The Emerald Collective Podcast

With the party now entering the belly of the beast, the Death Knight calls out to Sir Tirion even more intensely. Along the way to the end of the catacombs, Tirion faces more challenges of faith. The challenges laid before him comes with several choices. Is Tirion's resolve pure enough to overcome such horrendous trails and difficult choices? Stoic as ever, he believes just so.

Meanwhile, Mina, Shadar, and Daemon offer support as they progress though the dark and dusty crypt.

As the party bolster themselves before their descent into the catacombs that house a supposed Death Knight, Mina offers some inspiration and respite. Shadar uses the downtime to scry on the entity that tried to grab Aelfric back in Pethlan, only to reveal a new lead... and not a friendly one.

The morning after, Sir Tirion leads the way to the catacombs, where the sir is cold and still. An unseen voice reaches out to them, daring the groaup to venture forth - but the catacombs are teeming with eerie scenes and voices along the way. In...

The party regroups at the tavern where Old Wilf met his end, only to learn that the townsfolk reacted to his death with eerie smiles and unsettling cheer. Suspecting foul magic at work, Mina takes the stage and unleashes a countercharm that shatters the illusion, revealing a crowd silently screaming beneath forced joy.
A haunting vision pulls Mina into a meadow of unnatural light, while Shadar’s True Sight confirms the grim truth: the people of Berinthas are trapped in hidden torment, bound by an unseen force.
With the mask of merriment stripped away, the party retreats to...

TVM - Episode 25:
Whilst Sir Tirion shakes off the eerie vision he beheld within the Temple of Torm, Daemon engages in a rather interesting conversation with a fellow Tiefling. Though this Tiefling is none like which he'd ever seen before.
Meanwhile, back at the Briarhearth Inn, Shadar secures lodgings and shares a lunch with Mina and Aelfric. It is during their feast, however, that an ill fate befalls a local resident and the trio discover that there is something truly unsettling happening in Berinthas.

In the morning following Aelfric's shared tale of his troubled past, the group pack up camp and head North. Despite the segregated travelling arrangement, the group finally reach the town of Berinthas; a town supposedly tormented by a Death Knight. Sir Tirion and Shadar remain keen to rid the world of the undead abomination, however the people of Berintahas don't seem too troubled. 

A very warm and friendly welcome put the group at immediate unease. Undeterred, Sir Tirion, accompanied by Daemon, makes his way to the Temple of Torm to find out more about the Death Knight w...

Shadar, disgruntled and frustrated, retires to his apartment where, in the rare instance of solitude, he decides to scry on his father - only to have a stark vision that rattles him to the core. The frustrations carry into the following morning as the party decide to head to Berinthas and bid farewell to Pethlan. On their travels, Aelfric finally tells the party of Naren; a land that they learned of back in Galfond Illemis' tower, and the nation's ties to Aelfric's past. 

With the party now back in Pethlan to deliver news of the slain dragon in the woods, Mina brings her horse, Miel, back to the stables. On her way, she reminisces about her morning; before the battle with the Madness inflicted winged beast, when she met with Lloris and the exchange they had about Ambersand Isle, their common goals, and their future plans.

Is this a flashback episode? You bet!

In the aftermath of the battle with the dragon, Aelfric narrowly escapes the clutches of an entity that emerged from the remains of the fearsome beast. But the entity did not disappear again without leaving a message. With the help of Tirion's Helm of Comprehend Languages, the party are able to translate the entity's words. The message, directed at Aelfric, is cryptic in nature, and leaves the party with even more questions.

As the group return to Pethlan, they feel a sense of hollow victory, as if the creature they had slain was but a vessel...

The battle with the Violet Madness afflicted dragon rages on. With Shadar and Sir Tirion taking the beast head on, Aelfric deals some crowd control from a distance as the accompanying shambling infected claw their way ever closer to the party. 

Meanwhile, Mina and Daemon suffer the effects of the Nightmare Spores inhaled from the dragon's scales. Mina remains conscious, but her visions torment her. Daemon however now faces a different kind of battle - one that he may struggle to flee from.

