The Ravenloft Chronicles- Shit Storm: Book One, Chapter Twenty-one

Barovia Blows

Dramatis Personae:
Tilea Aervavil'A'Sum, the Wild Elf Circle of the Moon Druid Barbarian
Scritch, the Weremonkey Squirrel Thief and Tilea's Animal Companion
Sachi Kno, the Vistani Weremonkey Thief
Tabitha Marie Lennox, the Human White Witch of Mystra, youngest of the Lennox triplets
Spot, Tabitha's Homunculus
Nikko, Tabitha's Flying Monkey familiar and Warlock of the White Witch
Azure, Nikko's Witch Light Familiar
Dot, the Tabaxi Cheetah Therinthrope Homunculus and White Witch
Pip, Dot's Flying Monkey Familiar
Speck, Dot's Homunculus
Isabella Catalina Hazelgrove, the Human Assassin and Scritch's Knight
Isabeth Katherine Hazelgrove, the Human Assassin and Catalina's sister and Knight
Sypha Alohrea Lennox, the Human Sorceress, eldest of the Lennox triplets
Agatha Leah Lennox, the Human Black Witch, middle of the Lennox triplets
Syndal Al'Vherin, the Four-year-old Human girl who Tilea released from an amulet,- kidnapped by Strahd, now working with Talmot Now cleansed of the soul brand clouding her mind
Clarah Kno, the Silver Dragoness and Sachi's insane wife

Comrades we have lost:
Pineck, Anvil's Horse- turned into soup by a cursed crate
Kithri "Quickshadow" Tealeaf, the Lightfoot Halfling Werebat Order of the Lycan Blood Hunter and Ruin Raider- left to become Archivist
Forgrotken Anvilrocker, the Blugrim Forge Cleric of Moradin- killed by the Talmot Wives
Lythana, the Human Werewolf Order of the Ghost Slayer Blood Hunter- captured by the Talmot Wives, then turned evil mauled to death by Tilea
Bruenar Shieldwall, the Shield Dwarf Shield Fighter the party hired- became the Harbinger of Apsu

NOTE: Things will be mostly from Tabitha's perspective, anything in italics is from a third party view since the Witch can't be everywhere at once. 

***** Kilencedik Honap 9, CY 745, Barovia, near Tser Pool

       I didn't want to kill this boy, but I knew the brain worm wouldn't leave him any other way. Tilea pointed out that it was essentially a parasite and I should try casting it out of him like I would any other parasite or disease. He resisted the spell, which did not surprise me in the least after seeing them shrug off my magic earlier. Then Sachi pissed it off and it began weeping blood-ooze. It was fucking gross. Kittie and Cat realized they were too vulnerable and went to Sigil to gear up. Sachi and Scritch flanked the boy and while Scritch managed to land a couple blows, they didn't do anything because he didn't have a dagger. It screamed in agony when Sachi's dagger plunged into its side.

       The scream sounded unearthly, as if four voices were screaming in perfect unison; it hurt out ears. Little black veins began crawling up the boy's neck, then it began swinging wildly- its last swing connected with Sachi and sent him flying; he went down when he landed. I revived the monkey and gave Scritch a blessing to help him in this fight. Sachi leapt back to it and stabbed it a few more times, prompting more of those bone chilling screams. It said it "wanted to do this nicely, but fine," then it began beating on Sachi, stole his dagger, and stabbed itself with it- exploding.

       The dagger was fine, it was like 500 feet away. Sachi was fine too. I decided to test if the daggers would return to our hands, just in case this happened again during our hunting- they did. Not long after this Kittie and Cat returned, geared up and set to deal with the worms. It was getting late by now and we all needed rest, so we returned to my Temple to rest for the night. We'd be back in to morning to start destroying the worms. Strahd said he'd locked down travel so they shouldn't be able to escape through the Mists.

       Once we were back I used a dream spell to contact my Sestras. I filled them in on the death of our parents and everything else. As I'd feared, neither of them wanted the title, nor could they take it; the soul brands had made them both barren. I didn't tell them about losing the Book or the strange amulet that had appeared around my neck after it vanished. I didn't want to worry them too much, they needed to heal. After filling them in, I went to bed.

       I knew I was dreaming. Everything was in greyscale. I was standing outside the manor, it looked exactly as it always had. Then suddenly I was in the halls, and I heard a faint buzzing or humming sound. For a moment I thought I'd imagined it, then I realized it was the tune of a lullaby Mother had sang to Aggie and I before giving up Sypha had turned her into a complete mess. Then I was suddenly outside, looking out over the gardens, and I saw a figure in the gazebo. I was now at the bottom of the steps to the gazebo, looking up at the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. She had pale skin that almost appeared to be glowing and her hair was a beautiful black, in tight curls.

       "I've  been so looking forward to meeting you," she said. I'd moved again and was now in the gazebo with her. "I never thought this day would come. His plans never come to fruition. I thought you were too pure, too good to use it. I've got to meet you, to find you, because..." Her beauty began melting away, revealing a hideous, evil looking woman. "You're the one who released the Black Witch."

***** Kilencedik Honap 10, Temple of Mystra

       I awoke with a start. I hurried to the chamber my Sestras were in and used the dream spell again. I told them about the dream, losing the Book, and the strange amulet. They both had the amulets too, they'd appeared in the dreamscape for them. The amulets couldn't be removed either... This was bad.

