Log 1

A Night at the Opera

The Group: retrieve artefacts from the Core and Islands was safer than hiring out to third Ella Pipeleaf: Halfling Paladin of the party companies, such as the Red Vardo Morninglord. Her family, originally Traders. All except Featon where from Tepest, moved to Mordent when already employed by the museum in the Ella was ten. They moved hurriedly in various departments, Marcel did not the middle of the night, Ella does not want to hire new people when there know why. Ella received her calling where those he could trust already from the Barovia deity when she was available. young. Being so far away from the church has stunted Ella's growth as a The First Item: paladin. The first artefact Marcel had the team Featon Mosstemin: Elven Rogue. recover was a priceless Rokuma Vase, Originally from Sithicus, not much is being donated by Ricardo Diosa, the known about Featon. He is working with owner of the Port-a-Lucine Opera the group to repay the museum for House. The party are to go to the Opera profits lost when he tried to rob them. House and collect the vase after the opening night of "Carmina," a new Sharuk Tamal: Dwarven Fighter. Opera to be performed for the first time Sharuk's family hail from the Mountains ever that night. of Misery, but his parents moved to the Rue des les Pistolets in Port-a-Lucine A Night at the Opera because of their fascination with smokepowder weapons. The party where gathered in their new headquarters in the Museum, a room Phillipe Loeu: Human Wizard. Loeu's specially equipped for them, with their history is his alone to know. None of the own separate bedrooms available. The party know he spend time in prison for party where expected to live in the manslaughter. Since his release, he has Museum permanently now. As they got tried to find his love, though she has to know one another, after only having a fallen for his rival. passing familiarity with the other employees from different departments, The Setting: Pierre Marcel came into the room and gave them their assignment. Le Musee National de Dementlieu has recently set up an Acquisitions They agreed and set off for the Opera, Department. The Curator, the relatively with the correct attire supplied by the young Pierre Marcel, thought that by Museum and Featon dressed as a having his own band of professionals to servant. When they stepped from their carriage, they noticed a smartly dressed, crying on the stage, a blonde, beautiful portly man and an equally eloquently elven woman trying to comfort her. dressed lady crossing the road. An out- Featon noticed that the chandelier above of-control carriage was hurtling towards the auditorium was shaking; Ella noticed them. Phillipe and Sharuk ran towards that the rope had started to fray. They the couple, shouting warning. The dwarf watched as with each swing, the pushed the man to safety and Phillipe chandelier fell lower and lower. Bravely, swept the woman off her feet to safety. Sharuk and Ella poised themselves at the The man introduced himself as Ricardo edge of the box to jump at the Diosa, owner of the Opera House, the chandelier. Featon and Phillipe started girl his daughter Maria. Maria haughtily shouting at the people below to move, excused herself and left to get ready, screaming that the chandelier was Phillipe escorting her into the building. falling. Ella and Sharuk both leapt, but Sharuk misjudged his jump. He fell Whilst mingling in the foyer, they thirty feet to the ground below. Ella noticed several notable members of landed on the chandelier. Using her, society. Celeste d'Honaire and her admittedly slight, weight, she forced the cousin Dominic had come to see the chandelier to swing into a corner as it Opera, as had Lord Balfour of the fell. As it passed under the balcony, Ella University of Dementlieu. Whilst leapt and caught the edge. The mingling, Phillipe overheard people chandelier fell to the ground with an discussing a body that had been found almighty smash. near to Sharuk's home of le Rue des les Pistolets. Apparently, one operagoer Fortunately, Maria had been pulled to said, the body's face was twisted into a safety by her friend, the elven woman hideous grin and the eyes where bulging and no one on stage was injured. Phillipe to the point of popping out of the helped Ella to safety whilst Featon saw sockets. Ella began to grow annoyed at to the dwarf. After gathering in the bar the number of people mistaking her for a area of the Opera House, the patrons little girl. leave, leaving the party and the rest of the cast. Ricardo tells the party that the The opera started, it was enjoyable and elven woman is named Angel Pajaro. funny in parts. Just before the interval Maria stepped forward for her solo. She Phillipe went to the fallen chandelier began to sing. Her voice was beautiful. with Featon whilst Sharuk had a whiskey Suddenly, all lights in the auditorium to sooth his pain. Ella tried to talk to extinguished and a loud, booming voice Maria and Angel. called "People of Port-a-Lucine, mark my words. For as long as Maria Diosa At the fallen chandelier, Phillipe continues to profane this stage with her examined the rope. He could tell it had pitiful performances, the opera house not been cut, but the break did not look will be a place of death! You have heard like wear and tear. He asked to speak to my words of doom; now learn them to the person who was in charge of raising be true!" and lowering the chandelier. A stagehand rushed backstage. As the When the lights returned, Maria was stagehand left, Ricardo explained that there were rumours of a ghost that As Phillipe tried to get some sense out of inhabited the Opera House. He said that Maria, Angel spoke quietly with Sharuk. it had only become a malevolent spirit in With a coy glance here and a flirtatious the last few months. Before he could smile there, he was ensnared by her continue the stagehand returned and beauty. Ella returned to the party and asked Ricardo to follow him. Featon and they all gathered in the bar. Phillipe Phillipe waited by the chandelier, decided that he had better speak to the examining for more clues. chorus whilst Featon and Ella went to speak with the lead Tenor, Jean Pierre Maria was inconsolable. Ella tried to Cambier. Cambier, being the arrogant calm her down with Angel's help, but man he is, assumed that they where fans she soon realised that the diva was that wanted to check on his wellbeing simply playing for sympathy. A after the accident. He offered them stagehand appeared and asked her to autographs and smiles. Learning that the follow them; she was taken backstage preening peacock had little to offer their where Featon and Phillipe had been investigation, Ella and Featon bid him called too. Ricardo was sitting on a goodbye. chair, his face white. When questioned, he gestured to the flies. All looked up. In the chorus girl's dormitories, Phillipe Hanging, cloaked in shadow was a body. was accosted by Madame Flaubert, the All looked shaken, but Ella couldn't keep chorus mistress. She shouted at him for her calm. She excused herself, saying being in a place he shouldn't and that she wanted to check the chandelier's informed him that if he wanted to fixing in the rafters. Featon's sharp elven question the chorus girls, he had better sight noticed some grooves on the floor. come back in the morning. When the Five scratches on a diagonal slope where party had re-gathered in the foyer, they marked into the floor, each was the same went back to the museum to gather their length. Phillipe asked Ricardo who had thoughts. Before she left, Ella went to been with the Opera House the longest check on Maria, who had retired to her and the shortest, he said that some room earlier, aided by Angel. She people had been there for years, but knocked on the door, asking if there was Angel had only been there for six anything she could do. Maria replied no, months. though she sounded strange to Ella. Ella asked if she could meet with Maria the In the rafters, Ella found some silver hair next day. Maria agreed and Ella bid her caught in the rope that held the goodbye and left. Just as she got to the chandelier. On the body, which was top of the stairs she heard a door open identified as Henri, the man in charge of and close. Turning back she saw that the chandeliers was found a tub of Maria's door was not closed tightly as it greasepaint and a piece of white silk. was a minute ago. Assuming that Maria Quickly pocketing these clues, with out had left to see to personal business, Ella really examining them, Phillipe left to went back to the party. They returned to talk to Maria. In the bar he called Sharuk the museum for the night. over. They decided that the dwarf should speak to Angel alone. In the morning at breakfast, Sharuk received a letter from Angel, asking him to meet her at a secluded cafe. Phillipe was speaking to the chorus, Sharuk left with him to visit the Anchorites in arrived at the Opera House, demanding Ste. Mere des Larmes. He wished to to see Jean Pierre. Ella asked him what examine the body found near the Rue was wrong and he said that Jean Pierre des les Pistolets. The Warden allowed had struck Angel. He told them about the him, but was confused. He told Phillipe welt on Angel's cheek. that the person had died from natural causes, the rictus grin aside. Phillipe Over lunch, Ella asked Maria about the explained about the tragedy in the Opera welt on Angel's cheek. Maria said that House and said he just wanted to rule out Angel did not have a welt as she left that a connection. The Warden reluctantly morning, but she was in a hurry to leave agreed and Phillipe examined the body. the Opera House. Ella asked why and He concluded that the person had indeed Maria explained that someone had sent died from natural causes, but that grin Angel roses and she was heavily allergic was something wholly unnatural. to the blooms and had to leave. They caused her skin to develop a rash that After leaving Phillipe at the church, could turn into horrible welts. Sharuk continued on to his rendezvous with Angel. When he got there he found After his mind numbing conversations Angel wearing a long veil. When he sat with the chorus, Phillipe went to speak she lifted it, revealing a large welt on the to the barman. The barman revealed that side of her face. She said that Jean Pierre whilst he had never seen the so-called had struck her in anger when he heard ghost in the fifteen years he had worked her speaking to Maria about Sharuk. for the Opera House, the weirdest thing Filled with anger, Sharuk stormed to the he had seen was a strange, gangly Opera House. creature with silver hair behind the Opera House one night. He'd been Meanwhile, Ella and Featon where back drinking that night, but when he saw that at the Opera House. Ella went to speak creature he drank himself senseless. to Maria, who had no recollection of their conversation last night. Very Phillipe went to the back of the Opera rudely, she told Ella to leave her alone. House and searched the alleyway. There Persevering, Ella invited Maria to lunch. he found a footprint that was elongated Maria agreed and said she would like to and had claws on the toes. He took a dine at the Governor’s Hotel, the most drawing of the footprint and went to find expensive restaurant in Port-a-Lucine. Featon. The pair searched the alley for Ella agreed, after all the Museum had more clues, and Featon found markings said it would pay all expenses. on a nearby manhole that indicated it had been moved in the last few days. Phillipe arrived and started to interview the chorus. They turned out to be the They opened the manhole and entered. most vapid, self absorbed people he had In the sewers, they found that the wall to ever met. One continuous string in their the Opera House's basement had bricks conversations about unusual sightings loosened so they could be pulled out. was that some said they had seen a silver They followed the sewer, which was fox around the Opera House. As Phillipe straight and all connecting passages where either blocked or had large grates Richten's book. Seeing as Angel was the over them. After around 100 feet, the only non-human employed by the Opera tunnel widened into a small room carved House, they could rule out dwarven or from the rock. Posters covered the halfling werecreatures. room's walls, all from the Opera House, all with the faces they displayed torn The three came to the conclusion that away. Featon read the name on the Angel was a werebeast. Through more bottom of them all; "Maria Diosa." research, they found that there was a There was a table in the room. On the type of werecreature called a werefox, a table was a sheet of parchment and a rare lycanthrope that only affects human, book. On the parchment was written elven or half-elven women. They came "HATEHATEHATEHATEHATE! to the further conclusion that Angel was KILL THE BITCH! I AM THE one of these werefoxes. Phillipe read the GREATER!" Searching the room, book they found, which turned out to be Featon found a blood-stained silver a diary. In it, Angel admitted to being a dagger. werefox. It chronicled her life from childhood until recently. For that day’s Phillipe grabbed the book. As he turned entry, it read "Tonight, Maria Diosa towards the entrance to the tunnel, the dies." pair heard something fall. It could have been water, or pebbles being dislodged The three tried to wake Sharuk, who was from the tunnel. They looked at each unconscious with drink. Leaving the other, wary over the noise. It came dwarf, the three headed to the Opera again, louder and closer. The pair House. The place was deserted. Back at stepped back in fear. Suddenly, a rat ran the museum, Sharuk felt someone from the tunnel. As it ran past Phillipe, shaking him. He awoke to find Angel he swung at it with his cane in standing over him, looking scared. She frustration. The pair left the tunnel and begged him to hide her in the museum, returned to the museum. Meanwhile, that his friends where planning to kill Sharuk had found Jean Pierre. The pair her. He agreed to hide her, secreting her went to a secluded box and Sharuk in the Akiri Exhibition. confronted the Tenor about Angel. Jean Pierre denied striking Angel, and Sharuk Ella, Featon and Phillipe returned from could tell he was telling the truth. the Opera House. They woke the dwarf, who had fallen asleep again, and asked Eventually, when they had all met back him if he knew where Angel was. He up at the Museum, Ella, Featon and lied and said he didn't, but the group Phillipe used the Museum's library to could see through it. Phillip said that research the beast. Sharuk got blind Angel was a werecreature and Sharuk drunk. After a few hours search, Phillipe refused to believe him, the pair argued found a text entitled Van Richten's Guide and Sharuk drew his pistol and shot to Werebeasts. Using the sample Phillipe. The noise woke Pierre Marcel footprints from the back, he identified who came to the group's quarters. Ella the creature as some sort of werewolf. mouthed to him to get the gendarme and Ella pointed out that the foot print was Marcel fled. Ella then spoke to Sharuk smaller than the sample in Dr. Van and convinced him to lower his gun. When Marcel returned with the monstrous combination of woman and gendarme and the Museum's resident fox stood behind her. Angel's fingers Ezran Anchorite, Ella had showed where long and slender, her skin was Sharuk the evidence against Angel. taught on her bones. A bushy tail Sharuk agreed and asked to have the twitched from behind her. Ella feebly silver dagger. The priest healed Phillipe brought her sword up to attack, but her and Marcel asked if the wizard wanted unenchanted blade had no effect on the to press charges. He declined. werefox. Angel sang a brief aria and a bright light blinded the halfling. Just then a song filled the museum, the same song that Maria Diosa had sang the On stage, the three men where shocked night before, her solo from the new when the door Ella had just stepped opera. Sharuk took the group to where through burst open and the halfling was he had hidden Angel, but all that was thrown out. Four long, grey fingers there was her dress. All came to the grasped the door frame and the spindly same conclusion: she was at the Opera form of Angel Pajaro stepped through House. the door. Sharuk recoiled in horror at the sight of the woman he loved twisted into They ran to the stables and got on their this form. Angel dived on the halfling horses and rode as fast as they could to and took a bite from her neck. Featon the Opera House. When they arrived unslung his shortbow and fired an arrow they saw that the front doors had been at Angel. It stuck in her shoulder, but she broken down. Cautiously, they entered. pulled it out and snapped it, the wound Leaning against the ticket office was closing almost immediately. Sharuk Ricardo Diosa. He had a gaping wound attacked with the silver dagger Featon in his chest and was struggling to breath. had found and stuck the monster in the Ella immediately helped him. The rest ribs. Angel roared in anger, but a magic ran into the auditorium. As soon as they missile from Phillipe knocked her back. set foot in the room the same song She dived on Sharuk and tried to bite started to be sung. Slowly, the curtains him, but missed and her jaws snapped opened. Hanging from the ceiling by a shut inches from his head. rope was Maria Diosa. Ella joined the rest of the party. Featon unleashed another arrow at Angel. His aim was true, and the arrow Cautiously, they went to the stage. stuck in the werefoxes shoulder. Phillipe Sharuk gently lowered Maria to the followed with an acid splash spell, but stage. As soon as she touched the his aim was off. Ella thrust out with her boards, the singing stopped. Phillipe longsword, but missed the creature. searched the orchestra pit, Featon the Angel looked in a great deal of pain. Her opposite side of the stage to Sharuk and body contorted and she changed into the Ella opened the door to the stairs to the form of a silver fox and bolted for the attic. When she started to climb the stairs door. Before she reached safety, Sharuk a voice behind her snarled, "You've threw the silver dagger at her. It struck ruined everything." the fox in the back. It fell to the floor and started to convulse. In matter of She turned and saw a hideous sight. A second, the body of Angel Pajaro was lying on the floor, dead. piece. The beggar ran off and soon returned with an anchorite who preached Quickly, the party recovered their from the top of a box at the docks. The senses. They checked out Maria, only to anchorite said he'd take care of Ricardo find a large bite on her shoulder, a bite and Maria. Before they left, Ricardo like that of a fox. Ella immediately gave them the Rokuma vase they had argued that she could possibly be come for in the first place and told them uninfected, but Sharuk said that the best they had his thanks. thing to do would be to kill her now and spare the world from another They burnt the body of Angel Pajaro, werecreature. As he said this, he felt a giving her an Ezran funeral. chill on his spine, like an icy draft was running up and down his back. He felt When they returned to the Museum, like some dark lover had pulled him into Pierre Marcel was ecstatic with the vase. her embrace and was whispering dark He told them he already had their next secrets in his ear. His face twisted into assignment. The Marquis Stezan an unpleasant snarl, and he suddenly d'Polarno from the isle of Ghastria had knew how to cause cuts to appear on a offered to sell a painting to the Museum person's flesh with a touch. and they had to go and collect it. He told the party they could leave when healed, Phillipe went out into the street and told and they agreed. a beggar to fetch a doctor for a silver

