Rescue Mission

*Denis hasn't come back from the last errand he ran for Hardy and he's starting to get worried. Enter our group of party people. They head to the Dread Lands looking for Denis and a good time... what could go wrong?*

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## Rescue Mission

###### ***Notable NPC's:***

Hardy, Denis (Dumak), Captain Steve (Roberts)

###### ***Locations:***

Topaz Bay (Reality), Lightheart Tavern (Topaz Bay), Captain Robert's Pirate Ship, The Dread Lands (Reality), Hardy Town (Eternity)

###### ***Encounters / Enemies:***

Undead Borgos (Pig People), The Creature of the Dread Lands

###### ***Notable Moments:***

Playing a game of darts with Hardy, the angry mob, Pinky promises with a pirate, Lenny finding a pendant, Undead Borgos, Lenny's Got A Gun

###### ***Episode Synopsis:***

Because it has worked out so well four times prior, Hardy once again calls in adventurers. Four respond to his call, but Topaz Bay is almost eerily quiet compared to the first time. Lightheart Tavern is once again the gathering point, and Lenny is first to enter its doors. Clara is next, and she notices that on the sign for Lightheart, very faintly underneath the name, almost scratched out, is "Brainz." Elysia tries to approach a resident, who instantly walks away, wanting no trouble from "those adventurers." Finally Blixey comes, and decides to peek through the windows...but sees only one person and one cat sitting on the bar. Everyone enters in turn, overhearing Hardy talking about rescuing Denis/Dumak (he deserves his name, Hardy!), with a man at the bar. Each person agrees to go on the mission, only if there is a party afterwards. Of course, Hardy agrees, and tries to rouse his sleepy companion, Captain Steve. He seems to be a threadbare, drunken sailor, who after being shaken awake, stumbles out of the door. Blixey challenges Hardy to a game of darts for 100 Hardy Credits, but because Hardy has no thumbs, he has Elysia throw the dart. While her dart was very close to the center, Blixey got a bullseye. Never one to let reality stop him, Hardy claims it was "Heads I Win, Tails You Lose" rules, and since Hardy is the only one with a tail, he wins. Lenny rightly points out, that since he is the only one with a tail, he, in fact, loses. Points for Lenny for confusing Hardy so well. He suggests they find Captain Steve on the boat. Clara fixes herself a drink, pounds it back and follows Lenny out of the tavern, with Elysia and Blixey close behind. They notice a group of people moving up towards the tavern...with pitchforks, protest signs, and matching t-shirts. "No More Adventurers!" chant is heard, and our foursome decides to head to the docks to find the threadbare sailor. At the docks, they see a line of well-maintained transports...and then the last one. A dinked up, painted black, singed mast, cannonball holes aplenty, barely floating ship. If you can call it that. The threadbare sailor, Captain Steve, waves them onboard and takes off. As they depart, they see the mob reach the door of the tavern and start pounding on it. "You're early!" shouts Clara, as they leave the port.

Clara decides to check out this suspicious "Captain Steve," and notices the deck covered with damage and blood stains. She asks about where this ship was recently, and in \*the best\* Pirate accent ever, Pirate Steve tells how he inherited it from some Outworlders. *Pirate* Roberts didn't have a ship, but now *Captain* Roberts does! Wait...Steve or Roberts? Roberts, of course. Hardy just made up another name. Capt. Roberts says they are sailing to The Dread Lands, full of danger, undead pig people walking around...To which Lenny asks, "wait...are you the Dread Pirate Roberts?" "Perhaps I is," he responds. Blixley decides to check out the lower deck, and finds it a shambles. Everything overturned and rummaged through...and at the back appears to be a lifeless body. Of a human-sized pig person. Blixey immediately starts thinking about the price of bacon and what recipes could be good... Back on deck, as they approach the Dread Islands, they see tall mountains with dense clouds, nearly blocking out the sun. The further they sail, the darker it becomes.

Captain Roberts says that Hardy sent Denis (was that his real name?) to search for some kind of treasure...but when the "bonies" arrived, Captain Roberts took off to get help; leaving him alone. Lenny offers the Captain 10 Hardy Credits to NOT leave them, and Captain Roberts thrusts out his hook to shake on the deal. Taken aback, she tries to shake hands, but Capt. Roberts explains it's just like a pinky promise...just shake with your pinky. A deal is made. Clara asks if there is any alcohol on this boat, to which the Captain responds no. Clara heads below deck to join Blixey, who just happened to find a hidden box full of rum. Clara hides one away as Blixey proudly shows the rest of the haul to her fellow adventurers on deck...much to the chagrin of the Captain. Lenny gives him full side eye, but decides to check out the Captain's Cabin for anything else he might have "forgotten." She finds maps, papers, and other assorted junk...until she opens a drawer and finds a beautiful pendant with a giant blue stone, enrobed in silver. Into the pocket it goes, instantly. The ship has arrived at a dilapidated port, Captain Roberts pulls in gently, and drops the anchor...surprisingly well. He won't disembark, but he won't leave them either. As the group heads off the ship, Lenny waves her pinky and Captain Roberts waves his hook back.

