Ancient Antics (campaign)

**Ancient Antics** is a campaign that ran in the spring of 2022. It was DMed by Emma Rose. It began with the Ancient Antics (one-shot) in the winter of 2021.

## Player characters

* Tiné, played by Evey Larham
* Sir Thorvald, played by David Shears
* Eofór, played by Shaun Smith
* Sir Grifphon, played by Liz Drake
* Zeleny, The Green Knight, played by Tom Jancis

## Plot

The Ancient Antics campaign picks up where the one-shot left off - our heroes frozen while time continues around them, dimly aware of figures entering, barricades and boxes being set up and so on. Eventually as the effects of the mysterious device wear off they become conscious of a disturbance nearby - the white dragon reanimating and smashing the contents of the cavern in a rage, asking "Where are my books?" repeatedly. A lone halfling appears to be the only one standing up to them. The team prepare for battle once more expecting another difficult fight - however the dragon's health had not replenished during the time freeze and so the entire battle was finished in a matter of seconds.

Talking with the halfling security guard, Lambert, the Frozen Five learn that in the intervening years the cavern had become a museum, with exhibits and memorabilia devoted to them and their quests. However some details had gotten lost over time. For example, due to her blue skin and magic (representing extreme heat), Tiné was believed to be an ice sorcerer and had developed a rather large following of ice magic practitioners. It was discovered that Eofór's eldest son and Zeleny's squire Ferh had become a knight and followed in his father's footsteps however due to a run in with a green hag had cursed his entire family to live as normal farmyard pigs. Zeleny was dismayed to find that almost none of the records had details about her at all, a mixed blessing considering the prophesy about her.

The group discover that Merta, the wizard whose prophesy foretold their time-displacement, was still around and so the group used their sending stone to contact her. She is delighted that they are finally awake and insists that they come see her. On the way Tiné attempts to have fun scaring a drunk person who is unfortunately too out of it to care. Arriving at Merta's the group discover the secret of her longevity - she convinced a warforged to allow her to put it's consciousness in a jar while she occupied it's body. They also learn she has collected as many of Eofór's progeny as she has been able in preparation for the day that the curse could be broken. During the conversation a monodrone appears in the kitchen, announcing that everything is 'correct'. Upon investigating the Frozen Five however it announces 'incorrect' and begins to attack. It is easily destroyed, but heralds a slew of several more of the insistent modrons. All but one of these are destroyed, as Sir Thorvald attempts to get information from it.

Merta suggests that the group could learn more about the hags that cursed the pigfolk and about modrons if they visit Candlekeep, which the group persistently misremember as Candlecake, and decide to set out in the morning. They return to a hotel in the town which had been named after them where they convince the desk clerk to allow them to stay for free due to their being the awakened heroes. Sir Grifphon checks in on Zeleny who reveals that she is actually Mordwaina, Tiné's cousin who was prophesised to one day usurp the throne and destroy the kingdom. Sir Thorvald locks the surviving modron, nick-named the Adora-ball, in a chest in his room, and goes to Tiné where he consoles her about her lost kingdom and regales her with tales of his days as a double agent. Crying is heard coming from Eofór's room as the ultimate fate of his loved ones gradually dawns on him, and Zeleny and Sir Grifphon go to comfort him.

In the morning the group go about their chaotic morning routines. Zeleny rushes around arranging breakfasts before knocking on each person's door to wake them. She is surprised to discover Thorvald had slept in the room with Tiné but asks no questions. Finding that some of the breakfast food is pork the group try to prevent Eofór from eating any - ultimately unsuccessfully - but learn that Merta refuses to sell her pigs and so it can't be his family and is therefore fine. Lambert arrives with a couple of magic items for travelling to and from Baldur's Gate, and after signing some merchandise for the hotel the group leave at once with the Adora-ball in tow.

They arrive in the middle of a bustling Baldur's Gate market and are shocked at the size and scale of it. They leave the city and are found by a familiar figure - Zeleny's horse who has rebranded himself as Startrail. After a brief time as Zeleny gets to know her 2000-year old fey companion again, the group continue their journey to Candlekeep. On the way they are again attacked by constructs, alerted by the incessant bleating of the captive monodrone. A clockwork kraken and large robotic sphere emerge but are dispatched in short order. During the fight Tiné is forced to circumvent the machines' resistance to fire and alters her spells to icy effect - much to Lambert's delight.

