God damn you turtle, we’ve talked about this! If you touch my journal again I am going to carve my name on your shell with a pick axe. It will be so deep it will show up on your grandkids! Also, you have no talent for tales, this is how it’s done.
Tales from the Bard: Parents in Peril
Once upon a time, there was an agile druid, a dashing archer, a mysterious warlock, a cunning Boss, Remi was there, and the Mighty Magnificent Bard.
These adventurers traveled the lands defending freedom and scouring evil wherever it may be. Though today they were tasked with an especially crucial quest, a quest to save the Bard’s captured parents! They had traveled far in their search, and after many trials they were confident they were close on the heels of the captor. There would be time for fancy parties later, but for now the race was on!
Using his keen insight, the Bard suggested they return to the cliff-side inn. The inn and its keeper were ordinary… too ordinary. There must have been more there than met the eye. Yes, thought the Bard as they approached the establishment. Cobbled steps, blooming daisies out front, wisps of smoke rising from a cooling pie in the window… this was certainly a place of evil.
Not foolish enough to run into a trap, the Bard suggested that the Boss investigate the establishment. After whatever traps were set off or disarmed, the rest of the party would bravely rush in and clean up. Beyond darkened kitchens and secret rooms, the Boss searched high and low until he came across the last room in the inn. Calling for backup, the Boss could swear he heard muffled voices coming from inside. When Milo and the druid arrived, they smashed through the door with a mighty crash!
But instead of a homecoming, they gasped as the opened door caused a long blade to sweep through the air, missing them by inches! They stood, astonished, when said blade cleaved through a nearby rope! And they let out a gasp as the newly severed rope allowed a shapeless mass at the far end of the room to begin its long descent out the nearby window! The Bard would have easily stopped this but he was frozen at the sight of a shadowy figure in the corner of the room. His parents were one thing, but he had also been tracking the saboteur who coveted his blessed lute. This was, after all, what this hostage-taking had been all about. The gods were clear who this lute belonged to, yet someone dared thwart their will and had taken their Chosen One’s parents in an attempt to steal the lute! As the clouds parted to reveal the full moon, its light fell upon the mystery man, exposing a halfling! One with a sinister smile and an ugly, burnt facial scar.
Meanwhile, the druid, who had been trained by Milo himself, launched into a spectacular flip, and with a dazzling exhibition of agility, grabbed the rope at the last minute. With the Boss’s help, they heaved the rope up from the window, and there at the end, yes, the two Morstrum parents! Their eyes filled with tears as they looked upon their beloved son, their rescuer. Then their eyes filled with fire as the scarred halfling launched a massive fireball at their bodies, consuming them in flames. With a laugh, he locked eyes with the Bard and whispered, “Now I know who has it… we’ll meet again,” and with a small incantation, he leapt through the window and soared through the night sky.
The Bard was frozen in fear and confusion as he watched the blaze that was his parents. But the rest of the party had arrived, and one by one, using their most powerful healing spells, they brought life back into the parents, but only just! The rest of the room was not as lucky as the flames spread higher and higher. Quickly, they raced from the building, eager to escape the fire and to get the parents the medical help they needed. The district headquarters was nearby and the group rushed to the door, begging for help. A stern woman answered and, though initially indifferent, eventually took pity on the group and allowed the crispy parents to stay until healed. The Bard was not keen on leaving them there, but his sister, the samurai, agreed to look over them until they were well again.
Once again, the group had more questions than answers. Yes, they had found the parents, but what of the scarred man? Who was he and what did he really want? These questions would have to wait as the archer began to speak: “I’m happy to have traveled with you all, but I’m afraid this is where I must part ways. The stone man’s tale has given me the first lead to my daughter’s whereabouts in over a decade, and I must follow it. I leave at dawn.” The Bard shook his head and replied gallantly, “No, you aren’t leaving us, because we’re all coming with you. You helped save my parents, and we’ll help save your family too.” The others were enamored of the Bard’s bravery and would of course accompany him on any quest. So, with a new goal on the horizon, the group marched out in the direction of the swamp… to adventure!
Coda: Rune, the warforged paladin, lagged behind the group as they retraced his journey to Clifton. They all seemed nice enough, but perhaps it was just a trick to throw him off. He had pretended to know nothing when he first met them, merely claiming he was searching for an evil force, but they questioned his motives all the same. He would watch them for now, but he would not hesitate to act when duty called. HE could see it plainly, but was it possible that this group was unaware that the evil that called to him was emanating from the group members themselves!?
The Pisspots discovered each member bore this mark on their upper back
2018-09-24