- Enuffdain, Male Elf Paladin + Madmartigan, Dog Animal Companion
- Garrus Ironside, Male Dwarf Cleric
- Lupin Damakos, Female Tiefling Rogue + Willow, Cat Animal Companion
- Erith Elmaris, Male Elf Druid
- Dimva Murkahm, Male Dwarf Rogue
- Henrick, Male Human Warlock
Garrus grabs Dimva by the shoulders and shoves the little larcenist away from the group. The exasperated elder soundly scolds Dimva about his thieving and disrespectful ways (see any chapter involving Dimva). Garrus warns Dimva that he doesn’t even care about his stealing, but he should never steal from a Cleric of Kord (see Perfidia, Chapter 29). An unphased and bemused Dimva dismisses Garrus and smirkingly, calls him “Daddy”.
With none of the original adventures who visited the K’ave of K’nowledge present (see Mini-Adventure 7, No Accountess for Taste), Henrick cast a spell that reveals what transpired when The Heroes first encountered the Professor.°
The Heroes suddenly find themselves outside a doorway that can only be accessed by solving a series of puns about Easter.
HORRIBLE EASTER PUNS
1: Sailors Repairing.*
2: Unhappy Religious Symbol.**
3: Middle of Week Embers.***
4: Not So Bad End of Week.****
5: 40 Days of Borrowing.*****
6: Satan’s Ovaries.******
7: Non-Caucasian Ovaries.*******
8: Squished Fruit Legumes.********
9: 7 Days of Drilling.*********
10: Ice Cream Inside of Your Hand.**********
11: Final Dinner.***********
12: Use a Bridge.************
However, once The Heroes begin to collect the coins, a pod of Gelatinous Cubes is released. These 10’ x 10’ Cubes are nigh-invisible until they are next to you. But unlike previous Cubes they encountered, these Cubes are much stronger, move much faster, and are more acidic than previous versions.
Dimva continues to escape and flee from a Gelatinous Giant, only to be devoured again and again. The awful acid whittles the diminutive Dwarf down to near death. Enuf and Madmartigan help free Kong and manage to destroy another Colossal Cube. Henrick uses his magic to defeat a Geometric Jelly but is then engulfed by the one that had been vexing Dimva.
As The Heroes venture further into the K’ave of K’nowledge, they recall a time in a tavern when they discussed what each of their long-term goals were.°°
Hendrick: His twin brother died when they were young. He now seeks magic as a way to cheat death. Believes that the Crimson Empire has the secrets.
Enuff: Is only in it for the money. Once he acquires 50,000 gold pieces, he plans to retire.
Garrus: Wants to be accepted back to his Dwaven Kingdom. Wishes to be a trusted adviser to the King.
Dimva: Wants to travel the world. Hopes to start his own Thieves Guild.
Lupin: Wants to reach a place where she doesn’t have to steal anymore. Wants respect for what she helped accomplished in her adventures.
Erith: Killed his father in a fit of rage. Now wants to redeem himself by doing good in the world.
To be continued? ? ?
Thoughts on this Session: This session was a good old dungeon crawl. Lots of subtle developments occurred during and between the battles. Garrus and Dimva started the session off with a generational grudge. Does Garrus see his past mistakes in Dimva? Does Dimva finally have a father figure? Lupin agreed to join the Rogue’s Guild. Will it be more of a help or hinderance? Erith used his shapeshifting abilities not to attack, but to end the encounter peacefully. Enuff actually charged into battle to aid Kong against both the Hulk and the Cube. Perhaps he’s not just in it for the money. Henrick revealed why he is searching for power and information. Will the Crimson Empire provide him with what he is looking for? Bravo to all!!!
° These events were inspired by Drama cards. I am so glad players are, finally, actively using them. They get at least one per pun, usually two a session, so they each have quite a few.
°° Long-term Goals!!! I asked the players to come to this session with their PC’s long-term goals. Another opportunity to add some depth to their characters. I truly hope that players will build upon these and use them to influence their in-game decisions.
Pop Quiz: Anyone recognize the encounter with the Gelatinous Cubes? It is taken directly from the original Pac-Man maze, with the Cubes taking the place of the ghost. Skittles provided the dots/gold The Heroes needed to collect to end this blast from the past.
* Sailors Repairing: Sailors = crews; repairing = fixing – Crews fixing (Crucifixion).
** Unhappy Religious Symbol: Unhappy = cross – Cross.
*** Middle of Week Embers: Middle of week = Wednesday; embers = ash – Ash Wednesday.
**** Not So Bad End of Week: Not so bad = good; end of week = Friday – Good Friday.
***** 40 Days of Borrowing: Borrowing = lent – Lent.
****** Satan’s Ovaries: Satan = devil; ovaries = eggs – Deviled Eggs
******* Non-Caucasian Ovaries: Non-Caucasian = colored; ovaries = eggs – Colored Eggs.
********Squished Fruit Legumes: Squished fruit = jelly; legumes = beans – Jelly Beans.
*********7 Days of Drilling: 7 days = week; drilling = holes – Holy Week.
**********Ice Cream Inside of Your Hand: Ice Cream = sundae; inside of your hand = palm – Palm Sunday.
***********Final Dinner: Final = last; dinner = supper – Last Supper.
************Use a Bridge: Use a bridge = pass over – Passover.
Next: Chapter 32 - Eyebeam
Previous: Chapter 30 - Familia Paternal