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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Daztur" data-source="post: 6118707" data-attributes="member: 55680">Inspiration: Dragon Rider for the first one more Clark Ashton Smith for the others. His writing is great but he’s got to be the most ghoulish writer I’ve ever read.  The Flowers of the MoonHex 16.00 In a forgotten corner of the lands of the Winterjarl (14.00), where not even the nordabjorn often go, lies a small mountain that is remarkable for two reasons.  Here is the only place where the flowers of the moon grow, delicate blooms that open only at night. If nighttime dew is gathered from their leaves and kept safe from the harsh light of the sun then drinking it can simulate the effects of exposure to moonlight and trigger lycanthropy and similar effects. However, gathering the dew is somewhat difficult because of all of the undead about. These withered and worm-eaten creatures are constantly at work carving out an enormous form from the rock of the mountain. Currently they are working on the mouth and are mostly done with etching a broad friendly grin into the mountainside. The undead generally ignore strangers but attack any who hinder their work in even the slightest way. Connections:-The victims of Barnabus Bludenoss (18.10) do not know of the existence of moon flower dew but would be immensely grateful for a supply of it.-Moon dew is one of the secret ingredients the Witch Queen (23.16) uses to rouse her hounds from the mud (22.16). Hooks:-Why do moon flowers only grow here?-Who are the undead making a giant statue of? Is (s)he still alive? The Lord in StoneAdditional information about hex 15.11 The now-dead father of Lady Anghart of Dreanach (15.11) was a renegade member of the Necromantic Office (29.14.35), which is somewhat surprising as the castrati that staff the Office are not generally able to father children. What happened is that some years past the brave Lord Poddred had his soul forced from his body by the necromancer who then moved into the Lord’s body and ruled in his stead. In order to keep Poddred’s soul from flitting about and being a bother, the necromancer imprisoned it in the horned statue of Baron Autumn (16.16.07) that stands in Castle Dreanach’s main hall. For years after the poor lord had to watch the usurper strut about in his body, embrace his wife and despoil his treasures.  The anger that burned in his story heart grew year by year and he prayed to the god that was closest at hand: Baron Autumn. The god, having a finely-developed sense of irony, judged that as the necromancer stole Poddred’s body it would only be fair that the Lord have the necromancer’s body. So now Lord Poddred inhabits the dead original body of the necromancer that had been kept preserved in alcohol in case the necromancer ever had need of it. Its booze-soaked undead flesh even now beats at the thick glass walls that contain it and hairline fractures have begun to spiderweb out from where the fists ceaselessly strike. Connection:-The Necromancer’s body is completely lacking in teeth (04.30), which is perhaps one of the reasons he upgraded to an improved model. Hooks:-Not much is known about Baron Autumn. Do you have anything to add?-Who was the necromancer? Why did he turn renegade?-What will Poddred do when he gets loose?-What properties do booze zombies have? The Ever-winding WormAdditional information about Hex 29.14 The Necromantic Office (29.14.35) does not move quickly. Before condemning a criminal it requires three witnesses and long deliberations, but for most crimes within its purview there is only one penalty: the ever-winding worm. This is a spell whose material component is the most perfectly-formed worm to be found within a thirteen day-old corpse. Following a lengthy ritual, a worm hatches and begins to wind through the heart of the victim as through a piece of over-ripe fruit. This is rather uncomfortable and death comes slowly so that the victim may yet survive through skillful surgery or subtle sorcery and death may also be averted by burning the corpse that the grave worm came from.  The Necromantic Office never announces its verdicts or gives the accused any chance to defend themselves, which does no favors to those who wonder if the worm has already begun to wind every time they feel a twinge in their chest. Connection:-Baron Herenghast (29.14.49) has been having chest pains and is panicking, thinking that an ever-winding worm is at work. Hooks:-Who has been condemned to the ever-winding worm?-What is necessary to target the victim? Just saying their name? Line of sight? A bit of hair?-Is there any oversight to make sure that the Office doesn’t worm the wrong person?-What laws does the Office enforce?-Does Baron Herenghast suffer from a worm or just poor diet?</blockquote>

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