The Swirling Mists of Azura
Thousands of years ago, a group of sorcerers attempted to summon Azurohr, the oldest, most powerful air elemental in existence, in order to capture and enslave it to do their bidding. Unfortunately, their plan backfired and the arcane and elemental forces they unleashed caused the entire continent to break apart and rise high into the air, forming a large series of floating islands. Because of this break up, each island tends to have a very unique environment and very different natural resources. This has led to a robust trade-based economy, with sky-captains piloting air-ships making a great living. An unfortunate side effect, however, is an equally prominent rise in sky-piracy.
I.
Red Beard had no idea that the four men sitting on the terrace of his bar, The Hooded Hawk, would eventually form one of the most powerful pirate clans the world had ever seen and drastically alter the landscape of Azura for generations to come.
Mal Fortwhite was an orphaned winged ape wizard-monk from Castle Fortwhite who was raised and trained by those practicing there residing there. After assuming his family had died in the airship crash that brought him to the island, he later discovered after leaving Fortwhite that it was in fact Dread Pirate Roberts who brought down the ship and his parents' demise.
Fizkizzle Plonkerdonk, though, was a name Red Beard was familiar with. Born of the Hightower Plonkerdonks, an old and powerful family of gnomes and a dynasty of industrialists and artificer barons known throughout Azura, Fizkizzle was, like his father and aunt before him, an artificer prodigy. Though seemingly wealthy, Fizkiz instead turned his back on his family's riches to stake out on his own and, along with his love Thedris Thistlebristle, he created the Earthbinder Engine, a powerful machine that combined science and magic in hopes of returning the floating lands of Azura back to its original resting place in the sea. His family urged him to reconsider, fearful it would strip them of their art and wealth since the magic that kept the islands afloat also made their inventions work so well. After Hightower officials and Thedris betrayed him, using the engine to drop a rival power nation from the skies, he swore revenge. FizKiz uses his technomancer skills to build powerful wands and inventions for any occasion.
Sebastion Ladenos Escobar von Domista III. Little was known about this sly, stealthy elf other than he originates from a similarly long-named lineage. It was believed, though, that he disgraced his family name when he slew his own brother in a duel and was forced into exile. He quickly made a name for himself as a swashbuckling rogue and notorious pirate. He is known for his over-the-top, dynamic fighting style and stunts.
Corbin Gearheart, a clockwork creature made of metal and powered by magic with a taste for minotaur slaying, was the bouncer of the Hooded Hawk. The hulking automaton joined their party.
After a bar brawl brought them together, they quickly realized they formed a formidable group and, all down on their luck, decided that sticking together could prove lucrative. Their first mission proved as much: Lord Palmer, one of Hightower’s highest ranking officials, revealed that someone had stolen and was attempting to ransom off the island's water supply. He charged the group with getting it back. After leaving Palmer’s keep (with some weapons and, curiously, one of Palmer’s chairs in tow) and speaking with Red Beard who agreed to try and get them on board the crew of The Black Lady, the ship of Selkas Blackdagger, they ran afoul of some street toughs, who it turned out weren’t actually that tough. When the new allies tried to sell the golden ring they stole from the thugs, a shady orc merchant decided to screw them over and keep the ring for himself. A fight ensued which did not go well, as Fizkizzle took an axe to the face, starting a long tradition of him “being murdered in the face”.
Upon inspection, FizKiz found his father’s artificer mark on Corbin’s frame. Corbin revealed that he had been built by FizKizzle’s father and sent to protect him.
A panicked merchant told the four that a group from the Cult of Orcus had kidnapped his daughters and were preparing to sacrifice them in a ritual. Leaping to action, the crew disposed of the cult and saved the girls. It turns out, however, that one of those killed was Thulkas Blackdagger, brother of Selkas and an ally of Dread Pirate Roberts. Another among the dead was also Lord Hornwood, a prominent member of the King’s Court.