DM’s Notes

where those he could trust already The Group: available.

Ella Pipeleaf: Halfling Paladin of the I'm bored of taverns. Morninglord. Her family, originally from Tepest, moved to Mordent when The First Item: Ella was ten. They moved hurriedly in the middle of the night, Ella does not The first artefact Marcel had the team know why. Ella received her calling recover was a priceless Rokuma Vase, from the Barovia deity when she was being donated by Ricardo Diosa, the young. Being so far away from the owner of the Port-a-Lucine Opera church has stunted Ella's growth as a House. The party are to go to the Opera paladin. House and collect the vase after the opening night of "Carmina," a new I have plans for Ella. Her flight from Opera to be performed for the first time Tepest just after the Grand Conjunction. ever that night The anti-fey sentiment was growing, and her father was threatened by a drunken I decided to start with this adventure for human teenager. Her father fought back two reasons: 1) Because the Opera and accidentally killed the boy. Instead setting would help show the differences of staying to face certain death, he and between Ravenloft and other worlds and his wife decided to flee to Mordent. 2) I think Angel is a good example of They settled in Tumbletown. Ella knows how you can't take everything at face nothing of her father's crime. value.

I don't know what I'm going to do with A Night at the Opera Featon, Sharuk and Phillipe yet. The party where gathered in their new The Setting: headquarters in the Museum, a room specially equipped for them, with their Le Musee National de Dementlieu has own separate bedrooms available. The recently set up an Acquisitions party where expected to live in the Department. The Curator, the relatively Museum permanently now. As they got young Pierre Marcel, thought that by to know one another, after only having a having his own band of professionals to passing familiarity with the other retrieve artefacts from the Core and employees from different departments, Islands was safer than hiring out to third Pierre Marcel came into the room and party companies, such as the Red Vardo gave them their assignment. Traders. All except Featon where already employed by the museum in the I got this idea from the League of various departments, Marcel did not Extraordinary Gentlemen. A group of want to hire new people when there skilled individuals working for a museum? Too good to pass up. thought he knew loads about Ravenloft They agreed and set off for the Opera, (i.e. He's read Domains of Dread, the with the correct attire supplied by the Ravenloft Player's Handbook and the Museum and Featon dressed as a Ravenloft DMG) and I slipped Dominic servant. When they stepped from their in to scare him. Sue me, I like cheap carriage, they noticed a smartly dressed, scares. portly man and an equally eloquently dressed lady crossing the road. An out- Also note the corpse found. Toben's not of-control carriage was hurtling towards going to appear for a while, but I want to them. Phillipe and Sharuk ran towards sew the seeds for his appearance now. the couple, shouting warning. The dwarf This corpse is a body of his he's pushed the man to safety and Phillipe discarded. swept the woman off her feet to safety. The man introduced himself as Ricardo The opera started, it was enjoyable and Diosa, owner of the Opera House, the funny in parts. Just before the interval girl his daughter Maria. Maria haughtily Maria stepped forward for her solo. She excused herself and left to get ready, began to sing. Her voice was beautiful. Phillipe escorting her into the building. Suddenly, all lights in the auditorium extinguished and a loud, booming voice Slightly modified from the adventure in called "People of Port-a-Lucine, mark CotN: Werebeasts, but I needed to my words. For as long as Maria Diosa introduce the party to Ricardo and Maria continues to profane this stage with her and place Ricardo in the party's debt. pitiful performances, the opera house will be a place of death! You have heard Whilst mingling in the foyer, they my words of doom; now learn them to noticed several notable members of be true!" society. Celeste d'Honaire and her cousin Dominic had come to see the The song I used was "L'Amour Est Un Opera, as had Lord Balfour of the Oiseau Rebelle" from Bizet's Carmen. University of Dementlieu. Whilst It's my favourite piece of Opera. mingling, Phillipe overheard people discussing a body that had been found When the lights returned, Maria was near to Sharuk's home of le Rue des les crying on the stage, a blonde, beautiful Pistolets. Apparently, one operagoer elven woman trying to comfort her. said, the body's face was twisted into a Featon noticed that the chandelier above hideous grin and the eyes where bulging the auditorium was shaking; Ella noticed to the point of popping out of the that the rope had started to fray. They sockets. Ella began to grow annoyed at watched as with each swing, the the number of people mistaking her for a chandelier fell lower and lower. Bravely, little girl. Sharuk and Ella poised themselves at the edge of the box to jump at the Before I get "A Darklord? At first chandelier. Featon and Phillipe started level?" Dominic is there only to show shouting at the people below to move, that the advisor to the Council of screaming that the chandelier was Brilliance has an interest in opera. And falling. Ella and Sharuk both leapt, but there was someone in the party who Sharuk misjudged his jump. He fell thirty feet to the ground below. Ella there were rumours of a ghost that landed on the chandelier. Using her, inhabited the Opera House. He said that admittedly slight, weight, she forced the it had only become a malevolent spirit in chandelier to swing into a corner as it the last few months. Before he could fell. As it passed under the balcony, Ella continue the stagehand returned and leapt and caught the edge. The asked Ricardo to follow him. Featon and chandelier fell to the ground with an Phillipe waited by the chandelier, almighty smash. examining for more clues.

