Ashes of Eternity – Session 0

Session Date: January 19, 2025
Location: Guild Castle

---

Summary

Session 0 saw the meeting of all the characters and players in the party, acclimating everyone to each other. We discussed the campaign and how it was going to go as well as expectations. Further discussion took us towards in-character interaction, getting a feel for each other’s characters and understanding at a high level the motivations for each character in the party. We also saw the introduction of Cassidion after an initial quick adventure to get the party used to each other.

Key discussion points were:

• Welcomes and Introductions
• Campaign overview
• Player and Campaign Expectations
• Character Creation and Party Alignment
• Collaborative Worldbuilding
• A sample play through (small scenario for the party to work through)
• Introduction to Cassidion

Key Events

• Campaign kick off
• Session 0 Things
• Herald of Dusk warns the party of impending apocalyptic event
• New NPC arrives: Cassidian

NPC Interactions

• Herald of Dusk: attacks party after insisting on end of the world type things
• Cassidion: Appears before the party

Loot and Rewards

None yet.

Character Development

Each character has chosen their own specialties in service of the guild. They are as follows:

• Enialis: Arcane Strategist / Infiltrator and Spy
• Kazumi: Religious zealot, head of the church (Divine Emissary) / Diplomat and Evangelist / Secondary Face
• Haruki: Special forces and law enforcement, special enforcement arm of the church
• Mordekai: Infiltrator and Information Broker
• Sinja: Diplomat/Negotiator, and Battlefield Specialist (Tactical Enforcer) / Primary Face
• Ulf: Commander of Guild Armed Forces / Tactician

Mysteries and Clues

• Celestial mark appeared near town of Dawnshade
  • A wide field of scorched earth with a massive celestial symbol etched into the ground, glowing faintly with radiant energy. The symbol resembles a constellation that none of the party immediately recognizes.
  • As the party investigates, they experience unsettling visions:
    • A radiant being shattered into fragments.
    • A shadow consuming stars.
    • A cryptic phrase: “The shards must be reunited, or all will fall to ruin.”
  • The party finds charred remains of two humanoids, seemingly vaporized mid-action.
    • They were priests attempting to either destroy or activate the symbol. One clutches a partially burned scroll with cryptic writing.
  • Two Astral Wraiths appeared and attacked the party
• The Herald of Dusk appears, a corrupted Solar
  • “Mortals. You dare to tread upon the fractured light of eternity? This place is not meant for the weak of will or the fragile of purpose. You cannot comprehend the forces at work here.”
  • “Your meddling is futile. The shards you seek are not salvation—they are splinters of a doomed legacy. The Unmaker’s shadow consumes all, even the brightest stars. It is inevitable. And yet, you come here with hubris, believing you can stand against the tide.”
  • Sinja attempts to lie, Corrupted Solar sees through the lie but plays along
    • “Ah, yes. A mortal who sees the truth. How… convenient. Tell me, then, what would you do in service of the Unmaker? What sacrifices will you make?”
    • “You may claim allegiance, but words are wind. Actions reveal the soul. Will you betray your allies to prove your devotion? Will you embrace the shadow and walk away unscathed?”
  • Eventually Corrupted Solar gets tired of the lies and warns Sinja:
    • “Foolish mortal. I see through your facade as easily as one sees through smoke. Your attempts at deception amuse me, but they will not spare you.”
  • Mordakai and Kazumi both why it is there
    • “Why am I here? Foolish mortals, your limited minds cannot grasp the weight of this moment. I am the harbinger of the inevitable, the voice of the shadow that will consume the stars. This symbol—this fractured relic—is but a whisper of what is to come.”
    • “The shards scattered here are remnants of a broken covenant, forged to bind the Unmaker’s will. But that covenant has failed. Creation is collapsing under the weight of its own hubris, and I am here to see it undone. To prepare the way.”
    • “Once, I served the light. I upheld the order of existence with unwavering zeal. But I have seen the truth: creation is a flawed, fragile lie. The Unmaker offers release—a return to the purity of nothingness. And so, I have been chosen to unbind the threads of fate.”
    • “And now you stand here, defiant, clutching at embers while the fire fades. I am here to extinguish even those.”
• Party rolls for initiative, combat ensues. Party becomes victorious over Herald of Dusk
  • Best Play: Mordakai holds an action to cast Power Word Kill, to go off as a reaction when the corrupted solar is weak enough
• Cassidion appears and states: “The mark was a warning, and you have answered the call. But the shadow is closer than I feared. You have seen the shards—broken remnants of what once held the Unmaker at bay. Gather them, for only you can rekindle the light.”

Plans and Predictions

• Ulf: This is a shadowbringers expansion
• Sinja: Believes we’ll be annoyed by the new NPC and will have to fight them.

Quotes of the Session

“Okay, see, now there are problems with what you’re saying. First off, I have never served the Light or its denizens, I have always served those down below. But I will again repeat myself: what exactly, are you doing here? You’re not being very specific.” At this point, Mordekai is walking forward towards the Herald with hands clasped behind his back. “And what would happen to this glowing symbol of yours, hmm? What would happen if I were to desecrate it? I could do that right now, if you like? We’ll see what happens?”

—Mordakai to Herald of Dusk

Additional Notes

Any additional notes and comments from players