Heroes and Other Fables
For a thousand years since the Reckoning, the people of Arvum have mostly believed that the old legends were symbolic myths full of allegory and metaphor. Demons and elves, dragons and griffons, they were stories to entertain, or flowery ways to describe threats that could be understood- humans more barbaric than most, but humans all the same. Only now, a world that has been sleeping for a long time has begun to waken, and those old legends are coming to life.
A handful begin to realize the truth. The ancient legends weren't forgotten- they were stolen. Stolen by dark forces that have been an implacable foe of mankind since the dawn of time, and one that delighted in wiping away evidence of its existence. Stolen so they might shackle humanity in a comforting dark cell of ignorance, where no truth might ever seep in. Stolen so each word of the story of the world could be dictated by a dark author. But as evidence begins to be discovered, as hints of magic are found and as not all proof can remain hidden, dread beings stir to keep their control over a world they believe they own. A world that they view as having no room for heroes and other fables.
Chapter 6. A Fable of Heroes
Magic is real and is returning to the Compact. The great magic that held Arvum under a veil of skepticism and carefully concealed truths has fractured, allowing long buried secrets to be discovered. A centuries old enemy called The Horned God has been defeated, his plans to trap the world in an eternal story by resurrecting the dead god Destiny has been dashed, and the Compact is bruised but unbowed. And long held chains around the world, magical bonds of fealty and service have been shattered, setting untold numbers free.
But sometimes even the most just actions have the worst unintended consequences and some chains were there for a very, very good reason.
Episodes
Crises
Chapter 5. A Fable of Songs
The war with the Dune Kingdom of Skal'daja is over, and the Arvani celebrate a waxing Compact that now stands powerful on the world stage. With a hard won peace, the commons and peers of Arvum welcome their new respite that sees foreigners stop meddling in their own affairs, but perhaps not all is what it seems. Superstition, long suppressed in the Compact, has begun to stir and with it an age-old enemy is finally beginning to move.
Long suppressed truths, hidden in story and song, are beginning to be heard- and Arvani start to suspect not everything sung is metaphorical.
Episodes
- 1. Prologue: By Time and Fate
- The Sack of Bastion
- Shattered Peace
- The Despite of Fable
- But Strong in Will
- To Strive, To Seek, To Find
Crises
Chapter 4. A Fable of Choices
Eurus, Jadairal and Cardia, three foreign continents attempting to impose their will upon the Compact of Arvum. With the establishment of a new 6th great house in House Pravus, an expansion into the Saffron Chain, and war looming with Eurus, the time has come for the Compact to make choices.
Choices that will forever shape the world.
Episodes
- One Equal Temper
- Humanity is an Ocean
- In the Fullness of Time, part II
- What Goes Around...
- Storms Over Esterhold
- Distant Thunder
- A Reprieve
- Of Heroic Hearts
- Crimson Skies
- Dominus
- Stormwinds
Crises
Chapter 3. A Fable of Answers
Long lost in a dream, the world begins to stir.
Across the continent of Arvum, the defeat of the Gyre has led only to a fragile and tense peace that has led the once skeptical populace to begin asking questions not heard in many generations. Suspicions begin to arise on just what answers lie in the dark places of the world, and many will not be prepared for the answers that might be found.
Episodes
- Tho Much Is Taken, Much Abides
- Falling Trees
- Primum non nocere pt III
- The Lodge of Petrichor
- Of Swords and Sinners
- Lodge of Petrichor, Part 2
- Life's a Beach
- Pirate Problems II
- Lodge of Petrichor, Part 3
- Artshall Scouting
- A Little Sand
- The Battle of Redsboro
- Something Stirring
- One Last Time
- Despair and Divorce
- As Arx Endures
- Foreign Powers
- Paved With Good Intentions
- Conspiracies and Purges
- Foreign Proposals
- Definitely, Maybe
- A Summer Picnic Gone Wrong
- Paved With Good Intentions II
- Clippity Clop
- Lagoma's Flame
- Wonder Why
- Another Beautiful Night
- A Dam Shame
- Grimkin Should Smile More
- Paved With Good Intentions III
- Ex Mari
- Up the Wrong Tree
- Ex Mari II
- Imperial Priorities
- Stormy Weather
- A Few Moments of Wonder
- Niccolo's Farewell
- Pocketful of Glitter
- Unrest and Resolutions
- Karadoc's Goodnight
- Grayford
- War in the Isles
- Oathlands Strife
- High Hill Crossing
- The Protection of the Path
- Lycene Storms
- Unrest in the Isles
- Lycene Storms II
- Imperial Interests
- Shadow and Gold
- Whispers on the Wind
- Volkov Woods
- An Archivist's Nightmare
- Birds of a Feather
- The Battle of Last Oak
- Exit, Stage Left
- Saffron Storms
- Northlands Civility
- Elisha's Apostasy
- Arson, Murder, and Tax Dodging
- Sing A Song of Sixpence
- Saffron Storms II
- The Strange Case of Orathy Culler
- Chainbreaker
- Plaza of Fetters
- Wilds of Arvum
- On Wings
- Likely Story
- Reports of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
- The Power of Hope
- The Power of Hope
- Lowers Gossip
- Down the Granato Grapevine
- Where the Wild Things Are
- A Song of Freedom
- Missing Malespero
- Knee-Bending Pandemonium
- Just a Little Black Raincloud
- Well, That Happened
- Where the Wild Things Are, Part 2
- Nothing to See Here
- Desperate Measures
- Desperate Measures
- Desperate Measures
- What Was All That Racket?
