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D&D 4e: Barons of the Wild – Session 8

Mannish gone Mad

The Royal Munch Bunch dove into the depths of the Copper Holes, leaving Doni the Halfwit Halfling to practice the art of obscene tattoos on Chuggs outside.

The dreams that had haunted Ansis came to life in the darkened pits of the mine, as a cat faced snake chased them through a labyrinth, crashing into them and crushing them time and time again.  While attempting to hunt it down and kill it, the fellowship blundered through the maze and into a giant hoard of treasure.  Amongst the treasure was a giant bronze statue of a minotaur that Llamers and Keelix recognized as a Bronze Warder from the Mages of Saruun.   Draped in the arms of the bronze minotaur was a real minotaur.

Breathing heavily, oozing from sores and snorting foamy bits of blood from his snout, the minotaur rose from his repose and spoke to the heroes.  Hearing his voice, the Munch Bunch recognized the beast as Mannish, the bloodcrazed minotaur from their time in Thunderspire.   Through a collapsing frame of disease and madness Mannish’s mind would return at myriad moments and he told them that Meshach and the remains of the Tattered Band released the pixies and faeries by murdering the Mages of Saruun that had held them bound, the pixies went wild, and the things that have resulted since were due to that mistake.  Meshach has declared himself King and now sits arrogantly in the Gash thinking himself above humanity.  Apart and above.

Mannish’s mind was as decrepit as his body, and he lashed out violently intent on killing the heroes.  Through bouts of wild insanity Mannish begged for death, and the heroes granted it.  Ansis was able to command the Bronze Warder to come crashing down on Mannish with the mammothing bronze axe it held, breaking off horns and cracking Mannish’s skull.  Cat the Maze Snake returned and fought alongside Mannish but it was too late, and the heroes were able to finish them both off.

The hoard of the copper maze was enormous, and the heroes quickly determined that it was basically the entire wealth of the valley that had been robbed by Mannish and his roving bands.  Searching the hoard they found many items of power, and quickly girded themselves up to close the Shadowfell Crossing, which they believed to be at Bog Village of the Frogmen to the west.

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Call of Cthulhu: The Sanitorium – Session 1 (Part 1)

Don’t even think about trying to escape.

Dr. Aldous Brewer, experimental psychologist and chief resident psychiatrist at North Island Sanatorium has recently had an article published in the Journal of American Psychological Society.  Based on his research done with three unnamed patients based out of his isolated island sanatorium, he has stumbled across a fascinating possibility in Jungian psychology regarding the collective subconscious.  In the article he claims that  while conducting deep hypnosis on the patients he has tapped into ancient knowledge from the past and has resulted in incredible findings.  His article has sparked a small firestorm of excitement, criticism, and outright dismissal in the academic field.

Soon after publication of Dr. Brewer’s article, psychiatrist and medical doctor, Dr. George Willikars stumbled across it.  Interested about the situation he inquired with the state board about the institution where Dr. Brewer was conducting his research.  Getting nothing satisfactory to sate his curiosity regarding Brewer or his study, Dr. Willikars resolved to visit the sanatorium.  Feeling worried for the welfare of the patients involved he contacted the FBI to alert them to his concerns.  The FBI, having been interested in the institution themselves, but with no clear method to infiltrate assigned a young agent Helga Griffon to accompany him as a presumed patient of his.  Disliking the deception, but grateful for the security an agent brought him, Dr. Willikars agreed.  Writing Dr. Brewer, Willikars wrote a letter to request a tour, and Dr. Brewer eagerly consented to the visit.

After scheduling the visit with Willikars, Dr. Brewer reached out to his niece, Elva Brewer.  As a student of psychology at the local university, she has been looking for a place of internship.  Knowing that, Aldous wrote to his niece to invite her to join the hosted tour that Willikars would be enjoying.  Elva, young and devoted to her uncle, immediately agreed.

