AJ’s starting a new story. We are excited about it. We have Chapter 1 done.
But we did some AI portraits, they came out anime like but we weren’t specific and it’s cute and works for the story we are telling about two boys going away to magic school. AJ initially wanted it to be like okay today we did this. and today we did this. A daily journal thing we could post here.
We have a full story in done that is new — never seen by anyone (well except our Alpha reader — see sees all — knows all). If you are interested we could start a daily post. It’s me and Alex on a cooking show. It’s fun.
AJ and I have been thinking about how we could bring the blog back.
We were thinking maybe a world building project. Something quick and easy to do in a day. Design my city I live in. While that would be fun for us. Would it be fun for you? If you have any thoughts let us know.
AJ has ideas for most of us as real actors/people in media who we look like. We have pintrest boards full of it.
But AI makes it more unique. I’m not going to get into the merits of it. Or the horrors. So please if you have an opinion this is not the place to share it. You can unfollow me if you find my stance offensive. AJ doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feels, but me, I don’t care. This is my site. My world and it’s okay. And there are no debates here. Unless you want to debate sparkly vampires then I’ll fight you.
So AJ started with me and my twin sister. And she then used the same AI generation program to make some subtle changes and aged them up. Here are the images. She uses Artflow.ai for character portraits. It’s wonderful.
We won’t be doing that series. AJ didn’t get any writing done in September and definitely don’t think we can keep the pace to do it this month on the drop of a hat, so not gonna happen.
AJ is working on a new rendition of my story, we are in the planning stages and we will attempt to write in November as part of what was formerly NaNoWriMo. There are a lot of things taking place this fall for writing.
So AJ decided that instead of writing a new ‘novel’ story we were going to bring you a The Mind of Nox exclusive story. All ‘chapters’ will be posted here, in order probably unedited to any major degree. It will be a serial story. We have 20 posts planned for each episode. And I think there are 20 episodes in the overall story if we decide to go that far.
Alex and I will be soul-bound cursed souls who solve cases in their off time because they have to.
We will start October 6th, run the first episode for 4 weeks, 5 days a week. That’s the plan anyway.
We don’t have a series name or an episode name yet, but we will closer to time and maybe a cover too. We are filing out all the basic needs right now and hope to start writing well before October.
I know I haven’t been consistent in my posting in a long while. But today was a cool milestone 50K views over all time. That’s since January of 2016.
Can’t beat those first few years with the Daily Post hosted by WordPress itself.
I’m trying to think of a way to pull in people and tell more stories without bogging AJ down. Writing isn’t going well with the new schedule and the addition of a new puppy. While he’s adorable there isn’t as much time for me.
I haven’t updated in a while. My bad. Or rather AJs bad.
Alex and I got a fresh little story of an aspiring rockstar back home in his small town. It’s not a perfect finish to the story but we at least got a happy for now moment.
AJs been working on a new world and new game mechanics based on the Story Mode stuff I last shared. We have a bunch of rules and notes. And AJ’s currently working on some basic guidelines and walk throughs for a new character — someone coming into my world for the first time.
I think AJ is planning on creating a character that’s not me and playing a manual game when visiting back home. At least that’s the goal.
Alex and I have set out three times now into this world and AJ said well wait, let’s do this instead. And so we’ve restarted a third time. Alex went first and his prologue is done. AJ’s working on mine now. It’s possibly going to be part of two competitions. One with big stakes, the other with a smaller prize, but still worth it.
A lot is going on.
I should try to post more often. Not sure what would be most interesting though.
AJs adjusted the sleep schedule, writing time has been paired down and a longer evening before bedtime so AJ stops falling asleep during work hours. Lots of brain strain going on. So less me time *pouts*
Anyway.
If you have any ideas or what to hear about anything specific hit me up in the comments I’d love to make a comeback here with something you actually want to listen to me ramble about.
So I told you all about the app AJ used. Well it’s been cleaned up and it’s currently found at here for anyone to use.
It uses a series of Oracle and checks based on a Scene Status.
There are two tables, which basically are the same thing the oracle being a DC of 15. Ands always help you, and But’s should hinder you in some way.
The Scene Status is based on a similar mechanism to the Cypher System where the Status Target number (the DC) is 3 times the Status. The Scene Status is a 1d6 so the range is from 3 to 18.
d20
Result
1
Fail, and
2 to DC-6
Fail, but
DC-5 to DC-1
Success, but
DC to DC+4
Success
DC+5 +
Success, and
If you give it a try and things are broken you can reply here and AJ will take a look or you can head on over to the Github Repo (the one icon that isn’t labeled) and leave an issue.
