In-game year: 487
Summary (1–2 paragraphs)
The conroi emerges from the underworld tunnel into a bewildering “glass city” of stone and towers (confirmed to be Cardiff). Unable to communicate, they blunder their way toward Guido’s only instruction: find a church with a golden angel. After a tense break-in at an Orthodox church and a bewildered ride paid for with “modern” coinage, they reach Llandaff Cathedral and confirm the golden angel is real.
Following leads for “Merdwyl” (Merlin’s name here), the conroi learns of a “Reawakening Fair” at Pengam Green—and, via a new-age shop, discovers a museum exhibit: a druid-like body preserved in oil of vitriol for over a millennium. The figure is unmistakably Merlin, but in this future he is dead—his body an empty vessel soon to be cut apart for study. The conroi instead turns to an otherworldly smith at the fair to restore Excalibur, then descends again—only to fight a many-handed abomination that, in death, becomes Guido (The Guide).
Scene/Beat Log
- Cardiff (Otherworld): the conroi emerges into the modern city, ignored by passersby, unable to read signs or speak fluently.
- Goal: find a church with a golden angel (Guido’s instruction).
- Directions by gesture: follow “four blocks + right” style guidance to a fenced Orthodox church.
- Break-in: Assterius climbs the fence and lets the armored conroi in.
- Priest panic: the priest flees and calls for help; at distance he indicates a larger church—Llandaff Cathedral—and provides modern coinage/tokens.
- Horseless carriage: a modern driver is summoned; the conroi is brought to Llandaff Cathedral.
- Golden angel found: the cathedral’s tower bears the sought golden angel.
- Merlin lead: locals point them toward the Reawakening Fair at Pengam Green, using the name “Merdwyl.”
- Prayer clue: Geraint’s prayer knocks open a psalm/hymn; interpreted as a sign to walk east.
- New-age shop lead: at “Golden Angel Massage & Wiccan Emporium,” a shop woman provides a flyer for a limited exhibit at the Welsh National Museum.
- Museum exhibit: weapons are checked at the door (Geraint manages to keep a dagger). Merlin is found suspended in a glass tube of oil of vitriol; signage explains preservation and notes plans to cut him apart for study.
- Decision: do not smash the tube; Merlin is dead in this future.
- Pengam Green: at the fair, Elf Smith of Pengam Green repairs Excalibur and takes commissions (coats of plates; Geraint’s axe/warhammer “axehammer”). The conroi stocks up on strange modern provisions.
- Return below: back in the caverns, a many-handed fleshy abomination blocks the route; its presence presses on the mind.
- Fight: Millicent and Liam take grievous wounds and drop; Excalibur changes hands; Drustin lands the killing blow.
- Reveal: the abomination collapses into Guido.
- Time rule: grievous wounds don’t “finish” you below; once they exit, they have roughly ~6 hours (table shorthand: by midnight after exit) to get chirurgery or die.
Characters (appeared / impacted)
- Millicent — leads the charge in the abomination fight; grievously wounded.
- Liam — grievously wounded; still manages to strike the monster while down.
- Sir Geraint — prayer clue; commissions new gear; sneaks a dagger into the museum.
- Drustin — lands the killing blow on the abomination.
- Assterius — language/literacy edge; climbs the fence to get the conroi into the first church.
- Merlin — found preserved in vitriol at a museum; dead (empty vessel).
- Guido (The Guide) — revealed as the slain many-handed abomination.
- Elf Smith of Pengam Green — repairs Excalibur; takes commissions.
Loot / Rewards / Glory / Notable Rolls
- Excalibur repaired by Elf Smith of Pengam Green.
- New kit commissioned: coats of plates for the party; axehammer for Geraint.
- Modern supplies acquired (candy, energy drinks, beef jerky, etc.).
Consequences & New Facts
- Otherworld location confirmed: the “glass city” is Cardiff (the earlier “London?” suspicion was mistaken).
- Merlin status (future): body preserved in vitriol; soul gone / empty vessel; scholars plan to cut him up soon.
- Guido’s nature: the conroi killed Guido in the form of a many-handed abomination.
- Urgent timer: once the conroi exits the caverns, grievous wounds become fatal on a short clock (~6 hours / “by midnight after exit”).
Timeline entries to add
- (487) — The conroi confirms the Otherworld city is Cardiff while searching for a church with a golden angel. (Source: Session 021 - The Glass City and the Man in Vitriol)
- (487) — Merlin is found preserved in vitriol in a museum exhibit; he is dead in this future and slated for dissection. (Source: Session 021 - The Glass City and the Man in Vitriol)
- (487) — Excalibur is repaired by Elf Smith of Pengam Green. (Source: Session 021 - The Glass City and the Man in Vitriol)
- (487) — The conroi defeats a many-handed abomination; it becomes Guido (The Guide). (Source: Session 021 - The Glass City and the Man in Vitriol)