- Skal'dajan Diplomacy
- Black Rose
- The Wind and the Sea
- In the Fullness of Time
Crises
Chapter 2. A Fable of Pacts
Peace is a fable. The more the Compact reaches for it, the more some begin to realize that there have been wars raging for a very, very long time, by dark forces all hoping to achieve their own manner of horrifying victory that would bring a lasting, terrible peace. And so many rest their hopes instead for brief flickering moments of respite, an image of peace that they can grasp and hold onto, but that seems far away as the Fleets of the Gyre set sail.
Three massive fleets, each larger than any great house alone could field, set sail for Darkwater Watch, Crovane lands, and the Lyceum. War again has come to the Compact, if it ever left. And beyond that, a few know that pacts will have to be created, bargains sought, and hard choices made for any survival at all.
Episodes
- Diplomatic Overtures
- Ill Fortune
- Foul Tidings
- Wacky Vandals
- Until Every Chain (in Kennex) is Broken
- Fables of Writers
- Falling Trees
- Calling the Banners
- A Gathering of Banners
- Best Laid Plans
- Happy Couple
- Gyre Straits, Come the Fleet
- A New Hope for Darkwater
- Stories and Happenings Around Arx
- Much Ado About Prodigals
- Fish in a Barrel
- Supply and Demand
- Crimson Confusion
- Never Out of Style
- A Failure to Communicate
- Howling Mad
- Turmoil in Southport, It's Complicated
- Something Wicked
- Maiden Voyage of The Carlotta
- Harvesting names
- A Reprieve
- Elmhurst Saved
- Vandals and Thieves
- Bugging the Sentinel
- Gilded Thieves
- Murder Most Foul
- Silver Dreams
- Sharp Ends
- Green Thumbs
- The Spirit of Faith
- Cultists at the Lodge
- Feline Fortunes
- And She Shall Question No More
- Statue Vandalism
- Zick Cuddle's End
- Primum non nocere
- Serve and Protect
- Primum non nocere pt II
- A Few Brawls
- Pirate Problems
- None Greater Than
- None Greater Than
- There'll Be Sad Songs
Crises
Chapter 1. A Fable of Peace
In the months since the Siege of Arx and the treason by the Inquisition, peace has returned to the Compact of Arvum. The king is awake and well, leading once more, while the great houses have sought to ease the ravages of war that was left on their own land and settle refugees displaced by the fighting. It is a much needed rest , and the king's marriage to the Lady Symonesse gives hope that the worst is behind them.
Episodes
- Peaceful Fables
- Prayers and Dreams
- Fair winds and waves
- Misadventures
- Darkwater Rising
- Breaking up a Cabal
- Gray Forest Shenanigans
- Cyrto Arch Islands
- Gray Forest Shenanigans II
- Darkwater Rising
- Everyone Loves a Wedding
- Missing Archduchesses
- This is Fine
- Bring Forth the Huntsmen
- Meanwhile, in the Archives of Vellichor
- Bring Forth the Huntsmen, 2
- Oathlands Interlude
- Bring Forth the Huntsmen, 3
- Velenosa Abdication
- Meanwhile, in the Isles
- Arrivals in Arx
- Fables of Wonder
- Fire and Troubles
- Platinum Gifts
- Farhaven and Back Again
- Gray Forest Scouting
- Caravels of Lenosia
- A Stitch In Time
- Kennex and Thralls
- State of the Compact, 02 September 1007
- Ill Winds and Bad Tides
- Every Dog Has Its Day
- Heist of the Century
- And Yet More Crime
- No Masks
- Everything Is Going To Be Fi...On Fire
- A Cap of Red
- Those Darn Arsonists
- Ill Winds and Bad Tides, Part 2
- Stormward after the Storm
- Storm's Reflection
- The Spirit of Giving
- In the Gloaming
- Darkwater Revealed
- The Rising Storm
- Going In Blind
- Shenanigans at the Malvici Estate
- Sword of the Faith
- Ill Winds and Bad Tides, Part 3
- Darkwater Revealed, Epilogue
- Harsh Reviews
- You've Got Questions?
- Unbowed