Tales Of Ravenia | Adventure RPG Album

Welcome to Ravenia,

A mysterious peaceful town full of wonder, magic and never-ending entertainment provided by the incredible creatures, marvelous folk and artisans who reside within this community in  harmony and call this place their home.  

Unlike many other towns or smaller establishments within the kingdom, Ravenia can't be reached that easily. In fact, the only time folks mentioned this place was when someone is found missing near the Forgotten Forest, or just as a tale often told to children before their sleep.

There were some brave souls who foolishly ventured into the forest for many reasons unknown. Merchants, bards, travelers even armies of warriors who seeked shelter within the forest during the great war. All lost and eventually forgotten by time. Except for one...



Stargazing:

Our story begins with a young warrior who in the amidst of an ongoing battle decides to flee and seek shelter among the trees in the nearest forest. Injured, afraid and tired, somehow he manages to collect every ounce of strength left in his body and crawl to the nearest forest that seemed like a good place to hide. With just a couple of steps left before the forest entrance, our young warrior suddenly falls down. While laying on the half burned grass and gazing upon the scorched sky he started counting each star while trying to remember family, friends, the smell of that fresh loaf of bread from the nearest bakery in town and all the joy he once felt, that seemed to have left him in this moment. With only a couple of breaths left, suddenly our hero hears a strange soothing voice whispering: ''Sleep now love, everything will be alright''.  While being puled deeper into the forest, our hero finally falls asleep...

Into The Unknown:

Awakened by a pleasant smell of fresh air, sounds of nature and warmth of sun on his face, our hero stands up in the middle of the forest that seemed like the sea of trees that stretch as far as the eye can see. The armor on him was still damaged from battle but his injuries were gone and healed as his energy and strength completely regained. Confused and unfamiliar with what exactly happened during the last night, once again our warrior hears the familiar soothing voice telling him to follow the gravel path in front until he reaches the sign that says ''Welcome to Ravenia''. With not much left to think about, young warrior stretches up and embarks on the adventure of a lifetime.

Welcome to Ravenia:

After walking for a couple of hours our hero arrives at the destination where the main road ends. He immediately noticed the sign that points to go forward, but there was nothing there but a huge empty grass field with just a couple of trees surrounding this massive area. Discouraged and a bit saddened by this sight our hero decides to throw away one the gloves of his hand into the field and sits down, as he felt defeated. After a couple of moments of recollecting his thought our hero gets up and starts walking towards the place where the glove fell. With just seconds into the field things around him suddenly start to transform. Massive objects rising from the ground followed by a strange fog of colors that entwines the entire area around our hero. A bit scared and confused, brave young warrior closed his eyes and covered his head. Suddenly he hears a deep voice asking him: '' Hey friend! Are you alright? You look like you need a drink?". In this moments, our hero opened his eyes and couldn't believe what was happening around him. He was standing in the middle of a giant town that appeared out of nowhere. Enormous market was filled with merchants, musicians and folks of all sorts he have never seen before. Most curious devices flying through the air transporting strange creatures who look very fashionable and upstanding. An intertwined tubes filled with water that all leads into the giant golden fountain graced with the most beautiful flowers our hero has never seen. The person who offered our hero a drink was still standing, smiling and cleaning an empty glass with a hint of wonder on his face. At first glance this figure looked like a regular human but after a few seconds our hero noticed that this was actually a creature he heard about many times before but have never encountered himself, a minotaur. Right above the minotaur's head there was a sign that says ''Rovan's Tavern''.  After a couple of seconds he speaks again: ''Welcome to Ravenia my friend! My name is Rovan! How would you like a pint of my finest ale and some warm briskets on the house? Come on in! ''

Rovan's Tavern:

With just a few steps inside our hero starts to walk uncontrollably like the ground beneath his feet was shaking, which was not far from the truth. Rovan's tavern was filed with all sorts of travelers, dancers, entertainers and musicians who played the wildest tunes in the corner of this fine establishment. The strangest part about this tavern was not it's guests and all the commotion they produced, but a fact that there were tables all around the tavern. Waiters walking up and down the walls and folks sitting both horizontally and vertically. After a few moments Rovan sends our hero in direction of the nearest free table and serves him with the finest meal and drink our hero has ever tasted.  Once our hero was done with the meal, Rovan sit's beside him and asks: '' My friend, I've noticed that you're wearing a quite damaged peace of clothing on yourself, how would you like to get that repaired?''. Our hero tells him that it would be very nice if there was a way to get the armor fixed but he doesn't know where. Rovan then takes a few moments to think and says: ''Ahaa! Not a problem at all! I think I have a solution for your problem! Few streets down below there is a forge of the old master Bathan, very wise, and nowhere to be found actually...After a good night of sleep you should go search for the old man to help you out! I will give you all the necessary coin if you'd just do me a favor? I've been looking for Bathan for quite some time since I needed a lot of things to be fixed around here. So if you find him could you please ask him to stop by and help me with redecorating the tavern?'' Once again our hero, without much to think about, agrees in hope that this will bring him a step closer to find a way back home. Both of them sat there for a few more minutes and then our hero decided to take a good night sleep in one of the rooms that Rovan has kindly provided him with.

The Trumpet Brothers:

As soon as the morning arrived our hero woke up, had breakfast with Rovan and headed outside in search for master Bathan's house. Along the way young hero noticed some commotion on the streets. There were lots of towns folk gathered in one place so it was impossible to se what's going on from afar. As our hero managed to get close he noticed 3 strangely clothed, quite large and almost identical figures crying and arguing. Besides the fact that they were so unusually large, and strangely clothed, it also looked like all three of them had tinny little trumpets instead of normal human noses. First one had a green trumpet that squeaked every time he raised his voice. The second one had a yellow trumpet nose that surprisingly, given it's small size, managed to produce a deeper resonating tone. The third trumpet nose was colored in red, but there was no sound coming out it, even if it's owner was the loudest person in the crowd. After some time our hero decides to come forward and ask someone within the crowd what is going on. One of the local merchants told him that these are the famous trumpet brothers. A talented musicians who bring happiness and joy to the good folks of Ravenia. And it seems that the youngest brother has lost the ability to play and can't produce a single sound out of his trumpet. So the other two brothers got scared as this has never happened before. After listening to the merchant's story, the young hero decides to introduce himself to the brothers and asks if there is anything he can do to help. Yellow nose brother: '' Many thanks for your offers good sir, our brother has indeed fallen ill, but there is a remedy for that. Not far away from here there's is a botanical shop where all sorts of potions and cures for illnesses can be found. But the thing is that our young brother spent the last coin and we can't afford the medicine, therefore the reason for our anger!''. Without giving any though our young hero decides to give them a couple of coins that Rovan gave him earlier for the armor repair. All 3 brothers watched in disbelief for a second and suddenly started crying out of happiness. Then the yellow nose brother spoke again: ''Thank you kind master, you honor us! If you could only help us in obtaining this remedy form the shop because...well you see...we can't quite fit inside Grizmain's shop..or any other shop for that matter." After giving it some thought, our hero agreed to help and all four of them continued to walk down together towards the Grizmain's Botanical shop.

Grizmain's Botanical Shop:

When our newly formed party finally arrived at the destination, one of the brothers tells our hero to enter and look for the goblin named Grizmain and asks for the potion called The Phoenix. Once our hero stepped inside the shop he immediately becomes overwhelmed by the strong but very pleasant smell of all sorts of plants, flowers and potions brewing at the corner of the shop. From where our hero stands, Grizmain's shop looked more like a laboratory than garden at first. Probably because of all the gasses and fog released by the equipment in the room. But after a couple of steps inside, when the air finally cleared out, our hero gazes upon the most beautiful garden he ever saw. Much similar to the town square's beauty he witnessed when arrived, our hero was once again amazed by the variety of different beautiful exotic plants this strange place had. The entire garden was dancing and plants looked like they were communicating with each other. Our hero's garden admiring was suddenly interrupted by a rough cough: '' Ehm, excuse me! Can I help you with something!?". Our hero turns around, looks to the right, then to the left, then finally looks down and see a goblin wearing a muddy apron while carrying bottles filled with tiny red flaming plants. Once again the botanist speaks: '' Listen pal! I'm overburdened with these bottles a bit and I don't have time to waste! I don't know the purpose of your visit but could you be a friend and help me out a bit while standing here completely useless!?''. Immediately our hero takes away a couple of bottles from Grizmain and starts following him deeper into the garden while passing by the unimaginable varieties of twisting vines, water flowers and shapeshifting plants. Grizmain: '' Thanks a bunch friend! Now, how about we plant a couple of these baby flowers and give this space some light, hmm?''. Our hero nods and the two of them get right into the business. Grizmain: '' Ok friend, now look, first thing you need to do is to wear a special fireproof gloves so you don't end up like my cousin and spend the entire life holding a spoon with your legs, got it? After that carefully detach a plant from the bottle and place it into this small hole in the ground. Once inside the hole you need to cover them with just the right amount of ground and pixie manure, and then give them enough water and let them breathe for crying out loud! After a couple of minutes, take one small bottle and extract the tears of the flower, shake for one minute and there you go, you're a true master botanist! Right?! No! What do you think, you planted one flower and all the sudden you can have your own garden, don't even think about it pal! But go on, follow these steps and...try not to fail...''. Our hero overwhelmed by all the information repeats all the steps and somehow manages to make a new home for this flaming flower. Grizmain: ''Well well well, I gotta say for a second there I thought you will end your professional spoon holding career but you did good kiddo! You did good! As a token of my gratitude I will let you keep one potion. It is called The Phoenix and It can be used to cure all sorts of illnesses, skin conditions but it can also make a quite decent light in the toilet! Anyway, if you don't have anything else to add the door is still opened, feel free to leave at any time....any time! Erm...now..would be a good moment...'' Our hero couldn't believe what just happened, was it a mere coincidence or just a dumb luck to obtain the very thing he was supposed to find in the first place? With a confused look on his face he leaves outside the shop and gives the potion to the trumpet brothers. Without hesitation, the red nose brother consumes the potion and after a couple of seconds starts to play the most beautiful melodies out of his nose while the rest of the brothers joined him in performing this triumphant concerto! After this joyful performance, they all said their goodbyes and our hero continues to walk towards the master Bathan's house. 

Omaememwae's Curse:

After a couple of minutes of walk our hero spots a nearby lake and decides to take a rest to freshen up before he continues. While approaching the lake he noticed a man sitting on a rock and gazing into the lake, with a sad look on his face. After a few sips of water our hero decides to come close and introduce himself. Omaememwae: '' Greeting young man, it is a very nice day isn't it? Too bad..I was hoping for a rain today. My name is Omaememwae and I am the toad king of the Ravenia! At least I was..'' . With a confused look on his face, our hero decides to play along and asks for more details on this. Omaememwae: '' Ah, you must have taken me for an old babbling fool heh, and I don't blame you. But If you have a few moments to spare I would gladly share my story with you?''. Our hero nods in approval and takes a seat besides Omaememwae. '' Once I was a proud king, beloved by my people and all the woodland realm in Ravenia.I was blessed with a beautiful family and all the love a simple toad can ask for. One early morning me and my daughters took a walk beside the pond and I noticed a most peculiar shinny object near the grass. It was the most beautiful treasure my eyes has ever seen. I wore it day and night, spoke to it, and after some time I became a paranoid greedy old man. Many years have passed and while I was becoming more greedy, suspicious and completely abandoned my people, they started to resent me as their king. So one night the fairy queen of the forgotten forest came into my dream and put a curse on me. To wonder this realm as a human until once again I become worthy of my crown. Which brings us to this place. Somewhere in this lake lies the crown of a toad king. Once I reclaim it the curse will be lifted. But whenever I make a step closer into the lake, it instantly turns to ice. Let me demonstrate.'' As Omaememwae took a step closer to the lake it immediately started to crackle and freeze every living thing inside and above the lake. Then he takes a few steps back and the frozen lake starts to melt immediately, turning back to normal liquid form in a matter of seconds. Our hero shocked by this event kindly offers to help out and seek the crown inside the lake himself. The saddened face of Omaememwae instantly turns to smile.'' You would do that for me? But I don't even know how deep this lake goes or where the crown is located or what sort of creatures lurk under the lake? No my young friend, I couldn't ask this from you, it is simply too much.'' A rare thing happens in this moment, without thinking our hero jumps into the lake and dives in search for the crown, hoping that nothing will try to eat him along the way. While the lake's surface was quite a beautiful sight to be seen, the deeper our hero dived, the more terrifying these waters become. Wreckages of old boats, skeletons of giant creatures and silhouettes swimming towards the center of the lake. Our hero led by this newly found heroism and adrenalin dived deeper and deeper and then he saw it. A golden crown lying on the bottom of the lake. With just a few breaths left, our hero rushes more deeper suddenly chased by all the creatures of the lake who tried to stop him from obtaining the crown. With only one hand he grabs the crown and starts to swim up to the surface as fast as he could. Sadly one of the creatures catches up to him and grabs his leg, pulling him deeper down. Our hero starts to loose his breath and the crown slips from his hands. while he slowly starts to lose consciousness.  Suddenly a bright burst of light flashes and all the creatures immediately scatter and swim away into the darkness, as our hero starts to fade away, as well. Omaememwae: '' Hey kid, are you alright!? Wake up!''  Once again our brave hero wakes up on field beside the lake and starts to get up. Soaked and tired of swimming he barely stands up and hears Omaememwae talking, but he can't see from where. He turned his head towards the rock to see a toad wearing a golden crown. Omaememwae: '' You're awake! Hahaaa! Ohh the joy! My dear friend, I am in your service! I don't know who you are and where do you come from but your name will be known and celebrated in my entire kingdom! For a second I though you were the most foolish lad I have ever met, diving like that without thinking! But when I saw you were attacked by those nasty creatures I just had to do something, so I jumped as well, thinking I couldn't left you to die because of my mistakes! So this time the lake didn't froze! And immediately as I jumped there was this strange warm light coming out of the crown pulling you and me both towards the surface! And the next thing I remember, the curse was lifted! And I didn't even wear the crown! So whatever you did, thank you!'' Our hero, still gasping for air, bows to the king while he still couldn't  believe that the story of Omaememwae's Curse was real...also thinking it was a good thing he didn't almost died for nothing. Both of them spent some time together talking, laughing and while the last light of the sun was setting on Ravenia, Omaememwae headed back to his family and our hero resumed his path to Bathan's home. 

Forgemaster Bathan:


As our hero continued to travel towards the old master Bathan's home, he started to feel a bit cold since his clothes and armor were still wet.  Suddenly, at the end of street, he sees a quite large sign above the house on a smaller town square that says ''Forgemaster Bathan''. Without any time to loose, our hero hastens toward the entrance and knocks. After a few minutes no one answers so he tried knocking again. Once again, no one responds. The night was turning colder with each passing minute so our hero tries to inspect if there's a back entrance or any other alternative way to get in. He jumps across the small wooden fence into the yard that seemed to lead towards the back of the house. And there he sees a door slightly opened and a bright burning light coming out of the house. Our hero, once again without thinking, rushes over to the entrance and enters the household. He immediately regrets that decision and stands frozen in fear, while gazing into the head of a sleeping dragon. He also noticed that the inside of the house was strangely bigger than it looked on the outside, but that was the least of his concerns for now. As he silently starts walking backwards, in hope that he will not wake the dragon, he hears a voice telling him: ''You know she's quite lovely when you got to know her! No reason for fear, although you did break into my house sooo...". Our hero turns his head to right and sees a talking mouse on shelf leaning and polishing what seems to be some kind of tinny blade. Our hero immediately starts apologizing, in a whispering manner, and explains his reason for coming here. Bathan thinks for a second and then he speaks: '' Hmm, your armor does look like it's seen better days, here's what we're going to do! I'm going to wake up Hilda and then we'll see if something can be done. HILDAAAAA!!!'' With a split of a second the ground starts shaking as the mighty dragon starts to yawn and wakes up while our brave warrior stood frozen once again. Hilda: '' Whhaaaat!?!? Oh my, what do we have here? Bathan, I already told you that I switched to healthier food, organic stuff only! Hmm, but I might make an exception this time, yum! Our hero passed beyond frozen, by hearing these words he couldn't move or speak. Bathan: "Ahhh, be quiet and stop scaring the kid, he looks like he's been through enough already. Fire up the forge! We have work to do!'' Hilda: ''Ah fine you grumpy old mouse!'' Hilda the dragon starts breathing fire into the smallest forge you've ever seen. It couldn't possible be fit for a regular sized person, but seemed to be the exact fit for the Bathan. After a couple of minutes while or hero gathered an ounce of bravery to finally move he also noticed that this was unusually clean workshop, considering there was a fire breathing dragon and lots of dirty work included. There were weapons of all sorts. Rapiers, scimitars, double-handed swords, shields of many shapes. But the entire household was spotless and clean. Our hero's gazing was suddenly interrupted by Bathan saying: "Hey kid, come over here! Make yourself useful'' . Our hero carefully tried to pass by the dragon, while Hilda teasingly smiled as he passed by to reach the forge. Bathan: ''Take this hammer! When I give you the sign start hitting this exact spot on the armor, got it?'' Our hero took over the hammer and carefully awaited for the Bathan's sign. Bathan: ''Aaaand, go!''. With each hit there was a strange magical spark coming out of the fire, imbuing into the armor repairing all the cracks and damage immediately. Bathan: "Well done, now turn the armor around and do the exact same thing for about one hundred times and you'll have yourself a new armor made!''.  As the hours passed by our hero continued to do craft his new armor. With time he even became accustomed to the presence of the Hilda. And he even became very fond of the dragon once he realized that she was quite a gentle soul. Together they worked all night until the dawn and by then our hero's armor was in a much better shape than before the battle. Once the first light of the day crawled through the window, the armor was finished. Bathan: ''You did a fine job kid, come now, join us for breakfast before you leave, something tells me you haven't had a decent meal for quite some time!''. After the breakfast, our hero thanks them both for hospitality and kindness and leaves. Just a few moments after leaving through the front door, our hero turns around and tells Bathan about the Rovan's request. In just a split second Bathan gasps and shuts down the door immediately, leaving our young warrior to wonder.


Song of The Night:


Satisfied with his newly repaired armor and with a bright smile on his face, our hero decides to head back to Ravenia's town square in hope that he will finally find some answers on what exactly is this place and how to get back home. When he arrived there were was a huge celebration followed by the magnificent performance of the trumpet brothers, Rovan served his best beverages while standing on the edge of the fountain. Even the old King Toad came with his family to enjoy this festive event. Our hero decided to join them thinking that he could probably wait a little bit more before asking any questions. As the day turned to night, folks of Ravenia slowly turned back to their homes, and our hero was left with only but a few very familiar faces to sit and gaze upon the setting sun. Forging the armor took it's toll so naturally he was very tired and decided to fall asleep under the fountain thinking: ''I could probably ask about the way back home tomorrow''. As he began to close his eyes, the familiar friends turned to silhouettes, the entire Ravenia slowly started to fade away into dust, and our hero was asleep.


Until We Meet Again:


Awakened by the strange noise in distance, our hero awakens. Only to find out that he was back on the same spot in front of the forbidden forest, in the exact same place where he fell asleep. Lying on the grass, a bit confused, he noticed a small group of soldiers from his kingdom, cheering and playing the sounds of victory. While he didn't feel any pain or injuries, his armor was still damaged and broken from the battle that was happening that night. ''Was this all a dream?'' our hero wondered. In that same moment the words start to appear on the ground saying: ''Thanks for visiting, friend! Until we meet again!''. After reading these words our hero stands up, removes his armor and starts walking back home with a hearth full of joy and a smile on his face.

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I hope you all enjoyed this adventure folks!
While these stories are my own interpretation of the songs featured in this album, you are completely free to use, change or adjust them to your liking for your own campaign setting!

This album, like my many other releases, was possible because of your incredible continuous support!

Love you all very much,

-Philip