“The cycles of life—Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, birth, death, day, night, and the like—seem fixed from our perspective. But they do in fact change. It’s just that their lifespans last far longer even than the generations of the Elves will endure. Therefore, it is vanity indeed to not accept these things as they are and even worse to attempt to change them. Instead, one must accept what cannot be changed and seek to change the things one can. In other words: when systems cannot be changed, seek to change who you are within those systems.”

  —Siphanien Krissandoral, Book of the Masters

  “Come! Come on, nice doggie!” Vadania called in a sweet voice. The dog followed the Pilgrims all the way to the door on the far side, but stopped short of passing the threshold.

  “It’s okay! Come on!” Zara called.

  The dog offered another play bow, barked, and vanished in a flash of sparkling lights.

  MELISSA: Aww, man…

  DM: His place is here. The Pilgrimage Road is no place for such a sweet doggo.

  MELISSA: I understand…

  JOHN: What floor is this?

  DM: This is the sixth floor.

  The Pilgrims arrived on the next floor and found themselves in a large, round chamber nearly sixty feet across. In the center of the room was a fountain. Bubbling water fell gently from an elevated basin into a larger reservoir below, making a kind of music as the sound echoed within the walls of the chamber. On the far side of the fountain from where the Pilgrims entered the room was a large metal door like unto the others that they had heretofore seen, but with this difference: in the center of the door was a small, concave depression of an oval or egg shape. The walls of the room were covered in relief sculptures. All was silent, except for the sound of falling water.

  DEVON: I’d like to take a look at the fountain.

  CHARLIE: And I want to investigate the sculptures.

  Dinto stepped forward cautiously to investigate the fountain. The stone was cut smooth but left unpolished—likely to prevent slips. The water was cool and fresh. Dinto sampled some of the water using his trunk and found it refreshing and reinvigorating. His fatigue swiftly faded, and even the pain of his wounds significantly lessened.

  DM: Your thirst is quenched and you heal 1d10 hit points for every minute you spend at the fountain.

  DEVON: Nice.

  NICK: Oh, I could really use a cool soak… Tiz has this knot in his shoulder—

  JOHN: What? From all the heavy lifting he didn’t do in the Tower?

  NICK: Hey!

  MELISSA: Don’t get into the water! We want to drink from there!

  NICK: It’s too laaaaaaate!

  “Fear no danger from this fountain, friends,” Dinto said. “The water is refreshing and replenishing.” Tizhaus approached for a drink, but quickly slithered into the water and submerged himself entirely. He surfaced a moment later, heaving a great sigh of contentment.

  “We were going to drink from that, Tizhaus!” Vadania shouted, splashing him a little from the seat she’d taken on the edge of the fountain.

  “Hey!” Tizhaus yelled in mock surprise and flicked his tail to splash her back. Vadania quickly dodged and the splash struck Zara who jumped and hissed loudly.

  “Ugh! I hate being wet!” Zara shouted back.

  “Oh, sorry, uh, I was aiming for Vad—” Tizhaus began, but mid-sentence he was doused with a torrent of water from Dinto’s trunk. Dinto smiled broadly, and Vadania burst into a fit of laughter. Even Zara, wet as she was, giggled uncontrollably.

  “I’m gonna get you for that, buddy!” Tizhaus shouted and began throwing as much water as he could Dinto’s way. Dinto climbed into the fountain and returned volley. Vadania was caught in the crossfire but was still laughing too much to notice. Zara moved out of the way, but continued to enjoy the scene from a distance.

  JOHN: Mugen is going to go and look at the exit door.

  Mugen stood stoic and alone watching the other Pilgrims play at the fountain, unwilling or unable to bring himself to participate in the laughter and ease of his fellow Pilgrims. After a moment, he turned away from their levity and walked to the locked door leading deeper into the tower. The door had no handle, and Mugen could find no latch, trigger, or other mechanism by which the door could be opened. He also noted that the concave impression in the door had a scale-like pattern or texture. From everything that he could ascertain, this appeared to be a receptacle for some kind of object and was the key to opening the door.

  JOHN: Is there anything in the room that would fit in here?

  DM: Not that you can see.

  JOHN: Hmm… What about any of the previous rooms? Did we see anything in them that might fit?

  DM: Mugen can remember nothing of this size and shape from any of the previous rooms. Sorry, Charlie, I didn’t forget about you. Let’s get back to Iss’ investigation.

  Iss, meanwhile, was absorbed in the sculptures carved into the wall. It didn’t take long for him to recognize what was being depicted and he was able to trace the story from beginning to end. Mugen finally noticed Iss, deep in thought and quietly moving along the walls, and went to his side.

  “What did you find?” Mugen asked.

  “I know this story,” Iss answered. “My parents used to tell it to me and my broodmates often as we lay down to sleep in the nest.”

  “What is the story?” Mugen asked.

  “It’s called The Travelers and The Stranger.”

  “Wait, I think I’ve heard of this one…”

  JOHN: Have I heard of this story?

