Eric – The World of Alduras

It’s a Maze Room Blitz! – Session 02

After their first successful foray into the dungeon, the team retired to their rooms to rest. When the team awoke, they noticed that two of their members, Bosk and Zyryx were not in their quarters. The crew assumed that the two had found other ways of entertaining themselves, and proceeded to return to the 2nd floor. After discussing their plans, they figured that the only way deeper into the dungeon was through the door at the end of the kobold caves. There was concern of their diminished numbers making the journey a bit more difficult, but Ulfgar was confident he would be able to make up for the difference.

The first wave of monsters proved to be easily dispatched, but reinforcements swarmed in and caused a party a bit of trouble. Grezlin, thinking quickly, whipped out the Wand of Wonder, pushing the button. From the wand came a small psuedo-dragon named Sir Reginald III who assisted the team is slaying the enemies. After the battle, Sir Reginald III communicated to Grezlin that he would continue to assist the party and proceeded to scout ahead.

After scouting ahead and finding more Kobold patrols, Ulfgar was able to show the team how he planned to make up for the other two warrior being absent. With a roar of bestial fury, he charged forward and his body grew into the form of a war painted brown bear, making short work of the kobolds in the vicinity.

Unfortunately, the noise and a frantic kobold trying to flee alerted the Sorcerer at the end of the dungeon to their presence and a grand melee ensued. The battle was going well in the party’s favor, until the Sorcerer conjured several copies of himself onto the battlefield, making things a bit more difficult for the party. After some close calls, the party slayed the Sorcerer and took a quite respite. While tossing the chamber for the spoils, they noticed that the magic items their received the last time they fought the Sorcerer were absent. They chalked it up to one of the quirks of the infinite dungeon and proceeded to move towards the door they had abandoned last time.

Once through the door, they found themselves in a chamber with tall walls that didn’t reach the ceiling and multiple directions they could traverse. As they took a short rest to collect their wits and formulate a strategy, they heard horrible screams and death cries of kobolds. Anaki climbed to the top of one of the walls to get a general look at the area around them. He saw this maze continued for the entire room with a glowing beacon further away. Using his information as a guide, they continued through the twisting corridors until they were confronted by the creature making all of the horrible noises: A Minotaur.

The creature was able to bend and manipulate the walls to accommodate its own girth, but Ulfgar wasn’t able to fully utilize his bear form, so he took the form of a Dire Wolf. After a single round of combat, the Minotaur made quick work of the lithe killing machine and Ulfgar was stuck between the beast and his teammates, horrified by its might. Thinking quickly, he recalled the Rock Octopus from the shores of Rendar and sprang forth to grapple the mighty beast. While the beast repeatedly beat on the soft flesh of the octopus, Grezlin and Anaki proceeded to unload on it. Eventually, the beast fell to the onslaught and the party sighed in relief. Before they could relax, the walls suddenly lowered, exposing the remaining Kobolds and the giant sphere of glowing energy. The party and remaining kobolds circled each other cautioiusly, before the Kobolds ran up the stairs where the party had come, leaving the party with the giant glowing mechanism.

The party crept closer to the mechanism, watching the electricity arc across its surface. Upon closer inspection, they could see a weapon lodged into the device, tempting them to come and claim it. Anaki, the very lithe rogue, sprang forward to grab the weapon and ended up getting up a bit crispy in the process.

Tired, electrocuted, and generally tapped out, the party descended to the third level, setting up a rudimentary camp and taking watches. The floor of the dungeon wasn’t as comfortable as their inn beds, but they were making progress. Would it be worth it to back track to return to [Lamp Town? Lamp Light?] or would they need to power their way through until they reach the 21st floor? Only time would tell.

Excitement and Trepidation – Session 01 Journal

While the others snored and stirred around him in their shared room, Ulfgar stared at the ceiling letting the events of the last few days wash over him. The night before, he was sleeping on the dirt staring at the stars, excited for what the day would bring. Now he was stuck in a nightmare of endless tunnels, looking for an escape. That being said, he was sent out into the world to learn and grow into an elite warrior. What better place to do so than a dungeon that none have ever exited alive?

His mind wandered to the bodies being sent out with the promise of being resurrected on the other side. Something about that entire situation seemed fishy to him. No one on the inside could confirmed or deny what was occurring and it all smelled like some sort of con job. That being said, he would need to figure out another way out of here. Something Gen had said echoed softly to him. ‘The planes could be one method of escape, no telling where’d you’d end up, though!’ The leaders of the Circle had spoken of planeswalking during his spiritual education and implied there were several worlds living parallel and apart from our own material plane. How long would it take for him to be able to invoke such magic? How would he know where to go and what planes were dangerous? He would need to do some research before trying something so reckless. He would also need to survive long enough to try.

Sighing, he rested the wooden carved totem of a Bear on his chest, tracing the runes across its shape. He wondered if Flora and Fauna could seem him down here. He wondered if they were proud of his courage and bravery. He hoped they saw the compassion he showed to his allies and the fury of how he struck down the murderous kobolds. He then thought of the woman that they had reached too late. He considered the possibility of retrieving the body and trying to find her kin. As the mixture of sadness and anger stirred inside of him he felt the sensation of a warm pair of arms drape around his shoulders and a warm cheek resting against his. A soft translucent glowing finger wiped the tear from his cheek that he didn’t even realize had fallen. His muscles relaxed then and sleep took him as he heard a soft voice sing to him.

Had his mother sang that song to him as a child?