And here is an example of a scene setup AJ went through to play with the app.
Example Play
Is this a modern world?
Yes(1d20: [19] = 19)
Are we in a city?
Yes, but(1d20: [5] = 5) Song, Wilderness, Wealth
The city is rich and surrounded by wilderness.
Is the city named in a song?
Yes(1d20: [19] = 19)
Does the song exist in our world?
Yes(1d20: [19] = 19)
The story will take place in Barcelona, Spain during the Running of the Bulls.
Have Nox and Alex met before?
Yes(1d20: [19] = 19)
Is this still the first time they’ve met?
Yes, but(1d20: [3] = 3) Important, Crypt, Hide
Nox and Alex met on this important trip. Nox is looking for an ancient crypt and Alex is trying to hide.
Did they meet on the plane?
Yes, but(1d20: [3] = 3) Important, Statue, Boy
They met on the plane. They sat next to each other and Alex compared Nox to the Statue of David while Nox tried not to freak out about flying. Alex calls Nox Pretty Boy and talks him through the ordeal.
Are Nox and Alex watching the Running of the Bulls?
AJ has been itching to do some fun easy sketches of me and Alex in a random sort of way. I think she’s got the perfect things already started and just needs to modify it a little bit for the intended purpose. So yet another clone of https://generators.just-us.net her little app she made for automating some of her rolls. It’s called Story Mode and it was very cute situation. It was fun.
Let me know if you like this and we can post more. AJ’s been looking for something to share that’s easy to do.
Scene situation is dull, nothing interesting is happening Adventure Status: Solid 1 (3) Weather: Clear
Are Alex and Nox in the same scene together?
No
Is it just Nox?
No, but Communion, Saviour, Guidance GM Intrusion: +1XP Glitter, Explosion, Treacherous
In the middle of The Church of the Guiding Savior an explosion of Glitter spews from the rafters as a small boy crawls underneath the pews.
Alex is a ward of the church and is avoiding his classes. A priest chases after him.
Is the priest close?
No
Can Alex slip outside of the large double doors in the front of the church?
No
Is there a back way past the altars?
Yes
Is it locked?
Yes, but Door, Unthinking, Fall
Alex tires to pick the lock with a bobby pin that is laying on the floor forgotten.
Success [1(3) → 11]
Does the door lead outside?
No, but Glowing, Treacherous, Reflect
The door leads further into the church and Alex knows that if he goes deeper he’ll end up in deeper water than he already was.
Is there another exit to try?
Yes
Is it across the altar?
Yes, but Ammunition, Scuttling, Foot
Alex makes his way across the altar knocking over the offering and stubbing his foot on the choir pews.
Does he make it to the other door?
Yes
Is it locked?
Yes, and Damage, Embrace, Pleasant
The door looks like it’s been kicked in one too many times, but it’s still locked.
Alex tries to pick the lock.
Success [1(3) → 16]
Is the priest close?
Yes
Close enough to grab Alex?
No
Does the door lead to the outside?
No, and Vibration, Orbit, Animal droppings
Things get weird as Alex hurries through the door. His vision blurs and things begin to vibrate. The smell of dog poop permeates the room and the next thing Alex sees is Earth looking through a port hole window on some space station in orbit.
Apparently today marks 9 years in my blogging. Wow! Too bad I’ve not been actively trying to keep it going all those 9 years. But we’ve been trying.
AJ’s thinking about give us a little more me and Alex and less urban fantasy. Though we haven’t completely bailed on it. We might do an alternate Nox and Alex in my world where we focus on the romance arc and not the whole ascension thing. But you never know.
Today I came to write to talk about Snomagedon 2025 in AJ’s home town. They received 5.5 inches of snow in a place where in the 21 years AJ’s lived there it’s snowed 3 times and it never stuck barely considered flurries.
The kids have been out of school for 2 days and they will be out tomorrow as well.
The South has absolutely no way to deal with snow so it sits on the roads melting and freezing till it’s gone. And it’s not going to get warm enough today to clear the roads of the snow and not refreeze for tomorrow’s commute. They are advised to not drive unless you have to and of course some businesses are you must come in.
AJ lost power several times this morning cause someone probably hit a power pole nearby and knocked it out. Thankfully it wasn’t out for more than a little while. And what was out for a while was quickly restored. So no one was without heat for too long.