  DM: Yes, Mugen likely has. In fact, I’d be surprised if any of your characters grew up without hearing this story—it’d be like having never heard The Boy Who Cried Wolf or The Tortoise and The Hare. The Travelers and The Stranger is a very common Aethmiran bedtime story or fable used to teach children the virtues of kindness and hospitality. It’s included in the Aethmirisknig, which is already included in the Player Resources.

  JOHN: I… did not read that story. Yet.

  DM: Don’t worry! There was no expectation for anyone to get through all the supplementary material before this session. Or anytime after, really. All that material is there so that you can go as deep into the lore of Aethmira as you want. I prepared for each of you to engage with this story at different levels, which is totally on brand anyways because it’s a reflection of how each of your characters is going to engage with the Pilgrimage Road. There are many hidden truths to be discovered, but it’s up to you to decide how, when, or if you find them.

  JOHN: Okay, so are there, like, different endings then? Depending on what we find out things will be different?

  DM: I don’t have an ending to this story.

  JOHN: What?

  DM: Well, I know how I want the story to end—or, rather, how I think it should end ideally. But by inviting you all to tell the story with me, I surrendered full control. I have the skeleton of the story in place, but we’re putting the flesh on those bones together. I don’t know what choices you’re going to make, who you’ll side with in various conflicts, whether or not you’ll discover all the hidden truths of Aethmira, and what wish you’re going to make at the end to change the world—assuming you survive and complete the Pilgrimage in the first place. The whole world and its history are a riddle for you to solve. But you don’t have to. The Pilgrimage Road is yours to walk as you will.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  NICK: We should just wish for unlimited wealth. Money fixes all problems.

  MELISSA: I think there’s more to it than that. There’s some bigger stuff going on that I don’t think money can solve. Like Akeela.

  DM: Aquillia, yes. Even if you had all the money to buy whatever you wanted, I don’t think it would stop them.

  NICK: Sooo, how are we supposed to know what to wish for then?

  DM: That’s why you’re on the Pilgrimage—you’re going to travel the world and meet many of its people on the road you walk, and based on those experiences you should get a pretty good idea of what people want and need.

  NICK: Cool. I’ll just ask everyone we meet what they think we should wish for.

  DM: I mean, yeah, you technically could do that…

  JOHN: Can we get a rundown of the “Travelers” story real quick? Maybe it’ll help us get out of here?

  DM: Sure! Charlie, do you want to take this one? How well do you remember the story?

  CHARLIE: I think I remember it pretty well. Just jump in and help me if I screw up, okay?

  DM: I don’t think I’ll need to, but okay.

  “Pilgrims!” Mugen called behind him, “Come and take a look at what Iss found!”

  The Pilgrims, still sopping wet save for Zara, made their way quickly over to the wall where Iss and Mugen stood.

  “What is it?” asked Zara.

  “It’s a bedtime story,” replied Iss. “At least, it was one of my bedtime stories when I was younger. It’s called The Travelers and The Stranger.”

  “I have heard this story, as well. My mother told it to me when I was younger,” Dinto added, his voice trailing off a bit at the end.

  “It goes like this:” Iss began, “Once, long ago and far away, there was a war-torn kingdom. A conquering army from across the sea was on its way to invade the kingdom and slaughter all who lived there. But six friends planned their escape. They began work building a ship and gathering seeds and animals to take with them to a new land far across the sea where they could live in peace.

  “In the midst of their preparations, a strange figure, hooded and cloaked, approached them and asked, ‘What are you doing?’”

  “‘We are preparing to flee before the invaders arrive. We are building a ship to carry us across the sea, and gathering animals and seeds of every kind that we might rebuild in a new land and thus save something of the home we have lost.’”

  “‘A noble ambition!’ the stranger returned. ‘I would like to help you. I am old and weary, and may not even survive the journey, but if you will take me on this voyage with you I will use my magic to fill your sails with strong wind such that our pursuers shall never catch us.’”

  “The six friends agreed and welcomed the stranger into their company. Together they completed their labors and, not a moment too soon, launched their ship into the sea. The enemy pursued them, but true to his word, the stranger wrought mighty magic and they left their old home and the invaders far behind.

  “Together they traveled. The stranger’s winds blew with terrifying force and unceasingly, taking them farther than any had traveled before. They traveled through a storm, during which the stranger was mortally injured. The friends mourned the stranger, who had become a good friend.

  “‘Fear not,’ he told them, ‘I will always be with you, if you wish. I will make my soul one with this ship, and if you then allow this ship to become a part of the land you seek, there shall I dwell also.’

  “Finally, the storm clouds parted and the friends saw that they had reached a new land where none had before dwelt. There they dismantled their ship, built dwellings, planted seeds, and made a new home. The stranger was with them. They felt his presence, and occasionally even heard his voice advising them or warning them of danger.

  “The moral of the story is to be kind and hospitable toward all—you never know when you might meet the spirit of The Stranger himself, or a figure like The Stranger that will transform your life.”

  DM: Beautifully told, Charlie.

  CHARLIE: Thanks—I had the story open in front of me, just in case.

  MELISSA: Seems like you didn’t really need it.

  CHARLIE: Nah, I almost forgot a couple things. But it all turned out okay.

