are
Judges looking on, but any appeal to them or to the
truce is met with a sneer from Trofastr:
“You heard my father. The Thing ended once the
victor returned. Now die!”
On the bright side, the docks are mostly populated
by other Viking clans right now. None are swayed
to help the Delphi Council, but neither are they
interested in aiding Bjanni. The heroes can escape
on their ship after a Chase against a fully crewed
Longship led by Trofastr with statistics similar to
the Wanderer’s (see page 21), or fight where they
are on the docks. If they win, no Vikings attempt
pursuit.
• Bjanni Berserkers (2 per Storm Knight): see
Berserkers on page 31.
• Stalkers (varies): If this is the first treasure
sought, the Uthorion’s Stalkers don’t appear.
If it’s the second or third, one Stalker and
two Howlers per Storm Knight arrive to aid
Trofastr. If it’s the fourth item, any surviving
named Stalkers join the battle as well.
• Trofastr Bjanni: see Berserkers on page 32.
 Naddodd, Maul-hand, and Ingarta all have a claim, do the StormKnights try to ally with one of them?
AFTERMATH
With or without the acorn, the Thing is over, and
its suicide to stay in Viking controlled territory any
longer. A ship can travel directly to London from
here, or back around to the Isle of Man or Dublin as
needed. If Trofastr survives the confrontation, he
loses favor with Uthorion, and totally blames the
Storm Knights for his shortcomings.
THREATS
VIKING BERSERKER
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 9, Mind 7, Spirit
8, Strength 10
Skills: Dodge 10, intimidation 13, maneuver 10,
melee weapons 12, stealth 10, survival 8, taunt
(11), unarmed combat 10, water vehicles 11
Move: 9; Tough: 11 (1); Shock: —; Wounds: 1
Equipment: Animal hide (Armor +1), great axe
(Strength +4/14, stymies on a hit).
Perks: Smasher, Vengeful
Possibilities: Rare (2)
Special Abilities:
• Berserker: These warriors ignore Shock.
DRAUGR
Attributes: Charisma 4, Dexterity 8, Mind 4, Spirit
8, Strength 12
Skills: Dodge 9, find 6, maneuver 9, melee
weapons 11, missile weapons 10, stealth 9, trick
(7), unarmed combat 9 water vehicles 9
Move: 8; Tough: 14 (2); Shock: —; Wounds: —
Equipment: Battle axe (Damage Strength +3/15),
medium shield (+2 defense bonus), chainmail
(Armor +2)
Perks: —
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Bite/Claws: Damage Strength +2 (14).
• Fear: These eerie creatures cause instinctive
fear. Test willpower or Spirit or become Very
Stymied.
31
 • Mindless: Draugr are immune to intimidation
and taunt interactions.
• Relentless: Draugr ignore Shock.
• Undead: Draugr are immune to poison and
other effects that require breathing, eating, or
other “living” processes.
INGARTA SJODREKKA
Attributes: Charisma 8, Dexterity 10, Mind 8,
Spirit 12, Strength 12
Skills: Dodge 15, intimidation 17, maneuver 14,
melee weapons 18, missile weapons 15, reality
14, stealth 12, taunt `13, trick 13, unarmed combat
13, water vehicles 15
Move: 10; Tough: 16 (2); Shock: 14; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Chainmail (Armor +2, Torso),
longsword (Damage Strength +3/15), medium
shield (Defense and Toughness +2)
Perks: Endurance, Shield Mastery, Vengeful,
Whirlwind
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities:
• Gloater: When taunt or intimidation are
Approved Actions, the skald may affect the
entire party without a Multi-Target penalty.
Affected heroes lose a random card from their
hand.
MAUL-HAND STURLOUDIR
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 10, Mind 8,
Spirit 12, Strength 13
Skills: Dodge 15, intimidation 18, maneuver 13,
melee weapons 18, missile weapons 15, stealth
12, reality 13, taunt `13, trick 13, unarmed combat
13, water vehicles 15
Move: 10; Tough: 15 (2); Shock: 14; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Chainmail (Armor +2, Torso), maul
hand (Damage Strength +3/16, melee weapon)
Perks: Endurance, Relentless, Vengeful, Whirlwind
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities:
• Battle Leader: Allied Vikings within 10 meters
of Maul-Hand are spurred to extra exertion,
and deal +1 damage with any Strength based
weapon.
• Minions: Maul-Hand may transfer any hit to
a lackey within a few meters if he succeeds at a
reality test.
32
NADDODD
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 8, Mind 7, Spirit
10, Strength 22
Skills: Dodge 10, intimidation 20, find 8, melee
weapons 16, reality 12, taunt 11, trick 10, unarmed
combat 12
Move: 10; Tough: 25 (3); Shock: 16; Wounds: 4
Equipment: Giant armor (Armor +3, Torso and
Legs), giant maul (Strength +5/27, Small Blast)
Perks: Berserk, Endurance, Relentless
Possibilities: 5
Special Abilities:
• Dread: When this creature is present, any
Standard Scene immediately becomes a
Dramatic Scene instead.
• Immunity: Frost giants are immune to the
effects of cold weather and attacks based on
freezing.
• Very Large: Naddodd usually stands 8 meters
tall, but when in battle he grows to nearly
20 meters tall! Anywhere within that range,
attacks against him gain a +4 bonus.
TROFASTR BJANNI
Attributes: Charisma 9, Dexterity 10, Mind 8,
Spirit 12, Strength 11
Skills: Dodge 15, intimidation 17, maneuver 15,
melee weapons 18, missile weapons 15, stealth
12, reality 15, taunt `15, trick 15, unarmed combat
13, water vehicles 15
Move: 10; Tough: 13 (2); Shock: 14; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Chainmail (Armor +2, Torso),
longsword (Damage Strength +3/14), medium
shield (Defense +2)
Perks: Endurance, Vengeful
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities:
• Gloater: When taunt or intimidation are
Approved Actions, the skald may affect the
entire party without a Multi-Target penalty.
Affected heroes lose a random card from their
hand.
• Minions: The chief may transfer any hit to a
lackey within a few meters if he succeeds at a
reality test.
 BATTLES AT SEA

The Storm Knights may spend a significant amount of time on boats in Revenge of the Carredon,
and there are both expected and potential encounters between ships that may occur. Here are a
few tips and tricks for naval combat in Torg Eternity.
The first factor is which ship spots the other first. This is a contest of find between the lookouts of
each vessel. The winner may choose to start at Step A (see below), Step B if victorious by a Good
margin, or Step C with an Outstanding win. Others may assist the designated lookout, but must
test to help out and suffer a –4 penalty without the height afforded by the lookout’s perch.
Ships maneuver using the Chase Rules. Assume each Step is a difference of 200 meters for ranged
attacks. So if one ship was just starting (no Steps complete) and another had completed Step B
that’s a difference of two steps or 400 meters. Two ships on the same step are only 50 meters
apart. The DN for gaining a step is the Speed Value of the fastest ship, as usual. The captain
usually makes the water vehicles test, but a helmsman may roll instead and any crew who can help
by rigging the sails or any other means may assist normally. Remember if a Step doesn’t appear
performing the current Step counts as an Approved Action for cards!
A ship that’s ahead on Steps may fire all its weapons at opponents on lower steps, even though
they may be mounted on opposite sides. Rounds in the battle are long enough for the craft and
bring both sides to bear at different times from its superior position. Ships on equal or lower
Steps may only fire with half their weapons, rounding always up. Reload time counts normally,
even though the rounds in a battle may be longer than 10 seconds.
When a ship completes Step D it has a choice: it may escape from any pursuit or use its position
to cut the distance and ram and/or board another ship. Once a boarding action starts it’s resolved
as a combat encounter between the two crews. Other ships don’t participate unless a Setback
brings reinforcements to one side or the other.
There’s no maximum number of turns in this kind of chase, and one extra option if a ship wants
to close range but not board: a ship may test to gain any lower Step that appears on the Drama
card, not just the next Step up. Thus a ship that completed Step C may choose to drop down to
Step A to brings cannons into range if A appears on the card—or wait to complete Step D and
start a boarding action.
Dilemmas still apply, and represent damage from distant shots or accidents during the
furious pace of combat. A Critical Problem could represent terrible wind direction or becoming
temporarily entangled in a magical Sargasso Sea, a Complication could mean damaged sails or a
strong current, a Potential Setback could be a whirlpool or a brewing storm, and so on.
If the craft doesn’t have the minimum crew needed its water vehicles test suffers a –4 penalty.
Storm Knights with water vehicles may count towards crew. Those without may test (DN 10) to
count as crew each round. Crew beyond the minimum don’t grant bonuses to Combined Actions,
but Storm Knights who participate do.

33
 T
he heroes must travel to Ireland (also now
called Elfame) to ask the Fae Court for
the scroll from Wyrwind’s divination. It’s
supposed to be in the possession of the Fae Court,
but a powerful, evil hag named Jinny Greenteeth

FORBIDDEN ISLE
has possession instead. To convince her to divulge
the true name, the party must perform a dangerous
task for her, and along the way they introduce a new
wrinkle to the relationship between two High Lords.

OVERVIEW
ACT THREE:
Scene One: Arriving in Dublin, the Storm Knights
seek out the scroll in the Fae Court, but it’s no
longer there. They must seek out Jinny Greenteeth
to see if she has it.
Scene Two: The Storm Knights arrive in Killarney
to find the town besieged by enraged elves.
Scene Three: Before the Storm Knights can leave
Killarney, they must defuse the tense standoff and
get to the bottom of the conflict.
Scene Four: The Storm Knights brave Jinny
Greenteeth’s terrifying swamp. When they at last
meet Jinny, she promises the information they seek
in exchange for a favor: She wants them to uproot
a nearby Nightmare Tree.
Scene Five: As they prepare to attack the tree,
the Storm Knights encounter Uthorion’s Stalkers
—who offer a surprising call for a partnership to
defeat the Nightmare Tree’s evil.

SCENE ONE: HOUSE OF

LEAVES
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. Following
Wyrwind’s guidance, the search for the Carredon’s
true name takes the Storm Knights to Elfame,
where such knowledge is held in the Scriptorium
at Armlainne, the residence of Marquess Ellefaine.
The contingent of High Elves, though they put on
a united front when dealing with other folk, are
suffering a split within their ranks. The half-siblings
Ellefaine and Uryafaine battle constantly over the
best way to deal with the natives of Core Earth.
Where Ellefaine believes it is the responsibility
of the elves to assist against Uthorion, Uryafaine

34
 Mage-Killers go after mages first, as their name implies!.
is more concerned about the welfare of the High
Elves and holds no love for other folk.
Marquess Ellefaine has taken up residency in
an old fort in Phoenix Park, just west of Dublin,
reshaped by elven hands and Ayslish axioms into
an amazing palace of strength and beauty she has
dubbed “Armlainne,” from the old Irish name.
There the heroes must seek out the Carredon’s
true name – but getting into the court is the first
challenge. Read or paraphrase the following:
Dublin is a massive city of wooden buildings and
narrow streets, the smoke of thousands of cookfires
lingering over the pitched roofs. Outside the city
walls, on a forested hill overlooking the rushing River
Liffey, stands a graceful palace that looks as though
it were constructed of ivory and branching trees. The
old fort’s star-shaped stone walls can still be made
out, undergirding the delicate elven architecture of
the palace above, but nearly swallowed by a bower of
vines and colorful flowers. Surrounding the palace is
a sprawling garden of florid hedges, water fountains,
and willow trees, where tiny faeries flit among the riot
of growth.
Even though Ellefaine is generally more
welcoming than her half-brother, the guards
stop the Storm Knights at the gate. Getting into
Armlainne presents their first challenge.
• A Very Hard (DN 16) persuasion or intimidation
test can convince the guards to let the heroes
pass.
• A Challenging (DN 12) persuasion or
intimidation test sways the driver of a wine
delivery cart to smuggle the heroes through,
which in turn requires a Challenging (DN 12)
stealth test during inspection.
• Sneaking over the walls requires a Hard
(DN 14) Strength test, as well as an opposed
35
 stealth test to avoid the guards patrolling the
perimeter.
• Charm spells or similar magic, miracles, or
psionics can influence the guards long enough
to gain access.
• Having an elven warden in the party permits
them immediate access.
The palace is just as lovely on the inside, with
several elegant buildings separated by gardens. It
isn’t hard to find the great house in which Ellefaine
holds court. Margrave Uryafaine and three of his
knights are already there. He paces, as the two
siblings argue over a separate issue regarding
the Fianna, a group of human rebels growing in
popularity near the city: Uryafaine doesn’t trust
the Fianna and wants them driven from the area,
while Ellefaine believes they could be a valuable
bridge between humans and elves.
When the Storm Knights enter, Uryafaine
demands to know why they “besmirch this
great hall” with their presence, but Ellefaine
defends them, and wants to know what business
brings them to Armlainne. Uryafaine argues
that the heroes should be thrown out, and when
Ellefaine refuses, he takes his contingent and
storms off, claiming the Lady is making a huge
mistake.
Players who enjoy roleplaying may wish to talk
out their encounter with Ellefaine, while others
might wish to keep it brief. Either way, in the end
Ellefaine sees the importance of lending her aid,
and leads them personally to the Archive.
IN THE STACKS
The script library at Armlainne, dedicated to the
god Elmiir, is an astonishing place, rich with lore.
Read or paraphrase the following:
Ellefaine leads you into the Archive, a circular,
ivy-covered tower at the western end of the palace.
Inside, the floor is filled with two concentric rings
of double-sided shelves practically groaning with
untold numbers of books. A complex lattice holding
thousands of scrolls lines the interior wall all the way
to the high eaves, accessible by balconies and rolling
ladders. In the center is platform upon which a simply
massive tome rests on a plinth. A wizard in feathery
36
black robes sits at a nearby work desk, papers spread
out before him.
The moment the heroes enter, Ellefaine’s High
Magister, Asmorn, cries out in astonishment and
leaps to his feet. He throws a divination spell toward
the heroes. To their horror, a transparent human-
shaped figure briefly becomes visible, its eyes
pinpoints of evil red light. It hisses and evaporates.
Ellefaine’s royal guard surround her with swords
drawn. One shouts, “Get Ellefaine out of here,
now!,” but it is too late: Uthorion, aware that his
spy has been discovered and, pleased to see its
location, summons some of his dark servants to
attack the heroes.
With an ear-splitting blast, dimthreads appear
in the room and out pour mage-killers—freakish
demons capable of resisting magic, making them
efficient assassins, especially against spellcasters.
They move quickly to kill anyone and everyone in
the room, focusing their efforts on Asmorn. They
are joined by a barghest, which focuses its efforts
on the heavy tome in the middle of the room first,
blasting it with a jet of fire on the first round.
Asmorn is on the defensive during this fight out of
necessity, only helping against the elemental if the
mage-killers are dispatched.
• Mage-Killers (2 per hero): see page 37.
• Enhanced Barghest: see page 37.
Fire spreads in the library during this fight, leading
to ever-changing environmental conditions.
• Round One: The barghest destroys the tome
and plinth when it arrive via dimthread. If
it acts, it blasts flames at other bookstands
causing another blaze (Small Blast Radius) that
does 8+1BD damage. One Mage-Killer defeats
Asmorn, while the rest set their sights on the
Storm Knights. Ellefaine’s guards escort her
out of the building for safety, though three stay
behind to fight, controlled by the players.
• Round Two: The barghest spends one more
round attacking books, this time selecting part
of the inner ring of bookcases, starting another
Small Blast Radius blaze. The central fire
increases in size to a Medium Blast Radius that
does 10+1BD damage.
• Round Three: The barghest turns its attentions
toward the Storm Knights. Meanwhile, the
 fire spreads quickly among the bookcases, • Altered Magic: A Mage-Killer has some
increasing to a Medium Blast Radius that does Miracles listed among its spells. These count as
10+1BD damage. Gathering smoke creates Dim unique spells and are cast with alteration, but
lighting in the library. otherwise the effects are identical to the miracle
• Round Four: Fire jumps to all the bookcases it’s based on.
in one quarter of the library, and spreads along • Fear: Those who encounter a mage-killer
the sides. That entire section is considered fully must make a willpower or Spirit test or be Very
ablaze and does 16+1BD damage. The smoke Stymied.
now creates Dark lighting in the library. • Immunity: Mage-killers are immune to the
• Rounds Five and Beyond: The flames now direct effects of magic spells, including damage.
fully engulf half the library and are spreading Miracles and psionics affect them normally.
quickly up and around the walls. Anyone still • Mindless: Mage-killers have no sense of self-
in the library takes 8+1BD heat damage, and 2 preservation and fight to the death. They are
Shock per round from smoke inhalation. immune to intimidation, taunt, and the effects of
telepathy and similar spells or miracles.
MAGE-KILLER
ENHANCED BARGHEST
These demonic humanoids have thick
tentacles in place of their limbs that glisten Barghests can be summoned and
with slime. Suckers on the tentacles allow commanded as a fire elemental, and this
them to grasp objects, including one has some extra magic enhancing
surfaces. They have empty it for its mission.
pits instead of eyes, and in Attributes: Charisma 5,
their skull-like heads is an Dexterity 12, Mind 5, Spirit
oversized mouth ringed with 10, Strength 15
fangs. They have a special Skills: Dodge 14, find 7,
axe strapped to one arm. intimidation 11, maneuver
Attributes: Charisma 6, 14, missile weapons 14,
Dexterity 13, Mind 11, stealth 13, taunt (8), trick
Spirit 8, Strength 12 (8), unarmed combat 14
Skills: Alteration Move: 10; Tough: 17 (2);
13, conjuration 13, Shock: 10; Wounds: 1
dodge 15, find 12, Equipment: —
intimidation 10, Perks: —
melee weapons 15, Possibilities: Never
stealth 15, tracking Special Abilities:
14, trick 13 • Armor: Rock or
Move: 13; Tough: 12; chain skin +2.
Shock: 8; Wounds: 1 • Bite/claws:
Equipment: Axe Damage Strength +3 (18)
(Strength +3/15) • Fear: Barghests
Perks: Spellcaster (detect have glowing eyes and
magic, dispel magic, emit a primal growl.
doom*, fear, fire shield*, When first encountered,
haste, mage dark, mage test willpower or Spirit or
hands, pathfinder, stun) become Very Stymied.
Possibilities: Rare (3) • Fire Breath: A
Special Abilities: barghest may suffer 2

37
 Shock to breathe fire on all targets within a
Large Blast radius. It uses the creature’s missile
weapons to hit, deals 16 fire damage, and
affects each target’s lowest Armor value.
• Flame Jet: A stream of fire deals Damage
13, Range 10/20/30, Small Blast. On a Good or
better hit, flammable targets catch fire, doing an
additional 8+1BD per round until extinguished.
• Immunity: This elemental is immune to
attacks based on fire.
• Large: These “dogs” are the size of a small
car. Attackers gain +2 to attack rolls to hit due
to its size and bulk.
• Vulnerability: Attacks based on cold or water
deal an additional 2 Shock to this elemental.
IN THE ASHES
Moments after the foes are defeated, a sorceress
rushes up from another part of the palace and casts
a spell to tamp out the blaze. Any part of the entire
library that caught fire is destroyed, left a soggy,
ashen mess. Heroes with water spells may similarly
stop a blaze during the battle with a successful
casting. Those without magic or special fire-
fighting equipment may knock over a bookshelf
with a Hard (DN 14) Strength test, that partially
smothers some flame and keeps some parchment
out of the inferno.
Uryafaine returns with his guards and immediately
turns this situation into more evidence that humans
represent a threat to all fae. Ellefaine refuses to see
it that way, underscoring how the heroes helped
stop the attack, and ignoring Uryafaine’s pointed
insistence that the attack would have never
happened if the Storm Knights hadn’t been let in.
Unless the heroes step in, this fight boils over to
where Uryafaine storms away, with promises to
take action if Ellefaine won’t.
After some examination, it’s discovered that the
scroll the heroes seek isn’t here. That’s extremely
odd, but Ellefaine has an idea where it may have
disappeared to. Read or paraphrase the following:
Ellefaine looks pensive. “The scroll you’re looking for
isn’t the only item missing from the library. It appears
that Asmorn was dealing with other powers, which
might be why he was so on edge. A lucky thing for us,
if not for him. The one he was most likely dealing with
38
is Jinny Greenteeth. She’s a powerful fae, a dryad—
but seduced by Darkness and as cunning and evil
as they come. She possesses great knowledge in dark
magic and often shares that information with those
who can bargain for it, as I now believe Asmorn was
doing. If anyone has the scroll, or knows where it can
be found, it is her. I hear she dwells near Killarney, but
I know not where. No doubt the locals can guide you
to her. But be wary; she is formidable and suffers not
those who cross her.”
According to elven rules of hospitality, the Storm
Knights are given well-appointed rooms if they
wish to rest before they leave Armlainne. Before
they leave they may requisition supplies and
horses, or anything else they might need.
SCENE TWO: ILL MET IN
KILLARNEY
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. Before the
heroes can seek out Jinny Greenteeth, they’ll need
to get more information from locals in the town of
Killarney, in the low-lying western end of Elfame.
Unfortunately, Killarney is the site of an unfolding
tragedy that has erupted into violence. When the
heroes arrive, they find things near the breaking
point.
Twelve days ago, “Old Gonegal,” a reclusive
widower known to be friendly with fae folk, was
murdered by fellow villager Rory Cullen, who
coveted a magic pot gifted to the old man by the
fae. Seeking retribution, a wicked powrie crept into
town and nearly killed Rory, before being chased
back into the forest. The next day, Rory led several
townsfolk into the forest to slay the powrie, but
failing to find it, took vengeance on some of the
fairies lingering at Old Gonegal’s hut to mourn his
passing. Angered further, the town was attacked
the next night by a host of fae, setting horses free
from their paddocks, spoiling food, and breaking
windows. Naturally, this led half the town to take
up their pitchforks and descend upon the forest,
slaying anything they found—fae, animal, or even
human.
On the sixth day, an enraged tribe of wood elves
from nearby—the Tanyth—came to Killarney to
put an end to the murderous townsfolk. They came
by night, burning and slaying. Soldiers sent by
the nearby Baron McCorran pushed back as well
as they could, leading the townsfolk to safety in
nearby Ross Castle, the baron’s seat of power.
The heroes arrive in Killarney just before sunset.
Read or paraphrase the following:
The town of Killarney is nestled along the banks of a
lazy river, surrounded by a patchwork of farms that
run right to the edges of a mighty forest, and home
to a few hundred souls. But where you expected a
quaint settlement near the shores of Lough Leane, you
see only devastation. The town has been sacked and
burned. Piles of scorched stone mark where once stood
buildings, and those that still stand are blackened
frames. The street is littered with crow-picked dead
bodies. Most appear to be humans of every age, some
even wearing armor and bearing the green-and-gold
standard of the nearby baron, but you can also spot
quite a few elves decked in “forest” armor blending in
with the trees. Up ahead, an old woman sifts through
the ashes of a ruined building, placing anything of
value in a basket.
The woman, Ina Sweeney, lost her home in the
attack but hid instead of retreating to the fort. If
there is an elf in the party, she is wary of the Storm
Knights, though she will still tell them about what
happened in Killarney. Like most everyone else
in town, she believes the whole thing started with
the powrie attacking for “no reason.” She wants
vengeance upon all elves. She doesn’t know how
to find Jinny Greenteeth but suggests visiting Ross
Castle.
ROSS CASTLE
This ancient keep is now the home of the McCorran
family. Baron Malcolm McCorran was knighted by
Ardinay for his service during the initial invasion,
granted rank, and sent to far-flung western Elfame
to establish some measure of order. His reign is
paltry, and he is known to be timid when it comes to
confrontations with the fae, but he alone represents
Ardinay’s authority out here.
The hundred townsfolk remaining have retreated
into the walls of Ross Castle. They’ve tried to send
word of their plight, but so far no riders have made
it farther than the forest. Things are getting tense.
Food stores, still being accumulated this early
into the invasion, are rapidly running out. The
folk of Killarney are increasingly convinced fae
everywhere have turned evil.
Surrounding the castle is a force of elves, using the
natural terrain and foliage to hide their numbers.
Just as the heroes come within sight of the castle,
the elves are gearing up for their next assault. Read
or paraphrase the following:
Ross Castle is a low, gray tower, hunkered down
inside a defensive wall. As the last light of sunset
dies, the tower is lit by sputtering torches along the
battlements. At once you hear a horn blast and an
army of terrifying, agile, deer-headed creatures pours
out of the forests around the castle, peppering it with
flaming arrows. Some carry crude ladders tied together
from saplings. The archers along the battlements try to
repel them, but their numbers are too low. It’s only a
matter of time before these creatures get over that wall.
The deer-headed creatures are actually elves in
battle garb, wearing skinned deer heads and war
paint on their bodies. A line of archers provides
cover while other warriors try to get over the wall.
If not stopped, they’ll get over the castle wall in five
rounds. Nothing stops the slaughter at that point.
However, the elves aren’t expecting a rear attack,
so dispatching a small amount of them (one per
Storm Knight) sends them into retreat.
Elves or forward thinking Storm Knights may
not wish to slay these elves. Non-lethal attacks are
just as effective at disrupting the assault, as are
Interaction Attacks that send elves fleeing rather
than plunging to their doom off the castle walls.
Persuasion won’t stop the assault, but a Very
Difficult (DN 16) test convinces individuals to
depart...for the moment.
• Wood Elf Warriors (5 per Storm Knight): See
below
WOOD ELF WARRIOR
These elves are masters of the forest, trained to use
its natural camouflage to enhance their skills in a
fight.
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 9, Mind 6, Spirit
8, Strength 8
Skills: Beast riding 10, dodge 10, find 8, maneuver
11, melee weapons 11, missile weapons 12, stealth
39
 13, survival 10, taunt 9, trick 7
Move: 9; Tough: 9 (1); Shock: 8; Wounds: —
Equipment: Seelie Armor (Armor +1, +2 bonus to
stealth in dense vegetation), short bow (Damage
11, Range 10/25/40), short sword (Damage
Strength +2/9)
Perks: Elven archer
Possibilities: Rare (3)
Special Abilities: —
INSIDE THE CASTLE
If the Storm Knights have an elf among them,
their reception at the castle is chilly, but they are
still allowed in by nervous guards. Baron Malcolm
greets them in his tower, seeking any word they
might have on human reinforcements. He doesn’t
know any more about this situation than Ina did,
but he begs the Storm Knights to help defeat the
evil elves.
He suspects their encampment is somewhere
north along the lake. Just two days ago a local
Warden, Wymark, set forth that way to sue for
peace with the elves but hasn’t returned. Baron
McCorran can offer little but gratitude for their
help, but as an added bonus, Wymark knows his
way around the area, and would know how to find
Jinny Greenteeth.
SCENE THREE: A DARK
SECRET
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. The
heroes need to find the elf leader, or at least the
Warden Wymark. Baron McCorran feeds and
houses them in the keep until they’re ready to go.
As the group passes through the courtyard, they
spot a squabble breaking out around one of the
townsfolk’s cookfires. Two men argue over a small
metal pot. One of the two men is Rory Cullen,
who holds the very pot that, unbeknownst to the
Storm Knights, started this whole problem. The
enchanted pot is always filled with hot, nourishing
soup, and word is spreading that Rory eats better
fare than the stale hardtack and salted pork rations
given to everyone else. Rory won’t own up to the
origins of the bowl and parts with it only under
extreme duress.
40
LOUGH LEANE
Just west of Killarney is Lough Leane, one of the
largest lakes in the western reaches of Elfame.
Locals swear kelpies sometimes gallop in the
shallows. The eastern side stretching north and
south from Ross Castle is thick with dense forest,
an arm of a much greater forest that surrounds the
town. Little waves lap against the muddy, pebbly
shore.
As a Warden, Wymark’s tracks can only be found
with a Heroic (DN 18) tracking test. They head
north along the lake’s edge, then abruptly veer into
the water and vanish.
Not far north of Ross Castle, a finger like peninsula
protrudes into the lake. The Storm Knights spot
three elf warriors moving furtively toward the
end of the peninsula. If they intercept, the elves
respond to violence in kind, though they prefer to
simply scatter into the woods and vanish. They are
headed toward a small coracle beached at the end
of the peninsula, and from there over to Inisfallen
Island. From the shore, the heroes can make out
flickering torchlight on the island.
INISFALLEN ABBEY
Positioned near the center of the lake, Inisfallen is
a low, uninhabited island. It is home to Inisfallen
Abbey, now a crumbling ruin split by tree roots
and overrun with ivy. The Tanyth elves purged
it of lurks and claimed it as a base in their fight
against Killarney. Torchlight gutters among the
crumbled walls. Two elves are always perched in
high trees keeping watch on the shoreline and the
village beyond. Approaching unnoticed is a stealth
test against DN 9. The number of Storm Knights
adds a bonus to the elves in this case, so a group of
four or five is testing against DN 12.
Their leader is Traelorn. If confronted, he claims
the townsfolk have been on a rampage, and the
elves have decided fae kind must be avenged. His
attitude is guarded but neutral; he can be swayed
one way or the other with persuasion or intimidation.
If the Storm Knights have an elf among them, they
gain a +4 to this test.
 Jinny makes for an unsettling ally, if she becomes an ally at all.
• Failure: He wants the heroes to leave
Killarney, or he’ll be forced to see them as
enemies, as well.
• Standard: The party may stay in the area as
long as they don’t help the humans.
• Good: The heroes may come and go as they
see fit, as long as they make no aggressive
actions.
• Excellent: Traelorn sees the heroes as allies,
and sends two warriors to accompany them, if
they wish.
Either way, Traelorn is preparing demands
for Baron McCorran: he has one day to turn
the townsfolk over to face elven justice (though
children and the elderly shall be spared), or else
an even greater force will flood the walls and slay
everyone. Traelorn can’t be budged from his oath
to avenge the fae. As for Wymark, the Warden
was here just a few hours ago. Traelorn knows
the problem was originally centered around an
old recluse, and says Wymark went there to seek
answers.
OLD GONEGAL’S HUT
If the Storm Knights decide to follow Wymark to
Old Gonegal’s hut, they pick up the trail once more
on the lakeshore and find the Warden at the hut,
inspecting the scene. The hut itself is far outside
of town. The grounds around the cabin are home
to a riotous garden of vegetables and flowers. Tiny
faeries float like fireflies around the garden, fleeing
into hiding upon the heroes’ approach. The front
door of the cabin is smashed in, and the place has
clearly been looted. The dead body of Old Gonegal
41
 lies in the middle of the floor. He has a cudgel
wound to his head, but his body is remarkably
preserved. A ring of flower petals has been placed
daintily around him. More small fae fly around
inside the cabin but zip away when the heroes
enter.
Wymark knows Old Gonegal well and realizes
the magic pot is gone. He suspects it was stolen,
and this might be what has angered the local fae. If
asked about Jinny Greenteeth, Wymark says he’ll
be happy to give them guidance if they’ll help him
broker peace between the elves and humans.
ENDING THE SIEGE
The conflict can be solved in a couple of ways,
depending on what information the heroes have
uncovered and how they wish to tackle the issue.
• If they confront Rory about the pot, he falters
and provides the full story. Returning the pot
to the fae (or even just leaving it with Old
Gonegal’s body), and then sending Rory away
with the Tanyth elves for justice, is enough to
end the conflict.
• Baron McCorran is not willing to turn over
the humans in his charge to go to their deaths.
If a peace deal can’t be hashed out, the elves
inevitably overrun the castle. The only way the
townsfolk stand a chance is if the heroes come
to their aid, which harms their esteem with the
fae in this region, and possibly targets them
for an attack by the Cavalcade (see the Aysle
Sourcebook).
One way or the other, as a token of his thanks,
Wymark gives the party detailed instructions for
finding Jinny Greenteeth’s lair, which is located on
a dry mound, deep in the swamp beside Muckross
Lake to the south. He won’t accompany them,
preferring to stay here and rebuild.
“DON’T LOOK AT ME.
THIS ONE IS DEFINITELY
NOT THE ELVES’ FAULT.”
-ROSE
42
SCENE FOUR: BARGAIN
WITH EVIL
Standard Scene. Aysle/Orrorsh Mixed Zone
(Night only). The heroes at last know the way to
Jinny Greenteeth’s home in Muckross Swamp, a
low-lying isthmus separating Lough Leane from
Muckross Lake. A pervasive evil hangs over the
swamp, due to a Nightmare Tree growing near
the center. The Nightmare Tree is large enough
to spread its influence for one kilometer in every
direction. The heroes sense the shift as they near
the swamp. Read or paraphrase the following:
An old road heads south from Killarney into a dense
forest that crowds the southern end of Lough Leane.
A thin, wraithlike mist hovers in patches under the
overhanging trees, and the shadows are darker.
Something evil dwells here.
By the time you reach the swamp, the sun has set,
casting the world into twilight. A sense of corruption
hangs over this whole place. The ground grows more
and more boggy, and the air is thick with buzzing
flies and the smell of rot. Witch lights flicker in the
distance. Strange designs of woven bone, sticks, and
human hair dangle from the trees. Lamps made of
skulls impaled on posts light the path with an eerie
green glow. Following them, you soon spot a rank,
black pool surrounded by more skull lamps. In the
center of the pool is a dome of mud, bearing a single
dark entryway, slung with a curtain of bones.
Jinny Greenteeth is fully aware of the approach
of the heroes. Though she is eager to parley with
them, she does not permit them to enter her hut—
which is for the best, as it doubles as a larder hung
with the bodies of her previous victims. Instead,
she rises out of the pool, dripping with algae and
slimy plants.
Above all else, Jinny Greenteeth is a shrewd
and devious schemer, already two steps ahead
of the Storm Knights. She speaks of herself in
third person, shifting from coercion to threats
to outright deception from moment to moment.
Unless provoked, she doesn’t harm the heroes. She
doesn’t know why they have come, but when they
ask about the scroll, she realizes they can be a tool
to free this area from the Gaunt Man’s influence.
 In exchange for the item they seek, she wants Special Abilities:
only a minor favor: In the center of the swamp is a • Armor: Thick hide +2
terrible tree of dark power, one that appeared only • Claws: Damage Strength+2/17
three months hence. She feels that it’s different from • Fear (-2): The first time a character encounters
Uthorion’s Darkness, and fears what the intruder Jinny Greenteeth, he must make a Spirit test at
might do to her or her schemes. It being made of –2 or become Very Stymied.
oak, Jinny’s weakness, she is unable to approach
the thing. But the Storm Knights might be able to
succeed where she failed and destroy the tree.
Jinny has determined how to uproot the tree: they
THE WITCH IS DEAD
must cut the “seed” out of it’s center. If this isn’t If the heroes decide to just attack Jinny
done quickly enough, the tree can move the seed Greenteeth outright, they’re in for a serious
deep into the ground, and eventually the tree will fight. Jinny is a potent spellcaster, the equal of
grow back nearby. It won’t be easy; the tree will a dragon in power, and Storm Knights of alpha
defend itself with everything it has. Once the seed or beta clearance are outmatched by her. It’s
is out, it can be destroyed, and the tree with it. okay to let the players know this. If they insist
on a fight, they’ll pay dearly for the effort.
Most of this is true (see below), but Jinny keeps
her knowledge of the tree’s full defenses to herself, Should they succeed, they just eliminated a
to encourage the Storm Knights to undertake the key source of information for this adventure,
task. so another way must be found. Inside Jinny’s
mud hut is an alchemical laboratory replete
with many old tomes, one of which is the correct
JINNY GREENTEETH
one. This makes the attempt at unearthing the
Once a lovely dryad, Jinny Greenteeth embraced Nightmare Tree in Scene 5 optional, in which
corruption in exchange for power, twisting her case Uthorion’s Stalkers waylay the heroes as
slime-green body into a grotesque abomination. they emerge from Jinny’s hut instead.
Her arms and legs are long and frail-looking,
an appearance that belies her hideous strength,
and her hands are twisted into talons. Her face is
gaunt, with a beak-like nose and canine teeth, and
a long mane of stringy black hair hangs over her
hunchback.
Attributes: Charisma 3, Dexterity 15, Mind 16,
Spirit 13, Strength 15
Skills: Alteration 20, apportation 18, conjuration
20, divination 22, dodge 19, evidence analysis 20,
find 20, intimidation 23, maneuver 16, persuasion
10, reality 16, scholar 18, stealth 22, taunt 8, trick
17, unarmed combat 20, willpower 18
Move: 15; Tough: 17 (2); Shock: 15; Wounds: 4
Equipment: —
Perks: Spellcaster (absorb magic*, alarm, armor,
detect magic, diminish, dispel magic, enhance, fear,
invisibility, lightning, mage dark, multiple images*,
plant shackles*, raise skeletons*, scry, shield, slow,
speak with dead, stun), Resilient, Magister,
Frightening Aspect
Possibilities: 3

