Warcraft Roleplaying Campaign

Do not trust the Abbot
..

A call has come from Lord Brannon Stormsong, searching for willing individuals to assist him in various problems threatening his reign over Stormsong Valley! Concerted pirate attacks have left the economy on shaky ground, but the real threat comes from three challengers to his reign. These three candidates claim to family by blood and tidesages by power, more suitable to running the Valley as well as the Shrine of the Storm.While thrown into diplomacy and wading into lies and secrets, one thing has been made clear to our party... something more sinister lurks beneath the surface. Strings are being pulled and not everyone is who they say are, and the group needs all the allies they can muster to pick apart this tangled web.All Rivers Find the Ocean (ARFO) is our current campaign, hosting seven players, focusing on Stormsong Valley and Kul Tiras in mainline World of Warcraft. It's centered around politics, mystery, and inheritance, though it also delves into other themes and focuses primarily on character development. It's currently been going on for a year and a half.

All artwork below is by @meggoart. Thank you for your amazing work!

Notes on Tidesaging, Religion, and the Shrine of the Storm - meggoart
Stormsong Valley History and Culture - meggoart
Notes on the History of Lord Stormsong - meggoart
A Primer on Depthsbringing: Theory and Practice - meggoart
All NPCs Spreadsheet

Faygia Taggin

A former failed cultist of the end times, Fay found herself adrift without the presence of her god. Since then she's found family, friends, and a new home to protect– all while attempting to set up a new source of worship for the Master Below in her chapel. Whether she can keep the faith alive in her peers without falling back into more unsavory company or tactics remains to be seen.

Westerlee Simmons

Chaplain of the Kul Tiras Tenth Fleet, Westerlee has walled herself off from much contact in favor of performing her duties. She sees more than she speaks, and holds a troubled past from Theramore. It would be a shame if she made new friends and acquaintances along the way...

Adjuter Tidesong

As an elemental who long ago swore to protect the tidesages, Adjuter has been living in disguise for centuries living a double life between human form and his true nature... Count Erodion. Now he faces a new challenge that gives him light on humanity.

Aderyn Davenport

After calamity struck Aderyn as a smuggler during the Fourth War, he became a cultist target. Only after discovering his mentor performing horrific acts in the name of N'zoth did he come to his senses, stealing a grimoire and, incidentally, the void lord that guarded it. Now a fledgling warlock, he is rediscovering his own powers and learning to trust those that would call him friend.

Esme Clarke

Esme is a late bloomer as a tidesage initiate, having recently joined the elusive sect. This siren bard has spent a lifetime practicing the Gilnean Old Ways before she heard the Tidemother’s call. With a lifetime of shadows and mistakes behind her, she’s set on her path to redemption... somewhat.

Xue Winterpaw

A waterspeaker with the Jinyu who found herself home with Kul Tiras and the tidesages. As a hullwarden, a promising runesmith and above all a reliable shoulder, Xue finds herself navigating the waters between her old life and vast new horizons.

Worth Taggin

There's plenty of promising traits evident in the adopted Taggin sibling, from his earnest and kind nature to the ripples of power that flow through him. Worth has only wanted a quiet life with close friends, and the fact that fate has other designs rests uneasily on his mantled shoulders.

0. Starter Sessions

  • Aderyn Session 0 (In which Aderyn reluctantly takes a job from an old friend and captain.)

  • Adjuter Session 0 (In which Adjuter gets an enlightening opportunity from Angrboda and a lovely conversation.)

  • Esme Session 0 (in which Esme is approached by the Lord Stormsong with an offer she can't resist.)

  • Faygia Session 0 (In which Fay goes on a picnic with Brannon and spills wine on him.)

  • Westerlee Session 0 (In which Westerlee meets Marius and wants to throw him off a bridge. She sees Merrick and Aldry.)

  • Worth Session 0 (In which Worth visits Fay at midnight with his worries.)