I wouldn't have allowed this plan, What broke the rope? Angel. She normally. But the image of a halfling in chewed through it in fox form, hence the an opera gown jumping onto a swinging silver hair Ella finds later. chandelier was too good to pass up. Ella made a jump check and got a result of 21, so I allowed it. Sharuk got 7, so he Maria was inconsolable. Ella tried to fell 30 feet and took 8 points of damage calm her down with Angel's help, but from the fall (I rolled a 2, 5 and 1). she soon realised that the diva was simply playing for sympathy. A Fortunately, Maria had been pulled to stagehand appeared and asked her to safety by her friend, the elven woman follow them; she was taken backstage and no one on stage was injured. Phillipe where Featon and Phillipe had been helped Ella to safety whilst Featon saw called too. Ricardo was sitting on a to the dwarf. After gathering in the bar chair, his face white. When questioned, area of the Opera House, the patrons he gestured to the flies. All looked up. leave, leaving the party and the rest of Hanging, cloaked in shadow was a body. the cast. Ricardo tells the party that the All looked shaken, but Ella couldn't keep elven woman is named Angel Pajaro. her calm. She excused herself, saying that she wanted to check the chandelier's One aspect I was keen to play up is that fixing in the rafters. Featon's sharp elven everyone LOVED Angel, not only the sight noticed some grooves on the floor. men, but the women considered her a Five scratches on a diagonal slope where good and true friend. marked into the floor, each was the same length. Phillipe asked Ricardo who had Phillipe went to the fallen chandelier been with the Opera House the longest with Featon whilst Sharuk had a whiskey and the shortest, he said that some to sooth his pain. Ella tried to talk to people had been there for years, but Maria and Angel. Angel had only been there for six months. At the fallen chandelier, Phillipe examined the rope. He could tell it had Ella failed a horror check here at the not been cut, but the break did not look sight of the corpse. Her player rolled like wear and tear. He asked to speak to aversion and she wanted to get out of the person who was in charge of raising there quickly. Angel hung Henri. She and lowering the chandelier. A threw the rope over his head and stagehand rushed backstage. As the dislodged a sandbag so he was strung up. stagehand left, Ricardo explained that The silk and the greasepaint where red herrings, the silk was a rag Henri used as playing him, especially when Ella asked a handkerchief and the greasepaint he for his autograph! found and was going to return to the makeup room. The grooves on the floor In the chorus girl's dormitories, Phillipe where from Angel's hybrid form's claws was accosted by Madame Flaubert, the marking the wood. I know werefoxes chorus mistress. She shouted at him for have the pass without trace ability, but being in a place he shouldn't and she was struggling. informed him that if he wanted to question the chorus girls, he had better In the rafters, Ella found some silver hair come back in the morning. When the caught in the rope that held the party had re-gathered in the foyer, they chandelier. On the body, which was went back to the museum to gather their identified as Henri, the man in charge of thoughts. Before she left, Ella went to the chandeliers was found a tub of check on Maria, who had retired to her greasepaint and a piece of white silk. room earlier, aided by Angel. She Quickly pocketing these clues, with out knocked on the door, asking if there was really examining them, Phillipe left to anything she could do. Maria replied no, talk to Maria. In the bar he called Sharuk though she sounded strange to Ella. Ella over. They decided that the dwarf should asked if she could meet with Maria the speak to Angel alone. next day. Maria agreed and Ella bid her goodbye and left. Just as she got to the As Phillipe tried to get some sense out of top of the stairs she heard a door open Maria, Angel spoke quietly with Sharuk. and close. Turning back she saw that With a coy glance here and a flirtatious Maria's door was not closed tightly as it smile there, he was ensnared by her was a minute ago. Assuming that Maria beauty. Ella returned to the party and had left to see to personal business, Ella they all gathered in the bar. Phillipe went back to the party. They returned to decided that he had better speak to the the museum for the night. chorus whilst Featon and Ella went to speak with the lead Tenor, Jean Pierre I knew something was going right when Cambier. Cambier, being the arrogant out of game, Phillipe's player said he'd man he is, assumed that they where fans put money on the "ghost" being the that wanted to check on his wellbeing Chorus mistress. Who was Ella after the accident. He offered them speaking to? Angel. I made Angel make autographs and smiles. Learning that the a bluff role to speak like Maria and Ella preening peacock had little to offer their make a Sense Motive role against investigation, Ella and Featon bid him Angel's bluff. Ella failed and believed goodbye. Angel to be Maria. The noise she heard was Angel slipping out of Maria's room. Sharuk failed a will save and fell under If she'd gone inside, she'd have found Angel's non-magical charm. Phillipe Maria asleep in the bed. Angel was tried to see if a spell had been cast on the going to murder her, but Ella interrupted. dwarf, but naturally found nothing. I played Maria as every bit the diva, In the morning at breakfast, Sharuk playing for sympathy. Cambier was a received a letter from Angel, asking him bore and an arrogant fop. I enjoyed to meet her at a secluded cafe. Phillipe left with him to visit the Anchorites in party as a threat. Her charming of Ste. Mere des Larmes. He wished to Sharuk paid off when she made him examine the body found near the Rue think Jean Pierre had struck her. In des les Pistolets. The Warden allowed reality, she had struck her self with a him, but was confused. He told Phillipe silver-handled brush. that the person had died from natural causes, the rictus grin aside. Phillipe Meanwhile, Ella and Featon where back explained about the tragedy in the Opera at the Opera House. Ella went to speak House and said he just wanted to rule out to Maria, who had no recollection of a connection. The Warden reluctantly their conversation last night. Very agreed and Phillipe examined the body. rudely, she told Ella to leave her alone. He concluded that the person had indeed Persevering, Ella invited Maria to lunch. died from natural causes, but that grin Maria agreed and said she would like to was something wholly unnatural. dine at the Governor’s Hotel, the most expensive restaurant in Port-a-Lucine. When he picked the letter up I said that Ella agreed, after all the Museum had the envelope was scented, but before I said it would pay all expenses. said of what someone said "Roses!" I smiled and said, "Surprisingly not. It The expression of Ella's player's face smells of violets." I decided that Angel was priceless. He was genuinely would have the chemical bane of Rose confused. petals, because she was a diva and all divas are given bunches of roses after a Phillipe arrived and started to interview successful performance. the chorus. They turned out to be the most vapid, self absorbed people he had Phillipe going to inspect the body of the ever met. One continuous string in their Toben zombie came as a surprise to me, conversations about unusual sightings but it allowed me to show a Toben was that some said they had seen a silver zombie up close. The grin had subsided fox around the Opera House. As Phillipe a bit by this point, so no fear/horror was speaking to the chorus, Sharuk check was needed. arrived at the Opera House, demanding to see Jean Pierre. Ella asked him what After leaving Phillipe at the church, was wrong and he said that Jean Pierre Sharuk continued on to his rendezvous had struck Angel. He told them about the with Angel. When he got there he found welt on Angel's cheek. Angel wearing a long veil. When he sat she lifted it, revealing a large welt on the Here's where Angel's plan begins to fall. side of her face. She said that Jean Pierre I decided she hadn't been as careful as had struck her in anger when he heard she could have been in her movements her speaking to Maria about Sharuk. and people had glimpsed her in fox Filled with anger, Sharuk stormed to the form. Opera House. Over lunch, Ella asked Maria about the Because of their sniffing around the welt on Angel's cheek. Maria said that previous night, and them foiling her Angel did not have a welt as she left that attempt to murder Maria, Angel saw the morning, but she was in a hurry to leave the Opera House. Ella asked why and Maria explained that someone had sent They opened the manhole and entered. Angel roses and she was heavily allergic In the sewers, they found that the wall to to the blooms and had to leave. They the Opera House's basement had bricks caused her skin to develop a rash that loosened so they could be pulled out. could turn into horrible welts. They followed the sewer, which was straight and all connecting passages I didn't really know how to let the party where either blocked or had large grates know Angel's chemical bane, but when over them. After around 100 feet, the Ella asked why Angel had left early, it tunnel widened into a small room carved came to me- someone sent her roses was from the rock. Posters covered the her excuse. Angel would have had to tell room's walls, all from the Opera House, everyone she had an allergy to roses, all with the faces they displayed torn what with the tradition towards divas. away. Featon read the name on the bottom of them all; "Maria Diosa." After his mind numbing conversations There was a table in the room. On the with the chorus, Phillipe went to speak table was a sheet of parchment and a to the barman. The barman revealed that book. On the parchment was written whilst he had never seen the so-called "HATEHATEHATEHATEHATE! ghost in the fifteen years he had worked KILL THE BITCH! I AM THE for the Opera House, the weirdest thing GREATER!" Searching the room, he had seen was a strange, gangly Featon found a blood-stained silver creature with silver hair behind the dagger. Opera House one night. He'd been drinking that night, but when he saw that I never liked how the adventure ended in creature he drank himself senseless. CotN: Werebeasts. It seemed more, more operatic to me to have it end on This was throwing them a bone, a rather the stage. But I used the cavern as large bone at that. They hadn't a clue Angel's secret base. The blood on the until this point that they where dealing dagger was Angel's creators. with a lycanthrope. Phillipe grabbed the book. As he turned Phillipe went to the back of the Opera towards the entrance to the tunnel, the House and searched the alleyway. There pair heard something fall. It could have he found a footprint that was elongated been water, or pebbles being dislodged and had claws on the toes. He took a from the tunnel. They looked at each drawing of the footprint and went to find other, wary over the noise. It came Featon. The pair searched the alley for again, louder and closer. The pair more clues, and Featon found markings stepped back in fear. Suddenly, a rat ran on a nearby manhole that indicated it from the tunnel. As it ran past Phillipe, had been moved in the last few days. he swung at it with his cane in frustration. The pair left the tunnel and They compared the footprint to the returned to the museum. Meanwhile, strange marks inside and guess what? Sharuk had found Jean Pierre. The pair The claws on the foot matched up went to a secluded box and Sharuk exactly to the claw marks on the floor. confronted the Tenor about Angel. Jean Pierre denied striking Angel, and Sharuk werefox. It chronicled her life from could tell he was telling the truth. childhood until recently. For that day’s entry, it read "Tonight, Maria Diosa The rat was a great scene. The players dies." panicked, thinking Angel had returned, they had nowhere to go, no way to During this scene, I couldn't help but protect themselves and when the rat ran think "Don't you wish you'd read the in they didn't know what to do. diary before the 5 hours of research?" Fantastic. The three tried to wake Sharuk, who was Sharuk passed a Sense Motive check unconscious with drink. Leaving the with Jean Pierre (DC 15) and was torn. dwarf, the three headed to the Opera Jean Pierre was telling the truth, but why House. The place was deserted. Back at would Angel lie? The dwarf was so the museum, Sharuk felt someone confused he did the only thing he could. shaking him. He awoke to find Angel He got drunk. standing over him, looking scared. She begged him to hide her in the museum, Eventually, when they had all met back that his friends where planning to kill up at the Museum, Ella, Featon and her. He agreed to hide her, secreting her Phillipe used the Museum's library to in the Akiri Exhibition. research the beast. Sharuk got blind drunk. After a few hours search, Phillipe I reasoned that Angel would know by found a text entitled Van Richten's Guide now that the PCs knew she was not a to Werebeasts. Using the sample natural creature. If the PCs thought she footprints from the back, he identified was in the museum however, they would the creature as some sort of werewolf. be busy searching there and she'd be free Ella pointed out that the foot print was to kill Maria. smaller than the sample in Dr. Van Richten's book. Seeing as Angel was the Ella, Featon and Phillipe returned from only non-human employed by the Opera the Opera House. They woke the dwarf, House, they could rule out dwarven or who had fallen asleep again, and asked halfling werecreatures. him if he knew where Angel was. He lied and said he didn't, but the group Unfortunately, I forgot to take my copy could see through it. Phillip said that of VRGtt Werebeasts. We live and learn. Angel was a werecreature and Sharuk refused to believe him, the pair argued The three came to the conclusion that and Sharuk drew his pistol and shot Angel was a werebeast. Through more Phillipe. The noise woke Pierre Marcel research, they found that there was a who came to the group's quarters. Ella type of werecreature called a werefox, a mouthed to him to get the gendarme and rare lycanthrope that only affects human, Marcel fled. Ella then spoke to Sharuk elven or half-elven women. They came and convinced him to lower his gun. to the further conclusion that Angel was When Marcel returned with the one of these werefoxes. Phillipe read the gendarme and the Museum's resident book they found, which turned out to be Ezran Anchorite, Ella had showed a diary. In it, Angel admitted to being a Sharuk the evidence against Angel. Sharuk agreed and asked to have the Ricardo Diosa. He had a gaping wound silver dagger. The priest healed Phillipe in his chest and was struggling to breath. and Marcel asked if the wizard wanted Ella immediately helped him. The rest to press charges. He declined. ran into the auditorium. As soon as they set foot in the room the same song Phillipe was reduced to -4 hp. The scene started to be sung. Slowly, the curtains actually played out quite well. It also opened. Hanging from the ceiling by a helped stall the search for Angel, rope was Maria Diosa. Ella joined the allowing her more time to get to the rest of the party. Opera House. On the way, she stopped at the Diosa's and told them something I was worried I was over-using Carmen, was in the Opera House, hence their but I was assured I wasn't. More DM appearance in the last scene. trickery as the curtains opened of their own accord. Just then a song filled the museum, the same song that Maria Diosa had sang the Cautiously, they went to the stage. night before, her solo from the new Sharuk gently lowered Maria to the opera. Sharuk took the group to where stage. As soon as she touched the he had hidden Angel, but all that was boards, the singing stopped. Phillipe there was her dress. All came to the searched the orchestra pit, Featon the same conclusion: she was at the Opera opposite side of the stage to Sharuk and House. Ella opened the door to the stairs to the attic. When she started to climb the stairs The players where all arguing about a voice behind her snarled, "You've Angel. I said nothing and just pressed ruined everything." play on the CD player. It took them a moment to notice the music was playing She turned and saw a hideous sight. A and Featon's player said, "That's just monstrous combination of woman and creepy." fox stood behind her. Angel's fingers where long and slender, her skin was The music seemed as though it was taught on her bones. A bushy tail coming from everywhere. I went for twitched from behind her. Ella feebly story over rules here and allowed brought her sword up to attack, but her Angel's Ghost Sound to go off late. She unenchanted blade had no effect on the had a magic item that the PCs never werefox. Angel sang a brief aria and a found, a small music box that turned an bright light blinded the halfling. entire building into a speaker; it could only play the song programmed into it at On stage, the three men where shocked the time of creation. when the door Ella had just stepped through burst open and the halfling was They ran to the stables and got on their thrown out. Four long, grey fingers horses and rode as fast as they could to grasped the door frame and the spindly the Opera House. When they arrived form of Angel Pajaro stepped through they saw that the front doors had been the door. Sharuk recoiled in horror at the broken down. Cautiously, they entered. sight of the woman he loved twisted into Leaning against the ticket office was this form. Angel dived on the halfling and took a bite from her neck. Featon chill on his spine, like an icy draft was unslung his shortbow and fired an arrow running up and down his back. He felt at Angel. It stuck in her shoulder, but she like some dark lover had pulled him into pulled it out and snapped it, the wound her embrace and was whispering dark closing almost immediately. Sharuk secrets in his ear. His face twisted into attacked with the silver dagger Featon an unpleasant snarl, and he suddenly had found and stuck the monster in the knew how to cause cuts to appear on a ribs. Angel roared in anger, but a magic person's flesh with a touch. missile from Phillipe knocked her back. She dived on Sharuk and tried to bite I really didn't want the PCs to fail a him, but missed and her jaws snapped powers check this early, but before I shut inches from his head. started, I decided that I would go with the dice, no fudging. Because of his Featon unleashed another arrow at suggestion to kill Maria, I gave Sharuk a Angel. His aim was true, and the arrow 4% chance of failure. I rolled 1%. His stuck in the werefoxes shoulder. Phillipe ability is that he can now cast cause followed with an acid splash spell, but minor wounds 3/day, but his OR has his aim was off. Ella thrust out with her permanently increased by 1. Is Maria longsword, but missed the creature. infected? Well, I'm not sure yet. It Angel looked in a great deal of pain. Her depends how often she appears in the body contorted and she changed into the campaign. form of a silver fox and bolted for the door. Before she reached safety, Sharuk Phillipe went out into the street and told threw the silver dagger at her. It struck a beggar to fetch a doctor for a silver the fox in the back. It fell to the floor piece. The beggar ran off and soon and started to convulse. In matter of returned with an anchorite who preached second, the body of Angel Pajaro was from the top of a box at the docks. The lying on the floor, dead. anchorite said he'd take care of Ricardo and Maria. Before they left, Ricardo Angel was CR4; she should have been a gave them the Rokuma vase they had challenge. Though the fight was fun, I come for in the first place and told them felt it was too short. Lucky dice roles they had his thanks. helped the PCs here, especially Featon's critical sneak-attack that did a total of 25 They burnt the body of Angel Pajaro, points of damage, 10 because of Angel's giving her an Ezran funeral. DR. And all was happy in the land of the Quickly, the party recovered their Sprites. I thought the adventure went senses. They checked out Maria, only to really well, allot better than I was find a large bite on her shoulder, a bite expecting. I was pleased with how things like that of a fox. Ella immediately turned out. argued that she could possibly be uninfected, but Sharuk said that the best When they returned to the Museum, thing to do would be to kill her now and Pierre Marcel was ecstatic with the vase. spare the world from another He told them he already had their next werecreature. As he said this, he felt a assignment. The Marquis Stezan d'Polarno from the isle of Ghastria had offered to sell a painting to the Museum and they had to go and collect it. He told the party they could leave when healed, and they agreed.

