Arden Vul Session 01
Arrival in Gosterwick
Date: March 9, 2026
Party: Florian (bard), Lorez (wizard), Cedric (Fighter), Johannes (cleric), Runner (Ranger)
The Road In
The party arrives on the old Imperial road from Thorum, the cracked stone still serviceable after centuries. The Cliff of Arden Vul is visible ahead, enormous, the carved figures of Arden and her companions rising from the plateau face, the Long Stair switching back and forth between them. The azure-tiled roof of the Keep is visible on the Ridge line above town.
A small patrol of[Knights of the Azure Shield, knights in banded mail, squires in surcoats, intercepts the party on the road and demands their business. Florian speaks for the group, presenting as a performer with an entourage. The knights direct them to check in and get licensed before proceeding.
The Arcane Practitioners' Club
The party detours to the four-story granite tower on the edge of town that Lorez recognizes as a private club for arcane practitioners. Two guardsmen at the door admit Lorez alone to meet the proprietor, while the rest of the party waits outside. Florian plays a pointed little tune on his lute that earns a grudging apology from the door guards.
Inside, Lyssandra Astorion receives Lorez at her desk, an Archontean woman past middle age with the manner of someone assessing everything she sees. Lorez secures a six-month membership (30 gp) and purchases one potion of healing (150 gp) and a collection of books on the history of Burdock's Valley and Arden Vul (50 gp).
Campaign note: Lorez is now a member of the Arcane Practitioners' Club. Lyssandra knows Lorez's face, his budget, and where he's headed.
The Out, Misdirection, and Guards
The party makes for the Rarities Factor in the Outs. Johannes asks a local for directions and is pointed into a cul-de-sac, whether by mistake or design is unclear. A group of city guards from the Kettles Barracks comes up behind them and blocks the exit, sizing up the group with obvious suspicion.
Johannes steps forward and identifies himself as a cleric of Heschius Ban. The guards' posture changes immediately; they stand back, offer actual directions, and let the party pass without further incident.
Campaign note: The City Guard has taken note of the party. They are not hostile, but they are watching.
The Rarities Factor
The Rarities Factor occupies a three-story wooden building in the Outs. The ground floor is busy; Imperial goblins, Archonteans, and a handful of Thorcins working at small tables. A nattily dressed goblin approaches and opens negotiations.
The factor was founded by Wicktrimmer, an Imperial goblin and former Arden Vul adventurer who made his fortune on the Cliff. He maintains offices in Gosterwick, Newmarket, and Narcillian. The party opens a group account (minimum deposit 150 gp, rate .75%/month), receiving a letter of credit redeemable at any of the three offices.
Campaign note: The party's banking relationship is with the[Rarities Factor, the institution least connected to the Empire and most sympathetic to non-Archonteans.
The Outs, Provisioning
Florian works the neighborhood for supplies and makes a genuine friend of Wegnar, a provisioner in the Outs who deals in dried meats, hard cheese, and biscuits. Wegnar takes a liking to him and gives fair prices.
Campaign note: Wegnar the Merchant is friendly toward the party and will remember them.
The Falls
The party leaves Gosterwick and follows the road toward the base of the Cliff. The roar of the falls builds over the last mile until conversation requires effort. Everything is mist. The bridge at the river crossing is visible, and beyond it, straight out from the foot of the carved figure of Arden, stands a ruined tower alongside the road to the Long Stair.
The Long Stair itself is not subtle, it climbs and climbs, switchbacking up the full height of the Cliff. The party will not make it to the top tonight.
Camp, The Ruined Tower
The tower's upper floors have collapsed inward, leaving a single intact ground-floor space, 50 by 50, broken doorway, dry inside despite the spray. The party decides to shelter here rather than camp in the open.
Session ends: Party at the ruined tower, preparing to search it before settling in for the night.
Open Threads
Search the ruined tower at the base of the falls
Ascend the Long Stair
The city guards are watching — first impressions matter going forward
Wegnar is a friendly contact in the Outs worth cultivating
Lyssandra knows the party's wizard and his budget
Rumors
"There's a bard in town — Archontean, travels with a mixed crew. Played something at the door of the Tower and the guards just... apologized to him. Make of that what you will."
"A cleric of Heschias Ban came through the Outs with a bunch of outsiders. Walked right into Kettrick's Alley — you know, where the Catalyst boys like to linger — and just named the god at them. They folded like wet paper. Somebody's either very brave or very stupid."
"Word from the Rarities Factor is a company of adventurers, mixed, Thorcin among them, banked together before even reaching the Cliff. Wick says they're organized. Probably means they're either serious or they've seen too many parties fall apart over coin."
"Wegnar's saying some travelers bought him out of two weeks of rations in one go. Headed for the Long Stair. He liked them well enough, but that's a lot of food for people nobody's heard of yet."
On the back of a provisioner's invoice, in a cramped mercantile hand:
Mixed company, on foot. Thorcin went straight for the Factor, no prompting. Joint deposit, correct minimum. Wicktrimmer took it without comment. Wizard spent down to nearly nothing at the Tower. Disclosed his total funds during the transaction. Bard is something. Door guards at the Tower had words with the group and then didn't. Couldn't get close enough. They're at the ruin tonight. Worth another week.
A folded note on dress-pattern linen, the handwriting careful and small:
He plays in the old tradition. I would not have known except I was close enough to hear him tune. What he played at the Tower door was short and deliberate and I do not think the guards understood what they were apologizing for. He has the accent well hidden. I caught it once, in a word to the Thorcin. I don't know if he knows what he carries.
Torn from a longer letter, military paper, belt-worn:
Walked into the wrong alley. Kettles boys had them boxed. The cleric named the god and they folded. Lucky, not skilled, but the rations they bought say somebody's thinking. Ten days a head. Camp in the ruin, no fire visible from the road.
A single line at the bottom of a club ledger page, in a precise academic hand:
Lorezl, Archontean. Six month membership, 30gp. One potion, one Vale history. Disclosed full funds unprompted. Lyssandra's word: earnest. Headed for the Cliff. Will report on return, if.
A brief memo on chapter house stationery, the tone careful:
The cleric of Heschias Ban made no contact with this office. He is aware of our presence here, or he is not. I cannot determine which reading is more concerning. Await your guidance.
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