43
 SCENE FIVE: EVIL ROOTS
Dramatic Scene. Aysle/Orrorsh Mixed Zone
(Night only). To earn Jinny’s information, the
heroes need to uproot a Nightmare Tree. There’s a
good chance this is the first time they’ve done so,
and it won’t be easy. The task is further complicated
by the arrival of Uthorion’s Stalker!
When the Storm Knights are ready to tackle the
Nightmare Tree, read or paraphrase the following:
It isn’t hard to find the Nightmare Tree: its aura
of palpable dread is like a beacon. It rests at the top
of a dry hillock, surrounded by deep mire. Knee-
high ground fog gives the place a dreamlike quality.
The tree, a mighty oak devoid of leaves, drips with
unhealthy moss. Knobby protrusions appear to give it
a face, while a great knot near the ground oozes what
looks like human blood. Perched on its branches are
scores of ravens that peer at you silently. Standing
all around the base of the tree are marble statues of
lithe, dancing swordswomen in flowing gowns, their
sightless eyes weeping.
Just as the Storm Knights behold the tree,
Uthorion’s Stalkers arrive on scene, weapons out
and ready for an attack—but their leader pauses,
dumbstruck by the sight of the Nightmare Tree.
Instead of attacking, the leader of the Stalkers asks
the heroes what it is, where it came from, and what
they plan to do to it. If they’re willing to parley and
share knowledge, the leader offers to help them
uproot it, on the condition that they allow him or
her to take the seed back for “study.”
Should they refuse, the Stalkers attack, planning
to deal with the tree afterward. In the ensuing
fight, the tree’s guardians awaken, turning this
scene into a three-way battle. But if they accept, the
Stalkers lend valuable aid in the fight to come.
The moment anyone approaches within 10 meters
of the Nightmare Tree, the ravens burst into flight
with a raucous cry, wheeling around to defend
the tree as one swarm. The statues turn to regard
the intruder, gracefully drawing their swords and
beginning their deadly dance. These protectors do
everything they can to keep the intruders away.
Removing the seed requires a Dramatic Skill
Resolution, made harder by the interference of the
guardians.
44
• Step A: Cut into the knot with a melee weapons
test. The DN is 30 minus the damage from the
weapon.
• Step B: Climb into the slimy interior – a slick,
disgusting job that takes a Challenging (DN 12)
Dexterity test.
• Step C: The tree assaults the intruder with
a strong blast of claustrophobia and spiritual
terror. Resisting is a Hard (DN 14) willpower or
Spirit test.
• Step D: The pulsating amniotic sac holding
the victim must be carved out, which requires
a melee weapons test with the same difficulty as
Step A.
At every stage, the tree attempts to force the
intruder out. A Possible Setback result might shift
the location of the seed, while a Critical Problem
pulls the seed down below the ground, into the
tree’s root network. On a Complication, the tree
constricts and shudders. As usual, the heroes have
five rounds to accomplish this task. Should they
fail, the tree shifts the body deep into the ground.
The “seed” is a fleshy sack that clearly contains
a human body. The body writhes and presses its
mouth against the membrane in silent screams. If
the Storm Knights cut the sack open a desiccated
corpse spills out—apparently long dead and now
utterly still.
Branches may be cut, but the main trunk of the
tree is impervious to real harm until the body is
removed. At that moment, the tree’s eyes open as
it uproots itself and attacks, fighting to the death.
• Statue Guardians (2 per Storm Knight): see
page 45.
• Raven Swarm: see below.
• Nightmare Tree: once the seed has been
removed, see page 45.
• Stalkers: see page 96
RAVEN SWARM
This flock of evil-eyed ravens attacks as one mass,
in a blur of claws and beaks. It covers an area more
than 20 meters across, affecting all Storm Knights
unless they are more than than 10 meters apart.
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 6, Mind 3, Spirit
8, Strength 8
Skills: Dodge 8, intimidate (9), maneuver 10,
stealth 8, tracking 8, trick (8), unarmed combat 11
Move: 6; Tough: 8; Shock: 13; Wounds: 4
Equipment: —
Perks: —
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Bite/Claw: Each round, a creature in contact
with the raven swarm automatically takes 3
Shock at the start of their turn.
• Flight: Move 11 in the air.
• Shred: Once per turn, the raven swarm may
attack each target it is in contact with without
taking a Multi-Targeting penalty. A hit inflicts
12 damage that affects the target’s weakest
Armor.
• Swarm: Unarmed attacks and crushing
weapons deal base damage normally, as do area
of effect attacks. Blades, bullets, or weapons
that can’t hit dozens of creatures at once deal
no damage at all.
STATUE GUARDIANS
These animated marble statues are carved to
resemble weeping swordswomen.
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 10, Mind 3,
Spirit 8, Strength 12
Skills: Dodge 12, find 5, maneuver 14, melee
weapons 15, stealth 11, trick (8)
Move: 10; Tough: 16 (4); Shock: 8; Wounds: –
Equipment: Longsword (Strength +3/15)
Perks: —
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Stone body +4
• Construct: Statue guardians are immune to
effects that require breathing, eating, or other
“living” processes.
• Mindless: Statue guardians are immune to
intimidation and taunt attacks.
• Relentless: Statue guardians ignore Shock.
NIGHTMARE TREE
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 6, Mind 6, Spirit
12, Strength 18
Skills: Alteration 18, dodge 14, find 10, maneuver
10, reality 18, stealth 14, trick (16), unarmed
combat 18
Move: 6; Tough: 21 (3); Shock: —; Wounds: 4
Equipment: —
Perks: Spellcaster (diminish, dispel magic, disguise,
slow), Whirlwind
Possibilities: 5
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Bark +3.
• Camouflage: Stealth tests by Nightmare Trees
are favored so long as they are in forested areas.
• Claws: Damage Strength +2 (20), may reach
targets up to 10 meters away.
• Dread: Any Scene becomes Dramatic when a
Nightmare Tree begins to move.
• Mindless: Nightmare Trees are immune to
intimidation and taunt attacks.
• Relentless: Nightmare Trees ignore Shock.
• Very Large: Attacks against the tree gain a +4
Bonus.
AFTERMATH
If they return victorious, Jinny Greenteeth cackles
in hideous delight. Tricking her, attempting
to renegotiate the deal, or any other treachery
does not go over well, but if the heroes upheld
their end of the bargain, she does likewise. She
summons a scroll in midair and hands it over to
the adventurers. Then she warns them to leave her
swamp and never return.
The heroes may then embark on the next stage of
their quest. If they partnered with the Stalker to
defeat the Nightmare Tree, he or she carries the
news (and possibly the “seed”—the pod containing
the body) to Uthorion, who is now aware that the
Gaunt Man has been secretly undermining him by
inserting small Orrorsh hardpoints into his realm.
This will have consequences in the months to come
45
 T
he heroes must travel deep into the Land
Between to find the third Essence, the
one corresponding with Time. It comes in
the form of a crystal from within a geode deep
underground, which is guarded by a deranged
demigod trapped in the stone for eons. Getting
there requires a Seeker and leads the heroes
through dark tunnels, rife with unknown dangers.
Begin this act when the Storm Knights are ready
SEED OF THE to seek the crystal.
ACT FOUR:
OVERVIEW
Scene One: The heroes begin their journey. In a
spot where the cave tunnel narrows into a tight
squeeze, they run into a Nibikrid ambush.
WORLD
Scene Two: The tunnel angles downward through
water-filled tubes, dropping the Storm Knights
into a cave where they encounter some wayward
Bluespine edeinos.
Scene Three: The heroes come to a dwarven
guard tower built into a stalactite hanging over a
gaping abyss. The dwarves in the tower are under
siege and need help to protect a sacred artifact
from falling into the hands of lurks, led by a rare
dwarven wight.
Scene Four: Nearly at their objective, the Storm
Knights come to a lake of magma, where they must
figure out how to open an old dwarven gate without
activating the terrible automaton that guards it,
only to discover Uthorion’s Stalkers await them on
the other side.
Scene Five: At last the heroes reach the Seed of the
World, a huge geode in the center of the cosm of
Aysle, now the prison of an insane demigod, Gorm,
bent on destroying all who violate its realm. They
must contend with Gorm and its army of swarms
and escape with a piece of crystal—and their lives!

SCENE ONE: DESCENT

INTO THE DARK
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. Before the
Storm Knights can begin their search, they need to
find and recruit a Seeker—an Aysle-born scout with
an almost preternatural insight into the mysterious