Session 06 – A Three Hour Tour

As the team returns from the Hammersong Smithy, they return the pendant to N’alen from Avar. N’alen accepted the pendant, saying that their debt was paid, and proceeded to move in next door, forcefully. The team then prepared for a nice day or rest and relaxation, but life has a way of intervening. The team was visited by not one, but three callers that day in rapid succession.

Let’s start at the top, shall we?
1. There was a note attached to the door frame with a bat shaped throwing knife with the message, “Midnight, Old Town Market” from, who we can only assume, the man who called himself ‘The Night.’
2. Milo from the Saints told us that Garver was holding a meeting at the Abbey about a series of mysterious deaths around 8 pm.
3. A drunk asshole of a courier dressed in livery vomited in the apartment while telling the team that Avar requested their presence head of the time previously discussed at the Bearded Wench, but only an hour after the meeting with Garver.

After checking in Garver ahead of the meeting, Ash’rahm learned that the pair of halflings whom are generally with Tall John were found overdosed on a drug called “The Dream.” He encouraged the team to be at the meeting despite the times being very close to other engagements the crew had on their schedule.

Taking all of that into consideration, the team went on a shopping trip disguised as recon. While Geddon and Ash’rahm waited outside the Old Church, Maliston and Fynius went inside to see what delights were available. The clergy were selling a drug called “The Dream” that seemed very similar to the substance that Olan had made, if not more potent. The two grabbed a sample to study and investigated those at the Old Church who were partaking. When the team returned to their room they analyzed the samples and realized that they were created by some magical means.

The meeting at the Abbey was an official declaration of War against the Clergy. They have been dealing drugs on the turf of the Saints and several people have ended up dead because of it. The Clergy were also allied with the Slum Snakes and the Dead Eyed Crows, so the assembled group of Saints was reminded to not travel alone and to be on their guard. Maliston approached Garver after the meeting and relayed the information they had already gained to him and told him of his contact with Olan. He requested papers to get to the North Commons in order to look for Olan and find out any more information. Garver agreed and ordered the team, who was new enough to be not be noticed, to investigate as much as they could.

After the meeting at the Abbey, the team rushed to the Bearded Wench in order to meet with Avar. He informs those assembled that the job had been moved forward and was tonight. There was a delivery of magical cargo that would be delivered by the college to a ship named “Sweet Mary May” which was scheduled to head out to Bok’Tor at the first light of the next day. The team was told to retrieve a pendant with a blue crystal with the symbol of an eye for Avar and whatever was left would be sold off and the team would receive 30% of the profits. Avar, in his infinite generosity also said that the team would be allowed to keep 2 items of their choice. Avar gave the team two scrolls in order to aid them in their task. One, a scroll of invisibility, the other a scroll of dispel in order to open the crate, which would be magically sealed. He let them know that they had until morning tea the next day to get the items to him at the Smithy.

The team took their leave and proceeded to the docks in order to do recon. They learned the the ship had room for the team if they wished to book passage, but Ash’rahm figured that trying to stealing several items from a ship filled with guards and passengers would be much more difficult. He suggested to the team that trying to intercept the college’s vessel would be a much simpler bet, and if they deemed the college’s vessel to be too well guarded, they would try the other plan.

The crew manned their ragtag vessel and headed out onto the Kell. After a bit, they saw the vessel from the college, which was helmed by an older student, two younger ones, and a set of burly rowers. Ash’rahm had his doubts, but the team urged forward. The burly half-orc rowed with all of his might in order to catch up with the boat while Fynius and Maliston slung spells at the unsuspecting mages. While the Bard’s sleep spells only knocked out the mage in the back, the others retaliated in turn by sending a fireball at their boat. Maliston’s fog spell bought the team enough cover to try and board the vessel. While trying to protect the smaller members of his party, Ash’rahm fell at the hands of one of the boatmen after felling the other. That same boatman ended the life of Fynius shortly after. Maliston and Geddon finished off the rest and tried to abscond with as much of the gear as possible and sinking the college’s ship in the Kell with their friend’s bodies after saying their goodbyes.

Once they returned to the apartment, they remembered that N’alen seemed to be a fallen priest of some sort, so they begged him to try and save their friends. N’alen warned them that there would be a terrible price but the team agreed. N’alen requested items that were important to both Ash’rahm and Fynius and started the bizarre ritual. Ash’rahm’s soul was ripped from the veil and placed into the body of a male Drow, while Fynius found himself in the body of a male half-orc. N’alen then branded both of them and bound them to his dark lady, Azerot. He told them to get some sleep as it would be the last restful sleep that they would ever have again and to await further instructions. He told them they would have a busy next few days and that he had guests coming soon.

To be continued…

Session 04 – Ash’rahm

I need to get my shit together. I’ve never let myself fall this deep into apathy or dread or just plain EVIL like this before. Sure, when you’re desperate, you do what you need to do to survive. When you kill a man to protect yourself from retribution, that’s justified to an extent. Stopping someone from trying to shiv you for father’s book? Yes, that desperate mongrel had to be put down. But, the gnome from earlier today? That was… something else. It wasn’t even the order to “take care of it” that tripped me up. I just saw a person try to murder someone for no other reason than to rig a fight. I let a darkness in the back of my mind take hold and it clouded my judgement. It didn’t even hit me until I saw the deranged rogue start to do his sadistic healing ritual before I realized I squandered an opportunity to question the creature and find out what it was planning. A wave of shame and horror washed over me, but I couldn’t let the others see. I have to stay strong and determined and not show any weakness down here. That will get you killed.