This morning it was 10F it’s supposed to get up to about 34F today. So just barely enough to melt. But maybe tomorrow or later today AJ’s kid will try to make a snowman. They tried yesterday but the snow was too fluffy and didn’t pack well. But today it should be good.
AJ read the Glitter short from several years ago and got to feeling. I really like this guy. So AJ spent some time hunting for the original documents for the story.
She found the original markdown docs, the converted to word, and then imported them into Dabble only to realize she was on the wrong Dabble account and they were already there…
So AJ deleted that document and then reorganized the original Dabble document and we’ve started reading and editing the story.
Maybe we’ll continue the story. Pick up where Lost in New York ended? Or start the second arc all over again. Or maybe just stop at The Power of Succession and end the story. Either way we are doing a reread of it.
AJ might clean up some of the power usage she has issue with, don’t really care about the wrong dates so we won’t be using the rewritten version of the first book we did do. We might clean up some characters. We’ll see how it all goes.
Might make some new book covers. We’ll see. AJ has a lot of ideas about new stuff so we might just end up back to writing another version. I think AJ wants to write some and game less. I dunno, but right now we are doing a review of the old world.
Blood-stained ritual circle: I’m no slouch, and I’m not even squeamish, but seeing a ritual circle drawn in blood leaves something to be desire. Death and decay permeated the whole place and I swear I could almost see the blood rotting before my eyes.
Candles Made of Human Fat: Candles are candles right? well not these ones, they were made from human fat. And how do I know this you might ask, well see my partner and mentor is a vampire. He could tell just by the way they smelled. I definitely didn’t get close enough to smell them after he said that to me.
Remnants of victims: It’s not uncommon to be called into a crime scene that is bloody or gruesome but I’ll never get over the idea of seeing a dead body or their parts thrust up on hooks like some piece of meat I might eat later. It’s almost enough to turn me vegan or something. But I like steak too much. They weren’t just trust up like a turkey, there were organs in jars, vials of blood. Totally gave me the creeps looking at the collection.
Strange Pulsing Crystals: The strangest thing on that case was the pulsating crystals like there was life in them. Ant and I never really got a chance to investigate as the culprit was found a block away covered in blood dragging a corpse behind him. Stupid idiot.
Today I met my mentor’s family. Meaning today, I meant the most famous vampire in all of Mokkara. The Hound, Il Cane, the very same creature who scares all the little vampires into being good.
Let’s just say she didn’t like me much. And it didn’t help that when she tried to attack me I kinda sorta defended myself with a shield which I was hoping was air, but turned out to be light and well, she got a sunburn.
The stench of burning hair and flesh still permeates my nose. I can’t get rid of the smell. Thankfully the shield powered down and no one got seriously injured, but still. She wasn’t happy with me. But teach her to bum rush a guy with chaotic magic. She won’t be doing that again.
But after that things got better. We were at their home in Nokthara gearing up to take down some other rogue vampire. He’d been caught draining the life of some poor girl who barely escaped thanks to the vigilante, Witchblade, who saved her.
Men in masks and tights were becoming prevalent in Mokkara. All those would be good Samaritans using their so-called magic and abilities to save the innocent thinking they are helping The City out by going rogue. But that was a human problem. The Mokkara police were out looking for all the vigilante’s but they weren’t having any luck finding them. Maybe they should ask for help since the aren’t human. But they don’t. They just keep trying to be stupid mundanes.
Survival Tips: Give practical or sarcastic survival tips for dealing with monsters, treacherous terrains, or annoying companions.
Learn to Start a Fire: Fire provides warmth, protection, and a means to cook food. Always carry multiple methods of starting one.
Listicles: Fun or serious lists related to topics of interest (e.g., “Top 5 Most Bizarre Encounters” or “Things I Wish I Knew About Magic”).
Keywords: Sister, Question, Foot, Raid, Rope
Channel your Inner Rage
For most people this wouldn’t work. For me, yeah, it’s happened before. I get so angry that things just implode with a thought. It’s dangerous. Don’t do it.
Summon Fire Elementals
Now I didn’t do this. Lotar, my guardian once told me a horror story about a girl he knew when he was a child. Which honestly I’m surprised he remembered since he’s like 400 years old or something like that. But then again elves have long childhoods. She tried to summon elementals. They were supposed to be small but they weren’t. Almost burnt down the house.
