Edward Snowed-in

This is the first campaign that we documented at all, but is not the first campaign we ran. Much of the greater worldbuilding of daveworld did not exist at the time of writing either. We did not, it seems, document our session zero. In the 0th session we introduced our characters and cleared out the first room of a dungeon. Although this would be nice to have, it doesn't seem to have been too great a loss.

This was also the campaign for witch we were first joined by Tyrone, a welcome addition to the group.

## Characters

Steven - Tortle: turtle-folk druid.

Steven - Little Bird: Kenku.

Kelly - Maiya: Ranger.

Darian - Malik: Rogue.

Tyrone - Bronson/Bryson/Branson: Champion.

## Session 1

After beating the shit out of some harpies and a fire elemental the party of a human sized turtle, a circus performer and a ranger who just got out of highschool after murdering all her classmates found a room with two humanoid boiks herding some plant creatures through a doorway

Without thinking Tortle cast Grow Plants and caused the creatures to double in size. He unfortunately remembered moments later that these creatures were an inherently evil species.

Combat ensues. The ranger is ignored most of the fight shooting bitches with flaming arrows and fucking up the plants. The circus performer went ham with his crossbow and rapier, only to unfortunately lose it to the inside of a plant monster and have it spat back at him. The tortle was somehow the most lucky thing in the world causing the humanoids to break their weapons on his shell and constantly fall flat on their face whenever they tried to be aggressive towards him.

After a quick rest the party made their way to the end of the cavernous lair to find a room with a runic circle, a mailbox and two kennels.

After long and organised planning to set traps for the potential guard dogs they bumbled their way to partially activating the teleportation circle anc calling their quarry to the room. For some reason the tortle turned into a slug and was yeeted into the mailbox.

The man they were looking for appeared into the room wondering the fuck was going on and through some dedicated debating the ranger and performer SOMEHOW convinced that the Harpy Relations Union was there to inspect the lair and he would go to court for Harpy abuse.

The tortle, who had no idea they were trying to negotiate, then exploded out of the mailbox and paralysed the demon-like Stinky Pete and the spirit of murder hobo took over the former debaters.  They tied him down and carved off his wings only to be teleported via the rune circle to the top of Edward Mountain.

They immediately murdered the first animals they saw (some goats) and eventually camped in a small cave to rest before the at least a fortnight long trip down the freezing mountain

## Session 2

Last time the party found themselves teleported to the top of Edward (Snowden) Mountain. After finding shelter they slept through the night huddling for warmth, thankfully not freezing thanks to a small outcropping blocking the wind.

The next day they awoke with the dawn and decided to venture out to make their way down to a hopefully less frigid environment. Tortle managed to collect an Ice Slugma called Creg and after avoiding some Polar Bears found themselves at the foot of a great stone pillar with a dwarf statue on top. At the foot of the pillair they found an entryway to a braziered cave and huddled in for warmth.

Within this cave they found a spiral staircase carved down through the stone of the mountain and after finding themselves sufficiently warmed they delved deep, hoping the dark cavern would be more hospitable than the frigid snow outside.

They delved down for many a minute,  eventually losing the sense of north or how far they may have gone when suddenly the party started hearing voices in a language they did not understand. Attempting to sneak closer before revealing themselves to anyone in the now open cavern below Malik and Tortle lost their footing, causing Malik to fall from the staircase. Thankfully he managed to grab on to the flight below. From this more open perch he could recognise the makings of a huge market below full of dwarves, elves and humans.

The party made their way down the rest of the staircase and were met with hussle and bussle in a market that seemed to have everything they could need.

The Tortle got distracted by some elves handing out SAVE THE TREES pamphlets,  ultimately taking all the ones they had before leaving to find his two friends.

Malik and Maiya tried to find more information about where they were,  the Rouge deciding that it was important for him to find a bath more than finding more useless information headed deep into the fortress to the bathhouse (not a bad decision if you ask me.) Maiya and Tortle continued to explore the market ultimately finding a Map Trader who managed to sell them maps of the mountain, the caverns within and of the market itself, unfortunately in Dwarvish. Maiya found a library and managed to take a book on Teleportation Circles in a hope to find a way back to Stinky Pete for their bounty (and a quick way down the mountain of course.) She then met up with the druid and found an inscriber to copy down the book and translate the Maps for them. As a strange bonus job Tortle also had him replace the word "Trees" on his 300-odd pamphlets to "slugma"

On waiting on the inscriber the two learned of the Everflame: the only source of fire to catch on this mountain and took some with them,  storing it in some freshly bought lanterns. The two shoppers managed to track down Malik to the bathouse and managed to catch him as his clothes were being hand delivered post washing.

