- Ffion Tanwen,
Female Dragonborn Cleric - Mortos,
Male Tiefling Druid - Garrus Ironside,
Male Dwarf Paladin - Lupin Damakos,
Female Tiefling Rogue +
Willow, Cat Animal Companion - To’Mas,
Male Human Fighter
I sent this poem to all of the players a few weeks before the session.
This is a childhood poem all of your PCs have heard growing up. It is cautionary tale to encourage young ones to be good and always do what's right. There can't be any truth to it, can there???
There was a Fey Princess whose beauty was legendary,
she was the greatest healer and mage of all of the Fairies.
She ignored the world's suffering and pain, choosing instead to retreat,
idling away her life for indulgent pleasures and self-absorbed conceit.
For these sins when she died, the Gods did condemn her,
to eternally chronicle the world's events, so all will remember.
A ghostly shade in the shadows, always a mystery,
recording the milestones of history.
So do what's good and what's right, and always care,
Else the fate of the Registrar you will share.
Early in the war, while battling the Crimson Empire near his hometown, The Rugged Warrior rushed home, only to find his wife and daughter dead, burned along with most of their destroyed village. The Grieving Guardian then had to battle the undead remains of his brothers-in-arms as they stormed what was left of his village. With his family and former battalion gone, the Vengeful Veteran vowed to destroy all Undead creatures until they are eradicated from earth.
Garrus questions the Registrar as to what trials lay ahead of them. The Undead Author anounces that they will face an old friend. The Religious Warrior wonders of she is referring to Father Fredrick (see Rock of Ages). Mortos tries to look over the Studious Specter’s shoulder and read what she is writing, but it is the script of a language long forgotten. Lupin asks if recording all of history is a difficult job. The Chronic Chronicler complains that it is, and that it never ends. Ffion enquires how she is able to see all of history, all at once. The Eerie Editor elaborates that she sees everything through a prism of time and space which tends to gives her a constant migraine. To’Mas swings his sword and warns her not to interfere with their mission. The blade harmlessly passes through her, nevertheless the Female Phantom fades from The Heroes' view before anymore questions can be asked.
When asked what he is doing here, Henrick replies that he is awaiting his children’s return. He tells them that: “they will be happy to eat, err, meet The Heroes.” As the rest of The Heroes join them, Introductions are made. Mortos reprimands Henrick for not tending his breakfast and takes over cooking for him, adding herbs and spices from his personal stash. Garrus is happy to see his former comrade and wants to know where he has been all this time. Much to The Heroes confusion, Henrick begins arguing with himself. Half of the conversation sounds like he is fighting for control of his mind.
At first The Heroes are reluctant to fight back against their old friend. However, fighting a flurry of fire and fangs quickly stiffens their resolve as The Heroes strike back. Ffion and Garrus immediately cast overlapping zones of enhancement and protection for their friends. The twin zones also effect Züül and his twin dragons as long as they remain in the zones. With everyone engaged in combat, no one notices that the Registrar appears nearby and begins to record the enfolding tableau.
Attacking with their swords, To’Mas and Lupin quickly put this little piggy to market. As he dies, the porcine body reverts back into the form of Henrick. Seeing their father’s lifeless body, D1 and D2 emit deafening screeches of anger and sorrow and unexpectedly fly off until they disappear into the horizon.
Lupin removes Züül’s Skull from Henrick’s head, much to Mortos’ dismay. Züül’s disembodied voice tries to sway Lupin and Mortos into putting it on their heads, enticing them with power. Lupin resists and places the skull into her bag of holding. Mortos and Lupin then loot Henrick’s body, with Mortos inheriting most of his possessions. While looting, they find a scroll with puns about St. Patrick’s Day.
HORRIBLE ST. PATRICK’S DAY’S PUNS
1: 24k Toilet.*
2: Spotted Feline Prisoner.**
3: Leprechaun’s Favorite Cereal.***
4: McDonald’s Seasonal Drink.****
Things with Irish in its Name
5: Hearty Soup.*****
6: Green Soap.******
7: Long Haired Dog.*******
8: Shot in a Beer.********
9: Heavy Milk.*********
10: Bailey’s & Caffeine.**********
11: Wire String Instrument.***********
12: Five Verse Poem.************
13: Water of Life.*************
14: They’re Smiling.**************
With the puns solved, The Heroes remount and resume their journey towards Tiny Town. Silently watching from the shadows, the Registrar continues to follow them.
Thoughts on this Session: A bittersweet farewell to our friend Phil/Henrick. Not too much role playing for most of the PCs, but a lot of fighting that took up most of the session. Interesting to me, in that I had nothing to do but record the battle between PCs. I literally became the Registrar!!!
Lupin was initially glad to see Henrick, but that joy quickly faded when he turned on them. Looting his body, she made sure to snatch the skull of Züül before Mortos. Garrus was happy to see Henrick as well. Even though he tried to kill them, he still prayed for him and the friendship they shared. Ffion showed how powerful Clerics can be. From zones of healing and enhancement, to dishing out damage, she helped control the entire battlefield. Mortos was humorous in both his reactions to discovering To’Mas being a fellow farmer, to his chastising Henrick on his culinary deficiencies. His disappointment in not retrieving the skull first was quite palpable. To’Mas revealed quite a bit about himself this session. A tragic tale of the toll the war has taken on him. So strong is his hatred of the undead, that he even tried to slay the Registrar. And what is with that vibrating ring? Bravo to all!!!
Who is Henrick? Where did the skull of Züül and D1 and D2 come from? Phil was one of our earliest players. Starting off as the Half-Elf Ranger Waldyr, he joined us way back in The Festival of Life (and Death), September 2015. He switched to the Human Warlock, Henrick in Astro Illogical Part 2, June 2016. His final session with us was in Aerial Adversaries, July 2020. He preferred playing in person and, due to the pandemic, didn’t like playing on-line. With the decision made to move out of state, he came back for one last session so his character could go out with a bang. He acquired the Skull of Züül in Idol Rumors, and transformed into the actual Demon for the first time in Past Tense. His Dragon’s eggs, about to hatch, were revealed in Familia Paternal. Thanks for playing such a memorable character(s) all these years Phil. We’ll miss you!
* 24k Toilet: Pot of Gold.
** Spotted Feline Prisoner: Leprechaun (Leopard Con).
*** Leprechaun’s Favorite Cereal: Lucky Charms.
**** McDonald’s Seasonal Drink: Shamrock Shake.
Things with Irish in its Name
***** Hearty Soup: Irish Stew.
****** Green Soap: Irish Spring.
******* Long Haired Dog: Irish Setter/Wolf Hound.
******** Shot in a Beer: Irish Car Bomb.
********* Heavy Milk: Irish Cream.
********** Bailey’s & Caffeine: Irish Coffee.
********** Wire String Instrument: Irish Harp.
************ Five Verse Poem: Irish Limerick.
*********** Water of Life: Irish Whisky.
************** They’re Smiling: Irish Eyes.
Next: Chapter 63 - Heavy Metal, Rock
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