Dancing Shoes
A kid I knew in school tried to enchant his shoes so that he could be a better dancer. It worked, he danced for hours and hours until the souls of his shoes melted and his parents came home to find a small blaze in their living room where he was practicing. He almost died, but his parents were able to disenchant the shoes and put the fire out before that could happen.
Risqué Dance Moves
Like the prior one, you don’t want to try to twerk your way into a fire. It’s a superstition, no one’s ever seen it happen, but who wants to go out like that?
Magnifying Glass in the Moon Light
This won’t work, cause ya know the moon light is a reflection of the suns light and doesn’t actually produce enough heat by the time it reaches the earth. But what’s a baby vampire to do when he’s not feeding on humans?
I: You were raised in the Thalorian Circle. They believe in the cycle of life and death and fate and balance. Is that something you hold as a truth?
Nox: Balance yes, that fate dictates my actions – no. I don’t believe in that. Nothing is predetermined, we are what we make of a situation.
I: So does that mean you don’t believe in soul mates?
Nox: Someone I’m destined to be with. not really. Do I believe that there is someone out there for everyone. Yes, that I do believe.
I: How is that different from soul mates?
Nox: It’s not fate that brings you together. The pattern of the cosmos doesn’t care how it flows as long as it flows.
I: But doesn’t that go against your training?
Nox: laughs Sure. But then no one in my coven can touch raw chaos either, so why should they believe that the world is nothing but chaos and we as living breathing beings are what shape that chaos. It’s not predetermined its chaos. Our lives shape it.
I: Chaos. Tell us more about what you can do?
Nox: I can do what every other Sussuri can do only mine isn’t predetermined. It’s literal chaos unleashed. Nox points to a rune behind his left ear This shields me from most of the chaos around, keeps my magic in check. Without it things might blow up randomly or create gusts of winds or moving shadows. It’s unpredictable. And it is the raw power of the universe. All Sussuri can wield it through ritual in its finer elements, it’s controlled and predictable. mine isn’t.
I: Does that make you as dangerous as the supernatural you hunt?
Nox: I suppose it meant that when I was a child and had little control, but Lotar, my guardian, he bound my powers until I was able to understand control and reasoning. But with training and understanding the power is under control and I’m no more a danger to anyone. No more so than any other supernatural being.
I: What kind of training did you undergo?
Nox: Same as all the other Sussuri kids except my work wasn’t as predictable as theirs.
I: Did you receive any special training?
Nox: Of course, I had mentors from various aspects and I knew from an early age I wanted to be Xelfira so I began a disciplined regiment of training to become one.
I: Why did you want to become Xelfira?
Nox: I wanted to help people like me. The ones who might get thrown into the world with little like them. Not everyone gets to have the training and love of their sires, covens or packs. Sometimes it’s just a bad start to what could have been a good life.
I: Does this different from other Xelfira?
Nox: No, I don’t think so. Our job is to keep people safe from those who go bad. Sometimes they are redeemable, sometimes they aren’t. We all have to make those decisions. We don’t kill just to kill the bad elements. At least none of the Xelfira I’ve met do.
I: Do you know a lot of Xelfira?
Nox: Not really. There are a handful in the Thalorian Circle, but I didn’t know any of them personally. My mentor is a vampire, and I’ve meet some through him since being taken under his wing.
I: And how do you like that? Being under a vampire?
Nox: Ant’s a good man. He’s strong and dedicated. I’m not prejudiced for or against vampires. My only real pet peeve is mundanes who think they know all about the supernatural when they know next to jack-shit.
I: Do you know many mundanes?
Nox: No more so than supernatural creatures. I don’t have a lot of friends.
I: Why is that?
Nox: Do you want to hang around a kid who might blow you up at the drop of a hat?
I: I guess I see you point. Anything you’d like to add?
Rants on Societal Norms: His take on societal expectations, adventuring rules, or the behavior of his peers.
Cultural Integration: Art, literature, and entertainment might increasingly incorporate magical themes, influencing cultural expressions and societal values.
Diary Entries: Make diary-style posts revealing his internal conflicts, doubts, and personal growth.
This is the start of a new journal, so I’ll introduce myself. My name is Nox Sarvela which technically translates to Chaos In Shadow. But sarvela is also what I am — a child of the Velsayrn tradition. Which is of course totally misunderstood by the mundane.
Traditionally the Sussuri, the subspecies of human that I am, and the group upon which I am. Our traditions go back before man could think. The elves started the Sussuri, and we come from a long line of them. We are mostly human now, but way back in our line we were once elves. But that doesn’t really matter anymore. Elves and Sussuri are two separate subspecies now.