Meanwhile, Mickey O’Malley, the down-trodden, semi-handicapped alcoholic giant had been offered the first job since his firing from the city trolley company he had worked at for seven years.  Dr. Brewer has extended the job offer to replace the ferry boat pilot and island handyman Ebeneezer Waite that has been working on the island since before it became a sanatorium. Continue reading “Call of Cthulhu: The Sanitorium – Session 1 (Part 1)”

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Call of Cthulhu: The Haunting – Session One (Pt. 3)

Wherein the investigators encounter the inexplicable, and meet their fate in the dark…

The Bedroom

Perilous Windows need a good washing

Upon reaching the top floor, the thumping became banging.  Listening to each door down the hall, they determined it was coming from the last room on the left, at the end of the hall, and St. John smashed the door down with his foot.  However, the room appeared empty aside from some furniture.  Adams, being impulsive and irritable, stormed into the room determined it was someone hiding.  Losing his temper he stomped on the floor boards in the center of the room, demanding that the lurker come out.  The thumping stopped, and from where his foot had crashed into the floor, a slow wet circle began to expand.  Looking closer, Rachel saw that it was blood, and Adams quickly backed out of the room.  The wet spot slowly receded as he left.

Although the thumping had stopped, a scratching began at the window.  St. John, inquisitive, moved to the window, but the scratching sound moved to the side of the house, just outside of view.  Unable to open on his own, as the window had been painted closed, St. John’s friends moved into the room to help him.  First Jane attempted to help, but still not strong enough, Rachel joined them in, and with a final shove all three finally were able to push the window open.  Adams stayed in the hallways, loath to return to the bloodied room.

Continue reading “Call of Cthulhu: The Haunting – Session One (Pt. 3)”

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Call of Cthulhu: The Haunting – Session One (Pt. 2)

Wherein the investigators continue their interviews, and visit the house.

Day 2

While driving to Baltimore to visit the Macario children, Rachel dozed off at the wheel, and crashed through a farmland fence.  She was roughed up the most, but nobody else seemed to even notice the damage.

All four of the investigators showed up in the morning on the doorstep of the Macario children’s guardians.  When the caretaker came to the door, she immediately was suspicious of Adams and St. John, and refused to speak any further.  When Rachel returned alone she was able to win over the woman, and she was able to speak with the kids.

The kids explained how when their dad got hurt falling down the stairs, he was alone in the house a lot.  After a few months without leaving the house, he became  deliriously ill.  They said that they had often heard him speaking to someone in the basement, and would spend a lot of time down there, but their mother wouldn’t allow them to go down there to see him.  They think they know who he was talking to, as a man with “bright eyes” would often look at them in their beds at night.  The children became quite fond of Rachel in their short interview, and the children’s caretaker, their father’s cousin, invites Rachel to come back any time, as she seems to have cheered the kids up.

Continue reading “Call of Cthulhu: The Haunting – Session One (Pt. 2)”

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Call of Cthulhu: The Haunting – Session One (Pt. 1)

Seriously, make any picture of a child or teddy bear black and white high contrast, and you'll be unsettled

Seriously, make any picture of a child or teddy bear black and white high contrast, and you'll be unsettled

List of Characters

Stephen St. John, Esq.; Accomplished solicitor/lawyer.  A dapper dresser and impeccable orator.  Is willing to take on cases no one else would touch, partly out of pride and…  well, no, entirely out of pride.  Helped save the Adams store from lawsuits intended to keep Adams from inheriting it.

Vincent Adams;  Orphaned son of gun store owner, inherited the shop and all the weapon stock and the clientele, both legal and illegal.  Always looking for extra cash, and a way to test out his newest weapons.  Owes St. John for his livelihood, and will help him at the drop of a hat.

“Lady” Jane Simpson; Privileged dilettante, thrill seeker, trust fund child.  Slumming it at the moment in nearby Miskatonic.  Parents are professional peers of St. John, and she met Adams through their mutual association.  Yawns a lot.

Rachel Hemingway; Journalist and budding author.  Currently studying the underworld of arms dealing, working as publicist and adventure companion for Adams. Continue reading “Call of Cthulhu: The Haunting – Session One (Pt. 1)”