Session Round-Up - The SEQUEL

In Faronne, lots of things are happening.

Starring Demelov, Moki'bar, Nippers, Zevrin, and Woad.

## Session 1 - 4.9.2022 | Beyond the Grave

Demelov Severnya and Mokibar Sylqen awoke in the Rosewater Inn after a long day's travel. Each had walked their own road to arrive in Greenbriar— Moki sought the identity of a bloodmage he was tasked with hunting down, while Demelov was hunting the maker of a toy he had found in his home village.

After finding that their interests aligned in a local toy-maker, Demelov and Moki joined forces to track down Uncle Anton, by way of his new errand boy/houseguest Woad. Woad was also a newcomer to the village, having awoken inside a coffin, buried in a nearby field. Upon meeting Woad, Demelov and Moki helped him finish shopping for a potential cure for Uncle Anton, who the local healer, Ekell, had diagnosed with “dying of old age”.

Unfortunately, the apothecary, a gross old woman named Violet, informed Woad that one crucial ingredient, powdered satyr horn, was outlawed, and only available in the Feywild. Woad determined that the obvious next step was to go to the Feywild.

The trio made their way to Herzog house to meet Yulia, Anton’s niece. She searched through her uncle’s logs for the name Kagen and LKSNDRN. With no way to go to the top blanket that was the Feywild, the gang resolved to do some more digging and ask the magic users around town. This led them to Life Blooms Hospital, which had once been run by a cleric named Cag End, which fit the typically poor pseudonyms used by the other blood mages on the list. The gang met Xerxes, a cheerful orc who had been hired by Mr. Cag several months ago, before his mysterious death. Xerxes told you that Ekell has been performing miracles lately, is a great help to the town, and was friends with the lovely Mr. Cag (now deceased).

Xerxes escorted you out to Cag’s grave, where Demelov distracted him with a discussion of watches. Woad and Moki disinterred the coffin, only to find the coffin was a door—a trapped door. Xerxes, noticing a commotion, made to fetch Ekell. After two failed charm attempts, he was knocked out by Moki in one hit. After hobbling the unconscious Xerxes, you hurried down into the secret basement, and found Ekell’s horrific blood collecting center, along with many of his victims. Unfortunately Ekell’s “familiar” caught you and raced to fetch Ekell. The gang prepared for a fight, and, with their readied actions, just about eviscerated the cat, who turned out to be a tabaxi druid. Ekell rained fire on the small group, Velvet went down in one hit, and Ekell, badly injured, turned and ran. The gang gave chase, Demelov went down, and Moki caught up to Ekell and chopped the bloodmage in half.

The gang sent Gareth, the muscular halfling, to fetch the constable, and returned to investigate Ekell’s office, finding letters from a mysterious “H”, an identical list of names, vials of blood, powdery reddish crystals, and a few loot items.

The constable took Velvet into custody and accompanied the gang to Yulia’s for questioning. There, they found that Anton was now semi-conscious. He seemed to have difficulty remembering where he was, and called out for Aleksandrina, a name from his past, and asked Woad if he had seen his sister.

With more questions than answers, the gang resolved to talk to Old Violet and enter the Feywild to retrieve powdered satyr horn. Demelov asked Yulia to investigate more of her Uncle’s old records for him, and Moki decided that there might be more to Ekell’s plan than it seemed.

## Session 2 - 4.14.2022 | Secret Brothers

Old Violet agreed to send the gang to the feywild and bring them back to the material plane in exchange for their help retrieving a necklace she lost to an eladrin named Alfelal.

She sent the trio to a satyr party Alfelal had been known to frequent, and the gang set about not losing their names to fey, while getting a Satyr drunk enough that you could win a drinking contest against him.

Michelangelo the Satyr lost, thanks to Woad’s resistance to poison, despite the very strong fairy wine. The gang was prepared to take Michelangelo’s horn, but, seeing his blubbering, hesitated. Alfelal was drawn by the commotion and offered information on the drinking horns in exchange for servitude or a favor.

The trio were not interested, and Demelov decided to just take the horn.

With the horn secured, one task remained. The party began bargaining with Alfelal for the necklace, which he said was dear to him, as it was from a friend he’d had a "romp" with. The party were all disgusted by this reveal, and bargained closely.

Woad promised his servitude until he stopped breathing. Alfelal called him on it, saying that “your kind don’t breathe”, but Woad put on such a convincing performance of breathing, he tricked the Eladrin, who said “If I give you the necklace, then so long as you breathe, you’ll follow my commands”. Woad agreed and Alfelal handed him the necklace. Woad then ceased breathing.

Alfelal was both irritated and amused, and warned that he’d be back when Woad breathed again. He alluded to a shared trouble between Woad and Moki. With a parting jibe that Violet said hi, the gang returned to Greenbriar, where Woad refused to return the necklace to old Violet, accusing her of being un-neighborly.

Demelov had to explain to Woad that Violet was owed her necklace back, and Woad reluctantly handed it over, telling Violet he’d only wanted her help stopping Alfelal. Outside, Woad tried to speak to Alfelal by breathing. He barely avoided punching Moki, but did not avoid pissing himself.

With items in hand and Old Violet’s enmity earned, the party returned to the Herzog house. While Yulia brewed a healing potion for Uncle Anton, da boys discussed the nature of morality, who can and should be killed, and what Moki's personal code might be. Meanwhile, Moki got a message from Captain Vrat letting him know that he heard Moki had killed a bloodmage, and that payment awaited him at the Guild. Moki was unconvinced that Kagen had truly been found, and wondered whether Cag had faked his death so that Ekell could replace him. (Spoiler alert, 5/30/2022, he absolutely did).

The party then gathered to watch as Yulia administered the potion. Uncle Anton awoke, but still seemed slightly confused. He seemed to recognize Demelov’s name, and was glad to find that Woad had made friends.

Demelov then got Anton alone to ask pressing questions about his history. Anton gave some details: he too had lived in Volnoka with his brother and sister, and was a friend of Demelov’s sister. But, though Demelov seemed to have convinced Anton that he was the same Demelov from before the destruction of Volnoka, Anton held back all the details, confirming only that Sasha had vanished at the same time as Demelov, along with Anton and his siblings’ parents. He implied that his siblings had attempted to find their parents and Sasha, and that the doll was designed to draw the lost back to the material plane.

With questions still unanswered, Demelov returned to the main room, where more revelations awaited, as Woad mentioned that the voices in his head were saying Moki’s name, then showed off his odd gold bracelet, with a series of letters: SILOVARSYLQENLASYLQILENVAR written in Primordial.

Moki recognized his father’s name in the carving, and when Woad removed the bracelet, he experienced a sharp pain in his missing eye socket. Blood began to run down from it, and both he and Moki presumed the empty eye socket was a method of spying on the trio. Moki yelled into Woad's eye socket for his father to fuck right off.

Woad determined that he and Moki must be secret brothers, and that his real name must be Silovar.

The party decided to head to Bluebell, a small town that had been circled on the bloodmage’s map. Before leaving, Woad hired Xerxes to watch over Anton and Yulia, and the three decided to make a pitstop in the town of Hildove to drop off Velvet the Tabaxi with the Peacekeepers and collect Ekell's bounties.

After a brief meltdown from Woad, triggered by Constable Gergis' stupidity, the three took a long rest. The next morning, Uncle Anton wished Woad farewell, gave some last minute advice, and asked him to keep an eye on Demelov and report back.

With that, the boys headed out, collected Velvet, bought a donkey, and got on the road.

## Session 3 - 4.21.2022 | Kobold Cobbering

The party set out for Hildove, a reasonably large town to the northwest. They had to deal with travel impediments that included: a brain-damaged tabaxi who would not stay unconscious, a slow and steady "battledonkey" named Greg, a stubborn guard named Gregory, and a pack of kobolds.

With a crime scene on the main road, and the local militia claiming to have rounded up all but one, and that they were NOT the Heartbeaters, the brothers had a choice of two roads, and elected to take the hill road rather than the forest road. Along the way, they encountered a gang of Kobolds that had beset a gnome named Antioch Barnabus. The trio dispatched them with style, and ended the fight swatting wasps away from Woad. The fight proved profitable, as Antioch gave the gang a ring when Demelov threatened him, and Woad acquired a number of small, useful items from the kobold inventor he had caved in with a rock. Over the trip, Antioch proved to be racist against Barovians, Velvet woke up several more times, and the gang chatted amongst themselves.

When you arrived at Hildove, the party found a warm welcome awaiting you: the gate dwarf Baler, and a slowly winding down city. The gang dropped Velvet off at the Peacekeeper’s guild, dodging artful attempts at courtship from Rhonda the Goblin Receptionist, and collecting 50 gold for Ekell and Velvet. Captain Vrat informed the brothers that Hazel had returned and killed two of his best boys, and gave a description and trajectory for her: A red-haired full-blooded orc headed west from Hildove. Vrat promised 100 gold for her capture, dead or alive.

The gang got a bonus for turning in the evidence they found in Ekell’s lab, and sold Greg to the peacekeepers, claiming he was a papered battle-donkey that had been trained at the Donkey Academy by Constable Gergis.

With a choice between the Lice and Loam and the Barley and Bale, the brothers headed out to the nicer option to get some grub and a room to sleep (and not sleep) in.

Upon entering, Demelov found a familiar soundscape: a Vistani bard was playing in the corner. Charred, the local freak, was in charge of music according to the bartender Maria. Upon digging, Woad found unlikely similarities between himself and Charred, who was pale, oddly lumpy, and had been found, seemingly dead and missing several fingers, in a charred circle in a field of barley.

Woad became irate when he found that Charred had sold a necklace he’d been found with to “forget” his past. He’d sold it to a scaly fellow who travels around buying old jewelry. Woad became so angry, he breathed, and Alfelal gained control. While Woad recovered in the bathroom, he negotiated with Alfelal who suggested that, the next time he breathed, he be ready with an offer.

Back in the taproom, Demelov approached the Vistani and had an unusual interaction. The man seemed to take note of his name, and said something in an unintelligible language, then showed him a burn mark in his hand. When Demelov tipped him, he told Demelov to seek out the D’Aveniccis, who are found more often in the north.

With some information gained and mysteries still remaining, the party went to their room to rest and prepare for the next day's work.

## Session 4 - 4.28.2022 | Welcome to Bluebell

With new discoveries pertaining to Woad’s past, Moki’s family, and Demelov’s Barovian connections on their minds, the secret brothers departed Hildove for the town of Bluebell. As they entered town, the brothers made their way to Bluebell BnB, deftly ignoring attempts by the locals to start conversation.

Anya, the halfling owner of BB&B and half a dozen cats, had one room available, and deft improv from Moki got her to reveal that Bronna, an orc with red hair, visits the village often, leaving trinkets and paying well for Anya’s cat-hair-covered spare room.

After Demelov earned Anya’s ire by calling her a small, horrible-looking child, and she retaliated that all Barovians refuse to assimilate, you all settled into the spare room, finding marks in the walls from previous occupants, and breaking off a piece of the shutters to prevent it from locking. Moki summoned Templeton, an owl friend to scout, and the brothers all headed up to Bluebell Manor, to meet Lord Tenant Bluebell.

Instead, they were greeted by Karnac, a really low-quality person from up north. He spewed information at the boys until Woad nearly lost his mind, prompting Lady Bluebell to descend and call her husband. The brothers were quickly put on edge by Lady Bluebell’s flash of magical ability, the news that a young farmer’s son named Angus had vanished, and that Lord-Tenant Bluebell’s previous butler had abruptly fled bluebell, claiming to fear for his life. They also discovered that “Bronna” had often given magical toys to Lady Bluebell and the young bluebell children.

After investigating Friese farm and questioning Angus’s mother, the boys resolved to check out the lake and have Templeton keep an eye out. Many people were looking suspicious: Elise Friese’s husband Gardel raised flags for his disagreements with Angus, Eli the fisherman apparently reported commotions on the lake at night, but never checked it out. Anya had an early lights-out policy despite owning an Inn, and Lord and Lady bluebell were just generally strange.

Deciding to lay low until someone went to the oddly-placed hut on the south side of the lake, the brothers returned to BB&B for dinner. Demelov’s surf and turf was pretty good, but when Moki asked for his catfish sandwich like Bronna gets it, he found a metal coin inside the fish filet. It seemed to be made of tin or aluminum, not a currency metal, and the front was stamped with the symbol of an outstretched hand.

After Anya called it an early night, and settled in to sleep with her half a dozen cats, Templeton alerted Moki to movement. The entire village was still, except for two shapes heading towards the lake. The boys crept out and, swathed in Woad’s shadows, made their way to the shack. The brothers assumed the coin would allow them into the hideout, but as they investigated, they found no place for the coin, instead solving a grid puzzle, and breaking down numerous trapped doors.

The boys crept along, finding a deep pool down one hallway, many traps, and, down a far hallway, a large, Gelatinous cube, that surprised Moki, engulfing him and starting to digest him. Combat was swift but brutal, as first Moki, then Demelov were engulfed. Woad used his new lock to rip apart the cube, and the brothers proved victorious.

But as they continued, the secret brothers heard voices.

The rough voice of a man, then, the genteel voice of Lady Bluebell.

Loud barking sounded up ahead, voices echoed, and the man began to come down your hallway, dragging a body. The party took shelter behind an illusion, then Demelov crept up behind the distracted halfling thug, swathed once again in shadows….

## Session 5 — 5.12.2022 | Under Pressure

The brothers ambushed a halfling thug in the subterranean hideout, leading to a short scuffle, Demelov killing the halfling out of sight, and packs of strange, aberrant hounds converging on the party. You fought them down, rearranged some of the mage’s traps, and descended to the lower level.

Down below, they found a pipe and what appeared to be an underwater route through the dungeon. While unlocking a heavy metal pipe, Woad played a trick on the gang, Demelov revealed that he doesn’t know how to use a crowbar, and Moki expressed doubts about this method of travel.

When the tunnel proved to be long and without airpockets, the party returned to the first level, only to find themselves surrounded by blood mages. Course reversal led to a slow swimming escape complete with eels, that led to a back entrance to the mages’ main room.

The gang, seeing prisoners in cages and knowing the mages would return, hid behind an illusion and awaited the mages’ return. With a surprise attack, they launched themselves into initiative, covering Lady Bluebell in goop and beginning what would turn out to be a dire combat.

Even split up waiting for the brothers to reseurface to resurface, the mages were a tough threat. One burned to death two of the prisoners while trying to down Moki, and the others revealed the power of blood magic by augmenting their spells, taking down Demelov.

It came down to just two mages and some dogs as the party dashed in and out of cover to take them down.

It was then that the leader of the local cult cell made his escape, invisible, and casting a number of spells.

With only one mage remaining, holding the brothers off to give Anson time to escape, Moki, Demelov, and Woad charged out. Moki took a face full of acid and stayed up, and the gang surrounded the halfling mage, ending combat.

Upon investigating the room, the brothers found notes, papers, clues, dead prisoners, and potions. Additionally, they found a number of spell books with names inside: Including CAG, FREJJY, NEELARF, CANDEE, and NOTHAJON, who the sole surviving prisoner (Harry) confirmed to be bloodmages, who went by Kagen, Jeffrey, Fraleen, Eendoc, and Jonathan respectively while on cult business. He also confirmed that Nothajon was a different person from Lord Bluebell’s old Assistant Jonathan.

After questioning the prisoner more, Woad set up defenses by the door, and the group took a much-needed long rest.

## Session 6 — 5.19.2022 | Morals and Murder

The brothers awoke from their rest and came up with a plan: clear the final room then go get information from the now-widowed Lord-Tenant Bluebell. Out in the other room, they found dogs, and evidence of Anson’s experiments, including a strange glyph in the floor that gave Moki a migraine. The words were written in primordial, and seemed to be some kind of fusing magic to turn the puppies into evil hounds. In addition, the brothers found scattered notes from Anson, pointing towards Dansalen as the hideout of the Bloodletter, a figure who seemed to be even higher in the hierarchy than the blood rat.

Moki had a strange moment when he touched the glyph, and Woad resolved to pressure wash it off the floor. Demelov had a touching moment with Harry, and the gang reunited with Templeton, who reported that a mob had gathered at the town square.

With villagers spreading out, the brothers fled into the woods, but were briefly sighted by a pair of searching villagers. The villagers turned to run and Woad chill touched one to death.

Once their getaway was secured, the brothers had a talk with Woad, who was forced to field both real life questions and the voices in his head.

The brothers raced for Hildove, but as they rejoined the road, they found a slaughtered caravan and a magic sword trap laid by Kell “The bleeder” Frigate. The gang had a tough battle with the swords, with Woad making a new enemy of the magic crossbow and stopping Kell before he could step in to make the battle harder.

The brothers questioned Kell, finding out that he and his compatriot Dawn had been kicked out of the Heartbreakers for starting the “heart ripping out” thing. Kell claimed many things, admitted to slaughtering the caravan, and insisted that the peacekeepers were corrupt and had killed his parents.

After putting down Kell, you searched the caravan, finding first a lizard folk with the name Frikka Wychelm who might be the trader that Charred spoke of. You then found a strange box, with a heavy metal book inside. The book, wrapped in metal binding, seemed sentient, and quickly struck up a sort of truce with Moki, speaking to each of you individually. At the book’s direction, you found a bag of holding on Kell, along with an invitation, instructions from Dawn, and several magical items.

You hurried toward Hildove, preparing to enter the Lice and Loam and face dawn, potentially presenting her with Kell’s head to shock her. Woad entered the tavern first, hoping to establish a fake identity with the tavern-keeper DEREK, who Kell believed was in a relationship with Dawn.

Woad found the inn absolutely filthy, and a patron called for Derek. Footsteps sounded, the door behind the bar opened—

## Session 7 — 5.26.2022 | Murderous Mystery

The brothers scouted out the Lice and Loam, planning to confront Dawn with Kell’s severed head. Instead, they found themselves dealing with a double-seater toilet, Derek’s meddling, and old men playing checkers.

In their investigation, they found two rooms of interest, Rooms 5 and 6. Despite being locked, Templeton and Moki found that Room 5 was empty, and Room 6 seemed to be far larger than the rest. As Demelov wall-walked and crept into Room 5, Woad arranged with Derek to have the current occupant of Room 6 kicked out, in exchange for Lady Bluebell’s locket.

Leaving Derek to handle the eviction, the gang pondered a love-letter written in poorly spelled primordial, wondering if that might tie Dawn and Derek back to the Blood Mages.

To fill the afternoon, da boys headed out to the Peacekeepers to collect bounties, turn in evidence, and clear their names. They filled in Captain Vrat on everything except Woad killing the villager, and he informed them that Velvet was ready to talk: but only to Woad.

However, in the time since the morning meal, Velvet had been murdered. The gang questioned Lanky Hank and a few other prisoners and found that Velvet had been killed by a woman with dark hair and pale skin wearing a peacekeeper’s uniform, using magic, who quickly left afterwards. Investigation ensued, and Moki was forced to do the one thing he hoped never to do: flirt with Rhonda.

The boys, with help from Moki’s smokin’ personality, got the names of those on shift, and the address of their primary suspect, Sofia Levski. After suffering through the Levski’s hatred of Barovians and the plight of their Ladvian cousin, the brothers raced to Gutter Street. Along the way, Moki revealed a small piece of his past to Woad, and the voices encouraged Woad to explore the similarities between himself and Moki.

Outside the LEvski’s the brothers overheard Sofia LEvski arguing with another woman. Woad created a Vrat illusion, and a fight broke out. The boys pieced together what had happened: Sofia Levski, frustrated with her brothers’ damage to her romantic prospects, planned to leave Hildove with fellow peacekeeper Anglina.

Little did she know, Anglina was a blood-mage and used Sofia’s desire to leave as a way to get her blood, sneak into the Guild wearing Sofia’s appearance, and murder Velvet, pinning the crime on the Ladvian peacekeeper and maintaining her secret identity as a blood mage.