Looking to lay low after such a high-profile killing, the group took refuge inside a local tavern. Sebastion quickly won a bet for several thousand gold pieces, though the dwarf admitted that while he didn’t have the money to cover his loss, the safe on his ship might. Soon after, Hightower police officials came storming into the bar. Though they apparently were after Vimak Bearkiller, Selkas Blackdagger’s first mate, the group didn’t sit idly by and another brawl erupted. After tossing an innocent, beer-swilling patron out of a window to escape, which also allowed Vimak to escape, the dwarf lead the crew to his ship. With only a few hands on board and all of them asleep, the ship’s tenants were disposed of and the first of many vessels, christened Swiftwrath, was now theirs. Before sailing about in the open sky freely though, documents and a fresh paint job were required. With new tabards cut, the Swirling Mist Airship Club was founded.
The nearest island to Hightower, Harvest Moon, would be the first of their journeys. But this first journey wouldn’t be a fitting one without a first aerial battle to go along with it. A pair of elves riding on the back of giant eagles soon descended on the craft. They obviously didn’t know who they were fucking with. One of the eagles and its rider were killed while the other was captured. Swearing a blood oath to the Swirling Mist Airship Club, Norrin Moonwhisper and his eagle Fleetwing became the first of many recruits.
II.
After arriving on Harvest Moon and having the necessary paperwork and sails done for the Swiftwrath, a quick trip to purchase some supplies led to another confrontation with a group of cultists. The Church of the Redeemers had been terrorizing the good folk of Harvest Moon and the Swirling Mist Airship Club decided to put a stop to it. After battling the cult leader and a number of demons and a giant bull he had at his disposal, a great treasure was retrieved: an infinite bag of holding. While largely empty, the bag did contain one thing: a minotaur, which promptly butted Fizkizzle in the face after the bag was opened. The minotaur slayed, Corbin wore the corpse’s hide and pranced around screaming, “I’m a minotaur!” It was quite humorous. Before leaving Harvest Moon, a young orphan boy deemed Rucksack joined the crew, a decision he would constantly second guess as the months wore on.
Finally it was off to Skull Bay to try to gather intelligence on the water theft. While there, Dorgon Bloodfang tipped everyone off that Robert’s right-hand man necromancer, snake man Captain Hujin Shen, was involved with the water theft and that it was being held on Swordspear. Looking to potentially get in Roberts’ good graces as well as get a bead on Shen, Corbin was entered into the local Arm Wrestling Tournament. Quickly disposing of his opponents, Corbin was met in the finals by the tournament favorite: Gannat Splithoof, a powerful minotaur. Prior to the match, a detect magic spell revealed that Splithoof had a strength enhancing ring around one of his teeth. Playing dentist, Corbin promptly punched it out. This set the stage for quite a showdown. Looking to gain a further edge, though, Fizkizzle enhanced Corbin’s strength right before the match without detection. Fortunately it helped put Corbin over the top and win the group some solid coin and a meeting with Roberts. Splithoof, infuriated, stormed off. His anger would be felt again.
Roberts threw a party in Corbin’s honor for winning the Arm-Wrestling Tournament. There, the crew met two pirate captains of some repute: Dakota Simms and Talon Greyfeather. Dakota was a beautiful woman who captained the Bitch. Talon was a bird-like being who captained the Midnight Eagle. They would become powerful allies.
After a brief chat, Roberts gave the crew their first mission: deliver a coin to Allal Assan, a member of the thieves’ guild Acquisitions Alliance, located on Hightower. This would be the second mission given to the group while on Skull Bay that required a meet-up with Assan, as a shady fellow named Badger also asked the crew to meet him to see about helping run Pixie Dust from Feyfell.
The crew was tasked by Allal Assan to make a delivery to Quentin Stormbrow, a shipbuilder on the island of port. Stormbrow was of the same winged ape species as Mal Fortwhite, and was eventually revealed to be Mal’s lost brother. He would become a powerful ally, making modifications and improvements to SMAC ships.
Before the returning Hightower regarding the pixie dust operation, however, it would be on to Swordspear to try to recover the water.