But tradition states thou shall not marry outside the coven. I mean it happens. Usually with another coven, sometimes with another supernatural like the elves or therian (aka the werewolves the mundanes would call them.) And rarely with humans.
So bloodlines in covens become overly mixed and the lines get crossed and the next thing you know you are marrying your second cousin twice removed and that can lead to all sorts of magical inequities as well as the genetic ones the closer you get to a blood relative.
So the covens decided that once a year a newborn child would be sacrificed to the Velsayrn tradition. Sacrifice is a strong term, they aren’t killed in a blood ritual — there are those, but this isn’t that. A family is chosen to produce a sarvela — a child to whom would go to another family in another coven, and you would receive their child.
Neither child is unloved. Neither child is unwanted. They were born with a special purpose in life — to advance the bloodlines of their coven.
Most sarvela live with the Velsayrn families. I don’t. Not because my Velsayrn family didn’t want me, they did, they just couldn’t handle the chaos magic I was born with. So I was taken in by the circle leader’s son, Lotar Elenkelara.
But the reason I bring it all up has more to do with how the mundanes perceived the whole idea of sarvela. That I was unwanted and my parents were all dicks and assholes for giving me up. Mundanes just don’t understand. It was an honor for them, and for me. Truly annoying when people have no idea what they are talking about.
I didn’t expect the things to happen today that did. It started out like any other. I went to class in The Scholar’s Hall with Master Moonfire. I was early, like always, and he sent me off with a note to the Headmaster’s office.
I wasn’t in trouble, I was just the first one there. I read the note along the way. I mean who wouldn’t do that?
Alex Silverstring cast prestidigitation with sparks all around me again. It took everything I had not to freak out. But I still ended up against the wall calming down. So embarrassing.
Nim still doesn’t like him. But he has the prettiest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. I wanted to kiss him all day.
That’s where my day went to scuzz. Headmaster Ironmantle asked me if I wanted to go on the mission I of course knew nothing about. And Alex, he stepped into the office all ready to go too. Which is nice, he wanted to go. But I don’t think he’s going to like it as much as he thinks he will. He’s going to miss the comforts of home once we leave [[Sentinel’s Rest]].
Which we will be doing this morning after he wakes up.
We shared a Zreshing bed! A bed that was barely big enough for the two of us. All night his back was pressed against mine. It was warm and I hardly slept.
I need coffee so I’m going to go find some. But he’s so cute lying there, drooling on his pillow. I still want to kiss him. And Nim still doesn’t like him, but I do, even if he keeps throwing glitter at me.
Alex’s Nightly Journal
So that happened today. What a Zreshing Scuzz show! The Academy locked down. I’m on a mission with a know it all. Even if he’s a lush know it all, I still gotta deal with him.
He doesn’t like to drink. He thinks I’m a whore or something. But he’s so lush.
I wanted to kiss him so bad, to feel him beneath me. By the Shattered Moons! I wanted to zresh him so bad. He was just lying there.
I started writing a song about our adventure. It’s pretty crappy right now.
Out from Shieldhaven, I set my course, Through desert sands, with mischief as my force, Pranks and whispers, secrets left unsaid, On my first adventure, where shadows tread.
It’s a start. It’s not perfect but it’ll do for now. I like the tune I’ve gotten down.
We’ve been flakey here for a while. After the Daily Prompt went caput we’ve been struggling to keep things going for ourselves. And we’ve not really had a story we’ve finished in a while so we haven’t had much to post.
AJ’s flighty between different stories and games. And we now realize that we do keep coming back to the same things over and over again, just with slight twists. Instead of writing as a game, though we will continue The Warlock and the Bard sessions. We think we will move that to whenever a session is done you’ll get an added entry to the blog with all that glorious stuff. That way we don’t feel bad for not posting every Friday.
We are going to attempt a good end of the year push and do things that AJ loves to do and return to the rambling of the original intent of this blog. So Every weekday AJ intends to write some random world lore stuff and tell a story as we do it.
Basically, AJ wrote a random prompt generator with the help of AI to generate the list of prompts. And everyday we are going to roll on this generator and I’m going to tell you all about it. This is going to be a new world, a new me, a new Alex. And we will start off with some basic world building predefined prompts to set all that stuff up so we have a framework to work off of.
We might work on weekend posts and try to finish the year out strong with 7 posts a week, but we are only aiming at 5 posts a week one everyday that AJ writes.