46
tunnels of the Land Between. Seekers are rare, but
not unheard of, and some offer their services to
any who can pay. If the group met a Seeker in a
previous adventure, they must pay a visit to their
last known location. If not, Wyrwind may suggest
Oona, a talented Seeker who makes her home near
Bristol, or the party may need to gain her location
from Aelward (page 72). The adventure assumes
Oona is present, but she can be substituted easily.
When the heroes are finished requisitioning
any provisions they think they’ll need, read or
paraphrase the following:
Oona knows a trail that leads into the hills nearby.
There, by a rushing brook, is a gap between the stones
that opens into a cave. Bats chitter overhead in the high
recesses of the ceiling. Before long you are descending
into the darkness, the light of the world fading behind
you. Lit by Oona’s torch, the cavern comes to life
before you: dripping stalactites, pools of cold water,
massive boulders. A path of sorts threads through the
branching tunnels, leading down slopes, along tricky
ledges, and among otherworldly cave formations, until
at last even that fades away, and you realize you’re far
underground with no knowledge of how to get back.
The air is chill and damp. There is no sound but the
occasional drip of water falling into hidden pools.
After some time, the cave tunnel grows narrower
until it is merely a crack. This tight squeeze winds
for 15 meters through the rock before opening up
once more, but getting through is not easy. The
Storm Knights must turn sideways and wedge
themselves between the walls. Backpacks need to
be removed. While inside the crack, the heroes can
only move a quarter of their regular movement,
and are both Stymied and Vulnerable. Storm
Knights that are larger than a normal human are
Very Stymied and Very Vulnerable and can only
move one meter a round, where party members
who are smaller than a human are either Stymied
or Vulnerable and have their movement only cut
in half.
Just as the party are working their way through
the first half of the crack, Nibikrids hidden in the
highest reaches skitter down the walls to attack.
Any character who fails a find test opposed by the
Nibikrid’s stealth begins this ambush surprised.
• Nibikrids (1 per Hero): see page 100.
OONA THE SEEKER
OONA SAFALU
Oona Safalu is a young woman from a tropical
archipelago in Aysle’s pirate-plagued Trade
Sea. She bears the ritual scars and tattoos of a
freebooter but is cheerful and chatty, generous,
and slow to anger. Though unconventional
in the world of Seekers in her origins and
mannerisms, she is nonetheless just as skilled
in navigating the maze-like tunnels as any
other of her profession. If told the purpose of
the quest is to save Tolwyn of Tancred, she
offers her services for free.
Oona is a lively and fun-loving companion on
the journey. She’s not shy about getting into
danger, and laughs heartily any time she has
a narrow escape. She’s grateful to any Storm
Knight who comes to her rescue, and grins and
ignores any scolding or admonition to be more
cautious.
If anyone plays a Romance card to get her
attention, that player may control her actions
in combat. A romance may also entice her to
stay with the Storm Knights even after the job
is done—assuming she survives!
Attributes: Charisma 10, Dexterity 9, Mind 8,
Spirit 9, Strength 8
Skills: Beast riding 11, dodge 12, find 14,
maneuver 12, melee weapons 12, missile
weapons 11, reality 10, stealth 13, survival 13,
tracking 12, trick 11
Move: 10; Tough: 9 (1); Shock: 9; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Leather armor (+1), short sword
(Strength +2/10), dagger (Strength +1/9,
small), short bow (11 damage), Everlit lamp
(permanent mage light, can be shuttered),
Seeker’s pack.
Perks: Seeker
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities: —
47
 SCENE TWO: FLOWING
UNDERGROUND
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. Delving
much deeper, the heroes come to a portion of the
cave where an underground river creates a wet
hazard that hides unexpected dangers.
After many hours, you hear rushing water ahead, and
the tunnel opens into a vertical, waterfall-hollowed
chamber, where a river roars out of a gap overhead,
showers across the stalagmites and boulders, and then
continues into several slick, tube-like tunnels at the
bottom of the chamber. Oona points to them. “We have
to go down.”
Rust-colored algae make the stones very slippery;
once someone is in a tunnel, stopping requires a
Very Hard (DN 16) Strength test. The tunnels split,
merge, split again, and twist through 100 meters of
honeycombed sandstone, and in no time the heroes
are separated. During this exciting descent, they
must make a Challenging (DN 12) Dexterity
test or suffer 5+1BD damage, or 5+2BD on a
Mishap!
The water douses any fire-based light,
such as torches, so anyone without
a light source makes this test at –6
instead. At the bottom, the water
“I THINK THEY
PROBABLY SHOULD
HAVE TURNED LEFT AT
ALBUQUERQUE.”
-AIDEN MCCALLISTER
48
dumps the heroes into waist-deep water in a tall
cavern of spectacular columns and formations. The
river moves more sluggishly through here. Wading
reduces normal walking rates by half.
Lying in ambush behind nearby boulders is a party
of Bluespine edeinos. Near-crazed from being lost
for so long, these edeinos have wandered through
flooded and submerged caverns for days since
exploring a blue hole in the Bahamas. They take
full advantage of the waist-deep water and do not
suffer movement penalties.
The edeinos have a temporary shelter nearby in
which they’ve gathered several dead cave fish, a
pile of mushrooms, and sapphires that caught their
eye. Neither the fish nor mushrooms are edible to
humans, but the sapphires can be bartered to gain a
one-time +4 bonus on streetwise tests to requisition
supplies.
• Edeinos Bluespine Warrior (2 per Storm
Knight): See below.
EDEINOS BLUESPINE
WARRIOR
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 9, Mind
6, Spirit 8, Strength 10
Skills: Beast riding 10, dodge 10, faith
9, find 8, intimidation 10, maneuver 10,
melee weapons 11, missile weapons 10,
stealth 10, survival 8, tracking 8, unarmed
combat 11
Move: 9; Tough: 10; Shock: 10;
Wounds: —
Equipment: Hrockt shoot spear
(Strength +2/12)
Perks: Whirlwind
Possibilities: Rare (2)
Special Abilities:
• Bite/Claws: Damage
Strength +2 (12).
• Swim: Move 9 in water.
 SCENE THREE: THE
HANGING TOWER
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. After
walking a few more hours, the route leads the
heroes to a dwarven fortress built into a stalactite,
only to discover their path forward is in doubt.
Read or paraphrase the following:
Up ahead you feel a stirring of wind, and soon
the cave opens onto a huge chasm that stretches in
both directions as far as you can see. You are near
the ceiling, from which hang dozens of stalactites
of various sizes. The bottom yawns below you, a
lightless void of unimaginable depth. The largest of the
stalactites, a monster that must surely be 30 meters at
its base and twice as long, holds an amazing sight: The
stone has been worked into a sort of inverted tower of
dwarven design, with structures, delicate walkways,
and windows carved into its surface. Lookout perches
protrude out over the chasm. The whole thing is lit by
scores of braziers, which give it the appearance of a
stone chandelier.
Several small figures move about on the battlements.
One spots you and shouts, “They’ve arrived!
Reinforcements have arrived!”
A drawbridge rumbles down to allow the Storm
Knights to cross. If they’re hesitant, Oona assures
them the fastest path forward leads through this
fortress. The drawbridge has no safety rails and is
only wide enough for an ox-cart, but despite the
strong wind in the chasm, it’s safe enough to cross
if everyone is careful.
On the other side, the heroes are met by a dozen
exhausted-looking dwarves. Their leader is Captain
Bromlun of Goldenhelm. He quickly realizes the
Storm Knights are not the expected reinforcements.
The despair is palpable among him and his fellows.
They are the last of a squadron of dwarves,
dedicated to maintaining this fort, which they
call Dhagh-Kolduhr, or “Seventh Redoubt.” It
was one of a dozen such sentry posts along the
Abyss in times past, but many have fallen. As
far as Bromlun knows, this one might be the last.
Three weeks ago, an army of lurks appeared on
the far side of the chasm. Bromlun and his soldiers
withdrew the drawbridge, but not before many
THE LEGEND OF
CREATION
Storm Knights who wish to know more about
the Seed of the World have no problem seeking
out someone who knows the legend of the
creation of Aysle. Any native-born Ayslish
character knows the tale, as does Oona—and
she loves telling stories during long delves.
Ayslish folklore tells of the Creators, who
traveled free throughout the Universe,
scattering stars and building worlds with a
wave of their hands. Deep in a region of vast
Nothingness, the Creators tried their hand at
something new. The first Creator, Fordex, blew
a speck of dust to create Something out of the
Nothingness. The second Creator, Errog the
Mighty, heated sand into a glass sphere and
placed it around the mote, creating the Limit.
The third Creator, Terrin the Bold, placed a
flat stone beneath the speck of dust, creating
the world. Movin and Weeble, the Sculptors,
shaped the stone into mountains and valleys.
Ganthor the Pure poured water onto this
world, making the rivers and seas. Charon the
Gardener planted a tree, Mhyrron the Gatherer
placed an egg beside the tree, and Plantir the
Hunter created beings in the likeness of the
Creators and placed them beside the tree. Then
the last Creator, Harp, blew upon the world,
causing these things to come alive. The living
things immediately began to wither and die,
so Fordex placed the original dust speck in his
pipe and blew until it glowed hot and bright
then affixed it to the outer rim of the glass
globe, to provide heat and light to the world.
Life flourished. Proud of their accomplishment,
the Creators moved on to create new worlds
elsewhere.
49
 lurks made it across. A bloody fight led to the loss
of many dwarves, whose bodies were sent to the
Abyss. They blew the alert horn and were sure they
heard an answering call from the next Redoubt
along the Abyss, but it has been many days and no
reinforcements have come.
The Storm Knights can see the besieging army
of lurks for themselves—the far side of the chasm
has been worked into a towering gate. A dwarven
village dedicated to housing and feeding Dhagh-
Kolduhr’s contingent lies at the foot of the gate
on a natural ledge, but the stone houses are now
the temporary home to a hundred or more lurks
which defile the site, tearing through the meager
belongings left behind after they slaughtered the
dwarves who lived there.
One figure stands like a stone among the cavorting,
fighting, and vandalizing lurks. It is a fellow dwarf,
but his features are deathly pale and his hair is
stringy and colorless—a wight! The dwarves of
Dhagh-Kolduhr shudder when they see him, and
call him “The Betrayer.” He has come with his
army of lurks to seize Dhagh-Kolduhr.
THE REDOUBT
The Storm Knights are treated to a small feast, as
is dwarven custom. They may requisition supplies
from the dwarves, though since supplies here are
scarce, they are at –2 to their streetwise test. After,
they’re granted quarters in unused barracks and
may explore the fort.
Dhagh-Kolduhr is laid out as follows:
• The topmost level is referred to as The Vault,
a room in which any treasures are stored. At
the moment it contains extra weapons and
armor, along with the Lightforge itself. The
Lightforge is shaped like a dragon’s head and
made of a single slab of starsteel, which weighs
easily one metric ton. It can’t be moved without
specialized equipment that isn’t available in
Dhagh-Kolduhr.
• The next level down is the Commander’s
level, hosting the top-ranking officers’ quarters
and the war room.
• Next is the Barracks level, where the soldiers
and lower-ranking officers of Dhagh-Kolduhr
50
billet, as well as the mess hall and armory.
• Next is the “Passthrough,” a fortified
passageway that connects with the two
drawbridges on either side. Murder holes in
the ceiling provide additional defense from the
Barracks level.
• Below the Passthrough is the Visitor’s level,
where travelers can be housed temporarily. In
its day, the Visitor’s level had a fully-functional
inn, general store, and bank, but now that job
falls to the soldiers.
• The lowest level is called the Panopticon, a
windswept lookout perch that offers 360° views
of the chasm. The alert horn is kept here, along
with racks of crossbows for defense.
A CRACK IN THE FOUNDATION
Soon after, the Storm Knights are called to convene
with Captain Bromlun, who asks for their help.
He says The Betrayer knows Dhagh-Kolduhr’s
secret: it hides the Lightforge, an arcane forge
which, in the hands of master dwarven smiths, is
capable of imbuing magic into metal. When High
Doranir fell, the Lightforge was loaded onto a
sledge and pulled through miles of secret tunnels,
then hidden here until the day when High Doranir
could be reclaimed. That day never came, and the
Lightforge still sits, cold and unused, in the vault
deep in Dhagh-Kolduhr. Captain Bromlun is sure
that it’s The Betrayer’s true goal, and he must not
be allowed to succeed.
Allow the group a chance to discuss their options.
The way ahead is blocked, yet Oona insists it is the
only way forward. Helping the dwarves is a noble
effort but also a diversion from the quest to save
Tolwyn.
After a few minutes, the calm is shattered by a
massive explosion overhead. Dirt comes down
from the ceiling and the floor cracks ominously.
In some parts of the Redoubt, floor slabs break
free from their mooring and plummet into the
Abyss, leaving gaping holes through which the
wind whistles. The damage shatters one of the
drawbridge chains, causing the drawbridge to
ratchet halfway down and then swing dangerously
for a few minutes, before finally breaking free and
falling out of sight. Retreat is now impossible;
51
 however, the drawbridge leading to the dwarven
village on the far side still holds strong.
The explosion came from somewhere overhead.
Every dwarf in Dhagh-Kolduhr grabs a weapon
and races to the Vault. If the heroes do not follow
on their own, Captain Bromlun calls for their aid.
The Vault is a scene of chaos. A troll has burrowed
a tunnel through the naked rock into the Vault’s
ceiling. A swarm of lurks attempts to attach chains
to the Lightforge. In seconds the room is a war
zone.
• Lurks (4 per Storm Knight): see page 100.
• Troll (1): see page 100.
• Dwarven Warriors (10): see below.
DWARVEN WARRIOR
These stalwart servants of the dwarven empire
hold the line against their foes with traditional
battle axes.
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 7, Mind 6, Spirit
8, Strength 10
Skills: Dodge 9, find 7, fire combat 9, heavy
weapons 9, intimidation 9, melee weapons 9,
stealth 8, taunt 7, willpower 9
Move: 7; Tough: 13 (3); Shock: 8; Wounds: —
Equipment: Plate Mail (armor +3, Fatigues),
medium shield (defense +2), battle axe (Damage
Strength +3/13), Ayslish Wheel-lock (Damage 13,
range 5/10/20, Reload).
Perks: —
Possibilities: None
Special Abilities: —
• Darkvision: Dwarves ignore up to four points
of darkness penalties.
THE FALL OF DHAGH-KOLDUHR
When the lurks are dealt with, any remaining
dwarves can tell the troll’s damage has doomed
Dhagh-Kolduhr. Already, cracks zigzag across the
cavern roof, away from the weakened stalactite
root. The entire fortress will soon break up and
collapse under its own weight, falling into the
endless Abyss.
In fact, every thirty seconds or so, parts of the
Redoubt groan and break off, along with bits of
the cavern ceiling. Every part that falls makes the
52
rest weaker. The entire stalactite will break off
soon. Captain Bromlun, and any of his remaining
soldiers, are ready to die defending the Lightforge.
New waves of lurks are already surely coming
down the passage.
At this point the heroes need to once more reassess
their goals. If they stay to help the dwarves keep
the Lightforge out of the hands of the lurks, they’ll
surely perish. Yet if they abandon the dwarves,
the lurks will most assuredly gain this powerful
magic item. It might be possible to buy some time
by entering the troll’s tunnel and finding a weak
spot to collapse or a narrow point to block, but
that won’t stop the Redoubt from falling. Moving
the forge is possible with everyone cooperating,
leaving them exposed to attack, and even then it
can’t get far.
Whatever they choose, most of the lurks are
sent into the troll tunnels, leaving only a small
contingent, and The Betrayer, remaining on the
far side. If the drawbridge is lowered, it is possible
to cross over and confront the small force directly
before moving on. The rest of the lurks, driven
mad by conquest, swarm into Dhagh-Kolduhr and
plunge with it to their doom when the fortress
finally collapses.
Should anyone fall from Dhagh-Kolduhr into the
Abyss below, they plunge nearly a kilometer before
landing in a huge web slung by nibikrids. They
still take 15+1BD damage, but they’re miraculously
alive—though they must then contend with
nibikrids!
• The Betrayer: see below
• Lurks (2 per Storm Knight): see page 100
THE BETRAYER
Once a stalwart commander of the redoubt of
Dhagh-Dhorn, the dwarf now known only as The
Betrayer was seduced by Darkness and became a
wight, bearing the typical stringy white hair and
death-white skin of his kind. As a warrior, he is not
as experienced in spellcasting as other wights but
is a fierce combatant.
Attributes: Charisma 8, Dexterity 9, Mind 11,
Spirit 10, Strength 12
Skills: Alteration 12, conjuration 12, dodge 14, find
12, intimidation 12, melee weapons 15, missile
 weapons 13, reality 12, trick 13, unarmed combat
14
Move: 9; Tough: 15 (3); Shock: 10; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Plate Mail (+3, Fatigues, Full body),
War Hammer (Strength +4/16, Stagger, Two
Handed, Unwieldy), Heavy crossbow (damage
13, 10/25/40, Reload).
Perks: Frightening Aspect, Spellcaster (dispel magic,
fear, lightning, summon elemental*)
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities:
• Darkvision: Dwarves ignore up to 4 points of
darkness penalties.
• Undead: Wights are immune to poison and
other effects that require breathing, eating, or
other “living” processes.
SCENE FOUR: ENEMIES
AT THE GATE
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. As the
Storm Knights get closer to their destination, they
have to contend with an old dwarven ruin deep in
the earth, guarded by a massive construct.
The hours blur together until you’re unsure whether
it is day or night on the surface, or even where you
are. The weight of the sheer mass of stone over your
head makes you feel small and powerless. Without
Oona you would be truly, hopelessly, permanently
lost in the miles of silent, remote caves. The air has
gone from clammy and cold to warm. A mix of toxic
gases sometimes gives you coughing fits.
Then, as the air grows hot enough to make you sweat,
you emerge onto a simply colossal cavern, lit by a sea
of roiling magma. Through heat shimmers, you can
make out a bridge of dwarven design, poised delicately
over this sea of fire, ending in a towering gate similar
to the one back in Dhagh-Kolduhr, though this gate
also has a bas-relief statue of a dwarf wielding a huge
hammer etched into it. “We’re almost there,” Oona
says. “The final stretch is through that gate...I can feel
it.”
Crossing the bridge is an anxiety-inducing affair
but poses no significant hazards on its own. Once
in the cavern, though, the heroes are subject to
extreme heat conditions. It’s unlikely they’ll be in
here long enough to require a survival or Strength
test, but the scorching heat adds +2 shock when
Fatigue comes up on the action line during combat.
The gate is shut tight and cannot be opened by
mere Strength alone. A complicated mechanism
nearby involving a huge magma wheel, cogs,
chains, and a weighted stone must be activated
in order to open the gate. However, Oona warns
the heroes that the statue of the dwarf is a Gate
Guardian, a type of automaton that activates when
any unauthorized parties attempt to open the gate.
Getting through requires a Dramatic Skill
Resolution. If they succeed, the gate will open for
them, otherwise they’ll have to contend with the
Gate Guardian on a narrow bridge in these less-
than-ideal conditions.
• Step A: The mechanism is powered by
magma, which pours out of a sluice gate in
the ceiling onto a magma wheel. The wheel
has slipped in its mounting and needs to be
reoriented, which requires a Standard (DN 10)
science or Mind test.
• Step B: A cog which connects the magma
wheel to the chain falls off easily. Though not
too heavy, getting it to fit in the corroded teeth
properly requires a Challenging (DN 12) science
or Dexterity test.
• Step C: Now it is time to open the sluice gate
in the ceiling. The eons have made the lever
hard to pull, requiring a Very Hard (DN 18)
Strength test.
• Step D: Once the magma pouring from the
sluice gate has the chain turning, the weighted
stone is supposed to drop and open the door,
but corrosion causes it to hang up. It can be
freed by targeting it with a Very Hard (DN 16)
missile weapons or fire combat test. Pretty much
any projectile can do the trick; if the heroes have
none, bits of crumbled stone from the bridge can
be thrown at it. This can be bypassed if someone
wants to risk climbing up there and dislodging
it by hand, which requires a Challenging (DN
12) Dexterity test. Failure results in a fall doing
10+1BD damage, or 10+2BD on a Mishap.
53
 DILEMMAS
When a Dilemma appears on the Drama card, the
situation becomes more dangerous.
• Possible Setback: The magma wheel slips
back out of its moorings, the cog pops back off,
or the sluice gate shuts again.
• Complication: The searing heat and low
oxygen in this cavern cause gradual exhaustion.
The heroes must pass a Challenging (DN 12)
survival or Strength test or suffer 2 Shock.
• Critical Problem: The ancient mechanism
irrevocably breaks, splitting to pieces and
falling into the magma. The only way forward
is to defeat the Gate Guardian.
As usual, the heroes have five rounds to
accomplish this task. If they do not succeed, the
Gate Guardian, realizing someone is attempting
an unauthorized entry, grinds to life and attacks.
Afterward, the gate is weakened enough to permit
the heroes to pry it open without much effort.
Their troubles aren’t over yet, though. As the gate
rumbles open, a Stalker team wait on the other side,
having been sent via dimthread into the cavern on
the other side. The Stalkers rush out through the
opening door, trying to push the heroes back away
from their goal. One attempts to seal the great
door and damage the mechanism, an act which,
if successful, triggers the Gate Guardian if it has
not yet been defeated. It attacks Storm Knight
and Stalker indiscriminately, always targeting the
closest enemy.
• Gate Guardian: See below
• Stalkers: Seepage 96
GATE GUARDIAN
This huge automaton, shaped like a metal dwarf in
armor and wielding a mighty hammer, is affixed to
a gate and animates only when someone unwanted
attempts to open the gate. It detaches itself from
its position and moves around to attack, returning
when all enemies are dealt with. It may not stray
farther than 30 meters from its gate.
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 6, Mind 5, Spirit
6, Strength 18
Skills: Dodge 8, find 7, maneuver 8, melee weapons
10, trick 6
54
Move: 6; Tough: 22 (4); Shock: –; Wounds: 4
Equipment: War Hammer (Strength +4/22, Stagger,
Two Handed, Unwieldy)
Perks: —
Possibilities: None
Special Abilities:
• Armor: This creature is made of stone, and
gains +4 Armor all over.
• Mindless: The Gate Guardian is immune to
intimidation and taunt interactions, as well as
telepathic powers.
• Relentless: The Gate Guardian ignores Shock.
• Very Large: This statue is 10 meters high,
granting any roll against it a +4 Size bonus.
SCENE FIVE: THE MAD
GOD
Dramatic Scene. Aysle Pure Zone. The object of
their quest now at hand, the heroes don’t realize
they’ve crossed over from Core Earth into the deep
center of the cosm of Aysle, crawling through cave
tunnels almost as old as the disk world itself. They
discover a huge geode around which Aysle was
formed during the creation of the world (see “The
Legend of Creation” sidebar above). The geode
is now the prison of a deranged demigod, Gorm,
trapped in here eons ago by Dunad as punishment
for crimes long since forgotten. Unable to leave the
geode, Gorm has grown increasingly stir-crazy,
yearning to be free once more and maddened by
the bounds of his existence.
The Gaunt Man first encountered Gorm a century
ago, when he ventured deep into Aysle in search of
a crystal from the “Seed of the World” to complete
the Carredon ritual. The confrontation was brief,
as Gorm was no match for the Gaunt Man, who
promptly destroyed Gorm’s physical form. Being
immortal, Gorm gradually recreated his body.
When the Storm Knights arrive, they find an
enraged and unhinged demigod uninterested in
“dying” twice! Read or paraphrase the following:
The tunnel is unremarkable, appearing just like
every other cave you’ve trudged down so far, but
Oona stops suddenly, looking around her as if sensing
something. Then you feel it as well—a subtle pulse
in your body, as if it were pulsating in time with a
great heart. Overhead is a crack through which filters
a pale, purple light. Oona hammers pitons into the
rock, and before long you climb into the crack, which
twists this way and that through veined white stone,
never more than a pace across. All the while the light
grows brighter. Finally, you emerge on the floor of
a dazzling cavity, some 300 meters high. Amethyst
crystals growing inward from every surface create a
rough purple “floor,” while even larger crystals the
size of tree trunks turn the place into a labyrinth.
Soft purple light suffuses everything, emanating
from the core of every crystal. The light reflects off the
crystals on the far surfaces of the geode, like thousands
of stars glittering in a purple dusk. The sight is so
breathtakingly beautiful, you spend long moments in
stunned silence just taking it all in.
The moment is cut short by the sound of skittering
around you. Small creatures like crystalline spiders
dart between the tall formations around you. They
stay hidden, spotted only for a moment as they rush
from one crystal to another.
Cower before Gorm!
Then you see something else: A large sphere glides
up and out of the crystals on a far “wall” of the geode.
As it draws nearer you realize it is also made of
whitish purple crystals that rapidly grow and shrink,
constantly changing the sphere’s basic shape. Several
crystals emerge in a pattern evocative of a face, which
glares hideously down upon you. In a voice that
resonates throughout the entire geode, the sphere
says, “COWER. COWER BEFORE GORM AND
PREPARE FOR DEATH.”
Gorm does not attack immediately, instead
savoring the moment. Clever Storm Knights
may take this opportunity to draw Gorm into a
conversation, though it offers information only
sparingly, and cuts things off instantly if it meets
trickery, mockery, resistance, or simply becomes
bored. As soon as this happens, the swarms of
Skitters attack from all sides.
During this encounter, it rapidly becomes
apparent that Gorm is quite insane. The eons have
55
 fragmented its personality, just like the many facets
of the crystals of its prison. Gorm’s face shifts every
ten seconds or so, its voice and demeanor changing
with it, as the myriad personalities emerge and fall
back. Every round the GM should roll a Bonus Die;
Gorm’s personality, desires, and even methods of
attack change depending on the result:
• 1: Penitent. Gorm begs for release from its
prison, apologizes for its wrongs, and asks
Dunad for forgiveness. During combat, Gorm
turns its attentions on the swarms of Skitters,
aiding the heroes as it can.
• 2: Crazed. Gorm screams and gibbers, its
mind completely unhinged. It takes no actions,
nor can it communicate. However, it emits a
pulse of powerful, mind-scrambling horror.
Any living being inside the geode must pass an
Easy (DN 8) Spirit test or be Stymied, or Very
Stymied on a Mishap. The Skitters are immune
to this effect.
• 3: Confused. Gorm accuses the Storm Knights
of being Dunad in disguise, of being figments
of his imagination, or of being the Gaunt Man
come back to continue their battle. In combat,
Gorm summons a new swarm of Skitters.
• 4: Devious. Gorm uses lies and deceit to get
the heroes to let down their guard or turn the
heroes against one another. In combat it causes
new crystals to grow from the surface, either
creating a wall between allies (approximately 3
meters wide and 3 meters tall) or lifting a single
character up 6 meters from the floor.
• 5: Enraged. Gorm becomes overwhelmed
with rage and fury. If he isn’t already in combat,
Gorm ends any communication and simply
attacks. In combat he selects the nearest target
and focuses an attack on that individual.
• ∞: Focused. For a moment, Gorm is its old
self—cruel, prideful, and drunk on power. It
sometimes uses its booming voice to intimidate
its opponents, or simply acts in whatever way
would be best in the moment.
The floor of the geode is rough but does not
significantly impede movement. However, as a
strange phenomenon at the center of Aysle gravity
doesn’t work quite as expected. A Storm Knight
may stand on any flat surface as if it were the floor,
even if that surface is a wall or the ceiling from
56
another Storm Knight’s perspective! The heroes
can circumnavigate to any point on the geode’s
inner surface, though they may need to jump to
change perspective and switch to another surface.
Gorm can swivel to face any direction it likes, and
is not subject to gravitational pull.
• Gorm: see below
• Skitter Swarm (1 per 2 Storm Knights): see
below
GORM, THE MAD GOD
Although Gorm did not begin its existence this
way, it now appears as a huge sphere made of
crystals, which constantly jut outward and recede
back. It uses these crystals to form temporary faces.
A bright light shines deep inside its body, and it
flies without need of wings or any other apparent
form of locomotion. Gorm’s fractured sanity makes
it unpredictable. It burns with anger at Dunad for
its imprisonment and wants nothing more than to
escape the geode—something it couldn’t do, even
if a large enough hole was carved into the geode’s
edge, for Gorm is bound by Dunad’s power to this
place for eternity. It is immortal, but not impervious
to harm; if its body is destroyed, it will gradually
form a new one over the span of several years.
Attributes: Charisma 10, Dexterity 8, Mind 16,
Spirit 18, Strength 12
Skills: Alteration 20, apportation 20, conjuration
20, divination 20, dodge 11, evidence analysis
18, find 18, intimidation 20, maneuver 11, missile
weapons 18, persuasion 13, reality 20, stealth 13,
taunt 13, tracking 17, trick 18, willpower 22
Move: 8 (fly only); Tough: 16 (4); Shock: 20;
Wounds: 4
Equipment: —
Perks: Spellcaster (absorb magic*, detect magic,
diminish, discern lies*, dispel magic, enhance, fear,
haste, invisibility, lightning, multiple images*, portal,
possibility rend, shield, silence*, slow, stun)
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Gorm’s body is made of crystal, and
gains +4 armor all over.
• Beam: Gorm can emit a concentrated beam of
light which does Damage 17, range 20/40/80.
• Dread: While Gorm is present, any Standard
Scene counts as a Dramatic Scene instead.
 • Fear: When first encountering Gorm in an act,
anyone must make a willpower or Spirit test or
CONCLUSION
be Very Stymied. The Storm Knights do not need to defeat Gorm,
• Flight: Move 8 in the air. they just need to collect a single crystal from inside
• Large: Gorm is a sphere around 7 meters this geode and escape with their lives. The crystals
across, and attacks against it gain a +2 bonus. are hard as diamond, with a Toughness of 25,
making it incredibly difficulty to chip off a piece
SKITTER SWARM under duress. The crystals may be attacked line
any other object (DN 6), and if damage exceeds
Skitters are animated splinters of crystal about the
toughness enough crystal chips free to finish the
size of a fist. In appearance they evoke spiders, but
job. If they destroy Gorm’s body, its soul retreats
do not share any biological traits of arachnids. The
into the geode and won’t come back for many
skitters harass the Storm Knights and try to engulf
years. The Skitter swarms, free from their master,
them so long as they remain inside the chamber.
escape from the Seed of the World into the near-
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 8, Mind 4, Spirit endless tunnels of the Underground, doubtless to
5, Strength 5 cause trouble elsewhere.
Skills: Find 5, dodge 9, maneuver 9
Having acquired the crystal needed for the
Move: 8; Tough: 7 (2); Shock: —; Wounds: 5
Carredon ritual, Oona can lead the heroes back
Equipment: —
to the surface, emerging where they entered or in
Perks: —
other parts of the realm of Aysle to begin the next
Possibilities: None
phase of their quest once Oona gets a feel for the
Special Abilities:
location they wish to reach.
• Armor: These creatures are made of crystal
and gain +2 armor all over.
• Engulf: Any creature inside this swarm
suffers Strength+1BD damage at the start of her
turn.
• Mindless: Skitters are immune to intimidation
and taunt interactions.
• Relentless: Skitters ignore Shock.
• Swarm: Single-target weapons do no damage
at all. Unarmed stomps and trashing deal half
damage. Area attacks do normal damage.

57
 T
he quest to locate the fourth Essence, the
skull of a lyche that is “both alive and dead,”
leads the heroes to the Corsair stronghold on
the Isle of Man. They meet a Corsair who heard of

BONE AND STEEL

an infamous marauder named Fortunato, known
for the living skull hanging from the bowsprit of
his ship. That Corsair can help them track down
Fortunato, but first they need to secure a ship
and recruit a crew, then seek out a hidden cache
containing a surprising assistant who can help
them find the evil captain. Along the way they
have a chance encounter with a poacher and her
sinking ship. At last, the Storm Knights chase down
Fortunato’s ship, The Black Doom, and discover
ACT FIVE:
the lyche’s skull won’t be as easy to acquire as they
thought!

OVERVIEW
Scene One: Shortly after beginning their search,
the heroes meet a Corsair who can help them track
down the lyche’s skull in exchange for a favor.
Scene Two: Now in possession of a ship of their
own, the Storm Knights start tracking Fortunato,
only to discover their actions have attracted a
pirate hunter.
Scene Three: In the strangely tropical islands
called The Gemstones, the trail of Fortunato leads
the team to an old ruin, where the evil pirate hides
his fortune. Matters are complicated by the arrival
of Uthorion’s Stalkers.
Scene Four: The heroes spot a ship in trouble in the
night. The only remaining survivor of a Sea Serpent
attack begs them to rescue the live animals trapped
in the hold, but there’s more to the survivor’s story
than at first seems.
Scene Five: With the aid of a mermaid, they track
Fortunato to Norway and battle his terrifying war
galleon, only to be pinned in by a rival Corsair. In
the confrontation, they discover Fortunato is really
a lyche, and they need to defeat him to get his skull.

58
 SCENE ONE: HOIST THE
BLACK FLAG FORTUNATO’S SECRET
The Storm Knights spend much of this act
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. The
believing the lyche skull mentioned in the
Storm Knights have little information with which
prophecy, one that is “both alive and dead,” is
to begin their search, so upon their arrival on the
an animated skull hanging from the bowsprit
Isle of Man, they’ll need to do some investigation.
of a former Corsair named Fortunato, whose
Read or paraphrase the following:
ship is said to be crewed by the dead. Everyone
The population of the Isle of Man has always been knows of the skull, which continuously howls
sparse, but since the invasion, very little of it is dire warnings to the opposition.
inhabited—at least not by humans. Its many ancient
What no one knows is that, in addition to
ruins are how home to monsters, its rolling hills
studying swordplay and navigation, Fortunato
dangerous and untracked. Only a few human towns
also spent his life studying the arcane arts.
remain, all of them huddled along the coast. The largest
Some time ago, he discovered an ancient
of these is Douglas, where the local lord, Viscount
tome describing the dark secret to becoming a
Kaylock Gerrick, maintains the law of Ardinay from a
lyche. Casting his soul into a ruby, Fortunato
castle overlooking the harbor. Despite an uneasy peace
completed the ritual and became immortal
with the Corsairs, you’re far more likely to see the Jolly
through undeath. However, he keeps this
Roger flying from the rowdy towns along the island’s
transformation secret by continuing to “wear”
southernmost stretch, Castletown and Port Erin.
his old body, using his magic to hold back the
Ask where they’d prefer to start their search; the inevitable decay and giving him the appearance
walled town of Douglas, or one of the more lawless of being healthy and alive. It is his skull the
Corsair communities. Douglas is safer, larger, and Storm Knights need to acquire to fulfill their
has a Delphi Council safehouse in a flat along quest.
Castle Street near the harbor. Castletown or Port
Erin are unruly, with only a token garrison and no
safehouse, but the residents might be more likely
to have leads. DOUGLAS
Depending on where they choose, they meet If the heroes start in Douglas, or end up there, read
one of two Corsairs currently locked in a blood or paraphrase the following:
feud—“Black Charlotte” Meade, and Sébastien de
The gray stone buildings of Douglas stretch along
Villiers. For a time, de Villiers was Black Charlotte’s
the length of a bay, hemmed in on three sides by a
quartermaster aboard her brigantine, the Sea
fortress wall flying the banner of Ardinay and House
Blade, but one night, drunk and feeling lucky, she
Gerrick. Staid soldiers patrol the narrow avenues,
wagered the Sea Blade against de Villiers’ share of
which bustles with throngs of fishermen, traders, and
a recent plunder, and lost. Now Black Charlotte
mongers. Tall trading ships stand in the harbor, along
nurses her misfortune in Port Erin, convinced de
with a motley assortment of untransformed fishing
Villiers won through trickery and plotting to steal
trawlers. The clang of buoys and the cry of gulls can be
back the Sea Blade.
heard from every part of town, and a cold wind blows
Meanwhile, de Villiers plundered ships around off the water.
the Irish Sea, then hid the Sea Blade and sneaked
The Delphi Council safehouse is a room in the
into the fort town of Douglas to arrange for new
basement of a pub, operated by a father/daughter
cannons, only to be captured by soldiers and
duo. It is stocked with a variety of common Ayslish
thrown in jail for violating his Letter of Marque,
weapons and gear. Most townsfolk, including
which only permits him to target Vikings and other
the soldiers, have little knowledge about such
agents of Uthorion.
things as lyche skulls, but they all agree it sounds
like something Sébastien de Villiers, a notorious

59
 Corsair, might know about, as he flies a screaming AYSLISH MERCHANT SCHOONER
skull as flag. Unfortunately, de Villiers is in jail for
This wooden 21-meter two-masted gaff-rigged
violating the terms of his Letter of Marque. Getting
vessel is built for hauling cargo, not for battle,
in to see him is only possible with a Hard (DN 14)
though it maintains some defenses for repelling
persuasion test performed on the guards outside the
boarders. It can operate at listed efficiency with as
blocky prison, or a Very Hard (DN 16) stealth test to
few as 8 crew.
clamber up the jailhouse walls and enter through a
guardpost on the roof. Top Speed: 20 kph (8); Tough: 16; Wounds: 3
Very Large: Attacks against the schooner gain a +4
The jail has only six cells. All are empty except the
bonus due to its size.
one containing de Villiers. He instantly recognizes
Maneuverability: –4 penalty to water vehicles for
the goal of their quest, having based his own flag
defenses or chases.
off Fortunato’s eerie ship ornament after a short
Passengers: 30
stint sailing with him. He doesn’t know where
Weapons: 3 Ayslish Cannons (Damage 20,
Fortunato is—but he knows how to find out and is
100/250/500, reload).
willing to help if the heroes get him out of prison
before his execution in three days. If they can’t, or
won’t, they’ll eventually need to go to Port Erin
CORE EARTH TRAWLER
and try their luck in that pirate haven. The typical 18-meter trawler has a steel hull with a
300 hp engine suitable for long haul fishing. It has
Busting him out unavoidably leads to confrontation
two swivel-mounted derricks that can drag heavy
with the guards, who possess the key to his cell and
nets then hoist their catch into the refrigerated
don’t take kindly to such an illegal act. The loyal
hold. It can operate at listed efficiency with as few
guards can be bribed or coerced with a Very Hard
as 3 crew.
(DN 16) persuasion or intimidation test, but a failure
alerts the entire garrison. Once de Villiers out, the Top Speed: 18 kph (8); Tough: 18; Wounds: 3
guards give pursuit—an excellent opportunity for Very Large: Attacks against the trawler gain a +4
a chase through the crowded port streets. There’s bonus due to its size.
no time to arrange legal passage, but there are Maneuverability: –4 penalty to water vehicles for
three unguarded vessels tied off at the wharf: an defenses or chases.
Ayslish merchant schooner, a Core Earth trawler, Passengers: 12
and a Core Earth catamaran. Any vessel gets them Weapons: Swivel-mounted 7.62mm Minigun
out of the harbor before the garrison can scramble (Damage 15, 100/500/1K, Heavy burst, Bulky).
to intercept them in a ship of the line.
CORE EARTH CATAMARAN
• Guards (3 per Storm Knight): see below.
• Sébastien de Villiers: see below This 12-meter double-hulled vessel is designed
for cruising and leisure. Catamarans are known
for their speed, in part due to the reduced contact
GUARDS area of the sleek twin hulls. It can operate at listed
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 8, Mind 7, Spirit efficiency with as few as 2 crew.
8, Strength 8
Top Speed: 65 kmh (11) Fast; Tough: 16; Wounds:
Skills: Dodge 10, find 8, heavy weapons 9,
2
intimidation 9, maneuver 9, melee weapons 9,
Fast: Speed grants a +2 bonus in chases or a –2
stealth 9, unarmed combat 9
penalty on any attempts.
Move: 8; Tough: 10 (2); Shock: 8; Wounds: —
Very Large: Attacks against the catamaran gain a
Equipment: Chain mail (Armor +2), Halberd
+4 bonus due to its size.
(Strength +4/12, Reach 2 meters, Two Handed).
Maneuverability: –2 penalty to water vehicles for
Perks: —
defenses and chases.
Possibilities: Rare (2)
Passengers: 8
Special Abilities: —
Weapons: None.