I was barely listening when we were given to assignment to find the missing children. But when I heard the chance for redemption, I filed it away in my mind. Balance the good and the bad. Try to do something to make this place better. Be better than the monsters who put you here. The trip through the marketplace and the questioning of the meat vendor are still a little fuzzy to me as I didn’t feel like I was actually moving my own body. Dealing with vendors and merchants asking for coin I wouldn’t had dreamed of having weeks ago was surreal. I felt like I was going through the motions. The only time when I felt like I was truly in control is when I was swinging my mace at the undead monster. The moment he had me by the neck, it all slammed back into place for me. I could’ve died right then. I needed to get my mind back in order.

The further into the sewers we delved, the more I realized how much I didn’t know. Why was this pipe so cleanly made? Why does this lake look like a skull? What about this place is cursed? So many things didn’t make sense, but I had to just keep alert and aware and make mental notes of what we encountered. In my leisure time reading the books in father’s study, I remember an account of an adventurer who warned of the perils of “Dungeon Delving” and how there are cursed magical items in the world, but I was too distracted by seeing nicely made boots and weapons and other rarities that I had COMPLETELY forgot myself. Nothing helps you learn like making a mistake. Unfortunately, this mistake might get us killed. I will need to be more cautious in the future.

On a brighter note, being around other practitioners of magic has also rekindled my drive to continue my own arcane journey. Little did I know that watching and observing them cast and manipulate the weave would help me finally make the connection in my own mind and snap everything into place. Survival and secrecy had been my focus until now and the book was too valuable to take out unless I needed to. Luckily, I’ve been able to read through its pages when I was alone in our rooms the last few days. But now, sitting there in the dark tunnels of the sewers while my companions slept, I tried a spell I hadn’t tried since I was in class several months ago. A spectral version of my hand appeared in front of me, making a fist. I can’t remember the last time I smiled, but I was smiling now. During my watch, I continued to read the spells I could recall hearing about in class and I could finally see it all so clear in my mind. I was doing it. I was becoming the wizard I was meant to be.

Troubling Dreams

His waking memories of Rendar were few and far between but his dreams were full of his homeland. Running around on the farm, watching his Ma and Nan tending the household, his father and brothers wrestling during breaks from working the fields. One thing that seemed off was the woman watching from a distance. She was tall, pale, beautiful, and wearing billowing translucent robes. He’d never seen a woman like that before or else it’d be burned into his soul. Whenever he would notice her he would wake in cold sweats in his cell with the other slaves. Her image and presence fading from his thoughts as quickly as they had appeared.

Where he felt Throm’s pride and love flowing through him from his deeds and prowess, he felt something else wrong and dirty in the back of his mind. Every foe he felled brought that small voice and yearning a little further forward. It was but a whisper to the roar of Throm’s voice, but it was there.

He continued whispering the word of Throm to his compatriots as his fame in the pits grew. He knew some of them would betray him and tell the masters, but his notoriety and fame only grew. They continued to throw bigger and badder creatures at him. They tried to poison his gruel to weaken him, but Throm demanded equilibrium and a fair fight thus helped him cleanse his body. The more his strength of faith grew, the less he paid attention to the poison in his dreams.

Eventually, the night came where they tried to bring him down in his sleep. He was dreaming of being in the pit fighting the heroes of his people from the sagas his Nan would sing. He screamed out with joy at being blessed with such an honor, but slowly the heroes became monstrosities and creatures of madness. Desperation began to set in and he noticed the woman was alone in the stands watching. He called for her aid, he knew his strength was waning and he would be overwhelmed. He saw her shift in form several times rapidly until she was behind him, arms around his waist, whispering into his ear.

“I am hungry, my gorgeous boy. Let Mormo drink the blood of your foes.”

The weight of his great axe became nothing. The steel had become black and jagged and cruel. A large yellow eye in the point where blade connected to handle appeared glowing bright. He was dancing with death and knew no limitations. Black tendrils intertwined with his radiant bursts of energy. He launches bursts of power from his hand in addition to the swinging of his axe. He stood among the dead of the creatures that had swarmed him and he felt empowered. The dream melded away from him and he found himself naked standing in his cell surrounded by dead guards, holding the axe he saw in his dreams. He looked down into the yellow gem eye and heard the voice whisper again to him, “Feed me, Gothos, they tried to kill you this night, but we will make them pay.”

The rest of the night was a blur he doesn’t quite remember. Clad in the armor and clothes of his would-be assassins, he gained an upper hand on the guards he stood in his way. The leathers and tabard he wore over the armor became permanents stained red with the blood of those he butchered. Whenever he crossed an innocent he reined in the axe’s hunger and flashes of a tentacled creature screaming flashed behind his eyes, but he was stronger than that and the teaching of Throm steeled his hand. He eventually made it out of the city where the fighting pits were located, covering his grotesque visage in cloaks. He intimidated a trader to take him as far as he could and eventually make his way out of Vaegog.

He continued on town to town, offering his axe to caravans and his faith to those who needed it. He heard little from Mormo unless the axe was in his grasp, but he learned which jobs would keep her at bay more than others. He slowly learned to balance her hunger and Throm’s word and continues to live with the duality.

GAME 14: Freedom at Last!

Letter of Resignation
Well, the idiots did it again. They broke a contract WITH A BLOODY GOD and tried to become gods themselves. Typical.

To be continued…

– Cid Tallbreeze, Automation Expert of Ghent

Gothos’s Introductions
It had been several years since the liberation that freed him from his shackles at the hands of the cruel masters and Gothos was relishing in the freedom that came with it. Guarding a caravan seemed a boring expedition for most, but to him it was freedom. He joked with his fellow guards, played his lyre for them at dinner, and helped defend the merchants from nature and monster alike. This was LIVING and life. He could feel Throm’s strength in his arms and his pride in his heart. There was also the hunger. Mormo’s ever impatient hunger. She had never pushed, for Gothos had always provided, but work outside of the fighting pits has made her more and more voracious. She would visit him in his dreams to whisper into his ear about what he must do for her, but he could resist the more grizzly requests as long as he provided her with the blood she craved.