Mina arrives on the the scene in the nick of time to save the party from the imminent peril of the Dragon's infectious breath. Having seen acolytes and servants of the mysterious blue robed cult transformed instantaneously into shambling creatures riddles with The Violet Madness from inhaling the dragon's spores, the party seek to dispatch the vile creature with haste.

As the fight rages on, the group now know that this is a formidable foe allied by mindless wretches that claw at their heels. As the cleric and paladin combo unleash divine fury, the arcane arts of...

The streets of Pethlan are engulfed in pandemonium. The citizens make their way to shelter after a dragon is seen soaring the skies above. The town guard ready their battalions and ballista for the looming danger as a strike is anticipated at any moment. 

In the midst of the chaos and confusion, Deamon, Shadar, Aelfric and Sir Tirion make their way to the gates to better understand the situation. Meanwhile, Mina seeks out Lloris.

Before setting out on their journey to Berinthas, the party have some business to attend to. Mina seeks out Lloris so that she can get some closure on the previous day's peril and also to see if she can be of any further assistance to her people and their cause.

Aelfric seeks out the library so that he can glean as much information about their destination as he can.

Shadar travels through the town solo, looking for potions of healing and other potions and tinctures that might prove beneficial to their journey ahead.

...

Things are looking bleak for Daemon and Lloris who have found themselves skewered by the glaive of La Hadoda in the midst of battle. Mina, who still stands, faces the hooded figure with the rest of the party. But can they fend off this powerful foe in time to rescue the rapidly bleeding out Daemon and Lloris? Will they make it out of the Pethlan dungeons at all? 

La Hadoda seems to have no intention of letting them do so, and has an insatiable bloodlust for Mina in particular.

Mina, Daemon and Lloris find themselves face-to-face with the infamous illusive assassin of Ambersand Isle, La Hadoda. With the walls of the Pethlan dungeon spattered with wet crimson blood, many of the guard have fallen around this shadowed, glaive-wielding figure. As the inevitable battle ensues, Mina begins to realise just how powerful their assailant is, but moreover, she is conflicted as to why this supposed Ambersandian would turn on her own.

With the clashing of steel echoing through the dungeon, Shadar, Aelfric and Sir Tirion rush to the rest of the party's aid, but will they get...

Back at their residence, Shadar asks Sir Tirion for advice on understanding women, with some helpful scientific insight from Aelfric. But the Cleric's thoughts shift from one woman to another as he casts a scrying spell.

Meanwhile, Daemon, Mina, and Lloris continue their heist, but something down in the Pethlan Dungeons stirs. They are not alone... and it's not just the town guard...

At nightfall, Mina and Daemon rendezvous with Lloris at the market so that they can enact their infiltration into the Pethlan Dungeons to free the innocent people of Ambersand held within. Mina has her doubts about Lloris' plan and decides to go on a scouting mission beforehand.

As Daemon and Lloris wait within the sewers, Mina gets a feel for the guard presence. It may not be as straightforward as it seems...

On the way back into town; Mina, Sir Tirion, and Daemon discuss the nature of Lloris' plan to break the innocent civilians from Pethlan captivity. Is this really their fight? Should they interpose themselves in politics that could ultimately brandish them as criminals? Mina seems to think it's worth the risk.

Upon re-uniting with Aelfric and Shadar; the party go over the list of quests ahead of them. Apart from seeking an end to The Violet Madness, there are several other pressing matters that the group go through and prioritize. Fail to plan, plan to fail...

Aelfric and Shadar are granted an audience with the King of Castonia to deliver word of their expedition into Galfond Illemis' tower. But they are not alone when placed before the King. A couple of familiar and new faces greet the pair as they report their findings.

Meanwhile, outside of Pethlan; Lloris tells Mina, Daemon, and Sir Tirion of a plan he has to liberate allies of Ambersand Isle. Though Lloris reveals a little sliver of information Mina wishes he hadn't...