60
 SÉBASTIEN DE VILLIERS
Though not terribly likeable, de Villiers is
undeniably one of the best gunners plying Ayslish
waters. He is taciturn, no-nonsense, and peppers
his common speech with terms from his native
French. He wears a powdered wig and tricorn hat.
His dark red waistcoat hides several pistols.
Attributes: Charisma 7, Dexterity 10, Mind 9,
Spirit 8, Strength 8
Skills: Dodge 12, evidence analysis 10, find 11,
fire combat 15, heavy weapons 14, intimidation
9, maneuver 11, melee weapons 12, persuasion
8, reality 9, stealth 11, taunt 8, trick 10, water
vehicles 14
Move: 10; Tough: 9 (1); Shock: 8; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Leather jerkin (armor +1), Rapier
(Strength +2/10, Quick), Two wheel-lock pistols
(Damage 13, 5/10/20, Reload)
Perks: Sniper
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities: —
PORT ERIN
If the heroes start in Port Erin, or end up there, read
or paraphrase the following:
Port Erin is a rowdy port, her wooden buildings
unkempt and her cobbled streets crowded with rogues,
ruffians, and outlaws of every type. Energetic music
blares from taverns, and the smoke from savory meats
mingles with the odor of gunpowder and briny water.
Corsair ships of all sizes lie at anchor in the sheltered
waters of the harbor, each flying a different black flag.
There is no Delphi Council safehouse here, but
heroes can find any number of rooms to let. Asking
around for lyche skulls gets the heroes confused
looks, but their inquiries are overheard by Black
Charlotte, currently despondent about the loss
of her ship and deep in her cups. She sees an
opportunity to get the Sea Blade back. She knows
how to find a ship bearing a half-alive lyche skull,
and will happily help them find it if they help her
reacquire her ship from the “mutineers who stole
it.” If they are unwilling or unable to help, they’ll
need to search elsewhere in Douglas.
Should they agree to help Black Charlotte, she
leads them to a spot elsewhere along the coast
where de Villiers has hidden the Sea Blade inside
a sea cave, guarded by several of his crew as they
await his return from Douglas. A narrow back
passage, guarded by a trio of surly ruffians, leads
from the trail down into the cave, where Corsairs
have constructed a rickety building and wharf
from old planks. Several lean-tos occupy a sandy
beach near a pair of longboats. The dripping
cavern ceiling is high enough overhead to permit
a ship to enter safely without snapping a mast and
connects to the sea via a serpentine tunnel lined
with dangerous rocks. Only a handful are aboard
the brigantine at the moment, the rest celebrating
around a fire on the cave’s beach. They give chase
in the longboats with their muskets but can’t hope
to catch the Sea Blade once she’s in open waters.
• Buccaneer (3 per Storm Knight): see below.
• Black Charlotte: see page 62.
BUCCANEER
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 8, Mind 6, Spirit
8, Strength 7
Skills: Dodge 11, find 7, fire combat 10, heavy
weapons 10, intimidation 9, maneuver 10, melee
weapons 10, stealth 10, water vehicles 10
Move: 8; Tough: 8 (1); Shock: 8; Wounds: —
Equipment: Leather jerkin (Armor +1), Cutlass
(Strength +2/9), blunderbuss (Damage 14, 5/10/15,
Reload).
Perks: —
Possibilities: Rare (2)
Special Abilities: —
THE SEA BLADE
Black Charlotte’s ship is a typical brigantine, a
wooden 30-meter two-masted vessel with square
topsails and a gaff mainsail. It can operate at listed
efficiency with as few as 10 crew.
Top Speed: 20 kmh (8); Tough: 20; Wounds: 4
Very Large: Attacks against the Sea Blade gain a +4
bonus due to its size.
Maneuverability: –4 penalty to water vehicles for
defenses and chases.
Passengers: 100
Weapons: 5 Ayslish Cannons (Damage 20,
100/250/500, reload).
61
 BLACK CHARLOTTE
“Black Charlotte” Meade is quick-witted and
acrobatic, known for her long black hair and
thick Irish brogue. What few know is that she was
originally a movie star from Terra, but when the
roles started drying up, she absconded with her
old pirate costume and decided to put her acting
experience to work as an Ayslish Corsair. The
Irish brogue isn’t real, but her skill with a sword is
undeniable. Her flag is the sword-and-rose.
Attributes: Charisma 9, Dexterity 10, Mind 7,
Spirit 7, Strength 7
Skills: Dodge 14, find 10, heavy weapons 12,
intimidation 9, maneuver 14, melee weapons 14,
persuasion 10, reality 9, stealth 11, taunt 12, trick
9, unarmed combat 11, water vehicles 14
Move: 10; Tough: 8 (1); Shock: 7; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Leather jerkin (armor +1), Cutlass
(Strength +3/10).
Perks: Indomitable, Whirlwind
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities: —
SCENE TWO: BEAT TO
QUARTERS!
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. Having
secured a guide (either de Villiers or Black
Charlotte), the Storm Knights head south toward
the “Gemstones” in hopes of learning Fortunato’s
location. They stop over first in Port Erin, where
they have an opportunity to take care of some
business:
• Hire crew: Make a Standard (DN 10)
persuasion test. On a success, they may hire 2BD
of crew, with an additional +1BD per Good and
Outstanding Success. On a Failure, only 1BD
crew sign up. Crew use the Sailor stats from
page 99.
• Purchase supplies: Requisitioning supplies
for the voyage is a Standard (DN 10) streetwise
test. Failure means they’ll need to purchase
supplies again in the Gemstones.
• Make repairs: Ensuring the ship is ready for
travel is a Standard (DN 10) water vehicles test,
based on Mind rather than Dexterity. Hired crew
62
may contribute to this roll using a Combined
Action. Failure means any Wounds already
taken by the ship remain unrestored.
• Contact Dunn: Barnabas Dunn is a bosun
who sailed with Fortunato and knows where
the evil pirate stores his ill-gotten gains. While
the other business is being completed, either de
Villiers or Black Charlotte secures his aid.
When they’re once more underway, their Corsair
companion provides some more information about
their destination and what lies there:
“Ahead of us lie the Gemstones, a cluster of tiny islands
where the land ends and the ocean begins. Unlike the
rest of these waters, the sea around the Gemstones is
warm and clear. It comes up through a great blue hole
in the center, which some say plunges directly down
to Aysle herself, connecting her warm inner seas to the
colder ones here. Whatever the case, the Gemstones are
near deserted. Only a small encampment of Corsairs
is down there; the rest are thick forested islands said to
be haunted. Rumor has it that Fortunato himself hides
some of his riches there, and what’s more, he has an
ensorcelled mermaid there to guard his vault. It’ll be
his undoing: We break the mermaid’s bind, and she’ll
lead us directly to him. We just need to know where
she’s kept…”
At that, the Corsair trails off, gaze riveted toward
the sea behind you. “We have a pirate hunter
behind us. Looks like that damned elf, Sundamar.
To stations!”
Sundamar Elwenys, captain of the frigate
Indomitable, was sent by the Parliament of
Captains to bring back the escaping ship. If de
Villiers is aboard, this is in response to his escape
from jail; if Black Charlotte is aboard, it is for theft
of the Sea Blade. Sundamar is obsessive and takes
his duties seriously.
FLEE OR FIGHT
The heroes need to decide if they wish to flee
or fight. In either case, use the Battles at Sea
suggestions on page 33 to run this encounter.
One of the players should take control of the
Captain, or a Storm Knight with water vehicles
should step in to command the craft during the
battle after the Captain is conveniently injured—
perhaps by Sundamer’s drake.
 The crew of the ship serve to meet the minimums
for operation, which leaves the Storm Knights free
to use Combined Actions to aid the Captain’s water
vehicles test.
• Indomitable: See below.
• Captain Sundamar Elwenys: See below.
• Percy: See below.
• Ayslish Sailors (40): see page 99. They
don’t start off armed, but in a boarding action 10
sailors are issued a Cutlass (Damage Strength
+2) and a Ayslish Wheel-lock (Damage 13,
Range 5/10/20, Reload, Pistol) each round.
• Wizard (one): see page 100.
CAPTURED!
Being captured by Sundamar means being
thrown in a brig in Port Erin to await a hearing by
the Parliament of Captains—or planning a daring
escape! Alternatively the Delphi Council may have
a representative nearby who can negotiate the
team’s release, minus the ship and their guide!
INDOMITABLE
Indomitable is a three-masted, wooden frigates and
more than a match for anything less than a modern
warship. Indomitable has 40 sailors aboard,with
half operating the rigging and the rest on deck or
working below as gunners on the cannons. Captain
Elwenys is also careful to bring a mage along as
part of his crew when he expects trouble—which
is always.
Top Speed: 25 kmh (9); Tough: 25; Wounds: 5
Very Large: Attacks against a frigate gain a +4
bonus due to its size.
Maneuverability: –4 penalty to water vehicles for
defenses and chases.
Passengers: 150
Weapons: 8 Ayslish Cannons (Damage 20,
100/250/500, reload).
SUNDAMAR ELWENYS
Sundamar is a High Elf, a rarity among the Corsairs.
He is notoriously obsessed with enforcing fealty
among the Parliament of Corsairs. Perched on his
shoulder is a young drake named Percy. Sundamar
wears a fancy doublet and a wide-brimmed hat
with a massive peacock feather in the band.
Attributes: Charisma 8, Dexterity 9, Mind 7, Spirit
8, Strength 7
Skills: Dodge 12, find 9, heavy weapons 12,
intimidation 10, maneuver 13, melee weapons
13, persuasion 9, stealth 11, taunt 10, trick 9,
unarmed combat 10, water vehicles 15
Move: 9; Tough: 8 (1); Shock: 8; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Leather jerkin (armor +1), Elf
longsword (Strength +3/10, Holy, Attacks by
Elves Favored).
Perks: Beast Friend, Drake Friend
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities: —
PERCY
This youthful, bright red dragon is about the size
of a macaw. Early in the battle Percy flies low along
the sealine to get near the Storm Knight’s ship in an
attempt to incapacitate the Captain and flee back to
Sundamar for a reward of crackers.
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 10, Mind 5,
Spirit 8, Strength 7
Skills: Dodge 11, find 7, intimidation 9, maneuver
11, missile weapons 11, stealth 11, trick 7,
unarmed combat 11
Move: 10; Tough: 8 (1); Shock: 8; Wounds: 1
Equipment: —
Perks: —
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Scaly hide +1.
• Bite/Claws: Strength +1 (8).
• Fire Breath: The young drake may spit fire,
dealing Damage 12 to a Small Blast radius up to
20 meters away. The attack uses missile weapons
to hit, and may not be used again for another
minute.
• Small: Attacks against the drake suffer a –2
penalty due to its small size.
• Wings: The drake has a Flight move of 10, and
can “rush” up to 50 meters in a round.
63
 SCENE THREE: ON THE
BEACH
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. Once their
ship arrives at the Gemstones, the Storm Knights
need to contend with several island hazards as they
seek out the hiding place of Fortunato’s treasure.
Read or paraphrase the following:
The “Gemstones” were once the Isles of Scilly, a
cluster of flat, windswept islands before the axiom
change, but now an isolated subtropical archipelago.
As you draw nearer, the sea shifts from slate gray to a
rich, transparent turquoise. Colorful fish dart among
the remains of a sunken ship below your keel. The air
is balmy, and the low hills are covered in lush jungle
growth.
The warm waters here well up from a huge blue
hole just off the north shore of St. Mary’s island,
smack dab in the middle of the archipelago. The
blue hole, known locally as “The Pit,” tunnels
straight through the Land Between to the hot inner
seas of Asyle, which pumps a constant upwelling
of heated water through the Pit. As a result, these
islands enjoy a subtropical micro climate that
extends a couple dozen kilometers in any direction.
Few pre-invasion locals live here anymore, but
Hugh Town remains as a Corsair encampment.
There are a few solid buildings—mostly taverns,
brothels, or warehouses for purloined goods. The
rest are a ramshackle collection of cabins, chanteys,
lean-tos, and tents with an ebbing and flowing
population of leisure-seeking Corsairs between
voyages. There are never more than a few hundred
buccaneers in Hugh Town at any time, but there’s
always a ship or two being reefed and repaired in
the harbor.
If the heroes are in need of supplies or repairs, they
can stop over at Hugh Town. The same services
are available as in Port Erin, though costlier. All
difficulties are increased to Challenging (DN 12).
Barnabas Dunn guides the Storm Knights’ ship
toward the eastern shore of Old Grimsby island.
There, he recalls, Fortunato hides some of his
treasures in a ruined fort just inland from the
beach. Read or paraphrase the following:
Taking the longboat, you cross a coral reef to a
shallow, sandy-bottomed inlet, then drag the boat onto
64
the beach. Sand crunches underfoot. A warm breeze
hisses through ranks of palm trees dotting the edge of
the forest. Colorful Ayslish birds flutter overhead. The
scene is surreal, especially in this part of the world.
But the tranquility is shattered moments later when
huge crabs as big as people burst out of the sand.
The crabs are hungry, aggressive, and fight to the
death.
• Giant Crabs (1 per Storm Knight): see below.
GIANT CRAB
These shore crabs are much larger than their typical
cousins, nearly three meters from side to side.
Attributes: Charisma 4, Dexterity 8, Mind 4, Spirit
8, Strength 11
Skills: Dodge 9, find 8, intimidation 10, stealth 10,
taunt (9), trick (9), unarmed combat 10
Move: 8; Tough: 15 (4); Shock: 8; Wounds: —
Equipment: —
Perks: —
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Thick exoskeleton +4.
• Pincer: Damage Strength +2 (13).
• Swim: Move 11 in the water.
THE OLD FORT
When the crabs are defeated, the Storm Knights
discover a faint trail that cuts into the jungle. The trail
winds for nearly 100 meters through dense trees.
Three skeletons hang in rusty gibbets as a warning
to interlopers. Just past them is an old ruined fort,
now not much more than low, crumbling walls
swallowed by jungle growth. Fortunato used this
fort as a base for a few months, leaving it littered
with busted kegs and crates, broken swords, and
other detritus.
Dunn takes a moment to relate everything he
remembers about this place:
• Fortunato killed several crew and left their
animated bodies to guard the ruins.
• The stash itself is in a cavern at the bottom of
a well.
• Fortunato has a captive mermaid down in the
well acting as an unwilling guardian. A glass
float controls her actions.
 Anishaa can swashbuckle with the best of them!
In a center courtyard is the boarded-up well. A
tripwire connected to the well cover fires an arrow,
which strikes a random party member for 12+1BD
(or 12+2BD on a Mishap) and can be avoided with a
Standard find test or Hard (DN 14) dodge test.
The well’s shaft plunges 12 meters then opens
into an underground cavern, dominated by a deep,
clear pool in the center. Small air shafts let in thin
beams of sunlight, breaking the gloom.
THE MERMAID
In the pool is the mermaid, Moira, whom Fortunato
forced into his service by binding her soul to a
conch shell he keeps aboard his ship. Another shell
concealed in the cave links her to him.
She starts off by singing to beguile her opponents,
then attacks anyone in the water, attempting to
drag them to the bottom of the pool where she
shackles them to a heavy ball and chain to drown
them.
She looks anguished and pleading when she
attacks, and her eyes flick to the shell any time she
makes eye contact with a Storm Knight. The well-
hidden shell requires a Very Hard (DN 16) find test
to locate, hanging from a shadowy spot high near
the ceiling and well out of her reach.
Along the shore of the pool are mounds of treasure
in chests, barrels, and boxes. Fortunato also left
more animated skeletons here, still stuck through
with the cutlasses that killed them.
65

FIRE ABOARD A SHIP
With mages and drakes about a close
encounter with flames is all but certain. Fire
can be especially dangerous on the wooden
boats favored in Aysle—or even modern metal
vessels! A fire breaks out on a Setback if either
side is using flaming attacks of any kind. On
the first round the flames deal 14 damage to
the ship, ignoring any Armor. Each subsequent
round the damage increases by+1 until it’s put
out or the ship is destroyed.
Fighting fire is done with either Science or
water vehicles test based on Mind instead of
Dexterity.. The DN is standard (10) unless
the ship has properties that make it harder
or easier. Only one test is rolled each round,
but anyone who wishes may Combine to help
with it. A success reduces the fire by 1 point of
Damage, a Good success reduces it by 2 points,
and an Outstanding by 3 points. If the fire
drops below 10 damage a round it’s put out for
good.
To complicate matters, Uthorion’s Stalkers
may arrive, taking advantage of the situation to
launch a surprise attack when the heroes are most
vulnerable.
When freed, the mermaid shares her information
with a lilting, beautiful voice.
• Her name is Moira, and she comes from a
colony off the Outer Hebrides.
• She has been in here for “many suns” but
does not have a human’s sense of time.
• Fortunato was hoping to fashion her into a
merrow, a form of merfolk twisted by Darkness
into cruel shadows of their former selves.
• To this end, he has her soul trapped in a conch
shell, which he keeps with him aboard his ship.
She can sense the direction of this conch, and is
willing to lead them directly to Fortunato.
66
Fortunato’s treasure is quite a haul and removing
it takes time. After Barnabas, the crewmembers,
and the party’s Corsair companion are paid, the
party’s share of the coins and jewelry provide
a +8 bonus to streetwise attempts to requisition
equipment, which can be spread among different
rolls over time.
• Zombies (2 per Hero): see page 101.
• Merfolk: see below
• Stalkers: see page 96.
MERFOLK
Merfolk (“mermaids” if female, “mermen” if male)
appear as extremely beautiful humans, but instead
of legs they have a long, pearlescent fish tail.
They are known for their beguiling song and are
usually aligned with Light, though some give their
souls over to Darkness and become merrow, their
features twisted and nightmarish.
Moira is a mermaid, and her beauty serves as a
clue that she’s not a servant of Darkness and is
being compelled to fight against her will.
Attributes: Charisma 10, Dexterity 9, Mind 7,
Spirit 8, Strength 7
Skills: Dodge 10, find 9, maneuver 10, melee
weapons 11, persuasion 12, stealth 11, survival 9,
taunt 12, trick 9, unarmed combat 10
Move: 9; Tough: 7; Shock: 8; Wounds: —
Equipment: Trident (Strength +2/9).
Perks: —
Possibilities: Rare (3)
Special Abilities:
• Siren song: A merfolk’s song is captivating,
filling all living Folk who hear it with longing
and desire. Each round, as a Simple action, she
may intone her song, making a persuasion test
against the willpower or Spirit of a target who
can hear her. On a Standard Success the target
is Stymied, or Very Stymied on a Good Success.
On an Outstanding Success, the victim is Very
Stymied and can take no other actions except to
move toward the mermaid then stand near her
in a hypnotic state, heedless of danger (though
he may still defend himself if attacked). Once a
target resists, he cannot fall victim to anymore
siren songs for the rest of the scene.
• Swim: Move 11 in the water.
 SCENE FOUR: THE DEEP
BLUE SEA
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. Having
freed Fortunato’s captive mermaid, the Storm
Knights can now follow her to find their quarry.
Once everyone is ready to depart Old Grimsby,
Moira takes the lead at the prow, gliding through
the waves on the bow wave, jumping and diving
in the sun. She leads the ship eastward through the
Aysle/Cyberpapacy Mixed Zones in the English
Channel, then northward across the North Sea.
Strong winds threaten to turn into a squall, and
the driving seas cause the ship to pitch and roll.
Lightning flickers occasionally in the heavy clouds
overhead. While unpleasant, this won’t force water
vehicles tests—yet. Late into the night, somewhere
near the middle of the North Sea, a random Storm
Knight or crew member spots a distant signal flare
arcing up into the night sky.
The team needs to decide if they want to respond
to the emergency flare. Someone is obviously in
trouble, but the mission to locate Fortunato is also
pressing. If they opt to press on, they continue into
the night with no further interactions. However,
if they go toward the sputtering red light, they
come upon a bad scene. Read or paraphrase the
following:
The flare still hangs in the air, its light slowly dying.
In the dim red glow, you see a 100-foot steel Core Earth
merchant vessel named the Aurora. She’s swamped
by water and floating at a 45° list. Something big
damaged her superstructure and caved in part of the
hull, leaving her helpless in the heavy sea. Dead bodies
bob in the water amid shattered detritus from the deck.
Several people huddling at her bow wave frantically
at you.
The Aurora is owned and operated by an Australian
Stormer named Piper Shaw, along with her team,
many of whom are now dead. They were attacked
half an hour ago by a Sea Serpent which wrapped
around the hull and squeezed, flooding part of the
hull before Piper ran it off with gunfire from the
ship’s mounted minigun. Her leg was broken in
the attack.
Piper is a poacher, specializing in the unique
creatures brought to Earth by the invasion. She
sells them on the black market, vanishing with the
cash before the creature can be transformed by its
new reality.
Of course, she doesn’t share any of this information
with the Storm Knights when they board the
Aurora. She claims they were transporting rescued
endangered animals to a sanctuary in London and
begs the heroes to go below and save them. If the
Storm Knights demur, she tries other strategies,
from offering large sums of money to letting them
know one animal is a rare winged horse.
If the heroes agree, they find the hold a hellish
place: lights from the damaged generator flicker
like strobes, the deck is slick and awkwardly tilted,
and cold North Sea water fills half the hold, which
is a jumble of supply crates and equipment thrown
around during the attack. Nothing down here
poses a threat, though any physical skill tests are
Hard (–4) due to the lighting and tilted floor.
At the far end of the hold they find the large
cage containing the winged horse, a white mare
with a black mane and wings. She is terrified at
the heroes’ approach. She can be calmed with a
Hard (DN 14) beast riding test using Spirit instead
of Dexterity, or with suitable magic, miracles, or
psionics. Otherwise, she bursts free when the cage
is opened; if the attempt to pacify her resulted in
a Mishap, she also attacks the nearest hero for one
round before fleeing for the open hatch. However,
she accepts anyone getting an Outstanding result
on the beast riding test as a rider (until the end of
this act, when she returns home).
Also in the hold are a tiny shimmering pixie in
a bottle, a white raven, and a type of magical cat
called a Grimalkin.
While the heroes are still in the hold (or at a
suitable moment if they opted not to go below),
the Sea Serpent returns to finish the job. Its arrival
causes the scene to immediately become Dramatic.
The Sea Serpent already has 3 Wounds from the
first attack. The Aurora has a swivel-mounted
7.62mm minigun on her bridge. Piper’s broken leg
limits her capabilities, but she can still shoot a gun
(at –1 due to her Wound). The tilting, slippery deck
and constant motion of the huge waves also imposes
a –2 to all Dexterity or Strength-based actions. The
Aurora herself is severely compromised; If the Sea
67
 Serpent deals it 1 more Wound, it shears in half and POACHER
sinks in 3 rounds. Anyone caught in the hold can
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 9, Mind 7, Spirit
swim out with a Very Hard (DN 16) Strength test,
7, Strength 8
but are otherwise trapped in an air bubble and ride
Skills: Beast riding 10, dodge 10, find 8,
the wreck down to the bottom, 100 meters below,
intimidation 8, maneuver 10, melee weapons 10,
where Moira is their only hope for escape.
missile weapons 11, stealth 11
Piper and her team try to steal the Storm Knights’ Move: 9; Tough: 11 (3); Shock: 7; Wounds: —
boat and abandon them if she can, writing off the Equipment: Stab vest (Armor +3), Glock 9mm
exotic creatures as a loss. She only admits to being (Damage 13, 10/25/40).
a poacher if threatened or tricked. If the heroes Perks: —
intentionally search other parts of the Aurora, on a Possibilities: Rare (2)
Standard (DN 10) find test they discover evidence Special Abilities: —
of her team’s poaching operations: cargo lists, sales
agreements, maps, and a weapons locker of nets SEA SERPENT
and traps.
This huge serpentine monster is the length of two
• Piper Shaw: see below city blocks. It currently has suffered two Wounds.
• Poachers (1 per hero): see below
Attributes: Charisma 3, Dexterity 8, Mind 5, Spirit
• Sea Serpent: see below
8, Strength 26
Skills: Dodge 10, find 5, intimidation (28),
PIPER SHAW maneuver (13), trick (8), unarmed combat 10
Piper is a shrewd and experienced poacher from Move: 14; Tough: 31 (5); Shock: 18; Wounds: 5*
Core Earth Australia. A former ADF soldier, she Equipment: —
tucks her short brown hair under a camouflage- Perks: —
printed baseball cap, and carries a submachine gun Possibilities: Never
under her khaki photographer’s jacket. Special Abilities:
• Armor: Thick scales +5.
Attributes: Charisma 7, Dexterity 9, Mind 8, Spirit
• Bite: Damage Strength +2 (26) to a Large Blast
8, Strength 7
radius.
Skills: Air vehicles 10, beast riding 11, dodge 12,
• Constrictor: Sea serpents attempt to grapple
find 12, fire combat 12, intimidation 12, land
any Very Large or Monstrous foe, and deal full
vehicles 11, maneuver 10, melee weapons 10,
Strength damage (26) on a Standard hit. If a foe
missile weapons 11, persuasion 10, reality 10,
is restrained, the serpent may make an unarmed
stealth 12, survival 10, tracking 12, trick 11,
combat attack to crush the trapped target as a
unarmed combat 12, water vehicles 10.
Simple Action.
Move: 2*; Tough: 7; Shock: 8; Wounds: 3*
• Dread: When this creature is present, any
Equipment: Boot knife (Strength +1/8, Small),
Standard Scene immediately becomes a
Tharkold Net Launcher (Damage 5, 5/10/15,
Dramatic Scene instead.
Small Blast), MAC-10 (Damage 13, 10/25/40,
• Monster: Sea serpents are so gigantic they
Short Burst).
don’t notice most opponents, making them
Perks: Adaptable, Double Tap, Endurance, Realm
immune to interactions from non-monsters.
Runner
Called Shots have no extra effect on them.
Possibilities: 3
• Very Large: Most Sea Serpents are over 80
Special Abilities:
meters long from head to tail. Attackers gain +4
• Broken Leg: Piper’s injury reduces her
to attack rolls due to its size.
movement to 2 during this scene. She has
already suffered 1 Wound.

68
 AURORA
This “coaster,” or coastal trading vessel, has a
tonnage of 300 GRT and a shallow draft. It can
operate at listed efficiency with as few as 10 crew.
It only has 1 Wound left.
Top Speed: 19 kmh (9); Tough: 30; Wounds: 4*
Very Large: Attacks against a coaster gain a +4
bonus due to its size.
Maneuverability: –4 penalty to water vehicles for
defenses and chases.
Passengers: 30
Weapons: Swivel-mounted 7.62mm Minigun
(Damage 15, 100/500/1K, Heavy burst, Bulky).
SCENE FIVE: SHIP OF
DEATH
Dramatic Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. Having
chosen whether to respond to the distress signal—
thereby having dealt with the sea serpent—the
team continue northward across the North Sea,
finally following the coast of Norway—a journey
that takes several days and grows colder and
colder. The cold doesn’t seem to bother Moira, but
at this latitude ice forms on the rigging and must
be continually chipped away, and long exposure to
the elements runs the risk of Fatigue (see Extreme
Heat/Cold in Torg Eternity). Along the way, the
ship may put in at any number of ports if the Storm
Knights are in need of additional supplies. The risk
of Viking attack is high in this area, but unless the
GM wants to give the heroes some more trouble,
they pass along the Norwegian coast without
attracting attention.
That comes to an end as Moira leads the ship deep
into narrow, icy fjords. Read or paraphrase the
following:
Moira speeds up, eager now that she senses her conch
close by. You leave the open sea and glide through
narrow, icy fjords, hemmed on both sides by towering
mountains. Chunks of ice thump against the hull as
69
 you sail the labyrinth of waterways. You start to see
floating debris—bits of shattered plank, broken oars,
even the occasional dead Viking—from destroyed
longships. There must have been a terrific battle here
recently.
Then, gliding low over a snowy mountain you see a
dark gray cloud from which hangs a curtain of distant
rain. There’s no way to avoid the storm, and in no
time, it sweeps over you. But instead of a squall line,
it brings an eerie, almost ghostly stillness, as you’re
enclosed by a mist that muffles sound and makes
colors fade. Even the sound of your sails catching the
chilly wind is stifled.
That’s when you notice a ship some ways behind you,
rounding a bend in the fjord and gaining fast.
This ship is captained by their Corsair companion’s
rival, Black Charlotte or de Villiers, dependent upon
with whom the Storm Knights partnered. Having
reversed their ill-fortune, they have tracked their
rival across the sea for revenge. Black Charlotte
is at the helm of her ship, the Sea Blade, while de
Villiers has the merchantman listed in Scene One.
THE ARRIVAL OF FORTUNATO
Just before the ships can fight, things suddenly
become dramatically worse. Read or paraphrase
the following:
Seconds later, a crew on watch shouts “Ahoy! Ship
off the starboard side! Coming in fast!” A massive
black ship looms out of the gloom storm, seeming
to come out of nowhere. Painted on the prow is her
name: The Black Doom. Her sails are torn and tattered
yet still fill with a dread wind. Her crew are rotten,
sea-bloated corpses shuffling about the deck, tugging
obediently on ratlines as they did in life. From her
bowsprit dangles a skull, its jaw chattering as it cries
dire warnings about your impending deaths. All along
her side, her gun port lids swivel open to reveal her
cannon, and she starts swinging about to fire!
The heroes are now locked in a simultaneous life-
or-death battle against Fortunato’s war galleon, The
Black Doom, and the rival Corsair’s ship. This fight
once again uses the Battles at Sea suggestions on
page 33. Distribute the Captain and any gunners
among the player to control—especially those who
don’t have much to contribute at range.
70
The team needs to keep their own ship afloat
long enough to board The Black Doom and
engage Fortunato himself, so they can acquire
the necessary lyche skull, but it won’t be an easy
fight. The gloom storm imposes a –2 Darkness
penalty to all tests, including attacks, Soaking, and
even Defeat. Partially-submerged rocks, and large
chunks of Viking longship debris, provide minor
hazards that deal 15+1BD damage to their ship on
a Mishap when testing water vehicles.
Use Mob Damage for all the sailors and crews
involved. That way when a ship suffers hits that
would deal Shock to the whole crew several sailors
are knocked out each time rather than the entire
crew getting knocked out after four or five hits!
Unlike the pirate hunter Sundamar, Fortunato is
not interested in boarding, and prefers to simply
annihilate the Storm Knights with cannon fire. If
their ship is destroyed, the Storm Knights can grab
hold of The Black Doom but the near-freezing
waters of the fjord automatically Fatigue them.
Moira’s song has no effect on Fortunato or his
crew—which could be a clue to astute heroes.
Worse, now that she’s close enough he reasserts
his control over Moira without needing the shell,
and commands her to turn against her allies once
again. She’s powerless to resist so long as he holds
her soul in a conch, but a Player’s Call Interaction
Attack or a –6 Called Shot can destroy the conch or
cause him to lose it when he reveals it to compel
her.
Once on board The Black Doom, the heroes face
hordes of Fortunato’s undead sailors. When they
finally get to the bowsprit, reaching the chattering
skull is a Very Hard (DN 16) Dexterity test. Almost
immediately upon retrieving it, the Storm Knights
realize it is a mere enchantment, not a lyche skull
at all.
The moment Fortunato takes a Wound, the injury
reveals his true nature, and the heroes realize that
to get the “half-alive, half-dead” lyche skull, they’ll
need to defeat Fortunato himself!
With no one at the helm, The Black Doom surges
wildly through the waves on a collision course for a
jagged, rocky cliff. A Standard (DN 10) find notices
this impending trouble. On the fifth round of the
fight, if no one has taken over the helm, The Black
Doom collides with the rocks with such a fury that
it is torn asunder. Any remaining undead sailors
are pitched into the sea, but Fortunato continues
to fight on the ever-shifting deck as it splinters into
fragments all around.
And then, The Black Doom is no more.
• Zombies (10 per Storm Knight): see page
101. Note that each zombie’s Toughness
increases +1 thanks to Fortunado’s magic.
• Fortunato: see below.
THE BLACK DOOM
Fortunato’s ship is a modified war galleon, a
50-meter three-masted vessel built for strength. It
can operate at listed efficiency with as few as 25
crew, but it’s carrying far more zombies than it
needs, based on the size of the group.
Top Speed: 20 kmh (8); Tough: 30; Wounds: 5
Very Large: Attacks against The Black Doom gain
a +4 bonus due to its size.
Maneuverability: –6 penalty to water vehicles for
defenses and chases.
Passengers: 160
Weapons: 10 Ayslish Cannons (Damage 20,
100/250/500, reload).
FORTUNATO
The notorious Corsair, Fortunato, is by turns bold,
brash, imperious, and cruel. He wears a black tunic
and breeches, pulls his black hair back under a
bandanna, and wears an eye patch that conceals
the ruby which contains his soul. When he takes
a Wound, his true nature—a bony, magic-infused
skeleton, is revealed.
Attributes: Charisma 10, Dexterity 10, Mind 10,
Spirit 9, Strength 8
Skills: Alteration 15, apportation 14, conjuration
14, divination 15, dodge 14, find 12, fire combat
14, heavy weapons 12, intimidation 12, maneuver
15, melee weapons 16, persuasion 13, reality 11,
scholar 15, stealth 12, taunt 13, trick 12, unarmed
combat 12, water vehicles 15, willpower 10
Move: 10; Tough: 9 (1); Shock: 9; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Leather jerkin (armor +1), Rapier
(Strength +2/10, Quick), Ayslish Wheel-lock
(Damage 13, 5/10/20, Reload).
Perks: Indomitable, Magister, Necromancer (bind
entity, create zombie, detect undead, disguise, fear,
possess animal, possibility rend, skeletal shield, speak
with dead, summon skeleton, vision of harm), Blood
Magic
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities:
• Command Undead: Mindless undead within
50 meters of the lyche obey its orders and gain
the Horde Special Ability (Combined Actions
on attacks add a bonus to damage as well as to
the test).
• Dread: When a lyche is present, any Standard
Scene immediately becomes a Dramatic Scene
instead.
• Gloater: When taunt or intimidation are
Approved Actions, Fortunato may affect the
entire party without a Multi-Target penalty.
Affected heroes lose a random card from their
hand.
• Insidious: When a lyche succeeds at an
Approved Action, remove a random Destiny
Card from each affected Storm Knight’s Action
Pools.
• Minions: A lyche may transfer any hit to a
lackey within a few meters if he succeeds at a
reality test.
• Undead: Lyches are immune to poison and
other effects that require breathing, eating, or
other “living” processes.
AFTERMATH
With Fortunato dead, the heroes can claim his
skull and embark on the next stage of their quest,
while the seas of Aysle are free of the scourge of
Fortunato. If their Corsair companion survived
the battle, he or she wishes to keep any surviving
ships, but will gladly deliver the Storm Knights
to the port nearest their next destination. They’ve
made a valuable contact within the Parliament of
Captains.
71
 T
he quest for the Carredon’s heart brings the
heroes to London in search of a dwarven
inventor named Aelward, who recently

AMAZING ENGINE
completed a machine he claims can connect parallel
worlds. Unfortunately, a powerful thieves’ guild
raided his lab and stole the eternium core that
powers the machine, leading the Storm Knights on
a dangerous quest to get it back before it can be sold
off. Only after returning the strange power source
can Aelward’s machine get them to the Carredon’s
home to find its corpse and retrieve the heart .
AELWARD’S Begin this act when the Storm Knights are ready
to seek the Carredon’s heart.
ACT SIX:

OVERVIEW
Scene One: The Storm Knights learn a critical
eternium core was stolen from Aelward’s
laboratory. They’ll need to use the few clues left
behind to track down the thieves in spots around
London.
Scene Two: The guild that stole the eternium
catches wind that the heroes are after them and
sets up an ambush.
Scene Three: The eternium core is up for sale in the
most dangerous place in London: the Isle of Dogs
rookery. The heroes need to locate the guildhall
before the crucial piece can be sold to Pan-Pacifica
agents.
Scene Four: Infiltrating the guildhall, the heroes
come face-to-face with the potential buyers—and
the powerful guildmaster herself.
Scene Five: Now that the Amazing Engine is
functional once more, Aelward transports the
Storm Knights to the Carredon’s dead home world,
where they have to contend with a terrible new
threat and retrieve the heart, before the tenuous
connection with Core Earth is severed forever.