The Swiftwrath waited until the cover of night to make their incursion on to Swordspear. All but Mal Fortwhite entered into the bag while the winged ape soared below and came to rest on the turret of a prominent castle. After disposing of a pair of guards, the group snuck into the dining hall and came face-to-face with its proprietor: Dag Hammerskull, the dwarf pirate lord and ruler of Swordspear. He revealed that Roberts strong-armed him into keeping the water stored on his island, something he was none too pleased about. Knowing that SMAC would relieve him off this burden, he let the group leave to find the water. Unfortunately he didn’t know its exact location but pointed the team to the direction of a large underground cave system that could be large enough to hold it. A good old divining rod helped navigate the way once they arrived at the caverns.
Their elation at drawing close to a big payday quickly evaporated. Hearing a large beast blocking their path, they sent their strongest member, Corbin Gearheart, down first. This would prove to be a deadly mistake as the creature that attacked Corbin was a rust monster. And with Corbin being made entirely of metal, he was instantly turned into a pile of rusty ash. The remaining SMAC members vowed to avenge his death, and avenge they did. After killing the rust monster, the group faced Shen and his small army of newly animated terra cotta warriors at the edge of the water supply, stored within a vast cavern. Turns out Shen was planning to eventually ransom back Hightower’s water supply... which would be cursed and turn anyone who drinks it into one of Roberts’ undead minions. After a back and forth battle, Shen was killed and the water was recovered. The merman taking a dip was left to find a way out for himself.
III.
Then many other things happened. The water was returned, Sebastion jumped out of a window, new ships and crews were added to the SMAC banner and a series of other crazy and awesome hijinx occurred.
Badger and Allal Assan led the crew to working with Dakota Simms on a pixie dust operation, smuggling illegal drugs made from the crushed bodies of fey creatures.
The crew assisted dark elf Dirge Bloodspider and his criminal organization in his battle against the Burned Men on the island of New Baldun. However, he was insulted when SMAC rejected his offer of partnership, and joined forces with Roberts.
After an airship battle, the Swiftwrath was damaged and began to sink through the clouds. They fell to the ocean below, where they found a city-sized portal to the Elemental Plane of Air creating a vortex in the middle of the ocean. They were sucked in, floated around the plane of air for a bit and then fought a genie. Upon defeat, the genie gave them three wishes. They used one to repair their ship, one to resurrect Corbin, and one to get a powerful efreeti bottle.
Most importantly, however, was the rise in power of Splithoof and his army. Over the months since he was last seen on Skull Bay, his ranks of savage races swelled and he began making life for Hightower’s governing bloody hell. As such, an agreement was made between Lord Palmer and the SMAC crew. Palmer would generally look the other way at their illegal activities so long as they swore that, should Splithoof directly attack Hightower or any of its principalities, they would join with him and help bring Splithoof down. With papers signed, the SMAC crew made arrangements with their numerous friends and allies (Glock Sprocket and the DFA, Dakota Simms, Duncan Blacktide, Talon Greyfeather and even Crash Glinklock, among others) and established perimeters and recon routes to track any enemy movement.
They wouldn’t have to wait long. After Bloody Jones McGee, captain of the SMAC ship Skysplosion, was killed and his airship destroyed when Splithoof began the eventually successful sacking of Border Bay, the table was set. With the incursion of Splithoof's army on the forces of Hightower located on the island, SMAC and its allies were called to arms by Lord Palmer. The two armies sailed out to meet in the skies around Border Bay. Ships, ornothopters, steampunk jet packs and winged creatures of both friend and foe littered the air. Predictably, the ensuing battle was nothing less than epic. Magical creatures were unleashed by both sides as spells, arrows, boulders and spears sored through the sky, exploding dirigibles and sending thousands careening to the waters miles below. Eventually the crew of the Swiftwrath was able to board Splithoof’s ship and was met head on by the minotaur. After a series of clashes, Splithoof’s ship was going down and the party retreated back to the Swiftwrath. Splithoof himself drank a potion of giant growth and soon, towering over his foes in giant form, leaped from his ship to theirs. Summoning nearly all the power of his Ring of Ram, Fizkizzle Plonkerdonk propelled the massive beast off course and into, appropriately, the swirling mist below. Splithoof’s now scattered army was quickly disposed of and Azura soon found its biggest threat vanquished... or so it was thought.
