Best of Both Worlds, 20200802

This Best of Both Worlds (BBW) "world-traveling campaign" was run on 2 August 2020. While BBW actually overlapped and included parts of many other campaigns, only those with events on Edyleine are listed here. Note that by design the game sessions do not show the distinction between PCs and NPCs.
==Game Master==
*Miley Spears
== Main Characters ==
=== Personnel of the Dream Lady ===
* Abelard d'Pésni: Navy Capitaine
* Simon Rousseau: Lieutenant and First Mate
* Dia Hadleys: Army Centurion, Abelard's second wife
* Willow Hadleys: Journeyman Mage, Abelard's first wife, Dia's sister
* Hildireth d'Pésni: Navy Matelot, Abelard and Dia's daughter
* Thanea the Tracer: Navy Mage Quartier-maître
* Sara of Greenrock: Army ranger Centurion
* Abigejla Leonière: Army physician Centurion
=== Other Personnel ===
* Haifa Hahn, priestess of Samorojia
* Mojarósa: mistress mage of Milspar, Millisymph
* Tawnia of the Twin Towers: journeyman mage
* Titiana of the Twin Towers: journeyman mage
* Yaritza la Abridora: warrior-priestess of Samorojia
== Events ==
=== 1742 ===
Heris 40 (Hammering)/Scotís 40 (Quadía): A group of people concerned about demons coming through magical gates who had traveled from Milspar, Millisymph, arrived at Temple Gate in Aborea.  They included the crew of the Adanian ship Dream Lady.  These were Navy Capitaine Abelard d'Pésni, First Mate Lieutenant Simon Rousseau, Army Centurion Dia Hadleys, Abelard's second wife and Dia's sister Journeyman Mage Willow Hadleys, Abelard and Dia's daughter Navy Matelot Hildireth d'Pésni, Navy Mage Quartier-maître Thanea the Tracer, Army Ranger Centurion Sara of Greenrock, and Army physician Centurion Abigejla Leonière.
With them were Mistress Magus Mojarósa; Journeyman Mages Tawnia of the Twin Towers and Titiana of the Twin Towers; and Warrior-Priestess Yaritza la Abridora.  They met with Priestess Haifa Hahn who had identified the problem with the magical gate in the Labryinth of Prince Lucretius Valarius.  She had said, "No, it shouldn't be happening this way. It's not a single gate, it's a series! It has to be closed!"  The gate had been closed, but then it partially reopened and had to be closed again; the priestess feared it had been opened once again.
Priestess Haifa heard the reports of the group that had come from Milspar in Millisymph.  She said the temple had received similar reports from areas in various parts of Edyleine, and even from off world.  Haifa said the flying demonic monkeys were likely what she and others had seen through the gate in the labyrinth on Flowering 41.  They had seen humanoid creatures with wings and tails, but could not identify them through the "dark, fiery veil of the gates."  The priestess said the group's report confirmed what was believed, and added enough to make a decision conclusive: the priests of Samorojia would issue a proclamation against anyone casting or using any teleportation or gates spells until the problem was solved.
The priestess sent a messenger to gain permission from Prince Lucretius Valarius to enter the laybryinth; she and the group spent the night in the temple grounds, waiting for a reply.  (Best of Both Worlds 2020 08 02)
Heris 41 (Middleday)/Scotís 41 (Cindía):  Having received permission from the prince, a number of people headed for the Labryinth of Prince Lucretius Valarius.  The group included Mistress Magus Mojarósa; Journeyman Mages Tawnia of the Twin Towers and Titiana of the Twin Towers; Warrior-Priestess Yaritza la Abridora; and Priestess Haifa Hahn.  It also included crew members of the Adanian ship Dream Lady.  These were Navy Capitaine Abelard d'Pésni, First Mate Lieutenant Simon Rousseau, Army Centurion Dia Hadleys, Abelard's second wife and Dia's sister Journeyman Mage Willow Hadleys, Abelard and Dia's daughter Navy Matelot Hildireth d'Pésni, Navy Mage Quartier-maître Thanea the Tracer, Army Ranger Centurion Sara of Greenrock, and Army physician Centurion Abigejla Leonière.
On the way they saw a boy calling for Dedos.  They asked the boy what he was looking for, and he said his dog.  The group noticed the similarity between the dog's name and that of Dodo, the dog that had been in the carriage that was part of the kidnapping of Millisymphian Condess Sierra Milspar, younger sister of the king, Rei Geraldo VII.  Priestess Haifa said similar names were common for dogs in Aborea.