SCENE ONE: THE STREETS

OF LONDON
Standard Scene. Aysle/Core Earth Mixed Zone.
Getting the Carredon’s heart presents perhaps
the greatest challenge of them all, as aside from
Tolwyn – who remembers only pieces—no one has

72
 No one is sure whether “clankers” are a new type of elemental or something more sinister.
seen the Carredon in a hundred years, and no one
knows where it died. The best option is to seek out
Aelward, a dwarven inventor known for his study
of cosm theory. Aelward recently set up shop in
Marylebone, a borough on the outskirts of London
that is a mixed zone—perfect for tinkering. Read or
paraphrase the following:
London is a city under siege. The reality of Aysle
pushes in on every flank, seeping between the ragged
edges of hundreds of hardpoints large and small, until
the streets resemble a crazy patchwork of realities. The
steadfast Londoners remaining in the city core, where
the hardpoints become numerous enough to merge
into one massive Core Earth zone, man a hastily-made
wall and guard against incursions of fell beasts from
above and below. Once more, London must hunker
down against enemy forces.
Moving through the city takes a great deal of time and
is rife with danger. Abandoned buildings look bombed-
out, perhaps suffering attacks from dragons or giants.
Heaps of rubble and debris, swept into piles in the
street, make for difficult maneuvering and sometimes
block entire routes. On the soot-streaked walls, austere
posters offer moral support: “STIFF UPPER LIP” or
“PULL TOGETHER AND STAY STRONG”.
Following directions given by harried cityfolk along
the way, you locate Aelward’s corner house, a three-
story stone structure in Marylebone. Answering
the door is a stocky, middle-aged dwarf with mutton
chops and a greasy work apron. Once he establishes
your credentials, he peers behind you to make sure you
weren’t followed, then leads you in and throws several
locks.
Aelward leads you up three flights of stairs as he
talks in animated gestures about his work, peppering
his speech with nearly indecipherable technical jargon.
He seems like a shut-in, excited for the opportunity to
share his inventions.
73
 Upstairs is his workshop, a huge open room
dominates most of the top floor. Machines of different
sizes and types lie on tables, benches, and even the
floor, and scattered everywhere are tools and parts. An
old gramophone plays a warbling orchestral melody.
Standing nearby is a suit of dwarven dragon armor
holding a tool box in its hands. It jolts to life when
Aelward comes in and mechanically follows him
around the shop.
“I’m afraid we’re in a bit of a bind,” Aelward says.
“A week ago I came into my lab to find broken glass
on the floor.” He points up to a glass dome overhead,
where a pane has been replaced with a canvas tarp.
“Thieves! They got into my lab in the dead of night.
They weren’t interested in any of my inventions,
the uncultured morons. All they were after was my
newest work. Or, more to the point, the eternium core
that powers it!”
He pulls a cloth off a bulky object in the center of the
room, revealing a large brass circle mounted in a frame
of gears and springs. It’s just big enough for a person
to duck through. “This is it, my pride and joy. I call it
my ‘Amazing Engine.’ It’s really quite simple: It uses a
combination of parabolic axiom galikath reciprocators
and counter-cogged flentiting singularity shift rings,
along with a… ahem, heh, nevermind. To put it in
layman’s terms, my Amazing Engine can create
a bridge between two different cosms. At least for a
short amount of time. Still working out the kinks. But
I merely enter the cosm’s Miresian coordinates onto
this panel and activate the multi-spatial kiracic field
generator and… well… At any rate, it won’t work
now, as those ruddy thieves have stolen the eternium
core that powers it. This device needs eternium to
work; your typical power sources just won’t do. I need
the core back or I’m afraid we’re out of luck.”
The heroes have some time to talk to Aelward
about their mission, the robbery, and so on.
• The construct: “Ah, that’s my assistant,
Dexter. He’s an automaton. Really, I came to
London hoping to capture a clanker. Hasn’t
happened yet, but I’m finding the abundance
of materials around here extremely conducive
to my experiments.”
• The Miresian coordinates: “Named after
Drevun Miresi, one of the foremost scholars
on cosm theory. Died a few years back, alas.
74
Anyway, I just need to know where to send
you. It helps to have an object from that cosm,
as I can attune the galikath reciprocators to the
object’s axioms and away we go.”
• The Carredon scale: “Yes, that would be
perfect, presuming it hasn’t transformed in
the meantime and still hangs on to some of its
vestigial axiomatic alignment. Leave it with
me, and I’ll see what I can learn.”
• Clankers: “I’m almost positive they’re created
by conditions in which the overlap of two
realities creates iterative eddies in the reality
fabric, fractal vortices in which the two realities
remain bound infinitesimally by an absolute
value, causing a singular point to spring into
existence which is neither reality and both
realities at the same time…. Er, it’s a working
theory.”
• The Eternium Core: “Not much to it, really. It’s
just a lump of dense, highly energized eternium
in its oscillo-stochastic state, suspended in
a frame of pelezoidal thera-magnets grafted
onto a bronze spheroid. I acquired it down in
Alexandria. Bit of trouble, that!”
• The Robbery: “Professionals. They knew
exactly what I had in here, heaven knows how.
Most likely it was Kensington, that weasel. I
should have known better than to discuss what
I’ve been doing. Old Dexter, here, caught them
in the act and drove them off, alas not before
they were able to rip the core from its mount.”
Examining the area of the break-in with a Standard
(DN 10) find test turns up a couple of tantalizing
clues: a piece of bent metal bearing a stylized
closed-eye symbol, and a torn cloth snagged on the
broken window. A Hard (DN 12) evidence analysis
on either piece reveals additional clues. The bent
metal is a peculiar type of lockpick. The cloth is
“darkweave,” an enchanted cloth that reflects little
light.
Aelward recommends bringing the lockpick to
Almar Tranelis, a craftsman who has a shop on
the Tower Bridge. The darkweave is most certainly
the work of one of the “dwimmercrafters” out of
Whitechapel.
Aelward also suggests the Storm Knights pay a
visit to Dennis Kensington, a member of the Regent
Street Regulars, an armed patrol unit camped out
in the old Burlington House complex. He’s the only
local who knew about the Amazing Engine.
Tracking down these leads takes some time. Chaos
in the streets, fluctuating realities, and roaming
threats can make journeying to the next borough
a dangerous affair. Heroes who choose to walk
or ride through city streets are sure to encounter
trouble along the way. Underground is worse, as
the old Tube stations and lines are infested with all
manner of monsters. Aelward offers an alternative,
an invention of his own design: the Gyro-dragon,
a flying machine that can transport them over the
city (see sidebar).
As the heroes investigate their leads around
London, spies bring word back to the Unseen, who
waste no time tracking the heroes and arranging a
little “meeting.” After the heroes have completed
their second investigation, skip ahead to scene 2.
BURLINGTON HOUSE
This massive complex is located in London’s
affluent Mayfair neighborhood. Before the
invasion, it was a sprawling site of several august
institutions, such as the Royal Astronomical Society
and the Royal Academy of Arts, arranged around a
central courtyard. This Core Earth hardpoint now
houses the Regent Street Regulars, a quasi-military
group trying to hold this area against incursions of
Foul Folk. Anything of monetary value—including
potential Eternity Shards—was stripped long ago
in looting, leaving the stately buildings empty.
Several guards with Kevlar vests and SA80s
guard the sandbagged archway leading into the
courtyard. They also have an L7A2 machine-gun
(Damage 15, AP 2, Long Burst) mounted in a nest
that can sweep the street in both directions. Dennis
is among them.
Just as the heroes confront him, a storm starts
to crackle and whirl in the street. The Regulars
dive for their weapons as piles of ruined cars and
other refuse coalesce into semi-humanoid forms—
Clankers! Dennis uses the opportunity to fight the
heroes or escape if he can. He uses the same stats as
his fellow Regent Street Regulars, and volunteers
to man the machine-gun against the clankers—and
the Storm Knights.
THE GYRO-DRAGON
Aelward’s pedal-powered flying machine is
over 6 meters in length, but just big enough
inside to hold the operator and some supplies
—or cramped allies. The operator pedals
furiously, while gears and cogs cause the
canvas frame wings to flap and bellows to blast
air out the back. Portholes in the gyro-dragon’s
wood-frame body permit limited viewing in
all directions.
It beats walking, but it isn’t an easy vehicle.
The operator makes a Standard (DN 10)
Strength test every 10 minutes, with a penalty
of –1 per additional occupant or 100kg of cargo.
If the test fails, the operator suffers Fatigue.
The gyro-dragon uses air vehicles when a test is
needed, primarily take-off and landing. Hiding
something of this size is a Hard (DN 14) stealth
test.
GYRO-DRAGON
Top Speed: 20 km/h (8); Tough: 13; Wounds: 2
Large: Attacks against the gyro-dragon gain a
+2 bonus due to its size.
Maneuverability: –4 penalty to air vehicles for
defenses or chases.
Passengers: 5
Weapons: None.
A successful intimidation or persuasion test against
Dennis gets him to spill that he sold Aelward’s
location to a contact he knows as “Grinning
Collin,” a member of a group called The Unseen.
On a Good or better result, Dennis adds that the
Unseen intend to sell the core tonight at midnight.
He doesn’t know anything more.
The Regent Street Regulars have an annotated map
of London showing known hardpoint boundaries
and other valuable information, and they’re willing
to let the Storm Knights make a copy.
• Regent Street Regulars (3 plus Dennis): See
page 76.
• Clankers (1 per Hero): See page 99.
75
 REGENT STREET REGULAR
These stalwart Londoners have organized into a
ragtag paramilitary group to defend their city.
Attributes: Charisma 7, Dexterity 8, Mind 7, Spirit
8, Strength 8
Skills: Dodge 10, find 8, fire combat 11, first aid 8,
heavy weapons 9, intimidation 9, land vehicles
10, melee weapons 10, persuasion 8, stealth 10,
streetwise 10, survival 8, taunt 9, trick 9, unarmed
combat 11
Move: 8; Tough: 12 (4); Shock: 8; Wounds: —
Equipment: Kevlar Vest (+4), Knife (Strength +1/9),
Glock 9mm (Damage 13, Range 10/25/40), SA80
(Damage 13, Long Burst, Range 50/100/200).
Perks: Double Tap
Possibilities: Rare (2)
Special Abilities: —
TOWER BRIDGE
The classic Tower Bridge has been transformed by
Aysle into a medieval-looking span, which is now
a miniature town in its own right. The entire length
is packed with dense buildings, usually two or
three stories high, and hanging partially out over
the Thames below. Street level hosts a profusion of
shops selling everything imaginable.
Finding Almar’s shop quickly is a Standard
(DN 10) streetwise test. On a failure, a pickpocket
attempts to steal from a random party member with
an opposed Stealth test, resulting in a –2 to party
attempts to requisition supplies for the rest of this
act. Almar recognizes the lock pick as belonging to
the Unseen and is loath to speak about them, but
he lets slip with a successful test of persuasion or
intimidation. On a Good or better result, he also
adds that they’re based out of the Isle of Dogs, now
one of the most dangerous places in London.
Almar sells a variety of unusual tools, including
consumable magic items, which might be of use to
the Storm Knights.
WHITECHAPEL
Aysle dominates this borough, a sprawling
neighborhood of rickety wooden houses and
narrow streets. Asking around for the maker of the
darkweave, a Challenging (DN 12) streetwise test,
76
points to Della Viserian, an enchantress who has
taken up residence in an untransformed London
Underground subway car. Failing this test means
the search takes longer, giving her time to catch
warning and disguise her shop as a candleworks.
Inside the strange abode are numerous spellbooks,
bowls and jars of components on sagging shelves,
a leatherworking table, a loom, and bolts of cloth.
A crow eyes newcomers warily. Della is young but
uses the disguise spell to appear as an old crone,
either to seem threatening or not, depending on
who’s looking. She’s very proud of her darkweave
design, so flattery grants a +2 bonus to persuasion
tests. She makes the darkweave for an unknown
buyer with a grin-like scar, who comes all the way
from the Isle of Dogs. On a Good or better result,
she adds that she heard talk they plan to sell a
strange “core” object tonight at midnight.
A single cloak of darkweave costs 500 (13). It
grants no armor bonus, but gives the wearer +4
bonus to stealth tests to be spotted in Dim or darker
conditions.
SCENE TWO: EYES IN
THE SHADOWS
Standard. Aysle Dominant Zone. This scene takes
place just minutes after the heroes tracked down the
second of three leads in scene one. It can take place
in one of several areas around London; the GM
should modify details as needed. Grinning Collin,
the fence responsible for gathering intelligence
and acquiring supplies for the Unseen, gets word
that some newcomers are asking questions, and
arranges to meet the Storm Knights.
The sun sets shortly after the team wraps up their
second investigation, casting London in twilight.
The Unseen make their move, following the Storm
Knights from the rooftops until an advantageous
moment. One of their members dressed as a
commoner prepares a distraction with a horse and
cart. Read or paraphrase the following:
Twilight casts the streets in ever-darkening shadows.
The overhanging Tudor-style buildings seem to crowd
the street even closer. Lights flicker inside windows.
City folk make their way home or toward their local
pub, while a lamplighter makes his rounds, the pool of
 light cast by each lamp an island in a gathering sea of
darkness. Up ahead, a monger suddenly loses control
of his horse, which whinnies and gallops directly
toward you. At the last second, he jerks the horse aside,
tipping the cart over. Its vegetable cargo tumbles all
over the road. The man lies there, dazed.
Savvy Londoners immediately know what’s
up and make themselves scarce. For the Storm
Knights, a Hard (DN 14) find or beast riding lets
them know the horse wasn’t spooked, but was
goaded. The monger—actually an Unseen member
named Vaes—tries to get surprise and draws his
crossbow. At that same moment, Unseen members
dressed in black leather armor with darkweave
cloaks emerge from alleys and dark doorways
all around. Grinning Collin, their leader, is
unmistakable: Some terrible injury in his past left
him with a wide, ragged mouth that shows too
many teeth.
The Unseen aren’t trying to kill the Storm Knights,
just to make a point, but things may not go as he
plans. Grinning Collin prefers intimidation over
knives, at least at first, and he loves to hear himself
talk. All this gives unwary heroes an opportunity
for trickery or bargaining, if they so desire.
Wary heroes who make the find test and aren’t
surprised may even act first. If they don’t gain
surprise Grinning Collin yells to his men to stop
fighting after the first round, and does his best
to swagger through negotiations as though the
Unseen have an advantage.
If things go badly the Unseen break off and flee
when they’ve lost half their number, scrambling
up onto the rooftops. The Storm Knights may opt
to chase them. Run the chase as a Dramatic Skill
Resolution, where every step tests Dexterity (DN
10) for heroes on the roofs, or Mind (DN 12) for
heroes following on the ground. Dilemmas up high
include collapsing patches of rooftop, long gaps to
jump, steep or slippery roofs, loose shingles, and
so on. Dilemmas on the ground include fences or
other obstacles, crowds of people, chained dogs,
dead ends, or simply losing sight of their quarry.
The heroes can attempt a Hard (–4) intimidation
or persuasion test on a captured thief, getting her
to mention either the Unseen, the midnight sale,
or the fact that they were fleeing toward the Isle
of Dogs. A Good result spills two clues, and on an
Outstanding result, the desperate thief tells the
whole thing.
• Guild Thieves (4 per Storm Knight, plus
Vaes): see below.
• Grinning Collin: see below.
GRINNING COLLIN
Attributes: Charisma 8, Dexterity 10, Mind 6,
Spirit 8, Strength 7
Skills: Beast riding 10, dodge 12, find 8,
intimidation 10, maneuver 11, melee weapons 12,
missile weapons 11, lockpicking 12, persuasion
9, reality 9, stealth 12, streetwise 9, taunt 10,
tracking 7, trick 8, unarmed combat 11
Move: 9; Tough: 8 (1); Shock: 8; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Leather Armor (+1), short bow
(Damage 11, Range 10/25/40), dagger (Strength
+1/8), darkweave cloak (stealth +4 in Dim or
darker lighting)
Perks: —(darkness)
Possibilities: 2
Special Abilities:
• Gloater: When taunt or intimidation are
Approved Actions Collin may affect the entire
party without a Multi-Target penalty. Affected
heroes lose a random card from their hand.
• Minions: The Collin may transfer any hit to a
Guild Thief within a few meters if he succeeds
at a reality test.
GUILD THIEF
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 9, Mind 6, Spirit
7, Strength 7
Skills: Beast riding 10, dodge 11, find 8,
intimidation 10, maneuver 11, melee weapons
11, missile weapons 10, persuasion 8, profession
(thief) 8, stealth 12, streetwise 9, taunt 8, tracking
7, trick 8, unarmed combat 10
Move: 9; Tough: 8 (1); Shock: 7; Wounds: –
Equipment: Leather Armor (+1), light crossbow
(Damage 12, Range 10/25/40), dagger (Strength
+1/8), darkweave cloak (stealth +4 in Dim or
darker lighting)
Perks: —
Possibilities: Rare (2)
Special Abilities: —
77

THE UNSEEN
The Ayslish slums on the eastern side of London
are home to many shadowy organizations, but
none are as terrifying as the Unseen, a guild
of thieves and assassins that controls the Isle
of Dogs, a lawless slum of canals and rickety
buildings. Some estimate the Unseen number
over 300 members, spread out in enclaves,
hideaways, and safehouses around the city,
though the bulk of them reside in the main
guildhall.
The Unseen has fingers in every illegal
practice. Members engage in robbery, burglary,
kidnapping, protection rackets, assassinations,
and the guild also controls the city’s beggars,
who must pay a percentage of their alms. The
organization is strictly hierarchical—ranked
soldiers work under a lieutenant in charge of
different guild activities, who reports to an
underboss, who in turn works directly with
the mysterious guildmaster referred to only
as “Mother.” Members constantly jockey for
position in cutthroat competition, subject
to occasional “culling” events, where those
not meeting the guild’s high performance
expectations are murdered by their own
company.
At the heart of it all is Mother, known only to
a select few. She was originally a Cyberpapal
greed demon who crawled out of the hellish
Channel Tunnel and made her way to London,
where she transformed to Ayslish reality.
With magic she bent the will of the various
degenerates hiding out in the Isle of Dogs
rookery, forming a team of fanatics eager to
serve her bidding, and aggressive enough to
quickly take over the entire slum in an ever-
expanding operation of theft and vice.
78
SCENE THREE: MAZE OF
ALLEYS
Standard. Aysle Dominant Zone. This scene begins
when the Storm Knights have learned about the
Unseen, discovered they intend to sell the eternium
core tonight, and know to seek them in the Isle of
Dogs. If they don’t yet have this information, let
them continue to investigate leads or come up with
another way for them to get the necessary details.
The heroes can decide how to infiltrate the Unseen
guildhall. A direct assault is possible, though
chancy. They might prefer stealth, diplomacy,
or a ruse, or might have spells or equipment to
help. Allow them to formulate a plan and carry
it out. The encounter with Grinning Collin in the
previous scene could provide them with a suitable
opportunity to smooth-talk their way into the guild
as new members, track the fleeing thieves, and so
on.
Once they get to the Isle of Dogs, read or
paraphrase the following:
This was once a prosperous part of London, with glass
hotels and expensive restaurants built around man
made waterways, but you’d never know it now. This
stretch of low-lying land, tucked in an elbow bend of
the Thames and crisscrossed by channels of stagnant
water, is a labyrinth of winding, narrow streets and
overhanging wooden buildings so rickety they lean
on each other for support. The streets are strewn with
rubbish. Orphans squat in dark doorways, fending
off starving mutts. Haggard men and women eye you
hungrily, as if contemplating how best to part you
from your possessions. Over everything hangs the pall
of smoke and the stink of festering canals.
The locals call this a “rookery,” a slum known to
harbor the most unsavory characters in London.
The heroes quickly realize it is not a place to linger,
especially now that the sun is down.
Unless the heroes were led here, finding the
guildhall of the Unseen in this maze is no easy task,
especially in short time. Several skills can help with
this goal:
• Very Hard (DN 16) find to spot a small carving
like a closed eye marking common routes.
 • Very Hard (DN 16) persuasion or intimidation
to convince a beggar to give them information.
• Challenging (DN 12) streetwise to “read” the
winding layout of streets.
• Hard (DN 14) stealth to tail an Unseen thief
returning from a job.
Storm Knights might have spells, psionics, or
other tools that can be similarly applied. They may
work together on these tests.
Their presence is noted by guild scouts. The first
time the team fails one of the above tests, their
progress is interrupted by an ambush. A thief
hidden on a rooftop tosses down a glass vial which
shatters, releasing a noxious green gas that fills the
narrow street. Everyone caught in it must pass a
Hard (–4) dodge or Strength test or succumb to the
effects of the gas, which include hallucinations,
disorientation, and paranoia. For the rest of this
scene, those effected are Stymied (or Very Stymied
with a critical failure).
When successful, the Storm Knights locate an
access point to the sprawling guild compound.
This door is guarded by several guild thieves
hidden in shadows and on the rooftops. The door
itself is rigged to a pendulum trap:
striking anyone who opens the door without using
a hidden catch. The scything blade does 15+1BD
damage (or forces a Defeat test on a Mishap), and
can be avoided with a Standard dodge test or a Hard
(–4) find test.
• Guild Thieves (1 per Storm Knight): see
page 77.
SCENE FOUR: THE SALE
Dramatic. Aysle Dominant Zone. The Unseen’s
guildhall is a sprawling, labyrinthine, dangerous
place, filled with secret doors, traps (well-known to
the occupants), and dozens of deadly thieves. It is
intentionally difficult to navigate. Guild members
quickly learn all the safe routes, but anyone
else is soon hopelessly turned around. Getting
through here without a guide requires a Dramatic
Skill Resolution, with each step testing stealth or
Dexterity. Dilemmas include dead ends, hidden
tripwires connected to bells, looping passageways,
locked doors, and so on. If the heroes succeed, they
arrive at the sale location unmolested. Otherwise,
the intrusion is discovered by a patrol.
The guildhall is a complex of buildings at the
street level that are connected and enclosed by
new construction. The maze includes barracks
for the guild members, a mess hall, an armory,
storerooms, a training room, and countless secret
exits and access points. Shuttered lanterns provide
muted lighting. At the center is an old church, also
swallowed by the maze-like guildhall. When the
heroes reach this point, read or paraphrase the
following:
This huge room was surely once a church, though
now it is swallowed by the sprawling Unseen
complex around it. From the vaulted ceiling a massive
chandelier illuminates a carpeted floor and ranks of
long wooden pews. Bits of the original stained-glass
windows still hang in their frames. The defaced walls
are painted with disturbing imagery, including the
repeated symbol of a closed eye. On the dais where
the altar might normally stand is a skeletal podium
holding a brass sphere that glows with a pulsing red
and blue light.
If the heroes made it here before midnight, the only
people here are the guards protecting the eternium
core and the guild underboss, Nesec “The Ghost.”
Mother watches silently and invisibly nearby.
Otherwise, the Storm Knights arrive during the
sale. The buyers, four men and women from Pan-
Pacifica, brought platinum bars worth a fortune
in their briefcases. Nesec examines the payment,
then unless stopped by the Storm Knights, hands
the sphere to the Pan-Pacifica agents, who are
escorted back through the guildhall to their waiting
speedboat.
When the Storm Knights make their move,
Mother slithers out from hiding to confront them.
She makes for a formidable opponent, using both
combat and magic, but flees if facing certain defeat.
• Guild Thieves (1 per Storm Knight): see
page 77.
• Mother: see page 80.
• Nesec “The Ghost”: see page 80.
• Pan-Pacifica Agents (4): see page 81.
79
 The most common pass phrase among the Unseen is “Mother, May I?”
MOTHER
Mother appears to be a woman, but with four arms
and a serpent’s body from the waist down. She has
a commanding aura, and is a powerful sorceress in
her own right. In battle she wields two longswords,
keeping two hands free for casting spells or other
actions.
Attributes: Charisma 11, Dexterity 10, Mind 9,
Spirit 12, Strength 12
Skills: Alteration 13, apportation 14, conjuration
14, divination 14, dodge 12, find 11, intimidation
16, maneuver 12, melee weapons 15, persuasion
14, reality 14, streetwise 14, taunt 13, trick 11,
unarmed combat 12
Move: 10; Tough: 14 (2); Shock: 12; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Longsword (Strength +2/14)
Perks: Bolster, Spellcaster (alarm, charm, detect
magic, lightning, invisibility, true darkness*),
Whirlwind
Possibilities: 5
80
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Scaly hide +2.
• Dread: While a demon is present, a Standard
scene becomes a Dramatic Scene instead.
• Fear: Demons inspire instinctive horror in
creatures who see them. Test willpower or Spirit
or become Very Stymied.
• Insidious: Discard a Destiny card from each
target’s pool when the demon successfully
performs an Approved Action.
NESEC “THE GHOST”
Attributes: Charisma 7, Dexterity 12, Mind 8,
Spirit 7, Strength 8
Skills: Dodge 16, find 11, intimidation 9,
lockpicking 15, maneuver 15, melee weapons 16,
missile weapons 14, profession (thief) 13, reality
8, stealth 17, streetwise 10, taunt 8, tracking 9,
trick 10, unarmed combat 13.
Move: 12; Tough: 9 (1); Shock: 7; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Leather Armor (+1), dagger (Strength
 +1/9), darkweave cloak (stealth +4 in Dim or
darker lighting)
Perks: Shadow Step, Shadow Assassin
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities:
• Shadow Door: Nesec may move between any
Dark or Pitch Black areas within 15 meters of
one another as though they were connected
by the portal spell, though he may not attack
through them, nor may he bring foes or allies
with him.
PAN-PACIFICA AGENT
These loyal representatives of the Kanawa
corporation are all business. They dress
professionally and carry carefully concealed
submachine guns beneath their pressed jackets.
Attributes: Charisma 7, Dexterity 8, Mind 9, Spirit
7, Strength 7
Skills: Computers 11, evidence analysis 10, find
11, fire combat 10, intimidation 9, persuasion
9, reality 9, science 10, streetwise 9, trick 11,
unarmed combat 10
Move: 8; Tough: 9 (2); Shock: 7; Wounds: 3
Equipment: IriMesh clothing (+2 armor), SC
Kyogo 144 (Damage 13, Range 20/40/80, Short
Burst), armored briefcase
Perks: —
Possibilities: 2
Special Abilities: —
SCENE FIVE: TRAPPED
ON A DEAD WORLD
Standard. Dead World Pure Zone. Most of this
scene takes place on an unknown Earth-like world,
long ago conquered by the Gaunt Man and drained
of all Possibilities, leaving only a dead cosm with
slowly-fading axioms. It no longer has unique
World Laws, but when a Storm Knight rolls a
Mishap here she also loses one Possibility. If she’s
out of Possibilities she takes 2 Shock instead. The
same effect occurs on a Surge.
No Cosm cards apply in the Dead World, so
players must discard any that haven’t been spent
once they travel there. Worst of all, Destiny Cards
don’t replenish in the Dead World at all. Approved
Actions have no effect, and no draw occurs on
Leadership, Rally, or other effects that normally
entitle card draws.
THE DEAD WORLD
Magic Social Spirit Tech
3 7 4 8
NEXT STOP, NOWHERE
When the heroes are ready to use Aelward’s
machine, read or paraphrase the following:
Aelward putters over his machine, pulling levers
and pushing buttons, and gradually the gears start
churning. Before long, in the center of the ring appears
a swirl of red and blue mist. You see dim, hazy forms
on the other side, like some sort of structure.
Stepping through the ring, you feel a moment of
profound vertigo and every nerve in your body twangs
painfully. You resist the urge to be sick. When the
feeling passes, you find yourself in a huge plaza, deep
inside a temple complex. Ancient stone buildings are
nearly swallowed by the root systems of dead jungle
trees, stripped of leaves and bleached with age. Every
visible surface is carved into nightmare images of
leering dragons, ornate scrollwork, stylized fire,
and warrior women with multiple faces. Crumbled
archways and windows peer through the roots like
gaping skulls. The ground is a sickly black, as though
bathed in tar. Overhead, the sky is dim, with thin
shreds of clouds between you and a dome of worn-out,
feeble stars. The air is extremely thin and cold. This
world holds no more vitality. Something happened
here, long ago, something that left this world a cold
husk, devoid of life—a dead world.
The portal still shimmers behind you, and through it
you can make out Aelward standing by his machine,
anxiously holding the gate open. You don’t have much
time.
At the far end of the plaza is a hill of human bones.
Perched atop it is an immense reptilian skeleton,
curled up in a posture of agony, its beak-like jaw
splayed open, its massive skull and rib cage held
81
 together under a cowl of rotting scaly hide. You’ve
found the Carredon, or what’s left of it. The still-
wet, black ichor of its concentrated evil blood seeps
out across everything around. A sword of exquisite
craftsmanship is embedded in one eye socket.
Storm Knights may make a Standard (DN 10)
scholar or relevant profession test to identify these
ruins as Indonesian in origin, though somehow
different, as if from a parallel reality. On a Good
or better result, the hero also realizes the images
around the plaza depict the Carredon itself,
meaning this was probably a temple dedicated to
the monster—or its former lair!
The Carredon lies atop a huge pile of bones,
30 meters from Aelward’s cosm gate. As soon
as anyone touches the pile of human bones, or
passes over it, an audible sigh seems to come from
several places in the mound, and some of the bones
assemble into a small army of skeletons which
attack anyone in the plaza.
One round later, Aelward—still visible through
the vortex—lets out a shout as Stalkers burst
through his laboratory door. On their initiative,
one of them smashes the machine and the link
between the cosms winks out! Any Storm Knight
close enough can jump through if they win the
initiative that round; otherwise they’re trapped in
this strange world.
Getting to the heart is tough, as the pile of human
bones shifts underfoot, reducing movement by –4
(to a minimum of 1), and all Dexterity-related skill
tests suffer a –2 penalty. Every round, new skeletons
form, even if the previous ones are still active, and
they won’t stop until they’ve killed the intruders
or driven them back. Inside the rib cage, clinging
to what remains of the Carredon’s decomposed
body, is a swarm of flesh-eating insects, eager for
fresher meat. In a web of rotting sinew hangs the
Carredon’s heart, a black, glistening, misshapen
lump about the size of a human head, still somehow
in good shape despite the death of everything
around it. Cutting it free is a simple action.
Tolwyn’s old Vanquisher’s Blade sword (see the
Aysle Sourcebook) still remains where she left it in the
Carredon’s skull. It comes in handy in this scene,
but if a hero below Beta Clearance still possesses
it in Act Seven, Ardinay requests it be returned to
82
Tolwyn, as it is a Tancred house heirloom and a
relic of the battle of the Valley of the Sword.
Alone, it takes Aelward five rounds before he
and Dexter are able to fight back the Stalkers long
enough to reconfigure the broken piece of machine
and reopen the gate. With Storm Knights on his
side of the gate, he can do it in three rounds. As
long as the Stalkers are still a threat, he can only
keep it open two more rounds—and then it closes
for good. Anyone trapped there has to survive for
a few days, facing off against the skeletons, and
untold other horrors still lingering on that dead
world, until Aelward can temporarily get the
machine up and running again.
• Hungry Skeletons (6 per Storm Knight, plus
2 more per round): see below
• Insect Swarm: see below
HUNGRY SKELETONS
The Carredon’s long-dead human servants are
now mindless, animated skeletons.
Attributes: Charisma 3, Dexterity 8, Mind 3, Spirit
7, Strength 11
Skills: Dodge 9, find 7, maneuver 9, stealth 9, trick
(7), unarmed combat 10
Move: 8; Tough: 11; Shock: 7; Wounds: —
Equipment: —
Perks: —
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Fear: Skeletons are unnatural and terrifying
to behold. Test willpower or Spirit or become
Very Stymied.
• Immunity: Skeletons take no damage from
missile weapons and fire combat attacks.
• Mindless: Skeletons are immune to
intimidation and taunt interactions.
• Relentless: Skeletons ignore Shock.
• Undead: Skeletons are immune to effects that
require breathing, eating, or other “living”
processes.
PARASITE SWARM
This teeming horde of clicking, flying insects have
sharp mandibles and almost-human eyes.
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 6, Mind 3, Spirit
8, Strength 8
Skills: Dodge 8, maneuver 10, stealth 8, tracking 8,
trick (8), unarmed combat 11
Move: 6; Tough: 8; Shock: 13; Wounds: 4
TRAPPED FOREVER?
Equipment: — There’s a real possibility some or all of the
Perks: — heroes might be trapped on the Carredon’s
Possibilities: Never home world if they can’t get back through the
Special Abilities: cosm gate in time. This is a serious setback, but
• Mandibles: Each round, a creature in contact it need not be a campaign-ender.
with an insect swarm automatically takes 3
This old, drained cosm is long-forgotten, and
Shock at the start of their turn.
very little lives here anymore. It doesn’t even
• Shred: Once per turn the swarm may attack
have World Laws of its own, and in another
each target it is in contact with without taking a
century or two, its axioms will zero out and it
Multi-Targeting penalty. A hit inflicts damage
will be truly dead.
12 that affects the target’s weakest armor.
• Burrowing: Can move at regular speed Unfortunately for the heroes, this cosm’s
through small cracks. ecosystem is dead, and food is scarce, limited
• Fear: The horror of flesh-eating insects inspires to weird fungi or insects which still subsist on
terror. The first time a character encounters a the remnants of this once-flourishing world.
swarm in an act, he must make a Spirit test or Animated skeletons still stalk the wasteland,
become Very Stymied. and ghosts drift like wisps of fog.
• Mindless: Insects are immune to intimidation After a few days of privation and terror, the
and taunt interactions, as well as to telepathic heroes catch sight of a massive black tower of
powers. fused bones on the horizon. At the top of the
• Swarm: Unarmed attacks and crushing labyrinthine tower is a room holding a dozen
weapons deal base damage normally, as do area portals in a circle, appearing as black mirrors
of effect attacks. Blades, bullets, or weapons that ripple like water to the touch. These are
that can’t hit dozens of creatures at once deal left over from the Gaunt Man’s invasion of this
no damage at all. world centuries ago. A tenuous connection
still exists between here and Aysle, leaving the
AFTERMATH Storm Knights lost in the Land Between.
They can either emerge somewhere at the
Now that they’ve acquired the Carredon’s heart,
GM’s whim, or encounter Oona (page 47)
the Storm Knights can embark on the next stage of
while she’s on a delve of her own design
their quest.
looking for treasure.
Having recovered the eternium core, the heroes
return to Aelward and may finally be transported
to the Carredon’s home world to recover its heart.
Aelward is relieved at their return, and cradles the
eternium core almost lovingly as he carries it back
to the machine for reinstallation. About an hour
later, everything is up and running.
Aelward’s machine is ruined after the Stalker
attack. It’ll take him months to repair it. He wants
the gyro-dragon back (if it is still operational), but
helps arrange other travel if they need it, including
writing an introduction to a Seeker he knows in
Bristol (Oona, page 47) if the party hasn’t already
located one.