When he became lost on the pathways, Mormo’s hunger was a dull roar in the back of his mind, but as long as he kept the blade out of his grasp, he could ignore it. He was more concerned that Throm would be disappointed for losing his wards. Luckily, he ran into a group who seemed to need his kind in their employ, which promised much along the lines of what he needed. Killing a vampire? That would be a feat!

– Orally passed onto Osho whom he asked to write it down because he cannot write himself

GAME 13: Let Sleeping Gods Lay

DM Notes
Brother Osho is free once more. The Dark Lady was true to her word and had Brother Osho freed from prison before you even made it back to her. The group headed back to their dimensional home happy with the return of the monk to their ranks. As they sat talking in the marbled garden the world around them spun as someone was calling the doorway. Only two people knew the magical ritual to do such a thing Thorry (who was inside and certainly not doing it) and Lovejoy. Sure enough a moment later the party spied Lovejoy standing across the invisible threshold. A small quaint cottage stood behind him in the fields of northern Gracia. The group wasted no time letting him in. Hugs and face licking were abounds as Lovejoy was reunited with his old adventuring pals. It seemed that his “NEW” wife Elizabeth was fine with him taking the occasional souljurn of adventuring. The party was tired and decided to stay in this eve and talk with friends long missed. Alas as they walked the garden paths back to their tower they were interupted by a man coming from Lilith’s guady bronze tower. It was Lilith’s Father D’tric Goldstien. He looked different from before much younger in apperance than last they met. He nodded and said hello before telling the party to take good care of his daughter she would need them now more then ever. With that he walked off down the garden path and straight out the front door. It struck them all as odd seeing how they couldn’t get in or out without the blue stone key Thorry currently held in hand. They moved slowly to the center of the courtyard keeping a cautious eye on the bronze tower. Then something else that had never happened before happened. Lilith’s gate swung open and her voice called out inviting them inside.

GAME 12: Eight months later

Eight Months Later…

He tried not to blink, but his eyes were watery and blurry from the biting wind. It was difficult to see through the blowing snow. He stared as long as he could. He had to keep alert, but he was no match for the whipping wind.

He closed his eyes.

In that moment, Thorry thought of what led him to this day. It had been eight months since heading to rescue his friends trapped in a mysterious forest, the group scurrying around in their small, transformed animal bodies. It was in that adventure that the group enlisted Bane, the tall, fur-covered, cat-hating, and perpetually happy gnoll, whom they met from Ellsworth, one of the leaders of the monster hunter guild. After escaping the threat of forever eating acorns, the party reverted to monster hunting. They were quite successful, earning over 15,000 crowns from killing creatures both big and small for their valuable materials. The party also used Freedom Tower, as Thorry so named it, to its advantage of instantaneous travel by aiding in the Rendarian war effort, creating a lucrative market for trading weapons. The party amassed an additional 25,000 crowns in a short amount of time, all the while contributing to a good cause. The party’s coffers were stuffed.

Thorry’s mind lingered on the magical forest, and part of him wished he had been there from the beginning instead of nursing a broken arm. He wondered if anyone would believe Lovejoy’s recounting of the tale, one of which needed no exaggeration. He hadn’t had a chance to ask Lovejoy about the book, though, for he had left the tower. He had found love and married, and his heart had no room left for any other stories for quite the time. Thorry was a bit confused as he thought Lovejoy was already married, but before long the plethora of meat blossoms at the reception put the thought to slumber.

Lovejoy’s wedding was not filled with all of his companions. Donovich McSwill, the party’s chef, housekeeper, and shifty coin-snatcher, met his end as a meal to a manticore from one of the party’s previous monster hunts. Belfaur was off with his dwarf brethren helping in their war with the orcs. Brother Osho lost his patience with the party’s delays and set out to uncover the mystery of his tattoo of shame.

That left Thorry with only the newcomer Bane in his group. Unfortunately, despite holding the plain red ball, also known as the Orb of Eternal Friendship, an undefeatable duo they were not. Thorry tried to enlist the help of Lilith, but like with his date requests, he his request was denied. However, Lilith bestowed upon the party consolation gifts: to Bane, she enchanted his axe with a magical flame and the power to return to its owner after being thrown; to Thorry, a wand of cure wounds to keep his party standing and a wand of illusion that places cats, Bane’s archenemy, upon its target. Although great and interesting gifts they were, they were still only two. So, in their monster hunting when they encountered a very strange man who was hunting the same mark, Thorry convinced the man to join. Thorry quickly convinced Bane to accept him as well once Thorry threw the little red ball to the strange man.

“Three is greater than two. We can’t be stopped now, not since we possess the Orb of Eternal Friendship,” Bane proclaimed.
The strange man was Paul Anthony Dean, a self-taught neekromanker, as he called it. Paul A. Dean never had heard the words he read in his books aloud, so he knew not how they were pronounced. Thorry was sure that wasn’t how the word sounds. What concerned Thorry more than the man’s questionable intellect was that he had heard these dark mages made love to the deceased, that is unless Thorry himself was misremembering what a necromancer was. Even more troubling to the halfling was that Paul was accompanied by three animated skeletons, yet Paul spoke to them as if they were alive.

“You mean seven, right? Steve, quit being shy and say hello,” Paul said with delight.