So what next for our band of heroes?

Well, I don't want to spoil anything, but the ship the museum has chartered is called the Sunset Empires...

Angel Pajaro Female Elf Infected Werefox Exp2/Brd1; CR4, Size M Humanoid (elf) (5ft 7 in); HD 2d6+1d6+1d10 21hp; Init +7 (+11 in Hybrid or Animal); Spd 30ft (60ft in Hybrid or Animal); AC 13 (17 in Hybrid or Animal) (flat footed 10, touch 10) Atk +1, +3 dagger (1d4 +1) +2 dagger (1d4 in Hybrid) +8 bite (1d4); SQ Alternate form, chemical bane (rose petals), DR 15/silver, elf traits, pristine, scent, pass without trace (hybrid or animal) SA Spells, Bewitching gaze, curse of lycanthropy (hybrid or animal); SR - :AL NE; SV Fort +2, Ref +5 (+9 in animal or hybrid), Will +4; Str 14 (12 in hybrid or animal), Dex 17 (25 in hybrid or animal), Con 14, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 20

Skills and feats Bluff +11, Concentration +7, Disguise +12, Forgery +9, Listen +6, Knowledge (Opera) +8, Perform (Opera Singer) +14, Spot +6, Survival +5, Deceitful, Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Perform), Weapon Finesse (bite)

Spells/day (4) DC 15 Spells Known: 0th: Flare, Ghost Sound, Prestidigitation, Open/Close

Log 2

Neither Man nor Beast I

captain, deep in his cups, told them they The Requisitioners rested for three needed to speak to his first mate, Mr weeks after the incident with Angel Monterery. He was at the dock, Pajaro as Marcel negotiated a price with supervising the loading of provisions the Marquis d'Polarno for the painting. onto the Sunset Empires. Mr Monterery, When a price had been agreed, Pierre a caliban with a hunched-back and Marcel went to the group. When he twisted arm, told the party that the ship entered their private quarters, Ella was going to leave at daybreak the next noticed he had been crying. Inquiring day. They would wait for the heroes, but why, Pierre told her that he had found only until midday. his wife's favourite scarf that morning, whilst going though some personal The heroes thanked the caliban and left, things. An uncomfortable silence fell on heading back to the museum. When they the room. arrive, Pierre shows them the chest containing the golden solars they will Pulling himself together, Pierre informed need, all 500 of them. The chest is plated the group that he had chartered the ship in steel and has an odd lock. It doesn't the Sunset Empires to take the require a key, just the cylinders twisted Requisitioners to Ghastria. He told them to the right order. Pierre says it is a new that they should contact Captain Stewart invention from the gnomes of Mayvin, before the voyage. The Captain could be called a combination lock. The found at The Mutinied Sailor at the Requisitioners take the chest to their docks. When everything was settled, common room and go to bed. they should then come to Pierre's office to collect the money for the painting. Before dawn, when it is still dark, they set out to the docks. Mr Monterery is The party left the museum immediately waiting by the gangplank. He tells them and set off for tavern. When they got that the captain said they are late and there they noticed that the sign was a that they very nearly left with out them. hanging man, though they couldn't tell if The chest is loaded aboard and the ship it was real or not. When they entered the sets sail. The Requisitioners saw a big tavern, the stench of the place hit them cage holding a panther on the deck. Mr hard. A combination of stale ale, piss, Monterery shrugged and simply said it excrement and sweat washed over them. was the captain's pet. Ella asked a redheaded barmaid if she could tell them where the Captain was. A day into the journey and the ship hits dead calm. The crew are served a weak The woman gestured to a corner, where stew by the cook, Old Singe, who gives a man was singing sea shanties. Ella, the heroes some extra, with a sly wink. Sharuk and Featon (Phillipe stayed at the The cook, a portly man with one leg, museum) went over to speak. The tells the party stories of old sailors he'd met, like "Captain Hawkins, a good man, through the rain. The ship was heading strong and true. We found a fortune and for a collision with the Sunset Empires, he said he'd split it between us. but passed by silently. The elf caught the Unfortunately, we got trapped in the name Relentless on the side, just as the waters of Sargass. The cap'n refused to ship faded to nothing. give up his treasure, and some of the lads, meself included, took the long boat Just when things couldn't get worse, a and took our chances in the Mists. Never large, translucent tentacle smashed down heard from Cap'n Hawkins again. on the deck, pinning a sailor to the floor. Shame, good man that." Another one wrapped around the other side of the ship, cracking the wood. The On the second day, one sailor, an old creature was breaking the ship! Ella dog named Shanty sang a song about a attacked with the guisarme, and sliced at sailor and his love, and a promise from the translucent flesh. Sharuk shot the beyond the grave. Ella shook at the song, creature, but missed. her hatred of undead not known to the singer. Another tentacle slammed onto the deck, breaking the ship in half. The On the third day of sailing, dolphins Requisitioners sank, feeling themselves started to jump and play in the foam at drown. The corpse of the captain floated the side of the moving ship. Mr passed, and they knew they where going Monterery manned the bastilla and fired to die. As the light dimmed, a human at the dolphins with a blank, emotionless face appeared before them, smiling face at the dolphins. When Featon asked beatifically. Then all went black. him why, the first mate simply replied, "Why not?" When they awoke, they where on the beach of a tropical island. After three shots, the first mate stopped firing. Shanty looked edgy, saying that When everyone awoke, there was much dolphins are a good omen and Mr confusion. Ella quickly checked who'd Monterery is playing with fire shooting survived, roughly half the crew minus at them. The mood amongst the crew as Captain Stewart and Mr Monterery and they bunked down was one of unease. the only other passenger, a woman who Storm clouds started to gather on the they had had little contact with. horizon. Ella looked inward to see if the future would be pleasant and saw an Sharuk was more concerned with his gun image of an overcast sunrise. Feeling and his gunpowder than helping Ella uneasy, she fell asleep. with the survivors or Featon go through the wreckage. Featon found the cage that On the fourth day, the storm broke. The held the panther, though no trace of the party where below decks, but felt the animal could be found. Ella and Featon rocking of the ship. Water started to seep tended to the wounded, Featon even through the boards, showing that the finding Old Singe a new crutch to ship hadn't been tarred properly. They replace the one he lost in the wreck. As hurried on deck. Through the blinding the survivors bedded down for the night, rain, Featon thought he saw another ship the jungle fell silent. A hard-rendering scream split the air. The scream sent The doors to the manor opened and the shivers down the survivors’ necks. party where greeted by a short, Warily, the group bunked down for the incredibly ugly man. The man's nose night. was more like a snout and his ears where far too high on his bald head. He snorted In the morning, Sharuk and Ella decided to the party and lead them into Dr Fran's they needed to explore the jungle, whilst manor where they where greeted by the Featon looked for food for the group. As Doctor himself. He showed Sharuk to Featon found bananas and coconuts, Ella the guest rooms where they left the and Sharuk went deeper into the jungle. unconscious woman. He showed them to A rustling sound caught their attention his library telling them to, "Look and suddenly a bear-like creature with around! No need to stand on ceremony, ram horns charged towards them. Sharuk eh?" fired his gun and missed the creature whilst Ella stabbed with her sword. Dr Fran excused himself to check on the Before the creature could attack, a voice meal, leaving the party to flick through called, "Mitzy! Down!" his library. Featon found a metal skull on top of a pile of papers. He gave it a A large man came blundering out of the curious prod and it spluttered to life. jungle behind the bear-thing. He rubbed "The outer-planar city of Sigil is found its head in a friendly manner and it atop of the Spire and is ruled by bounded back off into the woods. He Razzapoltiolosadafz," the thing introduced himself as Dr Fran and told sputtered. them that he was sorry to hear about their accident. Suddenly he turned and Cautiously, he prodded it again. disappeared into the jungle once more. "Baatezu come from the plane of Baator After a few moments he reappeared and are weak against clorpai, nevariz holding a basket of fruit and nuts. He and xporjoo." told them it was a beach-warming present. He invited them to his house, Featon touched the thing a third time. but Ella said she had to get back to the This time its eyes glowed red and a survivors. Sharuk went with Dr Fran. different voice whispered, "Beware the Whilst at the manor, Fran gave Sharuk a one who leads." map of the island, saying that he would be honoured if they would join him for The elf backed away from the dinner. He pointed out where the Sunset contraption. Sharuk looked though a Empires' wreck had grounded. book on dwarven anatomy, noting the crossings out of pictures and words such Sharuk agreed and went back to the as "rot!" and "Completely wrong!" in the beach. He told Ella and Featon about margin. Ella found a map labelled, "Map what happened, so they and Phillipe of the Known World." She knew the carried the injured woman to Dr Fran's map was not of the Core, but she didn't house to talk to the Doctor, leaving Old know where it was from. Singe in charge at the beach. After a while, Dr Fran came to collect them. As they sat and enjoyed their meal, they quizzed Dr Fran on the island sound. After a moment's silence, a and he in turn quizzed them. He was basket was lowered from above the cliff. eager to hear about the Museum. He told them the island had no name, though he Cautiously, the party clambered aboard was thinking of naming it after himself, the basket. After a moment, the basket "France sounds good." started to rise. Near the top of the cliff, the basket stopped suddenly. After a After the meal, Dr Fran told the heroes moment, it continued its ascent of the about the plight of the natives. He cliff. When it reached the top, the party showed them on the map a monastery found themselves on a balcony that he thought held the key to the overlooking the island, which was plague which was causing "Men to attached to a hut of some kind. They revert to the form of beasts and visa went through a door into the hut and saw versa." He claimed he was trying to stop a strange device which they deduced and even reverse the process. Orson, the raised and lowered the basked. Featon pig-man, was one of his best successes. noticed footprints in the heavy dust. The He claimed the monks had something party followed the footprints into a small called The Table of Life, which was the library. Ella looked at the titles of some cause of the disease. If the heroes of the books, "The Key to the Abyss," retrieved it for him, then he could study was the title of one. She deduced from the table and use its powers to help the these titles that Fran was right, these beastmen. monks where evil. Sharuk saw one book, entitled "The History of Markovia," but The heroes agreed to investigate the pocketed it with out reading it. monastery, leaving at first light. Dr Fran looked at the unconscious woman, Featon lost the footprints, here was bringing her around with smelling salts. cleaner than the lift room. Nimue She told them she was a witch of Hala guessed that the light in the room came named Nimue. She agreed to travel with from a continual light spell, as there the party, as they where trying to escape where no windows. They left the library the island. As they travelled towards the through a door which lead onto a dirt monastery, they where attacked by a courtyard. To their left they spotted a group of the islands animal-men that Dr large building, Featon said that that was Fran warned them about attacked. The where the Table was as it was the largest heroes fought valiantly and, though Ella building and where the monks would was knocked unconscious, they managed keep their sacred artefact. to fend off the attack. The rest agreed and they all went to the Hurrying, they reached the monastery. large building. They cautiously opened Finding nothing but a large, bronze tube the doors and saw a man kneeling before embedded into the base of a cliff, he an altar that had a large slab of dark group stood and wondered what to do. green marble with golden veins running Nimue tentatively banged on the tube, through it. The man didn't turn, but he creating a hollow ringing sound. She did say in a pleasant, Baritone voice, rapped on the tube again, harder. This "Please, take a seat. I will have finished time the tube let out a large booming my prayers in a moment." and the monk frowned. He led them to The group did as asked. After a few the library and to the shelf containing the moments, the man stood and walked multiple copies of "The History of towards them. He looked healthy and Markovia." He noted the missing copy wise, a childish twinkle in his eye belied and turned to the party. He smiled his playfulness and a spring in his step politely and told them to read from the made him seem younger than he actually book they had taken. was. He greeted each of the party and introduced himself as Brother Milhouse. Sharuk read aloud the tale of Frantisek He asked what their business was at the Markov. That's when the party realised monastery. They told him that they they'd been duped. Brother Milhouse where there for the Table of Life. He asked what they where going to do now. graciously told them that removing the They replied they didn't know. Table from the monastery was out of the question. Ella explained about Dr Fran

