There feeds he full on the flesh of the dead,
And the home of the gods he reddens with gore;
Dark grows the sun, and in summer soon
Come mighty storms: would you know yet more?
– The Völva, to Odin
What the group have learned to date:
1,000+ years ago:
- The previous Harvest begins and threatens to wipe out all life on Vaul.
- In a desperate attempt to survive the cataclysm some mortals seek assistance from fiends. The demons keep their word – after a fashion. Warped by unholy magic these mortals become the first Tieflings and Vampires.
- The Harvest does not go to plan as conflict breaks out between Moros, Namthar and Kossus (as the party learned in Ashenkirk.) The details and result of the infighting remain unclear to Sub Optima. Later generations will remember this conflict as the Century War between Namthar and Kossus.
- The truth is preserved in Ashenkirk and by the few ancient beings who survived. Possibly other records exist – Conan made some offhand remarks about “so called Gods” and the group have encountered other hints (for example in the Dream Eater’s lair).
Gap/discrepancy in Sub Optima’s knowledge regarding the details of the Harvest. Clink saw one huge creature destroy Bastion – this does not mesh well with any known account of the Century War.
1,000 – 400 years ago:
- Valentia gains control of a minor portal to Vaul and establishes herself as a demonic Oracle. Generations of mortals are lured by whispered promises of lost knowledge. Most are driven to madness and despair as they learn that their beloved Gods are fattening them up for slaughter.
400 years ago:
- A fragile and unofficial peace develops between Namburg and Salt in Wounds as decades of low level border conflicts wind down. Archbishop Piot leaves Namburg in disgust after his calls for an immediate resumption of hostilities are dismissed.
- The Archbishop’s travels lead him and his follows to a remote mountain where local legends speak of a secretive moon cult and a terrible creature who preaches blasphemy against Namthar.
- Valentia is bound to the Blood Moon sculpture her worshippers/slaves had placed in her shrine.
- The Temple of Namthar is founded in the mountains and the Order of Vigilance is established as the guardians of the temple.
1 year ago:
- Travelling through the area Akreaun is drawn to the aura of necromancy which hangs over the mountain. Attempting to gain access to the Temple by stealth he is discovered by the Knights of the Order. The Knights imprison Akreaun to prevent their secrets from being revealed.
- Rising tensions with Kossus lead to new interest in the life and works of Archbishop Piot. After becoming infatuated with these texts the Golem Master Jebidiah quits his work on the Dragon Wagon to visit the Temple. On arrival at the Temple he is dismayed to find that is apparently guarded by geriatric squires and peasants.
- Denied access to the Inner Temple Jebidiah is unable to determine the source of the necromantic energy, but he assumes that a great evil artefact is concealed within the mountain.
- Jebidiah’s suggestion to use golems rather than elderly men to defend the Temple is rebuffed. Insulted he sets up camp in the nearby area and decides to protect the Temple and the pilgrims indirectly without any input from the Deacons. His Risk Analysis suggests that the local Tunnelers are the greatest threat to pilgrims and he takes it upon himself to wipe them out.
1 month ago:
- Seeing plots where none exist, the Road worry that Jebidiah has travelled to the Temple on official business from Namburg. Ishiburo and Anna are dispatched to determine what the Order of Vigilance are guarding.
- Jebidiah’s golems drive the Tunnelers away from the temple, pushing them closer to goblin lands.
50+ years from now?
- Clink witnesses the fall of Bastion.
- Clink and his companions seek to return to the past and undo the future that is Aku The Harvest.