The brothers killed Anglina and dragged Sofia back to the Guild to hand her over to Vrat before returning to the Lice and Loam. Once there, Woad headed in to see his new “deluxe room”, only to find it was not, in fact, deluxe. On their way in, Demelov and Moki pretended that Woad had traded his single room to them, and Demelov taunted Derek with a phrase from his love letter to Dawn. Upstairs, Woad added more underwear to his collection and examined the room. While the brothers examined the room, Derek climbed up, seeing them all acting suspiciously, and disappeared around the corner. Demelov heard an odd sound, Derek did not resurface, and the brothers realized he had entered the locked Room 5, home to the stolen love letter. Moki, crammed under the bed to hide from Derek, found the mechanism to get into the secret room behind room 5, and pulled it. tHe wall lowered! And the brothers looked into the room to see a beefy grey-skinned woman climb out the window, give them a wave, and jump from the roof, joining her lover Derek as they fled into the night.

## Session 8 — 6.1.2022 | Mail-In Mayhem

Last session! The brothers sent Templeton to pursue Derek and Dawn while they searched Dawn’s secret room in the Lice and Loam. After haphazardly tossing items into their bag of holding, they followed the owl to a hideout in the warehouses to the northwest of the city. There, they fought their way through a front packed with smugglers and laborers. Unfortunately the circuitous layout of the hideout served its purpose, giving Dawn and Derek enough time to race away on the back of a wagon. One smuggler survived the brothers’ onslaught, fleeing into the dusk.

The boys then investigated the main room, finding books, texts, and maps, including a ledger that showed trends of different, smuggle-able items and a marking on an “unclaimed” point .8 miles north of hildove.

The brothers spent the night at the Lice and Loam, where Woad “kept up appearances” by using the bathroom. In reality he was investigating something he'd had his eye on for quite some time, and emerged with more questions than answers.

The next morning, da boys headed out to go shopping, but found themselves tailed by a child, who Demelov recognized as a vistani. Demelov reunited briefly with the vistani bard at the Barley and Bale. There, he learned more about his unusual circumstances and found that a caravan in the North, the D'Avenicci's, are some of the few vistani who offer shelter to individuals in that condition.

Meanwhile, Woad and Moki traded in some loot and purchased refill items at the shops. The brothers then headed out, hoping to get on the road, but they were briefly paused by a messenger, with packages for both Woad and Moki. Woad had letters from home, which he promptly ate to... "keep them close".

Moki, however, received a severed finger... and a warning.

Before his eyes, the post-man transformed, trapping Demelov and Woad in his gaze. Moki quickly struck, attacking the monstrous, snake-tongued creature. He slaughtered it and it bubbled away, hissing "don't disrespect me again" as Woad and Demelov regained consciousness. They insisted that the postman had walked away. Moki insisted that it had attacked him.

Unsettled by their deliveries, the brothers headed north, eyes peeled for what they assumed to be a smuggler’s drop point marked by Derek.

Sure enough, at the 8th decimarker, they saw a faint trail leading into the woods. The brothers gathered themselves, and, ready to forge into the unknown, entered the forest.

## Session 9 — 6.16.2022 | The Love Shack

The boys followed the smuggler path, hoping to find treasure or clues. The path instead lead them to a gnomish hobo, the disgraced Ex-Professor, Nippers McKracken, scourge of ladies’ hearts and tall-folk.

Nippers shared his tales of woe and stench, ultimately joining the party with plans to seek the downfall of his nemesis: the unnatural shape-shifter Lupina Nexon.

With no answers and more excrement than they could have dreamed, the boys set out again, only to be beset by a trio of hobgoblins, who wanted Nippers for themselves. An ass-whooping later, the party learned that Derek started human trafficking after he and Dawn got together, but that the hobgoblin leader hasn’t heard from either of them since they missed the Nippers abduction rendez-vous.

The boys, forgetting to ask why Nippers was their target, executed the hobgoblin captain, aiming to travel to Stonehaven and interrogate Gabrielle, a contact of Dawn’s.

Traveling onward, the boys fought skeletons emblazoned with an odd marking, Moki was turned into a giant, and Woad went off to pee to maintain appearances. He telepathically called over Demelov and Nippers to discuss the quandary that is Moki and his past. Moki demanded to know the truth of their discussions, not being fooled by the trio’s claims that they were discussing carnal activities.

Woad was forced to come clean and reveal the truth, and his blood-bending abilities.

The party’s trust in each other seemed tenuous, but a beautiful song from Nippers brought healing, trust, and love. The party traveled onward and, as night settled, decided to find a place to camp for the night.

## Session 10 — 6.23.2022 | Bardic Inspiration

The boys made camp, settling into a well-picked spot. After a quick, nighttime puma battle, they got on the road, taking some time to skin the most intact pumas and take a few teeth.

Along the way, they helped a young orc girl retrieve her escaped pet squirrel (Qweezy) and learned about a nearby orc village. After such a good deed, they found themselves with the opportunity of another (paid) act of heroism at the Temple of Pelor. The boys got to oh-oh-oh go totally crazy, and really smashed the basement oozes, though Demelov’s armor took a beating from the corrosion.

The gang spoke a bit with Anden after, learning that Bronna had occasionally come to the temple, but her brother and sister had recently reported her missing. The boys headed inside to investigate for blood mage connections, instead finding a shrine to Pelor, Yondalla, and Chauntea, an ancient halfling woman, and an old man.

Nippers feared that Esther planned to seduce him, but she, oddly, mentioned his father, and being a “student” of his.

The old man proved less difficult ground, and told the party that Charred had been found not far away. His nephew brought da boys to the site, and the brothers discussed possibilities, finding a black coffin like Woad’s, and convincing the nephew to part with a small trinket Charred had been found with. This amulet was emblazoned with an odd symbol, and the phrase “VELOVAR SYLQEN LA SYLQILENVAR”.

When asked to concentrate on LA SYLQILENVAR, Moki had a vision of a shadowy woman speaking to his father.

Questions mounted, Moki’s parentage was cross-examined, theories were presented, and the gang resolved to seek answers at the Arcane Academy in Stonehaven. Letting the orcish village be for the time, the brothers pressed on, making camp at an impeccable spot. That night, Nippers was diagnosed with WILD FRENZY, and told more of his tale, leading the gang to wonder about the possibilities of shape changing and assassination. Moki also received a message from Vrat, asking about their progress on their leads. This was followed swiftly up with a message from Rhonda, who’d received Vrat’s proxy message of well wishes. Finally, Moki decided that Nippers should use the bead of sending to contact Lupina Nexon. The party waited tensely—then Lupina replied.

She’s waiting for you all. And she seemingly attempted to cast a distant spell on Nippers.

With the shadow of an assassin hanging over them, the party had a quiet night, and awoke the next day, rested, and ready to make it to Stonehaven.

## Session 11 — 6.30.2022 | Sob Stories

The party awoke early with plans to disguise nippers using their magic hat. Nippers then took on the form of an incredibly bodacious Goblin, who came to be known as Erica.

While stuck in traffic, the brothers planned out their next move. Demelov was in favor of scouting out Gabrielle’s Garnets and Garments, while Woad wanted to move straight into killing.

Inside the city, a helpful guard gave them the run-down of places, and the plan was hatched. The boys would go in, scout around and do recon, then Nippers would enter disguised as Erica, pretend to be Kell’s replacement, and determine whether or not Gabrielle was complicit with Dawn and Derek.

The plan went off with an almost uncountable number of hitches. The boys were out of place in the frilly shop, and Gabrielle’s assistant Farlus, tried to detour them away from Gabrielle, believing them unworthy of her fashionable genius.

Outside, Nipp-Erica had a run-in with an urchin, and concocted a devastating tale of woe when Farlus tried to get her arrested. Inside, Nipp-Erica put on an incredible performance, earning Gabrielle’s trust and sympathy. Gabrielle’s bouncer, a Minotaur named Dannon, was not impressed with the three strangers and their foul smelling pelt, and repeatedly threatened to eject them from the shop, only relenting when they allowed him to eat the puma skin.

Gabrielle meanwhile began fitting “Erica” for her disguise at the party, and discreetly questioning her, revealing some details about Dawn and Kell, the Heartbeaters, and their quest for a Poison Pin. When Nippers’ story didn’t add up, Gabrielle charmed him, and they emerged from the backroom, only to find the brothers arguing with Dannon, who ordered them to leave. Seeing Gabrielle with her hand on Nippers shoulder and clearly linking “Erica” and the three adventurers, Woad decided on a change of pace and cast catapult at Dannon.

In the chaos, Gabrielle teleported herself and Erica away, and guards flooded the room. The leader didn’t believe the party’s claims and took them into custody while Gabrielle questioned Nippers, before returning him to the streets of Stonehaven.

The boys went to their cells, and Nippers took to the streets, where he was found by a band of urchins, who became his unlikely allies. He learned that this city has dangerous and a powerful underbelly, and that the urchins have a big heist planned in the undermarket that they’d like his help with. Back at the jail, the brothers negotiated a release by pulling out IDs. They were let go with instructions not to go near Garnets and Garments or Gabrielle while the city watch investigated the case.

Quick thinking by Woad led Nippers and his band to the trio, and a deal was struck. Determining that Gabrielle is evil and can be ethically executed, the gang gathered information from the urchins. One went off to ask the Stonehaven Peacekeepers for help, and Andy, the band’s leader, agreed to lead you guys on the “sneaky” path to Gabrielle’s cavern…

## Session 12 — 7.6.2022 | Dannon Defeated

The brothers set out for Gabrielle’s home, following Andy, an urchin friend of Nippers. He took them on a secret path to avoid the City Guard who had put out a protective order for Gabrielle and Dannon.

The brothers had to contend with steep slopes, a rope descent that nearly tripped up Woad, and a plank across a chasm that defeated both Nippers and Demelov. Fortunately, no one was harmed, and quick reflexes and quick thinking brought everyone safely to the other side. The party ascended to an abandoned house and found Keelie, one of the urchins, had returned with a note promising the Peacekeepers’ support if the party was arrested.

With that, the assault began. After seeing Feltus enter, the brothers copied his unlocking tool and entered Gabrielle’s home. They found Dannon knitting, guarding a portal. The boys snuck inside, getting into position, and managed to get mostly into position. Dannon was not surprised to see them, and, as Moki dealt a devastating first blow, Dannon ran for the portal, quickly deactivating it as combat swung into motion. The boys found Dannon tough and strong, but with magical aid from Nippers, they took him down and tied him up, taking some time to investigate the house. They found Gabrielle’s workshop, and many glittering textiles and plans for subtle weapons, and found that most of the items in the place had mild enchantments on them.

When Dannon refused to give in to the party resisting spells that would force him to help, the group felt they had no choice but to kill him and enter the now differently colored portal.

They boys began to experiment with what they found beyond: a shifting maze of rooms, challenges, and doors. They found a tactic for navigating, and easily solved various riddles. One puzzle block proved to be both the party and the DM’s undoing, as she found later that she, too, had assembled it incorrectly, and that her hints were all incorrect. Nippers wisely smashed the cube, and the spell released. The group encountered Feltus, who had become lost in the labyrinth, and gibbered madly, saying he’d been there for weeks. Losing patience with him, the group pushed him into an empty room and closed the door.

The next room they entered, however, proved to be far different.

As soon as the door closed, Gabrielle shimmered into view.

## Session 13 — 7.14.2022 | Accidental Killings

The secret brothers prepared to do battle with Gabrielle. Her control over the labyrinth manifested throughout the battle as she summoned pixies, sprites, and changed the landscape of the battlefield.

The battle seemed slow moving as Gabrielle evaded hits and stayed mobile, her pixies transforming the brothers into small, harmless creatures. After a few good strikes, however, she called a ceasefire to negotiate. She claimed to have tamed the labyrinth, and told the boys that upon her death, it would become unpredictable, and the brothers would not escape. She made several offers, but Woad was not impressed. The brothers planned telepathically to keep fighting, knock her out, and then negotiate, suggesting instead they would kill her as soon as she showed them the exit.

The fight resumed, with Moki landing several key hits. Demelov landed a powerful strike and, unfortunately, forgot to attack nonlethally. With Gabrielle slain, the labyrinth began to shake. Nippers grabbed rat-Woad and the brothers took cover in a room. Trapped, the boys considered their options. Woad was in favor of trying to “tame” the labyrinth himself. Demelov encouraged him instead to reach out to Alfelal. Negotiations… did not proceed, as Woad interrupted and insulted the fey. Alfelal left the group, and the brothers were left uncertain what to do.

Woad decided that the group should go to the center of the labyrinth and take down the guardian themselves. He drank a potion of True Sight, and followed a gold thread through rooms. The brothers experienced the power of slug life, answered riddles, and found themselves, finally, in the center of the labyrinth. They opened the door…

## Session 14 — 07.20.2022 | Maddening Riddles

The boys, in their quest to tame the labyrinth, found their way to the center with the help of Woad’s potion of truesight. There, you found treasures, books, and indications that Gabrielle used this place as a bag of holding for her belongings. You investigated books, selecting some to take with you, then proceeded to fight the labyrinth’s guardian, a strong creature that soon yielded to your attacks. But, as it fell, the power at the center of the labyrinth activated. Faced with the choice of fleeing to the adjacent room or facing the odd shape at the center of the light, the brothers chose to confront the magic. Moki was first to head in, followed by Demelov, Woad, and Nippers. There you found a riddle to enter, and, in the quiet space beyond the door, another trial.

The first two riddles weren’t terribly difficult, with Woad solving one instantly and Moki solving the next after some discussion. The third riddle proved nearly impossible, and a wrong answer saw Demelov knocked out momentarily. Meanwhile, Woad chose to be ejected, and found himself back in the spherical room, outside of the energy orb, with his friends nowhere in sight.

Without Woad and unwilling to risk another wrong answer, Demelov called on Alfelal, who agreed to transport them to the exit, if the group turned the labyrinth trial over to him. To sweeten the deal, he offered to give them the answer to one question, so long as it was in his power to answer.

With the deal made, Alfelal transported the brothers back to the Material Plane, and gave them the location of the bloodmage hideout Anglina had wanted to flee to. The brothers explored Gabrielle’s home and workshop, finding a small lockbox that matched the three keys. There was a puzzle there, but, mentally exhausted from a long day and knowing that Lt. Mara was outside, the brothers resolved to hide the box and save it for another time.

Outside, Captain Val Tammen, the local Peacekeeper leader, held off the Lt. as the brothers were swiftly led back to the Peacekeepers’ guardhouse.

## Session 15 — 8.2.2022 | The Road to Horsehead

The next morning, as Nippers slept in after a long night of hating women, the brothers set to work, cracking into Gabrielle’s lockbox. Inside, they found a number of documents: ledgers detailing her customers, letters between her and Dawn, a strange cipher in unfamiliar handwriting, along with numerous messages left in ciphers that resembled the blood mage’s code.

The brothers took time to translate the messages, becoming proficient in the code, and putting together more puzzle pieces. Several locations in Stonehaven were referenced, along with crystal deliveries, vial drop-sites, and Mite’s death. Woad found the phrase that had been inscribed on his bangle, and Demelov wondered whether, given the Bloodmage’s propensity for anagram code-names, the phrase La sylqilenvar might be a code name for Moki’s father, or whoever it was who had created Woad and Charred. There was also a reference to Dawn being paid money by the Bloodmages to kidnap a “hobo” near Hildove, which the brothers thought might be a reference to Nippers.

After giving copies of the documents to Capt. Val Tammen, the brothers received her notes on local factions for future reference, and headed out for Horsehead lake. On their horses, the quartet took the road, heading swiftly south. Along the way, they encountered David, a farmer with a wrecked cart and an angry horse. As they assisted him, the brothers began to have serious questions about “David” and his horse “Marvin”. The truth came out, and David revealed that Marvin was his buddy, and they were both druids who belonged to a druid Circle near Hildove, the “Rock boys who worship the Rock God”. David’s pumpkin delivery was actually some kind of plane-traveling psychedelic, that was banned, for obvious reasons.

When questioned on the psychedelic's origin, he revealed that it was made from sentient plants back where he and Marvin lived, but that the plants actually LIKED being trimmed and turned into drugs, and that everything was consensual. The brothers had their doubts.

David was not willing to offer you any interplanar pumpkins because he didn’t want you to have your first trip alone, but promised that you would be welcome to join the Rock Boys next time you were near Hildove. He did, first, have to sell the current batch to Antioch Barnabus, however, then head to Greenbriar, to pay old Violet to remove a curse from Marvin.  In return for your kindness, he offered you magic rope.

Continuing on, the brothers spent the night at the farmer’s path, meeting “Vlad” a “Vistani” who had many magical mysterious items to sell. After discerning he was clearly not a Vistani, the boys bought some items, shit-talked Vlad, and had a night of rest.

The next day brought them to a stream and some boar, and another night’s rest. The next morning, Demelov kept watch on the road, but Horsehead lake was quiet, with only one fisherman passing by. Leaving the horses back at camp, the brothers arrived at their destination, the aptly-named Horsehead Lake. Investigating several fishing shacks, they found directions to a cave that had blood-cipher inscriptions carved into the rock. With Woad in the middle, the quartet headed inside, ready to slay some mages…

## Session 16 — 8.11.2022 | Mage Slayers

The boys descended into the bloodmage hideout, ready to rain justice down on the bloodmages. Tactically exploring the caves and snuffing out torches, the brothers encountered aberrant hounds, hired muscle, and mild traps. The brothers kicked ass, with Demelov one hit killing a bloodmage. Inspecting the barracks revealed that Anson, the leader of the Bluebell Bloodmages, may have fled here.

Further exploration and methodical wiping out of threats equipped the boys for the fight ahead. They found an odd metallic sword and Woad, drawn to a strange quartz gem, may have been reunited with his missing eye.

Ready to clobber, the brothers entered the main chamber, taking on thugs and blood mages alike. Anson’s magic was powerful, but nothing could save the mages from Moki’s wrath, Woad’s new shadow creature, Demelov’s knives, or Nippers’ misogyny.

The brothers made swift and bloody work of their enemies, striking with almost ludicrous effectiveness.

Anson deployed one last spell on Moki, but as a swing brought the halfling near death, Moki’s sword lit up with power, Woad’s shot hit home, and Nippers’ firebolt took out the final bloodmage apprentice.

Moki felt the sword hum and, at the top of the blade, in handwriting he knew to be his mother's, was written the Orcish word for *Power*.

With the bloodmages defeated, the brothers turned their attention to the treasures and secrets found in the hideout's main room.

## One-Shot — 8.19.22 | Tax Collectors of Strahd

Four unusual fellows entered Castle Ravenloft, ready to Audit Evil Itself!

## Session 17 — 8.23.22 | Against the Current

In the wake of the battle with Anson, the brothers made a new friend.

Gribble, one of the Bloodmage’s prisoners and blood sources, proved to be an ally in their investigation of the cavern, though he did first attempt to make a watery escape. He found Nippers to be a fast friend, and the two bonded as Gribble displayed his helpful nature.

At Anson’s desk, the boys found a number of disturbing journals, detailing Anson’s experimentation with the hundreds of blood crystals, small animals, preserved body parts, and blood vials. Under a bell jar, Anson had a horrible, stitched-together creature made of hands and eyeballs, powered by a blood crystal.

Woad wanted to adopt the feeble thing, but Moki and Demelov urged him to let them put the construct out of its misery. Woad grabbed a few vials of high elf blood for safekeeping as the party destroyed the remaining crystals and items. As they planned their next move, the brothers were approached by the fisherman they’d seen on the lake. He introduced himself as a member of the Mage Handlers (name still pending) and revealed that Anya and Bronna were both members, dedicated to stopping the Bloodmages. Their influence was possibly international, but he focused on Bronna, who had gone undercover as a bloodmage before her disappearance. The Fisher feared that she had been betrayed.

The Fisher pointed the brothers up the river to Dansalen, where Bronna had planned to go, and where your notes indicate the Bloodletter may be found.

The party operated a magical raft that pulled them up the underground river system, got to know Gribble, a fisher goblin from "Crackling Sylvesterville" in Doria. Meanwhile, Nippers took on the possibly cursed sword, discovering that, in addition to its current powers, it also detailed the location and distance of the wielder's worst enemy. Nippers, delighted, became aware that Lupina was a mere 300 miles Northwest of him.

As they traveled, Woad befriended a water elemental and the boys prepared for the “Halfway handoff”. As they approached a small outpost, they concealed themselves in the raft and ambushed the waiting bloodmages. Woad’s SCP slaughtered the mages, Demelov and Moki cut them down with impunity, and Nippers burned the women. Gribble took down the final bloodmage by gouging out his eyes.

With that, the brothers cleared up, sent the SCP to safely destroy the crystals that were stored, and settled in to finish their night’s rest.

## Session 18 — 9.1.2022 | The Crucible

The brothers set out upriver on the last leg of their journey, rested from a night at the halfway handoff. They faced rapids and spiders, and eventually encountered the spiders’ would be meal. They raced to escape the spider nests, then freed their newest companion. Zevrin, a god.

When they arrived at the end of their river journey, they found a number of bloodmages, who seemed to have been warned about their arrival. They trounced the bloodmages, and Nippers took down dark Nippers, a bloodmage gnome who appeared to have a QRT-literate lover. With Zevrin’s help, they easily took out some apprentices and cleared the waiting enemies.

In the prison-block, Woad met his mirror image, a slender, shorter Firbolg with whom he shared startling similarities. Despite a rocky start, Demelov, Moki, and Nippers managed to reign in Woad’s enthusiasm, and Clover shared vital details about their similar pasts, and revealed that he believed the writings on their jewelry were pieces of a poem.

Investigation of the office revealed a number of amulets that the party needs to make it through the magical barrier to the second level, and letters. As they considered the meaning of the Siblings, the triplets, and hidden entities, the brothers moved on down the hall. Turning the corner, they encountered an apprentice, who shrieked and fled, awakening his cohorts. The doors slid open…

## Session 19 — 9.8.2022 | Paranoia

The brothers battled cohorts of bloodmages, including numerous students, professors, and adepts. Nippers broke out his sword, taking down many women. Meanwhile, down the hall, Zevrin’s magic multiplied in a wild explosion.

The brothers locked up a surrendering bloodmage, who gave them valuable details on the bloodmages’ recruiting strategy, and their 2am cult meetings.

The brothers investigated, finding books on blood magic, more amulets, potions, and other supplies. Warily taking a rest, the boyz waited to see if the professors’ absences would be noticed. But no one came from beyond the magical barrier. The boys swiftly headed into the hallway, finding the lower level a ghost town. Prisoners did menial tasks, and a Ladvian cook informed the party that roughly 30 bloodmages were in the cult, and that they had gone off for their nightly meetings.

Meanwhile, Woad was not the only one hearing voices. Nippers heard a voice he hadn’t heard in years, and the boys quickly put together that perhaps Elidyr was the bloodmage’s source for the professors they’d kidnapped. As anti-smallfolk slurs echoed in Nippers’ mind, the brothers followed the instructions of the voices in Woad’s mind, telling him to go left, to find THE HOLE. The brothers debated, and Moki’s determination grew stronger. The brothers entered the locked hallway and found the kidnapped Professor Gnarl and an unconscious Bronna. Gnarl gave the boys valuable intel, revealing that the Hole has a paranoid effect to it, and that it whispers things in the mind.

He gave a rundown of what he knew: the bloodmages were investigating the hole, looking for a sacred site, but it was incredibly dangerous. The cultists worshiped two god-figures, *The Siblings*. And Elidyr was not involved in the cult practices as far as he knew. Nippers and Gnarl butted heads, and the hole called out for Woad to jump and the brothers hurried onward, planning to confront the cultists first, and return to the hole later.

They encountered a small group mid-ritual and slaughtered them. Demelov went utterly feral, and Nippers nearly secured his final kill with the bloody blade.

As silence fell in the ritual hallway, the boys prepared to enter the next phase of cult-extermination.

## Session 20 — 9.22.2022 | The Bloodrat

The brothers finished exploring the lower level of the Dansalen hideout, putting down several bloodmages in training, destroying a number of disturbing experiments, and finding books and clues.

With the 2am cult training complete, however, the brothers found themselves facing, not only an onslaught of oncoming trainees, but some more powerful members who fell back, ready to catch the brothers when they entered the final sanctum. The boys encountered a number of odd details: a noblewoman, supposedly there to invest in the cult, a magical teleportation device, and three sarcophagi.

Entering the main chamber, the brothers found enemies, cultists, and, their supposed ally: Captain Vrat of the Peacekeepers.

They fought Lani and Vrat, the Bloodrat, mowing down cultists and mages alike. Moki turned giant and took on the spellcasting Vrat, finding his sword glowing with power as he battled. The brothers fought, fell, fought harder, and were soon joined by Gribble and Clover, who supported them. Zevrin’s time magic sped the boys to victory, and, with a final blow, Moki struck down Vrat.

Silence falls over the room, leaving only the sound of the large fountain, and the faint humming of Moki’s blade…

## Session 21 — 9.29.2022 | Loose Ends and New Friends

Searching bodies and collecting loot, the brothers found a windfall of gold and several nice items, along with a number of letters and documents pointing towards the last refuges of the remaining bloodmages, and to connections to a possibly much larger scheme…

The boyz quickly scoured the rest of the temple, freeing prisoners, learning of Lord Ontario of Helvinger, and reuniting with Gnarl and Bronna. The brothers determined that entering the hole in search of the Temple of the Five Lieutenants would be a deadly task without further preparation and research, and decided to focus first on wiping out the two living triplets, and their father, the Bloodletter.

After a rest, the boys bid farewell to Gribble and Clover, and used the teleport device to travel to Stonehaven, with Bronna and Gnarl in tow. You landed in Glory Fountain on Ether Avenue, and found a welcome wagon waiting.

Andy the urchin was delighted to see you, and led you to a few shops in search of a way to spend your new riches. You visited Delven's, a local pawn shop, and Tria's Trove, a magic item shop, and secured a few items, including a lightly used tentacle wand for Woad and some universal solvent. As a whole, the boys were disappointed by the turnout, but Delven promised to scour his shop for items that might meet your needs, and do some trades for items for you, if you’ll come back in a few days.

Reuniting outside, the brothers pondered where to go next.

## Session 22 — 10.12.2022 | The Secret Brothers and Too Many Halflings

The brothers purchased horses, and got swiftly on the road, headed for the Temple at Gilling’s Creek, in search of the halfling host of Qanalir. Along the way, Woad shared his knowledge of David’s people, Zevrin revealed some of his past, and Nippers worried about the possibility of a blood mage with Zevrin’s power who they might have to confront.

The party was then accosted by “Vlad” the “Vistani” who was delighted to see his friends again. The party browsed his pop-up shop, purchasing a couple of interesting items, and an unusually economical luckstone. Naturally, the luckstone turned out to be cursed, and instantly attuned to Demelov. Demelov found this to be the last straw, and made many threats to Vladimir, and even to his children.

The gang hustled Demelov along, and, upon arriving at the temple, found themselves in the midst of a wake. Esther had died, and the boys found that, gathering for her funeral, were at least a dozen halflings.

Teamwork and critical thinking narrowed it down to Esther’s immediate family, and the boys convinced Anden to give them the address of the family’s home, to rescue their eldest daughter from what they presumed would be cultist kidnappers.

Upon arriving at Pebbling farm, you found no signs of disturbance, but a creepy journal led Demelov and Woad to a tree behind the smokehouse, where unmistakably, something had been buried. The voice of Ellie then called the boys inside, claiming she’d been attacked and was hiding.

Upon entering however, they found Ellie standing on a dark sigil. Possessed, she began to try to get someone onto the sigil, and perform a dark ritual. The boys fought oozes and managed to avoid being used as summoning fodder, finally, bringing combat to a close as the slithering shadow of the spirit was defeated.

## Session 23 — 10.20.2022 | Too Early

The brothers got some details from the possessed girl, before going outside to further investigate the tree.

Upon digging, they found a black coffin, much like Woad’s. Inside, an albino high elf, missing an eye and several fingers. Early, as she was dubbed, wouldn’t say much. Her icon was identical to Charred’s, and she said, with little explanation, that Charred’s amulet was not an icon and she was too early.

She repeatedly tried to return to the casket, insisting that she was early, and it wasn’t time yet, though, for what, she wouldn’t say.

Woad, determined to bring his new sister with him, dug down deep and persuaded Early that she was the one who decided if it was time, not the mysterious “he”.

Early, convinced, traveled with the crew back to the temple. Along the way, Moki got booty-called by a concerned Rhonda, and Nippers resented the presence of both a female child and a female adult.

At the temple, Early became more agitated as the group theorized on next steps, telling Woad she wanted them to go to the basement. The voices told Woad he should take Early back to the tree, as she was not yet ready, but Woad refused, knowing the voices could not be trusted. Everyone turned in, and Early was quarantined inside her chosen bed, an upright wardrobe. But right as morning began, Early collapsed. Woad, worried, but not too worried, asked Demelov to punch her so she would wake up. Instead the blow knocked her out and she clung to life in the manner that Woad often did.

The boys, quickly and quietly investigated possible solutions, but, leaving Early alone to check the basement, they searched for a solution.

Upstairs, Early continued to decline and, finally, she sat up, looked Moki in the eye, and spoke with his father’s voice, telling him to stay out of his way.

The boys put Early’s now definitively dead body outside, and finished their rest. The next morning, as they buried Early, they debated where to go. Putting two and two together with the blue door that Ellie mentioned, they determined that the spirit of Qanalir had possessed Esther and Ellie, and that, in the end, it tried to get them to go to Stonehaven, where the last of the blood mages waited behind that blue door.

You headed to Stonehaven, returned your horses, and made your way up Ether Avenue, where you found a Temple of Yondalla. A quick search of the temple led you to a trapdoor. Moki quickly solved the riddle, and you descended into the darkness beneath the Temple.

