Adonis awoke in a world where they were entirely alone. They stumbled into an unknown world, a unique being forged between the gaps in the world from one plane to the next. In this world they were strong, they were nimble, they were crafty. And then they learned of beings of great power, and they went looking for their own power. The last they were seen was on the Island Cretus, right after the annual Moon Festival, held in honor of the Asprotavros, the White Bull goddess of the mountain-dwelling Minotaur. When they left, the magic began to die.

Peak of Mountains, or Peak for short, is a Rogue Tabaxi from Cretus, who left the Onyx clan, a fierce clan of Tabaxi at the edge of the jungles and the foothills, in clear sight of Knossos, the Minotaurs’ main city. Ever since Peak was little, every year during the Minotaurian Moon Festival that welcomed outsiders, he would look up to the peak with wonder at all the peoples from across Retinus who came to seek blessings from within the labyrinth. When he left home at a young age, he vowed to see every society and every island. But one day he brought a stranger home, a stranger who called himself Varias. A stranger who entered the sacred labyrinth on the night of the Moon Festival and betrayed Peak’s trust by taking that which was not given. 

A year later, as the magic begins to die and the Council sends out a secret missive, Peak must work to err his ways and find the mysterious stranger. He will need a crew of brave adventurers as he starts with his only clue – a name that he believes is Varias’s true identity: Adonis.

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Teaser for Finn’s Game beginning 6/29:

Janrax rips through the dense brush of the jungle. It’s getting closer. He keeps running, not looking back. The rumbling grows louder and louder. Leaves and branches fall off the shuddering trees. He trips on an outstretched root and goes tumbling to the dirt. Giving up, he looks back. Emerging from the bushes is a beast far deadlier than any.  Janrax resigns to his fate and sits upright. “You’re dead! You died 200 years ago! But I guess that could never stop you.” Janrax sighs. “May our kind reign supreme once more. Don’t fail us again”. Janrax bows his head as a sword is lifted above it. The milliseconds feel like hours, but in an instant, the sword cuts through Janrax’s scales and neck like a leaf through the wind. His head topples off. The figure looks down upon his fallen enemy and hisses. “Three to go”.

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Medeur shivered, flicking water droplets off of his cloak. In the hours before dawn, the forests of Bracorax were enveloped by a thick, shadowy mist. On any other day, he might have found the sight beautiful. Calming, even. It was home. But today, the shadows seemed just a bit too long, the trees a little too close together for him to relax. He shifted his bag uneasily, brushing off some more condensation. Afterall, he certainly didn’t want to find out what would happen if he got important spell components sopping wet.

“Restless, are we?” Medeur nearly jumped out of his feathers. How was Master Igam always so quiet?! Medeur wasn’t even sure that putting a bell on the man would do anything, as he already wore plenty of accessories. “Are you perhaps looking to bolt before we get to our destination?”

“Of course not, Master Igam!” Medeur tried not to wince at the loudness of his voice, which barreled through the air with all the grace of a charging minotaur. “I’m merely excited for my first mission! It’s not everyday that one gets to monitor the sealing place of the Great Many.”

He was lying, of course. Everyone knew that being assigned to Mt. Caligenix was the worst. Despite containing a dangerous entity, no activity had been sensed there for ages. It was simply boring, and cold, and gloomy, and far away from the nice comfy confines of Medamu. Why couldn’t he have been assigned to the sunny Orosea islands like Stellix? He had heard that the Tortles were very nice too…

Unaware of his apprentice’s musings, Master Igam gave a cackling laugh, smacking Medeur on the back with one of his wings. The metal charms he wore jangled jarringly. Medeur nearly winced. Why was everything so loud today? “I suppose the first real assignment is always exciting. I still remember being sent to Praxlarr back in the day…” Here, Master Igam paused, and Medeur mentally prepared himself for another one of his tangential stories. It wasn’t that they were bad, they were just sooooo long. And confusing. And full of names and references he didn’t get.

