After the Fall

1: “A Star Falls”

1.1: “Good Samaritan”

Aither, Ellinor, Godric, Mati, and Miryn are members of the Rusty Duckling guild, run by the ex-knight Howard Keen. Tower Lord Hana Kohl has employed their guild on short notice to secure the site of a fallen Star. They ride into town and meet her attendant Shaun Beck who explains the mission and gives them a Lord Medallion. They ride at full speed to Maelor Forest.

Treaty of the Second, Section 4 (Control, Ownership, and Recovery of Fallen Celestial Objects ("Fallen Stars")), Subsection 2:

“Any Tower Lord may dispatch any subject as an Authorised Agent to claim a fallen Star on their behalf. Authorised Agents may only be dispatched after the Star has touched the ground. Authorised Agents must be dispatched from the vicinity of the Lord’s Tower. Ownership of the Star shall be granted in full to the Tower Lord whose Authorised Agent is the first to touch the material of the Star.”

A short distance into the forest they’re stopped by a traveller on horseback who identifies himself as Rodney White. He explains that his wife, Laila, has been kidnapped by bandits and offers them money if they’ll help. The party agrees and heads off the path towards their camp, and Miryn stays with Rodney and the horses on the road.

Miryn spots a figure in the trees who drops down behind the party and takes Mati hostage with a dagger. He shoots the figure and Aither stabs them multiple times, killing them. Godric and Ellinor run in to threaten the bandits into releasing the kidnapped woman. Godric pushes the bandit’s scout Frankie into the fire pit, and the leader of the bandits, Jace, attacks him in retaliation. Mati pulls the fourth bandit, a young boy, across the ground towards her, then transforms into a hyena and mauls him to death.

Miryn checks the bandits’ tent and finds no signs of a prisoner, and tries to get the others to stop fighting but is ignored. Jace, Frankie, Ellinor, and Godric become stuck in a stand-off arguing about the location of Laila until Frankie breaks free and runs. Godric ties Jace up. Mati and Aither run back for the road, afraid that Rodney has stolen their horses.

“Do you remember what I told you? This is what we call a trap. I bet when we get back to the road, the horses will be gone. There is no woman here.”

— Mati, on trust.

The group brings Rodney into the forest to speak with the captive Jace. He tells them Jace was the man who kidnapped his wife and that they shouldn’t trust him. Jace is uncooperative so Mati tells him that she can bring his friends back to life if he answers their questions. He agrees to talk and says his group stole money from passers-by, including Rodney but that he didn't have a wife and they'd never kidnapped anyone. Mati tells Jace she can't bring people back to life and Miryn unties him. He reaches for a knife on his belt but has none left, so Godric hands him one and he commits suicide.

"Is this a metaphor?"

— Godric, on metaphor.

Mati notices Rodney has no wedding ring and he admits he made the story about his wife up to try and recover the money the bandits had stolen from him. The party recovers and opens a strongbox from the bandits' tent containing five purses. Godric lets Rodney take one and he leaves. Ellinor attempts to switch Godric's horse for Rodney's but he notices and rides away on his own horse. The party strips the camp for supplies and leaves the bodies of the bandits where they fell. They set out again, aiming to arrive at the Star by evening.

“Was there not something we were supposed to be doing?”

— Miryn, on distractions.

1.2: “A Slapstick Routine”

The party notices a humanoid figure walking in the opposite direction along the road. They're wearing chainmail and have a large shield with a religious symbol emblazoned on it. As they approach they see he's a silver dragonborn. He introduces himself as a paladin of the Order of the Talon, who worship Bahamut and tells them he's also heading to the Star to ensure it's used for good.

Shield emblazoned with the crest of Bahamut.

“Good evening. I trust your journey is one of great purpose?”

— Talon, on himself.

Godric invites Talon to join them, and Mati offers to share her horse to spare Godric's. As they ride, Godric and Talon discuss the history of Warforged. Ellinor recounts facts about the trees and plants they pass. Godric explains what happened with the bandits.