Though he had seemingly become more paranoid and isolated as his former allegiances broke away, Dread Pirate Roberts saw the perfect time to strike since nearly all of Hightower’s defenses were engaged in the battle raging at Border Bay. And so strike he did, taking over Hightower easily and swiftly. With no home port and a sizable portion of their forces killed and destroyed or badly damaged, Hightower’s former army was in disarray. A new reign of terror was set to begin.
IV.
It has been one year. One year since the Battle of Border Bay. One year since the Sack of Hightower. One year since the death of Gannat Splithoof and the splintering of his army. One year into the reign of the Dread Pirate Roberts as Lord Supreme of Azura. Much has changed.
After sacking Hightower, Roberts gained control of the most powerful weapon in all Azura, the Earthbinder Engine. In order to strike fear into the hearts of those who might defy him, he unleashed its full destructive power... twice. First, he dropped the island of Rakkun out of the sky as punishment for the savage races who allied with Splithoof. Then he used the engine on the Golden Temple of Eternal Light. This small island that housed the monastary for the monks of the Order of the Eternal Light stood in direct defiance of everything that Roberts believes in: death, destruction, and darkness. It’s thought that one or two monks may have escaped with some of their order’s more powerful artifacts and scrolls but no one has been able to confirm this.
Unfortunately, that’s not all Roberts has been up to. It is now common knowledge that Roberts former trusted lieutenant, Captain Hujin Shen is somehow back from the dead. It is believed that Roberts resurrect Shen, who is himself a powerful necromancer, using an ancient blood magic ritual, sacrificing Lord Skye in the process. No one knows exactly why Shen was brought back to life, but it’s thought that perhaps Roberts had need of some ancient powerful magics that only Shen knew. Roberts has also named Shen the new Governor of Swordspear.
Dag Hammerskull is dead. After his coup, Roberts decided to clean house of anyone he thought was being disloyal to him, and the Dwarf Pirate Lord Dag Hammerskull, Governor of Swordspear was at the top of that list. Dag’s fleet was burned at anchor with the most of the crews tied to the decks. Those who swore their loyalty to Roberts were transformed into the undead, so they could properly serve in his crew. Another casualty was Selkas Blackdagger, Captain of The Black Lady. Selkas was the only one Roberts direct subordinates who aided SMAC and participated in the Battle of Border Bay, and so Roberts decided to make an example out of him. The entire crew of The Black Lady was executed except for Vimak Bearkiller who managed to fight his way out and escape. After they were killed, both Dag and Selkas were raised as mindless zombies under Roberts’ thrall, serving as his cup bearers and personal slaves.
It seems as though Roberts now has an iron grip on every island from Skull Bay to Stormreach. Quentin Stormbow has had to abandon his base of operations of Port due to its proximity to Hightower. Shortly after he fled, Roberts' forces burned his shipyard and the few ships he was not able to take with him, however as neither Stormbow nor any other members of the Swirling Mists Airship Club could be found, and Port hold no real strategic value, he left the island mostly alone.
Stormbow fled to Mos Defly to join up with his uncle Duncan Blacktide and Dakota Simms. The three of them have since formed a sort of ruling council over the loose confederation of pirates there who refuse to submit to Roberts. On Cut Throat Island, after the previous Governor made it known that he would support Roberts, there was an independent minded coup, that installed Captain Talon Greyfeather as Governor. These islands stand against Roberts and now proudly fly the color of the Swirling Mists Airship Club.
Most recently, while trying to meet up with the Swiftwrath crew on Cut Throat Island, Vimak Bearkiller was arrested. He his being held on Ruckus and is awaiting execution. The team knows that he is in possession of information that he would only tell them face to face, and now the clock is ticking...
V.
Mal Fortwhite, Fizkizzle Plonkerdonk, Sebastian von Domista and Corbin Gearheart made stealthy penetration of Roberts' jail on Ruckus. After defeating the guards, they liberated Vimak Bearkiller and his ally, Sha-Mo Chameau. They joined the crew of the Swiftwrath as official members of the Swirling Mists Airship Club.