As the party venture back into the sunny streets of Pethlan, having scaled and descended the tower of Galfond Illemis, Mina encounters a familiar face. She, along with Daemon and Sir Tirion, venture outside the city gates to hear of a proposition that may reap some benefits for Mina.

Aelfric and Shadar part company with the others to visit the King of Castonia to deliver the news of Galfond's current predicament. They too encounter a familiar face - the kind of face Shadar would be keen on introducing to his mace...

The plot thickens... The party have gleaned as much information as the can from the top of Galfond Illemis' tower and it seems as though their main objective expands to the northern reaches of Castonia, where the cult behind the cursed disease reside. Revelations as to Aelfric's origins come to light, but the resilient young wizard refuses to faulter and remains true to his dedication to his task within Castonia. Just who is Aelfric, anyway? The rest of the group would like to hear more from the scruffy young mage. But will they like what they hear?

After completing all of Galfond's trails, and also an unexpected encounter with The Violet Madness, the party have made their way to the fifth and final floor of Illemis' Tower. As always, not everything is straightforward for the group as they stumble upon one final deadly trial. 

While the midst of their troubles, they learn of "Mother". Who could she be? And how is she connected to Galfond? One thing is for certain... She is most definitely interested in Aelfric.  

The party have found a new ally in Robertlin, who has told them that danger lurks behind the closed iron doors on the fourth floor. Upon opening the large sturdy doors, the group encountered a room infested with The Violet Madness. But the magical fungus isn't the only threat sealed behind the doors, and they have just let it out...

After completing the Sphinx's riddles, the party are permitted to ascend to the fourth floor. Aelfric is stumped to find that the intellectual games have come to an end when he sees something that unsettles him greatly. Meanwhile; Shadar, Mina, Daemon, and Sir Tirion prepare themselves as a clear and present danger has begun to show within the tower.

Growing evermore tired of the intellectual battles within the tower, the party arrive on the third floor where yet another mind-rattling challenge awaits. Sir Tirion still suffers the effects of the magic on the second floor, while Mina becomes affected by something new. Can Aelfric and the others last much longer running the mind gauntlet of Galfond Illemis?

Just before advancing to the second floor, Shadar's haste leads him into trouble and the party must work together to stop something terrible from happening. The group gain further insights into Galfond's research and try to push forward.

The party find themselves in the magical tower of the famous wizard, Galfond Illemis. However, the archmage does not particularly like to be disturbed. No sooner do the group arrive in the ground floor do they realise that there a number of tests that have been set in place to advance upward. These trials will test the mind more so than the body, much to Aelfric's delight.

With a plan in place, Daemon goes to the front gate of Pethlan to see what his sister has proposed for him. Sir Tirion, accompanies the artificer so that no funny business goes down - but in the house of Mortem, there is always a hidden agenda. Aelfric informs the group of the task laid out for them by the King of Castonia and the party makes plans to visit the illusive wizard Galfond Illemis.

The party have taken respite in the town of Pethlan. During the downtime; Shadar walks the streets at night to clear his head, but encounters a couple of situations that take him by surprise. Meanwhile, Daemon seeks the council of the level-headed Sir Tirion when a moral dilemma comes knocking on his door. Aelfric is tasked with a mission from the highest authority in Castonia; the King, himself.

The Violet Madness returns in podcast form to tell the story of a band of adventurers seeking to end a cursed affliction that has swept the land of Castonia. 

Join the cast of The Violet Madness as they reminisce on the campaign so far and discuss the major plot points, side quests, and character developments from the story as they resume the campaign right from where it was left off!

Whether you are a follower of the story previously or a complete newcomer; this session zero will bring you right up to speed with the s...

The investigators come face to face with the terrible truth behind the horror that plagues the village of Silvermines. With time no longer on their side, the group make a daring attempt to not only solve the case, but to also get out of it alive. 

In the aftermath of the ambush in the long since abandoned cabin, the investigators ready themselves to plunge into the mines where something far more evil and powerful than that of which they've encountered thus far dwells. Navigating the mine shafts come with dangers of their own, but then Benson and Ulick start to hear voices from deep within the mines. Could there be others trapped down here? Or are the investigators starting to really lose their nerve?