       My Sestras said she had to find me and take me down, then she'd kill my Sestras. In order for Morgan Le Fay to reach her full power, she has to kill all three of us. She was our ancestor, a grandmother with several "greats" attached to the prefix. Somewhere along the line Le Fay turned into Lennox to remove the stain. The prophecy didn't mean that the three of us would become corrupted and destroy the world, it was that we'd use the Black Grimoire to release the Black Witch so she could kill us and destroy the world. Fucking prophecies need to be more specific.

       My Sestras said if I saw her I needed to run. We could not let her get me. They'd research what they could from the dreamscape; apparently Clarah had already visited them to fill them in on a few things. The Archivist was already on it, so hopefully between all of us, we'd find out what to do to take the Black Witch down. They reminded me to use my coven, something I wasn't used to having. The odd amulets we were now wearing would allow me to connect to my coven, my Sestras, and their covens. I had the Power of Three plus three covens backing me in this. I hoped it would be enough.

       They said we needed to protect the girls, as long as they were together they were safe. I needed to monitor them through Syn's blood. I was so glad I had that.

       Sachi and I met up with Tilea back in what was left of Barovia and the moment we got there I felt the Black Witch's presence. I warned Tilea and pulled Sachi and myself to the Sun Tree. I tried to pull Tilea too, but it didn't work for some reason. Morgan had found the girls. I told Syn to grab hold of Krynn and I'd pull them to me, but it didn't work. We'd have to get them away from her physically.

       Sachi got to the girls a little before me, and the Witch used him to try to get the girls, but they managed to fend him off. I did exactly the opposite of what my Sestras had just told me to do, and put myself between Morgan and the girls. Nikko "accidentally" sent Sachi to Tser Pool to keep him busy- I don't know why that worked when other things hadn't. I handed Syn a broom and told her to get herself and her sestra out of here. I tried to send Morgan into a maze, but the bitch resisted it. Scritch shrunk both of the girls, grabbed them, and bounced away. Morgan attempted to stop him, but he resisted her spell.

       Tilea crashed into the ground at Morgan and tried to slap the Witch into the ground. I realized she was the distraction, so I buffed her and got away. Tilea had turned into some kind of earth elemental, and she swallowed the Witch and began tunnelling down, deep into the earth. I eventually pulled Tilea out, leaving Morgan trapped deep underground, but I knew that wouldn't keep her busy for too long.

       We explained everything to Syn and Krynn, and poor Krynn became upset, the girl was sensitive. After much debate, the others decided that we were going to entrust a witch Tilea had gotten some big hexbags from in Sigil with the girls. And give this witch Grant's weapon. I refused to have any part in this. Unfortunately this witch- Rowena- insisted I come before she'd deal.

       Under her pale skin, red hair, and pointed chin, Rowena almost looked like a blood hag, but slightly different. Unlike a normal blood hag, but she wasn't a hideous mess that normal blood hags are. Whatever she was was powerful. I had a bad feeling about this, but as usual Tilea ignored me. This would bite us in the ass, I just knew it.

     Tilea traded the weapon for some bigger hexbags, and she wanted one of the Cats to be her apprentice in exchange for watching the girls. We offered to let her kill Sachias payment, since the little shit thought he was immortal, but he didn't want to test his belief. Once Cat agreed to be her apprentice, she instructed her to kill Sachi. She got him to near death, then healed him. Then the idiot ran his mouth, so she did it again. This was another witch's territory, so I couldn't interfere. Okay, I probably could have, but Sachi deserves to be taught a lesson about consequences every once in a while.

       Once the girls were "safely" with Rowena, we went to meet Clarah, who said we all needed to talk. We were supposed to be strategizing for dealing with the worms, but somehow Sachi and Clarah got on the topic of blowing up the entire domain of Barovia. They wanted to get Shaft and Morgan to Barovia first, and destroy it with them inside, but I doubted this would work.

       Clarah had found some good information for dealing with Morgan. Apparently to defeat her we have to let her get to full power first, which didn't sound like a good plan. The other option we had was to wake my Sestras and lock her away again, but we needed souls to heal theirs.

      I attempted to garner a divine intervention to help my Sestras, but it didn't work. I went back into the dreamscape and told them about the ritual that would heal their souls. I just couldn't do it myself, it was against everything I stood for. Aggie told me that I should just write the spell down and let it find its way to her coven; they'd do what needed to be done. While I didn't like it, I decided to follow her advice.

       Just minutes after I sent off the spell, Aggie's entire coven was at my door. While only two souls we needed to heal them, her entire coven sacrificed itself to bring them back. When I told them about the girls and Rowena, they told me she's been working with Morgan this entire fucking time. And those hexbags she'd given Tilea and the others were fucking microphones. She knows everything they've been up to. We had to get those bags away from our people now.

       Aggie and Sypha went to get the ritual to seal the Black Witch away again and to deal with Shaft. I tried to check on the girls through Syn's blood and couldn't sense them. I sent Sachi to collect them.

       They were gone. Rowena, Cat, and the girls had been seen going to the Hells to beseech Asmodeus to help them get through the Mists. When Kittie showed up and learned what had happened, she went to the nearest crossroads. A few minutes later, a portal opened in the Temple, and an exhausted Kittie stepped out. She was able to confirm that Rowena had the girls and was planning on making a stop in Barovia before leaving this reality completely.

