Three players were present:
- Torek, Male Dwarf Cleric
- Lupin Damakos, Female Tiefling Rogue + Willow, Cat Animal Companion
- Henrick, Male Human Warlock
A brief explanation. Mini-Adventures are what we play when there are two to three PCs, or when key players who are pivotal to the plot are absent. Mini-Adventures are one-off stories, while not part of our campaign (or a campaign unto itself), there is some consistency and reoccurring NPCs.
The Heroes find themselves on a quest for the Gem of Resurrection! Upon finding the entrance to the ancient tomb, they encounter an elongated entryway. Checking for traps, Lupin discovers a series of waist-high slots. Crawling on her hands and knees, she attempts to avoid the obvious danger, while still searching for traps in the tiles. As she passes the midway point, ginormous buzz-saws emerge from the walls. The twirling terrors leave little room to maneuver, but it is still possible to sneak through verrrry carefully.
Lupin scrambles through the Colossal Construct’s legs and attacks from the rear. Torek heroically charges forth, shouting the name of his patron God: Avandra!!! Unfortunately, the Diminutive Dwarf’s little legs only carry him so far, and he is forced to wait until his next turn to attack. Henrick hurls spells at the Unliving Offender from afar, while remaining concealed.
In an unexpected turn of events, Lupin is grabbed by the Big Brute. Unable to escape or penetrate his defenses, her HPs start to drop. Torek provides some much-needed healing, while casting his spiritual Knights of Unending Valor (Side Note: However does one obtain a title like that?) to impede the exit of the Enlarged Automation. Henrick has a brilliant plan! The Wily Warlock cast a spell that forces the Collector of Cadavers into the deadly blades! However, since Lupin is still in his grasp, they both suffer massive amounts of damage! Not so brilliant!
Suits of armor with joints glowing from within, the Horrors strike with a variety of elemental fury. Succeeding in her athletics check, Lupin leaps upon a roller and strikes at the Horrors from above. Torek charges head-on into the mist. And Henrick battles from afar. The Armored Enemies soon surround each of The Heroes, and the battle begins in Ernest.
Before The Heroes enter the next room, they find a scroll engraved with Spring/Flowers Puns:
HORRIBLE SPRING/FLOWERS PUN NUMBER 1: What You Need to Kiss.*
HORRIBLE SPRING/FLOWERS PUN NUMBER 2: 24 Hour Ocean.**
HORRIBLE SPRING/FLOWERS PUN NUMBER 3: Dad’s Flowers.***
HORRIBLE SPRING/FLOWERS PUN NUMBER 4: Mom’s Flowers.****
HORRIBLE SPRING/FLOWERS PUN NUMBER 5: Fancy Feline.*****
HORRIBLE SPRING/FLOWERS PUN NUMBER 6: Biting Fantasy Lizard.******
HORRIBLE SPRING/FLOWERS PUN NUMBER 7: Container for Churned Milk.*******
HORRIBLE SPRING/FLOWERS PUN NUMBER 8: Canine Hand Warmers.********
HORRIBLE SPRING/FLOWERS PUN NUMBER 9: Wed King Midas.*********
HORRIBLE SPRING/FLOWERS PUN NUMBER 10: Urinate on a Leg Joint.**********
(Side Note: These were former allies of The Heroes; deserted at one time or another. They now hold a grudge, and are often competitors to The Heroes. See Chapters 5, 6, 10, 14 and Mini-Adventures 1–3 for an introduction to these characters.)
When asked how they arrived here, the former companions point to the brightly lit, tiled, paved, and well-vented tunnel to the surface behind them. They then enquire: “Who in their right mind would take the difficult passage?”.
Using Willow to flank Alfred, Lupin and Henrick concentrate their attacks on the cleric. Henrick uses a literal “Cheat” card° to wallop him with a critical hit. When Alfred finally falls, Henrick uses his soul shards to reanimate him; forcing him to strike his former comrades.
Finally escaping the Gray Render, Torek leads the beast toward the Companions. The Mighty Monstrosity begins to attack the Companions, and Torek and Henrick quickly follow Lupin up the safe passageway, to the surface.
* What You Need to Kiss: Need to kiss = two lips – Two Lips (Tulips).
** 24 Hour Ocean: 24 Hour = day; ocean = sea – Day Sea (Daisy).
*** Dad’s Flowers: Dad = pop – Poppies.
**** Mom’s Flowers: Mom = mum – Mums.
***** Fancy Feline: Fancy = dandy; feline = lion – Dandy Lion (Dandelion).
****** Biting Fantasy Lizard: Biting = snap; fantasy lizard = dragon – Snapdragon.
******* Container for Churned Milk: Container = cup; churned milk = butter – Buttercup.
******** Canine Hand Warmers: Canine = fox; hand warmers = gloves – Foxgloves.
********* Wed King Midas: Wed = marry; King Midas = gold – Marry Gold (Marigolds).
********** Urinate on a Leg Joint: Urinate = pee; leg joint = knee – Pee on Knees (Peonies).
° 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.
Each Player received a random Drama Card for solving a pun.