Through the map they found the only tavern in the fortress (A Dwarf fortress you may say) and managed to navigate their way there to have a more comforting rest overnight (at least compared to what they had the previous night)

Before bedding down they took some time at the Bar, settling not too neatly in the "Shady Corner" of the bar, racking up a tab throughout the night. Malik got fucking smashed on mushroom wine before having the Tortle akwardly shuffle over him after having an idea. The tortle summoned some Goodberries from his staff and handed them to the bartender asking if a drink could be made from them. He did not know what kind of drink they were in for.

After about an hour the drinks being handed to them changed color to a vivid red and after about half a cup Tortle learned that a goodberry (that sustains you for 24 hours) when brewed gives you the equivalent of 24 hours of drinking per cup. Of course they were shared and everyone in the Shady Corner got absolutely plastered.

Maiya decided that before going to sleep she needed a bath and wandered across the fortress to the bathhouse where they found Malik. Thankfully not drowning in her inebriated state she managed to get back to the prepaid rooms not long after the two other members of the party (some say drunkenly ordering "Company" on the way in)

The next morning the hangovers were killer. Maiya went to a Pharmacy (thankfully next door) to try and find something for the pounding headache,  returning with a pair of complementary sunglasses and some medicine for her acquaintances. Upon entering Malik's room she found him in a freddy mercury power pose slowly being fed herbs by the tortle in a hope to help with the hangover. After a slow recovery to a point where they could move they tracked down the man with their Teleportation circle book and slugma pamphlets  and took them back to the bar. Many if not all of the patrons were passed out or resting in the same places they were left the night before and the slam of the heavy book on the table was met by a roomwide groan,  including Maiya who was the one to put the book down. After some reading they found that unfortunately they could not teleport back to the circle in Stinky Pete's lair even if they wanted to as no member of the party could cast the required spell, nor did they know the password to that circle.

The map was whipped out again and they found the most magic dwarf they could find in the fortress: A Magical Identifier.

Unfortunately the identifier could not help them with teleportation but did helpfully replace Malik's lost rapier at a discount price thanks to an unfortunate enchantment that turned it a horrible shade of pink. From this man they learned of a highway down the mountain that would make their travels much easier so after bidding their goodbyes (and after buying some arrows from a nearby weapon store) they made their way to the entrance to the Highway. Nearby was a stable where they bought a horse and cart to help with their long trip down. After an hour or so of travelling down the tunnel Tortle (the driver) fell asleep and almost crashed into a cart left in the middle of the road. Thankfully woken by his tiefling passenger they stopped the cart only to encounter a group of 3 humans who jumped from hiding places within the walls of the tunnel. After some hot debate on whether they were trying to steal the cart (a very thinly veiled attempt to hide the attempted mugging the humans were planning) shit went down as part of trying to replace the wheel on the cart so they could pass Malik lost his balance once again and dropped his torch in one of the barrels of rum on board. The muggers ran in one direction, the party another as the cart ignited and the barrels of Rum exploded violently,  caving in the highway. After exploring the hole left behind and found another smaller tunnel they returned to the Fortress and reported the explosion (although with a slightly modified story to not incriminate themselves)

The party joined a team of diggers to help clear a path,  creating a performance to prove their worth in being hired in case the (alleged) 14 bandits managed to intercept the caravan.

Upon reaching the obstruction the party heard much shouting in dwarvish and found their mining crew arguing with another group from the tunnel above. After consulting with an older dwarf nearby they learned that the situation would only end in blood (if any previous encounters had any say in the matter)

Taking the faster (and less bloody route) Malik made a plan to strike fear into the other group of Dwarves and called on his magical might to create a spectacular performance.

He had the dwarf translate his words so he could be understood and invoked Thaumaturgy to cause his voice to boom

I AM THE GREAT EARTH MAGE MALIK! YOU SHALL LEAVE OR INVOKE MY WRATH!

He called on thaumaturgy another time causing the whole tunnel to shake with tremors, then fired his crossbow at the upper dwarves calling down a mighty crack and summoning an orb of darkness as it struck the dwarf. Blinded, shooketh and intimidated the dwarves fled back down their tunnel and the dwarves of the Fortress awed in his power for a moment before clearing the cave in allowing the party to pass. The party thanked the group for their services,  recommended the Goodberry Juice at the bar and continued on their way.

## Session 3

Where we last left the party they had brought a group of miners to help clear the cave in. After successfully avoiding a conflict with some duergar thanks to Malik's wondrous magical display the miners got to work making a passage through the landslide

After a little over an hour of tunneling they broke into the other side, spreading a cloud of dust and powdered stone obscuring the other side. One of the stouter dwarves ventured forward only to come back screaming, sprinting in the other direction. The other dwarves entered the cloud and fled screaming, same as their companion.