       We needed to get those hexbags away from the others without their knowledge, which would be difficult. Tilea was being an uppity little bitch about the curse thing, which she fucking did to herself. I told her we had more important things going on right now than her petty bullshit and to just get her fucking ass to the Temple now. I had Kittie prepared to convince Tilea, since the bitch was apparently not going to listen to anything I had to say. We got the hexbags off of her and explained what was going on, eventually getting her to believe us.

      Tilea decided this all meant she needed to blow up Barovia. I don't know why they were suddenly so Hellsbent on destroying it, we had the daggers, so this was completely unnecessary. As always, no one listened to the voice of reason. Tilea left to blow it up while the rest of us worked on another plan. As soon as Tilea left, Clarah told us she'd recruited Narg to blow Barovia by punching the moon.

       We were going to make Sachi's paradise look similar to where Rowena would be arriving in Barovia. We planned on rerouting her transportation there, where we could ambush her and get the weapon and girls back safely. The Cats were planning on trying to reach the one with Rowena covertly, to break any hold the witch had on her.

       Sachi and Kittie went to speak to Mask once again and got him to agree to give us a sped up rest so we could take this on fresh and rested. He was not please about Barovia.

       After a while, I felt a rumble as Barovia was destroyed. I think someone warned Strahd, but I'm not really sure. That was it. The Domain that I'd felt so at home in was gone. At least I'd saved my people.

    When we were finished with our sped up rest, things were as done as they could be on my end. As we were getting close to showtime my Sestras returned, both smiling. Aggie had gotten the ritual, but we needed another adamantine sarcophagus, so she began yelling at the Shieldwalls to get it done now. Sypha had found the Black Witch and Shaft hopping around the planes, coming for me. She'd stolen his elemental sphere, so that should keep him busy for a bit. Tilea took it to hide it on the Elemental Plane of Water, now he'd definitely stay back for a little while.

       It was finally showtime. We had the ritual ready to go, the Shieldwalls were nearly finished with their work, everything was asset as it possibly could be. We opened the plane, and a web appeared over it, the energy was working, I think we may have done it! Sachi and Clarah disappeared into the paradise.

       In the paradise, Sachi found Rowena, Belmont, Cat, and the girls- bound and gagged. Sachi stepped up to face off with Belmont, while Clarah engaged Rowena. 

      Shaft was chasing Tilea through the Elemental Plane of Water, with her in the form a leviathan. 

       Aggie announced they'd found Belmont- in Sachi's paradise. We were debating how to get to him when the Black Witch appeared. She began ranting about Shaft's stupid rampage, and how little she cared about it all. She wanted her prize, she wanted her power. "And I'm going to get it," she said as her face began to melt. 

The Ravenloft Chronicles- Shit Storm: Book One, Chapter Nineteen

Beyond the Looking Glass

Dramatis Personae:
Tilea Aervavil'A'Sum, the Wild Elf Circle of the Moon Druid Barbarian
Scritch, the Weremonkey Squirrel Thief and Tilea's Animal Companion
Sachi Kno, the Vistani Weremonkey Thief
Tabitha Marie Lennox, the Human White Witch of Mystra, youngest of the Lennox triplets
Spot, Tabitha's Homunculus
Nikko, Tabitha's Flying Monkey familiar and Warlock of the White Witch
Azure, Nikko's Witch Light Familiar
Dot, the Tabaxi Cheetah Therinthrope Homunculus and White Witch
Pip, Dot's Flying Monkey Familiar
Speck, Dot's Homunculus
Isabella Catalina Hazelgrove, the Human Assassin and Scritch's Knight
Isabeth Katherine Hazelgrove, the Human Assassin and Catalina's sister and Knight
Sypha Alohrea Lennox, the Human Sorceress, eldest of the Lennox triplets
Agatha Leah Lennox, the Human Black Witch, middle of the Lennox triplets
Syndal Al'Vherin, the Four-year-old Human girl who Tilea released from an amulet,- kidnapped by Strahd, now working with Talmot Now cleansed of the soul brand clouding her mind
Clarah Kno, the Silver Dragoness and Sachi's insane wife

Comrades we have lost:
Pineck, Anvil's Horse- turned into soup by a cursed crate
Kithri "Quickshadow" Tealeaf, the Lightfoot Halfling Werebat Order of the Lycan Blood Hunter and Ruin Raider- left to become Archivist
Forgrotken Anvilrocker, the Blugrim Forge Cleric of Moradin- killed by the Talmot Wives
Lythana, the Human Werewolf Order of the Ghost Slayer Blood Hunter- captured by the Talmot Wives, then turned evil mauled to death by Tilea
Bruenar Shieldwall, the Shield Dwarf Shield Fighter the party hired- became the Harbinger of Apsu

NOTE: Things will be mostly from Tabitha's perspective, anything in italics is from a third party view since the Witch can't be everywhere at once. 

***** Kilencedik Honap 1, CY 745, Temple of Mystra

       We rushed to the Temple to find out what was going on. Belmont shouldn't have been able to break out of there, he was behind some of my strongest wards. There was massive destruction to the Temple, there were dead Shieldwalls everywhere, signs of some serious magic use, and a hole in the wall.

       I hurried to repair the wall and tried to contact my sestras, but the spells just fizzled out like there was no target. They weren't in the Temple, which is where I'd left them... This was bad. The Book told me it had said "hi" to the intruder, but they told it to shut up, and the voice felt like all of the elements combined. Book also told me that I couldn't bring any of the dead Shieldwalls back, their souls were gone. The Shieldwalls who didn't die from this didn't see much, this all happened in just a few seconds. I tasked my Blessed of Apsu with scrying for my sestras.

       While I was doing that, Tilea was outside communing with nature to see what she could find out. She learned that a ball similar to my bubble burst through the wall and whoever was inside it sent out several other globes to attack while he collected Belmont.

       Sachi randomly wandered in and gave me a book he needed read, but it was all written in some stupid code that I didn't feel like puzzling out.

       I realized that whoever had done the soul brand on Sypha must be the same person who took my Sestras from my Temple. I had to go home and see my shitty parents. Mother would have the answers I sought.

       As soon as I arrived I knew something was wrong. Neither of my parents claimed to have any memory of Sypha, and they claimed Aggie had died years ago. The memories seemed genuine, so someone had tampered with their memories. I searched both of my parent's libraries, hoping to find a book that would lead me to the answers. All the while, my parents were trying to convince me to stay with them, at least spend a few days. I realized after a while that the little mannerisms I was so familiar with weren't there, my parents were acting off... wrong. They definitely were not my parents. Coming up empty, I decided to return to the the Temple.

       Exiting, I realized this was a maze, not my home. I'd never left the Temple. My wards seemed fine, and I had my makeshift coven help me check and strengthen them, just in case.

       The Book told me that since both of my Sestras had used it, it could find them for me, it needed only my permission. I declined, at first. But the more I thought about it, the more worried I became, and I very reluctantly gave in. My Sestras were more important to me than my beliefs on the dark magic linked to this Book.

       I was in a black void with little flecks of light, then I whoosed to Toril and ended up in a chamber. A robed figure was sitting on a throne made of bones. Both of my Sestras were chained to a wall, naked and badly wounded. Belmont walked into the room and the figure said "again, we need to find her." Belmont drew his whip and flicked his wrist toward my Sestras. The vision faded just before the whip struck. I wasn't sure who the "her" was that the figure was looking for, but I suspected it was Syn.

       There was an odd pressure on my chest after using the book. I didn't have time to puzzle that out now though. My Sestras needed me. I called the rest of the group to return to the Temple for a meeting. Then I sat down with my books.

       Three hours later, Cat appeared, looking like a tiefling. She dropped 100 bags of holding on my desk and told me to clean up better after myself next time. Each bag contained an item I'd touched in the maze. The maze was a trap to get my DNA. Cat had gotten everything I touched and killed all of Shaft's minions. She asked me to activate one of Sypha's hexbags, so I did, then I gave her a bead of luck to thank her.

***** Kilencedik Honap 2, Temple of Mystra

       After much debate, we decided we needed distraction so a strike team could get to my Sestras. If we could get hexbags on them I could pull them out with magic. Cat and Tilea went to scout and discovered Shaft's location was on a plot of land that Sachi owned. The problem was, the place wasn't actually in Toril, it was in a mirror realm, its own plane. Somehow in this mission, Scritch ended up attached to a wraith guardian.

      I got my coven researching how to deal with mirrors while I went to Aggie's coven- the Grand Coven- to get their help. I figured since it was Aggie in trouble, they'd help me. I sent Dot to the Archivist, and Sachi to Sigil to see if he could learn anything there.

       The Grand Coven is nothing but evil bitches. They planned to look for Aggie, but wouldn't do so with me. They also refused to promise they'd get Sypha too, since she wasn't in their coven and therefore wasn't a priority.

       I communed with Mystra to see if she could aid me. She said she couldn't help with the mirror realm, but the Book could help us find the Cypher Codex. I needed that spell, but I couldn't risk tainting my own soul. Tomorrow I'll do a ritual with my coven to keep the corruption at bay while I use the Book.

       Clarah spoke to a wizard and said there was "a portal in the place and another portal in the place that's going the opposite direction of the place, and somebody on both sides has to die to create it." She had a ritual that would do it, but we'd need a lot more juice.

***** Kilencedik Honap 3, Faerun

       I set up the ritual to hold back to corruption with 129 witches, to keep it in a multiple of three. The second the ritual started everyone was completely cut off from me. A torrent of wind held them all at bay, while a paper whipped around the circle. After a minute it landed, there was a little red water drop- not ink or blood, water- on a map. Cat and Kittie said it was about 10 miles from where they found some lineage papers.

       We appeared in a thinly wooded area with a bear nearby. Sachi jumped on its back and it panicked and took off. Hearing his screams, I went to him, just as the bear was diving into lava... Somehow, by Mystra's grace, Sachi and I survived.

       There was a small cave we needed to enter, but it ended abruptly in lava. Sachi and Tilea turned into elementals and dove in. I spotted a shaft in the ceiling of the cave and sent Spot up there to check it out. It narrowed quickly, so Scritch turned into a gaseous form and went to investigate.

       After a few minutes lava began filling the cave- somehow this had to be Sachi's doing. Scritch called us all to him and we found him bleeding profusely over a box that had gears clicking. He wouldn't let me heal him. The heat began growing worse, so I closed off the shaft and teleported us back to where we'd left my coven.

***** Kilencedik Honap 4, Sigil

       Scritch took the Codex to a contact in Sigil that Sachi had hired to decrypt the books for us. It was going to take a few days.

***** Kilencedik Honap 5, Temple of Mystra

       I asked the Book if it had a ritual that would get my Sestras away from Shaft. I needed to save them now. Before he took them from me. It had a ritual, that required two innocent souls to trade for my Sestras. I couldn't ask anyone to do that for me. It was just to much.