83
 T
he Storm Knights have all four Ayslish
essences—or as many as they’re going to
get—and the essence from the Carredon’s

UNTWISTING FATE
corpse. They must return to Oxford so Wyrwind
can begin the ritual to separate Tolwyn’s spirit
from the Carredon’s curse. Getting back may be
simple or excruciating, depending on what was up
last when the group gathered components.

OVERVIEW
ACT SEVEN:
Scene One: The heroes find a path back into
Oxford, and face any troubles along their route.
Scene Two: The remaining Stalkers, with a Seeker
of their own, emerge inside Oxford with an army
close behind. The tunnel must be closed—and the
Seeker eliminated—before the ritual can begin.
Scene Three: Wyrwind finally commences the
ritual, and it goes exactly as planned. Unfortunately,
going exactly as planned means battling aspects of
the Carredon itself, as it’s drawn out of Tolwyn for
good.
Scene Four: The survivors deal with the aftermath
of the ritual and what it may mean for the future.

SCENE ONE: SPECIAL

DELIVERY
Standard Scene. Varies, but generally an Aysle
Dominant Zone. Much of the content of this scene
is dependent upon where the group finished
their quest for the items. Some paths are more
dangerous and complicated than others, but by the
end of the scene, everyone is in place and ready to
aid Wyrwind in his bid to save Tolwyn’s soul.
• Bristol: Coming from Dublin or the Isle of
Man leads through the port at Bristol, and then
overland from Bristol to Oxford. See Overland,
page 86.
• London: Coming from London (or Oslo via
London) brings another overland journey into
the protected hardpoint from the East. See
Overland, page 86.
• The Land Between: If the group is already
in the caves with a Seeker, they can avoid
the battles on the surface. This route is also

84
 Each essence pulls out a portion of the Carredon...unfortunately each part is angry and vicious.
available if the group still has a Seeker with
them or go looking for one they already know.
See Underground, page 85.
• Core Earth: If the group is close to Core Earth,
they may slip out of Aysle completely and
requisition another air drop into Oxford, like
the one that got them there in the first place.
See From the Sky, below.
FROM THE SKY
Once the team can make contact with the
Delphi Council, it doesn’t take long to arrange
transportation. The priority of the mission is
clear enough that there’s no need to negotiate for
resources or requisitions—although each character
does have the opportunity to requisition a new
piece of equipment for the final battle too!
A C-5 Galaxy is scheduled to drop supplies to
the defenders in Oxford, along with the team. The
Storm Knights are hustled aboard and warned that
the drops are dangerous—Uthorion’s defensive
magic and flying foes put pressure on the Ord
crews, and pressure means it’s possible the plane
could transform into a barge—and not the flying
kind.
Anyone expecting a Dramatic Skill Resolution
of air vehicles with some of the Storm Knights
operating heavy weapons to fend off foes is in for
a disappointment. The crew has all the jumpers
rigged and ready to deploy inside the hull—there’s
no time to switch positions or move around much.
The sound of Vulcan cannons and chatter from the
crew signal that the airplane ran into resistance
just before the drop zone: a small group of wyvern
riders.
And then the C-5 turns into a barge. Not the flying
kind.
Have each Storm Knight roll for a Surge, as if one
came up on the Drama Deck. Assuming they don’t
transform, each character still has their equipment
85
 and a parachute, but the pull cord is tied to a
bracket on the barge’s deck rather than attached to
a slide as it was moments before.
Half the crew has transformed, and all are
panicked. Each Storm Knight has time to grab one
person before deploying a parachute. It’s a Hard
(DN 12) Strength test to keep hold of someone
when the chute snaps open. A Hard (DN 12) air
vehicles test lands in the open and deals Fatigue that
lasts the rest of this scene. A Good result or better
eliminates the Fatigue. If the test fails the chute
comes down inside trees, dealing 10+1BD damage.
Without a parachute at all the fall deals 50+1BD
damage. Soak well! A Storm Knight who can has
no such issues, but still only has time to grab one
person during the fall.
The Wyvern Riders break off when the plane
transforms, but a few may stick around to harass
the Storm Knights for three rounds as they
descend. They get close enough to give a Storm
Knight without a parachute one chance to leap
grab a wyvern on the first round. It takes a Hard
(DN 14) beast riding test to catch a ride. A Good
result unseats the rider, who otherwise attacks the
interloper each round. An Outstanding means the
Storm Knight wrests control quickly enough to
have the beast snatch up another falling hero or
crewman!
• Wyvern (1 per two heroes): see page 101.
• Wyvern Riders (1 per Wyvern): see page
101.
Once the team has gathered back together, they
discover they’re just outside the main circle of
Uthorion’s forces, and must break through as in
Overland below.
OVERLAND
The most likely route in is via road. Bristol and
London come in from the Southeast and Southwest
respectively. Uthorion’s forces have Oxford
encircled, but the main camp is to the North, so it’s
easier in the South to sneak through most of the
line and break through to the Core Earth lines.
Breaking through has two parts: a test to determine
how smooth the approach was, and then a combat
encounter against the enemies who absolutely can’t
86
be avoided. The test for the approach is a Hard
(DN 14) Dexterity with the adds for land vehicles (or
beast riding if using horses) or stealth—whichever is
lower. The DN takes into account that it’s a group
of people. Others may assist the test with stealth,
land vehicles, or even find.
On a success, the combat encounter starts
normally. On a Good Success, the Gospog of the
Third Planting doesn’t arrive until after the first
round. Treat an Outstanding Success like a Good,
plus all the gospog are surprised. If the test fails,
the road is blocked and there’s no way through
without eliminating the gospog first.
If the heroes have the Redcap, it can roll through
any barricade, even on a failed test. Some gospog
may be able to climb atop the tank and make a
nuisance of themselves, but the fight is lopsided at
best—the reward for foresight!
• Gospog of the Second Planting (2 per hero):
see page 98. These are also armed with bows
(missile weapons 8, Damage 12)
• Gospog of the Third Planting (2): see page
99.
UNDERGROUND
Following a Seeker through the winding tunnels
under Aysle avoids the brunt of Uthorion’s forces.
It’s most likely Oona Safalu (page 47), but it’s
possible they know a Seeker from a previous
adventure or one of the characters has the Seeker
Perk herself!
Unfortunately, the Stalkers have realized
the nature of the ritual components that were
gathered and know that it must take place here
with Wyrwind and the notably absent Tolwyn. To
capture their prey, they recruited a Seeker of their
own and followed a tunnel into Oxford, hoping to
snatch the heroes as they return.
If moving underground, the delvers happen upon
the Stalkers before they even reach town! Once
in the vicinity of Oxford, the Storm Knights hear
sounds of another group moving through the caves.
There’s no way to reach them—yet—but the noise
alerts the group that something big is happening
underground.
 Finally they reach a junction that connects to
where the enemy force is waiting. If the team
succeeds at a Hard (DN 14) stealth test they gain
Surprise, otherwise both sides are aware they have
opponents in the tunnels with them.
Fighting inside the tunnels doesn’t leave much
room to spread out. During this combat neither
side may use Combined Effort on attacks or Multi-
Targeting. Blasts still attack multiple targets, but
include the attacker or an ally due to the tight
quarters. Once the Stalkers fall, any remaining
lurks flee back into the Land Between.
• Lurks (4 per hero): see page 100.
• Barrung: see page 88.
• Stalkers (1 Howler per hero, plus all
remaining Stalker personalities): see page
96..
A WARM WELCOME
When the questers finally reach Oxford, they
are greeted with a cheer by the troops they first
encounter and ushered quickly towards the
building, still referred to as Castle Ardinay, even
though it no longer looks the part.
Pella is thrilled at the Storm Knights’ return, and
personally delivers them hot food and mugs of ale,
which eliminate any lingering Fatigue effects. The
Archmagus looks haggard, but immediately sets to
examining the paragon items the group collected.
He’s pleased by each one, muttering things like
“yes, that will do quite nicely!”
His enthusiasm is dampened if the acorn (Act
Two) wasn’t recovered. He grimly announces that
he believes he has a substitute that may work, but
the ritual is now much riskier. If two items are
missing he believes there’s a slim chance the ritual
can work to free Tolwyn’s soul from the beast, but
the attempt is certain to cost her life. If the situation
is dire enough, Lady Ardinay nods sadly and has
him proceed.
She bids everyone to get some rest. As the questers,
she wishes the Storm Knights to join her in the
tower for the ritual itself—once Wyrwind declares
he’s ready.
SCENE TWO: STALKER
SHOWDOWN
Standard Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. There’s
little time to rest while preparations are underway.
Shots fired inside town alert everyone that an
attack is underway. Whether Storm Knights are
at the castle or elsewhere—like the pub—it takes
about the same amount of time to reach the source
of the trouble.
DOGS OF WAR
A horde of lurks is rampaging in Oxford. Their
only role is a distraction. Their target is Castle
Ardinay, and they aren’t being quiet about getting
there. Bodies of lurks and soldiers are evident if
the heroes approach the action from town, where
they’ve cut a swath through defenders from the
building where they emerged.
The larger threat is the group of Stalkers using
the lurks as a diversion. They pick off soldiers and
snipers around the fringe of the action, but they are
mostly hiding, hoping to ambush their true prey
(the Storm Knights) or slip into the castle and strike
at Wyrwind himself if the lurks get that far.
The Stalkers engage after the first round of combat
with the lurks. Each hero makes a Hard (DN 14)
find test, and counts as Surprised if the test fails.
That means they may lose actions even against the
lurks they already know are there if the Heroes
would go first! An Idea card or Alertness warns
everyone of the ambush without a test.
This is the Stalker’s last chance. Uthorion has
made his disappointment at their previous failures
known, and they have no life to return to if they
can’t slay the Storm Knights or secure a component
for the ritual.
• Lurks (2 per hero): see page 100.
• Barrung: see page 88.
• Stalkers (2 Howlers per hero, plus all
remaining Stalker personalities): see page
96. The Stalkers attack with Surprise in the
second round.
87
 The town of Oxford extends far beyond the hardpoint barricade.
BARRUNG
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 10, Mind 8,
Spirit 8, Strength 8
Skills: Dodge 12, find 10, intimidation 10, maneuver
12, melee weapons 12, missile weapons 15, reality
10, stealth 14, taunt 8, trick 10, unarmed combat
11
Move: 10; Tough: 10 (2); Shock: 8; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Chainmail armor (Armor +2), longbow
(Damage 13),daggers (Strength +1/9 damage)
Perks: Seeker, Vengeful
Possibilities: 5
Special Abilities:
• Assassin: Attempts to Soak damage done by
Barrung suffer a –2 penalty.
THE SOURCE
Once the initial group of lurks is mopped up,
questions may turn to how they got into Oxford.
88
An Easy (DN 8) tracking test follows the path
of carnage back to a building outside of town.
The basement cellar opens into a tunnel a Seeker
working for Uthorion used to lead them here. And
there’s more coming. If the Storm Knights don’t
follow up (or try and fail), Major Roberson (from
Act One) approaches them for help once his forces
identify the building.
There are guards at the building and within the
tunnel, but not enough to bother with a battle. The
problem is someone must go into the labyrinth to
plant charges and collapse this dangerous enemy
entry route. The underground is an Aysle Dominant
Zone, so Roberson’s demolitions team can’t enter
and plant charges without fear of disconnection.
This is a job for Storm Knights. There are three
options for dealing with the situation: planting
charges, trying to collapse the cave with brute force,
or ignoring the issue. If the group refuses to enter
the tunnels, Roberson demolishes the building and
hopes that’s enough to keep enemy forces from
digging through.
Planting charges is a Dramatic Skill Resolution
using heavy weapons. Each step is Standard (DN 10),
and can be attempted untrained after Roberson and
a demolitions specialist show the team the basics.
In this case, the five round limit for completing the
task represents completing the entire job before
the first charges transform after being left alone,
or enemy sappers find and disable the explosives.
The tunnels are occupied, and four Lurks arrive
and attack each round of the task. Combined Effort
and Multi-Target aren’t allowed for attacks in the
confined space, but cooperation on planting the
charges is allowed. If the task fails it’s treated the
same as Roberson demolishing the building—
some charges go off and the problem is temporarily
solved, but most of the tunnel is intact and in the
hands of the enemy.
It goes a little different if the heroes opt for brute
force over the explosive charges. Four supports
need to be wrecked, corresponding to A, B, C, and
D. Lurks come at the group, four each round just
as above, but the letters on the Drama Card now
represent opportunities to take out a support.
Multiple heroes may attack a support each round,
or different characters may declare attacks against
different available supports, but no one can attack
two different supports in the same round. Hitting
is Very Easy (DN 6), but only works if 25 damage
or more is rolled. The changing letters represent
different opportunities coming from smaller cave-
ins and other instability. Even if the attacks fail,
the tunnel crumbles after five rounds—potentially
crushing any Storm Knights who remain—but the
majority of the tunnel is intact the same as a failure
above.
A character who leaves the tunnels on round
four or earlier, automatically escapes the tunnel
collapse. Everyone who risks staying underground
for the final round must make a Standard (DN
10) Dexterity test to escape. Anyone who fails this
test is lost. The massive damage of tons of falling
rock may be Soaked, but there’s no way to dig the
unfortunate hero out!
If all four supports are destroyed or explosives
are successfully detonated throughout the cave
system, Oxford is cut off from the Underground
and safe from potential invasion. Anything else
represents a partial success. The cave entrance is
closed, but there may other routes open elsewhere.
There is no attack in the short term, but forces
must be pulled from the front lines to patrol town
and probe for another such attack—weakening
Oxford’s defenses overall.
• Lurks (4 per round): see page 100
SCENE THREE: ASPECTS
OF TERROR
Dramatic Scene. Aysle Dominant Zone. The
materials are gathered, Oxford is secure, and
Wyrwind is ready to begin. The ritual is performed
at the top of the Archmagus’ tower at dawn.
Lady Ardinay asks each Storm Knight to come—
the tower chamber isn’t large enough for a huge
crowd, and she believes the heroes have more than
earned the honor. Also, if something goes wrong,
she’d like a group of proven, powerful warriors on
site.
The heroes have the rest of the night to wrap
up any loose ends or make preparations for the
morning however they wish. It’s difficult to sleep
before such a momentous occasion, and there’s no
penalty if a hero chooses to stay awake all night.
Tolwyn is bound to an altar inside Wyrwind’s
chamber. Sigils are drawn on the floor, the walls,
and the Champion of Tancred’s face. Candles burn,
and one of the Archmagus’ machines makes a slow,
rythmic clapping sound. If the heroes didn’t know
better, they might mistake the scene for a sacrifice
or something worse, but Ardinay assures anyone
with discomfort that she trusts Wyrwind and he
knows what he’s doing.
AND SO IT BEGINS
Ardinay takes her place by Tolwyn, and says she’ll
look after her. She asks the Storm Knights to keep
watch for intruders and protect Wyrwind from
anything that might go wrong. The old wizard
himself speaks to them before getting started. Read
or paraphrase the following:
89
 “The trouble with this entire undertaking, is that
once we draw the essence of the beast out of Lady
Tancred, I’m not certain what form the energy will
take. Hopefully it just disperses back to whatever
dark plane it was summoned from. But if it doesn’t, it
may attempt to inhabit others—or even be capable of
attacking under its own power.
“As Storm Knights I believe you can resist if it
attempts to possess you as it does Tolwyn here.
You’re also the best suited if the energy is capable of
manifesting in some form and striking. I’m counting
on you to keep the energy or any intruders occupied
while I cast. If the ritual is disrupted before I finish,
the consequences could be dire. We could both lose
Tolwyn and unleash this monstrous energy to plague
us again in some other form.
“Oh...I should mention that there are staggering
energies involved in a ritual of this power, so don’t be
too flustered if things get a little...rough.”
With that he takes his place and begins a complex
incantation that sounds like a cross between
a vocabulary lesson in a dead language and a
trigonometry problem using unrecognizable
sounds for all the numbers and variables. Storm
Knights may position themselves anywhere they
like within the tower room, but Ardinay requests
they remain within the room.
Read or paraphrase the following:
The air quickly becomes charged with magical energy,
causing goosebumps or the same queasy feeling a
Storm Knight feels during a Reality Storm or crossing
from one realm to another.
The tower begins to shake. Books begin falling off of
shelves, and vials shudder atop Wyrwind’s work tables
and then break on the floor. As the wizard continues
his incantation, the words grow louder, and the room
rumbles as bricks fly out of place. A sphere of debris
and energy swirls around the room—now the new
rooftop of the tower. Tolwyn begins spasming on the
altar.
The first of the recovered items bursts into a blue
flame. All the candles in the room now burn blue, and
a bubbling cloud of dark energy pours out of Tolwyn’s
mouth and nose, to form into a draconic shape with a
vulture-like head.
Ardinay gapes as it becomes solid. “The Carredon!”
90
FOUR ESSENCES
The ritual creates a kind of Reality Storm around
the tower. Everyone on the top floor with the
Archmagus are inside and able to battle the
creature separating itself from Tolwyn. The rest
of the Army of Light is outside this bubble, and
unable to offer aid.
Flip a new card from the Drama Deck as the
encounter begins. The beast flies around the tower,
insubstantial as smoke at first. On the Villain phase,
it’s first full Turn is becoming solid and real—a
Carredon Fragment (page 92). If the heroes attack
before that happens it has the Ethereal property, so
any non-magical physical attack has no effect at all.
Although Very Large, this creature is a quarter
the size of the original Carredon, and much less
powerful—at first. It can’t penetrate the storm
of debris swirling around the top of the tower.
Instead, it clings to the edge and keeps most of its
mass off the floor. It swipes at closer heroes with
its claws or beak, and Multi-Actions to breath toxic
breath on opponents farther away.
On the second round another, identical cloud
pours from Tolwyn as the card is revealed and
becomes solid on its turn when the Villains act. A
second Carredon Fragment. On the third round
another appears, and then on the fourth round, the
final one emerges.
On the fifth round, if two or more Carredon
Fragments remain, they use their turns to merge
into a single, even larger creature—a Merging
Carredon. If all four remain then each pair merges,
producing two Merging Carredons. On the sixth
round, these more powerful beasts attack. If there
are an odd number, the extra Fragment battles the
heroes normally while its siblings merge.
On round seven, the incantation ends and any
remaining versions of the Carredon merge into
a single body: the Diminished Carredon. It takes
more time for the creature to regain its full strength,
but even weakened it gives some indication of its
former power. If only one Merging Carredon or
Carredon Fragment remains the single creature
uses that set of statistics instead.
This emerging creature—or whatever smaller
remainder which lives—lets out a shriek heard
91
 all across Great Britain. The scream breaks the
sky open, and the dark realm visited in Act Six
is partially visible through the cracks. Whatever
remains of the Carredon flies into the gap at the
end of the seventh round. The broken sky closes
swiftly behind it. A Storm Knight may leap after
in pursuit, but they are never seen again if they do.
Note who strikes the final blow against a felled
Carredon of any size—it matters for the future!
• Carredon Fragment (4): see page 92.
• Merging Carredon (1 for every 2 Carredon
Fragments alive on round 5): see page 93.
• Diminished Carredon (only if more than
just one Merging Carredon is alive on Round
7): see page 93.
CARREDON FRAGMENT
BEHAVIOR
• Round 1: One Carredon Fragment
appears and attacks.
• Round 2: One Carredon Fragment
appears (total two) and both attack.
• Round 3: One Carredon Fragment
appears (total three) and all attack.
• Round 4: One Carredon Fragment
appears (total four) and all attack.
• Round 5: Every two Carredon Fragments
spend the round becoming a Merging
Carredon. If there are an odd number of
Carredon Fragments the remaining one
attacks.
• Round 6: Any Carredon Fragments and
Merging Carredons attack.
• Round 7: Any remaining creatures merge
into a single form (Diminished Carredon if
more than three of the four parts survive)
and attack.
• Round 8: Whatever is left of the Carredon
escapes and the encounter ends.
92
MISSING ITEMS
The above assumes the ritual goes according
to plan. If the acorn (see Act Two) isn’t in hand,
Wyrwind must substitute his own life essence
for it, and dies as the incantation ends on round
seven. Lady Ardinay spends her time during the
battle healing her convulsing friend. The creatures
are more interested in combative foes, but if there
ever ends up more creatures than heroes, the spare
attacks Ardinay. She survives, but without her
help, Tolwyn does not. Likewise, if items beyond
the acorn are missing or counterfeits then Tolywn
Tancred is torn apart when the last essence leaves
her body.
SETBACKS
The energy and debris swirling around the tower
about 10 meters from the walls is extremely
dangerous. Parts of the room collapse as the battle
rages on. A Setback for the Heroes could be part of
the floor crumbling under a Storm Knight fighting
along the ledge—leaving him Very Vulnerable
and stuck until he uses an action to climb back up,
or someone else uses an action to pull him up. A
Setback for the Villains sends debris slamming into
a Carredon, making it Very Stymied.
CARREDON FRAGMENT
This creature, as mighty as it is, represents a quarter
of the power of a Diminished Carredon. Though
only a quarter of the size of the original, it’s still
nearly 20 meters long from beak to tail. It’s eyes
gleam red with intelligence—and malice.
Attributes: Charisma 8, Dexterity 10, Mind 8,
Spirit 14, Strength 22
Skills: Dodge 18, find 13, intimidation 22,
maneuver 15, missile weapons 20, reality 20,
taunt (18) trick 17, unarmed combat 20
Move: 10; Tough: 25 (3); Shock: 18; Wounds: 2
Equipment: —
Perks: Vengeful
Possibilities: 5
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Scaly hide +3.
• Bite/Claws: Strength +3 (25).
• Curse of the Carredon: see Mark of the
Carredon on page 95.
 • Dread: While the Carredon is present, any
scene becomes Dramatic.
• Fear: When each new fragment forms into a
solid opponent, all present must test willpower
or Spirit or become Very Stymied.
• Horror: Death isn’t permanent for this
beast unless its True Death is discovered and
enacted. Details of its True Death are blocked
by impenetrable magic—for now.
• Toxic Breath: The disgusting cloud of filth
deals 2 Shock to targets in a Medium Blast
radius within 20 meters, unless they don’t
breathe and are immune to poison. A Good hit
also Stymies, and an Outstanding hit makes
the target Very Stymied. The attack uses missile
weapons to hit.
• Very Large: Attacks against this beast gain a
+4 bonus for size.
• Weak Spot: The Carredon’s eyes are
vulnerable to attack. Taking a –2 Called
Shot penalty (no +4 for Very Large) hits one,
bypassing the Carredon’s armor.
• Wings: The Carredon has a Flight move of 20,
and can “rush” up to 100 meters in a round.
MERGING CARREDON
When two fragments merge into a larger creature,
the result is this transitional form. Both its Wounds
and its Possibilities become whatever remained
from both the fragments that merged to form it.
Shock resets completely.
Attributes: Charisma 8, Dexterity 10, Mind 8,
Spirit 14, Strength 24
Skills: Dodge 18, find 13, intimidation 23,
maneuver 15, missile weapons 22, reality 20,
taunt (18) trick 17, unarmed combat 22
Move: 10; Tough: 28 (4); Shock: 18; Wounds:
(special, see above)
Equipment: —
Perks: Vengeful
Possibilities: (special, see above)
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Scaly hide +4.
• Bite/Claws: Strength +3 (27).
• Curse of the Carredon: see Mark of the
Carredon on page 95.
• Dread: While the Carredon is present, any
scene becomes Dramatic.
• Fear: When two fragments form into a larger,
Merging Carredon, everyone present must test
willpower or Spirit or become Very Stymied.
• Horror: Death isn’t permanent for this
beast unless its True Death is discovered and
enacted. Details of its True Death are blocked
by impenetrable magic—for now.
• Toxic Breath: The disgusting cloud of filth
deals 2 Shock to targets in a Large Blast radius
within 20 meters, unless they don’t breathe and
are immune to poison. A Good hit also Stymies,
and an Outstanding hit makes the target Very
Stymied. The attack uses missile weapons to hit.
• Very Large: Attacks against this beast gain a
+4 bonus for size.
• Weak Spot: The Carredon’s eyes are
vulnerable to attack. Taking a –2 Called
Shot penalty (no +4 for Very Large) hits one,
bypassing the Carredon’s armor.
• Wings: The Carredon has a Flight move of 20,
and can “rush” up to 100 meters in a round.
DIMINISHED CARREDON
The final form of the Carredon. It’s not at full power,
and won’t be for some time. Even weakened, the
Carredon is a terror, capable of rending entire
armies. Both its Possibilities and Wounds are built
up from whatever remains of the fragments that
came together that formed it, which means it could
have up to eight Wounds and 20 Possibilities! Note
that it suffers any missing Wounds too, but the
maximum penalty for Wounds is –3.
Attributes: Charisma 8, Dexterity 10, Mind 8,
Spirit 14, Strength 26
Skills: Dodge 18, find 13, intimidation 24,
maneuver 15, missile weapons 24, reality 20,
taunt (18) trick 17, unarmed combat 24
Move: 10; Tough: 31 (5); Shock: 18; Wounds:
(special, see above)
Equipment: —
Perks: Vengeful
Possibilities: (special, see above)
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Scaly hide +5.
• Bite/Claws: Strength +3 (29).
• Curse of the Carredon: see Mark of the
Carredon on page 95.
93
 • Dread: While the Carredon is present, any
scene becomes Dramatic.
• Fear: When this creature forms everyone
present must test willpower or Spirit or become
Very Stymied.
• Horror: Death isn’t permanent for this
beast unless its True Death is discovered and
enacted. Details of its True Death blocked by
impenetrable magic—for now.
• Toxic Breath: The disgusting cloud of filth
deals 2 Shock to targets in a Medium Blast
radius within 20 meters, unless they don’t
breathe and are immune to poison. A Good hit
also Stymies, and an Outstanding hit makes
the target Very Stymied. The attack uses missile
weapons to hit.
• Very Large: Attacks against this beast gain a
+4 bonus for size.
• Weak Spot: The Carredon’s eyes are
vulnerable to attack. Taking a –2 Called
Shot penalty (no +4 for Very Large) hits one,
bypassing the Carredon’s armor.
• Whirling Claws: The Carredon may attack all
adjacent targets with its claws, and suffers no
Multi-Target penalty when doing so.
• Wings: The Carredon has a Flight move of 20,
and can “rush” up to 100 meters in a round.
ALL QUIET
By the end of the seventh round, either the Carredon
has been vanquished completely, or what’s left has
fled to another realm to slowly regain its power.
The debris from Wyrwind’s tower settles, and the
survivors make their way down to waiting medical
crews and the rest of the Army of Light.
SCENE FOUR: OMENS OF
DARKNESS OR LIGHT
Oxford becomes quiet for several days after the
events of the ritual, as everyone adjusts to what
happened. Castle Ardinay is in shambles, but
the Lady of Light doesn’t intend to stay on the
defensive much longer anyway.
If Wyrwind didn’t survive, a search has begun
for a new Archmagus. Pella Ardinay is impatient
to begin an offensive against Uthorion’s maelstrom
94
bridge, but even she won’t commit to an attack
without the magical branches of her force in order.
She listens carefully to any counsel the Storm
Knights offer on the matter. Her top candidate
is Aelward of London, and if he’s installed, the
Army of Light adopts gunpowder weapons and
mechanical siege engines over blades and pure
magic in the future.
If Wyrwind lives, he’s weakened but on the
mend. Since it’s already been exposed, he thinks
it’s pointless to renew the illusion around Castle
Ardinay, but he has other tricks ready for when the
Army of Light begins its march.
TOLWYN LIVES
If Tolywn survived the ritual, the future looks
bright, whether the Carredon escaped or was
destroyed. Pella Ardinay is eternally grateful for
what the Storm Knights did to rescue her oldest—
and in some ways only—friend. She promises that
the Army of Light is at the Delphi Council’s full
disposal once the Darkness here in Aysle has finally
been repulsed. Until then, she and her people help
as much as they can.
Tolwyn Tancred herself is gaining strength by the
hour and also expresses her personal thanks to the
group. If any now bear the Mark of the Carredon
(see page 95), she claps a hand on their shoulder
and solemnly promises to be there for them when
the time comes, as they were there for her, and this
time vanquish the beast forever. In the meantime,
she’s the tip of Ardinay’s spear, and relishes the
notion of taking on Uthorion and his armies now,
with no curse hanging over her.
TOLWYN DIES
Many of the same plans are laid if Tolwyn Tancred
perished during the ritual, but instead of hopeful
omens, now gloom and disastrous portents fill the
air. The Lady of Light thirsts for revenge for her
fallen friend, and she’s committing her entire army
to a battle some consider foolhardy to get it. She
intends to leave the Oxford hardpoint with all her
forces, and storm the Dark Fortress itself.
Already whispers are spreading that she’s
unhinged, and British forces make contingency
plans for defending Oxford alone. The Army of
Light seems propelled by a grim, fatalistic fury—
but little else.
THE MARK OF THE
MARK OF THE CARREDON CARREDON
If one or more of the fragments of the corrupted Any Storm Knight who defeats a fragment
dragon were slain, there’s cause for both celebration of the Carredon receives a special Perk called
and concern. The mighty Carredon can’t return to “Mark of the Carredon.” It has no cost, and
full strength with part of its essence trapped, which does not increase the cost of future Perks.
is a major setback to the Uthorion’s forces. The cost
It has no effect for now, but certain Horrors
is that any character who defeated one or more of
from Orrorsh or Uthorion himself might
the creatures now bears a faint outline similar to
recognize the mark for what it is and comment
the one Tolwyn Tancred had.
upon it. It doesn’t count as a Darkness Perk
Lady Ardinay investigates the marks, and believes initially, but be advised that may change
that so long as the hero lives, that portion of the towards the end of the war.
Carredon’s essence is forever denied to Darkness.
What is certain is the hero’s fate is now
She admits the possibility that eventually the curse
intertwined with that of the Carredon. By the
will manifest as it did for Tolwyn, but notes that
end of the war, the creature’s True Death must
may take 100 years! She suggests those marked slip
be uncovered before those with the mark fall,
away from Aysle for a time—just to be safe. See the
lest an ancient and powerful ally returns to the
Mark of the Carredon Sidebar (below) for more
Gaunt Man’s fold.
information.
Characters from Orrorsh with the mark
automatically qualify for the Dragon Slayer
medal—with an extra wreath of gold added to
commemorate the special deed!

