JANUARY 2025

Showing through March 1, 2025

A Leyaluthan Tale, Original Score
Luke Litwiller, Composer

Luke Litwiller, a composer from Harrisonburg, VA, primarily employs virtual instrument technology to create music described as "directly emotional, reminiscent of epic movie scores with a Celtic-Tibetan fusion." Their work spans documentaries, commercials, podcasts, video games, and live performances. Passionate about enacting social justice via storytelling, Luke uses their compositions to accompany artistic projects that disrupt dominant narratives, promote equity, or simply bring joy and fun to the world.

We asked our friend Luke to create an original score for the campaign and are excited to share it with you here!

We put out a call in 2024 for a group show where artists were invited to create a piece inspired by a Dungeons & Dragons adventure written by dungeon master, Nathan Musselman. Now we bring you the full story to enjoy!

ALL ABOUT THE QUEST!

Geographical: Adventure takes place in the environs of The Spine; a long and high mountain range. A tropical cloud forest covers the mountain tops, to the east transitioning to rainforest to coastal jungle, to the west transitioning to scrubland then to lowland desert.

Biological: All creatures reproduce asexually. Reproduction usually occurs in proximity to ley lines and life cycles either take place near them or involve migration/visits to them.

Material: Ores and metals are unknown to the peoples of the world. Material cultures make use of stone, earth, animal and plant materials, including magically hardened stonewood.

Magic: Magic is produced by manipulating meridians on the body via movement and/or tattoos. Low magic is common among people, high magic more specialized among those trained to do so near ley lines.

Technology: Renaissance level of tech, though some cultures do not aspire to that level.

Adventurers:

  1. Dwarf Druid. Hails from the largest dwarven settlement in the lower jungles who specialize in the manipulation of plant life and dwell in the carved out trunks of enormous magically-shaped trees.

  2. Elf Ranger. Born into a since deceased family of nomadic elves in the western deserts who eschew the use of machines, what they call false life, and value freedom above all else.

  3. Gnome Fighter. Raised and educated in the artificer-warrior society of the gnomes, who excel with mechanical inventions and possess the secret of stonewood.

  4. Human Sorcerer. Possessed by a knack for innate magic like many short-lived humans, taught by the small community of Longleaf to use magic for the good of all.

  5. Catfolk Monk. Among the monastic catfolk learned to call for the aid of the ancestor spirits to aid in the purification of mind and body, and to guide them on the Hunt. 

The Adventure

The adventurers responded to the call of the Spinal Council, a loose representative body of the peoples of the region. Humans and gnomes have been going missing and there have been reports of beast-like people skulking in the night forest. Rumors are growing that the Hunt of the catfolk has turned homicidal. The party is tasked to get to the bottom of it.

View the show below!

View the show below!

The Spirit of Leyaluthan — A D&D Art Adventure

  • 1 - Fantasy map of the Spine.

    Julia Koehler
    Where To?
    acrylic, colored pencil
    $125

  • 2 - While investigating rumors at the catfolk monastery of Misthaven, the monks are confronted by a furious human family whose teenage child has mysteriously disappeared. Elliandra uses eir considerable charisma to calm the family while Mir reassures eir kinfolk.

    Runesael Flynn
    The Missing Child & Dice
    various mediums
    Some items are NFS

    Bespoke Resin Polyhedral Dice (top row)
    Mosswalker
    $120

    Born of Mischief
    $90

    Mesocyclone // DM Set
    $125

    Thindra’s Sketchbook Pages
    $40/each, $75 for both

  • 3 - Convinced the monks know nothing of the disappearances, the party decides to visit the site of the missing teenager. Arihel’s tracking skills determine that a violent struggle did occur and that the tracks leading through the forest away from the site are definitely not catfolk.

    Tyler Kauffman
    Into the Forest
    acrylic on panel
    $950

  • 4 - Following the tracks, the party encounters an injured mandilon, a fearsome insectoid predator. In the inevitable fight with the aggressive beast, the party emerges victorious only because the creature is already wounded, with Thindra landing the fatal blow. As the group moves on, Thaurir says a quick blessing for the creature.