  • Xue Session 0 (In which Xue meets with her whale and recovers some of her past.)

1. Calling Counsel
(In which Brannon gathers the party to beg them for help. Plenty of first meetings.)2. Thorntide with Brannon
(In which the party makes wreaths and plans, and sees each other a bit more.)3. Candidates Present
(In which we get our first look at the candidates, pick some pockets, and make interesting assumptions.)

4. Gang, Split Up

  • 4.1. (In which Aderyn and Worth investigate the Ashvane Shipyards for clues.)

  • 4.2. (In which Xue and Adjuter explore a mostly-abandoned windmill and battle Marius.)

  • 4.3. (In which Fay and Worth visit the dwelling of Kendra and Damara and find something's wrong.)

5. A Star to Steer Her By
(In which the party discusses findings, and first steps aboard the good ship Perseverance.)5.1 Those In Need
(In which Sterncastle saves Ira from a grisly fate and stands off against the Council o' Captains.)

6. Curses, Children, Couriers, and Cephalopods

  • 6.1. Curses and Couriers (In which Adjuter, Xue, Worth, and Theriot all look for cursebreaking tomes. They meet Mathwell, Angrboda, and Merrick.)

  • 6.2. Curses and Children (In which Westerlee, Fay, and Aderyn visit Kendra and Damara... and perform Grand Theft Child after breaking her curse.)

  • 6.3. Curses and Cephalopods (In which Carcer meets Argoel and gets brain-wrecked. Argoel steals control of the kraken.)

7. Dandelions for Damara
(In which Brannon meets Damara, and the truth about both her parentage and her powers is revealed.)7.1. Songbird Sybil
(In which Aderyn meets his mother in Tol Goval to explain everything and the Ashvanes are mentioned.)8. Pierre's Plunder
(In which the gang steps foot into Freehold, gets a tour from Pierre, then gets attacked by assassins.)9. Walk the Line
(In which the gang fights off their attackers and meets the Council o' Captains. It doesn't go well.)

  • 9.1. Brigs to Brigands (In which Sterncastle hears about the new arrivals to Freehold, and Fay goes out for a night on the town and meets Fiona.)

  • 9.2. Thunder Before the Storm (In which Westerlee finds her own way into Freehold, speaks with friendlier pirate sages, and Marius fights off her assassin.)

10. Spiderwebs and Spectacles

  • 10.1. (In which Aderyn does some scouting around Freehold and learns about the captains and crews.)

  • 10.3. (In which Worth and Fay have a lovely talk with Pierre, then Sterncastle slaps Fay in the brig after nearly shooting Worth. Fiona saves Worth's hide.)

  • 10.2. (In which the famous Lang Shai Nal approaches Xue for a game of Go, and they have a heated discussion over the game board.)

  • 10.4. (In which Adjuter and Westerlee meet up with Marius, learn his backstory, and reluctantly start to like him.)

11. Catharsis
(In which the party chats beside Fay's cell, attempts to cheer her up, and sets a plan going forward.)

  • 12.1. Wavesong's Testimony (In which Iverna shows how Argoel wrecked the Red Talon to the party and Sterncastle. Sterncastle's not happy but sees a new enemy.)

  • 12.2. Pyre Problems (In which Worth and Esme visit the Pyre manor under false pretenses to learn about Tristan and Marianne.)

  • 13.1. Friends Like These (In which Sterncastle and Aderyn converse before getting Hooktusk on their side.)

  • 13.3. Indigo Threads (In which Fay voids up a well, and gets introduced to the Abbot Oxeye as a fellow believer.)

  • 13.5. The Trouble with Tristan (Aderyn ingratiates himself into Tristan's confidence and meets the Abbot.)

  • 13.2. Strategy Without Tactics (In which Xue and Lang Shai Nal face crabs in the arena, then face each other. Xue gets stabbed.)

