Season 1 Recap: We Stood, We Fought, We Remember

My Fellow Watchers,

A year has passed, and with it, we have carved our names into the history of the Western Lands. The Mist Watch began as a beacon of hope, a coalition of adventurers willing to brave the unknown so that others might live in safety. But the past year has tested us in ways we never could have foreseen. We have forged alliances and made enemies, established safe havens only to see them crumble, and faced the horrors lurking within the Mists—sometimes at great cost. Yet, through it all, we have endured. We have fought. We have remembered. This report is more than just a ledger of events; it is a testament to the courage, sacrifice, and determination that define us. Let it serve as both a record of our triumphs and a lesson for the battles yet to come.

The Bite

One the first adventuring groups to explore the mists traveled into 'The Bite' to establish a safe haven. Encountering goblins and their corrupted former brethren, the Darklings, the party failed their attempt to skirt their foes and made a deal with Stiltz, a powerful member of The Court of Autumn, to make it through. With this, we created the safe haven that would come to be known as Faeville...and allied themselves with the fae.

Once established, another party traveled to Faeville, where we captured a wyvern to learn more about its behavior and the dangers of the plains. The Arcanus Academia additionally researched the wyvern to better understand the Miasma and ways to defeat Murkclaw.

Upon further exploration into 'The Bite' more members of The Mist Watch came upon the largest settlement of the Faewire, a local goblin tribe who, led by Bolgar, managed to hold off further corruption from the mists using contraptions that harness the energy from local sprites. Unfortunately, these contraptions did nothing to stop The Darkling raids that eventually overran the camp.

Garon Gallbraith and Voltaire Casino were lost to the Darklings while protecting their comrades in battle.

After this battle with the Darklings, a handful of Watchers attempted to reclaim the bodies of fallen comrades. They traveled to what was thought to be the remains of the goblin camp, only to find it has been reclaimed by Bolgar. He provided the Watchers with a description of Rhyze, a bandit wanted by the Mist Watch, so they pivoted to hunt him down. 

The group tracked down and defeated Rhyze, but possible miasma exposure had mutated him, allowing him to rise again. With no means of radiant damage, the Watchers instead captured him and returned him to Mistwoodlake. They were additionally successful in returning all stolen items to their rightful owners, including a spellbook belonging to a wizard named Elomere.

At the edge of the Bite in an area occupied by kenkus, a party discovered the King’s caravan…well what was left of it as the kenkus had made it into a makeshift fort. After speaking with the kenkus, the Watchers learned that Freeran’s parents crossed by, and turned toward the Narrows. The kenkus may help a future party traverse the Narrows in return for taking down Ebon Fang.

While the rest of the Bite and places beyond were explored, tragedy struck. Faeville exploded leaving nothing but ruins behind. 

The Mist Watch sent a party to the remains of what was once a safe haven to investigate and they met a group of fae-touched rabbits, the Court of Autumn’s Juniper Sheriffs, also there to gain insight into the explosion. It was determined that the corruption of the mists, the unchecked drug running, and the ingenuity of the Faewire, led to an explosive outcome for the former safe haven and monstrous unrest for residents that remained now exposed to the dangers that lurk beyond the walls.

The Webwoods

The Webwoods have yet to be deeply explored by the Mist Watch. We were able to ally with a beastmaster named Chase . He used to work with the Drow that lived in Webwoods, but they betrayed him and stole one of his Displacer beasts. He helped some Watchers clear an ettercap population, capturing one himself, and establishing Silkbranch, a tree made into a safe haven now vacant of spiders.

Scalemire Fen

General

North of Scalemire Fen a derelict tower guarded by a shambling mound was discovered. Our Watchers bravely slayed the shambling mound and ogres occupying it and saved a young girl named Denice (note - it was later disclosed the Denice is a changeling). Locked out of the upper floors of the tower, the party left what remained and returned Denice to safety in Wolfs Rest. 

Later, Watchers returned to the tower revealing volatile alchemical solutions, strange illusions, and an ooze infestation. Amongst all the mess, our daring party not only found a trapped hag named Ms. Mosswort, but allied with her, releasing her from the tower in exchange for her help in creating a cure for Shimmer Rot. 