“Nobody loved you enough to give you a name.” — Mati, on Talon.

The party arrives in the vicinity of the Star around sunset, and spot a pillar of smoke half a mile off the path. They dismount and lead the horses toward the smoke. They come to a clearing 300-400ft across where the vegetation has been completely destroyed and is smouldering. A small tent sits next to the treeline with a campfire and two figures sitting near it. Their approach alerts the lilim and they start putting armour on. Some of the party hide in the trees, and some walk into the clearing to talk to them.

Talon approaches and gets a look at the star: a vast ball of twisted, blackened metal and glass. He strides towards the people and confidently introduces himself. They identify themselves as Jeremiah and Matthew, knights of Tower Lord Mantovani. Talon and Godric interrogate the pair about their intentions. The party pretend to be mad, and Matthew prepares tea for everyone. Jeremiah finds Mati in the bushes and tries to calm her down, assuming she is a patient under Talon’s care.

Jeremiah and Matthew go off to converse alone, and the party plans what to do.

Talon says, “Surely, since they are being so nice, you should just tell them the truth about your intentions, and you can work it out like good honest men.”

“Absolutely not!” Mati says.

Godric suggests telling Jeremiah and Matthew they just want the star for its scrap value. He then suggests Mati turn into a burrowing animal and burrow the star out from the inside, leaving just a shell. Ellinor leaves to inspect their horses. Godric suggests killing Jeremiah and Matthew, cutting their legs off and putting them next to the star so it looks as if it landed on them.

Miryn and Aither emerge from the bushes on the other side of the Star and inspect it. It appears to be composed of thick metal fibres woven into a ball that split open on impact, with large panels of black glass embedded in it.

Godric reveals to Jeremiah that their party was sent by Lord Kohl to recover the Star. He laments their late arrival, and asks for a small piece of the Star as a personal consolation but Matthew refuses, apparently fearful of being discovered breaking the law by their Tower Lord. He suggests that for a large enough sum of money he would be willing to change his mind.

“I assumed you were in the care of the state. I didn’t realise that you were knights,” Jeremiah laughs.

Aither and Miryn discuss a plan to pry some metal off with a crowbar. They work at it for a few minutes and get a small piece off but loudly drop it halfway to the trees. Jeremiah assumes the sound was bandits trying to rob them and asks Talon to help him investigate. Talon suggests moving the broken-off piece of Star to their camp to watch it, and helps Jeremiah carry it. He asks Ellinor to watch it, and they set up a second camp for the party on the other side of the Star.

Mati makes some tea spiked with valerian (a strong sedative) and offers it to Matthew. He takes some to the other camp and Jeremiah takes some but the others refuse. The two of them quickly fall asleep. The party argues over whether to kill Jeremiah and Matthew, and convince Talon that stealing from them would be just by arguing that Lord Kohl is a better ruler than Mantovani.

The party moves Jeremiah and Matthew’s cart into place near the Star and try and melt a piece off with magical acid. Miryn and Aither return from the bushes to help. Aither suggests murdering the sleeping people.

Ellinor wakes Matthew up to ask him how long she needs to keep guarding the bit of metal. He hears the rest of the party talking and comes over to investigate. Talon draws his sword and pretends to have caught Aither and Miryn stealing. Matthew wakes Jeremiah up and they confront the supposed thieves. Godric continues to attempt to break off a piece of Star.

Miryn convinces Jeremiah that he was sent by Mantovani but Jeremiah insists he must be a bandit and instructs the others to kill him. Matthew casts various defensive spells on Jeremiah. Mati runs into the forest and wild-shapes into a giant hyena. Miryn continues trying to convince Jeremiah that he’s a legitimate agent of Mantovani, to no avail. Godric does an acrobatic fucking pirouette off the handle and hits the Star trying to break some off. Ellinor asks if anyone needs her to do anything but is ignored.

