The Fifth Crusade
For over a century, the demon-haunted wasteland of the Worldwound has bled into the world of mortals. As the magical Wardstones that hold back the tide begin to flicker and fail, a new generation of crusaders must take up the sword. But this war requires more than steel; it requires the power of Myths.
Paladin / Wizard
Monk / Paladin
Inquisitor / Rogue
Paladin / Oracle
Intelligence Report: Fifth Crusade Geographic Survey
The Shield of Mendev. Current location of the Wardstone.
The epicenter of the rift. Entry forbidden to all mortal souls.
Stretching from the Lake of Mists and Veils to the Sarkoris Scar, Mendev stands as the final bulwark against the Abyss.
A vital supply vein now choked by the filth of the Worldwound.
"The geography changes as the rift exhales. Do not trust the old maps. The land itself is a lie."
The Worldwound
Session VIII — The Worldwound Incursion
They cleared the last rooms of the Gray Garrison and fought to the trophy room at the top. Caleth dimensional-slid to the wardstone fragment, prayed to both his gods at once, and pushed the rod of cancellation through. The stone broke clean. A century of stored holy power flooded out through the gap and into the four of them — every wound sealed, every spell restored, the gold of a hundred crusades burning in their blood. The visions that followed showed them everything: the first wardstone raised, Hulrun's burnings, Terendelev driving Khorramzadeh from the Kite, and the demons' true design — a corruption that would have turned the entire crusade into slaves. Then Areelu Vorlesh appeared in projection, tried to drown them in an abyssal rift, and was severed from the material plane screaming when the wardstone's last pulse slammed it shut. The six babaus left behind could not keep up with wounds that healed before they finished opening. Iomedae visited them in their sleep and kissed each brow. Korroc woke to find his shield bore Torag's hammer and anvil. Book One is closed.
Fallen Guardian
Silver Dragon · Protector of Kenabres
“The wardstone visions showed her whole — younger, furious, driving Khorramzadeh from the Kite when his sword shattered on the stone. They had seen her fall. Now they saw what she had been.”
Arcane Vanguard
Paladin / Wizard
Named the wardstone the moment the trophy room opened. Dimensional-slid across the fight to reach the cage while Korroc held the woman in red. Felt the stone push back — near-sentient, refusing to be unmade — and prayed to Shelyn and Iomedae simultaneously until it gave way. His rod broke the wardstone clean instead of corrupt. Turned his own fire spell inside out to bite a babau with ice. Told Irabeth about Hulrun without softening it.
Iron Fist of the Crusade
Monk / Paladin
Vaulted the stairwell railing mid-horn-blast and put the first mirror-breaker down before the warning note finished echoing. Killed both. First up when the stun broke and the babaus came through the rift — wounds opened and sealed before they had time to hurt. When the last babau fell, he was still standing, still moving, still first.
Shadow of Judgment
Inquisitor / Rogue
Dropped the trophy room bar with the silver chime and flanked the corrupted minotaur from behind — three fronts at once finished what the shield had started. The wardstone visions confirmed what a letter had only suggested. He sat with Irabeth the next morning and asked the exact right questions. When the answers were given, he made the only declaration worth making: when they find Staunton Vhane, he is a dead man.
Voice of Torag
Paladin / Oracle
Stepped into the trophy room first and took three devastating strikes in a single breath — the Stonelord in him turned the worst of it aside. Held the scythe-woman while Caleth reached the wardstone. Felt a new thing answer in him: a thread of grace stretched to all three companions, carrying a measure of every wound to himself. When Irabeth fell to Vorlesh's spell, he was at her side the instant the last babau dropped. Woke to find his shield bore Torag's mark. Knelt and gave thanks.
Current Status
Book One closed · The Fifth Crusade has only just begun
The wardstone is broken. The border is changed forever — the demons' great design, a corruption that would have turned an entire crusade into slaves, lies in ruin. Kenabres still burns, but the Vanguard woke to gold in their blood and a name carved into their purpose: Staunton Vhane, north, Drezen. A man who sat at their fathers' table and rode out with them on the last road. The garrison is theirs. The city has its armory back. And two dwarves share a single nod that means the same thing it has always meant, and will not mean anything else until the work is done.
Retrieving field report...
A visual record of the Worldwound and the souls caught in its wake
End of Record
