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[clangen-and-dragons]

Moon 2 | Scene 2

Gander walked alone among the reeds, attempting to be lightfooted. He skipped along with great difficulty, getting his foot stuck in unseen coves and having thick stems hit his limbs. He sighed and sat down, running his palm over some of the smaller leafier plants. The sun barely reached them, and they still thrived, bolstering themselves with the energy shared from the taller flowers. He leaned back, resting his head against a rock, thinking.

Why had Emerald gone out with Aerick today? Was it simply to scout? They’d only just met-- Gander didn’t know the intricate workings of Emerald’s mind. At least, not yet. He rolled over.

It’s not like Aerick had done anything particularly spectacular recently. Sure, he had given them food, but Gander was more than capable of supporting all three of them. Did Aerick underestimate Gander’s skills? Does he seem like a fraud, a lunatic?

He delicately picked the petals from a soft white flower. Maybe that was it, huh? Staring right at him? Aerick is young, and energetic, and colorful. Gander had never had that much drive for adventure. That could be what Emerald was seeking. Maybe if Gander stopped being so peculiar, Emerald would spend more time with him.

But speculation would not get him anywhere. With a grunt, he rose from the grass. Resting his hands on his hips, he twisted his torso to crack his back. He may as well keep walkling and enjoy this alone time.

[clangen-and-dragons]

Moon 2 | Scene 1

“Aerick!” Emerald spat with a frown. “You’re getting all muddy. Get out of there before you get hurt.”

The half-elf was up to his waist in slimy water, having gotten his boot stuck in an old fishing net. It was free now, but he remained in the swamp despite Emerald’s suggestions. The nearest place to go was up a tree, and he didn’t feel like climbing today. Besides, he was perfectly content wading. He didn’t mind the vegetation clinging to his calves.

“Aerick,” Emerald grumbled.

“I know, I know, I’ll get dirty and sick, but I don't have to listen to you. I’m a mature adult,” Aerick responded.

“Shut up, shut up, look!” she said suddenly,  grasping a vine and leaning out over the water. “A boat is coming!”

Sure enough, a gray-green boat was lurking in the water. There were several aasimar inside, rowing calmly. They carried a variety of different equipment for travel, and one of them held a baby close to their chest.

“Hi! Hello!” shouted Aerick, waving his arms wildly about. He dragged himself up onto some tree roots, managing to stand amid the muck. His tunic and his pant legs were stained by the dark dirt.

The boat slowed down, and the aasimar exchanged glances, before proceeding to their location in the marsh. Closer up now, the pair could see that there were three of them, plus one child.

Their leader, a tall aasimar with gray speckled skin, stepped to the helm to look out at Aerick. She brushed her short hair out of her face to get a better view. “Hush,” she commanded. “What is your business calling us over?”

An older aasimar put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t be so rude, Memory. These people are no threat to us,” he said. His words were eloquent, but he held onto a stern frown all the while. He turned to the pair and cleared his throat. “We are the Dew Watch. We patrol the waters of the Eastern Inlet. It’s by Crow’s Village.”

“My name is Aerick Greenfeather,” the half-elf said, reaching out to shake the old man’s hand. 

“Yes. I am Rime Wolfaye. You have heard my daughter, Memory, and this is my nephew, Furmin, and his son, Amber.” The old aasimar gestured to each of them. Memory scowled, Furmin winked, and Amber grinned from ear to ear. This child was not an aasimar like the rest of the family; he was a little dragonborn with black-and-white scales.

Aerick found himself staring at the dragonborn toddler, having never met a reptilian humanoid before. He wanted to approach further and inspect, but a glare from Emerald held him back.

Emerald focused her gaze on Memory, who seemed to be their leader. “I am Emerald Lichengrowth. We are currently living in Risingmoor, and ventured out here to do some exploring. We are one short at the moment; there should be a tiefling collecting herbs a few miles away. We wish no harm upon you, and initiate no militant action.”

“Good, good,” Memory answered. Her lips peeled back, revealing her fangs in a wolflike smirk. “You don’t want any trouble. I’ll make sure you aren’t disturbed in the future.”

“Thank you.” Emerald nodded respectfully, watching from her perch as the boat departed. She looked down at Aerick. “We should go warn Gander.”

Aerick nodded and kicked some of the mud from his boots. It was futile, and soon he got back into the water, trudging through the shallows with an unpleasant squelching sound. Emerald walked among the vegetation, hopping to reach roots and climb vines so she wouldn’t get lost below the murky surface.

