This is a very long story I wrote from a roll play that was done on Discord. It is from a D&D campaign called The Hunt for the Axe (which is still in process and still being written). The names below are the character names, not the names of the players. I am not the creator of The Hunt, just merely a player.
The background: our adventurers are in a town called Hollowtown. They’ve been there for a little while, and have decided that, while convenient, the tavern isn’t where they need to be long term, as it looks as if they are here to stay. They want some place more secure and a little more private. They have heard of a manor house on the hill that is for sale … cheap … and decide to go take a look. As they get to the house, a mist rolls in. This is what happens.
Who is who:
Miracan – Drow Gloom Stalker Ranger, doesn’t speak common, has Blaze translate for him. Is relatively new to the surface.
Galruin – Aarakocra Monk (Tinker, Linguist, Calligrapher), likes inventions and making things
Wrenn – Rock Gnome Wizard, is very inquisitive almost to the point of not realizing danger
Nimbus – Wrenn’s familiar, An Elf Owl.
Meriel – Variant Human Sorcerer (wild magic), is coming into her own, was told by her family she was a cleric.
Chapel – Warforged Cleric, was thrown her by a sorcerer from his home world.
Blaze – Fire Genasi Rogue, translates for Miracan, and a bit more
Role Played by Miracan, Galruin, Wrenn, Meriel, Chapel and Blaze
Narrative form by … Blaze
Assumption: When speaking to Miracan (or he is speaking) unless otherwise noted, it is in Draconic.
Section 1: Pre-Dream RP
Section 2: Chapel’s Prayer
Section 3: The Dream’s RP
Section 4: Post-Dream RP
Starting in the common room of the Crossroads Tavern
“Do you have any plans for the day Chapel?” Blaze asks.
“Today I am checking on our team to ensure everyone healed up and their equipment is mission ready.”
“Come walk with me. There is a manor house that is up for sale.” point vaguely up the hill “I want to go look at. We have occupied Doruzin rooms for too long. You are very methodical in your inspections. It would be nice to have that eye. Maybe you could join us Galruin and fly over the property and let us know what you see.
“Sure. We could use a “birds” eye view,” Galruin chuckles at own joke.
Blaze chuckles and gets up and exits.
Chapel nods and follows Blaze. “You think we may have overstayed our welcome?”
Miracan watches as everybody is gets up to leave and quietly follows.
Knowing the Drow is silently following, “no Chapel,” Blaze says “I don’t think we’ve overstayed. We are helping Doruzin. We just need a place that is,” pauses “a little more private and a little more secure. I’m hoping that this manor has a smithy on the property. Galruin, you were talking to Doruzin about it last night. Are you familiar with where this house is?”
“Not really sure,” Galruin states. “He was extremely vague about it’s location. And it’s current residents As if he didn’t have all the information or couldn’t tell me anything.”
“Can you scout for us?” Blaze asks pointing to the sky. “We can follow from down here.”
“I’ll give it a shot.” Galruin takes to the sky.
Blaze says to Chapel, “I have a feeling that this place will need considerable work.”
Galruin begins circling as mist rolls over the hills.
Chapel points to Galruin, “There.” Blaze and Chapel begin heading toward where Galruin is circling.
Galruin lands gracefully. “It’s strange.”
“Go on,” Blaze encourages.
“I wasn’t able to see much before the mist rolled in. But I could’ve sworn there was a house up this hill.”
“The mist just rolled in?” Blaze asks.
“I fear a storm is coming in.” Galruin says.”We have a day, 2 at most. We could go up the hill and check for this house. But I fear I won’t be much help from the sky.” He looks up as if watching for something.
Blaze turns around looking at the sky, “What do you sense?”
“Hmmm? Nothing. Just watching for the storm.”
Blaze stops turning in the direction of the Drow and gives a questioning look to the shadows. She turns back to Galruin, “Do you think we can see anything from the ground?”
“Possibly. But the mist would make it harder from a distance.” He turns and looks up the hill. “This way I believe,” and begins walking up the hill disappearing into the mist.
Miracan begins to slowly creep up the hill to scout, although he doesn’t know what for. He is just looking.
Blaze begins to follow Galruin. “What do you make of this mist? It doesn’t seem natural.”
Galruin reappears behind group. “Wow that’s odd? How’d you get in front of me so fast?”
Blaze looks startled. “Oh, this is not good. We didn’t get in front of you.”
“Maybe I got turned around. Let’s try again.” Galruin walks into mist and reappears behind group.
Blaze turns looking for Miracan.
Miracan has a feeling as he comes up behind the group.
“Odd, “ Galruin states. “I never forget what direction to go.”
Blaze agrees, “Very, very odd.”
“I will stay close and watch this mist,” Miracan says. “Go and find out what this might be. Somebody must know something if we just question the right person.”
Blaze tilts head her head to the side and looks at Miracan questioningly. She nods to Galruin, eyes not leaving the Drow.
Miracan moves away to find a good spot to watch the mist.
The mist thickens around the hill becoming almost solid looking.
Blaze follows Miracan. “Be careful.”
Miracan looks at Blaze. “I will be fine.”
“This is different.” She looks over her shoulder at the mist.
“I can get away if I need to.”
“That doesn’t stop me from being concerned. I’ve gotten used to having you around.”
“I will be fine.”
“I hate this you know.”
“I did do this so….” shrugs “I stabbed the funny looking rock. I cut off the spiders legs. I tried to give my opponents life. I watch the mist.”
“I get it, ‘mostly indestructible’”. Blaze has a has a feeling of almost unbearable dread.
Reading her mood, Miracan says, “The only thing you should dread is if ‘she’ finds me again.”
Blaze closes eyes, sighs, and nods.
“We are all bound. When our time comes, we cannot fight that. Whether I bind or you bind or even our metallic friend binds… We are all bound.”
Blaze smiles sadly and nods, “I don’t want to lose,” hesitates “you to lose your freedom.”
Miracan shrugs. “What is will be. We all have our duties. We are all bound in one way or another.
“Don’t you dare make me cry Drow,” Blaze whispers. “Be safe Miracan,” and walks back to join the others.
“I don’t think we should be here,” Galruin says somewhat urgently.