The investigators find themselves in the abandoned site office on the mining site in Silvermines, where Ulick swiftly discovers that it is not quite as abandoned as they thought. The others search for clues within the run down shack, but in the midst of the wailing storm outside, something finds them instead...

With Benson shaken after the sudden appearance of something rather unnatural, Charlie attempts to help him through the trauma. Meanwhile, Prof. Miles and Ulick search Eugene's house for potential clues. The rain outside turns into a thunderous downpour as the investigators muse on their plans. With a goal in mind, the group press on towards the mines to solve this mystery once and for all.

The investigators glean some useful information from Peter. They also receive something useful to potentially end the mystery of The Moonlight Man. Useful, but also dangerous... Benson advises caution as the group prepare to venture into the mines. On the way up the mountain trail, the group spot something suspicious. Upon closer investigation, suspicion quickly turns to horror! 

Charlie finds himself in the clutches of an unknown entity, his sanity and life hanging in the balance. The investigators gain a new lead from an eccentric resident of Silvermines. Will the mysteries of The Moonlight Man be finally brought to light?

The investigators discover that the closure of the mines was not for the same reasons as detailed in the newspapers. A far more curious and dangerous reason seems to have fallen through the facts revealed to the public. The group decide to reconvene over pints and whiskey in order to gather their thoughts and sift though the clues they've picked up so far. They deliberate over whether this investigation is teetering on the scientific side of the scale, or the supernatural. Charlie finds himself questioning his sanity as the eerie occurrences start to ramp up...

With Charlie at gunpoint, Benson and Ulick try to de-escalate the situation and drag some answers out of Eugene. Some insights into who and what "The Moonlight Man" truly is reveal that there is definitely something sinister happening around the mines. Professor Miles finds out that an elderly resident of the Silvermines was planning on taking a vital clue to their grave. What could the disappearance of a man 3 months ago, and his subsequent murder, have to do with mining operations that took place forty years ago?

Ulick and Prof. Miles return to the Sullivan house to find Benson in the midst of a forceful interrogation. Can Cathal Sullivan truly be trusted? Meanwhile, Charlie is interested in a new lead and sets a plan in motion that springs the investigators into action. The investigators learn of an informant that could shed some light on the history of the long abandoned mines. 

With new information gleaned from the reporter, Sean Doyle, Benson and Charlie gear up with the necessary tools to explore the mines, but they find themselves in an intense altercation when they return to Silvermines. Meanwhile, Ulick and Monty attempt to confront Peter Houlihan, however, they are intercepted by an unlikely informant, where they learn of An Fear Gealach otherwise known as "The Moonlight Man".

Ulick hatches a daring plan to sneak inside the Sullivan household. With Prof. Miles on lookout, they try to find out what the key they found beneath the floorboards unlocked. Meanwhile, back in the library once again, Benson and Charlie discover just how dangerous Silver Nitrate can be...

Professor Miles retires for the night, trudging through the rain and darkness to Ulick's house, where his curiosity gets the better of him and he gets to know the Silvermines resident a bit more. Montgomery is left to wonder whether Ulick's stories of the púca are wholly true. And if they are, what would that mean? 

With the mysterious stalker revealed, Charlie and Prof. Miles conclude their business in Nenagh and re-join Benson and Ulick, who had a tense encounter with the police sergeant. With evening swiftly approaching, the investigators decide to head to Silvermines; Ulick's home village, and the scene of the crime. 

With the investigators briefed on the murder case, their leads bring Ulick and Benson to the police while Charlie and Prof. Miles follow-up on clues relating to the bizarre circumstances surrounding Jack Sullivan's death with the aid of the local library... But someone is following them. Watching them. 

Step back into 1919 Ireland, where four investigators are ensnared in a web of mystery surrounding a chilling murder in the small village of Silvermines, Tipperary. But as they begin the investigation, they uncover a truth most perplexing - the victim was apparently already dead before they were murdered. But... how?