Sha-Mo Chameau hailed from the surface world continent of Nimbola. He worships the god Osmeter the Shepherd, son of Atumra, god of beasts, travelers and nature. His family were the druidic healer-physicians of his nomadic tribe. However, his tribe and family were destroyed by warring factions in the region, forcing him to become a “physician of fortune,” a mercenary medic. Eventually, he fell in with Vimak Bearkiller’s pirate operations and made his way to the floating islands of Azura. He possesses powerful magical spells that allow him to commune with nature, transform into wild animals, and heal others. His animal familiar is a dire lion named Patrick.
From Vimak, the team learned Roberts’ goal was to summon the air elemental Azurohr and bind him to the Earthbinder Engine to create a weapon of mass destruction. To do so, he would require three items: The Censer of Azorohr, The Staff of Eternity, and The Earthbinder Engine.
The Staff on Eternity was rumored to be located on Dark Timber, an uncharted island. They decided to launch their exploration of Dark Timber from Wylde Island, Sebastian’s home island. Upon arrival at the elf village of Nightsong on Wylde Island, Sebastian presented himself to the council of elders; 17 years ago when he lived in that village with his blacksmith family, he fought his brother in a duel at a tournament. It was a simple fight (first blood) but someone had poisoned Sebastian’s blade and he accidentally killed his brother. He was forced to flee and become a pirate. For this reason, his return to the Wylde Island was also to face judgement from the elder council, on which his father now sat.
After a trial, it was proclaimed that Sebastian would be put to death at sunrise. However, Mal noticed that Allal Assan was in the village a skulking about. After a few confrontations with Allal (and eventually a payoff), he revealed that he knew that the brother's coffin was empty, proving that there had been no murder. The crew woke the council who went out and exumed the coffin to find that it was in fact empty, and had always been empty. Then, Allal Assan removed his robes and mask and revealed himself to be none other than Antonio Domingo Escobar von Domista, Sebastion's younger brother. He had spent a very long time trying to figure out who tried to kill him and what their plan. Though his mission was incomplete, he joined the crew of the Swiftwrath to act as a guide to Dark Timber.
The crew was able to dock the Swiftwrath in a decrepit, abandoned village. The village was worn down and creepy sounds were ample. Using his ability to commune with nature, Chameau was able to get an understanding of the island’s geography, and locate the temple. The team headed into the woods where they were attacked by hallucinations and living skeletons operated by parasitic worms known as Mohrgs. Eventually, they made their way to a great Temple with a magical apple tree outside of it.
Upon entering the temple, the group was knocked unconscious, only to awaken in separate rooms with separate puzzles to solve. In the process of escaping his location, Sha-Mo Chameau’s hand was chopped off by a sinister trap. Eventually, the team met up, magically seized control of the undead minions lurking about, and made their way to the heart of the temple.
The party descended the stairs into what was once an elaborate sanctuary, but was now moth-eaten ruins. Residing in the chamber was the wizard who created the Staff of Eternity, now a powerful and ancient Lich. He and his vampire minions were performing a ritual. After some banter, battle ensued! The party sent their zombie thralls to deal with the vampire spawn, while they took on the lich and his three more powerful vampires. Chameau, furious at the loss of his hand, dealt some serious damage with flame strike spells. Fizkiz used a fireball wand. Eventually after being stabbed, electrocuted, and repeatedly set on fire, the Lich was defeated.
However, in a last, desperate action, he lunged for the Staff of Eternity, which held the power to heal him and destroy his enemies. Sebastian saved the day with a well-placed rapid shot of arrows, severing the hand from the Lich’s body and pinning it to the wall. During the looting that followed, Chameau took the hand from the wall and held it to his own stump, where it promptly attached itself. This new hand had the ability to deal a devastating Paralyzing Touch attack but was also evil, and corrupted his soul from chaotic good to chaotic neutral.
Also, Corbin and Allal Assan where found bound and gagged but unharmed, and the pirates recoveredmany awesome new items like the Nine Lives Stealer (a powerful longsword) and the Oathbow. Finally, where they left the temple, they found that with the Lich dead and the Staff of Eternity in their possession, Dark Timber was no longer haunted. At Chameau’s suggestion, the island will became the Swirling Mist Airship Club’s new headquarters and base of operations. Mal used the staff to created a permanent veil of obscuring mist around the island, that will clear only for those who know the password, “Zip it up and Zip it Out.”