Blaze watches the Drow a bit longer. “Agreed. Shall we go gentlemen?”
Miracan nods towards Blaze and the others watching them as they walk away.
Galruin turns head towards Drow, “Come. I don’t believe there is anything we can do right now. When the mists clear we can come back.”
Blaze touches Galruin on the arm. “Let him stay for now. Maybe he can get us some insight.”
“I will be safe birdman.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” Galruin begins walking back to tavern, pondering mist.
Blaze gives Miracan one last look, wondering if she will see him alive again, and nods to Galruin.
“Today wasn’t a good day for this I see,” Galruin says. “Damn storms.”
“Having our own building would be more secure than a common area like the tavern,” Chapel notes. We can plan and resupply without worry about the other patrons. I like this plan. Too bad this weather came in. Is this common?”
“No,” Blaze replies. “It’s very … not natural.”
They walk back to the tavern each lost in their own thoughts.
“Looks like a storms a brewing out there,” Doruzin notes. “Gonna be a long night. Wouldn’t want to be caught out there in those mists.”
Blaze shivers and practically stands the fire. Galruin sits quietly.
“What is wrong with mist? Chapel asks. “Besides limited visibility, I mean. Should we bring Miracan back in?”
Blaze shivers. “That mist came up as soon as we got near the house. It is not natural. I’m sure the Drow will be ok.” Blaze tries to shake a foreboding feeling. “It would give us quite the advantage being on top of the hill.”
“This location Galruin took us to is remote too, which is good. I’m liking this plan,” Chapel says.
“I just wonder how big it is. We need quite a bit of space,” Blaze says. “And a forge or a blacksmith shop.”
“I can build a forge Ma’am. It will take time but I can do it,” Chapel says. “Has anyone seen Meriel and Wrenn? I need to check on them as well.”
Blaze smiles fondly at Chapel. “I have no doubt of that. I am hoping that it’s already available. I haven’t seen either of them yet today. But they were both of last night. Meriel was making delicious drinks.”
“Were they better than what the tavern provides?”
“Oh my yes! She is quite the mixologist.” Blaze changes the subject before Doruzin hears. “I’m wondering what shape this house is in. I hope it in good shape.”
“And defensible,” Chapel adds.
Blaze nods in agreement. “Chapel … how much do you know about masonry & carpentry?”
Galruin stays quiet but looks slightly disturbed.
Blaze looks a Galruin. “What’s up?” she asks.
Galruin stays silent, as if far away.
Chapel looks at Blaze and stands. “Not as much as we may need Miss Blaze. I will start studying now.” Chapel walks outside.
A large than normal Goliath pushes Chapel back into the tavern. “No one leaves while storm here.”
Blaze stands and loosen the daggers at her back.
Galruin places hand on Blaze’s arm and shakes head. He stares blankly stare at the Goliath.
Blaze looks at Galruin and nods.
Chapel’s eyes glow red, his hands glow and a magic shield faintly glows around him.
“Chapel?” Blaze asks to get his attention.
“Ma’am?”
“Please be careful.” To the newcomer, “Who are you and what do you want?”
The Goliath looks at Blaze. “Here to protect. No one allowed out during storm.”
“Fine. Who are you? Do you have a name, or shall I just call you Rocky?”
“Rocky fine. Me protector of town. No go out in storm. Or no come back.”
“Chapel, I think we will be ok,” Blaze says.
“Isn’t this just a storm? Blaze asks. “We have friends out there.”
“Go out in storm. No come back.”
Blaze snorts, “He’s already out there. And” smiling wryly, “a storm won’t stop him.”
“He be lucky if he come back. Hope he find somewhere inside.” The goliath turns and goes to stand guard at door.
Blaze looks at Chapel with concern. “If Miracan doesn’t show up….”
“Then we go get him Ma’am.”
Nods appreciatively. “Not yet. But thank you.”
“Miss Blaze, we need to prepare. We may need to act soon. I am going to get my equipment ready.” Chapel walks upstairs to get his equipment.
Blaze nods to the retreating Warforged and sighs. She whispers to no one, “I will kill you myself Drow.”
Chapel checks his weapon and tower shield then places them against the wall. He checks the loadout in his pack and looks at the extra blanket on his bed for a moment, then rolls it up and straps it to the top of his pack. Satisfied he comes back down to the common room.
Meriel walks downstairs and into the common room. “Woah, where’s Chapel going in a hurry?”
“No where yet. Miracan is out in the storm. We are being held in here be some rock heads,” Blaze grates.
Meriel looks at the door, “those guys?” She whispers, “is that even legal?”
Blaze smiles at Meriel. “They are trying to protect us.” sighs “How about a cup of tea?” Blaze gets up and opens the tavern door.
“Huh” Meriel huffs. Under her breath she says with a frown, “if we wanna go out and die in a storm that lump isn’t gonna stop us.” She gets up and gets a mug of tea.
Chapel comes downstairs and walks up to Meriel. “Miss Meriel, are you feeling ok? Any injuries from yesterday?”
The door slams shut and locks from outside. Galruin looks up. “I’d take their advice.”
Blaze sighs and goes to her favorite chair and curls up and watches the fire.
“Stay indoors.” Galruin falls silent again.
Blaze mutters, “like a locked door has ever stopped me.”
“Hey Chapel! No, no injuries from yesterday I’m just peachy. What about you? How are you feeling?”
Blaze smiles at Meriel but then gets up abruptly and goes upstairs to her room.
“Miss Meriel, I am fine. Thank you. How is your gear? Is any of it damaged? I can repair it if it is.” Chapel speaks quietly to her, “we may need to leave quickly.”
“No, nothing of mine was damaged last night.” Meriel thinks and exclaims, “Oh! Wait right here. Don’t move!” She runs off upstairs.
Chapel stands in the same spot and stares in the direction in which she ran off.
Meriel comes back with Chapels blanket folded neatly in her arms “Here!” she whispers. “if we have to leave soon I don’t want to forget it. And I’m very, very sorry for throwing a rock at your head yesterday. It was not very kind.” The blanket has been embroidered with gold silver and orange thread in cogs wheels, flames, and miscellaneous weaponry. At the center of the blanket there is a large mechanical heart embroidered in red stitching.
Chapel takes the blanket and sits. He opens it and holds it open wide to see the pattern. “This is different than it was before. Did you do this work?”
Meriel fidgeting a bit and answers, “yes, I mean it doesn’t lose any of its functionality as a blanket, it’s just as warm as before, perhaps even more with the added thread. And I washed it after using it so it’s nice and clean, but if you don’t like it, I can always take it out, no harm done.”
“This is…unexpected…Thank you. The extra work you did to it is impressive.”
Blaze comes back into the common room and looks at the blanket. “That is lovely Meriel.” She goes and curls up in favorite chair to watch the fire.
Chapel stands walks over to Meriel and gives her a hug. “I appreciate this very much. Thank you.”
Blaze watches from the fire. She closes eyes, the ends of hair squirming agitatedly.
Meriel smiles with relief. “You’re very welcome, Chapel. I enjoyed making it! She pats Chapel’s hand happily and settles in on the chair next to Blaze.
Blaze gets up and grabs a bottle of bourbon and drinks directly from the bottle as she sits back down.
Chapel walks back up to his room. He takes the blanket off his pack and replaces it with the one Meriel gave him. He looks at it and nods to himself, then walks back downstairs.
“Um… Blaze? Are you okay?” Meriel asks.
Blaze nods at Meriel and takes a long pull on the bottle. “I’m fine. Thank you.”
Meriel, completely unconvinced, asks, “Are you worried about Miracan?”
“Nope. He’s on his own like he wants.” Blaze takes another swig from the bottle.
Meriel say disbelieving, “Ah, right, yes.”
Blaze shrugs and smiles at Meriel. “I’m fine.” She holds up hand with flame burning slightly hotter and higher than normal and hold up the bottle. “Not to worry. It burns off.”
“Oh! Well, you know what they say about day drinking.” A tall glass of water flies across the tavern spraying water at a couple customers as it moves. “You’ve got to stay hydrated, or you’ll feel terrible tomorrow.”
Blaze smiles as the glass land half empty on the table beside her. “Hydration is important.” She puts bottle of bourbon on the floor. Blaze watches the flames and picks up the bottle and continues to drink. Blaze sigh again and sighs and puts bottle back on the floor. She curls up and drifts off.
Chapel positions himself with his back to the wall so he can see are and the as much of the room as possible, then settles into a long rest, his eyes and consciousness never closing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapel’s Prayer
Chapel starts chanting, “For all we ought to have thought, and have not thought, All we ought to have said, and have not said. All we ought to have done and have not done. I pray thee Onatar for forgiveness.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Dreams
Galruin
Galruin opens his eyes in his old workshop. He looks around confused. He reaches out and fondly touches some of the inventions. Galruin walks over to his most recent invention and begins working. “I just need to attach this here. Use some of this powder in this area.”
As Galruin tinkers his invention makes a loud click and creates an explosion. “Oof! I guess that was a little too much,” he chuckles. “Right you are. Let’s go again.”
As he tinkers, Galruin begins to hear whispers, but doesn’t pay any attention to them. He is completely focused on his invention knowing it will change the world. Galruin catches a moving shadow out of the corner of his eye and looks up. “Who is there?” he calls out knowing his friends have left to go home.
Receiving no response Galruin goes back to tinkering but finds his focus slipping, even though he is close to finishing his crowning jewel. He starts to get an uneasy feeling, as if someone or something is watching him. He looks around and doesn’t see anything that is out of place. Out of the corner of his eye he sees a shadow move.
“Who is there? What do you want?”
Realizing the shadows are encircling him, Galruin does the only thing he can do, he uses his invention. As the invention explodes, Galruin hears the screams of his friends as the workshop collapse on top of them. “No! You aren’t supposed to be here!” he shouts.
Visions of his now dead friends begin to swirl around him. “You betrayed us Galruin,” they whisper. “You told them of your invention. You knew we were still here. You killed us!”
“No! No! I would never betray you!” Galruin cries out. “You are my friends. I would never hurt you!”
“You killed us! You betrayed us!” The visions of the broken and mangled bodies swim before his eyes and the voices get louder and louder.
“No! I would never betray you!” Galruin sobs and he falls to his knees. “I would never hurt you!”
Cold, mirthless laughter erupts around Galruin as visions and voices continue to bombard him as he fades into black.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapel
Chapel awakes to a nearby sound. It is an old warforged. He seems injured.
Chapel looks around confused. “Am I still in the tavern?”
Listening, Chapel hears battle in the distance. “Help me,” the warforged says weakly.
Chapel rushes to him looking worried, “It’s ok. I’m here to help. Where are you hurt?”
As he points. Chapel notices a hole in his chest.
Kneeling, Chapel cradles the old warforged’s head, and lays his hands over the wound, casting healing words. “You’re going to be ok. I’m going to take care of you.” As the spell is cast Chapels hands glow with an intense red healing light but the light fades as the spell fails. The old warforged stares at Chapel with horror, as he sees you have failed him. The old warforged eyes slowly fade as dies.
Chapel lays the old warforged’s head down slowly and puts his hand over the dead eyes. “Onatar, please welcome another warrior home. Welcome him into your hallowed halls for he has served his time in hell. Rest easy brother, we have the watch.” A tremendous feeling of sadness and failure sweeps over Chapel, “Not another one. If I had only been faster or studied more, I could have saved him. This is my fault.”
A voice calls out, “Yes, it is your fault.” Chapel looks down at the fallen solider, only to see that it is now gnome.
Looking at the gnome confused, Chapel asks, “What has happened?” He looks around to see who has spoken. “Where did that voice come from?”
Visions begin to swirl around Chapel. He sees his newfound friends, but they look peculiar. There is no fire in Blaze’s eyes. Meriel is cradling a lifeless owl. The voice calls again “We trusted you. Why have you done this? Why? You didn’t save poor Wrenn.”
Chapel looks back down at Wrenn, “No! No! I tried!” He looks at the rest of his friends. “I tried! I tried so hard! I wasn’t good enough! I have failed you!” Chapel falls to his knees in despair.
Cold, mirthless laughter erupts around Chapel as visions and voices continue to bombard him as he fades into black.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Wrenn
Wrenn awakens in his rooms back home, his books and scrolls in a pile next him. Nimbus comes tapping urgently at the window. Getting up, Wrenn looks around the room and walks over to open the window. “What has you so worked up?”
As Wrenn opens the window, Nimbus hops in, pecks at him, and then flies back out.
Wrenn recoils a bit from Nimbus peck. He looks out the window and tries to see where Nimbus has flown off to. “Now what was that about?” Wrenn muses.
Wrenn walks outside to follow Nimbus. He sees the Nimbus is flying up towards a sprawling white tower. “This is quite a curious sight.” Wrenn pulls out one of his journals and starts drawing the tower as he proceeds to make his way towards the tower.
As Wrenn approaches the tower he watches Nimbus disappear inside. Before Wrenn is a vast staircase leading up into the tower. As Wrenn proceeds up the stairs, he gets a feeling of unease. The staircase is decorated with elaborate designs and arcane carvings. Statues of great wizards from old, resting on raised platforms, line the staircase.
Wrenn immediately start drawing and taking notes of what he sees as he proceeds at a slower pace. His feeling of unease grows as he continues up the stairs, the statues seeming to watch. As Wrenn ascends, the staircase begins buzzing with energy.
Studying his surrounding, Wrenn decides to move faster up the stairs. As he climbs, he notices that he does not seem to get any further up the staircase. Wrenn begins to hear a maniacal laughter as the statues begin to twist and darken.
Wrenn knowing now there is something wrong, decides to cast mage armor on himself and proceed up the stairs keeping a close eye on his surroundings.
As he casts, his spell it fizzles out. The laughter continues to get louder as the staircase stops abruptly. Before Wrenn is an ornately carved white door.
Wrenn looks with fascination, and with a bit of worry, as he looks over the door. He proceeds to slowly open the ornate door.
The door swings open at the slight touch to a grand hall. At the end of the hall is Nimbus. He’s standing at the foot of a statue looking sad.
Wrenn observing Nimbus, asks “Nimbus what happened?” Wrenn moves closer to the statue get a better look at it. He notices a plaque at on the base of the statue. When Wrenn looks at the plaque he reads in Gnomish, “Here is the final resting place of Wrenn the Magnificent. Betrayer of Trust. Killer of Friends. May he rot eternally in this forsaken chamber.”
Looking up, Wrenn notices it’s a statue of himself. It seems a darkness has overtaken its features, they look gnarled and twisted, a cruel grin upon its face
Wrenn stumbles back a few steps, “What is the meaning of this? I would never harm my friends!”
A voice booms through the hall, “But you have!” it exclaims. Shadows begin to swirl around Wrenn, forming images of your friends, burned, and blasted by magic. Meriel is missing her left side. Blaze’s fire has gone out, and Nimbus lays broken and bloodied at your feet.
Wrenn looks shocked and horrified. “This isn’t right! This can’t be real this! This isn’t real!”
“All too real.” says a familiar voice behind you.
Wrenn turns to look in the direction of the voice. He turns to stare at himself.
Wrenn stares silently at first, but then yells at this supposed visage of himself, “Who are you? What is your goal by showing me these lies!?”
It smiles back calmly, “This is no lie. You did this. Your search for knowledge driven you mad!” Visions begin to flash as Wrenn sees himself, a menacing glare in his eyes, casting spells. He hears screams of pain.
Wrenn flinches at the visions. “I won’t be swayed by your words. This is not who I will become! This is just a twisted version of who I am.”
The visions begin to flash faster and faster. The screams get louder and louder. “Why Wrenn?!” they scream. “Why have you betrayed us?!”
Wrenn touches his head as the visions run faster through his head. Wrenn casts Hold Person on the twisted version of himself.
As the spell succeeds, Wrenn notices he cannot move, a cold, mirthless laughter erupting all around him.
Wrenn struggles to break free from the spell, unable to say anything to break it’s hold.
Laughter continues swirling around you as the visions and voices grow stronger and stronger. Overwhelmed, Wrenn fades into blackness.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Meriel
Meriel awakens in the tavern. With no one in sight she assumes they went to their rooms. As the storm rages on outside, the winds howl, signs, metal, and other objects all clatter and bang around outside.
Blinking sleep out of her eyes Meriel sits up a little in her chair and reaches into her bag to pull out a notebook when a voice calls out, “Meriel… help…”
“Blaze? Chapel?”
She turns, looking for the voice only to hear it come again like a whisper down the hall. “Help…”
Meriel stands and walks to the hallway with growing apprehension.
“Who’s there? What’s wrong?”
As she walks down the hallway, the hall gets narrower and narrower, and claustrophobia mounts as Meriel begins to run towards the voice. She pauses to cast a spell of protection, but it fizzles and sputters out before her eyes. As she finally reaches the light, Meriel enters a large, high-ceilinged room. It appears empty, even as Meriel searches for the owner of the voice.
“Where are you?” Meriel calls out.
“Here. Behind you.”
Meriel’s head whips around as she turns to see Blaze, bloody and mangled, standing before her with rage and fear burning in her eyes.
Meriel reaches towards her friend, wanting nothing more than to stop the bleeding and heal whatever hurt had befallen her.
“BLAZE! Oh, what happened to you??”
She looks broken as a cry wrests itself from her throat. “YOU!” she screams. “You did this!”
Meriel steps back as if struck and the words come tumbling out of her.
“No, no, no, no, Blaze please! I didn’t! Please, let me help you!”
As Meriel reaches her hand out, Blaze cringes away from the gesture and screams, begs the empty space around them, “help me… help me! She’s going to kill me! She’s going to kill us all!”
With a shove Blaze pushes Meriel back, forcing her to trip over… bodies.
Bodies are strewn across the floor: a small owl, a large man wrought of metal, a dark skinned elf clutching a longbow, a pair of twisted black wings, and a small gnomish hand reaching towards a leather bound book. They look broken and burned staring up at Meriel with betrayal and hatred burning in their unseeing eyes.
“Why?” Blaze screams, her voice raw and unrelenting. “Why did you do this?”
These are her friends. The first people to ever accept her for who she is, to give her a place to be herself, no tricks, no twisted words or manipulation.