The party entered the tunnel, seeing some movement in the dust only to see a horrific massacre of corpses, at least 30 feet of fallen dwarves and men lying in a lake of blood. Terrified(absolutely Shooketh) , they retreated back into the previous area, hiding from whatever had caused the slaughter.

It is then when two floating spherical monstrosities appeared in the entrance between the members of the party, narrowly avoiding seeing Malik and Maiya their eye stalks darted about in many directions they spotted the Tortle.

Before they could act Malik took his absolutely fabulous pink rapier and thrust it through the main eye of one of these monstrosities, blinding that eye but unfortunately revealing him from his hiding place as he loosed a bolt from his crossbow at the same creature.

The Monstrosities eye stalks darted about, locking onto the Tortle and Trickster, sending out beams of yellow and purple. The Tortle managed to resist their effects but unfortunately the Trickster was paralyzed by the second creature's yellow beam.

Terrified and seeing his ally frozen in place the Tortle raised his staff summoning a cloud of swarming fae pigeons hoping to obscure the area. As an unexpected bonus to the obstruction the pigeons then swooped in and clawed at the monsters, tearing out chunks of their bodies with their beaks

Maia steeled herself and drew her bowstring, enchanting the arrow with a spell to call down a hail of thorns upon a hit target. Much to her surprise upon striking the monster the thorns did not fall upon the monstrosity but instead on the tortle and his pigeons, taking out 30 or so from the swarm.

Malik, still paralyzed from the gaze looked on as the pigeons once again tore into the monstrosities, reducing them to little but eyeless fleshy buds before the monsters collapsed into themselves, disappearing.

The pigeons retreated to their master's shell once he realised that they were gone and after a moment to calm themselves from what had just happened, they returned to their cart, turning it around to warn the travellers and dwarves of the fortress what lay ahead in the tunnel. They picked up the helpful translator and the dwarf who originally entered the cavern on their way only to hear the sound of clashing steel and shouts in a familiar language they did not quite understand, urging the horse to pull faster in a hope to reach the source before things turned bad.

Roughly 5 minutes later they arrived at the fortress and found a swath of fallen dwarves, some of the fortress and many of the duergar race. Amidst the bodies was a lone fortress dwarf fighting a duergar, who struck down his foe as a healing spirit flowed over the fallen dwarves, bringing back from the brink of death. The lone standing dwarf stood there shaking for a moment before walking to the stable wall and collapsing against it,  exhausted.

It is then when the party looked through the gates of the fortress, seeing a dozen or more impaled and maimed dwarves filling the hallway. Fear gripped Malik upon seeing this display and after some debate and realizing that there was little, if anything,  they could do to they returned to the cart and headed back the way they came down the dwarven highway, meeting the dwarves from the mining crew not too far from where they were left as the sounds of battle were heard. Sharing the story with the translator he shared that the duergar must have believed that the Fortress dwarves had broken the non magic pact and thus had declared war. Learning this the party continued on down the highway, leaving their cart at the entrance at the cave in, Leading their trusty horse through the passage they hitched him to one of the unbroken carts at the other side (their original being too large to fit through the passage) they continued on their way with a disturbed Malik muttering to himself quietly after experiencing so much death. Upon meeting traders on their way up the highway they shared the story of what had happened,  forming a slowly growing caravan as more and more traders joined them as they continued down the mountain.

Consulting their map the party found a small service tunnel which would lead them to Bunbury,  the Human civilization that Malik and Maiya had originally traveled from. Upon reaching this tunnel after 3 or so days of travel,  quickly expanding their caravan as they went,  they reached the service tunnel. Those who could speak common warned them of the dangers of taking such a tunnel may bring but after an empowering,  though shaky, speech a few of the traders decided to join them on their shortcut to Bunbury.

## Session 4

We last left our party taking a small group of caravans down the service tunnel towards Bunbury, convincing the caravan that they had come through this way and that it was Definitely safe. About 5 minutes into the tunnel the way become blocked by large spider webs. Tortle took his torch, lit it from the Everflame in his lantern and set fire to the webbing. Firelight spread down the tunnel before extinguishing somewhere after 60ft. The party then heard a skittering coming from the darkness. The members of the party managed to see many skittering spiders coming down the tunnel towards them. The party leapt off the cart, equipping weapons to defend themselves, quickly joined by the Champion caravan guard, Bronson. Webs shot from the darkness, ensnaring the Tortle Druid as more Giant spiders dashed forward, attempting to sink their fangs into the defenders. The Party swung, thrust and shot at the skittering arachnids before more webs shot at them, ensnaring the entire group. The spiders once again sunk their fangs in once again, injecting the poison deep into their veins. Bryson, swinging his Greatsword strong and wide, managed to delimb and squish many of the spiders before, in the distance, Maia spotted a large form, Half spider-half humanoid, moments before arrows soared through the air, narrowly missing the Champion. By this point the group were dangerously close to death thanks to the overwhelming numbers and constant struggles with the webs still restricting them. More spider fangs sunk into the party as three more arrows flew through the air, their poison tips paralysing Malik and Tortle as they fell unconscious. Maia and Bronson cut down the spiders swarming them before slicing their restraints and backing away from the giant creature. Before they could escape more poisoned arrows flew from the darkness, the poison taking hold and paralysing the Ranger. Bryson, barely clinging to consciousness, managed to escape the attack. After grabbing some potions from the fled caravan he returned in a hope to save his companions from the Drider. A bit over an hour later the paralysed members of the party awoke, cocooned in webs in the Drider’s lair. The monster was tending to the one surviving spider from the fight, not realising that the party had awoken. Tortle managed to get enough movement in his arms to break free and cut the cocoon with his handaxe, freeing both himself, the now conscious Malik, and the still paralyzed Maiya. This is when Branson finally found his former battle companions. He managed to sneak in and grab the frozen Ranger and edge towards the door. Malik attached his Darkness spell to a crossbow bolt and fired it toward the Drider in a hope to hide their escape. Tortle stumbled over toward the exit, having Maiya attached to the webbing on his shell before turning and seeing his friends still rummaging around the chamber. Before they had a chance to escape the Drider dropped from his hiding place in the roof, slashing into the back of the Champion. The Champion turned and counterattacked, cutting deep with his large blade before a swarm of pigeons filled the space, biting and clawing at the monster. Malik leapt and grabbed onto a hanging coccoon, swinging into the darkness and hiding before loosing a crossbow bolt in the Drider’s direction, unfortunately missing. The Champion swung twice more, slicing the chest of the monster before Malik swung from his hiding place, landing on the broad abdomen of the Drider, whispering into it’s ear and channeling magic. Much to the rest of the party’s surprise the monster let out a chuckle, then a full blown laugh, and finally a maniacal laugh, dropping prone in their fit of laughter. The party took a few more strikes at the Drider before the Pigeons swooped in, tearing the monster apart. Injured, Exhausted and honestly sick of these tunnels they took what they could from the bodies stashed in the lair and made their way out and to a nice little tavern in the town of Bunbury where the whole thing had started. After sorting some rooms and buying some much needed drink they settled down. Tortle bid goodbye to his companions, deciding that he did not want to continue with them if things were going to keep going the way they had before everyone bed down and had a much needed rest

## Session 5: An Evening With the Earl, a Night With the Lady (Getting Wood)

In this episode: The druid tortle has left the party seeing their general disinterest in slug collection as incompatible with his own goals. The 3 remaining adventurers Malik, Bronson and Myia decide to spend a day on the town. Bronson realising himself broke sets about scamming free samples from staff at the local brewery. Myia sets about on some I'll advised knock and runs, and the teifling Malik seeks the help of Ash, the blacksmith, to alter the colour of his rapier. The rapier and some gold resting in the knowing hands of the blacksmith Malik makes his way through town and bumps into Bronson who has worked up a decent buzz, and decides to go and get drunk as well. Bronson at this point decides to check the local message board in the hopes of a quest to fill his purse. Myia sees this as an opportunity to best his new companion and abandons his door knocking to steal all the notes from the board and take order of the parties questing. All three are now on a path to the keep. Malik in search of the master brewer, rumoured to have access to rare and exotic brews. The other two a quest from the Earl, Earl.

Malik finds the master brewer in talks with the court wizard and slips into the conversation. "Are you the man to talk to about a more exiting draught". The brewer and the wizard reveal they are working in secret on a potion for the king and need a tester for their illicit elixir. Having signed a waiver and slipping in a line of fine print of his own Malik takes the small purple vial and makes for the throne room to join his companions. Bronson having misunderstood the nature of the flyer is pressing the Earl for payment for the 'Escort' services he is more than willing to provide. Earl, the Earl informs them that in fact he needs his friend Samus protected during and important expedition into the Forrest. However, he does require the offered service of Bronson in the matter of his wife, who grows restless with the Earls inability to bed her.

Malik offers Earl some information regarding the elixir he had commissioned. After some discussion the rouge has convinced the Earl that the elixir will be available within the week and that 5000gp will be required to gather the necessary tools and ingredients. He and Myia leave the Earl and Bronson to discuss their other contract and sleep at the tavern. Bronson spends the evening living it up with Earl and the night in the chambers of the lady.

The party set out at first light, Bronson having spent his earnings on getting the ass put back in his chaps, and set out into the Forrest. By night fall they have uncovered the site that the academic Samus is here to investigate. A scene sure to be horror to folk of trees. Bark and roots and wood, petrified, smashed and rended from the earth.

To put a stop to whatever is destroying the trees of their great Forrest is the charge of these brave adventurers. They resolve to investigate further in the light of the morning sun and set up camp. Malik takes first watch. He has an idea for how to test his potion without putting himself in danger. He sneaks in to Samus' tent and dips his finger into the vial. After smearing barely a drop on Samus' gums he immediately notices the man has a R A G I N G hardon. Satisfied at the potions function and apparent safety he leaves the tend and passes watch to Bronson. And hour or so into his watch Bronson hears the mighty sounds of creaking wood in the Forrest followed by enormous footfalls. A short while later more creaking, and then, inhuman screaming. A few moments later another scream and then: silence. In the morning the gang press him for details but he could not say more than to recount those events, he didn't even take note of the direction of the sounds! Seeing as how the site they are camped at is old and devoid of useful clues they search into the centre of the Forrest. After nearly a full day they come across the very site of last night's commotion. Two great holes in the earth and four sets of mighty footprints. 3 leading off in one direction and one in the opposite

They first investigate the single trail, and find at its end another great hole. The path set out by the three sets leads to a scene like the first the group had found. Torn carcasses of mighty Oaks. Conceding them selves ill-equipped to solve this mystery without light to work under the party makes camp nearby. Malik volunteers for first shift again and this time decides to test his potion on himself. Moments after administering the concoction he feels his blood pumping. And erection that could hold the weight of a dwarf takes root in his trousers. A strange energy fills his very bones and brings with it a burning anger. Lastly the effects of the potion leave him with an irresistible desire to achieve orgasm and having no partner decides to see to the matter personally. This time Myia takes the second watch and after about an hour she too hears a commotion in the Forrest. This time coming from where they had hours before been investigating. He wakes Bronson and confirms it to be the same sound as last night, soon Malik is awoken Myia suggests to go and investigate. Malik offers to stay and guard Samus so Bronson and Myia set off to investigate

They find the scene much like the last two, and nothing stirs in the Forrest. They wait here until morning incase something else should occur. Bronson is paid a reasonable fee to provide Myia a backrub during their stakeout. The four root about the debris and uncover two faces in broken off sheets of bark. Samus suggests treeants but  confesses he did not believe this Forrest to contain them and came quite unprepared for protecting them. He will have to go back to Bunbury to gather supplies and information. After a days trek and another night in the tavern the party is once more set loose on the town. Bronson immediately falls back into scamming drinks from the brewery, Myia and Samus go to the library to read up on treeants and Malik goes off to chat with the wizard. After successfully deceiving the wizard that the trails have been both rigorous and multiple the wizard honours his contract, paying out some gold and an old cloak worn for many years by a great druid. Malik then offers to deliver the potion personally to the Earl, Earl (in the hopes of collecting his secret bounty). Having collected the 2000gp that Earl has managed to get together he goes to check up on the investigation into the treefolk. Myia and Samus have determined that treeants are products of a great deal of time and willpower on the part of exceptional trees. And that druids, taken with protecting this proccess, have ways of tracking down a treat. The group (having forgotten Tortol) set out to find one. Myia draws a crude flyer, calling forth any great druids. Bronson stumbles drunkenly about the town, finding himself in the company of a homeless man, claiming to be a great druid. Enough applicants come forward to offer their services that Myia decides to have a contest, the winner getting the quest.

First to the stage: Joe, the homeless druid. Attempts to chug spirits and breath a flame, and accidentally sets himself ablaze

The second: Zach, the arrogant druid. Performs a card trick, this trick turns out to simply be a display of dagger skills.

The third: Lenny, the tall druid. Displays a leaf in his palm and to the amazement of the steadily growing audience, grows it into a stick with a leaf on the end

The last: Kyle, the mullet druid. Chugs a whole flask of Monster(tm) energy potion and repeatedly headbuts a hole in one of the stage walls

Anyway the gang settles on Joe, the homeless druid. Seeing as how they need only pay him a single tankard of beer. Around the same time the following day they find themselves at yet another tree massacre. Joe, now wearing the teifling's cloak narrows down the general area that he believes to be the source of some strange energy. He and Bronson spend the day excavating the area, hoping to unsettle whatever the source of the magic is. Before long the day has passed and they make camp. An hour into the second watch the trees by the edge of the hole stir. A great oak twists into humanoid shape and pulls itself from the earth. Seeing only Bronson by the fire it dares him to justify digging it's earth and upsetting it's slumber. Some conversation follows and all the members of the party bar Samus, who sleeps on, and Malik come out from their hiding places. The party wisely suspects the tree of dishonesty and quickly discover inconsistencies in its story.

