Elara led them down a narrow stone staircase hidden behind her forge’s hearth, each step humming with a subtle warmth. The walls themselves seemed to glow with life, veins of feint golden leyline energy pulsing beneath translucent crystalline stone, illuminating their descent.

At the bottom, the air opened into a vast subterranean chamber. Water trickled in quiet streams along mossy rock ledges, pooling into a crystalline basin at the chamber’s center. Faint motes of golden light drifted lazily above the forge like fireflies caught in an unseen breeze. In the center of it all stood an ancient anvil, its surface etched with spiraling elven runes that flickered with the pulse of the leyline energies below.

Here is a structured plan to integrate Slumpet’s espionage thread based on his player’s responses, while keeping it subtle, impactful, and world-coherent:

🎭 Key Takeaways from Player Feedback

• Yes, Slumpet is conducting espionage.
• He uses Thieves’ Cant to contact a comrade for message drops.
• He was “brainwashed” in prison to work with the dwarves.
• The dwarves are likely a splinter group rather than an official kingdom faction.
• He doesn’t want a solo side quest but does want an opportunity to get a message out.

🔧 Narrative Integration Plan

1. Establish Context Subtly In-World

Since the party doesn’t know about Slumpet’s espionage, introduce it via environmental or NPC prompts:

Tempus Campaign Check-In: Survey Summary

Thanks to everyone who completed the survey! Here’s what I’m hearing from the group:

What’s Working Well

• We love the world of Tempus - Everyone wants to keep exploring it
• Combat and tactical encounters remain engaging for most players
• The current storyline has momentum - everyone wants to see how this arc ends
• Group chemistry is strong, with interest in collaborative storytelling

Areas for Change

• Pacing: There’s appetite to move through story beats more quickly, potentially using time skips
• Setting variety: Strong interest in exploring different parts of Tempus (desert, cities, ocean, other planes)
• Character evolution: Mixed feelings - some ready for dramatic character endings, others want to continue current characters
• System exploration: Most are open to trying different RPG systems (Shadowdark, Blades in the Dark, narrative systems)

What You Want More Of

• Puzzle-solving and social challenges (convincing guards, sneaking out of prison without combat)
• Character-driven roleplay scenes
• Exploration and discovery
• Big climactic moments

Moving Forward: My Proposal

Based on your feedback, here’s what I’m thinking:

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses! Here’s a quick summary of what I heard and what it means for the campaign going forward:

We’re Staying in Tempus
Everyone wants to keep playing in the world we’ve built together. There’s strong interest in seeing through key arcs like the Weaver’s legacy, Summer’s Edge, and the threat of the Cult. That’s awesome to hear.

Character Arcs: Mythic Moments Ahead
Two of you are excited about giving your current characters big, dramatic conclusions. One is undecided but open, and one wants to continue with their current PC long-term. We’ll be planning for Shad’s exit in a way that’s emotionally powerful and opens the door for a new character connected to factions like the Chained Library or Massa’ista.

Tempus Campaign Check-In

Your Name

(Optional): ___________________

1. Current Feelings

How are you feeling about the campaign right now?

(Choose one or more if you’d like.)

• Still energized and having fun
• A little tired, but still interested
• Feeling burned out on my character
• Burned out on the campaign
• Curious about changing directions
• Not sure how I feel right now

2. Staying in Tempus

Do you want to continue playing in the world of Tempus?

• Yes, I love this world and want to keep exploring it
• Maybe, if we explore a new region or shift focus
• I’d prefer a totally new world or genre
• Not sure yet

What aspects of Tempus still interest or excite you?

free response