Her every fear now realized, Meriel’s thoughts race. How dare you try to be something you are not? Your power is a plague on everything you touch! You thought to be more than that curse?
The tears that had begun the moment she set eyes on Blaze, continue without stopping, pouring down her cheeks in hot streams of anger and disbelief.
“No, no, you’re lying! I’m getting better! I’ve been practicing!”
No sooner do the words leave her mouth, than memories slam into her mind, one after another, over and over until Meriel is breathless and shaking.
She sees her magic surges – wild, yet, in control – slam into her friends over and over, breaking them and mangling their bodies.
“NO!” Meriel screams and crumples to the ground, trying to wake up her fallen party members, begging them to come back. She didn’t mean to, didn’t want to hurt them. “You did this. You have killed us,” the voices boom and overlap as the visions continue to swirl.
As her vision fades to black, Meriel sees a cold, twisted smile from her own reflection.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Miracan
As everyone walks away, leaving Miracan at the foot of the hill, he sees a quick flicker of a shadow in the mist. He watches intently while knocking an arrow, but nothing is there.
Miracan kneels and watches the mist with his bow ready, listening for any sounds. As he waits motionless, he sees another shadow appear in the mists. It’s as if the shadow is watching him.
With arrow nocked, Miracan stares back at the shadow, still listening for anything around. The unmoving shadow is seemingly facing Miracan. Still as death, Miracan doesn’t move, keeping his eyes on the shadow in the mist.
As quickly as it appeared the shadow disappears, seemingly with no movement, only to reappear seconds later. This time it is slightly closer and to the left, but still veiled by the mist. Miracan slowly turns his head to watch the new shadow.
The shadow seems to disappear and reappear in random places within the unmoving mist. Miracan seeing no aggression from the mist, holds his ground and continues to watch, motionless. Seeing that there is an obvious “life” inside the mist, Miracan keeps his bow ready, but not drawn. He is only there to scout.
Studying the mist, Miracan notes that it does not fluctuate or move when the shadow appears and disappears. Pondering while intently watching the mist, Miracan mumbles in Undercommon, “that might work.” He begins to slowly move back towards the tavern, always keeping his eyes on the shadow within the mist.
As Miracan moves step by step towards the tavern, the mist crawls over the land following him. As he is backing away you hear a soft chuckle emanating from the mist. After hours of slowly moving towards the tavern, never taking his eyes off the shadows in the mist, Miracan formulas a plan to fight it. The mist is protecting something.
As Miracan continues to move toward the tavern the chuckling from within the mist begin showing him vision of his past. His mind begins filling with images from his past; the killing of your kin, the invasion of his homeland invasion, and the dragonborn that lead the invasion. The visions are twisted and dark, as if some force is bringing them forth. The visions leave Miracan a little chilled, but he is able to shrug them off as nothing more than mirages.
Hearing the voices and seeing the vision, Miracan knows that the mist is dangerous, and he can’t turn his back on it. This isn’t something he can fight alone.
As Miracan keeps backing away towards the tavern he hears cold, mirthless laughter coming from the mist. The visions turn into voices stating, “it’s your fault,” and “it should’ve been you.” They sound weak and faraway. Miracan ignores the voices and focuses on the dance, his eyes locked wherever the shadow shows up. Stepping slowly towards the tavern not knowing who is alive or who is dead as all contact to the party has been lost.
The mist and the shadow continue to follow Miracan, the visions receding and the voices becoming faint. But the mocking laughter continues, undisturbed.
As Miracan back up to the tavern, he bumps into something solid on the ground. Stepping to the right, never taking his eyes off the mist, he discovers the dead body of a goliath outside the tavern door. As the laughter continues, Miracan steps around the body and opens the tavern doors.
Miracan backs to the bar and watches the door not making a sound. He just keeps backing up, watching the mist and waiting. The mist stops at the door to the tavern, as the laughing ceases and the door slams shut. The night goes quiet.
Miracan looks around the common room and sees his companions sleeping, looking like they are having bad dreams. In the silence of the common room Miracan lowers his bow and standing straight, back against the wall so he can see the whole of the common room. He says quietly in Undercommon, “If you want me, take me, I am here.”
He pulls his swords as he stands and waiting for what comes. Miracan waits yet nothing comes as the winds die down and his companions look pained in their dream. As Miracan begins to walk towards the doors with his swords against the back of his arms, as his companions begin to wake.
Blaze wakes with a start and pulls her rapier and rushes towards Miracan pointing the rapier at his throat.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Blaze
The mist thickens around the hill becoming almost solid looking.
Blaze has a has a feeling of almost unbearable dread.
Reading her mood, Miracan says, “The only thing you should dread is if ‘she’ finds me again.”
Blaze closes eyes, sighs, and nods.
“We are all bound. When our time comes, we cannot fight that.” Miracan shrugs. “What is, will be. We all have our duties. We are all bound in one way or another.
“Don’t you dare make me cry Drow,” Blaze whispers. “Be safe Miracan,” and walks back to join the others.
Blaze gives Miracan one last look, wondering if she will see him alive again….
~~~~~
Blaze awakens in the empty common room tavern with a start. She notices the door to the tavern open and the mist has cleared. In the doorway stands Miracan with 2 bloody swords in his hands. He gestures for her to follow.
Blaze looks at the Drow and sighs. “You’re not dead,” she says with a hint of anger. Miracan just nods and gestures for her to follow. Blaze sighs and gets up, “fine,” and follows the Drow reluctantly.
Miracan leads Blaze through town following an unseen trail. She continues follows him reluctantly. “What are you up to Elf?” she snaps. He continues to lead you silently through town. As the wind picks up you notice an odor and breath in the smell of blood.
Blaze begin seeing bodies from the corner of her eye. She turns to looks and sees big, small, different races, wealthy, and poor. Yet, Miracan continues.
Blaze stops walking, “What have you done Elf?” Miracan turns and without a word he urgently gestures for her to continue.
“Fine! Lead on,” she says frustrated.
Miracan leads her to a hill. Along the of the hill base is a pile of bodies. He stops and looks down. Refusing to look down Blaze shrugs. “People die. Isn’t that what you told me?”