Not that many of you comment, but if there is a prompt be it an image or something you’ve come across that you’d like to hear me ramble on about you can send it on over to me at nox.durante@gmail.com or make a comment on any post and I’ll add it to our list of things to do.
We will start next Monday. AJ’s got a few things to set up and create before we can start this new project. We are excited!
Travel Points: 12 Location: [[L8]] Red Street District of [[Sentinel’s Rest]] (4 → 12) Weather: Clear
[!oracle] Q: The Boys have just left Shieldhaven Academy with a rucus going on inside. Is the town aware the Academy is having issues? (1d20: [3] = 3) No
Q: Is anything of note happening in Red Street district? (1d20: [3] = 3) No
Alex grumps as he dusts himself off. “I guess we aren’t getting that compass.”
“We don’t need it.” Nox says. “We can do this. Let’s find someone who knows what this image might be of?”
“Where do you suppose we start?” Alex asked.
All around them was bustling town smack dab in the middle of arid lands. If it weren’t for the Spring that the Silver Hand had found and controlled this would be a waste land.
“We could start in a Tavern, ask about it?” Nox said hopefully. “We could ask anyone really.”
Alex smirked. “You want to go into a Tavern. Aren’t you afraid of getting bullied by some big strong men?” Alex taunted.
Nox shrugged. “You can go back if you want.” He suggested and headed down the street towards where a crowd had formed.
[!oracle] Q: Is anything going that is drawing the attention of the crowd? (1d20: [12] = 12) Yes, but Pattern, Curiosity, Temperature
As they got closer Nox heard whispers of the temperature dropping. When he turned around to find Alex he was surprised the other boy hadn’t followed him.
[!nox] Nox’s Inner Thoughts Where did he go? By the Shattered Moon! Where is he?
[!encounter] Nox searches for Alex (Investigation) 1d20+2: [7]+2 = 9
Alex hides from nox (Stealth) 1d20+4: [19]+4 = 23
Nox returns to where he was ignoring what he had just heard. He stands where Alex had stood and looked around in a circle frantically.
[!nox] Nox’ thoughts Where is he?
In his head Nim speaks. Good riddance to the Goblinbrain. We don’t need him, Darkling. The scaly hands caressed Nox’s cheek as Nim sat invisibly on his shoulder.
[!oracle] District: 1d6: [6] = 6 → Green Boulevard Tavern District
Alex seems to have disappeared and Nox begins to wander [[Sentinel’s Rest]] searching for him. Though after a while he does give up and finds himself on Green Boulevard, a notoriously rowdy district full of taverns and drunkards.
[!oracle] Q: Does anything happen to Nox while he is in the tavern district?> (1d20+0: [17]+0 = 17) Yes
Q: Does it have anything to do with Alex? (1d20: [14] = 14) Yes
Q: Does Alex try to prank Nox? (1d20: [13] = 13) Yes
Q: Does he try to jump out at him? (1d20: [8] = 8) No, but Downward, Accomplice, Vibration Ai: Together, these words suggest that instead of jumping out, Alex is setting up something more elaborate, possibly from a hidden, lower position with the help of someone else. The vibration might be a clue that something is about to happen or is being set in motion, hinting at a more complex prank involving movement, sound, or an object that will catch Nox off guard.
[!encounter]
Nox’s Passive Perception 17
Adventure Status 4 (12)
A cheerful drunk wanders past Nox and in his wake is a trail of sparks much like the ones that had attacked him earlier. Nox jumps out of the way of the glittering illusions but begins to look around for the perpetrator. It could only be Alex.
Nox spies Alex hiding in the shadows behind a barrel outside of The Yellow Gnome tavern.
“I’ve been looking all over for you and you’ve been following me?” Nox growls as he stalks over to the shadows.
[!nox] Nox’s Inner Thoughts At least we found him.
Oh the joy! Nim echoed in his head.
Alex smirked and pulled Nox down into a crouch as others passed by the barrel. Their faces are close.
[!alex] Alex’s Thoughts I should kiss him.
[!nox] Nox’s Thoughts Zresh… he’s so close. Those eyes… His lips…
Nox looks down and pulls away to turn towards the street where Alex had just pulled him from. “Why are we hiding?”
Alex sighs. “I thought I heard someone saying something about Kael.”
