For several days approaching the last new moon of summer, the circle of

Uncommon, ingested, onset (2 minutes), cost 2,400 gp

Forced to relocate to their current home a generation before, a clan of hill dwarves thought nothing of the lower hills to the east of their settlement. Nothing, that is, until a creeping evil made its way into those hills and the undead poured out—for those were no hills, but barrows, crypts from centuries before. Songs are still told of the dwarves’ struggle, even lifetimes later, and how a cleric of the goddess of smiths was taught how to forge the vibrance of the summer sun itself into a powerful weapon: the first summer blade.

Long ago, dozens of city-states controlled small territories along the Great River, and pre-eminent among them were the three cities:

Desetton, the northern island city of scholars; Sateze, the militaristic fortress city on the eastern bank; and Whelside, the wagon city, newest of the three and awash with coin from the growing merchant class. Those cities are now collectively known as Ternion, the capital of the river nation and named for the word “unity” in the ancient tongue. The story of its formation is celebrated at the Festival of Bridges.

Ignanfeast is rooted in an ancient agreement struck with the spirit of Iganis, and is said to placate the fey fire spirits. It is most commonly celebrated among the farmers of lowland plains, where wildfires are a constant threat to their grainfields.

Whether in the Dreaming or the waking, dryad groves are sheltered and secret places where potentially dozens of heart trees are carefully tended behind walls of bramble and wards of misdirection. Here the capricious dryads play out a microcosm of the fey courts, jostling for social position amidst the Court of Groves, which may or may not involve other dryad groves. Life here is safe from everything but gossip, drama, and intrigue. However, the efforts of the older dryads do little to keep the naturally curious sprouts—mortal and fey alike—from venturing out into the world.