  The Pilgrims, who had walked with Iss around the room as he showed them the scenes that told the story, were silent and entranced.

  “Wait a moment…” Iss continued, “There’s more to the story here than was in the version my parents told me.”

  Iss moved a bit farther to the left, where he saw the six Travelers, and many others, around a pyramid-like structure in which lay the representation of The Stranger. Iss continued, “It looks like the six friends and their people built a tomb for The Stranger. And this tomb looks an awful lot like—”

  “The Temple of Gems.” Mugen interjected.

  “Yes, exactly,” added Iss. “But, what does that mean? Does it mean that the story is… real?”

  “I don’t know,” admitted Mugen.

  “Maybe we ask Father Lucien next time we go back to the Temple?” asked Vadania.

  “Sure, but who knows when that will be,” answered Mugen. “For now, we need to figure out how this story will help us get out of here.”

  “I’m not sure it will,” added Iss. “Did you learn anything about the door?”

  “Only that it needs a key. Some kind of an oval or egg-shaped object.”

  “What’s that down there?” asked Tizhaus.

  The sudden interruption caught Mugen and Iss off guard.

  “What’s what, down where?” asked Mugen.

  “Look there,” Tizhaus said, pointing to a flat area beneath the final part of the story depicting the pyramid-shaped tomb. “Something’s been scratched into the stone.”

  The Pilgrims looked more closely and confirmed that Tizhaus was correct. The following short message had been scratched into the stone:

  “Even if you turn back, you’re still moving forward! Remember: we’re all behind you!” ?— N.L. A2

  “Who is NLA2?” asked Zara.

  “I don’t know!” Mugen shouted in sudden frustration. “I don’t have all the answers! Gods, I don’t even know what I’m doing here…”

  “It has been long day. Also, this is all very new. No one expects you to have all answers,” Vadania offered.

  “You’re surrounded by friends—including your best friend—” Tizhaus added, “we’ll get through this together.”

  Mugen let out a long breath. And then he realized the intent behind the words scratched into the wall.

  “Alright, let’s head back.”

  “Back?” Vadania asked.

  “Back. In order to move forward, we’re going to go back the way we came and hope that all the bloody business at the base of the Tower has concluded,” Mugen said. “It’s like the message said, turning back is still moving forward.”

  Mugen started slowly making his way back across the room. The Pilgrims again exchanged glances and silently decided to follow him. The party made their way down the stairs in silence, contemplating what awaited them at the foot of the tower. As they reached the bottom of the stairs, where they expected to see the large room in which they had chased the dog, there was, instead, only thick darkness. Mugen was the first to notice the sudden shift. Moving forward another few paces, he heard the crunching of soil and stone beneath his feet.

  “What on…” Mugen began. The other Pilgrims caught up with him as he was fidgeting with his rings and waited until he finished casting. An orb of illuminating light appeared before the group and revealed a mass of gray and brown stone and a dirt floor before them.

  “Where did the tower go?” Tizhaus whispered into Mugen’s ear.

  “I don’t know, okay?! It’s just gone,” he replied curtly, jerking his head away.

  “Where do we go now?” asked Dinto.

  “Forward,” replied Vadania. “This way,” she said, taking the lead and disappearing into an opening behind one of the stones. The others followed, and Vadania took them through a few winding passageways before a faint red-orange glow could be seen ahead. Following the glow, Vadania led the group out of the mouth of the cave. They emerged behind a few scattered boulders on the side of a great hill, overlooking the land beyond.

  The source of the amber glow that had led them out of the cave was the sun setting in the west before them. Looking all about them, they saw neither track nor trace of the Festival, nor of the Great Wood, nor of the Tower they had entered hours earlier. There were only great tracts of hills and grassland as far as the eye could see.

  “Where are we?” Mugen asked.

  “I cannot confirm until I can see stars, but I think these are hills and plains of Lesser Draconia,” answered Vadania. “It looks so much like my home, but… could we have really traveled so far?”

  “I agree with Vadania,” added Dinto. “This land smells like home. We have traveled far to the south.”

  “We should make camp,” Zara suggested. “There’s no use going any farther when we’re running out of daylight. Resting for the night will give Vadania a chance to check the stars, and for all of us to plan our next move.”

  “I’ll take a short flight to scout the area before dark,” Iss offered and then took off with a sudden downward thrust of his wings.

  “Let’s get dinner started,” said Zara, turning to Dinto. “Dinto, would you please gather whatever rations we have from everyone’s packs?”

  Dinto nodded, and the two set to work.

  “I will see if I can find some game before the light fades,” Vadania said, dropping her pack and slinging her bow over her shoulder.

  “Guess that leaves you and me, best buddy,” Tizhaus said, placing his arm around Mugen’s shoulders. Mugen, who was standing awestruck and silently watching as everyone seemed to effortlessly take and share assignments, didn’t flinch.

  “Wanna go see if we can find some firewood?” Tizhaus asked.

  “…Sure,” Mugen responded, “let’s do that.”

  Not every choice announces itself as important.

  Early access to upcoming chapters, maps, and worldbuilding notes are available on Ream for those who wish to walk a little farther.

  Ream: