recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Sugar-napped

Ripley had a problem. One of her new recruits—an absent-minded sorcerer called Sugar—disappeared two weeks ago. Sugar has a lot of guild equipment on her... armor, weapons, and spell components. Ripley is pretty sure Sugar stole the equipment and skipped town.

Sugar was last seen in the seediest bar in town: The Crooked Coin. Together, the party investigated.

* Goro the sketchy cleric and Hansel the half-orc fighter interrogated the shifty bartender, Tazu. “I have no clue who you’re looking for,” the bartender said. “*Definitely* no one has gone missing in my bar. I *absolutely* have no idea what you’re talking about. Can I get you something to drink?”
* Larkin investigated a hooded figure at the bar... who turned out to be a broom wrapped in a dark hood as a prank.
* A beautiful young man with long golden hair waggled his eyebrows at Hansel. It was his son-of-a-bitch ex-husband, Mishka. Hansel grimly ignored him.
* Roddy spoke to the drunk men playing darts. One of them finally admitted what was going on.... pirates often shanghaied people from this bar. Sugar had been kidnapped.

The party reported back to Ripley.

“I don’t appreciate pirates stealing my recruits,” she said. “They’ve done this before. The city officials won’t prosecute them. Fuck that. I want you to do what you do best. Get my recruit back. Find the pirates—and make an example out of them. As publicly as possible.”

The party managed to locate the pirate ship off-shore a few miles outside the city. It went down with SWAT-team-like efficiency. Roddy (still drunk) pretended to be a drunk fisherman. He floated out in a small boat, singing loudly to distract the lookout. Under the cover of darkness, the party rowed to the ship around the back. Larkin the rogue scaled the ship silently, grabbed a rope ladder, and helped the party up. She knocked out the lookout.

After a couple short battles, the party ambushed and killed the half-asleep pirates.

But during the fight—the ship captain used a fireball to set the ship ablaze. In a panic, Goro *briefly* stopped looting the ship to search for Sugar, who was still locked in the hold at the bottom of the ship.

The rest of the party put out the fire.

At dawn, the party cheerfully sailed back into town with their new pirate ship... with the dead bodies of the pirates tied to the side of the ship, strung up as an example to any future pirate.

Ripley paid them extra, and Sugar happily joined the party.
Snake In The Water

Upon return to the Surface, the team recouperates before meeting Seth at his tiny home in a grimy part of Skyport. He reluctantly lets everyone in as Larkin explains the situation. She then sprays him with water and he isn't amused. They explain about Diva. He says it's fine (it isn't).

Goro forces Seth to be a good boy and stand still. Larkin makes Seth drink the water Black ichor dribbles from Seth.

He's released, gets cleaned up.

Raef is nosey and finds a dead body after flirting with Seth.

The body was cannibalized in an incorrect way.

Seth then proceeds to start to leave, no one lets him A fight ensues and Seth is knocked out.

The team takes him back to the Underdark where he's cured in the pool.

Seth is grateful and allies.

They to back to the surface to rest before taking on Anwyll.

Fungus now blooms in Anwyll's cave, causing hallucinations through poisoning. Fire does nothing to it but make it shoot spores out despite Mishka's best attempts.

The group enters the cave, finds a body, kills it, pours water on it, and continue on. Creepy Diva critters follow them before they find Anwyll and two hags. One hag falls easily before Hansel's kidnapped by Anwyll and another hag, supposedly, in the darkness that was created by the hag.

The darkness is dispelled, Hansel's found and does a neat trick to misty step to Mishka.

Another fight ensues.

Anwyll is taken down and so is the remaining hag. Anwyll us dragged to the Underdark Teamwork is used because Anwyll￼ weighs 1,000 pounds which is too much for Hansel to do alone. He's placed in the water. Darkness oozes out until he's cured.

Diva's dead for good.

￼

￼

He's wrong.

A fight ensues when Seth punches Hansel.

The team wins and drags Seth to the Underdark to submerge him in the lake. He's cured of Diva and is grateful. He becomes an ally.￼
Raef: Again

**Content Warning: Hints of sexuality, some sadness, mentions of death**

**Day: Multiple**

\_\_

"Again."

The knife lashed out.

Aesar caught his wrist, twisted, pulled.

"Oh, Raef." Aesar chuckled, rocking their bodies in a slow dance to the music floating through the air.  “Are you really trying?”

“Fuck you.”

Soft breath blew against his ear.

“If you really want to.” Aesar’s hand tightened on his waist.  Released. “But first...again.”

—

“Again?”

“Mmhmm.”

Az snorted.  He caught Raef’s wrist, tugged, and pulled him into an awkward sway that was anything but what the music called for. “You’re cute, ahuvi.”

“Fuck you.”

Az’s grin widened.  His eyes twinkled with mirth. “If you really want…”  He twisted around, nearly dragging Raef along. “...but you said ‘again’.”

\_\_

“Again?”

“Yeah.”

Griffin rolled his eyes.  He smiled. He turned, turning Raef with him, stepped, and another turn to the beat that filled the moonlit night. “You’re adorable.”

“Fuck you.”

Griffin laughed and jerked him close. “Again?”

\_\_

“...again...”

He leaned down to steal another kiss from Az.  He couldn’t get enough of the sweet taste of his lips, the touch of his fingers as they slid through his hair and raked down his body, of the warmth that he had only dreamt of for so many years.  “Like that?”

"...not quite." Az's nose wrinkled with his tease.

"Fuck you."

A smile quirked Az’s lips. “...again…?”

\_\_

“Again? ...my love…”

Raef jerked his head around.  The world was blurry from the tears that clogged his eyes.  He wiped at them. “...help me…”

Anwyll smiled.  Warm, gentle, filled with teeth.  He held out his hand. “...come here, my love.”

