Off Season Trade Expedition to the Dancing Court!
Part 1: Empty Castle
The group of intrepid adventurers set out on the Toad, a Large wooden Wagon, reinforced with metal plates with a very boat-like shape. It is crewed by Captain Luther, a large, muscular imposing man covered in scars who has a kind voice; Pania a dark and serious woman who is very business oriented, she has been working at the General Store in Mooraw's employ; Bambi a wild and energetic druid who handles the animals and camp; and the Suchuses Yin and Yang, two very large reptilian creatures who are pulling the Toad. The Captain had everyone aboard sign the captain's log and pick out a bunk.
The trip from Tekom to the Empty Castle was uneventful and pleasant. The passengers got to know the crew a little bit and enjoyed the quiet nights. Some got drunk. The usual.
The Empty Castle was full of grand rooms that were ornately decorated and furnished. Some of the group partook in the magnificent feast that had been laid out for them, others mostly explored. In the ballroom they saw a ghost ball for a few moments. In the study and library, they found thousands of books on many subjects. It seemed their visit would leave them with more questions than answers in this mysterious place until a strange woman, Datura appeared and flirted with Eliza. Eliza fell unconscious and found herself in a very strange, eerie and terrifying place, the Between. There she befriended a being she called Nexus. Some of the group found Eliza unconscious and the conversation turned tense as Reimbold’s bad memory and the zombie’s imperfect following directions led to a frightened Bell attempting to escape through a secret passage that led into the Between as well. Upon waking up, Eliza discovered she had been robbed and told the others of the strange Between. The group goes in after Bell and found themselves in the Between as well. There, they found Adrian, pools of blood and Shadows. Adrian ducked outside, heading for a being called the Shining One who was luring him and the group to them. Eliza called on Nexus, who explained that the Shining One was trying to Eat all of their Suffering. Adrian tried to steal the Star the Shining One carries. Reimbold fell for a while into the Lie the Shining One casts and Eliza and Naliatha coaxed Adrian to flee the Between and Nexus led them back to safety.
Whild trying to flee the Castle and the terrors of the Between they run into Wesker who insisted on going back to investigate the Castle that had become ominous and unwelcoming. Something seemed to be going on out of view, causing the lights to flicker and the air to turn cold. The Captain and the group ushered the stragglers back onto the Toad, the captain seems to have an innate sense where the missing passengers were, and later that Adrian had already returned to the Toad without them. The Captain then escorted Wesker, Naliatha, Eliza to collect things Eliza’s stolen things and pick up a few more books from the study and library before they too left the increasingly uninviting castle.
Once back on the Toad and underway, the group decided it was best to press on and travel through the night to put some distance between themselves and the Castle. The Captain announced that they would be making a pit stop to see a Swamp Hag to help Adrian, the Schusses enjoyed some attention and Wesker made some suggestions for survival tips.
Part 2: Koyukon River
Reaching the wetlands at the head of the Koyukon River, the crew removed the Toad’s wheels and pulled it into the water. Before long they came across a small Trading boat and met a gray lizard folk female named Fred. The group made some trades with Fred and established plans for a trade route with her. They then stopped by a Giant called the Marsh Hag. She gives Adrian a plant blub to plant in his arm to heal the pain form his many deaths and bring him closer to nature.
Later the group came across another boat, and began talking to a harpy woman on deck and then a handsome man named Silverword. He convinced Adrian, Eliza and Reimbold go abord the boat to trade. There, they get captured by Rous, the “Captain” of the ship. He ransomed the captives back to the rest of the group, but the group makes a deal with Silverword to help him mutiny and take the ship. They are very effective in taking back the ship. Silverword gives them piles of treasure and helps them build another boat as payment. Eliza is the new captain of the new boat.
Before leaving, the group went foraging for supplies to preserve Reimbold’s new pirate zombies. There they find strange mushroom lizards. Grabbing the Mushizards results in them trying to run and hide. One takes up residence inside Adrian’s vine arm and another hides inside a zombie’s guts. The group then finds that when injured the mushizards produce a green antiseptic goo that preserves the zombie cuts.
Part 3: Wellspring
The expedition made a pit stop at a local wellspring along the way to recharge the casters and have some fun. This well spring takes the form of a set of rainbows filled waterfalls that are wonderfully warm, making a small oasis in the winter lands for many more tropical plants and animals. The group has fun swimming and exploring and enjoying the wildlife. Pania reveals that she is some form of merfolk and insights a water fight. Bambi attempts to teach Adrian, Eliza, Naliatha and Reimbold how to speak to the mushizards and learn more about them. And Pania and Eliza develop a little crush.
Part 4: Fae Forest
The Expedition continues on through the mushroom forest. There, Adrian messes with some magic and grows trees through the newly built boat. The group plays with some local wildlife only to discover that they are not the friendliest but manage to avoid becoming part of the menu. The group picks up a hitchhiker and then goes out and rescues a fallen star.
After reaching a ruined castle where they camp, the group settles in and explores some of the area. A
The then they face off against an Innominatam.
Part 5: Fae Forest2
Relaxing and talking about the battle, the group learns more about the Discarded World and each other and invent a new holiday. Adrian goes off to live with some wild animals. The group has some worries over how much the mushizards have reproduced. Eliza takes Pania to go hang out in the crow’s nest. IN the morning, the group makes breakfast then goes to retrieve Adrian from the Lantern Wolves. They have some tense moments with the Lantern Wolves but manage to retrieve him peacefully.