[!encounter] Q: Alex tries to deceive Nox (Nox’s passive insight) (12) (1d20+3: [1]+3 = 4) Fail but Brother, Title, Daughter AI:Together, these words might indicate that the people in front of Nox and Alex are discussing Kael’s relationship with a brotherly figure and a potential title he held or was expected to gain. They might also be talking about a young woman, possibly a daughter of someone significant, who could be linked to Kael’s disappearance or the circumstances surrounding it. This conversation might provide clues about Kael’s connections, his possible fate, or those searching for him. An unknown (criminal) organization (The Midnight Veil) is looking for Kael Stormcrest, who is the brother to the Warden of the Northern Winds. The person who is looking for Kael is know as The Daughter of Shadows.
Nox is about to say something as he doesn’t believe Alex, but Alex holds his finger over his lips indicating Nox should be quiet. As they listen to the conversation two well armed men have just inside the alley where they hid behind a barrel.
“We can’t find the Warden of the Northern Winds’ brother anywhere.” The large burly man said.
The smaller man with a peg leg speaks with a foreign accent. “The Daughter of Shadows won’t like this. I’m not going to tell her. Let’s keep looking.”
The two men stumble off into The Yellow Gnome ‘looking’ for the missing beastkin.
Alex chuckles. “See I told you I heard something about Kael. And you didn’t believe me.”
“I heard something about the Warden of Northern Winds and the Daughter of shadows, but not about Kael.” Nox said.
Alex laughed as he stood up and took Nox by the hand. “You see.” He taps his head. “Kael’s brother is Warden of the Northern Winds. I remember him bragging about being all high and might up north. Pompous birdbrain as he was.”
“So who’s this Daughter of Shadows and why does she want Kael?” Nox asked.
“I don’t know. But I think we need to find Kael and find out.” Alex said. “You still got that drawing?”
Nox nodded and pulled the sketch from his pack. “Yeah.”
Alex took it from his hands. “I don’t think this is what it looks like.” Alex waved the paper in his hands before folding it in his pocket. Let’s find a room for the night. So we can do this in privacy and comfort.
Alex lead Nox to another tavern across the street. The sign read “The Clever Bastard”.
Inside was clean and warm. The boys hadn’t realized how cool the air was getting as the sun set.
A bard played on the platform off to the side. Neither boy paying much attention to the lyrics as they made their way to the counter at the back.
Alex stepped up with his coin purse in his hand and bright smile.
[!nox] Nox’s Thoughts I wish he’d smile at me like that.
“We’d like a room. And whatever the house plate and special are for the night brought up to the room?” He said plaining and over the music.
“That’ll be 2 silver.” The small redheaded woman said as she wiped her hands on her bar towel.
Alex handed over a gold piece. “And breakfast in the morning.”
The innkeeper smiled at Alex as if there was something special about the boy she was serving.
Her smile widened and she stared at Alex before remembering she had a job to do.
She reached under the counter and produced a key. “Top of the stairs third door on the right. There is only one bed.” She said offhandedly.
[!nox] Nox’s Thoughts One bed? What were they supposed to do with one bed… specially if Alex was bringing a friend to it…
Alex took the key with a wink and headed towards the stairs with Nox barely in tow. Alex looked back, “Well come on.”
Nox followed dutifully behind Alex and through the door to their now shared room.
Alex looked around and shoved the bed to the side and moved things around so he had a good 5 feet of space in the middle of the floor. He then tossed his bag on to the bed. “Maybe I can identify the spell Kael put on it. Why else would he leave it in plain sight for anyone to find?”
“That’s a good point.”
“We’ll wait till the food and drink arrive.” Alex said as he rummaged through his bag on the bed.
There was a Knock. Nox answered the door and the Innkeeper herself brought the food up. She looked at the displaced furniture and raised an eyebrow but said nothing as she set the plates and goblets on the table. “You boys need anything else?” She said wiping her fingers on her apron again.
[!encounter] Q: Nox’s insight into the innkeeper (12) (1d20+4: [10]+4 = 14) Success
Adventure Status 4 (12)
Nox notices that the innkeeper is a little nervous even as she flirts with Alex.
Alex looks up from his rummaging. “We are good. Thanks.” He waved her off and she looks disappointed.
“That was mean, ya know.” Nox said sitting down at the table with what looked to be rabbit and potatoes. He took a big whiff of the dark amber ale in the goblet and Nox frowned pushing the drink to the middle of the table. “I’m not drinking that.”
Alex looked at him with a grin. “It got what I wanted. And I didn’t want her. You really do think I’m a whore don’t you?”