He stumbled over, tripping over the bodies that littered the ground.  Bloodied, mangled, with staring eyes...eyes that were familiar, eyes that haunted him...He reached out, reached out, Anwyll wasn’t coming closer - wasn’t - wasn’t -

Anwyll caught his hand and pulled him close.  Warm...safe...forever…

Raef sniffed. “...please…”

“I promised, my love.”

"Fuck you."

"...oh, my love, Raef..."

His lower lip quivered. "...please...please..." He dropped his head to Anwyll's chest. "...again..."
Roleplay To-Do List

Current roleplays people are planning to do:

## The Graverunners

Ripley and Goro discuss secrets. Problem: Ripley is currently a primary host.

Drunk Night:

Raef and Griffin do something adorable, probably dancing.

Goro and Roddy have an awkward interaction, probably about how Goro and Sugar totally hate each other. ~~Goro sees Sugar in her pretty dress~~

Goro and Larkin have yet another awkward conversation about tieflings.

Raef and Hansel possibly do Pranks.
Sea Monster: Round Two

The party went to murder the sea monster that traumatized Hansel.

After regaining Morgan Voronin as an ally during the previous session, the party used her completed airship to attack the monster.

Goro dimension doored down to the sea beast while it lay sunning itself in the water. He attempted to remove one of the antimagic lanterns, but failed, and was forced to pop away again once the beast woke up and dove underwater.

Next, Raef attempted to speak to the creature. He felt bad for it and wished to adopt it. However, the sea monster did not appear to be intelligent enough to communicate with.

The party dropped dynamite onto the monster, destroying several of the chains holding the antimagic lanterns to its body. Next, Sam dropped down onto the monster and began to whack it with his quarterstaff, because that's what Sam does. He whacks things.

The monster-- sensing it was under attack-- dove deep into the water. Mishka dove in after it to continue attacking it, unwilling to let it get away. Sam, willing to let it get away, teleported back onto the ship.

Meanwhile, Larkin took control of the canons and fired at the creature, murdering it fairly quickly. The party stole a total of six antimagic lanterns from the corpse after the fight.

Afterwards, the party celebrated.
Raef: Answers

**Content Warning: None**

**Day: 360-361**

*<…help me…*.>

Leaves crunched beneath his steps.  The path was no longer clear, long overgrown
and covered with years of leaves, weeds, and fallen branches.

Still, he remembered it.
He walked it often in his dreams.

There was nothing at the end of the path.  Nothing but crumbled foundations, mounds of charcoaled
wood, and the forest reclaiming the land.
Maybe it was really like that, maybe it was just a dream.  He didn’t know and it didn’t matter.

He didn’t know why he came here anymore.

The house didn’t hold any answers.

It never had.

It still didn’t.

He kicked over a stone covered in moss.  A silver eye glinted up at him then vanished,
slithering away through the grass.

There were snakes now.
They promised answers.

Answers dripping in venom, silky and smooth, whispering
through his mind, teasing at his heart.  They
promised him he would be stronger, his family would be safe, his friends would
be safe.  All he had to do was destroy
the shears, all he had to do was nurse the curled beast settled within his
chest – warm, safe, comforting.

<*…help me…*>

He looked up to the darkening sky.  There were no answers there.  No chaise lounges, no silk covers, no golden
eyes staring at him, studying him.
Nothing.

He sighed.

He was lost.

He turned over another stone.  Another silver eye stared up at him.

This time it didn’t vanish.

It began to drip.

<*….help me…*>

He stretched out a hand.
Raef and Gwydion: Patty Cake

"Okay?”

“'Kay!”

Raef arched an eyebrow at the enthusiastic agreement, but he held out his right hand. “Now your hand touches mine.”

Gwydion grinned and slapped his right hand with his own. “Like that?”

“Like that.” Raef pulled his hand back and put out his left next. “Now yours again.”

Gwydion giggled and hit the older elf's hand with his right.

“No, use your left hand.” Raef pointed with a finger.

“Like this?”

“Yes.”

“Oh..'kay.  Got it!”

Raef chuckled and he showed Gwydion the next move of the game, but it was an utter, and blissful, failure.  “You're making my hands tingle. I need a break,” he said as he reached over to grab his drink. He had just taken a sip when the door to the living room opened and Aesar stepped in, looking windswept.

“Was he good?” Aesar asked with a smile as he pulled off his cloak.

“Daddy!” Gwydion squealed, scrambling to his feet to bound over to the couch between him and his father. “Pa-pa Raef taught me a game!”

“A good game, I hope.”

“Since when I have taught him anything bad?” Raef paused. “Nevermind.  Don't answer that.”

Aesar scooped up Gwydion into his arms. “So what did he teach you?”

“To make a cake!”
Jeeves the Robot

## Stats

* AC: 19
* HP: 150
* Speed: 30 ft.
* Proficiency Bonus: +6

* STR 24 (+7)
* DEX 9 (-1)
* CON 20 (+5)
* INT 3 (-4)
* WIS 11 (+0)
* CHA 1 (-5)

## Abilities

*Damage Immunities*: fire, poison, psychic.

*Damage Resistance*: bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks that aren't adamantine.

*Condition Immunities*: charmed, exhaustion, frightened, petrified, poisoned

*Senses*: darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10

*Languages*: understands the languages of its creator but can't speak

*Fire Absorption*: Whenever the golem is subjected to fire damage, it takes no damage and instead regains a number of hit points equal to the fire damage dealt.

*Immutable Form*: The golem is immune to any spell or effect that would alter its form.

*Magic Resistance*: The golem has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

*Magic Weapons*: The golem's weapon attacks are magical.

## Attacks

*Multiattack*. The golem makes two melee attacks.

*Slam*. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (2d8 + 5) bludgeoning damage.

*Sword*. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 23 (2d10 + 7) slashing damage.

*Poison Breath*.The golem exhales poisonous gas in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 17 Constitution saving throw, taking 6d8 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
Roddy: Roddy's Hero Journal: The Trouble With Goro

Dear Diary-

I messed up. I think I messed up big time. So there’s that buddy system, since it’s not safe with Mishka’s ghost sister running around. Well Sugar was usually my buddy, but she needed to drag something around, and I wasn’t up to that so I ended up stuck with Goro for a little bit.

I know, I know, we got kinda friendly after that cave in and he saved my life. (And I saved his too, you know.) Anyway we saved each other, we talked, he was nicer than I thought.

That kept up for a bit when we hung out in the kitchen. Made me a sandwich and some tea and stuff. It was nice. I dunno what happened but I guess he said something that made me irritated and- well I got flared up and the next thing I knew Goro was crying.

I hadn’t expected that! I didn’t know he cried at all! Hansel’s gonna be- I dunno, but he’s not gonna be happy. I don’t think I’m happy about this. I didn’t mean for that to happen I just- got carried away I guess. Maybe I should work on that.

Goro told me to go back to the circus. I didn’t like that. I like it here- even when I didn’t like Goro. People care about me here. People care about Goro too. He said something- in the cave. About not feeling like part of the family.

I’m the worst at family. Just can never seem to do it right. I wish I could ask Hansel. Maybe someday I’ll figure it out.
Roddy: Roddy's Hero Journal: Leaving Dad Behind

Well. I’m back home. At the castle. Hiding out in my room. Alone.

I already miss dad. Shouldn’t burn my magic so soon- I mean you never know when there’s gonna be a fight. Okay sometimes you know, walking in a bandit infested castle for one, but not always!

Anyway. There was a thing. When we left. I dunno. Hansel walked us to the Sanctuary so we could get teleported home and… well. I try to avoid hanging out while Dad gets- a certain way with Goro. You know the huggy and kissy way. Blech. And they were good on the way up- held hands but I kinda grabbed Dad’s other one. I was jealous sue me.

We talked a lot. Tried to get everything in we could I guess. I can always go visit again but. You know it’s something different than- having him at the castle. Should let his family have a turn- I am letting his family have a turn- but I’d be happiest if we all lived here together. I got a Grandma now and an Uncle Leigh. I like them. Well anyway- we talked, we walked, and eventually we got to the Sanctuary. Clustered around the teleportation circle and made our last goodbyes.

Goro cried. I mean- I did too. And Dad. But- I guess I didn’t expect to see it from Goro. I just- sniffled a little. Got a good tight hug- Dad told me I was a good kid and he was proud of me. I kinda- acted like I hadn’t heard (Dad knew better and I knew he knew better) but he said it again anyway.

Goro though. I thought we’d have to pry him off- not that I wanted to. He was- just about bawling. They got really kissy and stuff. Was kinda weird to watch- I wandered off a bit so I didn’t eavesdrop. Didn’t really want to watch but it was one of those things where you have a hard time looking away, you know? They both looked real upset. I haven’t thought about- what they mean to each other. Before now. Dad told me not to fight with Goro about it. So I haven’t but- I guess that’s all I can say I’ve been doing.

I still don’t like it. I don’t trust Goro- maybe I should work on that. …It’s kinda scary. But I do scary things all the time now. He didn’t kill Amren- and there were a lot of good reasons to. Should talk to him soon. He skittered off as soon as we got back to the castle, I think he was still crying.

…First I think I need to cry a bit too. Didn’t- want to in front of Dad. Didn’t want to make it harder for him. But it’s been five minutes and I already miss him. I hope Dad comes back soon.
Roddy: Roddy's Fugitive Diary: Goggles, Families, and Spells Oh My

Dear Diary-

Guess what I got! Okay well no, you can’t guess, you’re just a book, but that’s how I talk.

I got *goggles*.Magic goggles! Now I can see in the dark like literally every other person on this freaking ship. I mean seriously, what is it with every other race and darkvision? It is really neat though. I’m writing this in the dark right now with no lights! And I just hope I can read my own handwriting in the morning!

Oh so anyway, the rest of the day. Well we went out to Skyport. Had a run in with some hosts while rescuing Mormiir. I did *not* miss that guy. Now he’s back and ugh. I just hope he only tries to ax who he’s supposed to.

But we also got some neat gear for killing Ripley! I shouldn’t write so excitedly about that. I don’t want to kill Ripley- but we have to to stop Diva. And as a side affect we also get to save Ripley so win-win?

Anyway. Yeah. Went to the magic shop, bought stuff, I think Larkin may have stole something? She’s good a**----------------------------------------------------------**

Well. Mishka came by. Tried to make conversation. I guess I chased him off? Maybe I should feel bad about that, I mean, he is important to Hansel. I bet he’d like it if we got along…

Hansel said families would be great. I’ve yet to see any of that. They’re just more complications and hurting and favorites. ~~Sometimes I wish I could just stop wanting one so bad.~~

Okay you know, enough about Mishka. Let’s write about Sugar now! She’s nice, she let me do her hair that time we all got blazing drunk. Gotta keep an eye on Goro though, he was leading her on and made her cr-

Mishka came back. He brought food at least? What is up with him I do not know. So confusing. Really wonder how Hansel puts up with him.

He was asking about Jonn. I hope I didn’t say anything that’ll cause problems. Told him to talk to Hansel. Hope he doesn’t get mad at me about this.

