The Erovast Codex

2026.09.29#

Summary#

Azrith’s player returned this session after being absent on 2026.09.22, and the GM handed Azrith back to him. The GM experimented with a split-screen format, cutting between Azrith’s solo scene in the ethereal plane and the rest of the party in Havenport. Source: Transcript.

The party — Aldric, Cassian and Odine Dunmere — followed their noses from the manor down into Havenport’s dock ward, where a large warehouse with warm light and the scent of fried fish became the Salt House, the town’s survivors’ community center. Mauve Marigold was in charge: a middle-aged woman wearing a weathered sailor’s pin. Aldric approached her, lying about where they came from, and Cassian introduced himself as Cassian Fortescue, Lord Fortescue of House Fortescue. Mauve recognized the name immediately and said she has known Duke Tristan Blackwood since before he held his current title. She said Tristan doesn’t send people this far west by accident. Source: Transcript.

Mauve explained Havenport’s decline. When House Westermere fell 15 years ago, the town lost ships, merchants, trade, economy and infrastructure. “Lately people aren’t only leaving — they’re dying.” She believes what happened at the manor 15 years ago has everything to do with what her people face now: the entire family went missing in an instant, a black wall of force blocked the undercroft, and the Wither began creeping in over the following years. At first two or three individuals a year were taken; in the last five or six years the town began to fall apart. Mauve was 31 when it happened and knew some of the people who “brought something into that manor that they couldn’t control.” Source: Transcript.

The Wither has reached Havenport. Odine Dunmere showed Mauve the tendrils on her arm and said it appeared in the Thornwood Vale about 15 years ago, too — the same time her markings appeared. Mauve described the progress: people get tired and sick, they stop eating, stop talking, and “it’s like watching somebody disappear before their body’s gotten the message. Black veins begin to crawl beneath their skin.” A practical healer named Hesta Cole tends the victims but has reached her limits. Odine’s insight check (14, advantage) earned Mauve’s trust; she realized the Wither is the same thing that has plagued Havenport for 15 years. Source: Transcript.

Cassian discussed the Wither with Mauve. He said it was mostly rumor among nobles — he only saw it firsthand when entering the tourney a few weeks ago. Mauve noted the Wither hasn’t plagued Fortescue lands as long as it has Havenport, and theorized that House Westermere “brought something dark and evil into that manor all those years ago” and their fall was the consequence. Cassian said he’d be more interested in helping Havenport’s people than in noble status. Mauve told him he was “wiser than the lords that rule over you.” Source: Transcript.

The party ordered food and drink at the Salt House: fisherman’s stew, pan-fried catch of the day, hot spiced cider, and a bottle of Westmere brandy (1 gold — Aldric paid). They took the only private room, which Mauve rented for 3 silver but Cassian over-tipped with 10 silver. While eating, Odine noted the Wither’s appearance here 15 years ago matched when her markings appeared. Source: Transcript.

Aldric introduced himself to Mauve as Aldrick Havenport. The name is his real surname — it’s also the name of this town. He has used “Aldric” as an alias and was evasive about where he really came from. Mauve was puzzled: “Havenport is not a surname.” He shrugged it off. Source: Transcript.

Cassian asked about the ghost sightings near the old shipyard (more frequent in recent years) and about the Oathkeeper up at the manor. Edith Rooke, the bartender, confirmed Ian — “that old handsome devil, Sir Ian Wren” — and said she finds him charming. She and Ian have a romantic interest, but he doesn’t visit and she won’t go up to the manor. Source: Transcript.

Meanwhile, Azrith was alone in the ethereal plane. He encountered a ghost that used horrific visage (Wisdom save 9, failed — 6 psychic damage, frightened condition) and withering touch (natural 20 hit, 25 necrotic, halved to 12, then reduced to 10 with the GM’s ruling on his double resistance) on round two. On round three, Azrith activated his Crimson Rite (Right of Dawn) and hit with both scimitars: 16 radiant (13 + 3) and 16 radiant (11 + 5), for a total of 32 radiant damage plus a lingering 1d6 radiant at end of turn. The ghost wailed that it “took everything before it took my life” — Azrith’s insight check (23) revealed it was killed by something and is a vengeful spirit. On round four, Azrith finished it with another pair of hits (natural 20 second hit). The ghost dissipated into silence. Source: Transcript.

After the fight, Azrith’s perception check (26) revealed a ghostly woman hiding behind a tomb: Eleanor Gray. She whimpered and begged not to be harmed. Azrith asked her name, then asked if she knew a way out. She said she did, and began walking — then stopped, looking at him with curious eyes. “You’re a tiefling. My son was born like you — red skin, cute little horns.” She named him Aldrich after King Aldrich, the man who stood against the darkness. Azrith said he may have encountered the king a few times. Eleanor got excited, then dropped to her knees with “ethereal tears of joy,” climbed up Azrith’s body, and looked into his eyes asking if Aldrich was safe, well, happy. Azrith said he was safe as an adventurer can get and that he travels with friends. Eleanor smiled with relief and said “follow me, I’ll show you the way out.” Source: Transcript.