[clangen-and-dragons]

Moon 1 | Scene 3

The humid air clung to Emerald and Gander as they strolled through the swamps, swatting at the occasional fly and jumping at the occasional croak. It seemed life was blossoming and unfolding before them, reeds rising and falling as if breathing in the heavy heat. Every step the pair took led them further into the darkness, though they found comfort in the unusual nature of the space.

They came to the darkest patch of swamp, where a small hill rose from the water. Emerald climbed to its peak, planting herself in the soggy grass. She laid down her weapon, removed her vest, and breathed heavily, one hand against the mossy ground and one hand clutching her prayer beads.

“Smoke River,” Emerald shouted, her voice shrill. It stung the air like an unwanted insect, but her following phrases were gentle. “Let this last. I know it is soon, I know there may be consequences, but let me see this through. Let me understand and aid them for as long as I can, I know I am capable, I know I am worthy, but you have not answered my prayers, and it frightens me. It’s as though you’re gone altogether, but you aren’t, you are here, you are everywhere, in the flora, in the creatures, in the corpses. Hear me.

“I will be serving you. I have served you, and will until my final day, when you take me in your arms, sweet goddess, and grant me peace. But I am not at the precipice yet. I am climbing. Oh Smoke River, you have taken me this far and taken much indeed, but please let me have this. Let me have this and care for others in the name of your holiness.”

By now, both small hands had moved to the beads, running their fingers over the smooth surface. The head had accumulated there, leaving a geyser of steam pouring from her neck. Even with the pressure, the halfling did not falter, her voice firm.

“I will honor your name and your purpose of peace. I will let others know that the end is nothing to fear, and the beginning is nothing to avoid. So let me begin, here, begin to continue my life, and pursue hardships for the sake of good. Let your smoke be carried throughout the land, in the storm clouds, in the awnings, let people see you and find truth in your message. And I thank you, Smoke River, for letting me come this far.”

Her final words were a soft whisper, so only she and some otherworldly presence could hear her. The steam rising from her necklace became a constant flow of black smoke, rising to circle the branches above. It faded into a white light, glowing with purity and innocence before dispersing, leaving Emerald by herself on the hill. The heat had left her cold, her skin chilled and gray, and her eyes sunken in. Even her hair, already dull from stress and servitude, seemed as though it would lighten and begin to fall out. 

The effects were short-lived. She was reverted to her usual form when she stood, calling for Gander to return. He found her shortly, having wandered off and collected a variety of flowers. The tiefling approached her while she was still perched on the mound and, carefully, he slipped a vibrant green flower behind her ear. Its petals spread out, showing its speckled center as a sign of friendliness. They began to head back to Risingmoor with Emerald quietly recounting her experience.

[clangen-and-dragons]

Moon 1 | Scene 2

Aerick danced through the forest, lightly skipping over gnarled roots, ignoring the beaten path altogether. He hummed quietly, recalling the tune of an old folk song. He paused in the middle of the swamp, his boots resting lightly on top of the mud as he attempted to gather his thoughts. When he found the lyrics, he continued on his path, singing to himself.

“I walked along the old oak road, where Mother Acorn lived. I found her sorry, stricken down with little left to give. And in her darkest dying days, she spread her roots and cast her ways, to the future lying here among the old oak road.”

As he continued his jaunt, he kicked a stone, sending it flying through the woods. It landed with a satisfying splash, sending a spray of dark green water over the enclave of trees. The sudden movement caused a vine to fall, but as it touched the shallow waters, a loop became apparent at the end of it. The vine reared its snakelike head, circling around the stone and yanking it up until it was out of sight in the canopy.

“I’m sure that was nothing,” Aerick said cheerfully, though he didn’t continue his current trajectory. He was careful to avoid the water as he turned and skipped toward his meeting place, expecting to see his new friends enlightened.

[clangen-and-dragons]

Moon 1 | Scene 1

Aerick awoke inches away from the ceiling, swaying slightly in a suspended hammock. He blinked, unable to remember how he got here, but it flooded back to him when he peeked over the edge. Sitting on the floor, with a placemat in between them, were Gander Ghost and Emerald. They each had a cup of tea and were bickering about proper steeping methods.

Aerick rolled out of the hammock and landed effortlessly on his feet. He stretched, offering a loud yawn to the pair to get their attention. “So,” the half-elf said, “what are our plans for today?”