Beggars can’t be choosers, Thorry thought. Over time, Thorry pieced together that Paul’s bony pals were Paul’s previous traveling companions. Paul described a perilous struggle with deadly creatures that severely endangered his group.
“So, how did you make it out alive?” Thorry inquired.
Paul nonchalantly stated, “Fortunately, I had just found a scroll of Aygaynazzare’s Scorker, and I quickly cast the spell Weest.”

Thorry’s brow raised. “East?”

“No, Weest. The group was Ee-ast.”

Thorry looked over at “Steve,” whose arm was currently being gnawed by Bane. Poor Steve, Thorry thought.

Thorry’s mind crashed back into the present as snow and ice exploded upwards in front of him and a massive arm swung down at him. Fortunately for Thorry, he was using his shield to protect himself from the raging winds, and he managed to raise it just in time to deflect an axe of ice. He bent his head far back as he looked up at the frost giant in surprise.

Paul was ready and quick to react, and he began chanting and motioned to Bane. Bane grew much larger, the spell enlarging his muscles and amplifying his wet dog scent to the detriment of Thorry’s nose. Bane crashed his axe down, striking the giant’s shoulder, but the giant brushed it off.

Standing small, Thorry yelled at the giant, vowing to defeat it. He whipped his warhammer forward and quickly cracked the giant’s shin twice, angering the towering foe. The giant struck back, slamming its axe into Thorry, leaving an icy splinter in his side. Bane chopped away at the giant, which caused the giant to retort. This, in turn, opened up an opportunity for Thorry to strike. He missed his target of the shin but found the giant’s toe, forcing a yelp from the creature. Paul’s skeletons surrounded the frost giant as Paul began to drain the giant of its moisture using his dark arts. “Go for the shins!” Thorry screamed. Bane obliged and began chopping away, exposing bone. With a final mighty swing, he cut the leg clean off, dropping the giant into the snow, blood spurting from its wound.

Bane wasted no time skinning the beast as Thorry climbed onto the giant and searched its pouches. He pulled out two massive hunks of gold bigger than Bane’s head. He rolled them down the giant and placed them into the bags of his celestial steed Cecilia. Once Bane completed skinning the giant, he rolled the skin up like a rug and carried it back to Freedom Tower, leaving a bloody trail all along the way.

It was times like these when Thorry missed McSwill. Perhaps the party could use their gains to hire a cleric to restore his life from his buried bones at their home, Thorry wondered. He pulled out his Decanter of Endless Waters and sprayed down the path. He then walked to Lilith’s Tower to boast of his feat. “Lilith,” he shouted, “I felled a frost giant!” His child-like bragging had no effect on the disheveled lady. “That’s great,” she said dismissively. “Say, could you bring me some food?” “I will make you dinner!” Bane shouted next to Thorry, causing the halfling to jump.

Bane quickly ran to the kitchen and pulled out a giant hunk of meat he procured from the frost giant and began to cook it. Once the meat was nice and slightly-less dark red, he plopped it on a platter. Forgoing the traditional method of preparation, Bane grabbed an unwashed potato and carrot and dropped it on the platter. He scurried back to Lilith’s tower and held the food high about the waiting Thorry’s head.

“I have brought you food!”

“Where’s mine?” Thorry asked.

“You did not say you wanted food. Only Lilith said she wanted food.”

Thorry hopped up to see the food on the plate. He noticed the carrot and potato were both uncooked and uncleaned, so he swatted them off the plate.

“It’s not much, but here’s the food I got for you. I hope you like it,” Thorry said, hoping to steal the credit.

Lilith opened her tower’s window, reaching out with droopy, tired arms and grabbing the plate. Thorry eyed the strange-looking meat as it passed hands.

“Bane, where did you get that meat?”

“From the frost giant.”

“From the giant? As in, the meat is giant meat? Lilith! Don’t eat it! It’s frost giant meat! I’m so sorry! It’s not my fault!”

Lilith either didn’t hear or didn’t mind. Thorry had never tasted giant meat before, but he knew some things just weren’t trying. He shrugged, then climbed the tower and swiped the mirror, revealing the grand city of Gracia. He walked his way to the portal, and Bane followed behind holding the giant skin. Paul and his friends followed, but Thorry stopped him before proceeding.

“You should leave your, um, friends behind.”

Paul was puzzled.

“Why?”

“Some people in Gracia may take issue with their…appearance.”

“I shall have them put on something else, then.” Paul began to command the skeletons to the tower to change.

Thorry blinked. “I don’t think that will help.”

“Fine, I will command them to stay here. They will do anything I wish.”

Thorry’s shifted his weight. “About that…are they aware of what is going on? Is there a part of them that is still your…friends? Because if so and they are your slaves…”

Paul smiled innocently, “Of course they are my friends, especially Steve. But they will always do what I say.”

“I always listen to my master,” Bane interjected.

Thorry turned to Bane. “That’s different. You still have free will. You could choose to not listen to your “master.”

“Why would I disobey my master? He is my master.”

“Nevermind. We will talk more of this later.” Thorry huffed and walked through the portal.

When the group emerged in Gracia, they startled two heavily clad paladins. One began to draw his blade, but the other recognized the group and waved for him to stand down. Bane recognized the man through past dealingsinvolving his master. He looked familiar to Thorry, but he was not important enough for the halfling to remember his name. However, Thorry did inquire if the paladin had leveled up recently, and if he by chance knew of any Gracian organizations that may beable to grant an ascension, for Thorry believed he was ready to become a level 8 Holy Light Knight. Baffled, the paladin said no to both inquiries and got down to business. He handed the party a pouch of 150 crowns, and he and the other knight hauled away the heavy frost giant skin.
The party headed back through the portal, but seeing Lilith’s tower and still feeling dejected, Thorry felt the need to lift his spirits. He announced to the others that he was donating his share to the righteous cause of freedom. Seeming as good of a cause as any, Bane donated his share as well. Seeing as how Paul appreciated control, despite his lack of grasp on pronunciation, he did not donate. Thorry stepped back into Gracia and wandered into a nearby church of Ariel. Since slavery is the greatest evil there is, Thorry assumed the clergyman knew exactly how to put the 100 crowns he gave to the best of use, but it took a bit of explaining that may or may not have gotten through to the holy man.

