since this wordpress account was renewed i guess i’ll start this off by adding a little write up of our last d&d (dungeons and dragons) session. i love to be the dm (dungeon master), mostly it’s because i love to tell a story, but i think deep inside it’s because i love to be in charge. so, without further ado…

The team (Aurelious the Rogue, Corbin the Monk, Lantorin the Eldritch Knight and Nephis the Sorcerer), with Bob (child) in tow, climbed their way up the spiral staircase into Cinderbloom’s tower. Corbin decided to help the kid find his parents in town while the rest of the team headed to the temple of Bosnir for a needed rest. Bob was rescued from a feral, hairy beast that locked him in a room. Fortunately for the party, they dispatched the beast handily and found Gerald, the Hatestick (5’ ornate quarterstaff), as their spoils.  Aurelious is the only member that can communicate with Gerald and only if holding the staff.

After their long rest, the party discussed the next course of action and settled on traveling down the overgrown path where there were rumors of Tashtiba sightings.  As they closed on the entrance to the road they were greeted by Fortin, the half orc leader of the Watch. He questioned the intentions of the team and offered subtle warnings on their decision to continue. But after realizing they couldn’t be deterred he offered potions of healing for their troubles, which they begrudgingly accepted.

As the party traversed the overgrown, patchy path, they heard music emanating at a distance. Suddenly, a small swarm of stirges emerged from the canopy of the dense forest and attacked! The team picked apart the swarm quite handily even if Lantorin tried to maim Nephis in the process. <insert foreshadowing here> A couple hours later the team again heard music at a distance and encountered a pit of venomous snakes! But once the snakes were dispatched, they were confronted by Edgar, the halfling Bard of the Watch.

Edgar spared no time to act upon the team. He immediately cast a spell which caused Aurelious to become blind and deaf, but the team quickly sprang into action. Corbin charged Edgar as he cast fists upon his countenance, then Lantorin readied his crossbow and took careful aim. Maybe it was Nephis’ frost blast, maybe it was a bead of sweat that caressed his temple as it traveled gingerly into the corner of his eye, but Lantorin’s aim was far from true. He managed to shoot a bolt into Corbin’s side! He flailed valiantly but each flurry of his mitts glanced off Edgar’s armor. With Aurelious momentarily irrelevant and Corbin wounded by the Knight’s hand, they looked to be in a dire situation. Blasts of frost and fire from Nephis slowed Edgar down which gave precious time for the team to gather their composure and break Aurelious from Edgar’s spell. Corbin managed to wrestle Edgar down and incapacitate him while the rest pummeled Edgar close to the brink of death. Once he was subdued, it didn’t take long for Edgar to realize his only out was the poison tablet in his false tooth. He convulsed as froth drooled from the corners of his mouth.

The party pilfered Edgar’s wrenching body (200gp!) before they made their way forward, but a strange female voice broke their stride when she questioned, “Friend or foe?” Lurking in the vegetation and brush was Shae, the half hag. From a comfortable distance she witnessed the confrontation unfolding before her. She recognized Edgar from her rare visits to the town, but the party was new to her. She knew of the Watch and felt they weren’t quite the honorable protectors they posed themselves as to the town. She didn’t want to intercede until she knew their intentions. But once the skirmish was over she was still confused. Perhaps the one that was protecting the woman was a mole? It seemed he was trying to repeatedly shoot the pugilist dead.

After introductions and a short conversation, Shae saw this as an opportunity to reconnect with her humanity, offering to take them to Tashtiba’s old hovel for tea and treatment, letting them stay the night if they wished. Once the party decided Shae had no ill-will towards them, they let her lead them down the road. What was once fetid and unkempt was now covered in beautiful wildflowers and gardens – an oasis of life. Inside, was just as beautiful. Shae also answered their questions about the town and what she knew of the missing children. She confirmed that Tashtiba was indeed killed by the mob and her life was spared by her father, Guy, before Tashtiba had a chance to finish transforming her into a hag. Rosalynn was eaten by a monster but Shae can hear Rosalynn’s songs, which started around the same time as the Gravedigger Fever. The songs entice Shae to Fort Grady, but she’s been reluctant due to the vivid memories of Tashtiba’s killing.

With no rest, but fully healed, the team traveled back to town. They made a beeline to Cinderbloom’s tower to gain access to the Fort. The door was locked but the Rogue was ready with tools in hand. Unfortunately, as he jimmied the lock, it proved to be too much and broke his lock picking tool. Lantorin surveyed the door and attempted to look underneath, but Nephis cast a light spell which momentarily blinded him. Shae casually shook her head at the spectacle of friends before her.