Miracan nods and continues to stare and gestures to the pile of bodies at his feet.
Blaze, still refusing to look, shrugs. “They’re dead.” He nods and continues looking the pile over. Blaze watches without really seeing. Miracan stops and gestures for her to follow further.
As Blaze and Miracan ascend the hill, she notices the smell of blood getting stronger and the faces of the dead are becoming clearer. Feeling more and more uneasy, Blaze loosen her blades, but continues to follow the Drow. “What are you up to Elf?”
When they reach the top of the hill and Blaze sees a manor house. Miracan points. Outside the door is what looks like a green flag waving in the wind. As Blaze approaches the flag, she sees red streaks of blood on what is really a cloak.
Blaze turns to Miracan in horror. “What did you do? Where is Meriel?” Blaze pulls her rapier and points it at Miracan. He just looks at her, gestures towards the door, and steps aside indicating Blaze should go in. She enters cautiously and looks around. A feeling of dread comes over her as she smells blood but hears nothing.
Blaze turns to look at Miracan, but he is nowhere to be seen. Blaze’s hair begins to show her agitation as she moves further into the building. She notices a table in the room at the end of the hallway. There is someone sitting in each chair at the table.
Blaze walks slowly towards the table. As she approaches the table, she can see her friends. They look hollow and lifeless. Blaze raises her rapier and walks a bit closer. As she gets closer, she sees Meriel and staring at her with cold, accusing eyes. She is lifeless and helpless. Cradled gently in Meriel’s arms is a tiny owl. The rest of the group stares at Blaze with the same cold, dead, accusing eyes.
Blaze takes a step back in horror as a voice calls out, “you… you did this.” The voice sounds small and almost shy. Blaze looks around for the voice, “what did I do?” As Blaze look around, she sees Miracan kneeling on the floor. The voice calls again, “this was all your fault. You could have stopped it. Could’ve helped us.”
“Stop what? Who are you?” Blaze takes a hesitant step towards the Drow. She sees blood dripping onto a large pool on the floor in front of him. “This is because of you,” says the voice. “You care for nothing but money. You care for nothing but wealth.”
“No!” yells Blaze. “I care for my friends.” Cold, mirthless laughter erupts around Blaze as she takes a step back towards the door. “What did I do?”
The voices call out, “you killed us.” Blaze hears a shift behind her, and she turns toward the noise, putting the wall at her back. “I didn’t kill you.” She watches as one of the bodies rise calling out, “it was you! You never cared.”
“That’s not true!” Blaze screams. As the body rises, Blaze watches as its cloak falls off and underneath is her holding a bloody dagger. A cruel smile on her face it says, “but it was you.”
Blaze repeats, “I didn’t do this.”
It smiles cruelly back, “this is what I’ve always wanted, money and power. All of this is mine.” It laughs maniacally as visions of Blaze’s friend’s deaths begin to show at the end of her blade and their screams fill her ears. “No!” Blaze screams. “I didn’t do this!”
The laughing continues as the visions bombard Blaze, and the voices shrieking “you failed us” echo in her ears. As the visions and voices continue Blaze is overwhelmed and fades to black.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Backing through the doors of the tavern Miracan mumbles, “Torches and fire be ready.” While backing away, he never takes his eyes from the door, holding his bow ready, arrow nocked but not drawn. In the silence of the common room Miracan lowers his bow and pulls his swords, waiting.
Blaze wakes with a start and pulls her rapier and rushes towards Miracan pointing the rapier at his throat, “Who are you? What have you done?”
Miracan looks at Blaze puzzled. He can feel the mist leaving and he starts to relax.
Chapel’s eyes slowly light up and he looks around, confused.
Blaze continues to point rapier at Miracan’s throat, hair waving agitatedly, eyes burning, “What have you done Elf!”
Miracan says in Undercommon, “If it must be.” And starts to tense into a fighting stance. In Draconic he says “Blaze… do not.”
Blaze closes her eyes and takes a breath, opens her eyes, and looks in the Drow’s eyes. She lowers her rapier a bit, takes half a step closer, and says softly so only the Drow can hear, “tell me about the wolf.”
“It was hungry.”
Blaze drops her blade to the ground and stares at Miracan. “What…”
“What happened? Onatar NO! WRENN!!!!” Chapel screams.
Miracan starts and stares towards the metal man looking for danger.
Blaze reaches out and grabs Miracan’s arm. “It’s ok. Something is messing with us. It gave me,” pauses “visions.”
Miracan starts to relax and nods. “The mist is alive and probably the cause.”
Blaze nods and reaches down and squeezes Miracan hand, “they were horrible.”
“As some dreams may be. A life that was before might be again.”
Blaze shakes her head. “Please don’t say that. They were only dreams.”
Blaze steps over to Chapel and puts a hand on his arm, “it wasn’t real.”
“NO!! YOU’RE WRONG!! I WATCHED HIM DIE!! WHERE IS WRENN? I WILL SHOW YOU!”
Miracan steps closer to Chapel in case…
Blaze grabs Chapels arm with both hands “Chapel. Listen to me!”
Chapel pulls it away. “I am sorry Miss Blaze. I have failed you.” Chapel looks down. “He was my duty.”
Blaze grabs his arm again, “Chapel! You haven’t failed.”
Miracan sheaths his swords.
“It was a dream Chapel. The mist … it’s not what it seems. It has given us all different visions.”
Wrenn walk into the common room. “What with all this yelling?”
Blaze smiles at Wrenn. “Oh, thank god.”
Chapel runs to Wrenn, grabs him by the shoulders, and picks him up roughly. “How can this be? What is happening?”
Blaze turns back to the Drow. “How do fight this?”
Miracan shrugs. “It is a mist. It is alive. Fire burns away fog… torches.”
Wrenn looks surprise and shocked. “Ummm, can you please put me down Chapel?” Wrenn also looks pale and very shaken.
Galruin jumps down from the rafters. “I think it’s more than that.”
Blaze steps over to Chapel. “It was a dream. Wrenn is fine. You can put him down.”
Miracan starts to look for any visible wounds in the party.
Chapel looks closely at Wrenn’s face, too close for Wrenn’s comfort. “It IS you isn’t it? What is happening?” Chapel sets Wrenn down carefully and fixes his clothing. “I’m sorry Sir.”