Matthew instructs the party to stay back, and commands Miryn to kneel. Mati dashes out of the bushes to protect Miryn. As she bites Jeremiah Matthew bleeds a little. Matthew and Jeremiah recognise her as the matriarchal hyena that has terrorised Aemilia. Ellinor shouts out again for guidance but is again ignored.

Jeremiah approaches and strikes Miryn with a sudden burst of speed, dealing a surprising amount of damage. Mati picks Miryn up in her mouth and runs into the trees. Jeremiah goes to the treeline and searches but finds no signs of them.

“I had no idea there were such foul beasts lingering in these parts.” — Talon, on Mati.

Mati, Miryn, and Aither sleep curled up together in the undergrowth.

1.3: “Chicken and Egg”

Jeremiah notices their cart has been moved next to the Star and confronts Godric. He says that if the party agrees to protect them from the hyena until morning, then leave and never come back they can take the broken-off piece of starmetal. Godric agrees.

Ellinor asks Jeremiah how their journey from Aemilia was, and he says it was an average, uneventful journey. Talon questions the time it took them to arrive and picks up that Jeremiah is concealing something.

”Those are some fast horses. You must have horses in the very highest percentile,” says Ellinor.

“I haven’t had them tested,” responds Jeremiah.

Talon argues justice with Jeremiah and uncovers that they are no longer official knights of Mantovani and are not authorised to claim the Star. They agree to a compromise: Jeremiah and Matthew will take the broken-off piece of Star and leave at first light.

“What are you talking about, they know? But they were stealing some of it!” — Matthew Tumellico, on justice.

Mati, Aither, and Miryn wake up together in the forest and discuss what to do. Mati gathers some herbs and tells the other two to keep hiding. She walks out into the clearing and is greeted by Matthew. She babbles in Goblin, pretending not to understand him.

“Miryn, how are you feeling?”

“A lot better. I feel like my stab wounds have miraculously closed up overnight.”

— Miryn, on resting.

Jeremiah and Matthew load up their cart and prepare to leave. Jeremiah gives the fake knight’s medallion they were using to Talon, and says he’d be happy to lend aid if Talon ever needed it. They leave, and Mati curses in Goblin, angry she never saw the fake medallion.

Ellinor takes a nap, and Miryn starts digging a trench around the site. Mati wild-shapes into a badger to help. Miryn makes some spikes out of wood. Aither gets Talon to help her break off more starmetal, and collect samples of the glass.

Taking a closer look at the Star, Miryn reads some text engraved on the metal in Ancient:

GADREEL

IDENTIFICATION 009131

ITERATION THREE

Talon uses his divine sense on the Star. He feels a strong celestial power coming from its core, and learns that the entire Star is consecrated. They attempt to break through the glass layer of the Star but fail.

The party hears the clanging of armour from people approaching along the road. Mati sees four people in armour coming towards them, one of whom bears the insignia of Lord Kohl. Tom, leader of the group, introduces himself and shows his knight badge. Talon shows them the Tower Lord medallion. Tom gives them a notice to show they completed their job. Talon asks if they can stay and help guard the Star. Tom warns him that they won’t see anything interesting but they can stay if they like. Ellinor says she’ll stay too, and gets her playing cards out.

The knights set up a portable card table and bring out some beer. Talon, Ellinor, and Aither play and Ellinor wins some money through sheer luck. The party stays with them for a few days, and Miryn and Mati prepare hiding spots in the trees. Talon learns from the knights that the recovery team is led by a man named Josu who everyone hates. They advise him that the best way to deal with Josu is to make him feel powerful so he’ll underestimate you, and always call him Sir Josu.

“Fuck you, I hope you like this forest. I’m going home to my wife and your wife. Frank took a dump on your bed.”

— Captain Tom, to Josu, on forests.

