BrakenwykeBrakenwyke

Session One

Mysteries of Arcanis’ Tower

November 15, 2025 - Session 1

Session Outline

Summons in Alsinu

  • The party received a Sky Ferry ticket and a note from Crystal Vein.
  • They learned about missing magic users and the anti-magic rule in Alsinu.
  • The group boarded the automated airship Airship SFX2162 for their mission.

Journey to Naga’alu

  • The airship ascended and the party was briefed on their mission parameters.
  • They discussed the history of Arcanis and the implications of magic bans.
  • After a week-long flight, they arrived at Naga’alu and found it deserted.

Exploration of Naga’alu

  • The party searched the Naga’alu Wizard Dormitory and found signs of recent activity.
  • They discovered a hidden key and a secret map indicating a passage to the Mountains of Arcanis.
  • They learned about a portal to the tower that could only be accessed under the full moon.

Confrontation and Entry

  • The party faced a Clockwork Stone Defender guarding the portal.
  • After a strategic battle, they defeated the guardian and reactivated the portal.
  • They entered Arcanis’ Tower, encountering a chamber filled with grotesque faces and gargoyles.

Session Summary

The session began in Alsinu, where Silver Claw, Doran Varn, Balduin Singerswinger, and Lennier of Cloak Wood received a Sky Ferry ticket and a note from Crystal Vein, instructing them to board the airship Airship SFX2162 for a mission regarding missing magic users. The group learned that magic users had been disappearing for about a year, leaving only purple sigils behind, and that magic had been banned in Alsinu since the reign of King Valenford I.

After boarding the automated airship, the party was briefed via intercom about their mission to Naga’alu to investigate the whereabouts of the missing mages by reaching Arcanis’s tower. They were informed they could take any loot from the tower as long as they did not exceed the airship’s weight limit of 4,000 pounds. The group endured a week-long flight, during which they discussed the history of Arcanis and the implications of the magic ban in Alsinu.

Upon arrival at Naga’alu, the airship docked at a deserted island, and the party explored the Naga’alu Wizard Dormitory, finding signs of recent activity but no magic sigils. They discovered a hidden ornate key in the overseer’s office and a secret map indicating a passage to the Mountains of Arcanis. After gathering information from the Eaarra Saplati Library, they learned about a portal leading to the tower, which could only be accessed under the full moon.

The session culminated in a confrontation with a Clockwork Stone Defender guarding the portal. After a strategic battle, the party defeated the guardian and reactivated the portal, entering Arcanis’ Tower, where they encountered a chamber filled with grotesque faces and gargoyles, setting the stage for their next challenges within the tower’s depths.

The session ended with the party poised to explore the mysteries of Arcanis’ Tower, surrounded by the unsettling presence of the faces and gargoyles that adorned the walls of the chamber.

Key Moments

Mysterious Sky Ferry Tickets

In Alsinu, four strangers—Silver Claw, Doran Varn, Balduin Singerswinger, and Lennier of Cloak Wood—are united by fate. Each holds a Sky Ferry ticket and a note from Crystal Vein to board airship Airship SFX2162 at the Public Sky Terminal. Whispers of recent magic user disappearances fuel their vow for justice against Brakenwyke’s indifferent ruler. Their journey into the unknown begins now.

Silver Claw’s Potion Of Infinite Destruction

In Eaarra Saplati Library, Silver Claw found a diamond-shaped vial with swirling contents. He read about the Potion Of Infinite Destruction, which could turn the drinker into a 30-foot puddle, attacking from anywhere while evading foes. Balduin Singerswinger’s note on reconstitution sparked laughter, the absurdity of self-inflicted chaos igniting their imaginations. “Imagine attacking from your own puddle!”

Reopening the Statue Portal

The party gathered at dawn, ready to reopen the statue portal. Silver Claw marked their return path with ball bearings and stepped through the shimmering doorway into a mountainous landscape. With only twenty-four hours to explore, they foraged in an orchard when a ticking sound from the portal stone filled them with urgency. They retreated, barely escaping as the last member stumbled through just in time, the stone sliding into place echoing their narrow escape. “Time waits for no one.”

Encounters

Battle with Clockwork Stone Defender

Exploration of Naga’alu Wizard Dormitory

  • The party entered the dormitory and found it empty and deserted.
  • Doran Varn discovered an overseer’s office with a hidden key.
  • Balduin Singerswinger found robes and notes, while Silver Claw noted signs of recent activity.

Character Highlights

Silver Claw

A Murasu in fitted leather armour, Silver Claw kept to the back of the ferry observing others. He made a personal copy of a wall map for future reference.

  • Discovered a hidden brick on the Arcanis statue’s base.
  • Identified a potion as a Potion of Infinite Destruction.

Doran Varn

A muscular half-orc in traveler’s clothes, Doran Varn was visibly tense during the flight. He experienced a vivid nightmare and later cast magical darkness in panic.

  • Used Minor Illusion to question the Caretaker about the missing mages.
  • Extracted two turning keys from the Clockwork Stone Defender.

Balduin Singerswinger

A slender human in flamboyant clothes, Balduin Singerswinger sat mid-cabin composing songs. He confidently claimed to have a library card to access the Eaarra Saplati Library.

  • Stole a Fireball Scroll from the library’s rear cabinet.
  • Delivered the finishing blow to the Clockwork Stone Defender.

Key Entities

Crystal Vein

An underground transport network for illicit goods and people, Crystal Vein sent the party on their mission regarding missing magic users.

Airship SFX2162

An automated airship that the party boarded for their journey to Naga’alu.

Eaarra Saplati Library

A library where the party learned about the missing mages and discovered a hidden key.

Naga’alu Wizards College

An empty college where the party sought a statue and secret door to Arcanis’ Reach.

Clockwork Stone Defender

A massive guardian that protected the portal to Arcanis’ Tower.

Arcanis’ Tower

The destination of the party’s quest, filled with grotesque faces and gargoyles.

Notable Items

  • Potion Of Infinite Destruction: A diamond-shaped vial that transforms the drinker into a puddle for one minute, allowing attacks from anywhere in that area.
  • Fireball Scroll: A third-level spell scroll stolen by Balduin Singerswinger from the library.

Valuable Information

  • Magic users have been disappearing across the realm for about a year.
  • The Crystal Vein has evacuated casters from Alsinu when magic was outlawed.
  • The Eaarra Saplati Library appears far older than Arcanis’s raising of the islands.
  • The portal to Arcanis’ Tower can only be accessed under the full moon.
  • The Clockwork Stone Defender can be defeated by extracting its turning keys.
  • The guardian’s oil began to reconstitute, implying it may respawn.
  • The hanging notes near the portal contained names of artificers who had disappeared.

Party Status

The party is currently in Arcanis’ Tower, having just defeated the Clockwork Stone Defender and entered the first chamber. They are in good condition after a long rest and have gathered useful items and information.

  • They possess the ornate gold key and two turning keys from the guardian.
  • The party has a Potion of Infinite Destruction and a Fireball Scroll.
  • They have a secret map indicating a passage to the Mountains of Arcanis.

Next Steps

The party plans to explore Arcanis’ Tower and seek further clues about the missing magic users.