As reported by the Avalon Press

In what was originally expected to be scary fun, the November gathering quickly became deadly serious. The Heroes of Avalon faced the return of old foes and fought against the Hierarch

Ophidia herself. 

On Friday evening, a ceremony was performed by the nobility of Avalon. This ceremony, according to reports, was meant to formally induct the Barony of New Briton by raising some of the cups of the four baronies. For those unaware these four cups of the baronies were part of Avalon’s founding, though they were considered lost when during the founding celebrations trolls attacked. In April 1118, these four cups were recovered.

Shortly after this ceremony, disaster struck. None other than the Blightwalker, also called Pestilence, attacked the Five Lions Inn. For newer Avalonians, the Blightwalker is a powerful demon of Zebulon and capable of spreading the Weeping Pox. While many believe the Blightwalker first emerged in late 1109, summoned by the Cult of the Cryptic Shade in a ritual to summon powerful demonic beings known as the Four Horsemen, evidence suggests the Blightwalker was first summoned much earlier in 1109. According to a report from September 1109, “Slimes, oozes, swarms of rats and other evil vermin are his eyes, ears, and hands. This demon and its minions spread a terrible disease called The Weeping Pox. Within hours, those stricken with the disease are rendered nearly helpless and bed ridden. After a week, they die and violently explode releasing puss and ichor on everyone around them… Unfortunately, normal healing does not work, and the only known way to cure this disease is through the gifts of the High Lord and the Mother.” While the other Horsemen were able to be bound through a White Ritual, the Blightwalker escaped, calling upon Zebulon’s aid. The Blightwalker was slain in February 1110, after tracking him back to his temple in the Darkwood. From there, the Weeping Pox’s number decreased. Like any other disease, it went through periods of remissions and resurgence, before being fully stopped through the efforts of Mistress Amberelle. The last time Avalon faced the threat of the Weeping Pox was in late 1108/early 1119, with the transformed Dark Servant Anton and his Bloated Ones.

As a result of the Blightwalker’s return, much of the gatherings efforts were healing the infected. On Saturday afternoon, the Host was rallied to four different towns in the Dale, fighting Skaven, infected rat swarms, those infected with the Weeping Pox and those who willingly infected themselves. Those who willingly took in the Pox were unable to be cured, similar to True Bainites. Luckily, there were enough Blessed individuals present to heal all those infected, but it was a close call. Based on reports, it would appear the Blight is concentrated in the Dale, with efforts to cure those infected still ongoing. 

When Saturday evening arrived, many were excited. There were several rumors suggesting that Samhain, the Fae Lord of Nightmares, would run his maze again this year. This maze is meant to be a spooky fun house of horrors, where the goal is both to scare and delight. When a new Fae appeared, Mr. Grimm, he began to hype up Samhain’s arrival, many were shocked to discover Samhain not his normal self–but as a small doll-like creature. 

Mr. Grimm explained that something took over Samhain’s maze, twisting it to their own will. While unknown at the time, it was determined that something was none other than Ophidia, the Hierarch of Lies. Originally, the maze was going to be focused around finding

five treasures to defeat the Blightwalker. Using his powers over Fae, invoking cosmic manipulation, Mr. Grimm contained Ophidia’s nightmare to a small portion of Avalon. If Avalon could still find those five treasures within a time limit, then the maze would disappear along with Ophidia’s influence on it. 

Past the fog wall that contained the maze, it was a brutal experience. Ophidia was present and, according to eyewitness accounts, mostly gloating. Many described the Blightwalker flanked by both High Inquisitor Nathan and Sir Damian as guards: according to reports, both of them were trapped in a nightmare that forced them to fight the Host. In addition, there was a horrid Fae creature that appeared unkillable, several Banshees, Horrors that showed that person their worst fears, and none other than Decius of the Maleficari brandishing, of all things, lettuce. Reports also indicate Ekko, the former member of the Host who is now a vampire, was present as well. Despite several close calls, the Heroes managed to end the Nightmare.