Emerald rolled her eyes. “I am going on a spiritual retreat to re-engage with Smoke River’s blessings. She hasn’t reached out to me as of late.”

“I plan to join her,” Gander answered politely. “For I need to do some herb collecting. I have been trying out some new poultices, but I can’t buy the ingredients since I don’t have the names recorded.”

“I have the best idea!” Aerick proclaimed, grabbing his coat and slipping it on. “While you two head out together, I can check out the area and make sure nothing dangerous comes your way.”

Gander smiled, a little surprised, but pleased nonetheless. “That sounds perfect!”

“You won’t come back, will you?” Emerald grumbled. 

Gander lightly patted her hand, but kept his eyes fixed on the half-elf. “Aerick, feel free to come to us if you need anything. Thank you for your hospitality.”

“Hospitality?” Aerick echoed.

“You paid for our room, remember?” Gander responded.

Aerick blinked to hide his shock. He wasn’t usually generous, unless it was for the sake of a prank. “Oh, yeah! That was nothing!”

A little embarrassed, he left quickly, not bothering to shut the door behind him. It would be another half hour before the other two got ready to explore the swamplands.

[clangen-and-dragons]

Moon 0 | Scene 2

A gnomish man with flowers braided into his beard greeted the trio. Aerick, of course, was the first one in, already shaking hands and making conversation. Everyone was friendly, dressed in pastel garments that welcomed the coming seasons. Even the lanterns were colorfully lit in pinks and yellows.

Aerick soon learned that the city-- a small one at that-- was called Risingmoor. It was fitting enough, since the wooden buildings were staggered on top of a hill that rose above the water level. 

Gander stepped up onto a wooden platform, helping Emerald up behind him. Together they made their way to the market, with Aerick peeking curiously over their shoulders. Despite having just met, Aerick felt pulled to this pair, both for his own amusement and the idea of being part of something. 

While Gander examined woven chains of red flowers, Aerick went scavenging. He found a stall full of questionable looking food, or what looked like food. It was smelly and gray. It was perfect. Aerick picked out two fish that seemed alright, and one that was darker and wide-eyed. 

“Is this cooked?” he asked the shopkeep as he pawned over a couple coins.

“It’s edible,” the vendor muttered, quickly grabbing the payment before Aerick had a chance to rethink his decision.

“Good enough for me!”

Aerick looked around to find Gander and Emerald sitting at a table, a jar of golden fireflies between them. Gander was constantly talking, but Emerald was only listening, nodding slightly through his questions.

“I got dinner!” Aerick announced, pulling out three substantially sized fish from his bag. With his pocket knife, he hurriedly scraped the scales away and slammed the questionable meals down on the table. The blackish fish was strategically placed in front of Gander.

Gander looked up at Aerick. “I can’t eat this. It’s darker than a stormcloud, and hasn’t even been cooked.” He pushed the murder attempt off the table, and it landed with a splat on the damp wooden slats of the balcony.

Emerald glanced between the pair before carefully cutting her fish in half, sliding some of it over to Gander before trying the meat herself. Aerick had already dug in, laughing occasionally as he thought about his genius attempt at a prank on Gander. 

[clangen-and-dragons]

Moon 0 | Scene 1

The air was heavy with the buzzing of mosquitoes and the dense scent of plant growth. A lean half-elf was trekking through the mud, stopping every so often to free his boots from their sinking prison. He had to keep going; he had just passed Brackenforth, an empty fishing village. Its inhabitants had traveled down the river to get to the trading city for the Earlyear Festival. Even through the thick treecover, Aerick could see the flitting of fireflies and hear cheering. 

His focus was redirected to the water when he heard an ominous gurgling sound. He drew his bow, stalking forward as quiet as he could to peek around one of the dark trees. Unable to catch anything, he pulled the branches aside with the end of his bow. On the other side was a tall tiefling, humming softly as he ran his hands along the bark. From his palms came vines, which he strung up in pleasant archways. The tiefling took a few steps back, stumbling in the mud, but satisfied with his work.

Aerick was engrossed by the tiefling’s magic. He was pulled back into reality when he heard a voice. It came from next to the tiefling, and Aerick strained to see who was speaking.

“I’m afraid I’m lost,” a halfling woman said. She seemed concerned, her mouth in a thin, flat line. “I came out to hunt to bring something to the festival. Can you point me in that direction?”

“Of course,” the tiefling answered with a smile. He reached down, his fingertips grazing the water. The pool rippled and a trail of white blossoms emerged, providing a clear path for the woman. “I can walk with you, if that makes you more comfortable.”