## Session 24 — 10.27.2022 | Mass Murder

The secret brothers began their investigation into the hidden lab in the temple’s basement. With Zevrin MIA, they moved onward, discovering blood-crystal ingredients, large amounts of blood, loot, maps, messages, and more.

In the final room, the brothers found Manfred and his two surviving children working with Helwyth to power-up the blood crystal. A swift battle ensued. Manfred’s creepy crawlies and the casters worked together, but Moki cleaved through Manfred like butter. Woad and Nippers enhanced and empowered their allies, and Nippers handled both crowd-control and woman-slaying and Demelov waded in to fight Helwyth and Dani.

Realizing they were outmatched, Manfred called for his children to help him power the crystal, which the party realized was a weapon of mass destruction, designed to give a final offering to Qanalir by the deaths of everyone in the room.

Demelov struck Dani down, but her corpse, empowered by Loviatar, kept fighting. The brothers raced to stop the crystal, with Woad realizing that he could magically influence the still living final triplet into dispelling the crystal before it could explode.

With one failure, the party debated running, but Woad’s second shot, with the help of his shadowy wolf and committed party, turned Manny, who dispelled the crystal.

As the Bloodletter’s final act was foiled, Dani’s corpse spoke, addressing Moki. Speaking with Loviatar’s voice, she declared that 4 of the 5 Lieutenants were awake and freed, though her brother remained weak, then told Moki that his father’s work was far from ended.

The brothers questioned Manny, then executed him, before searching the room. They found books, notes, texts, and evidence that this cult had been around for years: and the blood mages were only one wing of the Order of the Eye’s bigger plans.

Clues pointed to Woad’s past, and to the future of the Order. The brothers determined that they would first go to the Arcane Academy to inquire about the dead and missing professors and search Helwyth’s office for a “key text” before heading north to Accordia to gather some hidden texts at the library.

With that, the brothers finished their search, made plans to spend their loot, and continued putting together the pieces of conspiracy.

## Session 25 — 11.3.2022 | Vehicle for Victory

As the secret brothers battled below the temple, Zevrin entered an anomaly of space time, called by an unexpected quest giver: himself, but big. Zevrin accepted the task of stopping the five lieutenants and re-establishing the cult of Nirvez.

With a windfall of gold, the brothers reunited with Zevrin and went out to purchase a custom mobile base, a three story Vardos carriage, packed to the gills with customizations.

Still quite rich, the boys moved onward to the Arcane Academy, in search of answers. Inside, Demelov gave wisdom to a teary-eyed receptionist, and got directions to Wythelm’s office. The boys broke in, answered crosswords, and acquired texts and clues to Wythelm and Sylqen’s plans. Moki was determined to read through the documents, though Woad urged them all onward.

Back in the main office, the receptionist’s brother was on staff, and upon learningNippers was a professor, attempted to recruit him as his improv fraternity’s sponsor. Unfortunately, Nippers’ day was ruined when he learned that a man named Quippers McNacken, supposed cousin of the disappeared martyr nippers McKracken had become the new champion of QRT. Reportedly, Quippers was  accompanied by a strange small woman who organized his affairs.

In search of more information, the boys headed to the Salt Library, to speak to Elixindria Eisel, the oldest professor at the Arcane Academy.

“Krank McDoodlystein” and co. learned about Quippers’ activities, uncovered more of Woad’s past, and persuaded Elixindria to tell the boys as much as she knew.

## Session 26 — 11.10.2022 | Wild Brothers

After speaking with Elixindria, the Secret Brothers headed out to purchase gear and meet up with Bronna. Woad acquired an immovable rod, something he’d always dreamed of having, Demelov acquired a flametongue, and the boys stocked up on protective gear. On the way, Bronna gave you a name of one of the Mage Handlers in Accordia, Miladora D’Avenicci. After an encounter with an elf supremacist shopkeeper, a strange metal armorer, and homeboy from Greenbriar, the boys headed to a local bar, the Alchemist’s Rest, to get some rest.

Unfortunately, the bar was owned by a woman, and Nippers’ rabies variant took hold. The boys dragged him upstairs and had a heart to heart, as well as a teeth to hand, as Nippers almost passed on his disease to Demelov.

But, besides a few hiccups from Woad’s pranksterisms, the boys managed to get a good night’s sleep, attune to their items, and wake up rested.

After a hearty breakfast and a godly signature session, you set out to retrieve your Vardos carriage. Demelov finally found a real Barovian–and promptly failed to disprove Zevrin’s insistence that Demelov was one of the Crow-people.

One argument later, however, the boys climbed into the wagon, and with Demelov in the driver’s seat, headed out onto Arbor Road.

## Session 27 — 11.17.2022 | Heartbeaters

Setting out along Arbor Rd, the brothers shared stories and histories, learned more about each other, and discussed their ultimate goals. With Nippers indisposed upstairs and Woad indisposed downstairs, Moki, Demelov, and Zevrin kept an eye on the road.

Coming across a fallen tree on the road, the three met a dying wizard, a member of a group of young adventurers, sent by the Stonehaven Adventurer’s guild to fight the Heartbeaters. While they questioned him, the boys were accosted by a bugbear and three half-ogres, sent to finish off the wizard. The boys bested them with style, before hurrying into the woods to deal with the camp and rescue the other adventurers.

At the camp, they fought bandits and bugbears, and, finally, a Hill Giant. With Zevrin’s time magic bolstering them, Demelov and Moki carved through the encampment, rescued the prisoners (including a Ladvian paladin, who would have dueled Demelov if Zevrin hadn’t stepped in), and acquired a few goodies to boot, while Zevrin gained a follower, who he promptly gave the boot. Upon returning to the cart, the boys received a letter of introduction to the adventurer’s guild in Stonehaven and sent the wizard on his way.

Hopping back into the cart, they set out, making their way North.

Strangely, Woad took Demelov’s sword and Moki’s armor down to the basement with a characteristic laugh.

As the night started to descend, the cart approached the city of Sandalwood.

## Session 28 — 12.01.2022 | Shitbag

The boys traveled onward, arriving in Sandalwood to a quiet evening in the stables of the Little Spittle. Overnight, Moki dreamt of his father’s office, and was kicked out of the dream by an odd veiled woman.

The next morning, Woad spotted a lurker in the stableyard. Zaksnek, a lizardfolk shipper for the Bloodmages offered to show the boyz to the Sandalwood Warehouse in exchange for some gold, so he could go south and eat corpses with his family. Meanwhile, inside, Nippers received a package: a signed poster of the usurper of his legacy, Quippers McNacken. This new threat lingering, the boys followed Zaksnek to the warehouse, where he needed to retrieve “shitbag”. Woad’s hypothesis that shitbag was a person proved incorrect. However, there was a shit creature within Zaksnek’s chest.

The boys debated for a little while, then bought the keys from Zaksnek, and headed off to ship the keys and notes magically to Bronna.

Despite the magician’s apparently exorbitant prices, the boys went through with their plan, before retrieving their cart and heading north to Accordia. In their travel, they entered a three-way fight between a venom troll and some orcs. The orcs lost, and Moki spoke with his kinsman about their two tribes. Moki’s tribe, the Wildreks died out and Orc 4’s tribe seemed to be going the same way, since they were so determined to get a kill in on the troll, to the point of fighting off the boys.

Unfortunately, Orc 4, who initially was released with 1 hp, objected to the brothers looting his fallen kinsmen. So Demelov executed him. Moki and Woad buried the four as Woad pondered what morality was.

With that the boys got back on the road, taking a long rest about 15 miles out from Accordia.

## Session 29 — 12.15.2022 | The Hit

The boys arrived in Accordia and immediately had to grapple with the chaos of the city. From bachelorette parties to questionable “tour guides” to bad traffic, the city had a number of new experiences for everyone. First up, the boys searched Wasserheicht for Miladora, before deciding to visit the Arcane Academy to meet one of Elixindria’s contacts.

Professor Mallory Lilacs filled the boys in on library etiquette, and the fate of the Archivist, Nicolas Theriman, as well as providing a scroll to help the boys find Mila. In a warehouse in Wasserheicht, Mila shared that there was one bloodmage assassin in the city, but that she was unable to track them down. The boys then came up with a genius plan: hire the assassin to kill Miladora, then ambush them.

The trip to the nightmarket to hire said assassin had Demelov and Moki sweating, as they sent in Zevrin and Nippers together to arrange the hit. After a brief detour to purchase some love potions, Nippers and Zevrin found their way to Halber Ferther’s tent, where the deal was struck.

With that, the gang headed back to the warehouse to sneakily wait. One hour passed, two, three… then around 1am, there was a yell inside the warehouse. The plan had worked, but the assassin was no idiot. Invisible and hidden, the attacker managed to do some serious damage until their attacks betrayed their location. The boys used unconventional attacks to press their advantage, with Zevrin combatting the enemy’s spell work, Demelov using his keen senses to locate the invisible mage, Nippers boosting his allies and healing Mila, and Moki and Woad locking him down with widespread spells. With the assassin on the run, Zevrin managed to end the assassin’s invisibility as the renegade mage made his escape through the window.

## Session 30 — 12.22.2022 | Riddles and Ciphers

The great chase began, as the boys pursued the bloodmage assassin through the nighttime streets. They kept pace, taking to the rooftops, using magic and spells, and finally cornering the assassin in an abandoned building. A battle ensued, and though the assassin fought hard and attempted to make another escape, the boys took him down. His death activated a dead man’s switch, leading the boys and Miladora to the assassin’s hideout. They found a number of clues, including a strange cipher letter, coins from Theriman’s body, and a number of magical items.

After a night’s rest, Woad worked hard on the cipher, and decoded it, while the gang headed for the library. There, they found that the library and the quarantined section had many defenses. Woad and Demelov took the lead at the front desk as they filled Horace’s mind with horrible possibilities of treachery and further murder. Believing they were a special peacekeeper task force and their promises not to harm the collection of books, he showed them to Theriman’s office, where they found the list of books they needed and their locations. While Horace had a panic attack outside, the boys debated their options, learned that Horace had been given the most recent puzzle to enter the quarantine room, and learned about The Bill of Heights: Nippers’ newest manifesto.