“This is the craziest group of characters I have ever seen. Are they always trying to undermine and provoke?” she thought to herself.

The light and commotion outside woke Mrs. Cinderbloom who questioned the party. The team was getting nowhere fast, but Maggie Cinderbloom, leader of the Magic Matrons, convinced her mother to let them in. She also informed them the members of the Watch were allowed access half a day before them. The Watch mentioned to the town that they were going to eradicate the source of the Gravedigger Fever once and for all.

The heroes descended the stairwell quickly while distracting Mrs. Cinderbloom so Shae could join. Since Shae could hear the songs from Rosalynn, she acted like a compass and guided effortlessly to the heart of the Fort. On the way, they discovered an area with a different faction of Skrimp that worshiped the all Amazing Tooploogdo! As the party readied their spells and weapons, it was at Shae’s request that no Skrimp be harmed. Much to the regret of the heroes, they did heed her words and managed to avoid them with minimal damage. They did acquire some bottles of wine, 50gp, a lute and a bottle containing a Water Wyrd for their efforts.

After averting the Skrimp they found themselves in a gigantic open area. Off key carnival music filled the air. Several attractions littered the area, such as game booths, cages with creatures inside and a gigantic roller coaster. Each attraction was manned by a Skrimp dressed as a clown, but the Skrimp’s seemed off. The information booth attendant’s dead eyes were all the party needed to know they were under some sort of spell. They cautiously investigated the area and were surprised to find the remaining 3 members of the Watch were also under the same spell. Fortin was chained to the roller coaster, Dart was dressed as a lion tamer and caged with a Skrimp dressed as a lion, and Lank was also caged, wearing a strongman outfit.

The team perused the area and tried their hand at some games. They came across a wheel with all the members of the Watch crudely painted on it. After a quick decision not to play the wheel of chance, Aurelious walked by and casually spun the wheel.

“Why am I not surprised?” thought Shae.

The pointer at the top of the wheel slowly ticked down and eventually stopped on the Lion Tamer, Dart. A battle quickly ensued, but was over almost as quickly as it started. Dart tried to make his way to the roller coaster. Nephis managed to snap off some spells and the other heroes helped Corbin subdue Dart and place him back into the cage. As they finished closing the cage door they heard a clapping sound from near the roller coaster, by the Freak Show attraction. The Skrimp also clapped along in a monotone manner. This was started by none other than the Amazing Tooploogdo! It adorned a top hat and its eyes were elongated into stalks. Its crustacean carapace bulged underneath a dirty set of coat tails. Two lobster claws gripped an ornate walking stick and, where there should be legs, a mass of wriggling tentacles pushed him along. He resembled a mass of octopus, lobster and fish crammed in a ringmaster uniform.

It didn’t take long for the team to realize this must be Baxter. They tried to carry a conversation about the children to which Baxter replied, as he pointed towards the Freak Show doors, “It’s where all the kids go eventually. They love the freak show.” He also noticed Lantorin’s ongoing transformation and grew an instant affinity which escalated to hostility when he said they were about to be destroyed.

Nephis burst into action casting a spell but it had a blinding side effect on Aurelious and Lantorin.

“UGH!”

The ensuing fight between Baxter and the heroes ended with Corbin dying at Baxter’s feet. Shae shielded Corbin’s body with her own and Lantorin, after the effects of the blinding light wore off, delivered the death blow to Baxter. After the dust settled and Shae worked her magic to prevent Corbin from dying, the party moved to the Freak Show’s wide-open doors. Dirt and dust wafted from the ceiling, and low moans filled the air. Hundreds of moldy papers are attached to the dank walls. The papers are wanted posters for Tashtiba with each one displaying the Demon Hag’s gnarled face. The party looked up from the posters and saw a dried, female corpse with scraggly hair and clawed hands. She dangled from a noose in the middle of the cavernous room. Sharp teeth were visible through her lipless jaws. Her head tiled to the side, snapped at the neck. The team realized this was Tashtiba. Her countenance bore a striking resemblance to the wanted poster strewn about the room.

Corbin and Lantorin saw figures of a kid from their past. Suddenly, a sharp, piercing female voice echoes through the room.

“Your friends are not who they say they are. They have murdered in cold blood.”

The kids from Corbin’s and Lantorin’s past start to come alive for all to see. As their bodies solidify, they start to wither and decay. Soon, all that’s in front of them are the mummified remains of their long, buried past.

… to be continued.