Think I might be done journaling for today. Think I’ll go hide out in my room, hope that nothing happens. Like- fires or explosions or something. Or yelling.

So I lied. I’m in my room now, and I cast silence so I can’t hear it if they do argue. Helm help me I thought I was over this. Hiding under the covers like a kid and hoping they shut up soon. I don’t even like Mishka why- oh Helm am I thinking of him like a parent??

Well that sucks. You know I like Hansel as a dad, Hansel’s nice. Mishka- is weird and confusing. And likes Hansel better. And- yeah that would be it wouldn’t it.

I do not want another dad. Especially not *Mishka*. I have had enough of playing-favorites parental figures. Except Hansel. ~~No yes including Hansel.~~

Ugh I had enough of these sorts of stupid family dynamics in the circus. I changed my mind, Hansel is my only family now. *Including* the Finrashes. That felt really, really weird to write. Sugar had a good line I think, but I was drunk and I’ve forgotten it. Note: Ask Sugar what that line was.

Welp, that is enough introspection for one night. Takeaways from tonight: I don’t like Mishka. Magic goggles are neat. Silence is useful for not-listening to arguments. Yeah, I’m done now.
Robin & Griffin

Robin and Griffin were shady characters associated with the thieves from Grimwood Forest. Robin is a human arcane trickster, and Griffin was a half-orc fighter. They used to run The Red Gryphon but when it was put out of business by Morgan Wyn, Griffin abandoned Skyport and Robin vanished entirely. He hasn't been seen since Griffin and Raef's wedding.

## Scion of Gruumsh

According to local superstition, half-orcs are favored by Gruumsh. They are, supposedly, the perfect killing machines, the cunning and adaptability of humans mixed with the sheer brutality of orcs.

Once per generation, there is a half-orc child born with Gruumsh's symbol: an eye-shaped birthmark. This is the Scion of Gruumsh, chosen by him to be his avatar. The Scion possesses a resistance to Gruumsh's power, which allows him to inhabit their body and thus take mortal form and wreak havoc in the mortal plane.

Griffin -- or Imesh -- wasn't into this and booked it.

Unfortunately, his father Bloodgrut the Smartest eventually caught up with him, trapping and breaking him down into becoming the avatar. Griffin suffered only briefly before his husband and aunt put him out of his misery and sent Gruumsh back to his own plane.

The Scion is now a baby named Tikva, Griffin's baby sister. She is being raise by Raef and Gavi.
Serena: Unheard, Ignored

**SERENA YRENDAEL**

Once, Serena told people, there was a town outside Alabaster. Wood elves and high elves both lived there, and half-elves and humans and tieflings too. No orcs, of course. That would just be silly. A bridge too far. Laughable.

It was a poor and struggling town, but everyone there believed they were on the right side of history -- refusing Alabasti gold in favor of accepting all sorts within their boundaries. (Except orcs. No, still not orcs.) Unfortunately, Serena would say, they weren’t able to eat and drink their beliefs, and their beliefs didn’t patch the holes in their roofs, or feed their fires, or keep them safe from the harsh winter winds.

Serena would tell people that the little town blew away one winter. Abandoned. The high elves groveled back to Alabaster, and the rest scattered off to more hospitable abodes, and their little dream of acceptance was forgotten and buried under the snow.

What she didn’t tell people was that her parents froze to death one winter, and she spent the rest of it hiding in doorways. That she summered with a human and tiefling family who had some food to spare because the winter had taken a grandmother and a baby from them, and the next winter she was alone again because they moved away. She didn’t tell people that the town blew away bit by bit, year by year, winter by winter. She didn’t tell them how hungry she had gotten. She didn’t tell them how cold the north was.

She would tell people that Selune came to guide her in a troubling time, but she wouldn’t say it was when she was shivering to death in a cold and empty shack, and realized suddenly that with a snap of her fingers she could light a fire. She never told anyone the soothing words that her goddess whispered in her ear. She would tell people that Selune sent her visions, but she wouldn’t share the more troubling ones.

Red skies. Blood-stained wood. Slavering teeth. The roar of thunder.

Selune guided her south, where it was warm. She lived in Sienna Springs for a spell. She stayed in Moorland. By the time she made it to Skyport, she was grown but still skinny, still hungry all the time, still cold down in her soul. She made money selling fortunes from the back of a wagon, most of which were fake, but she didn’t tell anyone that part when she told the story. Few enough believed her visions anyway.

She didn’t say that she feared the storms out at sea, felt the hairs on the back of her neck lift with dreadful knowledge. She didn’t say what she knew -- that if she ever went to sea, it would kill her. Her goddess warned her away, and whispered. Serena never told anyone the extent of power she’d glimpsed, and been promised, the visions of moonlight beaming through her.

Many futures, she would tell people, flipping cards and reading into them. Many futures. The moon, the empress. Death, the emperor. The sea would bring her to bloody tusks and blank eyes, and all she had to do was stay away, and in time she would be able to see much, much more.

But oh, it called to her, the ocean and the family she would die with, and Serena went to it regardless.
Rina de Rolo

Prince Rina de Rolo is the current Prince of Skyport.
As of the beginning of the Graverunners campaign, she is only twelve years old. She became Prince at age seven after the mysterious death of her mother.

Her older brother, Warmaster Basil de Rolo, is a tiefling. Tieflings are not allowed to inherit the throne in Skyport.

During the Basil, Goro, and Rina roleplay, it is implied Rina is secretly a rare type of "recessive" tiefling. She displays none of the obvious tiefling traits; she has no tail, horns, or hooves, and her skin and eyes are natural colors. However, she used as spell called "thaumaturgy" inside the dreamscape, a cantrip typically associated with demon-tainted humans.