All reunited, the expedition got back under way. A fae then dropped onto the ship and engaged in some trading with them. Most of the group feels uneasy trading with him, but some do. He thanks them and leaves when they are done.
Part 6: Dancing Court
The group travels on, following a bright light into the forest that leads to the Dancing Court. They are greeted by a titaness of snow fall, Aneira, who allows them entry. They find the palace to be a beautiful sculpture of ice on a mirrored lake. While setting up camp they are greeted by the Guardian of the lake, Lady Shailyn whom Reimbold knows, and she knows as well! She gives them passage to the palace, after a brief interlude of experimenting with the memory erasing properties of the Mirror Water. Inside the palace they find a fae party in full swing. There Reimbold knows more people and does some introductions around. The group meets the King, King and Queen’s Guards and the Queen of the Dancing Court, as well as an incorrigible flirt, Alano. They talk and laugh and share pleasantries, until Reimbold’s memory starts slipping again and he is taken by the Queen’s guard, Ebrion, to rest. The Queen shares some fun with fae wine that has minor party trick magic effects until she and the group turn in for the night. Meanwhile, back at camp, Ikarus, Zerus and Bambi discuss the world and the strange things in it.
In the morning, the group finds their ships covered in strange snail dog creatures that they dub “Snogs and Snuppies. Reimbold, having returned, with the help of Ebrion build a fire to draw the Snogs off the ships. Bel emerges from the ship to examine the strange creatures. Through some experimentation the group finds that the Snogs like nectar, heat and music, change color when they’re warm and carry tiny snuppies in their shells. When the herd suddenly leaves, forgetting a tiny snuppy, the group goes to take it back to the herd. They follow their trail through the winter woods until they find a place without snow. There, a horned creature who identifies as Xal, keeper of the Iron Garden, holds a limp flower girl. After a tense exchange the group agrees to help Xal perform a grand ritual which wakes their other half- the child and causes the area to bloom. They also find out that Xal/the Child is the Queen’s sister.
Part 7: Travel Log
The group parts ways with Xal/the Child after some more playing with the Snogs, talking and trading. Captain Eliza officially names her new ship, and the group discovers that the mushizards are breeding rapidly. Adrian shares some information about their home world with Eliza. And then the expedition moves into action as it is discovered that the ships are sinking into the ground where they are camped. They find that grasping roots have dug out space under the ships and are slowly dragging them under. After moving the ships, a traveling tree comes to investigate Naliatha’s singing. It takes water and food and Naliatha. The group tries to stop it, then communicates with it. Learning that tree people are weird and think fleshy things are weird. They name is Ramus and try to get it to join the party, only for it to make off with some stolen barrels of water, food, and one full of Mushizards. Reimbold has a little unexpected nap that scares some of the group and then Haco decides to test out his new shield.
During the fight, Pania goes off the rails and tries to kill several of the group. After injuring and restraining her, the group heals her and releases her, only for her to begin the attack again. Naliatha speaks with her spear, who tells her “Love or Death can awaken.” Eliza chooses love and kissing Pania, which returns her to her senses. The group discusses ideas on what may have caused it and buddy up to protect each other.
As they pack up to be underway, they discuss being able to talk to animals which leads to conversation about the potion “Comprehend languages” which leads to Adrian cutting out his tongue to put in the spell, needing regeneration and Reimbold making him the potion.
Part 8: Meals on Wheels
The Expedition gets underway, passing out of the winter wonderland and into a dense jungle filled with carnivorous plants. Pania offers Haco an experimental cooling crystal when she notices that the increased heat is bothering his already high temperature. Haco and Reimbold immediately begin experimenting with the crystal when they are told that the magic is dangerous. While they experiment, they spot a carnivorous plant, but it shies away from the fire, the experiment and having been spotted. Unsurprisingly the experiment went badly, producing a large crystalline spider. The group first tries to talk to it and command it, but it tears up and eats a zombie. Adrian disguised himself as another spider and performed a mating dance to distract it. None of their weapons or magic seems to work. Eliza talks Pania into Nulling it. Pania was hesitant due to losing her mind the last time she used Null, but she kept her mind this time. Nulling it evaporates the spider into almost nothing. It leaves behind a few tiny red hot sharp shards that Pania, Haco, Reimbold and Eliza collect in jars of dirt. Pania explains that the monks of Null believe that elemental magic comes from a creature inside the ground that is trying to corrupt the world called the Great Rotten One. Adrian gets back on the ship, still disguised as the second spider. Hilarity ensues until it’s revealed that it’s Adrian in disguise.
Further down the trail, the path is blocked by a very large carnivorous plant that has a humanoid creature impaled on one of its thorn legs. Adrian brings out his own new carnivorous plant child- Ruper and Haco and Vex get to know each other a bit as the group discusses getting around the plant or attacking it. Reimbold suddenly starts shooting off Dark Bolts at the large plant, which understandably attacks back, but it is no match for the armored hull of the Toad and can’t quite reach those on deck so after a moment it retreats and waves its victim at them, trying to entice them close. They decide to move on once it’s out of the road and that the victim is a bait, not a person. The rest of the trip goes smoothly, except for Reimbold’s shotty memory and they reach Tekom Safely.