The Plane of Vitas Nova

Weber Hollows

5 min read

Weber Hollows

The destination for Dorian and K’roaa’ka’s delivery mission. A settlement somewhere along the trade road from Thornhollow, further out than Thorndeep. Hesta gave Dorian a missive to deliver there along with 70 gold to hire an escort.

South of Freewood, roughly a fortnight’s journey. Dale “the Bard” reported the White Stag was seen near here by a “crazy old man” — described variously as a man in white armor or a white deer. Forge-Doomhammer confirmed the White Stag is one of the 13 Verdant Lords and directed Roland and Tharion to seek it here.

Weber Hollows is the convergence point for both pairs: Dorian and K’roaa’ka traveling from Thornhollow, Roland and Tharion traveling from Freewood. The party has now arrived.

Founding

Weber Hollows was founded roughly 50 years ago by Aradorn Barrows the Unifier — a Verdant Lord — alongside his sworn brother Isar Recmir. The current head of the town is Aradorn’s son, Flinter-Barrows, who inherited the Verdant Lord seat upon his father’s death.

Per the crypt panels (revealed in session 2026-05-01), the brothers’ relationship eventually broke down: an argument, then one set fire to allow the other to enter cave depths, then a cave-in separated them forever. Metallic structures appear in the background of those panels — “metal augmentations to homes, something nature would reject” — possibly the same builder-craft as the lifting mechanism below town.

The Lifting Mechanism

In session 2026-05-01, the party witnessed Weber Hollows itself descend during the night fog and re-ascend by morning — “like a docking plate that opens up the staircase.” The town sits on a mechanical or magical platform that cycles up and down. Builder, purpose, and trigger conditions unknown. Likely tied to the founders’ “metallic features” hinted at in the crypt panels.

Notable People

The Dark Pall

Echo senses pervasive dark magic on the land of Weber Hollows itself. She refuses to enter town and has to be loaded into the cart for transport. The party suspects a blanket illusion or a curse over the settlement. The mutilation site at the pasture above town also reads as devilish or demonic in nature.

Note: Flinter himself does not seem to trigger Echo’s fear, suggesting he is not the source.

The pall is decades old. Per Nora-Barrows in session 2026-05-01: her father-in-law Aradorn “would speak of fog from time to time” before his death, and lost his mind several years before he passed away. The fog has been recurring for at least a generation; Aradorn may have been its first witness or first victim.

Working theory (Dorian’s coined term, “Crypt Lord”): Isar Recmir — whose sarcophagus in the Barrows-Family-Crypt is empty — is animate and undead, wearing Aradorn’s missing ring (a Speak-with-Dead band, recovered from the owl bear’s lair this session). Isar is the suspected source of the fog, the savage animals, the red eyes, and the Amareses blood symbol misdirect on the cattle.

The Fog (Session 2026-05-01)

A thick supernatural fog rolls in around midnight and dissipates near dawn. Observed effects:

  • Sits only on the lower levels of town — the upper ridge stays clear.
  • Animals go savage. A chipmunk bit Azalea; via Speak with Animals it just repeated “feed.” The land is starving.
  • A voice in the woods imitates a young child crying for help. Direction varies. Bait.
  • Glowing red eyes seen in the distance, indistinct shape.
  • An owl bear roar heard from the cliff caves.
  • The owl bear there reportedly lost his mate to the fog. He grieves; doesn’t attack the party. (“To slumber, or to suffer.“)
  • Tharion’s fire ritual revealed wood cracking into the shape of a skull — confirms negative spirits at work.

Hazards Around Town

  • An owl-bear was heard along the cliff path between town and the pasture above. Avoided.
  • Goblin corpses have been found in cave pits along that same cliff path.

Open Threads

  • Cattle mutilations with the Amaresis symbol drawn in blood at the pasture above town. Likely a misdirect by Isar (or whoever wears Aradorn’s ring) to frame the nature goddess.
  • Aldrich-the-Lore-Master’s reaction to the party (he was reportedly slapped). Worth following up.
  • The Barrows-Family-Crypt founding records (now substantially explored).
  • The lifting mechanism: who built it, who maintains it, why does it cycle?
  • The slender white-furred antlered humanoid in the crypt’s hidden lower panel — corrupted Amareses, or the goddess herself with a dark face the party hasn’t seen?
  • Speak with Dead on Aradorn — pending; the party has the ring and intends to use it next session.

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