## Personality

Despite her young age, Rina is unexpectedly sharp, commanding, and imperious.

Her brother, Basil, has educated her as much as possible on matters of state. However, Basil has remarked "the Prince has decreed no history lectures." She typically does what the Council advises.

She is eager to impress adults she likes. Other children bore and annoy her.

She can be unexpectedly deceptive. She is surprisingly rational and practical for her age.

She remarked to Goro that she has a list of laws she would like to abolish or alter, but the Council needs a majority vote in order to abolish or alter laws.

## Job Duties

As Prince, Rina can propose or veto laws. She can also propose to alter existing laws. She is the only person who can select candidates for the Council (except the Bishop, who is always appointed by the previous Bishop).

However, the Council must vote on everything she does before it officially passes.

## Quotes

"D'you want to come swimming? Warmaster Basil advised that we don't know how long we'll be stuck here, and it's entirely boring so far." -- Rina, bored by being hosted.

"Basil, I think that Mikhail is trying to charm you into helping him get that seat. Sending you gifts and taking long walks with you in the garden. And I think this one is his friend." -- Rina, concerning Goro.

## Testimonials

*She had a certain poise about her, an inner strength she might not even know she had, living under Freddy's thumb. That was good. Goro had known these people for the better part of two minutes, and already he liked them.* -- Goro, (TRP: Basil, Goro, and Rina (Dreamscape))

"Y'know the Prince is Frederick's ward. Or maybe you don't, I don't know how much you pay attention to that. Little twelve-year-old girl, mostly lives in the Abbey. She's not into politics much and she's easily manipulated-- especially because the Church has basically been raising her. Prince Rina." -- Mishka
Raef: Letter from Gwydion

*My dearest Raef,*

-- "Fuck," Raef muttered. There was only one person he knew who started letters like that. --

*Wipe the scowl off your face! I have good news to tell you!*

-- Gwydion always had good news. The trouble was, was that it always brought a headache. --

*I'm on my way to Skyport! Isn't that exciting?! I haven't left Alabaster in a long time and this time I get to see you!*

-- Great. --

*We'll have to catch up! I'll find you once I'm there. In the meantime, behave yourself!*

*Love,*

*Gwydion*

Raef sighed out and ran a hand over his face. The last thing he needed was for an elf from his past to come traipsing into town.
TRP: Goro and Hansel (Stew)

## Setting

Campsite at an abandoned church yard. Most of the group are out exploring the ruins while Hansel stayed behind to guard the camp and make dinner. Goro joins him.

Player 1: "Hey Hansel. Is that stew ready?"

Player 2: "Yup."

Player 1: "I'd love a bowl. It's been a rough night."

Player 2: He gets out a bowl, fills it, and hands it to Goro.

Player 1: Goro takes a few bites. "Mmm. Tasty." He gives Hansel a wicked grin. "Say, what kind of meat is this?"

Player 2: Hansel gives him a blank look. "You don't know what vegetables taste like, Goro?"

Player 1: "Ahahaha. Sure. Laying off the meat, then? You, uh, lose your taste for it?"

Player 2: "I'm a vegetarian."

Player 1: "Oh yeah? Even when you're real desperate?" Goro takes a few more bites and licks his spoon clean. "You know, I heard a funny story the other day. From Mishka."

Player 2: "Interesting."

Player 1: "The guy talks a lot of shit, doesn't he?"

Player 2: "Mmhm."

Player 1: "I sure was wondering about that one, though. I had a hard time figuring out whether or not he really believed it, but I didn't see what reason he had to lie to me. He was telling me about an incident you had, in your seafaring days. Involving a shipwreck."

Player 2: "Yeah, he doesn't really need a reason to lie, usually. Probably just fuckin' with you."

Player 1: "Huh." They sit in silence for a few minutes as Goro finishes the stew. "That hit the spot, thanks. Hansel, what happened to your crew?"

Player 2: "No problem." He takes the bowl back and sits it in a stack. "Which one? Been on a lotta ships."

Player 1: "Oh, I don't know. Have you lost your entire crew on multiple occasions, or just the one?"

Player 2: Hansel looks at him. "What're you trying to get at, Goro? I don't have time for bullshit."

Player 1: "You vanished for three months, Mishka said. He thought you were dead. But a crewman of yours told him otherwise. Said you'd shipwrecked, then killed and ate your crew to survive." Goro raises his eyebrows. "So what do you suppose that was? Bullshit?"(bearbeitet)

Player 2: "Huh." He looks back to his stew. "Yeah, sounds like Mishka-grade bullshit."

Player 1: "Hm. Interesting." Goro stands up. "Well, I'd better head back to see what the others have gotten themselves into now. Nice talking to you, Hansel." And he walks off toward the mausoleum.

[END]
Razor Shroud

**Day: 407**

Sam and Irah hear rumors in Iceport about something powerful located within a cave outside of town. They investigate and Sam feels a calling from within. They decide to get Goro and Mishka for help.

The team arrives to the cave and decide to investigate. It's a icey, vine filled, root filled area. They meet a couple of Troglodytes who don't want to be friends with them. Sam and Irah kill them pretty easily. The group heads north to meet some Spined Devils, who are less than happy that they're being interrupted.

These beings are also killed.

The door holds a riddle that is solved by Mishka putting ice in a hole.

More Spined Devils and a Troglodyte are on the other side to be swiftly decimated before the group answers another riddle with water, fire, earth (sand), and air.

A room is behind this door holding a dragon, a unicorn, a drow that fight to keep the shroud from being found.

Mishka and Irah fireball some, Goro radiates one, and Sam kicks more ass.

The dragon dies, the unicorn vanishes and a shroud falls down, and the drow is pulled back into the wall.