DM's Notes:

Neither Man nor Beast found at The Mutinied Sailor at the docks. When everything was settled, The Requisitioners rested for three they should then come to Pierre's office weeks after the incident with Angel to collect the money for the painting. Pajaro as Marcel negotiated a price with the Marquis d'Polarno for the painting. The party left the museum immediately When a price had been agreed, Pierre and set off for tavern. When they got Marcel went to the group. When he there they noticed that the sign was a entered their private quarters, Ella hanging man, though they couldn't tell if noticed he had been crying. Inquiring it was real or not. When they entered the why, Pierre told her that he had found tavern, the stench of the place hit them his wife's favourite scarf that morning, hard. A combination of stale ale, piss, whilst going though some personal excrement and sweat washed over them. things. An uncomfortable silence fell on Ella asked a redheaded barmaid if she the room. could tell them where the Captain was.

I want the PCs to really feel sorry for the Chandra Gynn in a blink-and-you'll- Curator. Finding the line between miss-it cameo. bereaved widower and pathetic sop is difficult. The woman gestured to a corner, where a man was singing sea shanties. Ella, Pulling himself together, Pierre informed Sharuk and Featon (Phillipe stayed at the the group that he had chartered the ship museum) went over to speak. The the Sunset Empires to take the captain, deep in his cups, told them they Requisitioners to Ghastria. He told them needed to speak to his first mate, Mr that they should contact Captain Stewart Monterery. He was at the dock, before the voyage. The Captain could be supervising the loading of provisions onto the Sunset Empires. Mr Monterery, strong and true. We found a fortune and a caliban with a hunched-back and he said he'd split it between us. twisted arm, told the party that the ship Unfortunately, we got trapped in the was going to leave at daybreak the next waters of Sargass. The cap'n refused to day. They would wait for the heroes, but give up his treasure, and some of the only until midday. lads, meself included, took the long boat and took our chances in the Mists. Never It made more sense to me to have Mr heard from Cap'n Hawkins again. Monterery a Caliban than a half-elf. Shame, good man that."

The heroes thanked the caliban and left, Old Singe is fun to play. I wanted to play heading back to the museum. When they him as a salty and worldly wise sea dog. arrive, Pierre shows them the chest The players took to Old Singe, which containing the golden solars they will makes it more fun with what I did to him need, all 500 of them. The chest is plated later. in steel and has an odd lock. It doesn't require a key, just the cylinders twisted On the second day, one sailor, an old to the right order. Pierre says it is a new dog named Shanty sang a song about a invention from the gnomes of Mayvin, sailor and his love, and a promise from called a combination lock. The beyond the grave. Ella shook at the song, Requisitioners take the chest to their her hatred of undead not known to the common room and go to bed. singer.

Before dawn, when it is still dark, they I sung the song. It had no tune, so I sang set out to the docks. Mr Monterery is it to the tune of "A Fairy Tale in New waiting by the gangplank. He tells them York" by the Pogues and Kristy that the captain said they are late and MacColl, with out the chorus. that they very nearly left with out them. The chest is loaded aboard and the ship On the third day of sailing, dolphins sets sail. The Requisitioners saw a big started to jump and play in the foam at cage holding a panther on the deck. Mr the side of the moving ship. Mr Monterery shrugged and simply said it Monterery manned the bastilla and fired was the captain's pet. at the dolphins with a blank, emotionless face at the dolphins. When Featon asked One of the players was impressed with him why, the first mate simply replied, the combination lock. I just liked the "Why not?" idea and it made it harder for the PCs to break in, if they wanted to. After three shots, the first mate stopped firing. Shanty looked edgy, saying that A day into the journey and the ship hits dolphins are a good omen and Mr dead calm. The crew are served a weak Monterery is playing with fire shooting stew by the cook, Old Singe, who gives at them. The mood amongst the crew as the heroes some extra, with a sly wink. they bunked down was one of unease. The cook, a portly man with one leg, Storm clouds started to gather on the tells the party stories of old sailors he'd horizon. Ella looked inward to see if the met, like "Captain Hawkins, a good man, future would be pleasant and saw an image of an overcast sunrise. Feeling When they awoke, they where on the uneasy, she fell asleep. beach of a tropical island.

Ella has the red-headed feat from the I toyed with them seeing the wreckage RCS. Her player chose the spell Omen of of the ship, a la Lost, but had a better Peril from complete divine. The spell idea for the final encounter for the game. basically allows you to tell how dangerous the next hour will be. Ella When everyone awoke, there was much sees a glorious sunrise for a good future; confusion. Ella quickly checked who'd an over cast sunrise for a perilous future survived, roughly half the crew minus and a sunset for a dangerous future. Captain Stewart and Mr Monterery and the only other passenger, a woman who On the fourth day, the storm broke. The they had had little contact with. party where below decks, but felt the rocking of the ship. Water started to seep Sharuk was more concerned with his gun through the boards, showing that the and his gunpowder than helping Ella ship hadn't been tarred properly. They with the survivors or Featon go through hurried on deck. Through the blinding the wreckage. Featon found the cage that rain, Featon thought he saw another ship held the panther, though no trace of the through the rain. The ship was heading animal could be found. Ella and Featon for a collision with the Sunset Empires, tended to the wounded, Featon even but passed by silently. The elf caught the finding Old Singe a new crutch to name Relentless on the side, just as the replace the one he lost in the wreck. As ship faded to nothing. the survivors bedded down for the night, the jungle fell silent. A hard-rendering Just when things couldn't get worse, a scream split the air. The scream sent large, translucent tentacle smashed down shivers down the survivors’ necks. on the deck, pinning a sailor to the floor. Warily, the group bunked down for the Another one wrapped around the other night. side of the ship, cracking the wood. The creature was breaking the ship! Ella Sharuk is slowly becoming an attacked with the guisarme, and sliced at annoyance to the rest of the party. Not to the translucent flesh. Sharuk shot the me, I love intra-party conflict; I think it creature, but missed. adds to a game. Sharuk's ignorance of the suffering of others meant that he Enter the Soul Kraken. rolled another powers check (about his fifth now) and passed. I've warned the Another tentacle slammed onto the deck, player that if his alignment shifts to evil, breaking the ship in half. The Sharuk becomes an NPC and he has to Requisitioners sank, feeling themselves role a new character. Intra-party conflict drown. The corpse of the captain floated is all well and good when it adds to a passed, and they knew they where going game, when it detracts; however, steps to die. As the light dimmed, a human have to be taken. face appeared before them, smiling beatifically. Then all went black. In the morning, Sharuk and Ella decided they needed to explore the jungle, whilst Featon looked for food for the group. As from the session. I will note when he Featon found bananas and coconuts, Ella returns. and Sharuk went deeper into the jungle. A rustling sound caught their attention The doors to the manor opened and the and suddenly a bear-like creature with party where greeted by a short, ram horns charged towards them. Sharuk incredibly ugly man. The man's nose fired his gun and missed the creature was more like a snout and his ears where whilst Ella stabbed with her sword. far too high on his bald head. He snorted Before the creature could attack, a voice to the party and lead them into Dr Fran's called, "Mitzy! Down!" manor where they where greeted by the A large man came blundering out of the Doctor himself. He showed Sharuk to jungle behind the bear-thing. He rubbed the guest rooms where they left the its head in a friendly manner and it unconscious woman. He showed them to bounded back off into the woods. He his library telling them to, "Look introduced himself as Dr Fran and told around! No need to stand on ceremony, them that he was sorry to hear about eh?" their accident. Suddenly he turned and disappeared into the jungle once more. Another change from the adventure here. After a few moments he reappeared I changed Orson from a bear to a pig holding a basket of fruit and nuts. He quite accidentally. I though he was a pig told them it was a beach-warming because I got confused with the old present. He invited them to his house, cartoon "Garfield and Friends" where but Ella said she had to get back to the Orson was a pig. survivors. Sharuk went with Dr Fran. Whilst at the manor, Fran gave Sharuk a Dr Fran excused himself to check on the map of the island, saying that he would meal, leaving the party to flick through be honoured if they would join him for his library. Featon found a metal skull on dinner. He pointed out where the Sunset top of a pile of papers. He gave it a Empires' wreck had grounded. curious prod and it spluttered to life. "The outer-planar city of Sigil is found I decided to play Dr Fran like a atop of the Spire and is ruled by Discworld character. Make him soft and Razzapoltiolosadafz," the thing friendly, so when the rug is pulled away sputtered. from the players it's more shocking. Cautiously, he prodded it again. "Baatezu come from the plane of Baator Sharuk agreed and went back to the and are weak against clorpai, nevariz beach. He told Ella and Featon about and xporjoo." what happened, so they and Phillipe Featon touched the thing a third time. carried the injured woman to Dr Fran's This time its eyes glowed red and a house to talk to the Doctor, leaving Old different voice whispered, "Beware the Singe in charge at the beach. one who leads."

The unconscious woman is a new PC. The Mimir was fun. It also allowed me Phillipe doesn't do much in this to sneak in a vague reference to be wary adventure because his player was absent of Pierre Marcel. But the party think the Mimir is referring to Ella, as she has sort for him, then he could study the table of become the party's de facto leader. and use its powers to help the beastmen.