The party regrouped and Thorry was about to discuss their next course of action when all of a sudden something pierced his neck. He whirled around but saw nothing, but a moment later he heard a hiss. The small, winged pixie Kip popped into existence. With his hair slicked back and his clothes all black, he hissed again. His tiny fake fangs fell out of his mouth, but he quickly replaced them.

“The Dark Lady demands your presence immediately!” Kip hissed. “Do not be late, for it is a matter of life and death of your friend!”

Kip disappeared before the party’s eyes, and Thorry felt a shuffle in his pouch at his side.

“They have one of our friends! We must go rescue them!” Bane said somehow both gravely and excitedly.

But which one, Thorry pondered. Lovejoy? That would concern Thorry, but it was doubtful Lovejoy would get caught up in any trouble that his silver tongue couldn’t rescue him. Brother Osho? It could be possible, since the group is clueless of his whereabouts, and Thorry did consider him a friend of sorts. Belfaur? He is involved in war efforts, so it’s quite likely, but Thorry hardly knew him, and he left before completing his work on Cecil’s armor, so Thorry was in no rush to aid him. Daylin? Thorry found him quite uninteresting.

Or McSwill? Oh, right, McSwill is dead, Thorry remembered. The party should probably put forth their profits towards bring him back from the dead. Paul offered to bring him back for free, but Thorry emphasized that back from the dead means alive. Paul didn’t see much of a difference. He even showed Thorry and Bane that McSwill would be able to clean just like his friends, which handled a broom with such stiffness that most of the mess remained on the tower’s floors. Thorry waved the thought off and got back to the matter at hand. Somewhat.

“We’ll see what the Dark Lady wants after we recuperate. It can wait.”

Paul was intrigued by the name spoken. “Who is this dark lady?”

“An evil vampire that is forcing us to do her unrighteous bidding,” Thorry snarled.

“Oooooh, she sounds bad,” Bane quipped.

“Oh, I don’t think she sounds so bad,” Paul mused.

The party regained their strength before moving the portal and visiting the Dark Lady. Upon their arrival, they approached to the chatter of a group far down the long, dark room. As the group approached, they noticed the Dark Lady, accompanied by the other vampires Ed the Snake and Jin Atwater.

“Ah, if it isn’t the little halfling who believes himself a knight. Have any more slaves for me to devour?” Jin teased.
Thorry restrained his rage. “What do you demand of us this time?” he said to the Dark Lady.

The Dark Lady’s eyes opened only slightly. “Demand? Why, I have merely sent for you to warn you of your friend’s capture.”
“Why do you continue to hound us? We have done everything as you asked. Release our friend!”

“Yes, you have made yourself very useful, and you shall again. But it is not I who has your friend, the one you call Brother Osho. He has been arrested for the murder of the Duke. He is to be executed in two days time. That is, unless you assist me in another task. My workers have been excavating some ruins beneath the city and have come across an immovable object. I want you to move it. In return, I will see to it that your friend is released with his head still attached.”

Thorry was once again annoyed by the Dark Lady’s vagueness. “How do you propose we move something that is immovable?”

“Your group has been quite resourceful before. I expect the same again.” The Dark Lady eyed Thorry’s new companions as she continued, “Despite the new composition of your party.”
Paul approached and bowed. “Paul Anderson Dean, the great neecromanker, at your service.”

“I am Bane. I am Thorry’s friend, for he wields the Orb of Eternal Friendship. Thorry does not like you. Thorry, shall I kill her for you?” Bane clenched the handle of his axe.
Thorry’s face went from fear to excitement to fear again. “No, Bane. Stand down.”

Jin Atwater’s faced showed disappointment. The Dark Lady continued as if no threat was made. She handed the team a map marking the location of the immovable object. Thorry stomped away towards the portal, though Bane lost his way and began to open a door in the room. Thorry called him back, and after a few more moments of admiration, Paul also left with the group. When the team arrived back at Freedom Tower, Thorry realized they never discovered what the immovable object actually was. Bane offered to go ask, and wanting nothing more to do with the vampires, and wanting to stay a living, breathing halfling, accepted. Surprisingly, Bane quite quickly got the answer they were seeking. Somewhat.

The immovable object is a black dragon.

The party was taken aback. They were only three, and although they quite handily felled a frost giant, they felt no match for a black dragon. Thorry could do nothing but fret. He had previously fought dragons, but only when they were sleeping, and this one was likely awake. He also had many more companions at his side. He had the momentary thought of forgoing fighting the black dragon and working to free Brother Osho themselves, but he feared the wrath of the Dark Lady, especially with how depleted his forces are currently. Paul felt more confident since he has his bony companions at his sides. Bane was not as worried, and had a thought to help even the odds.

“We should prepare for this fight, just like my master would do.”
“Brillaint, Bane! There must be something to help prevent our demise,” Thorry cheered.