Mercifully, Master Igam seemed to hold himself back. With a little shake, he continued, “I wouldn’t expect too much. Remember, we’re merely here to touch up the seal. And those ancestors of ours did know what they were doing. Twins willing, Vespata isn’t escaping anytime soon.”

Medeur nodded, and after a few moments of waiting for a reply (in vain), Master Igam left – darting ahead to talk to another one of the magicians journeying to the outpost this morning. They were closer to the mountain now – Medeur could dimly make out its presence through the mist. The sight, ghostly and surreal, made him uneasy for a reason he couldn’t quite pin down – so Medeur looked down and focused on not tripping instead. Putting one foot ahead of the other, he listened to the quiet sounds of the forest and the Master Igam chattering about spell components and casting times and other things up ahead.

At least, until the world suddenly became still.

Startled by the sudden lack of noise, the rest of the group members had stopped too. When Medeur looked up, he saw heads swivelling, heard questions on the tips of tongues. But before anyone – not even quick-talking Veloq – could get half a word out, the ground began to shake. For what seemed like an eternity, powerful waves caused the earth to rise and fall. Trees fell in the distance, the soft thuds carrying through the air. Medeur hoped no one was hurt as he stumbled about, trying to keep his balance.

And then it was over. Medeur looked for Master Igam as others picked up dropped satchels and adjusted bags, intending to ask him what that was all about. However, he found that the man wasn’t looking around at all, instead fixated on the sky. Medeur looked up too. Amidst the dissipating mist, he could make out a group of…somethings, dark splotches against the lightening sky. Are those…birds? That would make the most sense – but Medeur had never seen birds so small on Bracorax before. Before he could get a better look, they dispersed like dandelion seeds in the wind, and he’s left blinking their afterimages out of his eyes. What in all of Ritenus???

“W-we should go.” Master Igam’s voice, a few pitches too high and abruptly shaky, cut through his reverie like a flash of lightning. On the edge of his vision, Medeur could see the other members of the party pause too, even though the words weren’t loud. He couldn’t blame them – he too felt a shiver run down his spine. Master Igam was a lot of things – talented, proud, daring. But he was never timid. Never…whatever he was now. Despite what had just happened, this was the most disturbing thing he had seen this morning. Medeur didn’t like it. He didn’t like it at all.

Amidst the sudden explosion of whispers and murmurs, Master Igam took a deep breath, seeming to gather his thoughts. “Well.” His voice was significantly closer to normal now, though still not quite loud. “Well!” He repeated, booming over the chatter. “What are we doing standing around? There’s things we need to do, and we need to hurry, hurry!” With that, he began to shoo the other members forward, with urgent little waves of his wings.

Medeur hurried forward at his insistence, still confused. “What? Why? What’s the rush?”

The rest of his words died in his throat at the look in his master’s eyes. It’s hard to pin down, but for a moment Medeur thought he saw fear. Master Igam was never afraid.

“Didn’t you see where those…things…were coming from, silly boy?” Master Igam gave Medeur a significant look, as if he were missing something both very important and very obvious. He didn’t see why the origin of the…birds…had any relevance – wouldn’t wildlife be disturbed by an earthquake anyways? Still, he thought back. There had been the dark figures, but behind them there was…

Oh.

“Mount Caligenix?” Medeur hoped he was wrong. He really really did. Because if he was right…then everyone would be in deep trouble.

“Yes.” His master’s answer was short and clipped. “You’d better pray to the Twins that the seal isn’t broken. Now hurry!”

Medeur does, almost tripping over a root in his haste. Yet there was something else that caught his attention. Amidst the sounds of the party, those of ruffling feathers and shifting bags, he thought he heard something else. A buzz, quiet but persistent.

Medeur tried to ignore it, but the sound wormed into his brain anyways. It got louder, and he suddenly felt as if he was being watched. It was such a distinct feeling that he could almost see the observer in his mind’s eye – multifaceted eyes, slicing jaws, deadly pincers —

But when he turned, eyes flashing, there was nothing. Just trees, mist, and the sound of his breaths.

