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A Look into Loomside
🕑 Added 2024-08-01 14:33:22 +0000 UTCAs tales of the infinitely complex cave system beneath the Loomside Mountains grew, so too did a small settlement atop one of the peaks.
Frequent discoveries in the underground—treasure-filled ruins, valuable mineral veins, mythical creatures—developed that settlement into a series of twonships and trade hubs now sprawling across the mountaintops. Every day, caves contracted by the dozens of guilds and factions above dive ever deeper under the mountains, with competing adventurers sometimes posing as great a danger as anything else they might find below.
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A letter scribbled on the back of a postcard. It was delivered, somehow secretly, to the desk of the retired wizard, Telezir:
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I’ll cut straight to it, Zir—I need help.
I know—I’ve asked this before, but this is bad. Really bad. It’s the Grimgrins. I borrowed more money than I should’ve for a job that didn’t work out.
And I know you think this is a big screw-up. And you know what? It is. Sure. You happy? Whatever. Here’s the deal.
The botched job—I’ll give you extra details another time—led me to a crew. They’re good, Zir—experienced. They have a Masque, a Celestial, an old Loomguard, and a guild-rogue. Well-rounded bunch with lots of dives behind them. They’re in on this plan, but we just need a bit of backup from you. We’re gonna rob the Grimgrins.
I know what you're thinking. Don’t incinerate this note yet. We have a nice, sound plan as long as you show up for it.
When this works, the Grimgrins will get desperate and scrambled enough to forget about me and we’ll make some coin while we’re at it. Hells, they might even disband if this works.
So—Cyl’s the Masque and he loves to speak Goblin. Easy. He’ll look the part while we do a fake-prisoner thing. I’m sure they’ll take me alive. They can’t collect my debt if I’m dead, right?
Rysza’s the other “prisoner.” She’s a mage, and she’s got a Banking Bag to hold her stuff until we get in. We’re thinking they’ll want to use us as pit fighters or something, especially when they see she’s a Celestial. She’s the “golden ticket” here, if you get me.
Then there’s the old Loomguard—Guerratore. Guy’s huge. Gotta be part-Giant or something. But it’s perfect, because Rysza will illusion him as an ogre. It nets us some intimidation and the Goblins will give us a wide berth—at the tradeoff for a time limit. Also, Rysza’s an illusionist like you, Zir—a lady after your own heart, eh?
Solierre’s the guild-rogue, and while Cyl’s talking us in to sell prisoners in plain sight, she’ll be sneaking her way around to secure a way out and meet us at the vault. She’s been in their caves before, and she’s the one that saw the vault is by Slizeen’s throne. She just needs a chance to get up close and personal with the lock. The girl’s good with mundane and magical locks. She got this letter on your desk, didn’t she?
We get in there, and whatever happens happens.
And that’s when you come in, Telezir. We need a diversion once everything goes down, so it’s time for you to dust off the old tomes and come cause a big scene at the gates. It doesn’t need to be a real one, it just needs to look like a real one, if you catch my drift. That’s why I’m writing to you and no one else.
Look, I know we didn’t end on great terms last time, but I need help here. A job where we’ll both make some money and you’ll help out an old friend.
A drink on me if you meet me at the old spot tonight. If you're not in, it'll be your only chance to talk me out of it. We’re doing this in the morning.
—Rumente
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We will be back next Tuesday with our first Loomside content drop, and then keep an eye out every Tuesday this month for another batch of items straight from the caves!
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See below for download links tied to your subscription tier level!
Click here to visit the Wonderfullest Archive, or download any of the files above!
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Looking for a little preview of Loomside? Check out the Hearthflame, sent along with every Treasured Realm in August, and Earthen Blast, featured in every Fabled Foliage. Click the file below to download!
Comments
Andrew
Satoshi Matsuura! You can find more of his work here: https://www.instagram.com/hiziripro/
Lisa Imbryk
Who is the artist this time?