***** Kilencedik Honap 6, Temple of Mystra

       Grant showed up today with a tattoo covering literally every inch of him, from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet. He said it would help him face Belmont. I tried not to stare when he disrobed to show us the tattoo; this was the first time I'd ever seen a man naked... I don't think I succeeded at not turning crimson, nor did I succeed at not staring. It was a rather overwhelming sight.

       Scritch finally returned and asked if we knew anyone named Trevor. I knew several, but Grant knew who Scritch meant. Trevor Belmont, who had been dead for 600 years.

       Tilea randomly announced she wanted a spell to steal the wraith who possessed Scritch's pale horse. Book had one, of course, that required 50 willing souls to die. I refused to help her with it.

       Later in the day I had a lengthy conversation with Scritch about redeeming the Book, which I was interested in doing, but I didn't know where to start. This devolved into the Book going off on a tirade about being misunderstood. Magic itself isn't evil, it's how it's used that's evil.

       Somehow this turned into Grant suggesting an infiltration to save my Sestras. We needed two innocent souls for it, and he figured between himself, Sachi, Cat, and Kittie, we had two innocent souls. I couldn't ask Grant or the others to do this for me- it was just too much. But all four of them were willing to do it. They'd be able to get themselves out of there, and Grant seemed set to face off with Belmont. He flashed his tattoo around again- making me turn a deep red- and insisted they'd all be fine. They all went to get drunk in case any of them didn't make it back.

***** Kilencedik Honap 7, Temple of Mystra

       We got the ritual all set up and ready to go. I couldn't give any of them any boons or items charged with my magic, we couldn't risk Shaft getting anything of mine. Grant set up a blood recall as a failsafe.

       As soon as the four of them vanished, Sypha and Aggie appeared on the floor. They were both near death, but I used my most powerful healing spell on them instantly. I couldn't wake them though, but that I'd worry about after Grant and the others got back. At least they were out of Shaft's hands now.

       When they arrived in place or Agatha and Sypha, Grant immediately stepped up to face off with Belmont, while Sachi, Kittie, and Cat began working on a way to escape. Tilea and Scritch arrived at Shaft's front door, after his wraith tore a hole open for them. The six of them unleashed complete chaos in Shaft's domain, and robbed him blind. Scritch appeared as DEATH to Shaft... A squirrel of DEATH. 

       About five minutes later, Sachi, Cat, Kittie, Tilea, and Scritch appeared in the ritual chamber. Without Grant. I waited... 10 minutes and he hadn't returned. I waited... 30 minutes and he hadn't returned. My heart was pounding in fear. Clarah wished for Grant, and a mangled, bloody heap of a body appeared...

       Grant was gone. 

The Ravenloft Chronicles- Shit Storm: Book One, Chapter Eighteen

The Brown Wedding

Dramatis Personae:
Tilea Aervavil'A'Sum, the Wild Elf Circle of the Moon Druid Barbarian
Scritch, the Weremonkey Squirrel Thief and Tilea's Animal Companion
Sachi Kno, the Vistani Weremonkey Thief
Tabitha Marie Lennox, the Human White Witch of Mystra, youngest of the Lennox triplets
Spot, Tabitha's Homunculus
Nikko, Tabitha's Flying Monkey familiar and Warlock of the White Witch
Azure, Nikko's Witch Light Familiar
Dot, the Tabaxi Cheetah Therinthrope Homunculus and White Witch
Pip, Dot's Flying Monkey Familiar
Speck, Dot's Homunculus
Isabella Catalina Hazelgrove, the Human Assassin and Scritch's Knight
Isabeth Katherine Hazelgrove, the Human Assassin and Catalina's sister and Knight
Sypha Alohrea Lennox, the Human Sorceress, eldest of the Lennox triplets
Agatha Leah Lennox, the Human Black Witch, middle of the Lennox triplets
Syndal Al'Vherin, the Four-year-old Human girl who Tilea released from an amulet,- kidnapped by Strahd, now working with Talmot Now cleansed of the soul brand clouding her mind
Clarah Kno, the Silver Dragoness and Sachi's insane wife

Comrades we have lost:
Pineck, Anvil's Horse- turned into soup by a cursed crate
Kithri "Quickshadow" Tealeaf, the Lightfoot Halfling Werebat Order of the Lycan Blood Hunter and Ruin Raider- left to become Archivist
Forgrotken Anvilrocker, the Blugrim Forge Cleric of Moradin- killed by the Talmot Wives
Lythana, the Human Werewolf Order of the Ghost Slayer Blood Hunter- captured by the Talmot Wives, then turned evil mauled to death by Tilea
Bruenar Shieldwall, the Shield Dwarf Shield Fighter the party hired- became the Harbinger of Apsu

NOTE: Things will be mostly from Tabitha's perspective, anything in italics is from a third party view since the Witch can't be everywhere at once. 

***** Nyolcadik Honap 8, CY 745, Temple of Mystra

       We had a month to prepare for this ritual to find the Dark Priest, and we'd certainly need it. Sypha said we needed the blood of a Vale Elf, but according to legends, none existed. I went to visit the Archivist and she told me there was one Valley Elf left in existence, but she was banned from ever entering Barovia again. Kithri said we might be able to perform the ritual from Oerth, where Aurora lived, but it wasn't terribly likely.