Mojarósa noticed what seemed to be an odd coincidence.  Geraldo VII, connected with a gate attack, had been a prince.  Prince Magister Colonel Leowine Arkelewyn Alexander Vandarvaskard OGB, had opened a gate near the beginning of the problem;  and it was a gate in the Labryinth of Prince Lucretius that might be the seat of the problem.  Haifa said it was no coincidence; other reports of demonic gate activity were associated with princes and princesses.  The group arrived at the opening of the Labryinth of Prince Lucretius Valarius.  They were prepared for the worst.  They showed they had permission to the guards, and entered.
The labyrith appeared empty; they went on.  More emptiness.  The group were puzzled.
After a while, the group reached the magical gate without any encounters.  It was completely closed.
Some in the group considered themselves lucky.  But Yaritza said, "If it was open, we would have battlled whatever came through.  But it's closed.  What is on the other side?  It could lead to Hell."  Dia said, "Let's go back;" some agreed.  But Mojarósa said, "We have to go through; it's our destiny."  Haifa and Yaritza agreed, although Yartiza said, "This means were violating our own proclamation, doesn't it?"  But Haifa said it wouldn't be official until notification was given, and that hadn't been given yet.  In any case, this was an exception.  The mages who knew gate spells, along with the priestesses, prepared to open the gate.
The gate opened.  Instead of being attacked immediately as some had feared, they saw the very young girl some had seen at the gate before.  She had light skin and long blonde hair with bangs. While she looked innnocent on the surface, there was something about her that felt eerie.  She said, "So at last you've come to play with me!"  Haifa said, "Please, could you tell us who you are?"  Dia said, "Who are you?"  The girl said, “Who in the world am I?  Ah, that's the great puzzle.  I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.  Come through the hole and let the games begin!"  She disappeared.
Haifa said, "One time when we saw the girl, she asked us to hold hands with her.  Draotameia known as Edyth Grey refused, saying, 'I'm not holding hands with an Aborean demon!'  But I do not believe that girl is demonic.  Whatever she is, she has helped us more than once."
Looking through the gate, the group saw what looked like a barren, rocky land.  On the ground they saw a group of about half a dozen short humanoids carrying weapons; the people were singing.  In the air, something was flying.  There was a strong smell of brimstone.  Yartiza said, "It smells like Hell."  Dia said, "Let's not go there."  Abigejla said, "I don't want to go to Hell.  But I won't let the rest of you go without me."  Mojarósa said, "I never planned to go there again.  But this might be the first time."  Abelard said, "Let the games begin."  The group went through the gate.  (Best of Both Worlds 2020 08 02)
Heris 44 (Lordsday)/Scotís 44 (Odía) (Festival of Herix):  The group of six short humanoids armed with weapons, one with a staff, turned and looked at the group.  One who carried an axe said, "Let's kill them and take their stuff!"  The one with the staff said, "They're too big and too many.  Run away!"  The six ran off.
Thanea said, "I don't think the brimstone smell is from Hell.  Look!"  She pointed, and the group saw a mountain with a peak from which smoke was pouring out.  Dia said, "A volcano!"  The group also heard rumbling, and felt a slight shaking in the ground.
Haifa said, "I don't think we're in Hell."  Mojarósa said, "No,  I believe we're still in Edyleine."
Someone said, "You are.  You're in Cape Cobin.  What's left of it."  The group turned and looked.  The woman who spoke was Magister Captain Esquire Shesta Zarzulian, an officer in the Kastebani Phantom Force Four.  A specialist in mind control spells, she was currently garrisoned in Trynser City.  She was with Prince Leowine Vandarvaskard and others associated with Phantom Force Four.
Mojarósa started to speak with Prince Leowine when the whole group was attacked by flying creatures.  They thought at first they might be flying demonic monkeys, but quickly learned they were something different.  They looked like a cross between a fish and a bird, with four legs, a parrot-like head with teeth, and had odd wings of flesh and bone with no feathers.  Their tails spun and they flew very quickly.  Dia was poked in the chest before the group could even clearly see what they were dealing with, and Sara was also hit in the chest.  Some of the flying creatures spoke, saying a word that sounded like "Sendomar."
The group battled them, and either destroyed (when killed, the flying creatures vanished), or frightened them off.  Abigejla and then Mojarósa treated the injured.
The group learned that the date was three days later than when they passed through the gate.  They learned from the prince that flying monkeys had attacked and come through a gate in Trynser City earlier that day at the Festival of Herix.  Ironically, the proclamation telling of the danger of teleportation and gate magic had arrived immediately after.  It was also tragic, as a number of people had been killed and many more injured.
