Welcome to Nimmerhold

by Gael

Stepping out of the portal, we emerged into a vast octagonal chamber. Lit by an ambient, unnatural glow coming from shimmering portals standing in each corner. And more importantly, we were in fact not alone.

A young woman, flanked by two heavily armoured guards, was heading for a grand doorway at the far end of the chamber. Her guards tensed at the sounds of our arrival, hands darting to their weapons. Acting swiftly, we signalling for peace and offered introductions.

The woman regarded us carefully. Curiosity flickering in her eyes as she measured us. Just as I studied her in turn. Her silken robes and intricate jewelry marked her as nobility, or at least a woman of wealth. But it were the horns sweeping back from her brow, as well as her glowing eyes that revealed her Fey lineage.

With elegance and grace, she introduced herself as Lady Elanna, sovereign of the city of Raven. A name that visibly caught Hayley and Luke’s attention. And rightly so. For Raven is one of the Arcane Jewels, the fabled city-states considered to be the beating hearts of magic on the Material Plane. And that according to legend, were even visited by the saints of Irminsul back in the day.

Hearing this, I dared to ask the question that we had all been dreading: What was the day?

Her answer struck like a thunderclap. The 29th of Gobu. We’d been gone for a whole two months.

Worry surged through me. What of Galiene? Had she regained consciousness? What about Elsa’s debt? Had lady Morenthene’s assistance aided her? And what of the people of Wolf’s rest? What of Dynia?

Lady Elanna, sensing our concern, gently inquired why no arrangements had been made for guests of honour traveling to a festival. A matter easily addressed, she said, by any Fey of suitable power.

Never one to miss an opening, Hayley offered her most diplomatic smile and asked whether such assistance was within Lady Elanna’s gift.

It was. And in a surprising gesture, she extended the boon freely, forgoing the usual Fey bargain. Her blessing tethered us more fully to the Material Plane, warding us against further temporal surprises. Causing a slight sense of relief to wash over us like warm rain.

With a last graceful nod, Lady Elanna departed. The twin ogres stationed beyond the door stirred at her approach. With but a word, one bowed and escorted her deeper into the castle.

Following her lead, we addressed the remaining ogre and announced ourselves as guests of the High King. He grunted acknowledgment. And once his companion returned, he said, we would be led to the throne room.

Thankfully, the wait was a brief one. His partner soon returned and we were beckoned forward. Just in case, I tried to memorize the route back to the portal. Only for the corridors to seemingly twist around unnaturally. Warping our sense of direction. Later, I would learn that the castle’s layout does, in fact, shift around freely.

About twenty minutes into our walk, the sweet smell drifted through the air. Accompanied by the distant sound of music. Through high windows, we glimpsed a festival in full bloom. Still, our guide offered no explanation. Only grunting that we were expected.

At last, we reached a set of towering double doors carved with images of a triumphant hunt. One figure, likely High King Ulther himself, stood victoriously at its center.

The doors opened without a sound at our approach.

Inside, the throne room defied expectation. It was as though we had stepped into a clearing deep in an ancient forest. Columns stood like towering oaks. A leafy canopy hung overhead, with sunlight filtering in as if through real branches.

But the illusion was quickly broken by amount of activity inside. Servants rushed about with trays, chairs and decorations. And at the heart of it all, commanding the chaos with calm precision, stood the imposing figure of Davozan.

Surprisingly, our meeting with him proved less volatile than our last one. Especially after offering a brief but sincere apology for our earlier conduct and learning that he wasn’t as offended as we had feared. Unsurprisingly, It was in fact the High King who had insisted on a public apology during the upcoming celebration. Which prompted a rather pointed remark from Hayley. One that Davozan quietly cautioned her to keep to herself. Walls after all have ears.

As we had arrived earlier than most had expected, much to Davozan’s benefit it seemed, as he had placed a rather substantial wager on our timely arrival, he offered us rooms within the castle. As well as unrestricted access to both it and the city. With only a polite warning to avoid closed doors. And to preferably take a guide with us when inside. For more than a few had been lost in the castle’s shifting halls.

We thanked him, and a servant escorted us to our quarters. Each door bore our personal crests. A touch both thoughtful and slightly unnerving. Inside, we were met with opulence. A grand bed with cloud-like pillows stood at the centre. On a table, a silver platter displayed an endless variety of fruits and delicacies. The air was perfumed with subtle florals and the temperature was perfect, like a warm spring evening. And finally, a row of closets lined the wall. Each filled with exquisite clothes tailored to our exact measurements.

Now I can spent weeks in the wilderness without complaint and in relative comfort. But even I can admit that hot water, soft beds, and fresh clothes certainly do have their appeal. And as honoured guests, it would have been rude not to accept their hospitality.

After cleaning up and a quick rest, we made outside towards the ongoing festival.

Nimmerhold was not what I’d expected from the heart of a Fey kingdom. Larger, yes. More dazzling. But beneath it all, it felt oddly mundane and tacky. As if someone was remaking Keralon from memory. That impression deepened when we saw several artisans painting the city’s walls silver. A tribute, we were told, to the High King’s admiration of Keralon’s knightly traditions.

