Whelp, that’s it. Dear DM has a plan to travel to the US, toddler in tow, for a whole month, and we’ll be without her fantastical instruction. Since we wanted to get at least one more session in before she left we re-grouped at cafe Marlayne for a Sunday afternoon.
We’d left off having defeated a bridge ogre and a collection of crocodiles on our way to Balder’s Gate. We arrived and realised that we didn’t really know what to do. We’d been told to seek out a friend of our contact, but not who they were or where to find them. Luckily, after wandering the Balder’s Gate market district briefly, we came upon the supplies store that she runs.
Our team ogre, mens’ rights activist and lover of fluffy animals, Colin, did his best to engage her in conversation. It did not go well. He is not great at talking to women. When it started to look like things were going to become violent the team stepped in, asking her if she knew our contact. She did, she relaxed, and gave us the information we needed: We should expect to travel in five days time, and that it would be wise to join a caravan heading North, to keep an eye on shenanigans.
So, we split up. Our dwarf join his guild and got a reference for a jewel merchant who was looking to transport cargo out of the city, our paladin did similar, but didn’t have the charisma to travel alone (yours truly kept an eye on him and we ended up joining a perfume merchant) and the final member of our party got themselves set up in a similar fashion. It wasn’t long before we were all gainfully employed and ready to go on the road.
Soon we made contact with a suspicious character who had been watching our movements and who approached us to say that, while we were employed by different factions we had the same goals. It would seem that the dragon cultists were among us, and we’d have to watch our step. We’ll have to wait until dear DM returns from the states if we want to find out more.
Incidentally, Cafe Marlayne is turning out to be an excellent alternative to Arta for a DnD location. This time we arrived in time to enjoy their brunch menu and, I’ve got to tell you, they do some fine waffles. I also now have the mission of working my way through their cake menu. So far, I reckon that the Key Lime Pie just beats the peanut butter cheesecake, but it’s a near thing. I might try the flourless chocolate cake next time. It’s just one of the sacrifices I’m willing to make for you. You’re welcome.
In Becky's Head 
Rule 2 of D&D is never split the party! (rule 1 is that when you have a choice, always turn left). Cue wobbly screen and fade to flashback of our best/worst time of splitting the party. It was an adventure in a gothic mansion of some kind, where there was a couple with a small, creepy, child, some upper class twits, a lawman and other classic horror film characters. We split up, and our evil (but cute-adoring) paladin went along with the child, a couple of others explored the gardens and I found a deep, dank cellar. Needless to say, this didn’t end well, with zombie teddy bears, vampires and talking mushrooms.
It was probably the single proper horror adventure that we did in our campaign, but it was full-blown horror and worked really well – partly because the group was split and threats that would have been easy for all of us were challenging for one or two at a time. I hear that one of our players (aforementioned evil paladin), and girlfriend of the GM, had trouble sleeping for days after this one.
Also peanut butter cheesecake sounds (and looks) amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Zombie teddy bears alone sound terrifying! Why would you zombie-fy such a thing? Is nothing sacred?
And, yes, the peanut butter cheesecake is pretty darned delicious.
LikeLike
You’d think, wouldn’t you? it got worse *dark mutterings*! (let’s just say the teddy bear was a suit and not think of what was inside).
LikeLiked by 1 person