Along with the public notice, the prince had received private information about the problems with the gates, and he, Shesta, and a few others of Phantom Force Four had passed through the gate in Trynser City to Cape Cobin right before it closed.
Simon asked about the volcano.  A local guide who had joined the prince's party said it was Kazar’s Beacon.  It hadn't erupted in 350 years, but the druids believed it might do so soon--even before the demons came.  Now, its eruption was almost certain--and imminent.  Some even feared that Pazulifar, a vast volcano that reportedly hadn't erupted since the early days of humanity and had been stilled by the gods, would erupt.  This could damage or even destroy the principality of Forinse located immediately southeast.
The group learned that the problem with gate magic had begun with an excessive use of the spells during the Trynser-Zazimar War.  Then, possibly by coincidence, gates had been opened from one world to another that formed a loop--and one of those gates had connected to Hell.  Great numbers of demons of various types were now in Cape Cobin, and were spreading everywhere.
There had also been rumors of a powerful dragon.  The group worried that could be the demonic dragon Thiazolin, but the guide mentioned the enormous dragon Krulithex that hadn't been seen in Cape Cobin in 20 years or so.  The group believed the volcano might be the center of the problem, so headed for Kazar’s Beacon.
They saw a number of beings that looked like humans, except that their arms and legs were the same length and they traveled on wheels on all four limbs.  They attacked with their wheels.  Simon was very badly injured, having been knocked over and head run over.  Shesta had her left foot rolled over and broken, and then had the same done to her right leg.  When the wheeled humanoids were destroyed, they vanished.  "Demons," said Dia.  After medical treatment, the group continued on.
They neared the base of Kazar’s Beacon, and found it was surrounded by seemingly countless beings.  These were humanoid, short, and armed with weapons--they looked much like the six the group had seen earlier.  The group prepared for battle.
Dia said, "We can't fight all of them."  Mojarósa said, "Agreed; we cannot battle all of them.  We need another plan."
Sara said to Mojarósa, "You look like one of them," and several others agreed.  Mojarósa said, "In that case, you are all my prisoners--if you have no objection, Your Highness."  Prince Leowine said, "No objection--if you can make it believable.  The restoration of Edyleine is more important than any honor I might still have."  Mojarósa said, "Titania and Tawnia, I need a couple more like me."  The two both magically changed to look small and short like Mojarósa, and both did it critically well.  The trio entered the area with their "captives."
The group was stopped by guards who spoke a language most of the group did not recognize, although Mojarósa spoke it.  After a brief conversation, they were let through.  Mojarósa said to the others in two different languages, "I said we bring a prince to the rightful ruler of Edyleine."  Shesta asked, "And who is that?"  Mojarósa said, "I have no idea.  No certain idea, that is."
As they approached the volcano, the air grew hotter and smokier with a stronger smell of brimstone, and the ground felt shakier.  They continued on.  There were led to a tunnel, and entered the base of the volcano.
Finally they entered a great hall and walked down a large domed hallway that ended with what almost looked like a throne in front of great columns, while a clock with a dragon's head hung on the wall.  Suddenly at the far end flames shot up, and the enormous head of a dragon appeared.  It announced itself as Thiazolin, Dragon King of Edyleine.  It said, "Who are you and why are you here?"  Mojarósa replied, “Who in the world am I?  Ah, that's the great puzzle.  I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then."
"The question," she continued, "is who are you?"
The dragon said, "We are Thiazolin, Dragon King of Edyleine.  How dare you defy us!"
Mojarósa said, "If you are Thiazolin, then I have five questions.  And they all are, where are the rest of your five heads!"
The dragon said, "Silence!"
Then Prince Leowine stepped forward and said, "I am Prince Magister Colonel Leowine Arkelewyn Alexander Vandarvaskard of the Order of the Golden Bolt, colonel of Kastebani Phantom Force regiment, Phantom Force Four, which I can summon at will.  If you surrender now, we may let you live."
The members of the group each introduced themselves individually, each ending with, "If you surrender now, we may let you live."  The head did not speak during the entire time.  Affter they were all finished, it still did not speak.  Prince Leowine said, "I think the show is over."
The mages cast spells of detection.  The conclusion: the "dragon" consisted of illusion, light, and sound spells with fire special effects.
Haifa said, "The problem remains.  We must deal with the gates." Mojarósa added, "Or all may be lost."  At the moment, the ground shook greater and louder, and the heat grew.  (Best of Both Worlds 2020 08 02)
Category:Demon Gate