As reported by The Avalon Press
For the first time in, easily over a decade, the Host of Avalon traveled to Nasharapura, the ancestral home of the Kaletani. During the April Gathering, a Kaletani named Aditti Aiakasha traveled to Avalon to request help. As Aditti explained, a massive explosion shook Nasharapura. Following the explosion, a massive wave of demons began attacking. Thankfully, Captain Roj’car ThunderWave and his ship the Inky Squid, which has special abilities to travel great distances quickly, was at Nasharapura and was able to help evacuate several Kaletani. When the Heroes arrived on Friday of the gathering, the Inky Squid was attacked as they approached the dock. Reports tell of two undead kraken attacking the ship while in transit. Upon landing, the Heroes had to fight their way through demons. These demons were quite unusual: instead of the normal imps, demonlings, and other demons, these instead were based on animals. There were monkey demons, which seemed the weakest but traveled in groups and had cunning. There were oxen and boar demons, which were incredibly hearty. The peacock demons were deadly as they were arcane grifters and able to easily hypnotize individuals. Finally, the tiger demons were the most dangerous, but had innate weaknesses to ice. There were also reports of an Elephant Balrog which had destroyed the town’s defenses shortly before the Heroes arrived. Upon further investigation, it became apparent that these demons were once normal animals. Through dark rites, their connection to the Mother was removed. This was described as similar to the practice of Hollowing, which powerful Dark rituals remove the innate Good or Nature from Solars and Nymphs. When the animals had their connection to the Mother removed, it was then replaced with demonic energy. Interrogating the demons, they explained that in Hell they were their normal demonic form, but when summoned to Nasharapura, they were surprised to find their forms different.
Much of Friday and Saturday was simply spent fighting these demons and trying to uncover what had happened. It was determined that this was all happening because of a Calico Kaletani, Tamia Safreen. Tamia, a Dark Cleric, wished to uproot the caste system on Nasharapura. This spiritual caste system dictates how close a Kaletani is to Enlightenment, usually determined by the Kaletani’s fur color, markings, and other factors. Tamia wished to install themselves as the ruler of Nasharapura. Tamia had discovered a djinn’s gourd in ancient Elven ruins on the island. As she had the djinn’s container, she was able to wish for powerful rites and sorcery. This is what allowed her to transform the animals into demons. During Sunday afternoon, as the Heroes fought an advance group of these demons with several Dark Clerics and the Elephant Balrog present, Tamia invoked a talisman of Evil. This talisman, a disk, blackened the sun, turning day into night. This allowed Shadow Demons to freely torment the Heroes. After the sun was blotted, the Elephant Balrog kidnapped the Avalonian Kaletani Winston. While plans were being drawn up to rescue him, the Followers of Light felt a new cleric being blessed. Then Winston was returned to the Host by a Solar.
According to reports, Tamia, Winston’s former teacher, had tried to sway Winston to evil. Not only did Winston refuse, he also tried to convince her to give up her Evil ways. During Sunday evening, things proceeded quickly. The Heroes recovered the djinn’s gourd and fought against main force of demons. After a long and grueling fight, for the peacock demons caused much confusion, the Heroes were successful and defeated Tamia. In other news, demons were not the only threat the Heroes faced. The Void, sensing an opportunity, was also active on Nasharapura. The island was covered by storm clouds, casting the island in a supernatural chill. All throughout the island were small lakes with void crystals in the middle of them. These crystals were able to cast the ice school spell Arctic Winds at will and, when destroyed, burst forth with a massive cloud of paranoia poison gas that mushroomed outward. It was discovered that the Void was taking root in Nasharapura by a corrupted Nymph. On Monday, the Druids successfully defeated this corrupted Nymph and removed the Void influence from the island. Shaun Vicks was also spotted on Nasharapura on Saturday afternoon. However, according to reports, he was there to partake in the weekly bazaar held in town to buy more cigarettes. It proved difficult to remove Shaun Vicks, as since he has control over the Fae Power known as the Handmaiden, he could Fae Gate anyone at will, effectively transporting anyone who attacked him a mile away. However, thanks to a ritual performed by the Followers of Light, Shaun Vicks was finally forced to leave. Moving on, in addition to Winston, there was another individual blessed by the High Lord. Seneschal Tash was blessed as a Paladin on Saturday morning of the gathering. The Host also had another surprise appearance by Maryweather, the archeologist. She guided several groups of Avalonians through ancient ruins deep within Nasharapura. These ruins contained demons, Void, various traps and curses, and much treasure.
On Saturday evening of the gathering, a group of Heroes returned successfully from a mission in Værinheimr. They travelled there in between the March and May gatherings to help avert disaster in the region. While there, they defeated a new Demon Knight of Zebulon, fighting against a massive army of undead while aided by several creatures of higher power. This included the War King, the Storm King, and the Bear King, which Værinfolk individuals were searching for their relics in Avalon in 1118. They also were present when a new High King of the region was selected. Reports also indicate that Shaun Vicks was also seen in Værinheimr, although it is unclear why the hierarch was present.
On Monday of the gathering, a ball of light appeared where the Host gathered. This ball of light revealed two Lizardfolk, one of which being King Slade of the Great White Swamp. King Slade explained that the situation in the Swamp had become dire. The Drowned Ones, which had been attacking the Swamp since January were amassing in great force. This is because in January, the Heroes opened a Temple of the Light in the White City, which unleashed a wave of Evil. It was quickly discovered that an ancient evil of the Lord of the Deep (from when he was still a Hierarch) was trapped within the temple. This ancient evil, the Broodmother, caused the downfall of the ancient Saurian civilization when it was unleashed by the ancient Elves ages ago. It is believed that the Drowned Ones, who have been despondent since the Lord of the Deep became the Void, are trying to free this Broodmother. According to Kind Slade, Hags have begun organizing the Drowned Ones to launch a formal assault. Even more worrying, Void creatures have also been spotted in the Swamp and amongst the Drowned Ones. They have begun attacking not just the White City, but the outlying Magadas and villages.
Finally, a strange outlier, Darkwood has been increasing its attacks on the Swamp, but King Slade did not know why. It is important to note that the Broodmother laid eggs, creatures that hatched into what is known as the Antediluvians (also called the anemones by the Host). These creatures are a mix of frog, armadillo, and sea anemones. These creatures have the ability to secrete ammonia poison and the more powerful ones have the ability to turn their “gaze” upon a person and make them forget their skills. The largest of these Antediluvians, upon being killed, emit a death curse that makes everyone within eyesight forget the last six hours of their memories. The Nobility agreed to aid King Slade and the Great White Swamp and will be traveling there for its next gathering. There were also rumors of a treaty between the two nations being formalized during this gathering. Rumors coming from the Swamp suggest that not all Saurians are pleased with this development, but time will tell what will become of a new future between these two nations.