    Silas Huber
    Bug Monster Encounter
    pen & marker
    $18.92

  • 5 - The companions’ path descends the spine’s eastern slope out of the cloud forest. E approach a strip of especially abundant life stretching ever eastward. On the ley line, a group of humans perform a fertility ritual around one of their own on a large moss-covered boulder. Mir asks if e should warn em of the danger. Keenly feeling the family’s longing for a young spirit, Elliandra shakes eir head. “E would not depart in any case, leave em to their supplication.”

    Finnian Wengerd
    The Ritual
    acrylic on canvas
    NFS

  • 6 - The tracks lead further east to the majestic Cliffs of Muran, overlooking the tropical jungles that the dwarves call home. With night approaching, Thaurir advises the party take refuge with eir people and instructs em on the use of the magical gondolas that the dwarves use to scale the cliffs.

    Reed Shristi
    Cliff Gondolas
    pastel & graphite
    NFS

  • 7 - The travelers gaze up at enormous eledhars - ancient trees magically cultivated and molded into dwellings, bridges and other shapes no natural tree could form - as e are led to the town elder. Elder Frunin speaks to Thaurir at length in private of druid matters and gives em the gift of a massive rune-inscribed acorn. “I believe you know what to do with this Thaurir Mosswalker.”

    Ziyi Yang
    Untitled
    acrylic on canvas
    $30

  • 8 - The next morning, the party retraces its steps and finds that the tracks require em to scale the cliffs downward, the hard way this time, along narrow ledges. Thindra slips and would have fallen to eir death if not for Mir’s feline agility and keen awareness of eir surroundings.

    Jon Styer
    Descending Muran
    watercolor & ink on panel
    $800

  • 9 - The party finds a dark cave and follows it into the mountain. Their way illuminated by one of Thindra’s devices, the party descends deeper into the mountain until e are attacked by smearlings, huge acid-spitting slugs of great speed and veraciousness. This time it is Elliandra who secures the companions’ survival, eir arcing strikes of lightning frying one smearling after another.

    Malea Gascho
    Into the Mountain
    mixed media
    $200

  • 10 - The group stops to rest while Thaurir heals eir wounds. Thindra warns the party there is little doubt that this passage leads deep into the undermountain and is not watched by the gnome Stoneguard who defend the surface world from the danger that lurks in the depths: the Corrupted. Twisted amalgams of different creatures, abominations devoid of spirit. Thindra insists e are not prepared.

    Loring Gibson
    Corrupted Undermountain Gateway
    mixed media
    $250

  • 11 - The party does not heed Thindra’s warnings. Journeying onward, Arihel’s keen eyes find an unexpected boon. Beside the corpse of some unfortunate victim lies a rotted quiver containing what are obviously enchanted arrows. “What does it do?” asks Mir. “We will see” smiles back Arihel.

    Carsten Williams
    The Discovery of the Quiver
    digital art
    posters - $29/each
    postcards - $4/each

  • 12 - Descending ever deeper, the group find emselves on an overhang at the end of a gigantic cavern, eir jaws dropping. Extending from under the overhang to the other end of the cavern runs a thick, pulsing, twisting cord of blue light. “Shuhumna, the world’s central meridian” whispers Thaurir, tears falling from eir eyes.

    Matthew Phelan
    Cave Painting
    acrylic on wood panel
    $1111

  • 13 - As the companions’ more fully take in what lies before em, eir wonder turns to horror. Bathed in blue light, the cavern is swarming with Corrupted, some grotesquely humanoid in shape. Several of em remove two of many prisoners from a large cage, apparently at the command of a handful of humans and gnomes, all dressed in odd garb as if members of a strange cult. “Impossible” growls Thindra in confusion and denial.

    Steve Aderton
    Lost Media: Corrupted Attack
    mixed media
    NFS

  • 14 - The Corrupted drag the prisoners to Shuhumna and the gnomes set four devices on the ground around em. One of the humans casts a spell and one prisoner falls to the ground dead, eir rising spirit visible in the glowing light of Shuhumna as it joins the flow of that great ley line. A second spell, and the second prisoner falls as the gnomes initiate eir devices which creates an ever shrinking forcefield that forces the spirit of the second prisoner into the body of the first.