With confirmation from Mallory Lilacs finally arriving, the boys went back outside to get the brain teaser from Horace.

## Session 31 — 12.31.2022 | The Quarantine Room

The brothers, after a quick interview with Mariana Kile, entered the quarantine room, ready to find the control key and retrieve their books.

They found chaos within, as Theriman’s absence had led to the release of paper golems, the escape of several books and cursed items, and the disturbance of the dreaming orb.

The boys set out to retrieve the control key and resolve the mishaps. In their explorations, they found flying book swarms, cursed items, and paper golems to fight, along with the books they were looking for.

Woad found his calling as a rap artist, while a swirling mist made promises to both Demelov and Moki if they’d do just one small thing for him. Quick thinking on Moki’s part ended a paper golem battle swiftly, putting the constructs under Moki’s control. The boys headed to the Eastern wing to tackle the escaped myth. They found that the myth must be what disturbed the dreaming orb and decided to push on to the dreaming orb, following the path of destruction through the northeastern rooms.

There they found a strange mirror, which showed each of them visions: Nippers saw two old friends; Woad saw Early, seeming to bargain with an emissary of the Raven Queen; Demelov saw a red-headed woman; Zevrin saw himself and a map; and Moki saw a bright orange-colored tree in a crumbling castle courtyard.

Moving on, the boys found the text on ley lines, and discovered that the wakings appear to be being conducted at points where ley lines intersect.

Finally, the brothers found themselves at the entrance to the dreaming orb. After solving a quick puzzle, they stepped through, and found themselves transported to a mountainside. A young white dragon circled overhead, and Nippers heard him speak: "I don’t remember creating these… must be a gift!"

The boys raised their weapons...and prepared for a battle.

## Session 32 —01.05.2023 | Scales and Tales

The boys fought their draconic foes in the strange environment of the dream orb. The dragons were a bit unlike the dragons they expected, but the beasts still packed a punch. Nippers, Woad, and Moki all were knocked to the brink before being resuscitated many times, while Zevrin spurred the boys on with his spells, and Demelov took on a strategic role, encouraging his teammates to target the dragons’ elemental weaknesses.

After a tough battle, the boys found themselves with the key and the orb they needed, as well as a gift from an odd, hard to remember man, who addressed Zevrin as if they had previously been acquainted.

After a brief rest in the dreaming room, the boys headed back out. They returned the dragons to their source, which turned out to be a large, stained glass piece, then headed to the North Wing to retrieve the book of elvish supremacy. There, they found a stone book, along with the cursed book of moradin half-poking out. Zevin cured the book of elvish supremacy, and Demelov went to push the curse book of moradin back into the shelf. Unfortunately, the cursed book of moradin turned out to be a cursed book, and Demelov was turned to stone.

Some kerfuffle later, Zevrin reversed the stoning of Demelov, and the brothers left the library, ready to retrieve their reward. Mariana Kile produced some funds and a nice ring and had Horace remove Demelov’s cursed luckstone. Horace immediately attuned to it by accident and had a number of misfortunes throughout the day.

Meanwhile, Mariana made copies of books for the boys, while Horace fetched the rest of the list. Two hours later, the gang had read through all the books on their list, along with a few extras. Demelov found his situation was more serious than he expected, Woad decided that his former identity was less of interest than he expected, and Zevrin learned of several temples and magic items of his former domain as Nirvez.

With that, the boys stepped out into the square before the library.

## Session 33 — 01.12.2023 | Purchases

The boys did some shopping in the evening hours, heading over to obscurio row in search of an atlas. There, they bought maps, and entered Exotica’s curios. Nippers made an unlikely friend, and, a Woad purchased an enchanted taxidermied raven. As they began to head out, Nippers peered at the map and took off running. Woad attempted to follow with his arcane eye, but the swiftness with which Nippers ran caused the group to lose him.

The boys headed back to Wasserheicht, and learned about Zevrin’s birth realm, along with the other nine birth realms, among them, East, West, Dernth, Qwelth, Querth, Qwernth, and Jamth. Zevrin gave very clear, easy to understand directions to Qwernth, but warned that you just don’t do that anymore when Woad asked to make Qwernth his fiefdom.

Nippers acquired his prize and found his way back to the team, just in time for mail call. Letters for Dem and Woad, and a forwarded package for Moki.

Moki lost all memory of the time leading up to opening the package. It was then replaced with a new, fabricated memory. His father, with Rhonda as his captive. He warned Moki not to interfere, or else. Moki returned to find himself holding Rhonda’s severed ear.

The boys took a rest, chatted, then headed out on the road the next day. They reached Gronnevar easily, only to find a tense situation. Civil war between striking Miners and the Local Lord had broken out. The boys investigated, then pulled out the tiny hut for the night, ready to negotiate their way across the following morning.

## Session 34 — 01.19.2023 | Prophets in the Mine

The boys were awoken in the middle of the night by two kids, supposedly scouting you out after the snipers reported hearing activity at the front gate. One ran, but Demelov caught Arrik before he could flee, and the boys learned more of the miners.

In exchange for Woad’s awesome puma tooth, the boy brought his direct superior, Jennifer, to negotiate with the boys. Some yelling later, the boys decided to climb the wall. Jennifer was suitably unsettled first by Demelov just… walking up the wall, then by Nippers levitating. She agreed that the miners could use help and escorted the boys through the shantytown to ol Craw. Along the way, Nippers healed two old men and dispersed his text, while Zevrin proselytized to the masses. They left behind a throng of converts to the Golden God and his prophet, Nippers McKraken.

In the mine, the boys convinced Ol Craw to let them sneak behind enemy lines and assassinate Randall and potentially Rupert. An old dwarven miner agreed to lead them down the mine, to the underground lake, where the boys would find a tunnel up to the surface on a nearby farm.

The mine, which was filled with blue rubies, also happened to host an ettercap mama and her brood. The clapping cheeks of the ettercaps were of no avail against the party, but the victory had a bitter bite to it, as Demelov realized his symptoms were progressing.

Leaving the ettercaps behind, the boys moved forward, with woad preparing to cast featherfall on the gang.

## Session 35 — 1.26.2023 | Vicious Kill

The boys forged onward through the mines, facing environmental challenges, and finally emerging into the vast underground lake. There, they found a fossilized bloodmage skiff from centuries ago, along with a strange shaman staff that communicated with Woad, attuning itself to him automatically. The staff spoke of the Paragon, and said that he was close, ever approaching. The staff seemed limited in its understanding of the current situation but accepted that it and Woad would work together to worship and give praise to the Paragon.

The gang found their way to the surface and crept through the fields. There, Woad sent in his eye to scout, finding many lovely artpieces, and the location of Randall Ontario. But in their recon, Moki was spotted hiding in the grass. Demelov and Moki played off the situation, but eventually resolving that there was no way forward but to fight, action erupted.

The boys blitzed through the Ontarios and their imported Militia with precision. Woad ingeniously triggered remote spells while Demelov and Moki carved through the militia.

Demelov made it into the fortified dining room, but as he let his vampiric power loose, he found it started to rage out of control.

As the battle continued, the bedroom busted open, and Rupert finally joined the fray. He flexed his pecs at Demelov, and entered combat.

## Session 36 — 2.2.2023 | Get Off Me, Man, Quit It

The boys battled on, but as they smashed the militia and the Ontarios, Demelov found his bloodlust getting the better of him. Nippers’ inspiring tunes, Invisible Moki, and all of their resources were to no avail as Demelov found himself turning hungrily to the Golden God. He got one good bite in, and even a “Get off me, man, quit it” wouldn’t deter him. Woad knocked him back, and finally, in among the wreckage, Nippers’ counter charm and Moki’s strength aided Demelov in regaining his sanity.

The mood was a little awkward as they boys retrieved some treasures from the vault and dragged the bodies of the Ontarios out to the retreating militia.

The Pinkertons threw down their arms, and the miners, ecstatic, declared their victory, giving thanks to the Golden God and his Prophet McKraken. Ol Craw thanked the boys, and Arrik led them to the commissary to stock up before they headed out of town. There, Woad accidentally awakened Arrik’s wild magic sorcerer lineage, possibly setting the boy on a new trajectory.

With their magic rope retrieved, the boys headed north through the cheering town. Two days later, after Woad’s Shaman staff ate his tentacle rod and his staff of small objects, the boys arrived at the Undergrove and entered the Foyer of Time. There, they met one of Zevrin’s Handboys, a monodrone named Eorlin. Woad called up the spirit of a fallen acolyte of Zevrin’s and the boys learned of the fall of the Temple, the loss of the Acolytes trapped there, the burgerization of the survivors, and the censure and departure of Zevrin…

Ready to reconsecrate the temple, the boys entered the temple space…

## Session 37 — 2.9.2023 | ZevrInception

Last session! The boys navigated the temple of Zevrin, finding themselves immersed in various time and space bubbles as they attempted to mimic Zevrin’s movements Jamth, Dernth, Milfth, and Qwernthward. From babies to beers, the boys made it to the bubble that contained robes to protect their mortal minds from the mind-bending power of zevrin, only to realize that Nippers wasn’t with them.

The boys, concerned but knowing that to delay getting the robes would be to risk all of them being yoinked, entered the final bubble. There they found a strange world. 1930s new york, meatball subs, machine guns, and Cthulhu. The three investigators, Det. Pommier, Mikey Salentrino, and Dr. Jordaniya Petrov assisted Zevrin in finding the yellow robes. They reunited him with his ex-wife, the Goddess Agora, and retrieved the robes.

Meanwhile…. Nippers. Nippers took a step and found himself yoinked Milfthward. He passed through bubbles upon bubbles, before ultimately ending up in the Burger Dimension. Nippers, burgerized, saw the boys enter, take a seat at a booth, order burgers, milkshakes, fries. Demelov took a bite, and was turned into a burger. Tthe boys fought the manager, a giant rotisserie chicken, then disappeared into the back with Burger Demelov.

There they saw a chef with a yellow hat and a tepid fryer. They destroyed the fryer, ending the burger curse.

A throng of faithful Tendulites of Zevrin offered thanks and prayer to the boys, and blessed the Sandy One for returning.