Nox stammered. “I.. I don’t.”
Alex rolled his eyes as he sat down across from Nox and pulled a long swig from the goblet. “North Brew, it’s not too bad. Could have been Goblen’s Piss. That shit taste like the name, but boy does it have a kick.” Alex didn’t hesitate after his drink and tore into his rabbit with his fingers. Nearly throwing it across the table. “Zresh that’s hot.”
Nox chuckled but ate his meal with the provided fork and not his fingers.
[!oracle] Q: Is the drawing enchanted? (1d20: [3] = 3) No
Alex set up the preparations for the spell he was about to cast. Nox watched with curiosity as Alex set down on the floor in the middle of a large circle with a large brown feather from an owl in front of him, and on top of it a shiny, large pearl.
Alex began chanting. “Teralas dorun, ezrak venmor.”
For one minute Nox watch Alex draw power into him and hold the sketch in his hand.
The paper glowed and when the glow vanished Alex growled. “Nothing. Not a fucking thing.”
“So what is it then?” Nox gingerly took the paper from Alex and helped the other boy up.
Alex shrugged. “We could find a map, find some mountains. Maybe ask around.”
“Asking around might bring those men after us or the Daughter of Shadows. Or the Warden of the Northern Winds might think we are the ones out to get his brother. “
Alex sighed. “So just wander around until we find him? That doesn’t sound like a good plan. We could ask around about the drawing, if you think it’s related. We also have Kael’s journal.”
Nox held up the weathered journal he’d been holding.
[!oracle] Q: Is there anything to help the boys on their hunt for Kael Stormcrest in his journal? (1d20: [15] = 15) Yes
Q: Does it tell there where he went? (1d20: [2] = 2) No, and Communion, Indication, Warrant AI: Together, these words might indicate that Kael’s disappearance is linked to something much larger and more dangerous than Nox and Alex initially thought. The journal suggests that Kael was in communion with a significant power or group, hints at troubling signs that something was wrong, and implies that someone might have been after him, possibly with legal or nefarious intent. This complicates the mystery, suggesting that Kael was involved in something perilous, which led to his disappearance under circumstances that now seem far more threatening.
Q: Does it reveal what he was doing? (1d20: [18] = 18) Yes
Q: Does it have anything to do with the Daughter of Shadow? (1d20: [14] = 14) Yes
Q: Did Kael know who she worked for? (1d20: [10] = 10) Maybe Nobility, Area, Employment
[!encounter] Q: Nox investigates the journal (12) (1d20+2: [6]+2 = 8) Fail but History, Slice, Shape AI: Together, these words suggest that Nox uncovers a piece of historical information, possibly incomplete or fragmented, that involves a specific shape or symbol. This discovery might be a small but important part of a larger puzzle, hinting at something significant from the past that ties into Kael’s disappearance. It could be a clue related to an ancient artifact, a forgotten location, or a mysterious symbol that Nox needs to investigate further.
Nox sits down at the table and starts flipping through the book. He find a passage that looks like it might be part of an answer to a riddle or something.
Alex pulls the book away from him and sits down at the table with Nox and flips through the journal himself.
[!encounter] Q: Alex investigates the book (12) (1d20+1: [20]+1 = 21) Success and Man, Shame, Alarm
Alex flips almost directly the page he wanted. His eyes open wide and he frowns. “It looks like Kael was searching for an artifact. And his brother was interested in it.” Alex’s finger trailed along the words as he read. “It says here that The Daughter of Shadows was also looking for it for his brother.”
“So wait, The Daughter of Shadows was hired by the Warden to find the artifact and now she’s looking for Kael. Those guys didn’t sound like they wanted to help him.” Nox said.
“I don’t think so either.”
[!oracle] Q: Is there anything else of note in the journal for the boys to find? (1d20: [19] = 19) Yes, and Enlighten, Rescue, Boy
Alex flipped a few more pages and jabbed his finger into the page. “Oh, oh. It says right here he was planning a trip to [[Storms Watch]], a little mountain side village where he thought there was an entrance to some [[The Iron Spire]] where the [[Stormcaller Scepter]] lay. This is where we are going.”
“Any idea where it is?” Nox asked.
Alex shook his head. “Now but we can ask about the village in the morning. I’m going downstairs to get another drink. We can share the bed. I think we are both man enough to share a bed with nothing happening.”
Nox just nodded and Alex grabbed a book from his bag and his lute and headed down stairs.
The Mind of Nox 