Three players were present:
- Garrus Ironside, Male Dwarf Cleric
- Henrick, Male Human Warlock
- Lupin Damakos, Female Tiefling Rogue + Willow, Cat Animal Companion
The haunting Fey melody entraps Lupin, Garrus, and new arrival Henrick, forcing them to joyously jig and playfully prance to the siren song of the Sexy Sylphs. Wanda the Ghost can only look on helplessly.
Lupin quickly leaps to the top of the roof to escape the Nymphs and to see if there is an entryway into the tiny cabin.
The Naughty, Naked Nymphs try to persuade Garrus and Henrick to continue frolicking with them. With painful, painful, painful regret, The Heroes decline their offer and attempt to enter the cabin.
The Nymphs are not ones to take rejection lightly and revert to their true forms: Hags. The Horrible, Homely Hags strike with claws and spells as The Heroes battle their way toward the cabin door.
There is a sudden displacement of air as a tiny voice warns her that: “You shouldn’t be here.” A diminutive, blue, vibrating figure, a Quickling, appears before her and quickly vanishes.
A chorus of “You shouldn’t be here” seems to echo from all over the room. Appearing by her side, the Tiny Terror slashes at her before disappearing again.
The Diminutive Dwarf swings a mighty blow to the oak door, cracking it in the middle. Henrick unleashes a powerful blast of energy that sends one of the Hags flying (15 squares) into the woods.
Lupin attempts to open the door from the inside and is pounced upon by the Slashing Speedster once more (Lupin’s Rogue powers causes any missed attack on her to inflect damage to the attacker. The Quickling was actually doing more damage to himself than to her). Picking the lock, Lupin opens the battered door for her allies. Before they enter, Garrus unleashes a powerful blast of energy that sends the remaining Hags soaring into the woods.
Barricading the door with tables and bookshelves, The Heroes approach the Frost clan. After a moment’s study, Henrick is able to cast a counter spell that releases them from their mystic bonds.
Slowly opening the door, Lupin is surprised when it is suddenly jerked open. A giant Troll wielding a humongous axe stands face to face with Lupin. Conrad replies: “That big guy”.
Before anyone can act, Hendrick cast a teleportation spell that phases the Green Goliath outside. The Terrible Troll and Hideous Hags join forces and attempt to batter down the front door.
The Frost clan tells The Heroes to find Egnarts while they hold them off. Lupin wants to make sure they can handle the Troll and Hags, since they were captured by them before. Christopher claims they were taken by surprise earlier but are prepared for them now.
But this Hag is one they have encountered before. Recognizing Bianca (see Dungeons and Dominatrix) they demand to know how it is possible that she is still alive. The Cackling Crone proclaims that she has been rejuvenated by siphoning the power of a God.
Henrick has heard enough. He strides into the room to confront Bianca. Always seeking power, he desires the divine energy that this God can provide. Leaving his mortal form behind, Henrick transforms into the Demon Züül (see Past Tense).
The exploding orb shakes them to their core. They can feel their very molecules being torn apart. And worst, the blast stuns them all, allowing Bianca to launch blast after blast.
Garrus and Lupin are brought to near death, one more blast will finish them. Bianca cast another orb, but Wanda envelopes the orb with her ghostly form, absorbing the full impact of the blast. The Heroes can only watch in stunned silence as Wanda dissipates into molecules. The horrible smell of burning ozone is the only reminder that she ever existed.
The Frost clan returns after defeating the Troll and Hags. As they study the last door, Lupin hears slight movements in the room beyond. Studying the door for a locking mechanism, she discovers a series of glyphs on the door. The glyphs turn out to be puns about Easter Eggs.
HORRIBLE EASTER EGGS PUNS
(Puns are all words beginning with “EX” but pronounced “EGGs”. An example is EGGs-ample.)
1: Blank Face.*
2: Very Fast.**
3: Out of this World.***
4: Well Done.****
5: Smoke From a Car.*****
6: Unique.******
7: Show.*******
8: Trade.********
9: Overly Imaginative.*********
10: Put Out a Fire.**********
11: Kill.***********
12: Blow Up.************
13: Precise.*************
14: Derive At.**************
15: Discover.***************
16: Apologize.****************
17: Test.*****************
The old woman demands that they leave them alone. Lupin and Garrus proclaim that they need to return Egnarts to Lady Die. They ask her to step aside.
The old woman begs them to let them be, that they just want to live out the rest of their lives together in peace. Lupin remarks that it doesn’t look like they have much time left anyway. Garrus is somewhat brusk as well, stating that Egnarts will just die and return to Lady Die anyway. Asking what her name is, the old women reveals it is Clea.
Clea insist that Egnarts changed himself into a mortal so Lady Die could not find them and that when he dies it will be as a mortal. Lupin is skeptical, stating that Lady Die told them he was a serial philanderer and that Clea was just his latest conquest.