To me, it felt inauthentic. Like someone abandoning their own identity in favour of something they didn’t fully understand. Resembling a child that had seen a shiny toy and demanded one just like it.

We didn’t linger on that thought though.

Instead, we wandered to the park, where the festival’s energy was in full bloom. Music soared, laughter echoed, and rich scents pulled us toward food stalls glowing with lantern light.

Then came the scream. “Chimera!”

Chaos erupted. Several chimeras from a nearby menagerie had broken out and were now locked in combat with two massive owlbears. Parents, we realized, that were fierce fully defending their cubs.

Understanding the danger, we jumped into the fray. We hoped that by subduing the chimeras, we would be able to calm the owlbears. But by then they were already too enraged for that. So we found ourselves standing between the beasts and the terrified civilians that were unable to escape.

It was brutal. Several of us took serious wounds. We tried to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, but not all the chimeras could be spared.

Once the fighting ended, we wasted no time returning the surviving creatures back to their cages. As we did, we caught sight of two figures watching us from across the park. A man and a woman, each wearing a stylized animal mask of a wolf and doe respectfully. But before we could react, they had already vanished into the crowd.

With the last of the animals secured, the city guards finally arrived. They praised our swift action and honoured Dadroz, Alistan, and Hayley each with a Fey blessing for their bravery. Luke was also offered one, but, true to form, he declined with somewhat polite thanks.

Just as we were about to return to what remained of the festival, Dadroz turned to us with a grim expression. “The locks,” he said, voice low. “They weren’t forced. They were opened.”

Continue reading...

A day of celebrations and beginnings
30th of Daga, 121 year of the tree

A trial of brambles
30th of Daga, 121 year of the tree

Departure
1st of Lug, 121, Era of the Tree

Dreams and Peril
2-5 Lug, Year 121, Era of the Tree

City of Strife and Secrets
5th of Lugh, 121 Year of the Tree

A complicated situation
6th of Lugh, 121 Year of the Tree

Onwards towards the west
7th & 8th of Lugh, 121 Year of the Tree

Strangers in the mist
8-11th of Lug, 121 Year of the Tree

For now I am the hunted
11th of Lug, Year 121, Era of the Tree

Hunted no more
12th of Lug, Year 121 Era of the Tree

Trial by fire
13th - 14th of Lug, 121 Era of the Tree

Keralon at last
15th of Lug, 121 Era of the Tree

Has it truly been five years?
1st - 2nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

Escorting the envoy
2nd of Nuan, Year 126, Era of the Tree

Heart of fire
3rd - 4th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

A festive day
10th Nuan, Y126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

Shadow of Ravenfield
14th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The Tomb of Hollow Hill
15th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The battle for Ravensfield part 1
16th of Nuan, 126 Year of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

The Journal Entry’s title

The battle for Ravensfield part 2
16th - 17th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Return to Keralon
18th - 21st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

The Embassy ball
22nd - 23th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Searching for Norgar
23th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The fall of Robert Talespinner
23rd of Nuan, Y126 E.O.T.

Intermission: Letter home

An Audience With The King
28th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

A new beginning
29th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Breaking and making deals
1st of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Nightly intrusions
2nd of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

The Journal Entry’s title

Dinner for Seven
9th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Graduation Day
25th of Aran, Y126 EOT

A love for the ages
24th of Aran, Y126 EOT

The festival
26th of Aran, 126 Year of the Tree

Battle of the bards
26th of Aran, 126 Year of the Tree

Fire in the night
2nd of Brigan, Y126 E.O.T.

Lord Quinn I presume
4th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Departure for Latebra Velora
5th - 6th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Wurms and Dragons
6th - 8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Gold in the dark
8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Heart of Acid
8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Meeting Grandmother
11th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

A shadowy evening
12th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

The Journal Entry’s title

Latebra Velora
16th of Brigan, Y126 E.O.T.

A dragon's fate
16th - 17th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

A royal summons
17th - 20th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Planning ahead
21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

A Rabbit and a Mole
21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Hall
Hopefully 22th - 25th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Into the Warg's den
I think 25th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

On feathered wing
No clue

A Rose at Twilight
7th of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Whitewail
still no idea

Welcome to Nimmerhold
29th of Gobu, 128 Era of the Tree

A day in the library
30th of Gobu 126 Era of the Tree

The Tournament
1st of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

The Wolf and the Knight
1st of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

The Fey Dance
1st of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Home at last
2nd of Madan, 126 Year of the Tree

Getting back on track
4th - 10th of Mannan, 126 Year of the Tree

Entering the King' Tomb
11th of Mannan, 126 Year of the Tree

A key challenge
11th of Mannan, 126 Year of the Tree

Welcome to Nimmerhold

Continue reading...

Find your way!

Resources

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL

Get the news

Listen to our Podcast

Our Allies