Finally, Bronson becomes too unguarded with his interrogation and sensing that the game is up, the tree breaks from its friendly demeanor. "I killed those trees, and now that you know, i'm going to kill all of you". Thinking perhaps too fast Myia ignites 30 arrows and quickly realises that he can't hold them all while they are aflame. Malik buys him some time with a distraction by way of a projection of himself. Joe runs up and yeets a fat vial of lamp oil at the creature soaking the liquid to the very core. Bronson begins wailing on it with a hammer to little effect.

After figuring a way of dealing with his arrows Myia successfully ignites the creature creating a huge fireball that sets Bronson on fire and Malik, who had snuck up on the tree. It begins to thrash and moan and it manages to hurl a great boulder at Myia. Joe tosses Malik his remaining lamp oil bottle and with it in hand Malik mounts the tree and climbs upward, towards its mouth. Still very much aflame the Treant is unable to do anything but flail about ineffectively. Another volley from the Ranger and few more sharp knocks from the warrior. Eventually the rogue reaches the top of the tree and fires a bolt into its gaping mouth, with the oil attached. A renewed flame bursts from the inside of the tree and flames luck upward, catching more of the tree alight. After a few more inputs from the warriors hammer and the Rangers bow the tree goes limp and falls into a pile. But! Before the party can put this behind them they see another aberration. The tree has dissolved into a mist that floats on the air and begins to drift away. The man Samus recognises this phenomena as the way for a vampire to cheat death, this mist will reform when it reaches its destination. Fearing their efforts are to be undone they set after the mist and without any real way to deal with the situation conventionally the homeless druid takes in a mighty lungful.

Nearly a full quarter of the substance is absorbed and the druid begins to run, hoping to keep it from its target destination. Before he gets 30ft he passes out mid-stride. It is difficult to run and hold ones breath. Malik dashes to him as he falls and quickly stoppers the man's face holes. The then carefully empties his waterskin and presses the opening to Joe's nostril. He pumps his chest repeatedly and when he is satisfied that the mist is fully contained in the skin he leaves to assist with the rest of the mist. Bronson is dutifully taking breaths of the mist and carefully blowing it over a flame, effectively destroying it piece by piece. When less than a third remains the simply let it go, no one in history ever having allowed a small amount of mist to attempt to reform. Eventually the mist reaches a Grove in the Forrest, strewn with long dead vampire hunters and a single dead vampire, wooden stake still inside it's ribcabe. The mist coalesces together and forms a small tree, no greater than a goblin. Wearily Malik unburdens it of its limbs, chops out its fangs and deposits what remains in his pack. After sharing the loot they all go home and get paid.

## Session 6: Bounty Redeemed

This Episode of Edward Snowed-in begins as the party wakes up the following day, making their way down to the tavern below the rooms. There they found a couple of the usual patrons joined by a small raven like Kenku, stabbing her breakfast and making noises. Malik made his way over to the bar, asking the tender if there were any healers wanting some work, and was immediately pointed toward the little crow girl. After some discussion, where Malik learned the Kenku’s mimicry based communication, she was recruited to the party just as a courier rushed into the room with summons from the Earl. having nothing better to do they made their way to the banquet hall.

Arriving at the keep they passed through the banquet hall, grabbing some food as they exited, and made their way to the main throne room; only to find the Earl absent. Getting the attention of the Steward they demanded that he find him so they can discuss their business. The Earl, Who is fuckin jacked as shit, asked if they were interested in a little job for some moderate pay. Always up for more Gold they learned of a potential army to the NorthWest that they were being hired to scout out. Bronson managed to haggle the acquisition of some horses and a pony to make the travel a bit easier, unfortunately at the docking of payment on return. After Malik made a business deal with the local Toolsmith about the designs of a crossbow mount for his new equine companion they headed out along the northwest road. After a day of travel they made camp off the road a little, Myia taking some time to hunt some rabbits for dinner. Surprisingly there was no trouble through the night and upon awakening Kenku made a motivational speech over breakfast before they rode off once again. It is at this point that Myia and Malik recognised the forested area they had ventured into as the same place Stinky Pete had made his lair. Hearing some noise to the left of the road they halted their travel and Malik took to the trees to see if he could spot what was making the noise, quickly spotting a flickering light nearby. As Malik made his way closer to a familiar clearing he saw ranks of Fire Elementals and Fireskulls all being speechified (yes that's an actual word) by the Fiend himself, Stinky Pete, accompanied by his Hellhounds at the base of the Pyramid entrance to his lair. Making a rough count of the troops Malik made his way back to the rest of the party, filling them in on the situation. A glint of revenge and coinlust sparked in Malik and Myia’s eyes as they remembered the bounty on Pete’s head. Convincing the other two members of the party to help them with the capture of the Fiend they all took to the trees, wrapping around to the right of the clearing, finding their quarry gone and the troops left to their own devices. Assuming Pete had returned to his lair they snuck around to the back of the Pyramid, attempting to climb the stairs stealthily, only to be thwarted by the Enchantment bringing them to the floor after any attempt. Remembering the method used last time they were there they got Bronson to throw the little bird girl up to the landing at the top, almost yeeting her off the other side. After a little struggle lifting herself up the Kenku stood at the top only to find that she had no rope to drop down. Thankfully Malik remembered to pack some and thanks to Bronson’s great throwing arm they managed to get the bundle up the top and tied to a nearby pillar, allowing them to climb without trouble. The rope was retrieved as they made their way down the spiral staircase, Malik disappeared ahead of the party, checking the rooms before the rest of the party got there, ultimately bringing them into a side room from the main hallway just as footfalls echoed down them. Allowing them to pass before peeking out Malik saw the exposed back of Stinky Pete and immediately cast the Hold Person spell, immobilizing the Wingless Fiend. In an attempt to further cripple the man he tried to fire his Heavy Crossbow into his ankle, unfortunately missing as he was yet unaccustomed to the weight of the thing. It is at this point the rest of the party popped out of the room, engaging the Stinkiest of Demons in a hope to drop him before the spell ended. They managed to get a few good strikes in before he broke free; sending Eye rays down the hallway, searing a couple members of the party before an arrow to the left eye, stopping the ray from firing again. A few mighty swings of Bronson’s Greatsword and Missiles to the chest he fell unconscious, only to rise a moment later due to a misplaced spell from the Kenku. Knowing he was outmatched he Plane Shifted to another plane. Malik, knowing the layout of this base immediately led the party to the final Teleportation room, hoping that Pete had returned through his personal Circle, joined by a couple minions. Identifying the Flameskull as undead Kenku channeled Divinity to force them to flee, summoning a Spiritual weapon to try and beat the Demon down once again to no avail. The Flame Elemental charged forward and attempted to grab ahold of the Fighter and Ranger, only to have his arms temporarily dissipate before he could get a grip. Malik channeled his magical energy and commanded the enemies to sleep, the spell only taking hold in the Fiend, stopping Pete from Plane Shifting away again. The rest of the party wailed on the minions, taking them down after taking some flame damage but none of which having fall unconscious. When they dispatched the minions they drew their focus to the sleeping man in the room. Firing Malik’s crossbow into his prone form they caused him to bleed out far enough to fall unconscious. The cleric stabilised their foe allowing them to take him alive. Collectively hauling their quarry back through the base and popping up the top of the Pyramid they found the Army gone, the hellhounds sleeping at the base of the pyramid, presumably waiting for their master to return. In the distance they heard the marching of the missing troops in the direction of Bunbury. Attempting to sneak their way down into the treeline and back to their horses they woke the Hellhounds, causing them to sniff the air in hope to detect the trespassers. In an attempt to get past without trouble Malik cast darkness on a removed finger of their Fiend prisoner, unfortunately the ball of darkness caught the attention of the hounds. Booking it for the horses they barely managed to get there before the hounds and sped off on their horses, flinging the Darkness Finger off to the side; attracting the hellhounds long enough for them to escape. Forcing their horses into a full out sprint they managed to get back to Bunbury roughly a full day (by their estimate) before the marching army. Immediately disappearing into the crowd Malik sent Bronson off to get their reward. Once again they found the Earl occupied. Once again commanding the Steward to fetch him they met him outside his chambers, Somehow even more Ripped and Erect than the last time they saw him. Informing him of their findings, in reference to the army, as well as his claim to the Bounty Bronson was handed a stamped slip for their payment before the Earl realised that they will need all the money in their coffers for mercenaries to help the city’s defense telling a messenger to inform the quartermaster. Appearing from the shadows Malik took the slip and rushed toward the Quartermaster’s Office; unfortunately arriving just after the messenger and having his payment denied until further notice. Rejoining Myia at the banquet in the hall below they took their well deserved meal and rest before the army was to arrive.

## Session 7: Fireballs and Magic Rain

This Episode of Edward Snowed-in begins just as the last one left off with Stinky Pete thrown in prison and the Earl of Bunbury warned of the advancing Elemental force. Given an estimated 10 hours to prepare the Party went to work.

