Twilight of Empires

Tesvevt Helvemvet is the largest island of the chain known as the Fogwashed Isles off the western shore of the Lake of Dreams. Covering nearly one square mile, the island was pushed up from the lake bed six hundred years ago when the Elven High King shoved the Eastwall Mountains over. The northern half of the island is relatively level, with an average altitude of fifty feet above the lake's waters. The southern half is more rugged and overgrown, dominated by the large hill above the fabled //Halls of Memory//.

The monastery at Tesvevt Helvemvet is home to 152 monks, all in service to the God of Dreams, referred to as Divine Morpheus. The first monks arrived approximately two hundred years ago, purportedly at the behest of their God, and built the earliest structures. Since then, a few candidates for the order arrive every decade, and take up residency serving their patron.

The monastic order in residence on the island is of comparatively recent vintage. There is no record of its existence anywhere before the Starfall in 687 IE. Membership is frequently divinely inspired, with the God of Dreams literally asking a prospective member to come to Tesvevt Helvemvet while they slumber. The membership is entirely male: it seems the God prefers women to serve in his priesthood in the outer world. The order is neither celibate nor ascetic: their purpose is to record and interpret the dreams given to them bu their God, and to assist others in understanding their own dreams. In the course of their duties, the monks have amassed an impressive library, encompassing a wide range of subjects, many of which they should have never had access to. The monks live largely on fish and potatoes (grown locally), and produce a pomegranate wine. They purchase other supplies in Eorl's Point with funds provided by pilgrims or from selling artifacts that wash up on their shores.

• Halls of Memory: A cave complex under the largest hill on the south end of the island. The monks are forbidden from entering them because of their vows, but it is said the whispers of their God are strongest here. It is also said they are cursed, by the Lakemen, but that is largely because their nature encourages visitors to remember things they might otherwise wish to stay forgotten.
• Lower Pier: Extends out into the cove on the west side of the island. The monks dock their self-propelled barge and their fishing boat here.
• Monastery: Set atop the cliff overlooking the cove. A sturdy and well maintained collection of buildings. The interiors can be described as “comfortable, with a tasteful simplicity”.
• Path of Enlightenment: a steep paved path connecting the lower pier to the monastery. The monks also have a sturdy winch to bring up supplies.
• Statue of Dream: This 15' tall single piece of quartzite is placed atop the tallest building in the monastery complex. The largely featureless humanoid form is very symbolic, and the polished milky-white material is quite visible on all but the darkest of nights.
• Upper Pier: The monks were divinely inspired to build this structure extending off the western cliff, finishing it days before the High Priestess of Asteria City arrived on her gryphon.

• Abbot Urcott: Current head of the order, 70+ year old human. Very dedicated to his work, and frighteningly adept in the blessings of his faith. Has mastered waking-dream techniques to the point he can function in two places at once; the more agile one is the astral form.
• Brother Adric: Junior monk, human, Lakeman. Assigned to the library as a “reading assistant”.
• Brother Ahmend: Senior monk, faun, former citizen of Gnoum. Left a traveling troupe at the age of fifteen to come to the island. Currently in his forties.
• Brother Blou: Junior monk, human, Lakeman origins. Moody, and has just enough mage talent to operate the order's barge.
• Brother Mauro: Uruk monk, age 34, formerly from southern Asteria. Brings a practical level of contrariness to the Order. Claims it took the God eighteen dreams to convince him to make the pilgrimage.
• Dreamguide, The: A cloaked and hooded humanoid who functions as chaperone and guide for all non-nightmare dream journeys in the monastery. Probably a semi-divine agent of Divine Morpheus, they neither eat with the brothers or have quarters in the dormitory wing. Despite their appearance (or lack thereof) and otherworldly voice, the Dreamguide is a comforting presence. Second in authority only to the Abbot.
• Loremaster Khaliss: “The Unforgetting”. Originally a Lizardman Beastmaster from the Empire of the Fang, now undisputed master of the monastery's library. Second in authority only to the Abbot and the Dreamguide. Brought a few friends along with him:
  • Burnice: A fat 4' long stegosaurus with an unreasonable amount of drake blood in her ancestry. Bernice's hide looks like cooled and cracked lava, and her dorsal plates (and tail spikes!) glow orange-red with heat. Lives in the central brazier of the library, and keeps things at a temperature her master can tolerate.
  • Front: general name for the flock of 200+ Xyzzyn that operates as Khaliss' staff. Not only is the swarm large enough to be sentient, they are collectively brilliant. Also more cold tolerant than their master.
  • Vail: Khaliss' cloak-mimic, and a large one at that. Vail is about as smart as an owl, can fly (not carrying it's master though), and has an inner lining covered with short vampiric needles. Khaliss is too durable for them to penetrate.
• Viscount Mournegil of Stilset: A House Drowe nobleman who made a generous donation to the monastery some time back. In exchange, he is allowed access to the library, and the services of a young monk to fetch books and turn pages for him. Aside form his first trip to Tesvevt Helvemvet, Mounregil always visits in astral form.