Friendly Fire

The night was dark but did nothing to hide the thrashing in the distance that foretold of unearthly horrors heading their way. A group of adventurers prepared sword and shield to meet this unstoppable foe, all but The Bard. He gingerly traced the outline of his Lute and thought back to his actions that led to this moment. Again his choices had put them all in terrible danger. Fear of failure caused him to detonate an explosive before everything was in position and it may have lost them the battle before it even began! It certainly lost them the element of surprise.

Continue reading “Session 38 — Tales from the Bard: End of an Era”

Once upon a time a group of heroes — after determining the dragon’s lair WAS guarded and not worth the bloodshed — was racing for the coast on the prestigious Academy Island where they had learned via scrying that the undead invasion was in full swing. There was gloom in the air, as they had done this sprint before. Once again they stood on the edge of a precipice, once again a great evil threatened to swallow another island whole. The heroes had seen this happen on two other occasions — at Dis and at Innsmouth — and vowed that they would not let it happen a third time!

Continue reading “Session 37 — Tales from the Bard: Disaster at the Docks”

Once upon a time a group of heroes stood outside the smoldering remains of a town recently under fire… and also ON fire. After questioning the local populace, the ones still alive, it was explained that many of the locals went crazy and began to set fire to the whole town. No amount of pleading or restraint would calm these ravenous souls and, in the end, the only solution was to end the attackers permanently.

Continue reading “Session 36 — Tales from the Bard: Bleak Barriers”

Once upon a time, a group of adventurers had just finished a magnificent fight against a mighty white dragon. There were a million different ways they might have been slaughtered, but on this day they sent the great lizard fleeing for its life!

Continue reading “Session 35 — Tales from the Bard: Confrontations and Confessions”

Once upon a time, a group of adventurers were trudging through the chilly tundra in search of their friends who had recently left with a death wish. You see, these friends had hopes to use clever strategy, charming words, and optimistic determination to convince a nearby white dragon to part with a very rare treasure, the sort of treasure that might one day soon save the world from an encroaching evil! These two friends were powerful (both accomplished mages in their own right), stubborn (they had insisted upon traveling alone, even after the adventurers purged some compromising tattoos), and were almost certainly going to be devoured by the dragon immediately (assuming the ice giants they would pass along the way didn’t kill them first).

Continue reading “Session 34 — Tales from the Bard: The Frozen Foe”

Once upon a time, a group of adventurers were camping in a wooded clearing. In a world filled with mystery and danger this was one of their very rare quiet and peaceful nights. They had just vanquished a terrifying undead army and had sent two of their members to Clifton to seek out answers. While they were gone there was little more to do then take in the soft western wind, smell the faint cherry blossoms in the distance, and ignore the soft hissing of the 50-ft bird monster still staring at them from its nearby nest with murder in its eyes. Yes, all was very peaceful indeed.

Continue reading “Session 33 — Tales from the Bard: A Wish in the Wild”

Once upon a time, a boss was cleaning up his cafe after a long but rewarding day. Taking stock of his establishment, the boss was acutely aware of how much he had done in such a short time. Adorning the walls were beautiful works of art for sale. The place was steeped in aromas of exotic coffees and herbal teas harvested in distant lands. The falafel fryers were still cooling in the kitchen and the last wisps of their culinary delights could still be picked out by the trained nose. These sweet scents only enhanced the air of tranquility one felt when strolling through the cafe and art gallery.

Continue reading “Session 32 — Tales from the Bard: Heroic Homecoming”

I’m not exactly sure what we’ve stepped in, or perhaps more accurately, whose boot we are currently on the underside of, but everything is starting to feel squishy and smell foul. This trip felt doomed from the start. I suppose shipwrecks tend to cast a pallor on the beginnings of most journeys. Still, Alexi and I have done good business together in the past. It was a bit perturbing to suddenly find myself on the side of “owing favors.” Especially to the good ol’ guvn’r — a man who puts the Dick in Richard. We may be the pisspots, but that guy is a real shit show. Thought we had killed him, but lately death has started to seem more like a relative term. I’ll be a dwarf’s hairy navel if that fucker did not just snarl his ugly drawl in my direction last night. Seems he has decided to cozy up to my other least favorite humanoid, Devin the Pleasant. “Here let me help you. Everything is fine. Pay no attention to the creepy robed guy behind the curtain. Oh, those new tramp stamps? That’s just my way of showing love and affection —  and keeping you corralled as my little pets. Nothing says ‘I love you’ like bodily defilement!”

Continue reading “An Entry in Kaicho’s Private Journal”