Thorry scurried to the portal control and swiped to Kel Nadaar’s shops, and the party set out to suit up. They first entered a potion shop where they met a big-headed halfling who sold the party potions to resist the effects of the black dragon’s acid breath and a potion of strengthening to Bane. Bane also procured ten healing potions, taking only two for himself and handing the rest to Paul and Thorry. The party then went to a weapons and armor shop. Paul spent little, purchasing exploding bolts for his crossbow. Bane turned down a weapon with a vengeance enchantment and instead opted for a ring to regenerate his wounds. Since the party already purchased resistance potions, Thorry turned down a shield that would guard him and his nearby companions against the dragon’s acid breath. He also rejected a sword with a sharpness enchantment, instead purchasing a dragon-slaying sword. In all, the party spent about five-sixths of the funds held at Freedom Tower in one day.

The group returned to Freedom Tower, and Thorry haphazardly aligned the portal to sit in front of one of three pipes possibly leading to deep below the city. Paul cast a spell of light for the trip, and Thorry brought his trusty pair of bull mastifs for carrying dragon treasure. The party took their chance and headed down the pipe. They were quickly intercepted by a stealthy set of humans bearing crossbows down upon them.

“Halt! Who goes there?” one man said.

Assuming the group was in league with the Dark Lady, Thorry stated, “We are here to do as requested.”

“We have requested nothing. Go back from whence you came.”
Bane shouted to the man matter-of-factly, “We are here to defeat the black dragon for the Dark Lady so that we may save our friend.” Thorry shook his head and sighed.

The man spit. “This is the realm of the Kingdom of Chant. The Dark Lady holds no quarter here.”

“Ah, yes, the king. I met him once,” Thorry said, trying to befriend the man. “We had past dealings. I, Thorry, am a friend of his.”

The men looked to each other. “Thorry? Do you know the name?”
Another man responded, “Might have heard the name.”

“A friend of the Kingdom would not be friends with the Dark Lady. You and your friends must cease whatever work you are doing below, or you will face the consequences.”

“She is forcing us to work for her,” Thorry tried to explain futilely. Paul interrupted.

“Allow us through, and we will tell them your demands,” Paul calmly said.

The plea worked, and the men disappeared. The party continued down the seemingly endless pipe which had no turns but descended deep below. The eventually emerged in a massive room that mimicked a mined quarry. Off in the distance, they heard clanking and began to head toward the noise. They announced their presence, which triggered two sets of red eyes to spark in the darkness. The eyes grew closer, and the party saw metallic forms. The metal creatures began to buzz and transform, blades protruding from their arms as they started whirling and took flight. Thorry froze, unsure of how to proceed. Paul suggested they continue forth, but Thorry didn’t want to provoke the metal creatures. Soon more metal clanked forth and surrounded the party. The party called out into the darkness, stating they were here to kill the black dragon, and eventually a strange sounding dwarf approached from where Paul suggested they head and called off the whirling blades.

“I told you so,” Paul told Thorry.

The party asked the dwarf why the killing machines couldn’t solve their dragon problem. The dwarf explained to them that the machines did not fare well to acid, and he had lost several to the dragon. He pointed the group to the dragon’s lair, and the party advanced.

As the party ventured ahead, they saw a city beneath the city. They walked past several buildings, all seemingly made out of one material, with soft, round edges. Each building was completely cohesive, containing one single piece to construct the frame. The windows held a glass impossibly clear, nothing like the party had ever seen before.

As they continued to walk ahead, they noticed the lifeless metal things pulling items from the buildings, throwing items into several piles. Thorry eyed a pile of lance-like items, though they looked dull and ceremonial if they were indeed weapons. He grabbed one and placed it on his steed and moved forward.
The buzzing of the metal creatures dissipated as they continued and neared the dragon. Thorry left his steeds a safe distance behind. As the group neared closer, they saw a geyser of acid erupt into the air and slam into the ceiling. They inched as close as they could and then formulated a strategy. Paul was going to use his neecromanker powers to transform Bane into a black dragon to fight acid with acid. Bane would rush in and fight the dragon to distract them, which would allow Thorry to charge forth without being spewed with acid and would also allow Paul to find a relatively safe position from which to launch his magic attacks.

The group drank their elemental resistance potions and Bane gulped down his strength enhancer. Paul chanted and waved his arms about and Bane grossly morphed from furry beast to winged monstrosity. Thorry unsheathed his dragon slayer. The group rounded the bend from which they were hiding and prepared to enact their plan.

Their plan was ruined before it began. The party gazed upon the massive black dragon lying on its mountain of treasure. Surrounding the treasure was a moat of the dragon’s acid, sitting above what appeared to be some sort of magic protecting the ground below, preventing the acid from seeping through. Although the acid would not harm Bane in his new form, there was no way for Thorry and Paul to traverse through the green moat. The dragon eyed the group and let out a yawn.

“Ah, so you’ve finally gathered the courage to confront me.” The dragon’s voice was guttural and intimidating. Drops of acid spat out as the dragon growled. “I have lived time and time again beyond your miniscule years. Do you really believe your strength can remotely compare to mine?”

Thorry’s will did not break. “It must be done to save our friend. I’m afraid your time has come to an end, old dragon.”

Each party member put forth their best battle cry, except for Paul, who cheered on Steve as he clacked forward. Bane strode at an angle toward the black dragon, hoping to encourage it to leave its golden nest. However, the dragon only pounced into its pool of acid and awaited the group. Thorry charged in, as did Paul after some encouraging by Thorry. Bane looked up to spot any vulnerabilities in the ceiling’s structural integrity, but the dragon had already meticulously eroded the roof, leaving little to fall with even a concentrated blast of acid. He instead met the dragon face to face, though his transformation was still much smaller than the real dragon. Bane bit, clawed, and whipped his tail at the dragon, but did little to anger it. His heart was not in the fight, for the dragon was not a cat, the most vile and evil of all creatures, and a lesser foe did little for motivation.

