Lost Wolf Missives – Emberwolf Archives, Coggesmoot
We are excited to premiere the Tamrinor Adventurer’s Guide to Haven’s Coast and Windsfurrow at the upcoming UK Games Expo (UKGE). In anticipation of the launch, and to release supplementary materials that didn’t make the initial printing, this post will introduce the Emberwolf Archives branch located in Coggesmoot. This chaotic town is renowned as the home of the goblins, the preeminent tinkerers and Artificers in Tamrinor.
You might ask, what are the Emberwolf Archives? Publicly, they are known throughout Tamrinor as beacons of knowledge – an extensive system of libraries and educational institutions committed to enlightening the masses. But delve deeper, and you’ll discover their clandestine role. The Emberwolf Archives are also Tamrinor’s unseen guardians, a web of spies who unearth forgotten lore and harness arcane energies. Their secret mission: to shield the populace from the insidious and often hidden dangers that threaten the land.
Near the centre of the chaotic town of Coggesmoot, home to the tinkerers, alchemists, arcanists, and goblins, stands a stone building. Despite the frequent explosions and mishaps of the surrounding town, it remains strong. This is the Windsfurrow branch of the Emberwolf Archives. Passersby often report hearing faint chimes, or the sounds of gears grinding, even when the building appears to be quiet and empty. Unusually for the Archives, this branch has two heads of operation. Ticker, the goblin and Parlo Enneth Nora Nimble Ignis, or Penni, the Avian.
Ticker is small, even for a goblin, with wiry limbs and a hunched posture. He moves quickly and erratically, always seeming to be in a hurry, or working on several tasks at the same time. His hands are stained with a mix of grease and ink, evidence of his constant tinkering with the strange machines. Ticker’s clothing is a mix of practical and haphazard. He wears multiple pockets, pouches and belts, each filled with tools, gears and scraps of paper. His garments are stained, torn and mismatched, but perfectly suited for his work in the Communications Centre. His hands are nimble and dexterous, with long, bony fingers that fly across the machine controls. They are rarely still, always fiddling with something, whether that’s a loose screw or a piece of paper. He speaks rarely, but quickly, often muttering to himself, or giving rapid-fire instructions to his team. His speech is peppered with technical jargon which can make it hard to follow for outsiders.
Ticker runs the chaotic Communications Centre, a den of ticking, clicking, and whirring machines that constantly spew reams of paper. Some rumours say the machines can communicate over long distances, keeping Ticker and his team in contact with their operatives in other Archive branches across Tamrinor and beyond. Others suggest their machinery interacts with the weave of magic itself, intercepting hidden messages sent by wizards, sorcerers, clerics, and bards. Who can say which of these rumours is true? Ticker’s team certainly will not be telling anyone. Occasionally, Ticker’s team will venture into the town square to purchase new, unusual components for their machines, or to distribute cryptic messages on strange paper.
Penni understands something of the workings of the Communications Centre. She knows enough to want no further part in it for deniability, but also recognises their work is vital to the Archives. Penni is busy running the public-facing aspects of the library, teaching classes for those interested in furthering their learning, and taking care of the arcane needs of the Archives’ small vault and transportation circle. In the main reading room, there’s a large globe that seems to show shifting constellations and unknown lands. Behind an heavily locked door is the restricted section of the collection known as the Vault of Whispers, which is said to contain knowledge too dangerous for the common mind.
Penni stands with an almost regal posture, lean and agile. Her eyes are sharp and intelligent, often scanning her surroundings for some form of advantage. She dresses practically, favouring fabrics in earthy shades. Her clothing incorporates small decorative feathers and the sigil of the Archives. She often wears gloves or fingerless gauntlets, perfect for handling the delicate items in the Archives. Her voice is clear and melodic, with a slight lilt. It can shift quickly from gentle instruction to sharp command when called upon.