The elf backed away from the The heroes bought this story, no contraption. Sharuk looked though a questions asked. They agreed to go book on dwarven anatomy, noting the along with Dr Fran's plan. After all, they crossings out of pictures and words such had no reason to doubt him. as "rot!" and "Completely wrong!" in the margin. Ella found a map labelled, "Map The heroes agreed to investigate the of the Known World." She knew the monetary, leaving at first light. Dr Fran map was not of the Core, but she didn't looked at the unconscious woman, know where it was from. bringing her around with smelling salts. She told them she was a witch of Hala It's strange that they never thought to ask named Nimue. She agreed to travel with why Dr Fran knew so much about demi- the party, as they where trying to escape human physiology. The Known World the island. As they travelled towards the map from Mystara was pretty much monetary, they where attacked by a ignored too, Ella knew she didn't know group of the islands animal-men that Dr the places and assumed she would never Fran warned them about attacked. The need to. heroes fought valiantly and, though Ella was knocked unconscious, they managed After a while, Dr Fran came to collect to fend off the attack. them. As they sat and enjoyed their meal, they quizzed Dr Fran on the island Introducing Akanga's rogue broken ones. and he in turn quizzed them. He was Akanga has learnt of the party by this eager to hear about the Museum. He told point and sent these broken ones to test them the island had no name, though he their strength. His animal cunning has was thinking of naming it after himself, started to formulate a plan. "France sounds good." Hurrying, they reached the monetary. The "France" thing is in the adventure. I Finding nothing but a large, bronze tube kept it because it added to Dr Fran being embedded into the base of a cliff, he harmless and doddery. group stood and wondered what to do. Nimue tentatively banged on the tube, After the meal, Dr Fran told the heroes creating a hollow ringing sound. She about the plight of the natives. He rapped on the tube again, harder. This showed them on the map a monetary that time the tube let out a large booming he thought held the key to the plague sound. After a moment's silence, a which was causing "Men to revert to the basket was lowered from above the cliff. form of beasts and visa versa." He Cautiously, the party clambered aboard claimed he was trying to stop and even the basket. After a moment, the basket reverse the process. Orson, the pig-man, started to rise. Near the top of the cliff, was one of his best successes. He the basket stopped suddenly. After a claimed the monks had something called moment, it continued its ascent of the The Table of Life, which was the cause cliff. When it reached the top, the party of the disease. If the heroes retrieved it found themselves on a balcony overlooking the island, which was I think Jeff Grubb is a Simpsons fan. attached to a hut of some kind. They There's a sailor called Homer and now went through a door into the hut and saw Brother Milhouse. a strange device which they deduced The group did as asked. After a few raised and lowered the basked. Featon moments, the man stood and walked noticed footprints in the heavy dust. The towards them. He looked healthy and party followed the footprints into a small wise, a childish twinkle in his eye belied library. Ella looked at the titles of some his playfulness and a spring in his step of the books, "The Key to the Abyss," made him seem younger than he actually was one of the titles she read. She was. He greeted each of the party and deduced from these titles that Fran was introduced himself as Brother Milhouse. right, these monks where evil. Sharuk He asked what their business was at the saw one book, entitled "The History of monetary. They told him that they where Markovia," but pocketed it with out there for the Table of Life. He graciously reading it. told them that removing the Table from I asked three times if the player wanted the monetary was out of the question. to read "The History of Markovia" but he Ella explained about Dr Fran and the never. Of course, I knew he wanted it monk frowned. He led them to the because this was the same player who library and to the shelf containing the knows a little about Ravenloft. Not multiple copies of "The History of enough, apparently, to figure out he was Markovia." He noted the missing copy on Markovia. The Key to the Abyss will and turned to the party. He smiled become another major them later, when politely and told them to read from the the PCs face off against the Whistling book they had taken. Fiend. Sharuk read aloud the tale of Frantisek Featon lost the footprints, here was Markov. That's when the party realised cleaner than the lift room. Nimue they'd been duped. Brother Milhouse guessed that the light in the room came asked what they where going to do now. from a continual light spell, as there They replied they didn't know. where no windows. They left the library Actually, I read the Markovia section through a door which lead onto a dirt aloud. There was no way I was hading courtyard. To their left they spotted a over the adventure and I didn't have large building, Featon said that that was access to a photocopier. That's when the where the Table was as it was the largest player realised they where on Markovia building and where the monks would and shouted out, "You're sending us keep their sacred artefact. against a darklord at this level?" and The rest agreed and they all went to the proceeded to tell everyone who large building. They cautiously opened Frantisek Markov was. the doors and saw a man kneeling before Punishment is heading his way, though an altar that had a large slab of dark I'm not sure how yet. green marble with golden veins running Milhouse revealed to the PCs the fact through it. The man didn't turn, but he that he was dead, telling them he would did say in a pleasant, Baritone voice, tell them no lies and hold no secrets "Please, take a seat. I will have finished from them. At the end of the first my prayers in a moment." session, the PCs stood in the monetary, unsure of what to do next.

Log 3

Neither Man Nor Beast II

Confused at the revelations, the party looked confused and said that the plant decided to stay over at the monastery couldn't exist: it was a hybrid of a rose after Brother Milhouse offered them a and an orchid. The monks warned them place to rest. Whilst resting, Ella that all plants on the island like the suggested that they get the help of the rose/orchid where poisonous. Broken Ones, citing that they would want revenge on Markov. As she said The party left the monastery to get a this, she felt the cold touch of a stranger closer view of these so-called "Broken caress her neck and spine, as if someone One settlements". On the way a rustling had reached out, but just missed her. She in the bushed further ahead caught their shuddered and amended her statement, attention. Cautiously, Ella and Featon claiming that Markov should be brought approached. Some thing crawled out of to justice. the bushes. It had a twisted, malformed face. It was dragging its body from the The party was split on Dr Fran. Half undergrowth and making mewling believed that the monks were lying, that sounds, like an animal in pain. As the Dr Fran was a genuine, whilst the other rest of the party approached, it dawned believed the monks and thought Dr Fran on them all that this creature was was the liar. The party continued to actually Old Singe, the ship's cook. They discuss their feelings late into the night, could make out his features in the thing's and then they slept, uneasily, in the face, but they could also see the features monastery. In the morning Phillipe asked of some great cat, like a panther, the Brother Milhouse about the map Dr Fran panther from the ship. had given the party. Brother Milhouse claimed the map was wrong, that Dr At the realisation of this, Ella ran away, Fran had incorrectly marked areas on the but after a few steps collapsed into a map. He told them that the areas marked ball. Sharuk could not tear his eyes from "Broken Ones" did not, in fact, have any the scene. Phillipe, who had not seen the Broken One settlements, that there was cook on the ship so felt less sympathy only gently rolling meadows in at least for him, asked the dwarf what they two of the places. Ella asked how he should do. The normally quiet and could know this, and Brother Milhouse rational Featon said, quietly, "I think we pulled a spyglass from his belt and should kill Dr Fran." instructed the halfling to look towards where the settlements where supposed to Shocked at the elf's hatred, the party be. She saw only the meadows Brother argued over killing Fran. Phillipe argued Milhouse had said there would be. that this could be a ploy by the monks to kill Fran for them. Old Singe coughed, Meanwhile, Nimue was examining the and told them Dr Fran did this to him. plant that Delphi had put in Featon's hair He struggled for breath and begged the before they had left the manor. She party to kill him. Phillipe nodded and slit his throat. The party continued to argue coat them in poison, he took aim at Dr as they set off through the jungle. After a Fran. Out of the corner of his eye, couple of hours Broken Ones burst from Phillipe spotted him. He nudged Ella and the foliage, surrounding the party. One Sharuk. The two moved quickly to the stepped forward and asked if they liked elf, pinning him to the ground. Ella their present. It took a while, but the covered his mouth with a hand. The two party realised that it was talking about Broken Ones helped them subdue the elf Old Singe. It ordered them to follow it to and they returned to camp, shaken at speak to Akanga. They complied, what they had just seen. realising that refusal would mean attack from 50 Broken Ones. As they bunked down, a Broken One approached Ella. Speaking timidly and When they reached Akanga they found in the language of Halflings, the creature him to be a barrel-chested combination asked if they where leaving the island. of man and lion. He told them that he Ella nodded, looking at the creature in demanded their assistance, that they pity. It was a combination of halfling where to help him kill Diosamblet. Ella and rabbit. It looked meek and terrified. refused, saying she thought Diosamblet Ella promised to take the halfling away should be brought to justice. Akanga from the island. replied killing him would be justice. Akanga mentioned Markov and As the paladin tried to sleep, her mind Diosamblet in the same sentence, and was filled with images of Old Singe Phillipe asked where they two people. being chased by a panther. She awoke Akanga got confused, he didn't know. after barely half an hour screaming. He told the party that he would prove Akanga growled that she should be Diosamblet was evil, that they had been silenced or he would silence her himself. tricked by Dr Fran. Nimue gave the halfling some leaves to chew and muttered a prayer over the That night two of Akanga's best "men" frightened paladin. took the party deep into the jungle. They could hear drums and chanting coming Soon, Ella was in a deep sleep. Sharuk from ahead. The two Broken Ones stayed awake, cleaning his gun, hushed the party when they got close. In replaying the image of Old Singe over a clearing where hundreds of Broken and over in his head. It took him a while Ones of all kinds where performing to fall asleep. some sort of blasphemous right. Suddenly, they all started chanting Finally, the entire party slept uneasily, "Diosamblet! Diosamblet!" A masked trying to mentally prepare themselves figure walked into the centre of the for the morning. clearing and started shouting commandments. There was no mistaking In the morning, Akanga explained that the voice: it was Dr Fran. the party would sneak into the manor and attack Felix and Orson. When they As the party watched in horror, Featon where dead Akanga and his Broken sneaked away from the party. Piercing Ones would attack. The signal to show the mutated plants with his arrows to the servants where dead would be their bodies being thrown over the wall. The fight, with Phillipe firing off a magic party told Akanga that they could just missile at Felix before Dr Fran attacked walk into the manor, that Dr Fran didn't him. The Doctor's body changed. It know they knew the truth. When they wasn't like when he'd seen Angel could, they'd signal him some how. transform in the Opera house, and this Akanga grudgingly agreed. scarred Phillipe. Dr Fran's clothes ripped as his arms grew. His skin turned grey They set off for Dr Fran's manor an hour and wrinkly and his body filled out. In a before Akanga started to muster his matter of seconds he had the body of an armies. When they got to the manor they elephant and was pinning Phillipe to the found Delphi in the courtyard washing ground. clothes and humming a song. With a sense of dread they realised the song she Sharuk fired his pistol at Felix, was humming was Maria Diosa's big shattering the bear-thing's shoulder. solo from Carmina, which would be Featon backed off from Orson and fired impossible for Delphi to know because some arrows at the pig-man. The two the Opera had only opened a week ago animal men attacked, but both missed, and had closed after one night. Ella too excited in the heat of the battle. cautiously asked her where she had heard the tune and Delphi shrugged and In the jungle, Ella, Nimue and Delphi replied she had just made it up. heard the gunshot. Delphi started to panic, saying her "papa" was in danger. Featon stayed with Delphi whilst the rest Ella offered to return to the manor, to of the party went to find Dr Fran. When see what was wrong. Both members of they did, he greeted them with a wide the party where confused because smile and asked if they had the table. Sharuk had said he wouldn't fire his guns Phillipe shook his head and told him that unless it was an emergency. the monks had been taken care of, but the table was too big to carry back on She headed back to the manor, but was their own. Dr Fran agreed, and said he'd stopped by Akanga. The Broken One send Orson and Felix back with Sharuk wanted to know what was going on, but to claim it. Ella said that Delphi looked Ella couldn't speak to him as they lonely and suggested that she and Nimue couldn't speak the same language. could take Delphi to the beach perhaps. Akanga turned back into the jungle, Dr Fran was wary, but Nimue said it striding back in a matter of seconds would be no trouble. In the end, Dr Fran holding the rabbit-halfling by the head. agreed. He used the creature as an interpreter and demanded to know what was After Delphi, Nimue and Ella had left happening. Ella said she didn't know and the compound Featon was attacked from thought that the others where in danger. behind by someone. Sharuk was too, but Akanga nodded and launched his assault. his assailant missed. They both turned Ella bandaged the rabbit-halfling and and saw Orson and Felix standing there. told it to go to the beach. Orson called out to Dr Fran, saying that they had fought back. Dr Fran snarled Back at the manor, Sharuk fired his and attacked Phillipe. The six started to pistol again, this time hitting Felix in the head. The Broken One's skull exploded The creature attacked, going for Ella and its body fell to the ground. Featon first. She swiped at it with her glaive, had similar luck with Orson, skewering slicing through its rubbery hide. Sharuk the pig with some arrows. Dr Fran saw shot at it, but missed. The creature's jaw his minions fall and with a shout of rage, split down the centre and its tripartite he transformed into a sparrow and flew jaw bit Nimue. The Halan cleric away. Phillipe tried to grab him, but the screamed in agony and fell to the ground evil Doctor was too quick for him. At bleeding. Delphi screamed and pulled the same time that Akanga arrived, so the rabbit-halfling to safety. Phillipe cast did Ella. The Broken One demanded a acid splash at the monster. It turned to search of the manor, which revealed face him and bit him too. He fell to the Doctor Fran was no where to be seen. ground, unmoving. Featon fired arrows His menagerie was empty and his into the creature. Some hit, some missed. laboratory blood stained. Akanga But the elf stayed out of the creature's explained that they had broken Old reach. Sharuk fired his gun again, hitting Singe out of the manor and given him to the creature in the side, causing some of the party as a gift, returning the last of its flesh to explode off. Ella struck with their survivors to them. her glaive again, slicing a large gash in the creature's side. The creature bit her The party knew then that they had to too, but she managed to stay standing. escape the island. Under the pretence of going to the beach to search for Dr Fran, Featon fired again, striking the creature they found Delphi, Nimue and the in its human face, piercing an eye. rabbit-halfling and ran to the wreck of Sharuk fired his gun again, his bullet the Sunset Empires, which was where Dr ripping through whatever the creature Fran had told them it was. They got had for a spine. If fell to the ground, close and started to scan the wreck for a dead. longboat to escape in, but noticed a vulture circling ahead. The vulture Quickly, those still standing tended to landed on the hull of the ship. It was Dr the fallen. Ella bandaged Phillip, Featon Fran. He cursed them for ruining his doing the same for Nimue. Sharuk called island and lying to them, Sharuk took when he found a miraculously intact aim, but the wreck quivered. Something longboat in the ruins of the ship. He and slithered from within the carcass of the Featon pulled the boat from the boat. Dr Fran laughed and told them that wreckage, and then with the help of Ella, they where never to escape the island of they eased Nimue and Phillipe into the Markovia. The thing raised itself from longboat. Delphi looked nervous about the bowels of the ship. It was a tentacle leaving the island, but the rabbit-halfling from the soul kraken, but it had the head pulled her by the arm, climbing into the of Captain Stewart grafted onto it, boat. She climbed aboard and Featon "Behold," Dr Fran shouted, "The one and Sharuk pushed the boat into the sea. who brought you here will be the one to stop you leaving. Know that Frantisek The further from the island the boat Markov has brought your death and sailed, the more agitated Delphi got and suffer for it." the more excitable the rabbit-halfling got. An opposite transformation was occurring to the pair of them. Delphi's of it you are. You are weak and feeble, skin grew grey, her ears fell off and her not worthy of gifts that you have. No face distorted. Her voice sounded like church will cure you, accept your squeals of pain and her hair started to repentance. You might as well end it all, fall out. As they watched, Delphi go on, end it. became more and more dolphin like as the moments passed. Featon and Sharuk Featon suffered a different experience. gently lowered her into the water, where He could hear the clink of the locks, the she swam away. Conversely, the halfling rattle of the straps. He could feel the was loosing more and more of its rabbit tight, cotton straight jacket binding his like appearance. Within moments it was arms. He could hear the mocking a normal female halfling. She was laughter of the other patients, the young, timid and scared, probably why monotone voices of the orderlies. A Markov operated on her with a rabbit. voice whispered to him You should Ella put her cloak around the halfling never have left, lunatic. and held her close. The smell of burning entered Nimue's The boat sailed towards the World's End nostrils, the sound of fire and the Mists, but the crew couldn't alter its tortured screams of a burning witch course. Soon thin tendrils of fog circled filled her ears. She could feel the heat on the boat. In a matter of minutes the fog her skin. She panicked, trying to blot out was so thick that the party couldn't see the noise, the smell, the feel of the each other, then they couldn't even see flames. A voice whispered in her ear, their hands when they where inches from You're next, witch. their faces. Phillipe stirred in his unconscious state, One by one, the party began to hear he could hear the incident from his past, things. Ella thought she could hear he could hear the screams of his love, whisperings. She bowed her head and her voice slicing through his soul. He sent silent prayers to the Morninglord, could hear the grunts from the other hoping her god could hear her. A voice man; he could hear the knife as it only she could hear whispered He's not plunged into flesh. It was an accident, listening, he never does. How can his mind raced, manslaughter! I didn't something that doesn't exist listen? Your mean to kill him! Yes you did, a voice faith is a sham, your life a lie. Give it up, laughed in his ear. do what you where destined to do, be like your mother. Eventually the Mists cleared. A town came into view. After a moment Ella Unaware of what was happening to Ella; recognised it as her home town, Sharuk could feel icy fingers playing Tumbledown. The boat floated into the with his spine. A touch as intimate as a dock and a dock hand came up and lovers tickled his back and sides. It was started to tell them they couldn't leave the same feeling he got when he learnt the boat there. The dock hand recognised he had the ability to hurt people with a Ella and told her that he'd sort touch. A voice whispered in his ear, everything out. Her father used to work Such power you can attain, but unworthy on the docks until he was sacked. The party left the boat with the dock hand blacksmith sacked Eric, telling him that and borrowed his horse and cart to go to it was out of order bringing his filthy Ella's house. On the journey, Ella learnt family to work and they shouldn't boss that the other halfling's name was Sandy the blacksmith about. Eric and Ella left and that she was from Tumbledown. Ella and went home, where they heard an remembered something about a family argument in the house. A man was on a fishing boat going missing 15 years shouting at her mother, saying he ago, but Sandy was still a little girl. Ella couldn't protect her and that she owed took the girl to her mother, who was him money. delighted to see Ella. She explained that two months ago the museum had sent Ella went inside and confronted the man notice that Ella had been lost at sea, who commented that a younger version, missing presumed dead and they where like Ella, would get more business than a very apologetic. dried up hag like her mother. Ella was furious and sent the man away. As he The rest of the party headed to a church left, he winked and blew a kiss at Ella. of Hala that Ella's mother pointed them Ella was distraught when she found her towards. Ella and her mother had a long mother had turned to prostitution and her conversation, and Ella found out her father was taking dead end jobs just to father was now working at a make ends meet. Ella gave her parents blacksmith's. Ella left and headed 100gp, but her father refused it. Ella towards the blacksmith's shop. There she pushed and her father relented. She told found her father, Eric Pipeleaf, making them that they did not have to live in nails and getting shouted at by the such away. Then she went to her room, blacksmith. Ella asked the blacksmith to leaving her parents and Sandy alone. stop shouting at her father and the