Note: by order of Thera the Firebold, the original account has been rewritten to omit any personal opinions I included in the notes. It’s fine – it only took me two hours to rewrite it and make copies. I will get rid of this one later. No one’s gonna see it anyways.
-Thirik

Account of the proceedings of the June 18th Emergency Session of the High Council

In attendance: Rep. Sanctus Ignitori (presiding), Rep. Saphara Clethtinthiallor, Rep. Drizzik Rezzenson, Rep. Sreelasa Calentia, Rep. Doroks The Defender, Rep. Foojya the Blizzard, Rep. Salan Terriex, Rep. Icaridne, Rep. Litor Vadu, Rep. Tibian Tidebreaker, Ambassador Nados Quickfin, Ambassador Graskin Blubberfold, Thera the Firebold, and Grurrom Kindel.
Notes taken by: Thirik Cartax

12:03 – Meeting is called to order by Rep. Ignitori. Roll is called; Ambassador Angla noted absent, all others present. Rep. Ignitori begins reviewing the notes from the previous meeting. Notes that I wrote, by the way. Seriously, who calls an emergency meeting then spends ten minutes reading about agricultural disputes?

12:09 – Rep. Rezzenson interjects with a request to forgo the remainder of formalities due to the emergency status of the meeting, and expresses a desire to know the reason that the Council had been summoned. At least someone on this council has some practicality.

12:10 – Rep. Icardine seconds Rep. Rezzonson’s request, expresses a desire for a short meeting.

12:11 – Rep. Ignitori abbreviates the opening procedures and yields the floor to Thera the Firebold of the Library of Jakardia.

12:12 – Thera the Firebold gives an account of a recent discovery of a research team at the Library of Jakardia of a roughly person-sized borehole drilled deep into the earth. The team’s investigation of the depth of the borehole revealed that it travels far deeper than should be possible, apparently piercing to the center of the world. A descent into the shaft resulted in the discovery of a vast cavern at the bottom, occupied by what appeared to be the comatose form of a colossally huge dragon. The magical signature of the dragon was extraordinarily powerful, and seemed to indicate that its life force is somehow linked with the fundamental weave of magic. Further magical examination located six severe injuries across the body of the creature, apparently resulting from the removal of pieces of the being’s body. Experts from the library determined that the wounds are fatal. Thera finishes by postulating on potential effects of the dragon’s death, including the potential collapse of the material plane or failure of magic.

12:20 – Several representatives begin speaking at once. Rep. Ignitori tries and fails to establish order. This is chaos. Clethtinthiallor is yelling just to be heard.

12:22 – Rep. Clethtinthiallor requests a brief recess for the purpose of gathering her thoughts. Motion is passed by informal consensus, and the meeting is adjourned for 10 minutes.

12:32 – Rep. Ignitori calls the meeting back to order. Opens floor to discussion.

12:33 – Rep. Tidebreaker requests clarification on the wounds themselves – inquires as to whether they all originated from the same source, or whether they were caused by different weapons.

12:34 – Thera the Firebold confirms that they each appeared to be caused in a different manner.

12:36 – Rep. Clethtinthiallor requests that the details of the discovery be kept confidential, due to the potentially distressing nature of the news. Figures that she’d say that. Sometimes I wonder why the Dragonborn send a representative at all, since they so clearly don’t want to share power.

12:37 – Rep. Calentia objects to Rep. Clethtinthiallor’s motion on the grounds that the public deserve to be made aware of events that may affect them. Sreelasa’s the only one here with real integrity. She’s the smartest, too. Why does she let Icaridne stay in charge?

12:38 – Rep. Clethtinthiallor reaffirms her position, describing hypothetical scenes of mass panic and conflict that could result from revealing the information.

12:40 – Rep. Foojya expresses disagreement with Rep. Clethtinthiallor’s line of reasoning and seconds Rep. Calentia’s opinion.

12:41 – Rep. Vadu suggests that the matter be put to a vote. 