##

After returning home to the castle, Goro went to the market with Theo. Mysteriously, Anwyll appeared and attacked Goro. During the attack, Theo escaped, but Anwyll caught Goro and-- in snake form-- devoured him.

Goro escaped using Dimension Door. However, the attack triggered the Sinspawn Sickness inside Goro, causing him to become completely amnesiac-- leaving Goro lost and alone in Skyport with no recollection of who he was.
Spades

Spades appears to be a human gifted with supernatural powers. It is vaguely implied he may be connected to Diva.

## Facts

In scenes with Lykaos and Larkin, it has been revealed:

* Spades woke up roughly ten months ago in a grave with no memory of his previous life. He vaguely recalls being buried by a group of people, most of which appeared to be peasants, but one of which was "a tall, strong woman with blond braids, blue warpaint, and a waraxe."
* His headstone was destroyed, though it's unclear how or why. The remaining visible letters spell the word "Spades," which Spades has taken as his new name. Spades does not recall his birth name.
* Spades murdered a village of goblins and "devoured them" after awakening from his grave.
* Spades appears completely uninterested in human morality and will kill people thoughtlessly.
* Spades can ocassionally transform into a large wendigo-like creature.
* Although he seems to possess a lot of magic, he's also pretty uninterested in actually using it to cast spells. He seems to use it almost exclusively to murder people with by channeling it into his weapons.
Roddy: Roddy's Fugitive Journal (Untitled)

Roddy’s Fugitive Journal: ----------------

I don’t have the energy to think of a clever title.

Well, here I am again, jotting down my thoughts. There’s a lot of them. Yet the words aren’t coming as easily as they usually do. I feel hollow. I hate feeling hollow. It makes me quiet, hiding away in corners or the raven’s nest. I don’t like the shadows. I’m a performer, I like the spotlight.

Except for now. At least everyone else is feeling mopey. We lost Ripley. I’ll miss Ripley. Diva used Goro and Mishka to turn her into another her. Goro got better.

On top of that Skyport has declared the guild illegal and we’re all fugitives- something about Ripley worshiping another god? Which- hey why should *I* get punished for that? I actually *do* follow Helm. Hmph. If I wasn’t afraid for my life I’d march up to one of those paladins and give her a piece of my mind. But I’m a coward.

Anyway, there’s a sanctuary, some temple thing to some goddess. Ripley left instructions to Goro to go there if something bad happened. I don’t know what’ll happen after that. Might be we all scatter.

I hope not. I kinda like most of my party, and they’re really good at killing stuff. Alarmingly good. Well except Raef, but he tries. Hansel’s really nice. Maybe I’ll see if I can tag along with him. Of course he might decide to go banditry or something. I don’t know if I’d do well in that line of work. But I survived being an adventurer, so who knows whats possible!

Oh hang on- I hear something. I’ll have to pick this back up later.
Raef: Bubbles

**Content Warning: None**

**Day: ???**

“Mmm...I’ll be off, *ahuvi*.” Az stole a kiss.

Raef returned the kiss sleepily.  “...it’s early.”

“It’s after sunrise.”

“Yeah...early.”

Az laughed quietly. “She’s gonna wake up soon.”

“Shhh...five more minutes then.” Raef rolled over on the
bed, wrapping his arms around Az’s pillow.  It was too fuckin’ early to be
awake.

“Love you.”  Az was smiling.  He could hear it in
his voice.

“Love you, too.”

--

"Oh, gross." Raef laughed, swiping away a dribble
of spit from the corner of Tikva's mouth.

Tikva giggled and snatched at the cloth.  She babbled.

"No.  Spit bubbles are gross."

She giggled again. She was always giggling and babbling now,
talking up a storm that he was sure was going to be with her for a long time.

Raef smiled.  He caught her hand to place a kiss on her
knuckles. "No more, okay?  Daddy's gonna lose his mind if you spit on
him."

Tikva babbled some more, incoherent and happy.

"That doesn't sound like you're gonna listen." He
lifted her up into his arms, spun on a heel, nearly tripping over Zarkon.
“Shit.”

Tikva made a ‘*pfffbtshhh*’ sound, producing another
spit bubble that popped.

“Yeah.  Our little secret.  Don’t let Daddy know I
say bad words.” Raef chuckled.  He settled her comfortably in his arms to
take her from the body.  He whistled at Uthax and Zarkon though he didn’t
need to.  They damn near beat him to the
door and raced out ahead of him when he opened the door.

Tikva was happily playing with her fingers by the time he
reached the kitchen, cooing and gurgling.  She stretched out a slobbery
hand.

“Thank you.” Raef took the cloth out of his pocket to wipe
it. “I don’t need your slobber...but maybe Goro does.”  The cleric’d just
wandered in.  He smiled. “Mornin’.”

Goro paused in the doorway. “Morning.”

“Mind taking her for a second?” He’d normally lay her down
in the area of the kitchen that he’d stolen just for her so he could cook, but
Goro was there and she liked to be held.

“Sure.”  It took a second, but Goro agreed and Raef
handed her over.

“She’s, uh, she’s a bit mouthy,” he warned as he turned back
to the counter.  He had to make her formula, make the dogs’ breakfast,
make his breakfast, make Goro’s breakfast.  It was going to be a busy
morning.

“Oh...good…”

Raef smiled. “I’ll get breakfast.”

As the scent of seasoned eggs mingled with the scent of
sizzling sausage, he heard Goro mutter something sweetly to Tikva that was
swiftly followed by a disgruntled, “Disgusting.” then “Raef, your kid --”

Raef threw a rag over his shoulder at Goro, grinning. “Told
you.  She’s mouthy.”

“Gross.”