Before leaving, Eleanor told Azrith to make sure Aldric knows: he was never an accident. There’s no such thing as chance in this world or any other. She named him for King Aldrich, “the man who stood against the darkness,” and called him Aldrick of Havenport because it was “the first place I ever found where it didn’t matter where you came from — you could find a sense of belonging.” She wanted him to have a name that reminded him who he would become in a place where he could belong. She said: “I always meant to bring him home.” Azrith gave his word. Source: Transcript.

Eleanor then showed Azrith how to return: she led him to a ledge over an ethereal abyss and said the last time she came through the curtain it was down there. She described the entity beyond the black veil: “a putrid and foul entity… an evil force, a spirit that commands the undead. It draws it unto itself.” She said this is why the curtains are acting strangely and why spirits dying in Havenport are trapped. Azrith asked what the spirit is called. Eleanor made a persuasion check (7) and said: “I dare not speak its name for it will invoke its wrath… I have taken great care to avoid its ire and attention these last few years since I escaped its control.” She asked if Azrith would dare confront this spirit guardian and end its putrid curse. Azrith said if it’s undead and he can kill it, he will. Source: Transcript.

Azrith jumped from the ledge. A black mist formed in the ceiling of the Westermere Manor undercroft, and Azrith crashed down with a thud, taking 3 bludgeoning damage. The party rejoined him. Azrith told Aldric that a ghost who says she was his mother named Eleanor told him he was never a mistake and she cares for him deeply. Aldric said he can’t say he ever really knew his mother, and of all the ghost stories, this is the one he finds hardest to believe. Source: Transcript.

The party returned to Westermere Manor’s undercroft and found Samantha Westermere. Cassian asked how she died. Her demeanor shifted from warmth to tragedy. She revealed: House Wulfhelm killed her family. Beowyn Wulfhelm was dear friends with her father — they traded, supplied each other, and allied during the great war. Beowyn was proud to know her father, and her father was proud to know Beowyn. She played with Eodwin’s current wife as a child. But Beowyn and her brother learned something dire about House Wulfhelm — a secret they hoped to keep quiet. It was too late. House Wulfhelm knew her family knew their secret, and they staged a trap. Her family and herself lie beyond the black veil. She doesn’t know all the details — it happened so quickly — but the truth is beyond the veil. “They know not what they doomed our people to.” Source: Transcript.

Odine Dunmere studied the black veil with her pendant, testing it with her mind. Her insight check (14, moderate success) told her: the veil reacts to living creatures — it’s not just a wall, there’s a sense of refusal. Whatever is on the other side is the origin of the wall and is protecting that space from outsiders. Radiant energy staves off its negative effects; perhaps enough radiant energy, or exchanging something vital with the necrotic force, might allow passage. But it’s incredibly old, complex, and not magic she understands. Source: Transcript.

Aldric learned his mother named him, that he was never a mistake, and that she always meant to bring him home. He has had difficulty believing the ghost stories Azrith tells. Source: Transcript.

The session ended with the GM calling Azrith’s meeting with his mother “a good place for us to wrap up for the evening and we can continue that dialogue next time.” Source: Transcript.

Open Threads#

  • Eleanor Gray: Aldric’s mother, a ghost in the ethereal plane beyond the Curtain. She named him after King Aldrich, called him Aldrick of Havenport, and told him he was never an accident. She was enthralled by the spirit behind the black veil and recently escaped. She won’t speak its name.
  • The spirit behind the black veil: A putrid, foul entity that commands the undead and enthralls spirits. It is why the Curtains are acting strangely and why Havenport’s dead aren’t staying dead. Eleanor recently escaped its control. Azrith declared he will kill it.
  • House Wulfhelm’s secret: The Westermere family discovered something dire about House Wulfhelm. Wulfhelm staged a coup and killed them all 15 years ago. Beowyn Wulfhelm and Eodwin Wulfhelm were involved — they were friends with Samantha’s father. The truth lies beyond the black veil.
  • The black veil: Its nature is still unclear. Radiant energy repels it. Passing through may require enough radiant energy or an exchange of something vital with the necrotic force. It is old, complex, and not understood magic. The entity behind it commands the undead.
  • Aldric’s mother: He can’t say he ever really knew her, and of Azrith’s ghost stories this is the one he finds hardest to believe. His reaction was not fully explored before the session ended.
  • Aldric’s name and hometown: He introduced himself as Aldrick Havenport to Mauve. The name is his real surname and also this town’s name. His past here and why he left remain uneasy topics.
  • Havenport’s ghosts: Sightings near the old shipyard are increasing, coming into the city more in recent years. Connected to the manor.
  • Mauve Marigold: Met and staying with the party at the Salt House. She has known Blackwood since before his dukedom. She believes Westermere brought something into the manor they couldn’t control.

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