KNIGHTS OF THE REALM

Quinn Sebastian has requested the heroes return
to Core Earth for another mission. The offensive
by the Army of Light breaks the encirclement of
Oxford and allows an easy return, but before that,
Ardinay wishes to exercise one more formality: the
Storm Knights are to become proper, titled knights
of Aysle.
It’s an honor she doesn’t expect anyone to refuse,
but a character who has no interest in titles can
pass without causing any kind of incident. Those
who are interested must perform a one hour vigil
and then attend a ceremony. Each is asked if they
prefer to have “Sir” or “Lady” before their name as
a title, or simply use their name as it is.
After the quiet vigil, Lady Ardinay herself dubs
them knights in the presence of every personality
in Oxford. Cheers and feasting follow, and even the
most snobby Ayslish aristocrat at least pretends to
respect the heroes’ names from that point forward.

95
 STALKERS
When Uthorion learned of the Storm Knights and
their quest, he immediately summoned some of
his most notorious lieutenants and formed strike
teams. Dubbed “Stalkers,” these villains are sent via
dimthread to the locations foretold in the prophecy,
and ordered to track down the Storm Knights and
prevent them from accomplishing their goals.
THREATS AND
Though they vary widely in appearance, tactics,
and abilities, every one of Uthorion’s Stalkers is
loyal to the cause, and hunts the Storm Knights
mercilessly.
Gamemasters select which Stalker to deploy in
VILLAINS
any given act. They are assumed to be nearby,
actively seeking the Storm Knights, though unless
the gamemaster wishes to use them in some
other capacity, they don’t “catch up” to the Storm
Knights until a suitably dramatic point described
in the act, usually the last scene.
Every team is also comprised of several Howlers,
a strange variant lurk groomed specifically for
the hunt. Howlers are treated as little better than
animals by the stalker in command of the team.
The number of Howlers accompanying each
Stalker depends on the clearance level of the Storm
Knights—Uthorion assigns more if the stalker’s
prey are known to be powerful! Alpha Clearance
prompt teams of one stalker plus one Howler per
hero. Beta Clearance increases that to two Howlers
per hero. Each team has a little variance, so add
a few Howlers if the previous stalker was slain,
or drop a few if the team has taken precautions
against being tracked or scryed upon.

STALKER GUNNARSON
Gunnarson is a barbaric Outsider who works for
Uthorion simply for the pay. He’s a completely
mercenary Stormer, and not above bribery—
especially if he doesn’t think he’ll get caught. Since
this is just a job to him, Gunnarson has no interest
in suicidal attacks against the Storm Knights. He’ll
pick a fight he thinks he can win, even if he has to
cheat to collect his bounties.
Quote: “Look, this is not personal, but I need your
head to get paid.”

96
Attributes: Charisma 8, Dexterity 10, Mind 8,
Spirit 10, Strength 12
Skills: Beast riding 10, dodge 14, find 12,
intimidation 15, melee weapons 15, reality 12,
survival 10, stealth 12, taunt 10, tracking 10, trick
10, unarmed combat 12
Move: 10; Tough: 13 (1); Shock: 10; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Leather Armor (Armor +1), Great Axe
(Damage Strength +4/ 16, Stagger)
Perks: Berserk, Blood Rage, Brute Ice Blessed,
Relentless, Seeker, Whirlwind
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities:
• Insidious: Discard a Destiny card from each
target’s pool when Gunnarson successfully
performs an Approved Action.
STALKER MARJIS TARN
Tarn was once an elven Warden of some repute, but
his battle against Darkness consumed him. It’s said
that his White Wolf companion eventually became
black, and then finally nothing but shadow. Now
for Tarn there is only the hunt. He prefers to attack
from ambush in the darkness where his vision
gives him an advantage against his foes.
Quote: “You put on an act like you’re a predator,
but we both know you are prey.“
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 12, Mind 10,
Spirit 10, Strength 9
Skills: Beast riding 15, dodge 16, find 13,
intimidation 12, melee weapons 14, missile
weapons 17, reality 12, scholar 11, survival 12,
stealth 15, taunt 8, tracking 12, trick 13
Move: 12; Tough: 10 (1); Shock: 10; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Leather Armor (Armor +1), Composite
Longbow (Damage 14, Range 20/40/80)
Perks: Elven Archer, Frightening Aspect, Shadow
Step, Sniper, Strong Pull, Trademark Weapon:
Composite Longbow.
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities:
• Darkvision: Ignore up to four points of
Darkness penalties.
STALKER TANAGARA
Tanagara wears a hood and a mask to conceal
her gorgon blood. Long sleeves, a flowing dress,
and gloves keep her scales out of sight, and
she’s become quite adept at covering the slight
hiss when she speaks by using a husky whisper.
She’s embarrassed by what she is, but not above
removing her mask and employing her natural
abilities against foes too powerful for her arrows
to down.
Quote: “Shhh, this won’t hurt, I promise.”
Attributes: Charisma 8, Dexterity 13, Mind 8,
Spirit 11, Strength 12
Skills: Dodge 15, find 10, intimidation 18,
maneuver 14, missile weapons 16, reality 12,
stealth 14, trick 10, unarmed combat 14
Move: 8; Tough: 17 (4); Shock: 10; Wounds: 3
Equipment: Longbow (Damage 13, Range
20/40/80).
Perks: Brawler, Frightening Aspect, Smiling
Deceiver, Strong Pull, Sniper
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Snake scales +1
• Dread: While the Tanagara is present, any
scene becomes Dramatic.
• Insidious: Discard a Destiny card from each
target’s pool when Tanagara successfully
performs an Approved Action.
• Petrifying Look: Tanagara may remove her
mask and intimidate all targets within 10 meters
as a free action every turn it is an Approved
Action. On an Outstanding result the target is
turned to stone and tests Defeat. Petrification
is recovers within minutes unless the target is
killed. Injuries sustained from Defeat represent
lingering effects of petrification.
• Sensitive: Taunts that invoke or insult
Tanara’s gorgon blood are Favored against her.
• Toxic Blood: When Tanagara suffers a
Wound anyone adjacent to her suffers 12+1 BD
acid damage which affects the target’s lowest
Armor value.
STALKER ZAL-KORAK
Zal-Korak has the pale skin and stringy white hair
of a wight, but suffers under a terrible curse that
gave him a scorpion’s body. He desires nothing
more in life than a cure, and Uthorion has promised
him one, should he serve faithfully. Zal-Korak
97
 believes simply killing Uthorion’s enemies alone
won’t help him earn that reward—he wants to
provide something of unique, immeasurable value
to his master.
Quote: “Ready or not, here I come.”
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 12, Mind 12,
Spirit 9, Strength 11
Skills: Alteration 14, apportation 13, conjuration
14, divination 13, dodge 14, find 13, intimidation
12, melee weapons 13, reality 10, scholar 13, taunt
7, trick 13
Move: 12; Tough: 13 (2); Shock: 11; Wounds: 4
Equipment: Spear (Strength +2/13, Reach 2 meters,
Thrown)
Perks: Frightening Aspect, Spellcaster (armor,
enhance, fear, fireball, mage hands, mage light,
possibility rend, shield, summon elemental*)
Possibilities: 3
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Thick chitin +2
• Bite/Claws: When attacking with his pincers
or stinger, an even attack roll indicates a hit by
Zal-Korak’s pincers, and an odd represents a
stinger attack. The stinger deals Strength +3/21
damage, AP 2. The claws deal Strength +3/21
damage and always attempt to grapple, so a
standard hit only deals 19 damage.
• Undead: Wights are immune to poison and
other effects that require breathing, eating, or
other “living” processes.
HOWLER
Howlers are lurks modified by blood magic to serve
with Uthorion’s stalkers. Physically they have the
same pasty skin and mottled white hair as normal
lurks, but their eyes gleam with a feral bloodlust.
The run in bonded packs up to a dozen strong, and
stalkers happily sacrifice one of their “animals” to
a foe so the rest can follow him.
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 8, Mind 5, Spirit
6, Strength 7
Skills: Dodge 9, maneuver 8, melee weapons
10, missile weapons 10, survival 8, taunt (10),
tracking 10, trick (10)
Move: 7; Tough: 9 (2); Shock: 6; Wounds: —
Equipment: Leather armor (+2), Short Sword
(Strength +2/9), Short Bow (Damage 11, Range
10/25/40)
98
Perks: Shadow Step
Possibilities: Rare (2)
Special Abilities:
Bond Tracker: When a howler falls, the rest of its
bonded companions gain a magical “scent” from
the foe. Surviving members of the same group
may track the direction of the trace unerringly so
long as the target is within the same Zone. Spells
or items that block scrying also block this ability.
Fear (+2): When a howler falls all the rest emit a
piercing cry—which also identifies and traces
the foe who attacked their comrade. The attacker
must make a Fear test with a +2 bonus with either
Willpower or Spirit or become Very Stymied.
Immunity: Fear and fear based effects.
OTHER FOES AND ALLIES
AYSLE GOSPOG
OF THE SECOND PLANTING
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 9, Mind 7, Spirit
10, Strength 11
Skills: Dodge 11, find 8, maneuver 10, stealth 11,
tracking 8, trick (10), unarmed combat 13
Move: 9; Tough: 12 (1); Shock: —; Wounds: —
Equipment: —
Perks: —
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Dirt and grass +1.
• Bite/Claws: Damage Strength +2 (13)
• Blood Sense: Tracking against a target becomes
Favored once a gospog deals a Wound.
• Fear: Gospog are horrific amalgamations of
a corpse and rotten plant matter, that emit a
horrid shriek when encountered. Test willpower
or Spirit or become Very Stymied.
• Poison: If a gospog’s bite or claws deal
damage exceeding the target’s Toughness, then
a debilitating toxin is introduced to the target.
While poisoned the victim suffers one Shock
each round.
• Mindless: Gospog are immune to intimidation
and taunt interactions and telepathy powers.
• Relentless: Gospog ignore Shock.
 • Undead: Gospog are immune to poison and
other effects that require breathing, eating, or
other “living“ processes.
AYSLE GOSPOG
OF THE THIRD PLANTING
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 10, Mind 8,
Spirit 10, Strength 12
Skills: Dodge 11, find 8, maneuver (12), melee
weapons 15, missile weapons 14, stealth 8, trick
(13), unarmed combat 15
Move: 10; Tough: 15 (3); Shock: —; Wounds: 1
Equipment: Plate mail (Armor +3), Longsword
(Strength +3/15 damage), Darts (Strength +1/13
damage, Range 5/10/15), may vary between
gospog.
Perks: Trademark Weapon (longsword)
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Bite/claws: Damage Strength +2 (14)
• Fear: Gospog are horrific amalgamations of
a corpse and rotten plant matter that emit a
horrid shriek when encountered. Test willpower
or Spirit or become Very Stymied.
• Mindless: Gospog are immune to intimidation
and taunt interactions and telepathy powers.
• Relentless: Gospog ignore Shock.
• Undead: Gospog are immune to poison and
other effects that require breathing, eating, or
other “living“ processes.
AYSLISH SAILOR
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 8, Mind 6, Spirit
6, Strength 8
Skills: Dodge 9, find 7, maneuver 9, melee
weapons 9, missile weapons 10, stealth 10,
streetwise 7, taunt 7, trick 7, unarmed combat 10,
water vehicles 10
Move: 8; Tough: 8; Shock: 6; Wounds: —
Equipment: —
Perks: —
Possibilities: Rare (2)
Special Abilities: —
BANDIT
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 8, Mind 6, Spirit
6, Strength 7
Skills: Beast riding 9, dodge 9, find 7, maneuver 9,
melee weapons 9, missile weapons 10, stealth 10,
streetwise 7, taunt 7, trick 7
Move: 8; Tough: 8 (1); Shock: 6; Wounds: —
Equipment: Leather armor (Armor +1), short bow
(Damage 11, Range 10/25/40), staff (Damage
Strength +2/9),
Perks: —
Possibilities: Rare (2)
Special Abilities: —
CLANKER
Attributes: Charisma 3, Dexterity 8, Mind 3, Spirit
8, Strength 16
Skills: Dodge 13, find 8, intimidation 14, melee
weapons 13, missile weapons 13, trick (8),
unarmed combat 13
Move: 8; Tough: 18 (2); Shock: —; Wounds: 1
Equipment: Usually none, but anything that was
part of the original object becomes functional—
even if it wasn’t before the clanker became
animated.
Perks: Magic Resistance
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Metal sheathing +2.
• Automaton: Machines are immune to poison
and other effects that require breathing, eating,
or other “living“ processes.
• Bite/Claws: Strength +2 (18).
• Large: Clankers are usually 3 meters tall or
larger. Attackers gain +2 to attack rolls.
• Mindless: Clankers are immune to intimidation
and taunt interactions and telepathy powers.
• Relentless: Clankers ignore Shock.
KNIGHT
Attributes: Charisma 7, Dexterity 7, Mind 6, Spirit
8, Strength 10
Skills: Beast riding 10, dodge 8, find 7, intimidation
10, maneuver 8, melee weapons 11, taunt 8, trick
7, unarmed combat 10, willpower 10
Move: 7; Tough: 13 (3); Shock: 8; Wounds: —
Equipment: Horse, Plate-Mail (Armor +3, full
Body), medium shield (Defense +2), longsword
(Strength +3/13), lance (Strength +2/16 based on
horse’s Strength, AP 1)
Perks: Brute, Dismounting Blow
99
 Possibilities: Rare (3) Perks: Double Tap
Special Abilities: — Possibilities: Rare (2)
Special Abilities: —
LURKS
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 7, Mind 5, Spirit SOLDIER (OFFICER)
6, Strength 7 Attributes: Charisma 7, Dexterity 8, Mind 8, Spirit
Skills: Dodge 9, maneuver 8, melee weapons 9, Strength 8
9, taunt 9, trick 9, unarmed combat 9, missile Skills: Dodge 10, find 9, fire combat 10, first aid 9,
weapons 8 heavy weapons 9, intimidation 10, land vehicles
Move: 7; Tough: 9 (2); Shock: 6; Wounds: — 9, maneuver 9, melee weapons 9, persuasion 9,
Equipment: Leather armor (+2), mace (Strength stealth 9, unarmed combat 9
+2/9), Short Bow (Damage 11, Range 10/25/40) Move: 8; Tough: 12 (4); Shock: 9; Wounds: 1
Perks: Shadow Step Equipment: Ballistic vest (+4), Glock 9mm
Possibilities: Rare (2) (Damage 13, Range 10/25/40)
Special Abilities: — Perks: Double Tap
Possibilities: Rare (2)
NIBIKRIDS Special Abilities: —
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 8, Mind 6, Spirit
6, Strength 8 TROLL
Skills: Dodge 9, maneuver 12, stealth 11, taunt 8, Attributes: Charisma 3, Dexterity 8, Mind 3, Spirit
unarmed combat 9 10, Strength 15
Move: 8; Tough: 8; Shock: 6; Wounds: 1 Skills: Dodge 10, find 8, intimidation 15, taunt (8),
Equipment: — trick (8), unarmed combat 13
Perks: — Move: 8; Tough: 19 (4); Shock: 10; Wounds: 2
Possibilities: None Equipment: —
Special Abilities: Perks: —
• Bite: Damage is Strength +1 (9), plus the victim Possibilities: Never
is affected by nibikrid venom if the damage Special Abilities:
exceeds Toughness. • Armor: Stone skin +4.
• Nibikrid Venom: The target’s Strength • Crumble: When a Troll is KOed by either
decreases by one. Note that this does decrease Shock or Wounds it crumbles into normal rocks
Toughness. If Strength drops below 5 the target and dirt.
is KO’ed and must test for Defeat. After one • Large: Trolls are usually three meters tall or
minute (six rounds) the target tests Strength to larger. Attackers gain +2 to attack rolls to hit
end the venom’s effect. If the test fails the effect due to their huge size.
lasts another minute, and then the target tests • Stomp: Damage Strength (15). This attack
again. targets all who are engaged with it, ignoring
Multi-Targeting penalties, and counts as
SOLDIER Favored against any creature smaller than
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 8, Mind 7, Spirit Large.
8, Strength 8
Skills: Dodge 10, find 8, fire combat 10, first aid 8, WIZARD
heavy weapons 9, intimidation 9, land vehicles 9, Attributes: Charisma 7, Dexterity 7, Mind 12,
maneuver 9, melee weapons 9, stealth 9, unarmed Spirit 11, Strength 7
combat 9 Skills: Apportation 14, alteration 16, conjuration
Move: 8; Tough: 12 (4); Shock: 8; Wounds: — 16, divination 14, dodge 8, find 14, intimidation
Equipment: Ballistic vest (Armor +4), M4 assault 14, maneuver 8, melee weapons 8, stealth 8, taunt
rifle (Damage 13, Short Burst, Range 50/100/200). 8, trick 15, willpower 14

100
Move: 7; Tough: 7; Shock: 11; Wounds: —
Equipment: —
Perks: Magister, Spellcaster (dispel magic, enhance,
fireball, fly, lightning, shield), Spellbook
Possibilities: Common (3)
Special Abilities: —
VIKING BERSERKER
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 9, Mind 7, Spirit
8, Strength 10
Skills: Dodge 10, intimidation 13, maneuver 10,
melee weapons 12, stealth 10, survival 8, taunt
(11), unarmed combat 10, water vehicles 11
Move: 9; Tough: 11 (1); Shock: —; Wounds: 1
Equipment: Animal hide (Armor +1), great axe
(Strength +4/14, stymies on a hit).
Perks: Smasher, Vengeful
Possibilities: Rare (2)
Special Abilities:
• Berserker: These warriors ignore Shock.
VIKING RAIDER
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 8, Mind 6, Spirit
8, Strength 9
Skills: Dodge 10, faith 9, find 8, intimidation 10,
maneuver 10, melee weapons 11, missile weapons
10, stealth 9, survival 8, unarmed combat 10,
water vehicles 11
Move: 8; Tough: 11 (2); Shock: 10; Wounds: —
Equipment: Chainmail armor (+2, Torso),
longsword (Strength +3/12), medium shield
(defense +2)
Perks: Endurance
Possibilities: Rare (2)
Special Abilities: —
WYVERN
Attributes: Charisma 6, Dexterity 10, Mind 5,
Spirit 8, Strength 15
Skills: Dodge 11, find 7, intimidation 12, maneuver
11, missile weapons 14, stealth 11, trick 7,
unarmed combat 12
Move: 10; Tough: 18 (3); Shock: 10; Wounds: 2
Perks: —
Possibilities: Never
Special Abilities:
• Armor: Scaly hide +2.
• Bite/Claws: Strength +2 (17).
• Acid Breath: Wyverns may spit acid, dealing
Damage 15 to a Small Blast radius, and
automatically affecting the lowest Armor value
on the target. The attack uses missile weapons
to hit, and on an Outstanding hit the target’s
Armor value decreases by one until repaired.
• Large: Attacks against the drake gain a +2
bonus due to its large size.
• Passengers: In addition to its rider, a wyvern
can carry one additional passenger, but if it
does so, its tests are Disfavored.
• Wings: Move 10 in the air, or 50 meters when
“Rushing.”
WYVERN RIDER
Attributes: Charisma 7, Dexterity 7, Mind 6, Spirit
8, Strength 9
Skills: Beast riding 12, dodge 8, find 7, intimidation
10, maneuver 8, melee weapons 12, taunt 8, trick
7, unarmed combat 10, willpower 10
Move: 7; Tough: 13 (3); Shock: 8; Wounds: —
Equipment: Plate-Mail (Armor +3, full Body),
medium shield (Defense +2), longsword (Strength
+3/13), lance (Strength +2/17 based on wyvern’s
Strength, AP 1)
Perks: Brute, Dismounting Blow
Possibilities: Rare (3)
Special Abilities: —
ZOMBIE
Attributes: Charisma 5, Dexterity 5, Mind 5, Spirit
5, Strength 10
Skills: melee weapons 8, unarmed combat 8
Move: 5; Tough 10/6; Shock—; Wounds:—
Equipment: —
Perks: –
Possibilities: Never.
Special Abilities:
• Fear: Zombies are animated bodies of dead
creatures. Test willpower or Spirit or become Very
Stymied.
• Mindless: Zombies are immune to intimidation
and taunt attacks.
• Relentless: Zombies ignore shock.
• Headshot: A Called Shot at the head (-4 to hit)
hits Toughness 6.
• Undead: Zombies are immune to effects that
require breathing, eating, or other “living”
processes.
101
 O
xford and its surroundings are often
visited during the adventure, and some
Storm Knights may have questions about
the current situation or the people around them. It
may not be entirely clear—even important soldiers
don’t have a full view of what’s happening a few
kilometers away. But for the GM who wants to
know, and the Storm Knight who goes in search of
answers there are secrets to discover.
SECRETES OF
LOCATIONS
BARRICADES
OXFORD
The radius of Core Earth’s influence is easy to find
even without a Storm Knight’s sense for shifting
realities thanks to a system of walls, gates, and
weapon emplacements ringing the city. These
aren’t hasty fortifications, but months worth of
construction designed to protect what remains of
Core Earth.
Oxford is widely considered the most likely new
seat of government if London completely falls—
some argue that governance should have already
been moved.
This line of defenses has yet to be tested, but
between the trenches in the Mixed Zone (see page
104) and these fortifications any standard assault
against the city seems an unlikely proposition.

BLACKBIRD LEYS PARK

This is both the site of the initial attack from
Uthorion’s forces and the emergence point for
the Army of Light—who helped put an end to
Uthorion’s forces in the early days of the war.
Castle Ardinay overlooks the park and the gaping
hole to the Land Between that now dominates its
features. Most tunnels can support a small band
of raiders, but not the movements of an army,
and this opening is one of the few exceptions. The
castles outer walls extend around the park with
the defenses aimed inwards, just in case Uthorion
ever tries to send more troops through. So far there
hasn’t been any traffic beyond occasional tunnel
beasts looking for prey and being surprised by
fortifications and an army waiting in ambush.