Wrenn jolts back and attempts a smile at Chapel. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for.”
Galruin states, “It’s got to be about that house.”
Meriel jerks awake, tears begin streaming down her face as she looks up and sees Blaze. She shakes her head with a vengeance, “No! No! Blaze, I didn’t do it! I swear! I SWEAR!”
Galruin revisiting his vision, “and that birdlike creature.” He ponders what he saw.
Chapel turns and rushes to Meriel. “Are you hurt? What happened?”
Meriel swings to face him her eyes red and swollen from crying, “CHAPEL! Chapel I didn’t mean to I didn’t mean to I swear!” She grabs Chapel around the waist and keeps repeating the same thing.
It seems we all may have shared something in common,” Galruin says.
Blaze goes to Meriel, pulls her from Chapel, and hugs her tight, “I know you didn’t’ do anything. It was only a dream.”
“No! No!” Meriel sees Wrenn and cries harder. She frantically pushes away from Blaze, “Where’s Miracan?”
Miracan, seeing no visible wounds, stands and watches the main door again.
Blaze grabs Meriel’s hand and holds on, “He’s over there,” she points towards the door. “He’s fine.”
Wrenn looks at Meriel and quickly walks over to her. “Everything okay. Everyone is okay. You are okay.” Wrenn struggles to put on his best to smile for Meriel.
Meriel runs over to Miracan and touches his arm as if reassuring herself he’s okay.
The Drow looks at Meriel and nods.
Meriel looks to Wrenn and Nimbus. Nimbus is on Wrenn’s shoulder rubbing his head gently on Wrenn, trying to comfort him.
Meriel looks around for Galruin and rushes over to him and gives him a hug. “I’m so sorry!”
Wrenn steps back and sits down, getting lost in his own thoughts.
Blaze walks over and stands next to the Drow.
Chapel begins making his rounds, checking on each teammate a little too closely, as if needing reassurance that they are alright.
Wrenn tries to smile to Chapel. “I am fine Chapel.”
Galruin ruffles his feather back into place after Meriel’s hug. He looks at the few feather that have fallen out, chuckles, “looks like some more feathers for Miracan.” Galruin looks at Wrenn, “are you thinking what I am?”
Chapel stands up fully and looks at Galruin, eyes glowing bright red, “This house is a pestilence that must be destroyed. There is evil there that threatens us AND this town.”
Miracan walks to the door and checks to see if there is any lingering danger.
Wrenn perks up. “What is this about a House?”
Blaze walks over to Meriel and hugs her again.
“We have been looking for a more permanent base,” Galruin states.
Meriel still crying, not listening at all to what is going on, hugs Blaze back as tight as she can.
“We caught wind of a cheap noble’s house for sale. But when we went to go see it the mist and storm rolled in,” Galruin says.
Miracan looking at Blaze, “If there is no danger, I’ll just say there are dead and wait right outside the door.”
Blaze holding onto Meriel says softly, “we will be ok.” She looks up at Miracan and nods.
Galruin says to Miracan, “the danger is gone. There are just dead guards.”
Miracan nods to Galruin, “just saw one.”
Doruzin walks over to the table, “glad to see my merry bunch of misfits survived.” He places a keg of strong whiskey for you. “Welcome to Hollowtown,” and walks away.
Galruin pours drinks and passes them around.
Chapel picks up the glass and looks to the others.
Blaze takes drink a downs it in one gulp not waiting.
Miracan, hearing the glasses, comes back inside leaving the dead goliath right outside the door.
Blaze puts her glass on table for refill.
Galruin pushes drink to the side without a sip.
Meriel takes the cup and holds it in front of her staring at it with her head down.
Wrenn grabs his glass and pushes it to the side.
Chapel looks at the liquid in the glass and turns slightly. “This hardly brings me solace…is this a custom? Like kavfae?”
Galruin pulls out wrapped bundle and lights it with a flick of his flint
Blaze says softly to Meriel, “it will be ok.”
Meriel, without looking up says in a dead voice, “yes, it was just a dream.”
Galruin lets the bundle burn out filling room with the aroma of sandalwood and cherry.
Chapel looks to Galruin and then at the smoke. “That is,” he hesitates “pleasant. Is it a spell?”
Galruin says, “No it’s not a spell. It’s not magic at all, actually. Just some herbs to ward off evil and set a relaxing atmosphere.”
Wrenn, looking through his journal, quickly writes something and puts it away in his bag. “I will not become anything like that” he says very quietly to himself.
Galruin looks at Wrenn and in Gnomish says, “You ok friend?”
Wrenn looks up at Galruin. “I am fine it just…” he trails off not finishing he sentence. “It’s nothing of importance.”
“Very well. You just seemed a little more on edge is all.” Galruin looks around. “I’m sure we have all had an struggle.”
Miracan walks over to Blaze and asks quietly, “The danger is gone, should I go back?”
Galruin pulls out bundle and burns it, adding vanilla to the air.
Blaze looks up at Miracan and shakes head no. “I don’t think you need to. Actually… could you stay here for a bit,” she pauses “please. I’m … we’re all a little freaked out still.”
Miracan nods, walking towards his “designated” corner, and watches the room.
Blaze watches the Drow and nods thank you. Blaze hugs Meriel a little closer and says softly, “I killed everyone. Just for money.” She looks at the Drow and says, “I never want to go through that again.”
Meriel finally looks up, That’s not you at all Blaze. Not you at all.”
Chapel walks over to Wrenn, glass still in his hand, “I am sorry I failed you Wrenn, Sir….it will NEVER happen again.”
Blaze smiles wryly. “Not now. But at one time there was very little I wouldn’t do for money.”
Wrenn looks at Chapel. “You have nothing to be sorry about Chapel.” He gives a small smile.
Blaze looks at Chapel. “It wasn’t real.”
Galruin watches in silence.
In a very small voice Meriel asks, “what if … it was premonition?”
pBlaze answers immediately, “It’s not. It showed me something that has yet to come to pass and it showed Chapel his past.”
Galruin nods with blank stare.
Blaze looking at Miracan. “There is no way I would harm anyone of you … ever.”