They head towards the dark trees, each casting candlelight to see better in the gloom. They see a path, they hear noises...Clara leads the group down the path. The forest is alive with noise and movement, and it does not sound friendly. They see footprints...one set of large prints, and many sets of smaller ones following. Blixey uses her telekinesis to rustle the bushes up ahead, hoping to flush out any foes. Instead, a little rabbit comes out, dead eyes Blixey, and hops off in another direction. The group pushes on. Soon they hear clashes of metal, so they slow down and approach carefully. Lenny sneaks up and sees Denis/Dumak fighting off three Borgos, but they are undead ones. She confers with the others and they devise a plan of attack. Lenny throws her blinding ashes and hits one, causing it to squeal. The noise incites the second one to attack Denis/Dumak, and it lands a blow. The blinded undead Borgo also tries to attack Denis/Dumak, but as it can't see and fails miserably. Blixey runs up beside Denis/Dumak and fires Jolt, striking the second Borgo. Clara flings two ice shards at the same Borgo, causing more damage. The remaining Borgo flails at Clara and strikes her, but she stands her ground. Elysia flings her ice shards and finishes off the second Borgo! Now Lenny takes a slight step back to take aim with her crossbow at the blinded Borgo. Just as it recovers its undead sight, it is struck by her arrow. Meanwhile, Denis/Dumak is using a short sword to defend himself, but he's trying to protect a small, obviously heavy box, so he can't do much damage. Blixey fires an arcane projectile and finishes off the second Borgo...only one remaining. Clara strikes that Borgo and knocks it back; it attempts to attack her again but only manages some scratches and stink. Elysia shoots off a fireball, killing it dead...but forever this time. Denis/Dumak thanks the group, asking how they knew he was there. "Hardy sent us" says Lenny, and if Denis isn't his real name, what is it? We finally learn his real name: DUMAK!! Lenny asks what's in the box? "Need to know only," replies Dumak. Lenny insists her knowing is part of her deal with Hardy, so Dumak tells her. It's the gold that will be used to establish Hardy Credits. Lenny says it was her job to bring them to Eternity, so Dumak hands it over. Clara offers her telekinesis to help carry the heavy box as they head out. But first, Lenny finds a weapon with a crooked shape, a trigger, and a fish on the handle...odd. Perhaps other worldly? She pockets it and the group starts their escape from The Dread Lands. Will Captain Roberts still be at the dock?

Dumak is pushing the group to move faster...they don't want to wake up IT. What is it? The trees are rustling behind them, and Dumak says it's a Creature of the Dread Lands....one that eats humanoids! They finally reach the dock, only to find it empty! Just as they think they've been abandoned, here comes Captain Roberts, backing the ship into the dock. He is looking over his shoulder, steering, saying, "Beep. Beep. Beep." Dumak recognizes him as the sailor who left him behind, to which there was some sort of slurring, jumbled response, but hey. The rustling hasn't stopped...the crashing is coming closer. Something huge is making its way to the dock. Everyone boards the ship and as it gets underway, the creature breaks out of the trees, staring at the people aboard the ship. It is another undead creature: it has the face of a deer, but the rest is a skeleton, with brush making up the other parts of the creature...and it is as tall as the trees it just broke through. It can't cross the water, or it would be attacking right now. While no one remembers the name of this creature, they recall stories of gigantic, monstrous creatures which is why the Dread Lands are inhospitable. But they also remember there are stories of other things on the islands worth going after. As the ship gains speed, the creatures screams in anger...and the other worldly noise echoes across the waters.

Everyone can breathe a little easier now...but how to get to Eternity? Just as they begin to discuss it, Hardy pokes his head out from the Crow's Nest at the top of the Mast. Time for Hardy's Party! Wait...was Hardy here the whole time? He explains that "when an angry mob goes to attack my tavern it is time to get out of Dodge." Hardy sets a portal to encompass the entire ship, and transports it lock, stock and cannonball hole to Eternity...where the other adventurers are hanging up signs that say "Hardy Party." Lenny agrees to be the accountant (she's not letting go of that box!) and Clara asks where the hors-d'oeuvres are. Hardy warns her off the blue cheese...certainly don't eat it, and probably don't even smell it unless you want to die.