       I beseeched Strahd to allow me to bring a bit of the Battle Bard's blood to the realm, and he quite vehemently said no. Apparently she was a menace and had blown up his castle when she came her. Kithri said she'd enlist Ralliakkan to look for another, but it was unlikely we'd ever find another Vale Elf. Aggie decided to contact her and see if we could arrange a funnelling spell, that was going to be our only option to make this work perfectly.

       Throughout all of this that damned Book was reminding me in a sing-song voice that it had a ritual with everything we needed. I would not give into that fucking Book unless we were literally out of options. And even then it wasn't likely I'd give in. That Book was pure evil.

       As the full moon reached its zenith, Sachi's wedding began. A beam of moonlight paralyzed Sachi and the soul gem in him began to glow. He screamed in agony, blood spurting everywhere, as the gem was ripped from his chest. As soon as it was out, the wound closed and the gem cracked open, a pulse of energy coming from it as Clarah appeared.

       Sachi turned around and asked for a priest to perform the ceremony. He'd snubbed my offer to perform it earlier in the day, so I refused. Tilea's dog, Bruno, ended up performing it for them. After the ceremony, they held a 24 hour wedding reception. I even decided to drink and party with everyone, cutting loose was interesting.

       I ended up buying a horse named Twilight and winning another horse while gambling. Nikko won a horse named Crystal Firedancer. Dot won an elephant, and became the enemy of a female dwarf who Narg beat the Hells out of. Sachi won a chicken. Narg had the most bizarre series of events. He ended up in a motley joker costume and was given a man's son when he lost a wager, then somehow he ended up under a pile of crabs, then surrounded by goats. I really don't know how this all happened.

       Nineteen the goats died, so I reincarnated all of them and then awakened them. This is apparently what happens when I cut loose... We gave them to Narg to train.

***** Nyolcadik Honap 9, Sigil

       Sachi asked me to come with him to take control of a wizard tower he'd bought in Sigil. In the middle of the ground floor was a book sitting on a pedestal, which Sachi went for without letting me look at it first to make sure it wasn't cursed. When he reached it, a ghostly hand reached out and grabbed him, yanking him into the book.

       He came out of the book pretty quickly, saying that the thing in the book had called him an acolyte, and now he couldn't take off a weird ring. We went upstairs to look at the next floor and found a barred portcullis blocking our way. I tried to send Azure through and the poor little light died instantly. Sachi informed the tower he was its owner now and it began to rumble. He touched the portcullis and it hurt him badly. With that, Sachi decided to go back into the book.

       While he was gone, I used magic to learn about the tower and I learned that one day all of the mages packed up left. The tower itself was too powerful. A necromancer had been trying to harness the power of souls to do more than just reanimate flesh. He had been trying to access the land of the dead itself, and no one knows what happened to him.

      The book whipped open, burst into flames, and spirits began pouring out of it. Sachi popped out of the book as the last of the spirits left. Whatever he'd done allowed us access to the rest of the tower, which was completely empty. With this investigated, Sachi and Clarah took off and I returned to Barovia.

*****

       We spent the next month preparing to find and take down Shaft. Tilea and Scritch were training with Narg, Sachi and Clarah went on their honeymoon, and my sestras and I worked on the spell.

       I spent a couple weeks puzzling out what to use as an energy source for the ritual, and once we'd figured that out, I got a few new magic tattoos and did some training with Narg. We couldn't find another Valley Elf, so we'd have to funnel the spell to make this work. I ignored the Book reminding me about the ritual it had.

       For the energy source, we gathered 1.5 million pounds of sand and used a vengeful storm spell to create a massive fulgurite crystal.

***** Kilencedik Honap 1, Temple of Mystra

       My sestras and I were just about to open the portal to Greyhawk to begin the ritual when Grant showed up and told us we couldn't perform the ritual. The curse on Belmont was still there, and if we performed the ritual, we'd lead Shaft right to us. Grant told us Shaft was Belmont's brother, which made these circumstances seem even odder.

       We also couldn't just kill Belmont, because the curse affected the bloodline, so it would just be passed to Syn when Belmont died. Even with the Power of Three we couldn't figure out what exactly this curse was, it was simply too powerful. It was like someone was cursing the family by cursing themself.

       Grant said we could try to use the power of Syn's soul to find Shaft without leading him to us, which Tilea objected to, of course. We continued debating about what the Hells we could do, going in circles as always.

       Randomly, I'm not sure how this came about, Sachi made a comment about fantasizing about one of us- my sestras and I. That annoyed me enough that I looked at Aggie and said she could beat him up- the little shit has had this coming. Aggie, Sypha, and I joined hands and slammed him with magic missiles, which he absorbed. So Aggie took the four of us to a dimensional pocket, and with the Power of Three we beat the Hells out of him and actually dropped him unconscious.

       We revived him, of course, then we tried to convince Sachi we knew everything he does- we were in his head. Grant played along and told Sachi we were using brain worms, so Sachi asked Clarah to pop his head, which she gladly did. I asked Clarah if she just wanted me to resurrect him or reincarnate him and she squealed in delight at the thought of turning him into something else. The first reincarnate turned him into a peryton. Clarah didn't like that one, so she snapped his neck and I did it again, turning him into a nightmare. Clarah bounced up and down, squealing in delight about having a pony. She jumped on his back and they rode off.

       Now that Sachi was gone, we decided to use Syn's soul to find Shaft. Tilea was not pleased, but she came with us anyway. My sestras stayed at the Temple to continue research. We managed to convince Tilea to let Syn make her own choice about the ritual. With Syn's agreement, Grant touched a symbol and vanished; Syn said he should be back with a celestial. After half an hour, Syn went stiff and her eyes glazed over. The sigil Grant used to leave began to glow and a high pitched whining noise began to reverberate throughout the room.

