Return with us to Dreadmere then, to collect Mara and return to the carnival as Moddy said
Morn Bardigus
Session 15 – Our World is a Tapestry
Advice to the reader
In order to interpret the structure of my gaming session posts effectively, it is strongly suggested that you peruse A Readers Guide to Play Sessions on The Old Bard, if you haven’t already.
To better grasp what I mean when I bring up Fate questions, you might find it useful to keep the Mythic Fate Chart accessible, potentially in a new window or tab in your browser.
The Story So Far
The party (Except for Mara who is still in Dreadmere) have met Eldon Marrowwind, the Chief Administrator of Athesa. They have also just realized this is the sorcerer they were seeking.
Day 17 – Scene 55 – Continued
Since the party is surprised to find this is in fact the sorcerer they were sent to find, Morn asks “So you know of Moody Cleves, Blyris Bledstone and his Menagerie of Curiosities? “
ATGM: Let's leave the answer to that question to Fate. Once again, I'm going to say it's Very Likely, and we already know our Chaos Factor is 6, so let's roll to see what the answer to that question is. I roll 1d100 with a result of 69. Based on the Mythic Fate Chart for this range, that's under 75 so it's a yes!
Eldon nods thoughtfully, a soft smile touching his lips as he absorbs Morn’s question. “Indeed, I do,” he replies, a note of pleasant surprise in his voice. “Moody Cleves is a respected name among those who value wisdom and insight. I’ve had the good fortune to cross paths with him a few times in my life.”
His gaze grows distant for a moment, as if lost in a sea of memories. “As for Blyris Bledstone and his Menagerie of Curiosities, their renown has reached even the corners of Athesa. They are known for their ability to entertain and amaze, for bringing a touch of wonder into the lives of ordinary people. Blyris himself is quite the enigma, a captivating character whose life seems filled with intriguing stories.”
The words hang in the air for a moment before Eldon concludes, “It seems our world is a tapestry, with threads more intertwined than we often realize. Your encounter with them, I presume, played a significant role in your journey here?”
ATGM: I once again used ChatGPT to flesh out more of the story here, but one of the challenges is that I was feeding ChatGPT with information that is secret that the party has not discovered yet, and more importantly doesn't need to be revealed within the story. However, I had to keep reminding ChatGPT 'Here is some context, but the party doesn't know about it yet', and it would then proceed to spit that information out. I would then state, 'Try that response again, but leave out the part of 'the secret they don't know' and don't even use it in the response, but allude to a secret.'
Morn responds “We were chasing a man named Cord Stomrock in a crypt when suddenly we were transported to the carnival. We found that it was due to a crystal ball he possessed called the Umbral Sphere. Blyris explained to us that Moody kept guard over it, and that is what allows them to travel to various places. It was stolen from them long before, and that they were stuck in time because of its loss. But when Cord activated it, Moody was able to detect it and pull it back to the carnival, along with the rest of us.”
Thenelis adds “It was then that we found out that the Menagerie of Curiosities was where Maras husband was slain and the evil sorcerer who put the curse on Mara turning her into Giant Ape. Fortunately, we found a rune that allows her to change form at will, but she is still cursed and wishes to rid herself of the curse. When we return to Dreadmere with the news we’ve found you she can share more. It was shortly after that Moody did his Tarot reading leading us to seek you out for aide.”
Ulmog then states “And talk about hardship! On the way here we were nearly killed by 3 hell hounds! They seemed to be controlled by someone who appeared while we were hiding.”
Eldon listens to their stories, his expression a mask of calm thoughtfulness. When Morn speaks of the Umbral Sphere and its ability to transport people through time and space, Eldon nods with understanding. “Ah, the Umbral Sphere, a powerful object indeed. It’s a rare and treasured artifact among magic users, capable of causing both wonder and havoc if not handled carefully.”
As Thenelis explains Mara’s curse and their meeting with Moody, Eldon’s gaze sharpens, and his demeanor takes on a more serious tone. “A curse such as the one Mara is under can be a heavy burden. To see her transformed into a creature so far from her true nature… It’s deeply troubling. Moody was wise to send you here; together, we may be able to find a way to free her.”
Eldon falls silent as Ulmog recounts their encounter with the hell hounds. His eyebrows knit together in concern, and he leans forward, placing his hands on the table. “That sounds like a perilous encounter, indeed. Hell hounds are not beasts to be trifled with; they’re often summoned and controlled by a powerful force. I fear there may be more at play here than we originally thought.”
A moment of silence passes before Eldon finally speaks again. “Your journey here has clearly been fraught with danger and uncertainty. But take heart. You’ve shown great courage and resilience in the face of such adversity, and you’ve reached Athesa. I believe we can find a way to help Mara and unravel the mystery behind these events.”
“Return with us to Dreadmere then, to collect Mara and return to the carnival as Moddy said” says Morn to Eldon.
Eldon carefully considers Morn’s proposal, his eyes taking on a thoughtful glint. After a moment, he nods, “It seems I cannot ignore the urgency of your request, and my curiosity, too, has been piqued by your story.”
He rises from his seat and looks at the three adventurers with a determined gaze. “Very well. I will accompany you to Dreadmere and meet this Mara. Together, we shall attempt to free her from this curse.”
His decision made, Eldon starts preparing for the journey. As the Chief Administrator of Athesa, he must ensure his duties are covered during his absence. He calls forth his aide, instructing them on managing the city’s affairs. The adventurers witness the respect Eldon commands among his peers, further affirming their confidence in their newfound ally.
And so, the decision is made. The next chapter of their adventure awaits in Dreadmere, where they hope to finally break Mara’s curse and unravel the mystery of the events that have entangled their fates.
Bookkeeping
A short session, but I wanted to end the scene and get the adventurers, along with Eldon on the path back to Dreadmere to collect Mara and return to the carnival.
Till next time!
Resources Used
- Dungeons & Dragons Core Rule Books
- Players Handbook (PHB)
- Dungeon Masters Guide (DMG)
- Monster Manual (MM)
- Mythic Game Master Emulator Second Edition (MGME2E)
- ChatGPT for generating a description of various elements as noted.
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