This week the Dark Ember Arena is kicking off at our tabletop where the party are thrown into the ring with the favourites of the cities noble houses to win the honour of near certain death in the Ember Vault. The catch, they don’t know who nominated them and if they succeed it is said that they will have what ever they wish for.
So let’s grab a coffee, assess the competition and dash into tonight’s adventure!
The Dark Ember trials have been the only way for adventurers and aspiring heroes to be chosen to enter the Ember Vault. It is rumoured that those who are worthy are selected to enter the caverns beneath the City of Mylos known as the Ember Vault and there at the end of the dark caverns waits a being that will grant any wish that the requestor, if worthy, has.
However, not just anyone can enter into these games and often the lords of Mylos will hand select people from their own houses to take part in the games as a way of ensuring that the ambitions of the houses are put forth as wishes of the potential victor. But not all houses play fair and the party are thrown into the mix by the way of an unknown sponsor whose ambitions and desires bode poorly for Mylos.
Dark Ember Arena
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Their sound of their names being called forth still rang as a shock to the party as they stood in the seats that they had won in a game of chance earlier that day. The Ember Vault games was the talk of the town and this years nominees were rumoured to be the best yet. The Dark Ember Arena hosted the games and the party had wanted to see the famed warriors, mages and clerics that Mylos boasted since arriving in the city.
But as a quiet rumbled across the audience and the speaker called out their names again it became clear that by some twist of fate, or supremely dumb luck, they found themselves as one of the nominated parties who were to take place in the games.
As they moved forward the crowd parted for them and the whispering began. It was not often, it was in fact rare that a party that wasn’t affiliated with one of the great houses of Mylos was nominated to take place in the games to be chosen to enter the Ember Vault. It was less common that the sponsor was unnamed but sealed by none other than the mad-king, someone who had not had a coherent thought in decades.
As the party stood before the announcer, a short man, he examined them before conferring with one of his peers. “It seems it has happened again. Chosen by the Ember Games to compete at the Dark Ember Arena for the sake of themselves, not a lord.” he spoke out loud.
“The rules are simple for those of you who are not familiar with the games,” he said looking at the party,” Three tests will take place over several rounds. Each round the competitors will score points based on their strength, wits or skill. A maximum of twenty points will be awarded per test and the group that has the most points, that is who is closest to sixty, will be anointed the Ember Champions by the geass over the arena who decides merit and awards points. The group that is anointed will be allowed into the labyrinth below.” he said before clearing his throat.
“When there is no clear winner the geass will take over and its decision is final.”
Thanks for joining me tonight for something that was meant to be inspired by the image and a gathering of experts, the subject of my work this week, but it tends to feel more aligned to the recent Olympics. A coincidence I assure you! Regardless don’t forget to come back daily as we continue to expand this adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe
Brazen Wolfe Tabletop 