Tikva giggled.

--

Raef hummed softly, rocking Tikva in his arms.  Her
dark eyes drooped before finally shutting.
She looked so sweet when she was asleep.  He brushed back a strand
of dark, curly hair that made his heart ache.

“He’d’ve loved you,” he whispered as he laid her down in her crib, tucking in
the capelet around her.  She let out a sleepy sigh.  She was perfect.  “Good night, *enayim shelli*.”
Reconnaissance

On Day 505, Mishka decided to weasel into the Helmite Abbey looking for Freddy's quarters and/or office. He expertly ingratiated himself amongst the Abbey staff and learned of a weird alcove with a mysterious relic that no one was allowed to touch. Suspecting a secret door, he snuck Raef in so that Raef could use his ability to see through walls, and sure enough, there was a hidden spiral staircase that led down into the vault below, and all the way up past what Raef's spectral sight could discern.

After a very important clandestine smoochin' session in a broom closet, Mishka and Raef dimension doored into the spiral staircase and started heading up, but unfortunately, they seemed to trigger some kind of alarm, because they started hearing guards coming up behind them. They tried to hide further up, turn invisible, and dimension door out, but there was really nowhere to hide and Mishka found his teleportation blocked. He abruptly remembered that Raef was the person he was supposed to be checking in with in case anything wrong, thought "oh no," and decided that the only option was to use his portable hole to pop to the other side of the heavy door at the top of the staircase.

Inside, the boys found Freddy's opulent chambers, and Freddy himself sitting there and smugly waiting for them, like a creep. Thinking fast, Mishka popped his portable hole into a wall, grabbed his boyfriend, and jumped out just as the archbishop was preparing to attack him and the guards on the stairs were reaching the door. He even managed to retrieve his portable hole on the way out, and safely dimension doored himself and Raef far far away once they'd fallen far enough.

Meanwhile, Larkin and the Redbirds, aided by plentiful allies such as Azriel, Amari, and Tazu in addition to the core Runners, had been spreading lies and rumors about the church -- telling the lower class that the church is abducting people for a secret army to fight Calimport, telling the rich that they'd be taxed into oblivion to support the war effort, and whispering about how Rexarius is himself an avatar of Bane, and maybe the goody-goody church of Helm is actually down to ally with him, which is pretty weird, right?

This all came to a head at a meetup the Redbirds organized to discuss these happenings and continue to spread the rumors, when the paladins came to bust things up. Luckily, they weren't very sneaky, and Larkin had assigned Hansel to keep watch, so there was adequate time to get the civilians away while making sure that they saw the church was for real. Three Redbirds were even captured defending the common folk, though Larkin and Hansel beat down the paladins and got them back. Larkin held a ceremony in these Redbirds' honor to really drive home that her and Finch's gang are of the people, for the people.

The city seems to be pretty primed for serious change.
Piercing the Veil

* **The party set about their plan to tear a hole in the Veil and bring Pride into the Mortal Plane.**
* **The party collected several corpses as part of the ritual to form Pride’s new body. They robbed a couple graveyards.**
* **Larkin grudging attended the ritual just to make sure nothing went wrong. Raef refused.**
* **A old elven woman calling herself “Lana” came to visit Raef. She claimed to be an old friend of Hansel’s, though Hansel later claimed he knew no such person. Lana read Raef’s tea leaves. She said a time of troubles might be approaching, though it was unclear how bad it would be; she said that, on the other wide, things would likely be good again, but they’d have to get through it first. She gave no more details.**
* **Raef— taking this to mean that Pride crossing over to the Mortal Plane was a bad idea— Sent to Goro to stop them from enacting the ritual.**
* **With some trepidation, the party went through with the ritual anyway. Pride arrived in his eight foot tiefling form and happily united with Sam.**
* **Aziz appeared as well. Pride initially moved to destroy him, referring to him as “unimportant afterbirth,” but Larkin stopped him. Pride, uninterested, allowed Aziz to live, and Aziz went home with Larkin.**
Session Recaps

The following pages contain summaries of sessions the D&D group has played so far. Most recent entries are at the bottom of the list.

### The Graverunners

1. Session One: Day One
2. Sugar-napped
3. Outfoxed
4. Everything is Fine and Nothing Bad Happens
5. Hansel the Cannibal
6. Holy Heist
7. In Which the Party Steals Ripley's Underwear
8. The Dwarven Ruins (Finally)
9. Grimwood Forest
10. A Bird in the Hand
11. The Dwarven Ruins Pt 2
12. The Black Minute-Glass
13. To the Sanctuary
14. Rescuing Mishka
15. Good Old-Fashioned Sea Troll Killing
16. I Dream of Freddy
17. Matricide
18. The Gang Gets Diva
19. Summons
20. Castlecrashing
21. Lockheart & Gold
22. Ghostbusting
23. Footprints
24. Melancholia
25. Dragonsnatching
26. Whipdagger
27. Vows
28. Basha Back
29. Birds of a Feather
30. Flock Together
31. Regicide
32. Heist!
33. Foxnapped
34. Dead of Night
35. Renewal
36. Bad Blood
37. To Hell and Back
38. The Battle of Sanctuary
39. Foxhunt
40. Scions
41. Escape!
42. The Head of the Snake
43. Holy Heist, Take Two
44. Iron Heart
45. History Heist
46. Blood in the Water
47. Silence is Deadly
48. The Oracle
49. Watersnake
50. The Sudden Storm
51. Kitty Rescue
52. The Beast
53. The Island
54. The Dinner
55. The Lab
56. Rose and Moon Wedding
57. Family Picnic
58. Razor Shroud
59. Hansel and Larkin Murder Anwyll
60. Underdark Part I: Lies and Deceit
61. Underdark Part II: A Stab in the Dark
62. Snake in the Water
63. The Gang Helps a Vampire
64. Sea Monster: Round Two
65. The Cleric
66. Tomb of Horrors I: A Box Full of Snakes
67. The Ritual
68. Tomb of Horrors: Part II
69. Tomb of Horrors III: Fortuitous Falls
70. Blood Debt
71. Wild Goose Chase
72. The Obsidian Shears

### The B-Team

1. Good Fellas (B-Team)
2. Good Fellas Pt 2 (B-Team)
3. session 3 - Jen DM, wrapping up bad luck arc
4. The Owlbear Incident
5. Candynight Capers
6. Asenka Unleashed
Raef: Where Are You Going?