       A human-looking entity walked out of the sigil and went straight toward Syn, not acknowledging anyone else. I could see its true form and a purely radiant soul, it was so bright it was almost blinding. When it touched Syn, a radiant handprint was left behind, and as its bright brilliance bathed us, I realized I couldn't hear the Book; for the first time since I picked up that accursed thing, it wasn't babbling or singing at me. It knelt before Syn and reached out, putting its arm up to the elbow into her chest. The girl screamed in agony, and it worked for 20 minutes on her. When it was finally done, she slumped over, unconscious, but alive. The entity left and the sigil on the wall changed.

       A few minutes later, Grant came in and said the Sigil was Shaft's location. He had a new toy to show us, which would help us kill Shaft. Grant led us a couple miles away from the Temple and showed us the fulgurite crystal we'd made, but it was on some weird contraption that had tubes and soul gems attached to it. Grant turned it on to demonstrate its power and it destroyed 1/4 mile of mountain.

       We'd have to lure Shaft here to use it, and we only had two shots. Belmont would be perfect bait when he was taken out of my wards. As we began talking about what we needed to do, one of the Shieldwalls came running toward us, when he got close enough he called out "Belmont is gone."

The Ravenloft Chronicles- Shit Storm: Book One, Chapter Seventeen

Belmont's Curse

Dramatis Personae:
Tilea Aervavil'A'Sum, the Wild Elf Circle of the Moon Druid Barbarian
Scritch, the Weremonkey Squirrel Thief and Tilea's Animal Companion
Sachi Kno, the Vistani Weremonkey Thief
Tabitha Marie Lennox, the Human White Witch of Mystra, youngest of the Lennox triplets
Spot, Tabitha's Homunculus
Nikko, Tabitha's Flying Monkey familiar and Warlock of the White Witch
Azure, Nikko's Witch Light Familiar
Dot, the Tabaxi Cheetah Therinthrope Homunculus and White Witch
Pip, Dot's Flying Monkey Familiar
Speck, Dot's Homunculus
Isabella Catalina Hazelgrove, the Human Assassin and Scritch's Knight
Isabeth Katherine Hazelgrove, the Human Assassin and Catalina's sister and Knight
Sypha Alohrea Lennox, the Human Sorceress, eldest of the Lennox triplets
Agatha Leah Lennox, the Human Black Witch, middle of the Lennox triplets
Syndal Al'Vherin, the Four-year-old Human girl who Tilea released from an amulet,- kidnapped by Strahd, now working with Talmot Now cleansed of the soul brand clouding her mind

Comrades we have lost:
Pineck, Anvil's Horse- turned into soup by a cursed crate
Kithri "Quickshadow" Tealeaf, the Lightfoot Halfling Werebat Order of the Lycan Blood Hunter and Ruin Raider- left to become Archivist
Forgrotken Anvilrocker, the Blugrim Forge Cleric of Moradin- killed by the Talmot Wives
Lythana, the Human Werewolf Order of the Ghost Slayer Blood Hunter- captured by the Talmot Wives, then turned evil mauled to death by Tilea
Bruenar Shieldwall, the Shield Dwarf Shield Fighter the party hired- became the Harbinger of Apsu

NOTE: Things will be mostly from Tabitha's perspective, anything in italics is from a third party view since the Witch can't be everywhere at once. 

***** Nyolcadik Honap 7, CY 745, Castle Ravenloft, the Gardens

       Tilea told Belmont to stop, "you can't do it like this." We needed to solve the time loop, not break it like this. He insisted that he could do it without turning into Strahd, which none of us believed. She pointed out that the magic will force it, and said his time had passed. Belmont squared his shoulders and glared at Tilea, telling her that as long as he lives he has a chance to succeed and if we wanted to stop him we'd have to kill him, which he didn't think we could do.

       Tilea responded by trying to reverse gravity on him, but it didn't work; he said he was bound to all of nature and life, then cracked his whip at her, sending her flying. Sachi called her back and she attempted to slash the bonds that tied him to nature, but it didn't work. Belmont chucked an axe at Tilea, and thankfully missed. My crew set up some protection magics for the others, which Belmont apparently didn't appreciate; he threw a vial at me and silver fire coated my bubble then popped it.

       Grant grabbed Syn and drug her into a nearby building, desperate to keep her out of Belmont's sight. I hoped it would be enough. Belmont threw another axe at Tilea, hitting her hard, then he threw another at Scritch which bounced off the wall and hit the squirrel a second time. It was impressive, to say the least. He tossed a vial at Sachi, but he managed to evade it. Scritch, Kittie, and Cat went for him, a flurry of slashes and parries.

       Blue energy wrapped around Belmont and he leapt to Tilea, missing her with his whip, and then he jumped over the wall. Tilea called forth a vengeful, angry storm and sent it at Belmont, which ended up only hurting Pip, Spot, and Azure. She sent a swarm of monkeys at him next and he destroyed them instantly. I got my group out of Tilea's storm, and we all launched attack magic at Belmont, missing; I set up a healing candle, we'd need it soon enough.