    Kacey McCann
    The Ley Line's Light
    digital art
    $120

  • 15 - The first prisoner’s body convulses and twists into a hideous combination of the two prisoners. Cursing, a furious cultist kills the new Corrupted and an argument breaks out among em. “E are useful to us!” declares one. “Failures, all failures!” retorts another.

    Emily Leary
    Corrupted
    mixed media
    sold

  • 16 - While the cultists argue, Mir decides to try and sneak down to release the prisoners but is found out by a Corrupted with the legs of a spider and the head of a bat. Running for eir life, Mir screams a warning to eir friends.

    Matt Musselman
    Don't Split the Party
    acrylic on canvas
    $700

  • 17 - Arihel covers Mir with eir enchanted arrows, each catching flame in the air and exploding on impact, while Elliandra creates a fierce wind to slow the Corrupted advance. Thindra and Thaurir try to find an escape route.

    Rachel Herr
    Take Flight
    quilted cotton
    $200

  • 18 - Thindra calls eir friends to follow em down a narrow tunnel and attaches devices to the walls. As the companions run by, Arihel aims for one of the devices and detonates it with a flaming arrow. The passage explodes and caves in, blocking the Corrupted advance.

    Jonathan Stewart
    Detonate
    oil on canvas
    $150

  • 19 - Now lost in an unexplored tunnel, Thaurir casts a spell that allows em to detect the slightest movement of the air and leads the party for many hours until e emerge from the spine to see a beautiful sight: the sun setting over the rainbow sandstone formations of the western desert. Exhausted, the friends settle in for the night, eir heads full of troubled thoughts and nightmares.

    Petra Huber
    Untitled
    watercolor, pen & crayon
    NFS

  • 20 - Before sunrise a tribe of nomadic elves sneaks up on and surrounds the companions, spears and bows drawn. Arihel, distantly related to one of the ambushers, deescalates and explains the situation. The elves are alarmed at the story, but not entirely surprised. E have been hunting Corrupted emerging from a particular cave. The desert tribe pledges eir aid.

    Christy Broy
    Before Sunrise
    mixed media diorama
    $75

  • 21 - The companions and eir new allies delve deep into the spine again and miraculously find eir way back to the cultists’ cavern, but not before encountering two Corrupted. The creatures fight viciously, wounding Elliandra and one of the elves. But the party emerges victorious and Thaurir heals the more grievous of eir wounds.

    Karen Ennis
    Mosswalker Blooming
    repurposed mixed media, paper mache
    $280

  • 22 - The companions formulate a plan. Elliandra aids the elves with buoyant winds as e jump off a cliff and engage with the Corrupted while Thaurir blesses em with magical protection from above. The rest of the party uses the distraction to engage the cultists with blade, bow, and claw, enraged Thindra leading the charge.

    Shaymus & Zeke Trainum
    Homage to the Battle of the Spine
    ink drawing on maple with oak and maple weapons
    $300

  • 23 - With the elves hardpressed by Corrupted, Thaurir transforms into a condor and flies over the melee. Dropping from the sky as a dwarf once again, e throws the magic acorn into the center of the Corrupted hoard. An enormous tree rapidly grows in its place, sending scores of thick branches down to the ground and caging the Corrupted inside.

    Britney Mongold
    Melee vs Magic Acorn
    mixed media
    $250

  • 24 - The Corrupted trapped, the companions overwhelm the cultists, taking two of em prisoner. Thaurir steps out of the giant tree and tends eir allies while Thindra interrogates the cultists. Mir frees the prisoners and finds the human teenager that initiated eir search, weak but whole. Arihel grieves with eir kin over one of eir own, fallen to the Corrupted.

    Luke Rodriguez
    Thaurir's Magic Tree
    lego
    NFS

  • 25 - The day is won but the friends discover that the fight has just begun. A tome of arcane runes and strange experiments reveal these cultists are not alone. A pact has been struck with someone or something e call the Ravenous. This entity has given eir devotees influence over the Corrupted and promises the still greater power of eternal life via controlling the transmigration of spirits. In return, the cultists pledge to tear a portal between a far plane of existence and Shuhumna itself. The Ravenous is ever hungry.

    Kyle Herr
    Tome Tells All
    oil pastel on wood
    $50