  • 13.4 Patrimony (In which Adjuter and Marius have a heated argument but emerge on better terms.)

  • 13.6. Knives at Night (Sterncastle confronts Eron Yewbeam trying to murder Xue, and kicks him off a platform. Eron flees.)

14. Arguably Argonauts
(In which the party and all of Freehold battles Argoel. Pierre makes a heroic sacrifice, Argoel is chased off and loses a hand, and the kraken's mind is freed.)

  • 14.1. Adjusted Adjunction (In which the party holds down Marius's elemental bonded, Azurius, to free him of Adjuter's core.)

  • 14.3. A Place of Remorse (In which Lang seeks out Xue to apologize and give his next steps for repentance.)

  • 14.5. Mara's Mending (In which Aderyn and Fay visit Damara in her new home and come to an understanding.)

  • 14.2. Strange Bedfellows (In which Fay meets up with a bedridden Pierre to console him, then has a talk with Marius.)

  • 14.4. Violence of Doves (In which Aderyn visits Sybil for a mother-son talk to check his headspace.)

  • 14.6. Those Who Would Be Lord (In which Westerlee, Marius, and Brannon talk. It goes better than expected.)

  • 15.1. Freehold Finale (In which we finish up the first Freehold arc, and take our leave as the captains divvy up the ship's spoils.)

  • 15.4. Your Body A Temple (In which Theriot meets Anchorite Caspyrine and is told six prophecies. He is nearly caught.)

  • 15.7. Midnight Mass (In which Fay is the guest speaker at a very special gathering hosted by the Abbot in her honor.)

  • 15.2. Early Birds (In which Xue meets up with Brannon to update him slightly and ask for pirate sage pardons.)

  • 15.5. Elemental Preparations (In which the steps are almost done for Adjuter's recovery, with Esme and Worth helping.)

  • 15.8. A Friend in Need (In which Marius has love life troubles and vents about it to Westerlee and Xue. Hilarity ensues.)

  • 15.3. Vacated Visages (In which Fay meets with Fiona for a sendoff and they talk about the faces they wear.)

  • 15.6. Aderius (In which Marius realizes his parentage, and Aderyn follows him to an ill-advised Abbot fight.)

  • 15.9. Fountain Coins (In which Adjuter finally sees Angrboda again. They consider their pact and feelings for each other.)

  • 16.1. Clarification Situation (In which the party catches up on everything, reconnects, and Aderyn has to explain one breathing potion.)

  • 16.3. Men of Character (In which Worth and Fay conveniently meet Tristan, convince him to take better care of himself, and find about an odd ritual.)

  • 16.2. Brunch with Brannon (In which since the party's caught up, now they have to inform Brannon about the Abbot's dastardly plots. This goes relatively well.)

  • 16.4. Intervention (In which Fay's descent down a dark path is interrupted by her close friends. She comes to big realizations about betraying the party for the Abbot.)

  • 17.1. Have You Mist Me (In which the party makes a crash course for Thresher's Wharf, where Eron Yewbeam has put the town to sleep with a powerful sword. He gets yeeted off a building.)

  • 17.2. Fogbreaker (In which Eron Yewbeam has hijacked an Alliance ship and is attempting to cause an international incident. The party stops him and he's killed by his own sword.)

  • 18.1. Adjuter's Ascension. (In which the party gets together in an attempt to get Adjuter back into water form. This does not quite go as planned, and his sire Herodotion is released to fight the party.)

  • 18.2. Herodotion Waning (In which the fight continues, Herodotion slowly is beaten, and Adjuter is reformed as Count Erodion in full. Except with a new appreciation of mortality and all that entails.)

  • 19.1. Labyrinthine Heart (In which Fay asks Morgan to test her mind port. They learn more than anticipated as Fay's port lasts for a time against the onslaught.)

  • 19.2. Sage Practice (In which the party gets together to try teaching Marius tidesagery. There are unexpected wins. Westerlee throws rocks at Marius.)