The first hour was spent with Little Bird and Malik relaying any information they had and preparing squads of troops for the upcoming battle.

After the meeting Myia got to work with Bronson convincing the Leather Workers and Brewing Crew of the city to begin work on a water-based wall defense system.

Leaving Myia and Little Bird made their way down to the dungeons to meet with the imprisoned Stinky Pete. Myia summoned a Zone of Truth within the Cell and began their interrogation, ultimately finding an exact number of troops, confirming their weakness to water as well as learning of his escape plan once the army arrived. Unfortunately the Zone of Truth ran out before they were able to gather more information.

It was at this point that Malik rode off on his horse to scout their foe, hoping to gain any information not able to be gotten through the interrogation.

Bronson shifted the Wall Defense from a hose based design to a Gravity-Fed filling system for cauldrons on the wall

Myia decided to join the civilian population in making some meals and making a supply of healing potions available to the troops, hoping to restore her spells before the battle began

Little Bird joined Bronson for a couple hours setting up the Wall Defense, an array of Barrel Bombs planted out on the battlefield and a small moat surrounding the main gate.

It was at this point that Malik reached his quarry. After taking a headcount of the forces, including identifying the Captains of the squads. Having plenty of time Malik secured his crossbow to the mount on his saddle and spent multiple hours making guerrilla strikes against the enemies as they got closer before bolting home as they were an hour away to report his findings.

As the hour came near for battle the soldiers and our Heroes took up their positions. Myia on the walls with the archers, Little Bird above the gates with some Heavy Crossbowmen, Bronson at the moat with a squadron of soldiers and Malik off in the nearby treeline ready for a covert strike from his horse.

The town waited in tense anticipation as the marching of their enemy became louder and louder before they stopped, forming ranks 150ft from the walls.

A volley of arrows flew from both the city and from the Rogue hidden in the trees, Striking but not felling any of the elementals the elementals.

The Flameskulls opened their jaws and let off a horrific sound as the troops at the base of the wall saw a small mote of fire form at their feet.

Before they could react, there was a roar of flame as the embers expanded into a ball of death, incinerating the troops before they even had a chance to fight. Another screech and the troops upon the walls were also engulfed in burning spheres. Next to all troops prepared for the fight were felled in moments. A few scorched survivors managed to find the cleric and revive her with a potion found in her satchel just as a similar, yet slightly deeper screech was emitted by the skeletal enemy. From the sky rained down a hail of Magic Missiles, tearing apart the unconscious troops at the foot of the wall, barely leaving anything behind. Seeing her chance Little Bird slammed her shield into the stone below her releasing a wave of healing energy, unfortunately failing to bring back Myia and Bronson but sucessfully bringing back a small group of troops nearby. At this point Malik sped from his hiding place through the now blown-open gate into the city towards the Prison with a plan. Seeing the battle was lost Little Bird leapt from the wall and sprinted after her companion.

It was at this point an almighty roar emitted from the Grand Hall and the Earl of Bunbury sprinted his way through it’s doors and sprinted down the main thoroughfare towards the invading army, almost trampling the Kenku Cleric in the process.

Realising he may need the Bird for his plan Malik doubled back and scooped her up before making the rest of the distance to the Prison as the Earl tore his way through the first squad of Elementals.

Taking some security amulets they made their way to Pete’s cell.

Commanding the Kenku to listen carefully Malik entered the cell, Dagger drawn, and began his torture of the Fiend. Slicing fingers and shooting joints he quickly got the Cambion(?) to scream for him to “Please, Stop!”

After getting the exact voice line he wanted he no longer needed the man alive so he fired one final bolt into his throat. Hauling the corpse onto his horse they headed back to the walls of the Town. They mounted the walls to find the Earl had cleaved his way through all the elementals and most of the Flameskulls before being killed before their eyes by a hail of Magic Missiles. Malik rigged up the Cambion corpse with ropes for a little puppet show before flinging him over the edge. On command of the Tiefling Kenku repeated Pete’s pleas for them to stop, projected battlefield-wide by Malik’s Magic. The Flameskulls turned toward the sound, though unfortunately not taking in the command. Upon noticing this Malik turned the horse back and hid back behind the walls before riding out in a hope to flee before they were slain. As they rode past Little Bird let out one final spell to revive the Earl who immediately went to work cleaning up the remaining Flameskulls before once again being sent unconscious by magic. The Cleric hopped off their horse and lay her healing hand upon the unconscious Earl, curing him from the potion given to him not long earlier, satiating his previously unending rage.

The archers above the gate, restored by an earlier healing spell rose to see the Kenku And Tiefling riding off from the pyrrhic victory shown on the battlefield, remembering their visages for future documentation of this miraculous survival.