When the recovery team arrives, Talon sucks up to Josu well enough that he offers them places in his company. Ellinor heartily accepts, but Talon refuses. Josu tells Ellinor that she must beat Rodger in a duel to prove herself.

“Sir Josu… I am just checking on my friend’s behalf. This isn’t a fight to the death, is it?”

— Talon, on hazing.

Rodger downs her easily but Josu congratulates her for even scratching him, and confirms her acceptance into his company. Talon takes the horses a short way into the forest and makes a camp.

People move equipment and supplies in all day, and set up magical lanterns to light the area. The guard unit quickly adopts Ellinor as one of their own thanks to her attitudes toward work and speech. Mati surveys the area as a bird and communicates with Talon and Miryn.

Miryn waits for a gap in the patrols and runs from his hiding spot into the forest. He’s heard doing so but after a period of searching the guards give up without finding him, his hiding spot, or Mati hiding in a badger hole.

Miryn meets up with the others and takes Godric and Aither back to the city to avoid raising suspicion with their absence. They go to the Rusty Duckling and hide the fragments of starmetal. Howard congratulates them for their success and hurries them on to the Tower for their payment. An administrator shows them into a conference room and leaves to fetch the Tower Lord. Miryn looks around the room and is surprised to find magical lighting in an otherwise sub-standard room.

Hana Kohl enters the room and thanks them for completing the job. She offers them a Bag of Holding as reward, and sends Shaun away to get some money for them. Miryn expresses his interest in studying the Stars and Hana sounds surprised but shares her own interest in the topic.

“I like you. Now, the matter of payment...”

— Hana Kohl, on employment.

At the Star site the recovery team spends two weeks disassembling the outer layers of the Star with magically-enhanced tools. All the material is boxed up and sent away, including a huge quantity of black glass from below the armour. Beneath the glass layer is a cavity filled with a metal and fabric mesh which the team pulls out and stuffs into sacks. At the centre of the Star is an amber sphere filled with liquid. They pull it out with ropes and crack it open with a magical ram, spilling the thick, golden liquid onto the ground.

As the liquid drains Mati sees a wet, sticky arm pressed up against the inside of the sphere. They break open the sphere and pull out a humanoid body, putting it on a stretcher. Mati wild-shapes into a bird and goes to have a look. The body is completely hairless but otherwise appears human, with young adult proportions. She catches a glimpse of small, curling horns on its head. They take it away.

Over the next few days, Mati collects some samples of the materials while in bird form. Someone comes and bottles the remaining golden liquid but most of it runs into the ground. Mati tastes the liquid, and experiences a vision of an endless black void, swimming with countless tiny stars. She feels herself accelerating through the void at incredible speed, then is back in her body. The liquid tastes like blood.

The recovery team packs up and moves their equipment out, along with the remainder of the Star, leaving only the security team. Mati wild-shapes into a hyena and approaches Ellinor on her watch. She leads her into the forest to talk, and Ellinor says she intends to stay with the guards. Mati takes a single hand-carved bead from her necklace of beads and gives it to Ellinor as a symbol of her protection.

Mati finds Talon and the two return to the city, where she explains all she saw to the others. She gives the samples to Miryn, who takes up studying the Stars as his new life’s calling.

Artist’s impression of a cross-section through the Star. Not to scale.

“In the very centre was this gold, amber sphere. The engineers sent off the knights, away to the road where they couldn’t see. They broke this egg and all this gold liquid came out. Then there was this body. It was adult, human-ish looking. It had, I don’t know, maybe these horns, kind of like, imagine a Tiefling, only more human shaped, with normal human Caucasian skin. It was a strange creature, I do not know what to make of it. I believe it was alive and must have died on impact. They took the body away and they took the liquid away. When the knights returned it was an empty shell. They are hiding it from their own knights. I think every star that falls from the sky may be like this. They are hiding it from us. I believe it must be something dangerous, otherwise why would they hide it?”

— Mati, on the Star.