102
 Couriers were dispatched through the tunnels
in the early days of the war. When none returned
larger groups led by a seeker were used. When
those too stopped returning communication
was halted entirely, as seekers are too valuable a
resource to squander. Occasional reinforcements
arrived in Blackbird Leys early in the war, but
it’s been months since anyone friendly has come
through, leading some to worry that the entire
Land Between is compromised. This is the most
likely place for Storm Knights to emerge into town
if led by Oona (page 47) or another seeker, and
they cause quite a commotion with the troops
guarding the walls nearby!
BLACK COLLAR PUB
This is the most popular public house among
Delphi Council operatives in the region, and its
often visited by members of the Army of Light
as well. It’s situated outside the hardpoint far
enough that it’s in the Ayslish Dominant Zone. The
owner, Mister Collins (page 106) considered the
transformed decor an upgrade.
The pub brews its own mead just called Blackbird
that’s popular among locals, and even dwarves
have declared it “drinkable.” Lighting is dim but
constant thanks to illusory torches along the walls.
There’s seldom music or live entertainment—
Collins prefers a quiet atmosphere where patrons
can drink and chat among themselves.
CASTLE ARDINAY
The enchanted castle is built next to the Blackbird
Reys Park opening, and primarily serves to
guard that against any further invasion. Before
the adventure it’s a source of pride and hope for
both the Army of Light and the citizens of Oxford,
transformed and not.
Things change a bit after the illusion is destroyed
in Act One, with the faith of both groups shaken.
Oxford still considers Ardinay herself a staunch
ally, but now questions the reliability of magic
and the trustworthiness of wizards in general.
The deception has also left bad feelings within the
Army of Light itself, especially house Gerrick who
feels that they should at least have known that the
castle wasn’t as defensible as it appeared to be.
Unveiling the true structure hasn’t led to any
advance from Uthorion. There was a push while
the Storm Knights were away between acts, but
artillery barrages from the trenchline put an end to
it before the castle itself even came under assault.
DARK FORTRESS
Uthorion’s Dark Fortress in Liverpool to the
Northwest isn’t visible from Oxford’s defensive
lines—it sits about 250 kilometers away—but its
oppressive presence is constantly felt within the
city. Enemy forts and outposts constructed to the
North feel like extensions of the Dark Fortress
itself, and are often referred to as such by troops
who have never seen the massive construct with
their own eyes.
DREAMING SPIRES
The city center and universities are all protected
by the Core Earth hardpoint, and have yet to be
touched by Uthorion’s forces beyond small raids
from underground tunnels. The majority of the
soldiers from surrounding bases have funneled
into the area, nicknamed the Dreaming Spires by
locals and Ayslish alike.
There isn’t much friction between the university
staff and the soldiers. No matter how stuffy the
professors may be, they understand the threats
Aysle poses and that the armed patrols in the
streets aren’t a show of tyrannical power but a
reasonable safety precaution against a foe who can
emerge from any basement.
The libraries of the universities are among the
best in the world, and are open to Storm Knights of
the Delphi Council. Any use of scholar or evidence
analysis that employs the books of the libraries is
Favored. Folktales and ancient history that are both
surprisingly relevant in the Realm are bountiful.
The Dreaming Spires are also a repository for
several Eternity Shards, and anything collected by
the Storm Knights is likely to be collected here and
overseen by Mister Collins (page 106). Electricity
is still available within the city proper, along with
other modern conveniences, including computers—
although there’s no Internet connectivity available
to take full advantage of the technology.
103
 OXFORD FAIRE
Oxford Faire is a market is outside the barricade,
but within the Mixed Zone between the town
center and Castle Ardinay, and thus somewhat
protected from all sides. Much of the market is
given to fresh food from local farms, but all sorts of
special vendors sell everything from magical items
to surplus military equipment. Items from other
Cosms are still Rare (–4) here, but anything else
might be procured without a modifier.
The market itself is a mixture of small business
buildings, tents, and temporary stalls that take
over several blocks. Most of the stalls close as soon
as it gets dark, but some vendors remain open—
especially the ones selling sketchier goods.
TRENCHES
Lines of jagged trenches extend out in every
direction from the Oxford barricades. Roads
remain intact if guarded, especially from the city
center to the Blackbird Leys area where the Army
of Light is encamped. The outermost ring is where
active combatants are deployed. Inside the lines
the landscape has partially transformed to become
more rural, but homes, businesses, and farms still
carry on despite the military activity around them.
To the North the trenches are under more pressure
from Uthorion’s invading forces, and a ruined, open
No Mans Land extends between the two armies.
The Thames blocks the invaders to the West, and
Castle Ardinay is situated to the East, leading to a
slow siege of the city that has yet to break.
WYCHWOOD
The Wychwood was a small reserve before most of
England’s landscape transformed to more rural and
medieval forest. Since then, the woods boundaries
have extended significantly in every direction and
engulfed other woods. Just the name Wychwood
seems to pervade, even when parks or other forests
had precedence.
The outskirts of the Wychwood reach the edge of
Castle Ardinay on one side, and the outskirts of
London on the other. Roads remain intact, but the
wood is infested with Uthorion’s minions and isn’t
considered safe to travel.
104
RECENT HISTORY
When the stelae were activated on Day One Oxford
resisted the alien reality astoundingly well. Troops
from Benson and Brize Norton bases converged on
the town and held the invaders in the area where
spells and magic failed but bullets, bombs and
grenades worked marvelously.
At the end of the first week of siege the Army of
Light emerged from the Blackbird Ley Park tunnel—
the same one that had opened up and disgorged
Uthorion’s forces. They appeared directly behind
their Dark foes, cutting off any chance of escape
and forming a hammer that smashed Uthorion’s
minions against the anvil of the Oxford hardpoint.
This early victory left the city itself largely intact
and Ardinay and her Army of Light as unexpected
heroes.
CURRENT DEPLOYMENT
Oxford is surrounded on all sides by Uthorion’s
army, but its artillery commands every point within
line of sight of the city. Bombardments are saved
for attacks since ammunition is limited, but there
are wide swathes around the protective trenches
where the encroaching Wychwoods give way to
barren ground from the exchange of explosive
firepower and magic.
The defensive perimeter of Oxford is more of
an oval than a circle with the inclusion of Castle
Ardinay and the Army of Light extending the
city’s reach to the Southwest. Core Earth forces are
deployed all long the trenches, but concentrated
in the North where the brunt of the Dark Lord’s
assault usually falls. Ayslish troops from House
Gerrick tend to support operations to the North,
while Tancred knights dominate the South near
the castle with minor support from the Core Earth
Military.
UNDERLYING TENSION
Cooperation between the British and Ayslish is
strong, but a few points of contention keep things
from being perfect.
The main source of irritation for Her Majesty’s
troops is the slow but steady conversion of civilians
in the Mixed and Aysle zone outside town—and
their consequently looking at the Lady of Light as
queen rather than a proper Buckingham. This isn’t
likely to change with the Queen in hiding and Pella
visible to everyone in the area daily.
For the Ayslish, frustration comes from lack of
respect for their strict social classes. Modern dress
offends the sensibilities of some lords and ladies,
but more flash points arise out of soldiers or
civilians speaking directly to aristocrats without a
direct invitation. Grousing about the lack of bowing
or curtsying is common among the higher classes,
leading them to regard the British much like they
do the barbaric Outsiders back home.
LOCAL PERSONALITIES
PELLA ARDINAY
With no reinforcements expected from home, the
Lady of Light has seemingly chosen to bolster her
defensive position at Oxford. This seems at odds
with her aggressive—some say heedless—pursuit
of Uthorion, but Ardinay has a plan.
The vengeful Queen has noted with great interest
that the normally patient Dark Lord has committed
army after army to the destruction of Oxford,
only to see each assault repulsed or destroyed
completely. She believes that the hardpoint is an
irritating thorn in her foes’ side, and it’s only a
matter of time before he must come deal with it
personally.
When he does, she’ll be ready. In the meantime
she wears a facade of grace over her impatience,
treating the stalwart defenders of the city with
respect bordering on flattery from a High Queen.
Always behind her easy smile is a hint of clenched
anger, waiting for the right moment to be unleashed
like a storm.
LAURA MADDOX
The Lady Mayor of the city of Oxford, Laura
Maddox is a former educator and a politician
through and through. Nearly 70 years old, she’s
aging gracefully, bolstered by impeccable manners
and a dress sense that seems to come from a 1980’s
boardroom.
The Lady Mayor has little reason to meet Storm
Knights, her duties are mostly to the town center
and occasional diplomatic entreaties to her Ayslish
benefactors. She’s aware of the Delphi Council and
owes them several favors, which a savvy character
might capitalize on with a bit of investigation and
a scheduled meeting.
SHERIFF JOHN MORSE
A Storm Knight with sticky fingers may have a
close encounter with Sheriff Morse, otherwise
its unlikely to meet him. He doesn’t walk patrols
around Oxford, but spends most of his time in his
office or working with Mayor Maddox or Pella
Ardinay.
John is an Ord and old enough to retire, but he’s
still dangerous if pressed. Use the statistics for a
Soldier (Officer) found on page 100 if needed.
The Bobbies in Oxford all report to him, and he
can call upon Military Police from the barracks if
something in town gets truly out of hand.
Morse is humorless but polite, and gives the air
of a professional and a bureaucrat, though he was
a soldier and then an inspector—and a dirty one
to boot! He distrusts magic and tends to dislike
mages, but conceals that behind the stony facade
he deploys against everyone.
KNIGHT COLONEL ROBBIE
HATHAWAY
Sir Hathaway—he’s been knighted by both the
Queen and by the Lady of Light—is a hero through
and through. Storm Knights are likely to recognize
a kindred spirit, although his sense of duty keeps
him bound to the city and unable to work full time
with the Delphi Council.
His men are likely to tell tales of Robbie’s daring:
his taking charge of the makeshift defense on
Day One, the tank charge that flattened an enemy
assault, the wraith he defeated in single combat,
and so on. The stories aren’t even that embellished!
Hathaway prefers to be out in the trenches doing
his job, and chaffs if encountered in the town
center or Castle Ardinay where he’s forced into
a diplomatic role. He’s a natural ally for Storm
Knights looking for support for any reason. He
105
 recognizes other fighting men and women when
he meets them, and is drawn towards helping
those in need.
He owes his life to both High Priestess Buvar
and—perhaps surprisingly—Mister Collins. He’ll
do anything for either one of them, including
ignore his own sense of honor and fair-play if need
be.
MISTER COLLINS
Dexter Collins, or Mister Collins as he’s known
around Oxford, is the proprietor of the Black Collar
Pub near Castle Ardinay. His true importance,
though, is as the secret contract for the Delphi
Council within Oxford.
His presence has led to the direct airdrops
arranged by the Council, and he maintains several
secret safe houses for Storm Knights who travel
through the area.
He is known for his quick wit, dapper dress
style, and the slight limp and cane that come from
losing most of his right leg under mysterious
circumstances. He has a story for every occasion,
and the tale around his leg changes every time
he tells it. He always says he doesn’t miss it; the
fancy bit of metal and plastic he has down below is
the finest Her Majesty’s Government can afford—
“easily three pounds fifty.”  while those at Glasgow are attempting to reverse-
Mister Collins led a very exciting life before
retiring to Oxford. He’s been a police constable,
an agent with MI5, and an “advisor” at Scotland
Yard. He kept in touch with his old friends and
even operated a safe house for witnesses and
VIP’s. When the invasion came he had contacts and
supplies at the ready to be of assistance, and even
got into the action a bit himself.
He made new contacts within the Army of Light
and the growing Delphi Council, and turned the
Black Collar Pub into the place for Storm Knights
to meet and share their tales.
He operates a smuggling ring known as the
Moonrakers, catering to both independent realm
runners and Delphi Council agents. Anything you
need Mister Collins can get, with a little time and
something to barter. He doesn’t make a profit, but
his suppliers don’t work for free.
106
GERTHA THE SHARNHAND
Only dwarves are likely to take interest in the
Sharnhand, and vice versa, but she is keenly
interested in any dwarven Storm Knights who
travel through Oxford, and quick to introduce
herself—as Gertha even—and count them as
contacts for the future if possible.
Gertha disdains Uthorion, and stays with the
Army of Light hoping to witness his destruction
first-hand rather than out of any noble intention.
She hasn’t forgiven Pella Ardinay for the deeds
done while the Dark Lord inhabited her, but senses
a kindred spirit in Ardinay’s ruthless drive to
destroy him. For that above all else the Sharnhand
is now one of Ardinay’s staunchest allies and is
quick to support her more aggressive moves.
She has a similarly complicated relationship with
the Mad Duke, Dwyvon Vareth. Gertha knew
him long before his people were massacred. She
remembers the good dwarf he was and is saddened
by the fracturing of his mind, but as far as Getha is
concerned his descent into darkness and corruption
is complete. She plans to dispatch him and seize
his forges for her own crusade. It is the merciful
thing to do for a once noble dwarf.
At Black Cuillin, Gertha’s followers toil to build
weapons and armor for the Order of the Dragon,
engineer the Mad Duke’s Iron Warriors. Gertha
sees the value in building a new army, augmented
with Dragon Armor technology, to carry the fight
to Uthorion with or without the Army of Light,
and she wants as many dwarven Storm Knights as
possible to join her when that moment comes.
HIGH PRIESTESS ULLIAN BUVAR
The High Priestess is most likely to be encountered
if a Storm Knight is grievously injured—or slain! As
the chief representative of Dunad on Earth her role
is as a healer, not as a preacher. She leads rituals
and answers questions about her faith if asked, but
she never speaks of the god unless asked. Healing
isn’t an exchange, it’s a divine gift, and not even
gratitude is asked in return.
She’s capable of curing any wound or disease
and most curses, though a few maladies such as
the curse upon Tolwyn are beyond her. Healing Wyrwind harbors enormous guilt over his role
egregious wounds exhaust her for several hours. in Uthorion’s reign of terror, which is part of why
She is capable of resurrecting a Storm Knight who he’s willing to sacrifice his life to save Tolwyn if
died within a day, but doing so drains her of power that becomes necessary.
for 1 BD days. His power is also fading, and he knows his time
Ullian is a paragon of Light: chaste, humble, is nearly up—perhaps even in this very adventure.
and selfless to a fault. She secretly yearns to have He’s keen to spend a little time with any magic
adventures of her own, but settles for listening to users within the party, regardless of Cosm, and
the tales of Storm Knights and other heroes she has quiz them about their ability to plot and scheme:
helped. • If they suspected one of the major houses was
She is utterly fascinated by Cricket, no equivalent about to turn to Darkness, what would they
game exists on Aysle. The rules have been counsel Ardinay to do about it?
explained to her many times, but she still doesn’t • If they could destroy Darkness at the expense
comprehend even the basics of play. She asks any of eliminating Light as well, would they?
Core Earth heroes she encounters about the game,
and either listens to their futile attempts to explain • If the only way to save two of the three major
the rules or bonds with them in relief over their races of Aysle (human, elf, and dwarf) was
shared ignorance. to sacrifice the third, which race would they
choose to slay, and why?
ARCHMAGUS WYRWIND Wyrwind is seeking an apprentice who can
answer such questions without blanching,but also
Wyrwind apprenticed to Aldermor Sturmwreth, without too much certainty. Someday, perhaps
one of the greatest wizards of the last age, but someday soon the Lady of Light shall need a new
he was described as only a satisfactory pupil. Archmagus, and right now he has no heir apparent.
However, he performed brilliantly during the war
against Uthorion’s forces on the home world and
earned his station in court.
Wyrwind is aged, grey, bent-backed, and spends
a great deal of time muttering to himself—the
only person intelligent enough to understand him.
He should have died of old age long ago if not
for his knowledge of magic. His age is something
of a joke around court, with common refrains of
artifacts “older than Wyrwind” used in everyday
conversation.
Decrepitude and failing faculties usually take the
blame for his failure to detect Uthorion’s spirit
when he controlled Ardinay, but the truth is more
complicated. Actually the archmage did discern
that the Lord of Darkness now sat on the throne,
but he kept this knowledge to himself in order
to survive any purges and remain in place until
Pella’s return. He won’t admit this knowledge.
Time has proved his choice correct, but he allowed
all manner of atrocities—and even assisted their
execution—in the years in between.
Better to be seen as a hapless old fool than a
mastermind capable of such choices.

107
 T
he true story of the Carredon is an unknown
within Aysle. Ayslish magic can only discern
so much, and when the beast’s origin is
discovered to predate its arrival in Aysle the rest
remains a mystery. It’s possible the heroes might

HISTORY OF THE
pick up a clue or two when visiting the creature’s
original Cosm, and it should be enlightening to the
GM to know the truth and how it might affect the
future.

CARRAWAK
THE SECRET

CARREDON In its original form the Carredon was a protector,

not a monster. It was the holy dragon of rainfall,
renewal, and storms. It was worshiped as a deity,
a force of nature capable of violence but more than
anything else a benevolent force of good.
In this world Indonesia, or rather the roughly
equivalent landmass known as Carrawak, was the
cultural and trading center of the entire world. The
Carredon was the island-nation’s patron saint and
defender.
The Carredon, as a dragon, was associated with
luck, life-bringing water, and fortune. As the
patron of storms it also brought destruction to the
island, but the renewal that followed was part of
an endless and holy cycle. The Carredon was a
potentially dangerous monster, to be sure, but it
was their monster and it was beloved.
Its status as the defender of Carrawak was put to
the test when the Gaunt Man invaded.

THE COMING OF THE

GAUNT MAN
The Gaunt Man had already conquered countless
Cosms when he came to Carrawak. Each time he
used the twisted remains of his previous conquest
as a launching point, and by the time the new
Realm was conquered the old one was completely
lifeless, drained, and ready to discard. The only
thing he brought with him from one invasion to the
next were his Nightmares, corrupted souls from
the other worlds who chose eternal life as his dark
servants rather than share the cold fate of the rest
of their world.

108
 At first, the invasion of Carrawak
proceeded much like any other. On
the first night there were screams, and
horror spread throughout the world.
The Gaunt Man drank his fill of fear
and death and Possibility Energy,
confident that there was nothing in
the world that could withstand his
forces. Part of the Gaunt Man’s success
is attributable to this—he prefers to
drain targets that can’t fight back. He
thrives on horror, not conflict.
Only rich or useful targets like Core
Earth, the Akashans, and Gaea offer
rewards precious enough to invite
anything resembling a “fair” fight.
However, after his initial attack the
Carredon was aroused. It tore through
his Nightmares, and despite the
lack of True Death those souls were
somehow lost to him, something he
thought impossible until it happened.
Even the Gaunt Man himself knew a
tinge of fear at the thought that this
dragon-god had the potential capacity
to kill even him!
He embraced that fear, and vowed to
make the fearsome beast his own.
As Nightmares fell the storms
around the Carredon became ever
more violent and destructive, and the
Gaunt Man began being able to sense
the creature, or at least the growing
darkness within it. It was consuming It is no accident that the image of the Carredon is used on the
the corruption that festered within his Gaunt Man’s ever-present cane.
minions, and that was why they were
lost to him.
The Gaunt Man began purposefully sacrificing unforeseen ability made the dragon even more
his corrupted servants to the dragon, gleefully interesting to the Gaunt Man, and finally it had
awaiting the moment when the corruption became consumed enough Eternal Corruption to fall
strong enough that he could claim it and its power completely under his control.
as his own. The only obstacle to his covert plan He separated its essence from Uthorion in a process
was one of his minions managed to overcome the that granted Angar’s current ability to possess
Carredon and slay it—one Angar Uthorion. new bodies, and used the reformed Carredon to
The Gaunt Man’s initial rage subsided when complete his conquest of Carrawak, much to the
the Carredon’s spirit seized Uthorion’s body and delicious despair of those who once worshiped the
continued its rampage against the invaders. This dragon.

109
 THE FATE OF CARRAWAK
With the Carredon as his foremost Nightmare,
the Gaunt Man went on to conquer other Cosms.
There was one small difference, in that he didn’t
completely drain and destroy what was left of
Carrawak. His pet was bound to the world it came
from, and only the final destruction of that world
would bring its True Death and release it from the
Gaunt Man’s clutches. So the Gaunt Man left the
world to decay.
With only the undead left and most of its
Possibilities gone, the cold realm began its slow
collapse. First the world itself began to shrink. The
oceans dried and landmasses disappeared until
the entire world was the size of the island that had
once been the focus of so much resistance.
What remained became the Carredon’s refuge, a
kingdom of bones where it could retreat and heal.
Some portion of the Possibility Energy it rent from
its master’s foes went to maintaining this small
world, keeping its axioms from degrading too
deeply despite it being the only living thing with
ties to the realm.
When called, it would leave this dark realm to do
the Gaunt Man’s bidding, then return home to heal
and brood.
NEW CONQUESTS
The Gaunt Man took cruel pleasure in his pet’s
power and continuous descent into Eternal
Corruption. The Carredon became his symbol.
He began carrying a cane crafted in the creature’s
likeness—a boast to those who knew its meaning,
and a final threat.
Most of the time he left the dragon to its slumber,
only summoning it to destroy pockets of resistance
that were proving too tenacious and starting to
spread the hope he dreaded among his enemies.
Hope quickly turned to despair when the power of
the Carredon was revealed.
In all these conquests the Carredon was never
defeated again, meaning its body was technically
still the flesh of Angar Uthorion. The two
Nightmares still had a bond, even if most of that
bond was mutual hatred.
110
Taking full advantage of his powers of possession,
Uthorion had climbed to become one of the Gaunt
Man’s top servants, and was becoming powerful
enough that the master of evil was becoming wary
of an eventual betrayal by his ambitious and most
loyal minion.
The power of the Carredon had enabled the Gaunt
Man to take on ever more challenging Cosms, so he
decided the time had come to set Uthorion a lofty
task, and either gorge on the Possibility Energy
of success or gain security from his underling’s
failure.
While the Gaunt Man ravaged one Cosm, he gave
Uthorion the unprecedented command to launch
an invasion on his own. He would have to build
up his own forces there over time, but the Gaunt
Man provided a discovered Darkness Device and
promised support from the other Nightmares if
the situation became dire enough. The target was
Aysle.
UTHORION AND AYSLE
Uthorion began his invasion subtly, by possessing
a champion of Darkness and inserting himself into
the already present conflict with the Light. Over
time he drew the forces of Darkness to himself,
and began the construction of his stelae, mixing
the Law of Eternal Corruption from Orrorsh with
Aysle’s Law of Darkness and Light. This changed
the nature of the war on Aysle, and began the reality
storms—and heralded the first Storm Knights to be
given that name.
As the war escalated Angar only called on one ally
to assist him: the dreaded Carredon. To the Ayslish
it seemed like a great dragon steeped in Darkness,
a fitting champion for the Dark Lord. Few realized
that like Uthorion it was a horror from elsewhere,
not born of the magic and Dark of the realm.
Two things happened in close succession to
drastically alter the Gaunt Man’s plans. The
pressure Uthorion exerted on the elves forced
them to trade their knowledge of the Akashans for
their continued survival. But the second thing was
the Carredon began responding to Uthorion as its
master thanks to their bond—much to the Gaunt
Man’s distress!
 The Gaunt Man made a show of gifting the beast
to Uthorion for his success with the elves, although
he had little choice in the matter, and then focused
his full efforts on the Akashans and corrupting
their Reality Trees into something more useful for
his purposes.
TOLWYN AND THE
DEATH OF THE BEAST
Just as Uthorion’s victory seemed inevitable,
Tolwyn Tancred did the impossible and slew the
Carredon during the final, massive battle between
Darkness and Light. Her thrust wounded it badly
enough for it to flee back to its home to heal—but
Tolwyn was carried along with it.
Tolwyn would have perished, except for the
cursed mark which made her the dragon’s new
host. Even with the curse’s protection she lay in a
death-like trance for nearly a century, battling the
Carredon’s possession as the realm’s axioms began
to slowly decay around them both.
She might have remained there until meeting True
Death when the cosm collapsed, if the Gaunt Man
hadn’t reached out for the Carredon, and if Pella
Ardinay’s displaced spirit hadn’t acted as a beacon
to guide her home!.
THE GAUNT MAN
STRIKES
With an eventual eye towards feasting upon Core
Earth, the Gaunt Man began his own invasion of
Gaia to test his newly created gospog and replenish
his army of traitors and Nightmares. Meanwhile he
had Uthorion preparing Aysle to join the invasion
as a distraction, along with any other High Lords
he could recruit.
During the preparations he awaited the inevitable
return of his most powerful tool, the Carredon, and
was surprised when it didn’t heal and reappear.
Upon investigating, he discovered that Tolwyn
had the mark and his control of the beast was still
disrupted, but its link to Angar had been severed
when its body molded from his flesh had perished.
As the invasion of Core Earth was about to begin,
the Gaunt Man reached out to Tolwyn and the
Carredon, bidding them to awaken and follow
the paths of the Land Between back to Aysle, and
into his clutches once more. At least, once Tolwyn
finally succumbed to the curse.
Tolwyn’s first act of slaying Pella Ardinay,
Uthorion’s host at the time, came as a surprise,
but not an entirely unpleasant one from the Gaunt
Man’s perspective. Angar was resourceful enough
to stay on schedule,and it seemed like only a matter
of time before Tolwyn would finally be overcome
and the Gaunt Man’s long lost pet would return to
his side.
THE FUTURE
What happens next depends strongly on how
events played out in this adventure. If any of the
Carredon survived and escaped back to its Cosm
it rests and recovers there for another year, but is
back fully in the Gaunt Man’s control when needed
in the future.
If it was slain, its spirit remains dormant inside the
Storm Knight that struck the final blow. The Gaunt
Man visits the new host in dreams, attempting
to weaken his or her will over the next year with
visions of horror, whispered taunts, and mocking
laugher. When the moment is right the Gaunt Man
intends to break the unfortunate hero and call the
Carredon out to serve him in his moment of need.
The best way to avoid such a fate is to discover
the Carredon’s secret history and its True Death:
the destruction of its home Cosm! The only place
where such information might be uncovered is
in Orrorsh. Even if the secret is discovered that
leaves the problem of draining and destroying a
Cosm—an impossible proposition unless one were
to acquire a Darkness Device...
Good luck, Storm Knight!
111
 INDEX

A I Stalkers 96
Aelward 73 Indomitable 63 Stalker Tanagara 97
Archmagus Wyrwind 13, 107 Ingarta Sjodrekka 24, 32 Stalker Zal-Korak 97
Archmagus Wyrwind. 13 Statue Guardians 45
Aurora 69 J Sundamar Elwenys 63
Aysle Gospog, Second Planting 98 Jinny Greenteeth 43
Aysle Gospog, Third Planting 99 T
Ayslish Merchant Schooner 60 K The Black Doom 71
Ayslish Sailor 99 Knight 99 The Dead World 81
Knight Colonel Robbie Hathaway 105 The Gyro-Dragon 75
B The Hanging Tower 49
Bandit 99 L The Legend of Creation 49
Barghest, Enhanced 37 Laura Maddox 105 The Mark of the Carredon 95
Barrung 88 London 73 The Sea Blade 61
Battles at Sea 33 Lurks 100 The Unseen 78
“Black Charlotte” Meade 59, 62 Thorfinn Bjanni 24
M Tolwyn Tancred 13, 19, 94, 111
C Mage-Killer 37 Berserk Tolwyn 14
Carredon 93, 108 Major Sean Roberson 8 Trofastr Bjanni 24, 32
Carredon, Diminished 93 Marquess Ellefaine 35 Troll 100
Carredon Fragment 92 “Maul-Hand” Sturloudir 24, 32
Carredon Fragment Behavior 92 Merfolk 66 V
Carredon, Merging 93 Mister Collins 106 Viking Berserker 31, 101
Challenger 2 18 Mother 80 Viking Raider 101
Core Earth Catamaran 60
Core Earth Trawler 60 N W
Naddodd 24, 32 Wizard 100
D Nesec “the Ghost” 80 Wood Elf Warrior 39
Dark Assassin 16 Nibikrids 100 Wyvern 101
Dhagh-Kolduhr 50 Nightmare Tree 45
Douglas 59 Z
Draugr 31 O Zombie 101
Dublin 35 Oona Safalu 47
Oslo 22
E Oxford 86, 102
Edeinos Bluespine Warrior 48
P
F Pan-Pacifica Agent 81
Fire Aboard a Ship 66 Parasite Swarm 82
Fortunato 71 Pella Ardinay 13, 94, 105
Fortunato’s Secret 59 Percy 63
Piper Shaw 68
G Poacher 68
Garb 12
Gate Guardian 54 R
Gertha the Sharnhand 13 Raven Swarm 44
Gertha The Sharnhand 106 Regent Street Regular 76
Giant Crab 64 Ross Castle 39
Goliath 10
Gorm 55, 56 S
Grinning Collin 77 Sea Serpent 68
Guards 60 Sébastien de Villiers 59, 61
Guild Thief 77 Seeker 47
Sheriff John Morse 105
H Skitter Swarm 57
High Priestess Ullian Buvar 106 Soldier 100
Howler 98 Soldier, Officer 100
Hungry Skeletons 82 Stalker Gunnarson 96
Stalker Marjis Tarn 97

112
 THE ULTIMATE NIGHTMARE RETURNS...
Revenge of the Carredon is a massive
adventure suitable for several months of
gaming. The creature was an unstoppable
force of Darkness, wreaking havoc upon
Aysle until it was felled by Tolwyn
Tancred. But Tolwyn is afflicted by a
curse, and the omens point to the return
of the beast.

To stop the Carredon’s return, the heroes

must embark on a quest taking them to
the corners of the realm of Aysle and
beyond. Uthorion’s Stalkers are on the
same trail, so beware! Can you stop the Carredon from claiming its revenge, or will you
end up cursed by the beast as well?

INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:

• A massive Seven Act extended adventure that crosses the
different regions of Aysle.
• The secret history of the Carredon and its lingering curse.
• Enhanced rules around sea combat and statistics for
multiple ships and crews!

UlissesNorthAmerica.com
US82021PDF

This game requires the

Torg Eternity Core Rules
and Drama Deck to play.