May Came To The Tower
The Season Has Turned Once More
Spring Comes To The Isle Of The Tower
With the warming winds and gentle rains, the snows of Winter receded at last and the long sleeping Earth awoken once more. Hibernating animals came out of their dens, perennial flowers broke forth once more to bloom, and the settled peoples on the Isle began their Spring plantings.
The Cold climate tables are no longer used in Overland travel encounters by default. Temperate is again default.
Prevalence of young Animals and animal-like monsters are increased, and at the weaker end of their statistical variations; this will increase to maturity as noted in the Monster Manual.
(Para-)Military activity is going to be increased, reflected in encounters.
Which means that I can get on to the Report.
Dwarves
Onemvault and its allied holds are compelled to increase surface patrols as reports of ratmen bands reach them. On the other hand, the few remaining Stout riders are able to keep eyes on them to direct foot patrols quickly, keeping the roads through Onemvault’s territory clear for now.
The iron mines are ready for reactivation as soon as delvers can confirm the nearest veins to the redoubt clear.
While canon are no longer being cast and rolled out, cannonballs and powder are still being manufactured and stockpiled in magazines near the emplaced guns in Onemvault. Guns, powder, and ammunition are being negotiated for with the allied holds.
Merchants are reporting to the Stouts that they encounter that the roads between Gnome and Dwarf territory are becoming dangerous. These reports filter back to Onemvault
Elves
The city remains locked down, but reports from the inside state that the ratmen are stuck and unable to breach the inner city where their target is; instead they are looking at trying to get out of the city to rampage across the nearby area.
Merchants are reporting to the Tallfellows they meet that the roads between Elf and Gnome territory are becoming dangerous. These reports filter back to the Gnome leadership.
Gnomes
The Brigands are raiding the Merchant caravans in the territories between the Gnomes and the other demihumans as well as the roads to the Man-held city states of the Crusaders and the Jihadis. These are small bands, meaning that the main body of the Brigands are disbursed far and wide to do this.
The Hairfeet are able to do little more than to keep eyes on these Brigands and report back.
Halflings
A one-eyed middle-aged Man has been seen among them across the Isle, appearing at dusk near one of their homesteads and staying the night with them in exchange for news and tales, only to be gone the next day. Some say he is really a god in disguise, and some say he’s a troublemaker as now their melancholy seems broken so young men are going forth to do dangerous things again.
Tower
Internal power struggles in the Tower itself are quelled.
Power struggles by the Garrison commanders are now moving, as there are varying degrees of malicious compliance going on. To forestall disruptions, there’s been pre-emptive orders issued. Expect more as campaign season hits.
The Crusaders
Lavsac has cleared the catacombs outside of town. Some of the treasure he and his men recovered included a locked tome, which had been turned over to his master’s Magic-User ally; this turned out to be a well-preserved history, which took the rest of the month to begin decyphering due to the combination of multiple languages and a character-shifting cypher repeatedly applied. Onemvault and the Elves received a letter from the Halflings there reporting this find, as Dwarvish and Elvish are the languages used.
Lavsac is currently recovering from his wounds, after which he will be in training against to become 3rd level so he will be out of play until after the last week in June.
The Jihadis
The crypts outside of town are not yet clear, due to another party disaster forcing a retreat, but by the end of May the first two levels are cleared. A Thief by the name of Ged is now training to become 2nd level, as he is the only consistent survivor.
The Ruined Port
The Temple of the Owl has reopened. They are again selling blessings, and are yet professing Mumei as their matron; what is really going on is another matter.
A small girl priestess has arrived and claims to be representing a benevolent fish goddess. The local fishermen have, after a month of good catches, thrown in with her cult.1 She comes and goes, being girly as she talks about the sea and its wonders. The Cyrosphinx doesn’t care so long as her impact doesn’t disrupt the port’s reconstruction, which has begun in earnest.
The dungeon nearby hasn’t seen much attention, other than to move a rotating garrison in to secure what was cleared so that it stays cleared. Those men at arms aren’t paid to delve; just to secure.
And that’s The Tower Campaign in May of 2025. We have a new wandering weirdo, a new cult, a revived faction, and the promise of some action going down now that Winter and its chill has gone away.