“He’s beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“He looks like so much like Aria.” Raef smiled as he brushed back a thin lock of golden hair that hung in front of the elfling’s forehead.  He cradled the newborn gently in one arm, unable to look down from the resting face. He was truly a beautiful child with a smattering of silver scales across his nose and cheeks much like freckles.

“He does,” Aesar agreed. “He’s quieter, though.”

“What did you name him?”

“Gwydion."

\*\*

“Raef!”

“What?” The dark haired elf didn't bother to look up from the book he was reading; Gwydion would be in the room soon enough.

“*Raef!*”

Raef sighed out as his name was screamed again. “What?” he repeated, finally closing his book and looking to the partially open door.

“Come look what I found!”

He rolled his eyes, but got up from his desk.  He usually came when Gwydion called him, but he wouldn't readily admit it. “What did you --” he started to ask when he saw a glob of something sticky and covered in bugs. Or was it just a blob of bugs? “What the fuck is that?”

Gwydion’s smiling face fell at the question. “You don't like it?” His lower lip trembled as he looked at the mess in his hands.

*Fuck*. The devastated look on the young elf's face tugged at Raef's heart and he was quick to walk over to the dirt covered child. “That's not what I meant,” he said as he knelt beside the child. “I was just surprised.  What is it?”

“Oh...okay.” Gwydion’s lower lip still pouted out before he grinned widely. “Dinner!”

\*\*

“Where are you going?” Gwydion leaned on his staff as he watched Raef tie on his boots.

“I don't know." Raef smiled, tucking the laces into the hem of his boots.  He had no plan in his life but to get the hell out of Alabaster.  Very little had tied him to the city except for Gwydion and now the sorcerer was grown. There was no longer a reason to stay.

“Then why are you leaving?”

“I’m bored.”

“You’re bored?”

“That's what I said.”

Gwydion frowned. "I don't believe it."

Raef chuckled at his friend’s disbelief; they had never held the same view regarding their birth home.  He stood up and grabbed his bag. “I’m not you, Gwydion.” He squeezed the younger elf’s shoulder as he walked past. “I don't belong here.”
Raef: I Couldn't Save Him

**Warning:** Some mention of sadness.

Setting: Whenever they get back to the castle.

“You coming?”

“Yeah.  Go on ahead.  I’ll catch up.”  Raef smiled – made himself smile – when Az
looked back at him before continuing down the path that led up to the front of
the castle.

It should’ve been a sight for sore eyes.  He had spent days dreaming of when he could
come back to the castle.  Of when he’d be
able to come home, cook dinner for Griffin and the dogs, of when he’d be able
to curl up on the bed with him and talk about whatever the fuck they wanted to talk
about.

Except Griffin wasn’t there and would never be there again.

Az was there.

That was good.

Raef swallowed, pushing down the pain that threatened to
bubble up.

He didn’t want to go inside.

The sun had begun to set by the time he left the grounds and
walked inside.  It was lively, it was warm,
and he hated it.  Somewhere he could hear
Az cooing at Tikva; he was probably in the kitchen.  Good.
Then he wouldn’t ask him why he hadn’t come in sooner.  Why he had just stood there, staring up at
the castle and wishing for everything to go away.

Each step up the staircase dragged at him as if he were
wading through quicksand.

He didn’t want to go up.

But he had to.

He reached for the door handle, grabbed it, pulled it…

The door swung open.

Nothing had changed.
The bed was made, the small cooking setup was still where they had left
it, the dogs’ beds were piled neatly on the floor…It was all the same.   Even a
jacket he had been mending for Griffin was still hanging on the back of a
chair, waiting for him to finish it.

Raef inhaled, exhaled, and took one more breath before he
stepped inside.

He wanted to run then, wanted to turn around and leave.

He took another step.

One more.

He reached out for the jacket, hand shaking and heart
thudding.  His hand dropped.

When the dogs came barreling into the room, tripping over their
too-long legs, Raef was sitting on the floor near the bed with the jacket in
his lap; it still smelled like Grififn. He stopped squeezing and stroking
it when he saw them.

Their tails wagged.

“Hey, babies,” he said, stroking them and holding them as
they licked at any open skin they could reach. He chuckled despite the tightness
in his throat and the burning in his eyes. He had missed them.

Zarkon – *Zarkon* – flopped down on his lap as best he
could.  The puppy was all legs and they
stuck out awkwardly.  Uthax didn’t lay
down.  He kept pacing, sniffing, turning,
and coming back.  By now Griffin would’ve
scooped the mastiff up into a bear hug, enduring the slobbering licks and
giving a few kisses back.

“Come here.” Raef patted the floor beside him.  When Uthax came over and sat he scratched
behind his ear. “I’m sorry, Uthax.”

A lick came as an answer, a small one followed by a gentle
nudge to his hand.

Raef rubbed at his face, sniffed, and wrapped his arms
tight around the large dog. He buried his face in against his neck. “I couldn’t save him…I’m sorry.”