DM’s Notes

Confused at the revelations, the party They had no reason to suspect Brother decided to stay over at the monastery Milhouse, but again, no reason to trust after Brother Milhouse offered them a Markov. Even what happened next place to rest. Whilst resting, Ella couldn't sway the Markov supporters. suggested that they get the help of the Phillipe's player was back for this Broken Ones, citing that they would session. want revenge on Markov. As she said this, she felt the cold touch of a stranger Meanwhile, Nimue was examining the caress her neck and spine, as if someone plant that Delphi had put in Featon's hair had reached out, but just missed her. She before they had left the manor. She shuddered and amended her statement, looked confused and said that the plant claiming that Markov should be brought couldn't exist: it was a hybrid of a rose to justice. and an orchid. The monks warned them that all plants on the island like the The party was split on Dr Fran. Half rose/orchid where poisonous. believed that the monks were lying, that Dr Fran was a genuine, whilst the other I ruled that most, if not all, of the plants believed the monks and thought Dr Fran on Markovia where hybrids of multiple was the liar. The party continued to species, I also ruled the 99.9% of these discuss their feelings late into the night, plants where poisonous. and then they slept, uneasily, in the monastery. In the morning Phillipe asked The party left the monastery to get a Brother Milhouse about the map Dr Fran closer view of these so-called "Broken had given the party. Brother Milhouse One settlements". On the way a rustling claimed the map was wrong, that Dr in the bushed further ahead caught their Fran had incorrectly marked areas on the attention. Cautiously, Ella and Featon map. He told them that the areas marked approached. Some thing crawled out of "Broken Ones" did not, in fact, have any the bushes. It had a twisted, malformed Broken One settlements, that there was face. It was dragging its body from the only gently rolling meadows in at least undergrowth and making mewling two of the places. Ella asked how he sounds, like an animal in pain. As the could know this, and Brother Milhouse rest of the party approached, it dawned pulled a spyglass from his belt and on them all that this creature was instructed the halfling to look towards actually Old Singe, the ship's cook. They where the settlements where supposed to could make out his features in the thing's be. She saw only the meadows Brother face, but they could also see the features Milhouse had said there would be. of some great cat, like a panther, the panther from the ship. The party genuinely was split. It was a great moment for me as a DM to have At the realisation of this, Ella ran away, convinced both sides of the argument but after a few steps collapsed into a that what they believed was the truth. ball. Sharuk could not tear his eyes from the scene. Phillipe, who had not seen the should be brought to justice. Akanga cook on the ship so felt less sympathy replied killing him would be justice. for him, asked the dwarf what they Akanga mentioned Markov and should do. The normally quiet and Diosamblet in the same sentence, and rational Featon said, quietly, "I think we Phillipe asked where they two people. should kill Dr Fran." Akanga got confused, he didn't know. He told the party that he would prove Three failed horror checks. Everyone Diosamblet was evil, that they had been made them but, strangely, only the PCs tricked by Dr Fran. who had met Old Singe where affected. Ella suffered from "nightmares" so DM boo-boo here. I accidentally had cowered in fear, Sharuk "obsession" and Akanga refer to Diosamblet as Markov, Featon "rage." confusing the players.

Shocked at the elf's hatred, the party That night two of Akanga's best "men" argued over killing Fran. Phillipe argued took the party deep into the jungle. They that this could be a ploy by the monks to could hear drums and chanting coming kill Fran for them. Old Singe coughed, from ahead. The two Broken Ones and told them Dr Fran did this to him. hushed the party when they got close. In He struggled for breath and begged the a clearing where hundreds of Broken party to kill him. Phillipe nodded and slit Ones of all kinds where performing his throat. The party continued to argue some sort of blasphemous right. as they set off through the jungle. After a Suddenly, they all started chanting couple of hours Broken Ones burst from "Diosamblet! Diosamblet!" A masked the foliage, surrounding the party. One figure walked into the centre of the stepped forward and asked if they liked clearing and started shouting their present. It took a while, but the commandments. There was no mistaking party realised that it was talking about the voice: it was Dr Fran. Old Singe. It ordered them to follow it to speak to Akanga. They complied, I didn't like the way Markov dealt with realising that refusal would mean attack the "traitor" as published, so I left that from 50 Broken Ones. part out entirely.

Akanga, after testing their mettle, had As the party watched in horror, Featon decided the PCs where strong enough to sneaked away from the party. Piercing help him. He "liberated" Old Singe from the mutated plants with his arrows to Markov's table before the operation was coat them in poison, he took aim at Dr complete and left him for the party to Fran. Out of the corner of his eye, find. Phillipe spotted him. He nudged Ella and Sharuk. The two moved quickly to the When they reached Akanga they found elf, pinning him to the ground. Ella him to be a barrel-chested combination covered his mouth with a hand. The two of man and lion. He told them that he Broken Ones helped them subdue the elf demanded their assistance, that they and they returned to camp, shaken at where to help him kill Diosamblet. Ella what they had just seen. refused, saying she thought Diosamblet The effects of Featon's rage. He was on In the morning, Akanga explained that the monk's side of the argument, so he the party would sneak into the manor blamed Dr Fran for the state of Old and attack Felix and Orson. When they Singe, allot of lucky dice roles meant where dead Akanga and his Broken that the elf didn't succeed in his plan to Ones would attack. The signal to show assassinate Markov. the servants where dead would be their bodies being thrown over the wall. The As they bunked down, a Broken One party told Akanga that they could just approached Ella. Speaking timidly and walk into the manor, that Dr Fran didn't in the language of Halflings, the creature know they knew the truth. When they asked if they where leaving the island. could, they'd signal him some how. Ella nodded, looking at the creature in Akanga grudgingly agreed. pity. It was a combination of halfling and rabbit. It looked meek and terrified. The PCs didn't really want to work with Ella promised to take the halfling away Akanga, but they knew that they had no from the island. choice.