20. The First Trial
(In which the first actual factual candidacy trial begins. Tristan and Marius are judged by their tidesaging ability and put on a good show. The party helps distract and assist in turns, and it turns out well.)

  • 20.1. A Beautiful Mind (In which Fay gets to traverse the Abbot's mind in a wonderful moment of intimacy and trying not to give herself away.)

  • 20.2.5. Angrboda's Exit (In which Adjuter smuggles Angrboda out of the Shrine of the Storm and tries to keep her safe.)

  • 20.4. Meeting of the Minds (In which Fay invites the Abbot into her own mind. They do a little mind kiss. She reveals far more than anticipated.)

  • 20.2. Our Hearts a Cell (In which Westerlee, Adjuter, Worth, and Theriot all go down to meet Caspyrine. It's assumed Mathwell almost turns them into a voidy scorchmark.)

  • 20.3. An Impromptu Break-In (In which Marius takes Esme, Adjuter, and Worth for a joyride to the monastery. They steal an orb.)

  • 20.5. Un Problème de Pierre (In which Pierre and Sterncastle invite the party back to Freehold, since the new Captain Rukere wants to start raiding early.)

21. A Waltz to Die For

  • 21.1. (In which Fay, Esme, Aderyn, and Worth are trapped in a nightmare ballroom with manifestations from the Abbot. Worth fails, Esme and Aderyn nearly come to blows, and Fay gets them out of the dream.)

  • 21.2. (In which Westerlee, Sterncastle, Fay, and Adjuter are trapped in a nightmare ballroom with manifestations from the Abbot. Adjuter nearly fails, and Xue gets them out by getting the party to drown her.)

22. Shattered Dreams
(In which the party reconnects after the ghost waltz and discovers what happened. Fay reveals her talks with the Abbot, the orb they stole turns out to be related, and they make plans.)

  • 23.1. Our Enemies Closer (In which Westerlee, Worth, and Adjuter tell the Stormwake Council of the Abbot's treachery. They try to bring Mathwell in for questioning, only to find he tried to kill Caspyrine. Caspyrine is healed.)

  • 23.3. Third Eye Blind (In which Fay visits the Abbot with one goal in mind, and it's not kissing. The Abbot spills his plan for Sagelord Worth to her, and she lulls him into a sense of security before stabbing his eye and fleeing.)

  • 23.2. Our Friends Close (In which Esme and Aderyn meet up with Tristan to talk politics. It goes reasonably well, and Tristan gives them a note to take back to his parents in an attempt to make them spill their secret. We're getting closer...)

  • 23.4 Crabcakes (In which Xue, Esme, Adjuter, and Saivan visit Freehold to discuss options with Rukere, fight Crabcakes Mcgee and kiss some crabs, and Fiona's visage is broken. This ends on a cliffhanger.)

  • 24.1. Empty Chambers (In which Fay meets with an old acquaintance, Dorothea Deeptide, and learns about the legacy of Sagelord Samara. Together, the two of them visit Anchorite Caspyrine, and Fay gives her funeral rites.)

  • 24.2. Unmasking and Mutiny (In which Xue, Esme, and Adjuter find Fiona, convince her to stay in Rukere's quarters, and defend the good Captain from her quartermaster's attempted mutiny. Fiona is revealed to be somewhat nice after all.)

  • 24.3. Wayward Pike (In which Westerlee visits Brother Pike to tell him to return to the Shrine. She gives a rundown of the plot so far, and tells him the rest of the council needs him. Pike of course is a master of avoiding responsibility, and agrees.)

  • 25.1. Squawk Talk (In which Xue, Esme, and Adjuter speak with Brother Sterncastle. They break the news about Fiona, Sterncastle admits he kinda knew about it, and he appoints Esme and Xue as Rukere's interim tidesages. Fiona is sent to the Refuge until she can get a visage once again.

More to follow...