Home Sweet Home

Aster Dewlight

Ozakos

Lee

**Home Sweet Home** was a Brigade oneshot following several guild members, led by Shang Mofuay, on a quest to establish a new base within the Battlefield.

## Intro

"Don’t get me wrong, the Zenith’s a good place. But I’m a humble man, and well… I just don’t feel like I can contribute to the Brigade’s cause when I’m stuck out here in the boonies. Kissander was all about taking in those who had nowhere else to go, a place for the down-and-out like myself. I think it’s high time I helped establish a place like that again. Yeup, that’s where I’ve gotta be."

*You've met up with Shang Mofuay, an old orc war vet and member of the Brigade. Though he's been around for a while, his main contributions have been little more than assisting in some basic construction. He scratches the back of his balding head apologetically with his hook hand, placing his mug of ale down on the table with the other hand.*

"Just need a bit of muscle to protect us til’ we have a couple buildings put in place and tidy up the rubble. And I talked with the big boss himself- he said there’s a couple of mages who can establish a circle there, so you can add it to the list of places the Zenith can be teleported to. That sweet a deal’s gotta be enough incentive to help me out, yeah?"

## Home Sweet Home

> The group meets, eats apples
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> Introductions and chit chat
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> The mission is clear.
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Shang reiterates the purpose behind the expedition and answers a few questions about it. He tells a story of how silver dragons ruled over the area as tyrants before a powerful woman came and struck them all down, causing the area to be assuredly haunted and taboo. Enough time has passed, however, the Shang believes the place should be safe enough as long as they have good intentions. Zetaruul is introduced to the newcomers who show interest and ask questions.

> Lee with Ozakos
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> And Iskander Thunderpouch
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> New friends; new allies
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After Iskander Thunderpouch introduces himself, Aster Dewlight recognizes the specific flair of the Thunderpouch Septuplets. There is a brief conversation about the missions Aster and Alexander had done together, and Iskander displays some disbelief in his brother's stories.

> Tristan soon arrives
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> Bulma and her husband's skull
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> We are assembled
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After Bulma's husband, a flaming, talking, floating skull reveals itself, Aster shows discomfort with necromancy, but ultimately he decides now isn't the time for inter-party conflict.

> Slumber and a watch
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> Ashen Zombies interrupt
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> Easily handled
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During the night we are attacked by Zombies that leaked ash and dust when struck. Bulma opted to sleep instead of fighting. Tristan gave his trident to the zombie by accident. After a few had gone down, Aster used his Sapphire Gauntlets to punch the zombies and caused a chain reaction that ignited all of the lightning already in the air which caused all of the zombies to get fried. After that the party returned to sleep.

> In the morning light
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> Thunderberries for breakfast
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> A shocking new treat
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The range of reactions went from amazement and enjoyment to surprise. Warren initially refused to eat his right away, but Iskander informed him that taking one but not eating it was rude; a taboo that made Iskander feel slighted.

> Ahead, the fortress looms
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> Atop a tower, pink girl
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> Empty bravado
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After reaching the Icefoot Fortress, they spotted a girl on top of a tower who seemed as though she was threatening the group, so Iskander punched lightning in her general direction to warn her off. She didn't relent immediately, so Zetaruul teleported everyone except Bulma, and Tristan up to the top of the tower. This surprised the girl, who instantly surrendered. She told them that there was creepy stuff going on, so if they weren't here to hurt her, she would lead them to her two (or more) friends.

Unfortunately, going down into the trapdoor under the tower allowed an unseen assailant to lock them down there and start to flood the area with poison. Zetaruul simply teleported them all back up to the tower, however. Even more unfortunately, the tower was collapsed on top of them with Zetaruul being the only one not buried. Aster quickly unburied himself only to be captured at knife point by a poser thug orc kid named Voorat Gutslinger. Zetaruul conjured shadow warriors who cut Voorat badly and sapped away his strength, causing him to surrender.

> Enemies turn friends
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> Undead rituals reanimate
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> Dead dragons wait below
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After entering the courtyard, a man named Kessler arrives and he and Iskander have a brief sign language exchange before Zetaruul joins everyone's minds into a telepathic collective. Kessler agrees to allow the brigade to have the fortress as long as they help him clear out the undead rituals trying to summon an undead dragon and as long as they don't harm his young wards. He admits to being a member of the Marauders, but claims he only joined to spy on them.

> So many undead
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> Awash in necromancy
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> Bravery shines through
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Three hooded and robed undead are summoning an undead dragon while a large group of ashen zombies hold the party off. Iskander's long range lightning punches strike one down, Zetaruul's psychic power turns his weapon to a buzzsaw that slices one's head in half, and in a desperate but heroic effort, Aster stabs one zombie's head off and flings it toward the last, badly injured one, defeated it and putting an end to the ritual. The group quickly leaves after that.

> We are powerful
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> More than undead and dragons
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> You should be afraid
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A man named Taliesin and his fifty warriors arrive and thank us for clearing out his new base of operations, however Aster's taunts and the party's support shakes Taliesin and he decides to retreat rather than cross blades with the party. With that done, the group settles down to prepare the fortress and create a teleportation circle.

## Aftermath

The fortress is secured as a new base for the Brigade and a home for the homeless.

## Notes

Iskander Thunderpouch has insisted multiple times that Aster secretly has Lightning Tribe blood. Taliesin promises to return to "be in touch."