They arrive in Candlekeep bearing books as gifts and are greeted by a vampire who shows them to a waiting room. They are distrustful at first - Sir Grifphon rebelliously reactivates his sunsword despite having been asked not to brandish it - but learn that this particular vampire is friendly. They are assigned a seeker who magically finds books on all the subjects they requested and maps for Eofór and Sir Grifphon to study as they can't read. During their studies they learn as much as they can about Green Jenny, the hag who had cursed Ferh and the pigfolk, discovering that though she has since passed away one of her descendents would be able to break the curse in her stead. They also hear of the Plane of Mechanus which is the source of the modrons hounding them. Finally it is revealed that Reginald, the gold dragon whom Tiné considers to be a second father, is probably still alive although he hasn't been seen for many years. The group decide to return to Merta's bungalow but leave Lambert to continue studying on their behalf - reluctantly for Sir Grifphon who was keen to take Lambert on as a squire. Upon their return they find that Merta was aware that Green Jenny's descendants live nearby as they often help her with the pigs, and the first seeds of distrust in the warforged-occupying wizard are sown.

While there Merta lets slip to Tiné about Zeleny's true identity but instead of reacting negatively she embraces her as 'a Wondermeer'. As they set out Tiné joins Zeleny on Startrail in order to instruct her on how to better conduct herself as royalty, while Sir Thorvald attempts to ride Sir Grifphon as a joke. Eofór leads the way, determining the location of the hags and Reginald's lair from the maps he had read. They try to find the dragon first however stumble upon the hags who are much more laid-back than the hags they had known back in their day. Before an agreement can be made another pair of mechanoids assault them this time taking the form of giant mechanical lizards. The battle is difficult but with some assistance from the hags they are defeated. Sir Thorvald destroys the Adora-ball in anger believing it to be the way in which the modrons were constantly finding them, but in so doing also destroying their early warning system. They return to bargaining with the new generation of hags who ask for one of the party to give up something they love. They identify Sir Grifphon's love of sweets, and in discussing terms the centaur continues to list other things he loves much to the dismay of others in the group. However Tiné insists on being the one to make the deal as she had not been able to sacrifice herself in their first fight together against the white dragon. Eventually it is decided that in return for removing the curse on the pigfolk Tiné will no longer be a princess.

The group set out again in search of Reginald, and on the way Zeleny begins to tease her cousin, insisting that she goes through all the trials and tribulations she did as a squire before becoming a fully fledged knight, causing relations with Tiné to go cold. The Frozen Five eventually come upon a cave behind a waterfall where it is believed the dragon resides. They are greeted with open claws by the now ancient gold dragon, who reveals that he may be able to cast a wish spell which could send Eofór back to the past to be with his family again. They decide to rest there, trusting the dragon implicitly to look after them as they do, and Sir Grifphon begins to prepare a great feast. Zeleny excuses herself to be with Startrail (who was worried she would disappear for another two thousand years), and is followed by Sir Thorvald who asks the real reason she is avoiding the party. Zeleny reveals she is worried that her fiendish ancestry is coming to the fore and ruining things with Tiné, however Sir Thorvald gives some sound advice and ceremoniously dunks her in the pool outside the lair in jest. The pair return to partake of the meal and the group retire for the night.

The party are awoken by combat with a quarut, a powerful Inevitable that wanted them to return to their time. The party fought it, with Reggie by their side, but sadly Sir Thorvald was disintegrated. Once defeated, Reggie used a wish spell to revive Thorvald, but did warn that it would mean he couldn't send them home either. Heading back to Merta, the Frozen Five make their peace with their new lives - Thorvald retires to Candlekeep, and Sir Grifphon retires to a quiet life in Waterdeep; Tine and Zeleny go adventuring, with Zeleny being approached by Eldath to be a paladin for them; and Eofór looks after his now re-pigfolked ancestors, now looking for guidance.

## Twitch Clip Archive

* Talk to the chest...
* David clarifies
* More Deals
* "I Said I'm Fine!!!"
* Explaining the Passage of Time

## Trivia

* The poster for the Ancient Antics campaign features the exact same foreground image as the Ancient Antics one-shot, however the background is now revealed to show exhibits and marquees which had been set up during their time as a centrepiece.

## Media

Title card for Ancient Antics.A typical scene from Ancient Antics.Ancient Antics - IntroThe title sequence for Ancient Antics.