Clea insist that this time it is different, which make Lupin scoff even more. She tells them that the other girls were just flings and that Egnarts gave up everything to be a mortal so they could live their lives together. She goes on to tell them that they were adventurers and did much good in the world throughout their lifetime.
As The heroes begin to question Egnarts, he replies that he found true love with Clea and that he changed himself into a mortal to live out his life with her.
However, his spell worked too well and he developed dementia like a mortal as he grew older. Lupin scoffs that that was why he was always so crazy. Egnarts states that it gets worst around obnoxious people. Lupin replies that it takes one to know one. Egnarts whispers to Garrus: “It’s like she’s trying to prove me right”. Not knowing how to contact Lady Die, or bring Egnarts back to the plane of Limbo, The Heroes are somewhat perplexed.
She wants to return to the Elemental Empire and retrieve a shard of the red crystal from the transformed Odrom/Heart of Darkness (see Return to the Elemental Empire) to teleport everyone back to Limbo where they can sort everything out. As she prepares to teleport, Egnarts transforms back into a God and counters her spell.
Egnarts pleads with The Heroes. He proclaims that he would rather spend his remaining years, months, or days as a mortal with Clea then live for eternity as a God without her. When asked if he won’t just revert to a God when he dies, Egnarts states that he will die like any other mortal in this form. Lupin asks what will happen then?
Egnarts declares that he will go to heaven or hell or whatever other plane of existence mortal souls go to. It doesn’t matter as long as he is with Clea. Garrus is uncertain if returning him to Lady Die is the right thing.
Approaching The Heroes and Frost Clan, she declares that their agreement has been fulfilled. Facing the Frost Clan, she gestures and a bright light appears. Epiphany steps out and into the arms of Conrad.
Turning from the joyous reunion, she asks The Heroes what they wish from her. Henrick requests complete control of Züül when he transforms. With a nod, his wish is granted.
Garrus asks for the legendary Dwarven weapon that can raze kingdoms. He receives a small orb, the size of a marble. With tears of joy streaming down his face, he asks if this is really it. Lady Die replies: “It is the weapon you seek. If you are the warrior worthy to wield it.” He bows to Lady Die and whispers a request to her. Suddenly, the Pious Priest vanishes from sight!!!
Lupin request that she not be able to die until the war with the Crimson Empire is ended. Lady Die cannot allow that, but gives her a daily power that can restore her to life once per day.
Lupin sneaks in the Frost family reunion and hugs Epiphany and whispers thanks for bringing Willow back to life (see Behind the Scenes). As Lady Die departs back to Limbo, The Heroes see a sight no God or mortal has ever seen before. They see. . . the tears of Death.
To be continued? ? ?
Thoughts on this Session: Another amazing session! Lots of action and fighting at the beginning against a multitude of powerful foes and abilities. Lupin was her roguish self, using her skills to shimmy down the chimney and pick locks. Her well placed ire toward Egnarts justified her decision to return him to Lady Die. Garrus’ anger and sorrow over Wanda’s sacrifice was well played. His dilemma in what to do with Egnarts and Clea, in spite of their deal with Lady Die, was heartfelt. Henrick’s desire for power unleashed Züül once more, despite the difficulty he has reverting to mortal form. His boon from Lady Die to control Züül now makes him even more capable to pursue greater power. That can’t possibly lead to more trouble, can it? So grateful to all for really playing in character. It’s emersion like this that allows for amazing stories with heart and soul like this to unfold. Bravo to all!!!
Who is Egnarts? Egnarts was originally a PC controlled by our former DM, Mike who appeared in Chapters 1—23 with a final appearance in Mini-Adventure 10 (interestingly enough, when they first encountered Bianca). Like Andy’s Globgums PC, he was an aggressive meta-gamer, much of his contributions were to bring the game to a halt and try to do the opposite of anything a normal PC would. Never interacting with NPCs and treating Lupin like crap, he would shoot first and ask questions never. (Side note: Egnarts is Strange spelled backwards, as in Dr. Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme, and his girlfriend Clea). As I bring this saga to a close, I will try to bring a final resolution to as many old characters as I can.
* Blank Face: EGGs-pressionless.
** Very Fast: EGGs-pedite.
*** Out of this World: EGGs-traterrestrial.
**** Well Done: – EGGs-cellent.
***** Smoke From a Car: EGGs-haust.
****** Unique: EGGs-quisite.
******* Show: EGGs-hibit.
******** Trade: EGGs-change.
********* Overly Imaginative: EGGs-aggerate.
********** Put Out a Fire: EGGs-tinguish.
*********** Kill: EGGs-ecute OR EGGs-terminate.
************ Blow Up: EGGs-plode.
************* Precise: EGGs-act.
************** Derive At: EGGs-trapolate.
*************** Discover: EGGs-plore.
**************** Apologize: EGGs-cuse.
***************** Test: EGGs-am.
Next: Chapter 41 - Wedding Crashers
Previous: Chapter 39 - Prime Evil Forest