Due to these actions, we now know of a mushroom (miasmush) that may help those afflicted by Shimmer Rot, and that more could be found in Murklaw’s lair

Threat of a hydra in Scalemire Fen caused quite a stir in Mist Watch HQ. A Watcher party was dispatched to the scene, but sadly, after a series of unfortunate events, the Watchers were forced to scatter leaving the hydra nearly unscathed. Here we salute Ludwig Kritz Humble, felled by the many heads of the hydra; “He went down swinging”. We hope to return to avenge our fallen Watcher one day.

Wolf’s Rest

A couple of courageous Watchers faed off with a mutated bandit lord and even vastly outnumbered, they survived and established the beginnings of a new safe haven. Equipped with pickaxes and materials from Shellstone, another Watcher party ship out to finish building up the safe haven. On the way, they met Elomere, a wounded wizard from the far away Webwoods. He shared a need to find his missing spellbook (though as noted above, this was later found and returned). After a battle with a 6-legged wolf our Watchers chose the fitting name, Wolf’s Rest.

With reports of undead around Wolfs Rest, an investigation team discovered marked zombies. The top suspect is currently Elomere, though we are awaiting firm evidence.

Kobolds & Murkclaw

In another area beyond the safety of Mistwood Lake, Watchers ventured into Scalemire Fen, there encountering many kobolds. Over time, we learned of the kobolds' worship of Murkclaw, an adult black dragon and a threat to the area. Over time, more was uncovered of the kobolds' connection to Murkclaw, all while dealing with other inhabitants of Scalemire Fen. Sometimes in combat, others building relationships, notably the influential herbalist tortle, Wua.

One group ventured to clear Mirestone Mine of kobolds for good. Upon seeing the state of the enslaved tortles, a difficult decision was made to instead strike a deal with the kobolds and establish a new safe haven, Shellstone. The ties with those lowly kobolds were later cut, freeing the tortles and ending the tax on Shellstone. Unfortunately, a kobold named Zyxxit escaped with a couple dozen other kobolds, but that day was a victory all the same.

A Kobold captive named Kkoby  was swayed by clever Watchers to help clear out Mirestone Mine. In the mine, once cleared of traps and dangers, a short allyship was formed with a Xorn named Lorn. However, upon seeing the treasures that Lorn hoarded, the Watchers present did their duty to Mistwood Lake and removed the kobold and xorn from the picture, sharing the wealth with the town, including a Drake Egg given to Chase the beastmaster.

Another tragedy struck shortly after: Murkclaw avenged his lost kobolds and mines by attacking. We lost many civilians that day including the beloved Wua. Temporarily mollified by the promise of greater taxes, Murclaw left Scalemire Fen, unaware of the brave Watcher hiding on his back. Upon return, this Watcher shared the existence and location of Murkclaw’s lair. 

Thus, we planned. 

Defeating Murkclaw

Three full Mist Watch parties in cooperation with Arcanus Academia assembled to take the Pylons built to weaken Murkclaw into his lair. The battle felled seven courageous Watchers:

• Andro M. Jazz - Smote the Swamp King, Murkclaw.  Ever remembered in glory.

• Líf Vrétalgne - Succumbed to wounds inflicted by Murkclaw.  We honor this sacrifice.

• Malalas Chicen - Consumed in the depths of the Swamp King's lair, deeds we will never forget.

• Krieg - A story struck short by Murkclaw.  May others carry on his stead.

• Cal - Died by Murkclaw's power.  His Courage lives on.

• Alrodel De Amas - Placed his duty before his life, fighting the Black Dragon

• Basha - Struck down by Murkclaw.  We will always remember. 

That day, their loss was not in vain. The raid group successfully slayed the tyrant, Murkclaw, ending his reign of terror. The survivors returned to Mistwood Lake, carrying the legacy of their fallen comrades and the knowledge that their sacrifices secured the region.

The past year has been one of loss, resilience, and change. We mourn those who fell, we honor those who stood, and we stand ready for what comes next. The Mists have not retreated, and the dangers beyond our walls have not lessened—but neither has our resolve. We are the Mist Watch. We do not waver, we do not falter, and we do not forget. The foundations we have laid, the lives we have saved, and the victories we have won will shape the future of these lands. But our work is far from finished. The next year will bring new challenges, new enemies, and new opportunities to reclaim what was lost.

Stand strong, Watchers—our greatest stories have yet to be written.