Seeing the halfling advance, the dragon skirted around Bane and heaved acid from its mouth. Thorry managed to block the blast with his shield, and the potion’s magic repelled much of the assault, leaving Thorry in good shape. Thorry approached the dragon and swung his new blade, but the dragon easily dodged the halfling’s flurry. The dragon bit and clawed down at Thorry but missed. Seeing no credible threat from the tiny paladin, the dragon stomped past him. Thorry whipped his blade at the dragon’s leg as it went by, managing to slice off several of the dragon’s scales but not inflicting a grievous wound.

The dragon’s next target was Paul, who, at Thorry’s behest, had approached just a tad too close. The dragon roared and unleased another wave of acid. Were it not for the potion’s protection, Paul may had been a bubbling puddle on the floor, but he escaped with only burns. Paul responded by blighting the massive dragon which evaporated much of the creature’s blood and water from its body. Paul’s former crew surrounded the dragon, but the dragon began laying waste to them. Bones flew through the air as the dragon clawed and bit. The dragon lashed his tail out at Paul, striking his side and knocking him into a wall.

Bane breathed acid below the dragon, hoping to collapse the floor beneath, but the floor held the same protection they saw before. If the party were to win this battle, they needed to fight with full ferocity. Thorry reached to his side and grabbed Lilith’s gift. He pointed it at the dragon and penetrated its defenses. An incredible amount of felines suddenly enveloped the dragon.
The dragon gave a quizzical look. “Cats?”

“Bane’s dragon eyes filled with fury. “The ancient enemy!”

Bane charged up to the dragon. He clawed and bit wildly, disrupting the dragon’s attention on Paul. Thorry and slashed and hacked at the dragon. The dragon smacked Thorry with its claw, but the halfling did not relent. Another acid splash by the dragon did little to wear down the party. The dragon was surrounded, and its extreme confidence turned to something it had never felt before: fear. It struck out at everything and anything it could, but attacks came from too many angles, and each time the dragon swung at anything but the halfling, Thorry found an opportune moment to strike.

Bane climbed onto the dragon’s back, biting it along the way. He hopped onto its shoulders and dug his claws in and began ripping out flesh and muscle. The dragon let out a painful howl. Bane tore at one of the dragon’s wings, and Thorry struck at the dragon’s belly. Soon Bane’s thrashing was enough to drop the creature, and the party had won.

Thorry sheathed his sword and stood tall with pride. Bane walked over to the treasure pile in his dragon form and began launching gold towards the others. Paul motioned with his hands made his skeleton crew anew. He commanded them to pick up the gold that Bane had tossed. After only a few handfuls of treasure were gathered, they heard a distant clapping.

“Well done! Well done,” Jin Atwater hissed as he walked toward the group. Behind him was Ed the Snake, looking quite bored and not amused by Jin’s theatrics. Also behind Jin was the dwarf the group previously met, who was now smiling, exposing his elongated teeth. Jin continued, “You have done what the Dark Lady asked. As promised, your friend will be released. Now go. You are no longer needed.”

Thorry eyed the treasure. “The treasure is ours. To the victor goes the spoils,” Thorry harrumphed.

Jin smiled. “Yes, it does. And who do you think the victor will be?”

“Shall I eat him, Thorry?” Bane offered.

Thorry thought of letting Bane loose. They just defeated a black dragon and had plenty of fight left in them, but facing three vampires would be too much. It’s possible that Ed would sit out the fight, since it seemed like he had no affection for Jin, but that still left two vampires, and who knows when those metal things would show up. He also didn’t want to anger the Dark Lady, who still could stop Brother Osho’s release.

Thorry told Bane to stand down. He attempted to negotiate with Jin, but he had no leverage. He managed only a handful of treasure in the deal, but he snuck a few dragon scales into his pouches as well.

The adventurers won a hard fought battle, but were denied the dragon’s hoard. They hoped the Dark Lady would keep her promise, and their reward would be the return of Brother Osho.

GAME 11: An Imposter’s Folly

DM Notes
The wayward wanderers travel with the monster hunter Sebastian to a small inn, in a small farming hamlet. Along the way the spy signs announcing a one night only event happening. Lovejoy live and in person. Lovejoy speeds into the Inn the rest of his companions hot in pursuit of the enraged bard. Lovejoy and Thorry try to find the imposter, while Donavich finds some fake gold coins in the back room used by the fake love joy. The rest of party gets drinks and awaits the “show”. The crowd swells the two floored tap room, the air is charged with energy. With a crash magic sparks flow from the ceiling and a pillar of purple smoke decends onto the stage. The fake love joy has arrived at last. The crowd goes wild as he begins to set up his first song. Lovejoy and Thorry push and squeeze themselves through the crowd. Lovejoy curses a name as he pushes ever closer to the stage and the man sullying his good name. “Dirkwood Hammersmark” Lovejoy screams out above the start of the song….the bard on stage flinches back from the name as his eyes meet those of a fuming Lovejoy.

The Complete Works of Lovejoy

You Must Buy Your Wife at least as Much Jewelry as You Buy Your Other Wife, and Other Musing on Marriage and Life on the Great Caravan
Hiding Amidst the Highbeards
Dalliances in Durin
Little Known Recipes of the Southern Realms
Hop Upon my Steed: Nights in Her Lady’s Service
Dark Dances in the House of Daggers
Starshine: The Poems
Ecstasy
Is This My Blood?
Fall Upon My Sword
Melanie/ The Honeydew Twins/ Lady Dubious/ Bless You, Broomhilda/ Abigail Upon the Moors/ Anastasia/ Follow Me, Maria Free
Shameless in the King’s Forest