This halfling is going to become a major They set off for Dr Fran's manor an hour NPC eventually. before Akanga started to muster his armies. When they got to the manor they As the paladin tried to sleep, her mind found Delphi in the courtyard washing was filled with images of Old Singe clothes and humming a song. With a being chased by a panther. She awoke sense of dread they realised the song she after barely half an hour screaming. was humming was Maria Diosa's big Akanga growled that she should be solo from Carmina, which would be silenced or he would silence her himself. impossible for Delphi to know because Nimue gave the halfling some leaves to the Opera had only opened a week ago chew and muttered a prayer over the and had closed after one night. Ella frightened paladin. cautiously asked her where she had heard the tune and Delphi shrugged and Soon, Ella was in a deep sleep. Sharuk replied she had just made it up. stayed awake, cleaning his gun, replaying the image of Old Singe over Angel's not dead. Well, she is, but you and over in his head. It took him a while can't keep a bad NPC down. She's risen to fall asleep. as a ghost and, as the PCs will learn, she isn't happy. Finally, the entire party slept uneasily, trying to mentally prepare themselves Featon stayed with Delphi whilst the rest for the morning. of the party went to find Dr Fran. When they did, he greeted them with a wide Nimue cast remove fear, removing the smile and asked if they had the table. effects of the Horror check. But she Phillipe shook his head and told him that never cast the spell on Featon and the monks had been taken care of, but Sharuk, however. the table was too big to carry back on their own. Dr Fran agreed, and said he'd send Orson and Felix back with Sharuk to claim it. Ella said that Delphi looked panic, saying her "papa" was in danger. lonely and suggested that she and Nimue Ella offered to return to the manor, to could take Delphi to the beach perhaps. see what was wrong. Both members of Dr Fran was wary, but Nimue said it the party where confused because would be no trouble. In the end, Dr Fran Sharuk had said he wouldn't fire his guns agreed. unless it was an emergency.

After Delphi, Nimue and Ella had left Sharuk really likes his gun. It's the compound Featon was attacked from something I plan to manipulate later on. behind by someone. Sharuk was too, but his assailant missed. They both turned She headed back to the manor, but was and saw Orson and Felix standing there. stopped by Akanga. The Broken One Orson called out to Dr Fran, saying that wanted to know what was going on, but they had fought back. Dr Fran snarled Ella couldn't speak to him as they and attacked Phillipe. The six started to couldn't speak the same language. fight, with Phillipe firing off a magic Akanga turned back into the jungle, missile at Felix before Dr Fran attacked striding back in a matter of seconds him. The Doctor's body changed. It holding the rabbit-halfling by the head. wasn't like when he'd seen Angel He used the creature as an interpreter transform in the Opera house, and this and demanded to know what was scarred Phillipe. Dr Fran's clothes ripped happening. Ella said she didn't know and as his arms grew. His skin turned grey thought that the others where in danger. and wrinkly and his body filled out. In a Akanga nodded and launched his assault. matter of seconds he had the body of an Ella bandaged the rabbit-halfling and elephant and was pinning Phillipe to the told it to go to the beach. ground. All the PCs felt sorry for this halfling. Why did Markov's men attack? Well, One even said he felt bad that Dr Fran Markov believed the PCs when they said could do such a thing. Ella, being the the monks where dead, so he didn't feel paladin she is, kept her promise to save he needed them anymore. He was going it. to subdue them and operate on them. He didn't have the foresight to see his plans Back at the manor, Sharuk fired his unravelling. As has always been the case pistol again, this time hitting Felix in the with Darklords, he believed that his plan head. The Broken One's skull exploded would work, because it was his. and its body fell to the ground. Featon had similar luck with Orson, skewering Sharuk fired his pistol at Felix, the pig with some arrows. Dr Fran saw shattering the bear-thing's shoulder. his minions fall and with a shout of rage, Featon backed off from Orson and fired he transformed into a sparrow and flew some arrows at the pig-man. The two away. Phillipe tried to grab him, but the animal men attacked, but both missed, to evil Doctor was too quick for him. At excited in the heat of the battle. the same time that Akanga arrived, so did Ella. The Broken One demanded a In the jungle, Ella, Nimue and Delphi search of the manor, which revealed heard the gunshot. Delphi started to Doctor Fran was no where to be seen. His menagerie was empty and his slicing through its rubbery hide. Sharuk laboratory blood stained. Akanga shot at it, but missed. The creature's jaw explained that they had broken Old split down the centre and its tripartite Singe out of the manor and given him to jaw bit Nimue. The Halan cleric the party as a gift, returning the last of screamed in agony and fell to the ground their survivors to them. bleeding. Delphi screamed and pulled the rabbit-halfling to safety. Phillipe cast Markov decided on the better part of acid splash at the monster. It turned to valour, and fled. Whilst searching the face him and bit him too. He fell to the manor, Featon grabbed the Mimir, ground, unmoving. Featon fired arrows thinking it to be something Pierre Marcel into the creature. Some hit, some missed. would like for the museum. But the elf stayed out of the creature's reach. Sharuk fired his gun again, hitting The party knew then that they had to the creature in the side, causing some of escape the island. Under the pretence of its flesh to explode off. Ella struck with going to the beach to search for Dr Fran, her glaive again, slicing a large gash in they found Delphi, Nimue and the the creature's side. The creature bit her rabbit-halfling and ran to the wreck of too, but she managed to stay standing. the Sunset Empires, which was where Dr Fran had told them it was. They got Featon fired again, striking the creature close and started to scan the wreck for a in its human face, piercing an eye. longboat to escape in, but noticed a Sharuk fired his gun again, his bullet vulture circling ahead. The vulture ripping through whatever the creature landed on the hull of the ship. It was Dr had for a spine. If fell to the ground, Fran. He cursed them for ruining his dead. island and lying to them, Sharuk took aim, but the wreck quivered. Something The snake thing was a killer; it nearly slithered from within the carcass of the wiped out the party. For those interested, boat. Dr Fran laughed and told them that I used the stats for a huge constrictor they where never to escape the island of snake in the MM, a CR5 monster. Markovia. The thing raised itself from the bowels of the ship. It was a tentacle Quickly, those still standing tended to from the soul kraken, but it had the head the fallen. Ella bandaged Phillip, Featon of Captain Stewart grafted onto it, doing the same for Nimue. Sharuk called "Behold," Dr Fran shouted, "The one when he found a miraculously intact who brought you here will be the one to longboat in the ruins of the ship. He and stop you leaving. Know that Frantisek Featon pulled the boat from the Markov has brought your death and wreckage, and then with the help of Ella, suffer for it." they eased Nimue and Phillipe into the longboat. Delphi looked nervous about I know the soul-kraken was technically leaving the island, but the rabbit-halfling undead, but this made for a better pulled her by the arm, climbing into the ending. boat. She climbed aboard and Featon and Sharuk pushed the boat into the sea. The creature attacked, going for Ella first. She swiped at it with her glaive, The further from the island the boat sailed, the more agitated Delphi got and One by one, the party began to hear the more excitable the rabbit-halfling things. Ella thought she could hear got. An opposite transformation was whisperings. She bowed her head and occurring to the pair of them. Delphi's sent silent prayers to the Morninglord, skin grew grey, her ears fell off and her hoping her god could hear her. A voice face distorted. Her voice sounded like only she could hear whispered He's not squeals of pain and her hair started to listening, he never does. How can fall out. As they watched, Delphi something that doesn't exist listen? Your became more and more dolphin like as faith is a sham, your life a lie. Give it up, the moments passed. Featon and Sharuk do what you where destined to do, be gently lowered her into the water, where like your mother. she swam away. Conversely, the halfling was loosing more and more of its rabbit First off, Ella. Ella's calling so far from like appearance. Within moments it was Barovia has struck her a little odd at a normal female halfling. She was times. The voice in the fog played on her young, timid and scared, probably why fears, hinting at what her mother was Markov operated on her with a rabbit. doing, something Ella had no clue about. Ella put her cloak around the halfling and held her close. Unaware of what was happening to Ella; Sharuk could feel icy fingers playing I didn't call for horror checks here, with his spine. A touch as intimate as a because the sight of the halfling healing lovers tickled his back and sides. It was and the dolphin changing played out the same feeling he got when he learnt well because the PCs justified it by he had the ability to hurt people with a saying it was what was meant to happen. touch. A voice whispered in his ear, They calmed Delphi down and lowered Such power you can attain, but unworthy her into the water. Ella calmed the of it you are. You are weak and feeble, frightened halfling, telling her it was not worthy of gifts that you have. No alright. church will cure you, accept your repentance. You might as well end it all, The boat sailed towards the World's End go on, end it. Mists, but the crew couldn't alter its course. Soon thin tendrils of fog circled Sharuk's failed powers check has left the the boat. In a matter of minutes the fog dwarf shaken. The player wants was so thick that the party couldn't see redemption as soon as possible, not each other, then they couldn't even see realising how hard it will be. their hands when they where inches from their faces. Featon suffered a different experience. He could hear the clink of the locks, the In my last Ravenloft campaign, I never rattle of the straps. He could feel the gave much thought to the Mists and tight, cotton straight jacket binding his what happens when you enter. This party arms. He could hear the mocking had been a little relaxed about the weird laughter of the other patients, the goings on they had seen, so I decided to monotone voices of the orderlies. A teach them a lesson. voice whispered to him You should never have left, lunatic. party left the boat with the dock hand Featon escaped from an asylum when he and borrowed his horse and cart to go to was younger. Little does he realise it was Ella's house. On the journey, Ella learnt Heinfroth's asylum in Gundarak. that the other halfling's name was Sandy and that she was from Tumbledown. Ella The smell of burning entered Nimue's remembered something about a family nostrils, the sound of fire and the on a fishing boat going missing 15 years tortured screams of a burning witch ago, but Sandy was still a little girl. Ella filled her ears. She could feel the heat on took the girl to her mother, who was her skin. She panicked, trying to blot out delighted to see Ella. She explained that the noise, the smell, the feel of the two months ago the museum had sent flames. A voice whispered in her ear, notice that Ella had been lost at sea, You're next, witch. missing presumed dead and they where very apologetic. What does every Tepestani witch fear? Stereotypical, I know, but the character DM error: Tumbledown isn't on the had only been around two sessions (out coast. Well, it is in my world. It wasn't of three, admittedly), but her story hadn't on the Mordent map in the Gaz. III, so I developed, yet. arbitrarily placed it by the sea, to allow the story to flow. Phillipe stirred in his unconscious state, he could hear the incident from his past, The rest of the party headed to a church he could hear the screams of his love, of Hala that Ella's mother pointed them her voice slicing through his soul. He towards. Ella and her mother had a long could hear the grunts from the other conversation, and Ella found out her man; he could hear the knife as it father was now working at a plunged into flesh. It was an accident, blacksmith's. Ella left and headed his mind raced, manslaughter! I didn't towards the blacksmith's shop. There she mean to kill him! Yes you did, a voice found her father, Eric Pipeleaf, making laughed in his ear. nails and getting shouted at by the blacksmith. Ella asked the blacksmith to Phillipe once killed a man in self stop shouting at her father and the defence. He was tried for manslaughter. blacksmith sacked Eric, telling him that It's not something he wished to it was out of order bringing his filthy remember. family to work and they shouldn't boss the blacksmith about. Eric and Ella left Eventually the Mists cleared. A town and went home, where they heard an came into view. After a moment Ella argument in the house. A man was recognised it as her home town, shouting at her mother, saying he Tumbledown. The boat floated into the couldn't protect her and that she owed dock and a dock hand came up and him money. started to tell them they couldn't leave the boat there. The dock hand recognised Ella's player had no idea what I had in Ella and told her that he'd sort store for his PC. I had decided awhile everything out. Her father used to work ago that his mother was a whore and his on the docks until he was sacked. The father desperate for money. Ella now wants to bring the pimp to justice.

Ella went inside and confronted the man who commented that a younger version, like Ella, would get more business than a dried up hag like her mother. Ella was furious and sent the man away. As he left, he winked and blew a kiss at Ella. Ella was distraught when she found her mother had turned to prostitution and her father was taking dead end jobs just to make ends meet. Ella gave her parents 100gp, but her father refused it. Ella pushed and her father relented. She told them that they did not have to live in such away. Then she went to her room, leaving her parents and Sandy alone.

Ella's generous donation to her parents is significant: it allows them to better themselves and the community, but also allows for a bigger shock later.

So what's next for our band of heroes?

Well, not to give it away but there is an encounter with the Galen Saga's favourite Vistani and Phillipe acquires an item that the party want him rid of more than anything in the world.