Preludes

Preludes is the first episode of the Children's Adventure, released on March 1, 2023. It covers the main characters' earliest experiences.

The Wizard
The Preludes begin with Suvi as a young child at the Citadel, crying as she is carried by her mother, Stone. She knows only that something is wrong. Her father, Soft, teleports the family to the town of Silbry, along with two family friends, Steel and Eoighorain.

When they arrive, the town is in flames, which Suvi's parents find surprising. Eoighorain transforms into a monstrous bestial form, frightening Suvi. Eoighorain suspects the events they've encountered are a trap aimed at them. As the group flees to the edge of town, they debate what to do next. They briefly discuss Suvi going with Steel and Eoighorain, but Eoighorain snaps that Suvi would likely die, as it will be dangerous. Stone fiercely reprimands him for his tone before agreeing that Suvi can't go with them.

While Eoighorain and Soft arrange to defend the group and rescue survivors from Silbry, Stone and Steel put Suvi in a carriage with a distinctive painting on the side. Stone notices that Suvi has broken her glasses, and mends them with a simple spell. She explains that Suvi is being sent to the home of Grandmother Ren, who is very kind but is not to be crossed. She reminds Suvi that the laws of magic demand that one be kind to one's host, and be grateful for a service done, and instructs Suvi to do any chores asked of her. She then gives Suvi an amulet, and her cloak.

Soft returns to the carriage and underscores for Suvi the rules about behaviour at Grandmother Ren's cottage. He says they might not see her again until the end of summer, but that Grandmother Ren has magic that can protect Suvi. Suvi, overwhelmed by what she's seen and heard, can only accept what they've said. Stone cautions Suvi not to tell anyone about her amulet, but before she can give a reason, Eoighorain roars that their opponents are coming. Stone closes Suvi in the carriage, and casts a spell that sends it down the road without its driver.

The Witch
At the cottage, Ame is abruptly awoken by Taro crowing directly beside her head, a long-standing rivalry between the two of them. Understandably grumpy, she gets up and goes into the kitchen. There she finds Grandmother Wren making her favorite breakfast, juk. Ame accepts the meal with grace before wolfing it down. When she finishes, the two split up to do their chores. Grandmother Wren mentions that she will use magic to help with hers, and Ame is entranced at the idea.

Ame's chores include washing the dishes, sweeping out the hearth with the cinnamon broom, and tending the houseplants (some of which are carnivorous, and are roped off with yarn). At one point the cinnamon broom falls over, and for a moment it seems that Ame might be able to fly with it. She tries, but Grandmother Wren seems to sense that she's up to mischief, and tells her to leave it alone. When Ame questions how she knew, Grandmother Wren's voice speaks in her mind, which seems to be answer enough.

While tending the animals, Ame hears a carriage coming up the lane. She warns Grandmother Wren, who tells her to make the guests feel welcome, whoever they are. Ame puts the kettle on, then runs to meet the carriage. When it arrives, we see it is the same carriage in which Suvi left Silbry, notable by the painting on its side. Ame recognizes the painting on the side as one she saw when she was making the journey from her old home to the cottage. Ame notes that the carriage has no driver, which she marks as magical. When she opens the carriage door, she meets Suvi for the first time.

The Wild One
In the world of spirits, the Great Bear walks in the forest with his many children. Among them is Eursulon, cavorting with his siblings, carefree and joyful. The Great Bear comes to a halt, preparing to sleep. As he does, Eursulon's badger-like sibling Kalaya discovers a mushroom, and shows it off to Eursulon. Eursulon playfully tackles her and wrestles the snack away.

Anarion, a flame spirit and one of Eursulon's older siblings, notices this mushroom and draws the attention of the other siblings to it. He seems to target Eursulon specifically. A great chase ensues. As Eursulon runs, he hears a voice on the wind: "A road is different from a path. And you may know a road if it has known a bounded wheel, or the iron shoe of horses." He senses this voice came from up a mossy hill, further than he's ever been before. He glances over his shoulder to find Anarion rounding the corner, wearing a sinister smile. Eursulon starts up the hill.

(Brennan asks Lou to roll 2d20, and take the number furthest from 10, so the result will either be very bad or very good. Lou rolls 18.)

At the top of the hill, Eursulon sees a road, and a column of knights traveling along it, something entirely new to him. The gleam of their golden armor entrances the young spirit, and he drops his mushroom. He sees it roll away through a natural arch of ivy, which Eursulon recognizes as a door -- the first one he's ever had the opportunity to go through. The mushroom and the armor is enough; he goes through.

Now in Umora, Eursulon quickly realizes something has changed. But he is still dazzled by the knights, and hopes to get a piece of armor he can show off to his family. As he sneaks closer, a perceptive knight spies him, lays down his weapons, and carefully approaches. The knight introduces himself as Sir Curran of the Hawthorn. Though Eursulon doesn't have the context to understand most of what the knight says, his honorable and kind bearing greatly impresses the young spirit. Sir Curran asks Eursulon if he protects the woods, and Eursulon confirms that he does. When Eursulon shows interest in Sir Curran's pauldron, Sir Curran offers it to him. Sir Curran mentions that his father is "the Bear of Brockvale", and Eursulon responds that his father is also a bear; Sir Curran says this makes them brothers, in a way. Eursulon hugs him, and Sir Curran embraces him like the sweet child he is.

Sir Curran then mentions that he is a knight, and Eursulon asks him to explain. Sir Curran defines a knight as a protector, someone whose mark is a shield, not a sword. When Eursulon clutches the pauldron to his chest, Sir Curran says he may keep it in exchange for safe passage through the wood -- as a protector of the wood. He sees Eursulon as a spirit, and the pauldron as a suitable offering. Eursulon offers him the mushroom, an act that deeply moves Curran. They say a warm farewell, and Eursulon returns through the ivy door wanting more than anything to be a knight.