The woman’s face contorted at first, before she relaxed into a small smile. “That’s kind of you. What is your name?”

“My companions call me Gander Ghost,” he admitted, his face flushed. “I draw spiritual connections from nature.”

“Gander, hmm? I’m Emerald,” the halfling told him. “I have a spiritual side as well.”

“Hey!” Aerick shouted, deciding to abandon his cover. 

Almost immediately, Gander had risen a wall of vines, entangling the half-elf and pushing him up against the willow tree. Emerald drew a peculiar sword from her scabbard, murmuring incantations under her breath.

“Wait! Wait!” Aerick yelled as the vines swung him around. They finally stopped when he was upside-down, hanging from a sturdy branch. “I wasn’t doing anything. I need a guide, too. What’s with you people?”

Gander frowned, but it was quickly replaced with a friendly grin. He released Aerick and watched him fall into the murky water. 

“My apologies, young elf. Half-elf,” Gander added when he saw his stubble. “But you did enter by sacred grounds screaming. You could, at the very least, introduce yourself first.”

Aerick pulled himself out of the water, his agility clear as he regained his footing. “My name is Aerick Greenfeather. I’m an archer of an extinct line of half-elves. I’m trying to get to the festival. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

“Uh huh,” Emerald said, raising an eyebrow. 

“Please?” Aerick asked.

“Sure. Who am I to deny someone so honest?” Gander replied. 

He led the way, wading through the shallow pool toward the reflection of lights. The water barely went past his boots, but he noticed the halfling was struggling. Gander took her hand to help steady her, despite his own clumsy nature. Aerick smirked at them before skipping ahead, leaping onto rocks and roots in order to reach the town first.

[clangen-and-dragons]

Gander Ghost, previously known as Gideon Shadowfall, was an ambitious student of spiritualism. In his youth, he explored haunted areas and became obsessed with the afterlife. He studied communication with the undead and used these skills to mediate. This almost always went sourly, as he split up multiple alliances and caused his mentors, Laeroth Eraltine and Osaira, to hate each other. This hatred distracted Gander from his focus on natural spiritualism, so he ventured out on his own. He became a traveler, looking for sacred places to practice his self-inspired beliefs. To townsfolk, he became a mediator and a prophet, with impressive healing skills. Gander finally felt valued, after all that time.

[clangen-and-dragons]

Emerald Lichengrowth lived in the swamp with her grandmother, Imara. She learned how to live a peaceful life, which became disrupted after Imara’s debts were revealed. Imara had been dabbling in thievery. Emerald took it upon herself to teach her grandmother the importance of honesty, and in order to prove her point, Emerald tricked her into meeting with one of the debt collectors. She hadn’t known he was a mage, and he captured Imara’s soul. Emerald believed her own lack of loyalty caused this, so she made a pledge to the goddess Smoke River that she would spend her life devoted to helping others through moral work. She used her wits to persuade her foes, and came into a strict mindset of how morality works. Although she helped many along the way, she was never in a group for longer than a year.

[clangen-and-dragons]

Aerick Greenfeather was born to a nomadic family of archers. He was raised alongside Lucin and Ferrick, his brothers. He enjoyed frolicking in the woods with them and thrived in their simple, nature-oriented lifestyle. This came to an end when he and Lucin returned from a hunting trip and found their huts burned down. Aerick collapsed and had no idea how to move on, but Lucin brought him back to his feet. They were just teenagers, but the two half-elves managed to survive in the wilderness. Aerick missed his parents the most. He had dreams of his mother, Eideless, and his father, Llewen, burning, and it became too much for him to handle. Selfishly, he left Lucin, hoping to find a new life for himself away from his trauma. On his path he met Emerald and Gander. This was his chance, and he took it.

[clangen-and-dragons]

Resources

Hi! I'm Rose (she/they) My main tumblr account is @numbattery

Here I'll be running ClanGen games that are reflavored to include Dungeons and Dragons!

Game Guidelines:

DnD Character Randomizer:

[clangen-and-dragons]

Cadre of Petrichor Disclaimers!

★Any negativity displayed in the story does not reflect my views as a creator ★Triggering topics may come up, such as death, violence, gore, corruption, religious extremism, and historical circumstances

★I will be making a colored illustration of every Party Member every time their appearance has a dramatic change

★I will be writing 100+ word backstories for each Party Member

★I will be writing at least 300 words per moon