## Session 38 — 2.20.2023 | The Paragon

The boys leapt from the bubble, descending towards the main feature of the Undergrove: a magical rocky structure with four doors. The boys split up, with Demelov and Nippers entering one door, Moki and Woad entering another, and Zevrin entering the final one.

Inside, the boys each found themselves confronting an alternate version of themselves.

Moki and Woad fought a blood magic wielding Fjolnir while Demelov and Nippers combatted a monstrous, feral Demelov in the Svalich woods.

Meanwhile, Zevrin met the abberation that had been watching over the Undergrove in his absence. Benny the Beholder welcomed Zevrin back and began a single combat with the newly mortal Zevrin.

Meanwhile, the boys each touched an anchor point associated with their alternate selves: a little hourglass on Fjolnir's staff and an hourglass within Monstrous Demelov's stomach.

Zevrin's combat saw him tossed about like a rag doll, but using his chronomancy he managed to defeat Benny, who welcomed him home to the palace of the gods and gestured for him to enter the mouth of the cave. Zevrin did so and found himself in a large marble waiting room. He took a number....and took his seat.

Back in the Undergrove, Moki and Woad found themselves in a place familiar only to Moki: his old classroom. Here his father had attempted to teach him magic. Here, his mother had consoled him when he failed.

Woad's staff immediately put up a fuss, insisting that the Paragon was here. Assuming they would be fighting Sarmaris, Woad and Moki moved swiftly out the hall, seeing stern portraits of Sarmaris—white-blond, long-haired, stern, goateed— looking down on them.

They stood outside a door while the staff whispered about the paragon inside.

Busting open the door, the boys were confronted with—

A young, half-orc boy, with long, neat black hair, braided like his father's. Young Moki, about ten years old, was the Paragon.

They interviewed him, and came to some disturbing revelations. This Moki was skilled at magic. He had killed his own mother for her weakness. He loved and was watched over by the Five Lieutenants. And he was training to usher in the Convergence.

Moki rushed back to the study to look for his Mother's Sword. Young Moki saw no need for it, and his father found it repulsive. Moki retrieved the sword, only to find his own sword was no longer on his back. Despite the two timelines, the two Moki's---there was one sword.

The two discussed their options, before quietly moving forward, to see the anchor point they needed just beyond the metal bars that had kept Moki trapped his entire childhood. They broke open the lock and stepped out—only to see young Moki lock himself in. Entirely different from our current Moki, young Moki was content in his imprisonment.

The two touched the anchor point and found themselves pulled into the next scene.

In a large classroom, the four were reunited. A beautiful flower arrangement decorated the hall. A large blackboard detailed the class: LOVE MAGIC 101 - WOOING AND WILES. A book stand held copies of a book by Nipperina McKraken: “Qwitical: A guide to getting what you want by looking cute”

Shortly after, Nipperina herself and her retinue of students appeared. The women held the anchor point. To get it, Nippers swallowed back bile and recited the Bill of Heights, but altered, to espouse women as superior to men.

With the anchor point secured, the boys returned to the Undergrove, finding a small, thriving community of Tendulites, and returned to the Material Plane, Zevrin-less, and pondering on the possibilities that had been revealed to them...

## Session 38.1 — 3.01.2023 | Everglotted

The mercs, hired by Bronna, come together to delve into the blood mage smuggling operation.

## Session 38.2 — 3.06.2023 | Into the Bubble

The mercs meet up with a new friend, Alphonse, and enter a demi-plane to wreck some more blood mages.

## Session 39 — 4.27.2023 | The Vistani

At last, we return to the secret brothers. The Brothers left the Undergrove behind, traveling north on their journey to Valeksniya, having uncovered many new secrets and discoveries.

They planned to arrive in Advilka swiftly, with a week and a half to spare before the next full moon, when they expected the Waking to occur. This morning, they crossed the border into Ladvia. The guards at the border warned the boys to be careful, as there had been more frequent attacks and disappearances along the Grimme Highway.
Fall was in full swing, with trees beginning to drop their leaves.
The boys found themselves ushered into a Vistani camp for the night. There, Demelov, Moki, and Woad received their fortunes, were treated to wine and stories, and found a lead on Demelov’s condition. The Vistani cast out all those with the affliction, banishing and shunning them from the caravans—with the exception of the D’Aveniccis, who, it seems, are involved in transporting Afflicted ex-Vistani north to… somewhere.

Madama Zilka cautioned Demelov not to mention his affliction to anyone, and told him that Basilo Giordano’s brother was made Mortu and sent north, and he occasionally receives letters. She said he may know more about where the Afflicted are sent.
Overnight, the boys caught wind of a ghostly mystery, accepting a seemingly haunted book from the panicking book vendor. The rest of the night was filled with terrible sleep as the Ghost and Woad picked on Moki. The next morning, Demelov had a rough but ultimately productive conversation with Basilo, who said his grandmother knew where Mikhail had been taken. Learning that they would need “Good Rema” to get Grandmother Sofia’s help, the boys resolved to solve the ghost situation. They headed for Craiova, where Sarah the Ghost was murdered, rolling into the filthy, rainy streets…

## Session 40 — 05.04.2023 | Ghosts

The boys’ arrival in Craiova led them to the richer area, the North Ward, and the home that had been the Dyerenzek manor. It had been sold and bought by the Falgarst family, and the boys managed to get an audience with lord Falgarst, but not before deftly managing the butler, who knew many secrets about the house. The boys posed as paranormal cleanup, and offered to reduce the haunting at the property.

Lord Falgarst, a large frogman, agreed, and let the boys investigate–with one caveat. They were not to enter the attic.

Naturally, as soon as he investigation started turning hairy, the boys entered the attic.

They had encountered many ghosts, who had clearly been sacrificed, and ascended the stairs to find…

A large aquarium with a tadpole inside, and a woman, humanoid, in a diving suit. The boys began to investigate, but the woman swiftly fled, turning invisible and racing into the haunted study.

Demelov gave chase and found her ripping up the floorboards, and retrieving….frog eggs?

Demelov knocked her out in one blow and the woman said, “Father will not be happy about this”, and the eggs began to convulse. They formed into a horrific eye-tongue monster and attacked.

The boys had a hairy fight but defeated it, with Moki declining an offer from a mysterious presence in the process–just as Lord Falgarst came up the stairs.

## Session 41 — 05.18.2023 | Tongues

The brothers, with Lord Falgarst’s approval, questioned Agathina on her involvement with the murders, learning that she was a member of the Cult of Gaernoo, and had received his pact-like blessing for herself and Tademis, the Tadpole.

The boys struggled with the morality of letting Lord Falgarst, Alexei, and Tadimus to leave, but Falgarst was clear: he could not be swayed. And Agathina revealed that Tademis was intended to be the host for Gaernoo, and would be the centerpiece of an upcoming huge ritual.

The boys then put down Agathina, and recuperated for a night, before following the clues to a shack that Fjarl is often seen going to.

Inside they made their way through the shack before being ambushed by aberrations. They had a hairy fight, but put them down and descended to the basement, where bodies and a teleportation circle were stored. The boyos pretended to be dead, and waited for Fjarl. After about 30 minutes, they heard voices and steps upstairs, then saw two figures descend. Fjarl, a flamboyantly dressed wood elf, and his bodyguard, made their way towards the bodies, apparently about to use one for the teleportation circle.

Woad cast Raulothim’s on Fjarl,and Demelov leapt up, joined by Moki, and battle commenced!

## Session 42 — 06.01.2023 | Gaernoo

The boys surprised Fjarl and his bodyguard, but found them a challenging fight to take on. They wicked ass and took names, however, and attempted to question Fjarl.

After some thought, they burned a tongue, activated the teleportation circle, and bamfed to the cultist center. They had a hairy mini-battle against a few guards, which alerted the mooks within to their presence. The boys began to explore, but were ambushed by a slew of waiting cultists–and their leader, Lord Vyalis of Male Enhancement.

The battle was hairy, with many spells cast, and reinforcements arriving from below midway through the battle. Woad had to summon and resummon his boy, while Demelov went down not once, but twice.

Meanwhile Moki unleashed a few spells, and the might of his mother’s sword.

The unrepentant cultists were slaughtered with ease, and the boys descended finding some prisoners–and a schlorping bone, goo, monster that managed to possess Moki before being burned and destroyed.

The boys freed the prisoners, feeling probably pretty sure that they all still had their natural tongues.

One local prisoner invited the boys to stay at his Inn, the Lick and Spittle, but the boys instead managed to arrange a ride back to Craiova, where they found Nppers waiting with the cart. Something in the distance was on fire, but the boys swiftly rode away, heading for Advilka, knowing that Grandmama Sofia of the Giordano clan should be somewhere south of the city around now.

## Session 43 — 06.08.2023 | Home

The boys arrived at the Giordano Clan's camp and met Grandmama Sofia. She pronounced the bys Good Rema! And explained that the D'Avenicci's take Afflicted Vistani into the mists. The boys prepared Talismans to bring them through and entered the mists, heading for the D’avenicci’s haven. Along the way, they fought off various temptations: first, a soft wailing, then a disturbing whispering. Demelov started to wander off the path, and was pulled into an illithid domain of dread, where all three fought a mindflayer and a mind witness.

Demelov soloed the illithids until Moki and Woad could be woken from their stupor and the boys took down the flayers. They activated the talisman to return to the path, and, continuing on, found themselves surrounded by the scent of a feast. Once again, they were drawn into a domain of dread, and beset by a fay-like woman. They fought, but she was strong, and they decided to retreat rather than fight it out. They activated the talisman, but not before Woad snatched her whip from her, with unexpected plans.

Returning to the path, they arrived, with relief, in the demiplane of Mrak, a small village.

There, Demelov found that he had come home, reuniting with his half-uncle, learning the truth of his family secrets, and discovering the choices before him: become a full dhampir or keep going, fighting himself, and seeking a cure.

As Demelov pondered the turning point in his quest, Woad finally resolved his bargain with Alfalel, earning the fey’s appreciation and new friendliness. As the sun began to set, Demelov made his choice, entered the big house, and prepared for his ceremony.