Wrenn looks at Meriel. “From the sounds of it we all saw very different things, so I highly doubt it is a premonition.”
Shaking her head, Meriel persists, “But… If it was… Even for one or two of us… How could we know?”
Blaze squeezes Meriel tight. “It isn’t real child. It wasn’t real, and it won’t come to pass.”
Wrenn get a worried look on his face as he listens to Blaze, then quickly returns to his standard smile. “We will be fine. We just have to figure out what’s going on outside. But not for now I think we need to rest for a while.”
Meriel looks down at her hands and goes quiet.
Blaze nods at Wrenn. “I think you are right … but, honestly I not sure I want to be alone or go to sleep.”
The Drow sits in the corner motionless, watching the door, taking in all that is being said.
Blaze watches the Drow and sighs softly.
Wrenn is sits quietly lost in thought.
“Miss Blaze, I can keep watch. I…I want to.” Chapel amber eyes glow.
Miracan goes over to the bar and holds up his tea bag waiting for a cup of hot water.
Blaze smiles softly, eyes never leaving the Drow, and nods to Chapel. “We all need a protector tonight. Please keep us safe.” Blaze catches the Drow’s eye and nods towards Meriel.
Miracan nods in response.
Hot water appears in front of Miracan.
Blaze nods thank you to Miracan.
Meriel stands, “I think it’s time for me to turn in. Um, good night I suppose.” She walks around the corner to the stairs.”
Blaze says, “Good night Meriel.”
Miracan nods to Doruzin, takes the water, returns to the corner, and begins to make tea.
Once around the corner, Meriel casts invisibility on herself, does a 180, and walks out through the tavern, out the main door.
Doruzin grumbles, “oh bloody door. Damn hinges are broken again. He storms over forcing door into place you would think we’d have better doors for these storms.” He grumbles about low rate scum workers and bloody cheap hinges.
Miracan notices the door and begins walking out looking for what moved the hinges.
“I should go to my room.” Wrenn gets up and walks to his room.
“Night Wrenn,” Blaze says.
Wrenn gives a weak smile. “Good night.”
Miracan begins to follow Meriel’s tracks. “I will keep her safe.”
Blaze touches the Drow’s arm before he can leave “Let me come with you. Please.”
Doruzin shouts from a distance, “someone get me the bloody contractor and get him here to fix my door. I don’t give a Dickens just do it. He storms back into main bar mumbling about lazy no gooders.
Miracan shrugs, “I am only watching.” He walks out of the Inn.
“I know. I just can’t be alone.” Blaze gets up and begins following the Drow.
“You have us,” Galruin says. “He’ll be fine. Seems he’s the only one unphased.”
Blaze stops and looks at Galruin. “It’s not him I’m worried about right now. It’s me.” She continues after the Drow.
Chapel walks to the door and examines it. His hands glow red, like heated metal, as he mutters something. The door hinges are repaired and as good as new.
Blaze enters common room sometime later and sees Chapel. She walks over and sits in the chair next to fire.
Chapel walks over and stands next to Blaze’s chair and watches the room…ever vigilant.
Blaze nods to chair next to hers, “will you sit?”
Chapel looks down slowly. “Of course, Miss Blaze.” He sits down next to her.
“Thank you, Chapel. I’m not quite ready to be alone.”
“You’re not alone Miss Blaze.” He turns his gaze from the door to look at her. “I’m here.”
Blaze smiles and curls up in the chair. “Thank you. Are you ok Chapel? Those visions were so real.
“I am not. My visions told of my past. Brothers that I lost in battle. Brothers who looked to me and trusted me with their lives. I have lost many and I shouldn’t have.”
Blaze nods. “It gave Miracan similar visions. It took who I used to be and made it ugly. Nothing mattered but money and the power having coin brought me.” looks disgusted “I gave that up long ago. In my vision I killed everyone. You. Wrenn. Nimbus. Meriel. Galruin. Miracan. I slaughtered everyone.”
“I have lost many in my past. I have seen the horrors of war. What people can do to each other is atrocious. What has happened to my brothers was terrible. But they trusted me, relied on me. If I was better, I could have saved more. That vision reminded me of my past failures and showed me that it can happen again”
“We all have failures and success in life. You are defined by, but not controlled by them. Blaze holds up arm letting sleeve drop slowing faint old scars. “What do you see?”
“Pain”
Blaze looks at her wrist. “I used to see that too. It was long ago. We were captured by orcs. Mom was too old to be of use, so they killed her. And they took me to,” hesitates, “be of service. When they found I wasn’t as compliant as they wanted, I was to be sold. I’m not sure why they never killed me outright. When I look at these I see a past I learned from. Don’t let your mistakes define you. Learn from them and grow.”
“I never saw such things Miss Blaze…no one should.”
“No one should. But it defined me for a while. I wanted money so I could have control over my life. It didn’t make me happy or give me control. I had to come to terms with it. And that damned mist brought it all back.”
“I have seen what people can do to each other but I’m always there, after, to fix it or to make it right. I treated my fellow soldiers who had been struck with arrows or blown out of their boots by a catapult and buried in the ground right outside our forward operating base, had their legs snapped, and their faces slashed open by hot shrapnel. I have heard their screams for help and their desperate pleas for me to help them. And if I fail to repair what war has done to them then I wear that guilt like you wear skin.”
Blaze reaches out and hold Chapels hand.
“I failed them because I wasn’t good enough. That won’t happen again.”
“NO! That is not true.” Then softer and more compassionate. “No Chapel. That’s just not true. I’ve seen you work. You are a good man. Do you think your god would continue to answer your prayers if he thought you failed? I think you are just haunted by the same thing that haunts me. “I should have been able to”. I should have been able to save my mother. I still feel that loss. You should have been able to save your bothers in arms. You still feel that loss. You are good enough. It’s just sometimes the choice isn’t ours. We think it is, but it really isn’t.”
“If I was better, they would still be here, with their families. They trusted me and I let them down. It won’t happen again.”
Blaze squeezes Chapels hand and says softly. “I trust you. I know you won’t let me down.” Blaze lets the silence take over and slowly drifts to sleep.
Chapel closes his hand on hers and watches the door.