12:44 – Votes are counted. Rep. Clethtinthiallor’s motion passes 7 to 2; Rep. Calentia and Rep. Foojya are the dissenters, and Rep. Vadu abstains. The Library’s discovery is officially made confidential to all except the Council and those directly involved.

12:46 – Rep. Doroks inquires as to the Council’s next course of action. 

12:48 – Rep. Clethtinthiallor proposes a motion that the investigation into the dragon’s corpse be given into the hands of the Dragonborn Empire. Wow. And I thought she was being bold before.

12:49 – Several representatives informally express disagreement to Rep. Clethtinthiallor’s motion. Rep. Tidebreaker points out the danger of giving any one genera authority over such a monumental discovery. Yeah, no one likes that idea. I don’t know what Clethtinthiallor was thinking; usually she’s more subtle than that.

12:51 – Motion is put to a vote. Motion fails with a vote of 8 to 2 against; Rep. Clethtinthiallor and Rep. Rezzenson vote for, while all others vote against.

12:55 – Ambassador Blubberfold suggests that the Eastern Tritons may be willing to combine investigations with the High Council in exchange for the free sharing of information in regards to what he dubs the “World Dragon”.

12:56 – Rep. Terriex points out the fact that the High Council currently has no formal investigative team available.

12:57 – Rep. Rezzenson suggests that the High Council representatives could “poke around” themselves. It is unclear whether or not he is joking. I don’t know what to make of this guy, but if any of them were going to run away and become an adventurer, it would be him.

12:58 – Rep. Calentia proposes that the High Council could employ the services of freelance mercenaries (colloquially known as “adventurers”) to track down the killers of the “World Dragon”. 

This conversation is a mess. Everyone’s talking over each other and arguing. I’ll try to record the main points people are making, but I haven’t seen a more heated debate than that time the Council caught a Kenku inventor experimenting with airships.

12:59 – Rep. Tidebreaker objects, indicating that individuals with the ability to kill such a powerful being would likely be very powerful themselves, and therefore dangerous to apprehend.

1:00 – Rep. Icaridne points out that the alternative is allowing such individuals to roam unchecked.

1:01 – Rep. Tidebreaker concedes the point.

1:02 – Rep. Foojya expresses the concern that freelance mercenaries may have dubious moral codes, rendering it difficult to fully trust them.

1:03 – Rep. Terriex responds with the point that those with a “less rigid interpretation of the law” may be able to gain access to information others couldn’t.

1:04 – Rep. Vadu suggests requiring frequent reports from the mercenaries in order to ensure that their activities align with the High Council’s goals.

1:05 – Rep. Clethtinthiallor states her firm opposition to the idea of hiring outside help,  stating instead that the Council’s own task force should be sufficient.

1:06 – Grurrom Kindel points out that the Library of Jakardia has a decent staff that could investigate.

1:07 – Rep. Rezzenson expresses his doubt that the Library would be willing to report directly to the High Council rather than operating autonomously. He’s…not wrong, yeah. We won’t. 

1:08 – Rep. Ignitori agrees with Rep. Rezzenson, proposes putting the matter of hiring adventurers to a vote. Finally! How can it take them so long to get around to 

1:09 – Vote is taken. Motion passes at 6 – 4; Rep. Clethtinthiallor, Rep. Rezzenson, Rep. Foojya, and Rep. Tidebreaker vote against, while everyone else votes in the affirmative.

1:13 – Rep. Ignitori, Rep. Tidebreaker, and Thirik Cartax assigned to draft a recruitment notice. I’ll probably have to do all the work, as usual. They don’t seem to realize that I work for the Library, not the Council.

1:15 – Rep. Clethtinthiallor makes her disapproval of the decision known, requests that she be given a copy of every report as soon as it comes in. Council informally agrees. Anything to get her to stop complaining, I guess. She does seem genuinely worried, though. When Thera first read her report she looked like she was going to throw up.

1:17 – Rep. Ignitori reads a final summary of the day’s decisions. Like we weren’t all here for it. It’s not like I have time to waste!

1:20 – Meeting formally adjourned.