       Sachi launched himself at Belmont and was met by his whip wrapping around his tiny monkey body, slamming him into the wall. He began beating the shit out of Sachi while I did everything I could to keep him alive. Tilea and Scritch both went for Belmont, but didn't do much- Scritch even ended up hitting poor Sachi, who Belmont kept beating on. Scritch called Sachi to get him out of the whip and Belmont grabbed him with the whip instead. Dot managed to score a nasty hit with a witch bolt while I prepared to try to take away some of his magic.

       Sachi finally managed to get away from Belmont. Grant emerged without Syn, asked what the fuck was going on, and rushed into Tilea's storm to get Belmont. Belmont hit hit with seven nasty-looking weapons, and I hurried to heal him. Tilea began chucking lightning bolts at Belmont, then began slashing her sword at him. Sachi dive-bombed Belmont with his poisoned kataras, hurting him enough to make him crumble, screaming in pain.

       Grant jumped up and yelled "no, you fool" at Sachi, while Tilea cried out "no Sachi, the orb, the orb!" We had no fucking idea what she was talking about though. Grant snapped a rod and a burst of light came out of it, Tilea told him it wasn't gone though. Grant yelled at Sachi to run before backing off himself.

       Five orbs rolled out of Belmont, the size of marbles, and began orbiting him. They suddenly became the size of cantaloupes, and in a flash of light, Belmont rose, fully healed, and stomped, sending out a massive shockwave. Belmont was pulsing and glowing in silvery light. This wasn't good. His whip lashed out, glowing with the brightest flame I'd ever seen- I had to look away. Tilea's storm no longer seemed to affect him at all.

       Things were looking bad, I needed my sestras. I sent Sypha a message for help, and she replied that we needed to be targeting the curse, not Belmont. My sestras were on the way, but they may not make it to us in time. I used the spell that lets me see curses and saw what she was talking about. I lit a telepathy candle to show everyone else what we needed to be targeting.

       Tilea suggested we try healing magic on the curse... which healed him... I couldn't get close enough to try to remove the curse completely, and I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to on my own anyway. Maybe with the Power of Three, but not on my own. Now that the others could see the curse they began focusing on hitting it instead of Belmont himself.

       After a few seconds, Belmont began to glow differently. The others continued exchanging blows with him, and Tilea gave up on her fucking storm. Dot opened a dimensional door and sent a cone of cold at Belmont. I opened one with a mage hand that held a gem with remove curse, but it missed. Somewhere in this chaos, Syn came out to join the fray, even though she'd been instructed not to.

       Grant ran toward her, snapped a rod, and went blank before reaching Syn; she turned on hit and killed him. I sent Azure to ressurect Grant, and Belmont killed the light instead. Belmont's whip wrapped around Syn's neck, yanked her to him, and he took her whip, he was about to do something horrible, when Dot wished Syn hadn't come out. Syn was back inside and Grant was alive again. So was Azure.

       Grant was running toward Belmont with the rod again, and Tilea stopped him from snapping it. Instead, he kicked Belmont in the nuts three times- that man would never had babies now... Belmont collapsed, unconscious from the pain Grant had just inflicted on him. Grant said now was the time and snapped the rod. A flash of light came from the rod and the orb over Belmont flickered for a moment before vanishing completely.

       Grant explained that the orb wasn't a true curse, the Dark Priest was using it to control Belmont. The Priest wants to get Belmont on Strahd's throne, and the orb Grant banished was what he'd been controlling Belmont with. I hoped that meant my old friend hadn't turned into the douche he'd been acting like, that it was just part of the control; I doubted that was the case, but it doesn't hurt to wish.

       I sent Sypha a message to meet us at the Temple, then I brought all of us, including the unconscious Belmont, there. A few minutes later, we learned that somehow- I'm really not sure how he did this- Sachi had informed Strahd that we had Belmont's unconscious body, which Strahd demanded. I created a new section in my heavily warded vault and put Speck in there to watch him. Then Tilea convinced Sachi she hid Belmont's body. That damned monkey spent the next four hours searching for it.

       Later in the day Tilea asked me to shift us to her Lythari village in the Feywild. The first time we ended up in a new growth forest instead, with figures in ruins nearby. My second attempt got us there. Leaving Barovia was more difficult now for some fucking reason. Whatever Tilea was looking for, they didn't have it.

       I took us to Sigil next, and there was a spiky headed thing coming our way. Tilea panicked so I shifted us to Waterdeep.

       Something went wrong... again. We ended up in Skullport, in Xanathar's Vault. This was fucking bad. I adjusted my appearance and tried to shift us out, which set off fucking alarms. The others were frantically shoving loot into their bags while I began offering Mystra magical items. It took some powerful items, but it worked, a portal appeared in front of us that took us straight back to the Temple.

       I decided to give Tilea my Broom of the Beastlands, and she instantly burned off the broom part, leaving just the staff. Then Sachi and Tilea began jousting brooms. Two of the Shieldwalls went for a broom, and somehow they knocked each other out. I revived them and retired to our personal common room. A bit later, I learned one guard accidentally killed another with a piece of a broom, then two more killed themselves with brooms. Sachi revived all of them, and I bitched both him and Tilea out.

       The shopaholic monkey wanted to head back to Sigil again, so off we went. Grant and Aggie even came with us. This was the most time I'd spent with my sestra in far too long. I went to get more tattoos while the others went shopping. Aggie bought me a super creepy trinket just to bug me, along with a bright orange tabby cat... It was nice to resume the casual teasing with my sestra, as if we hadn't gone so long as kind of enemies.

       Sachi beseeched Apsu for aid, forgetting about Clarah being imprisoned in his soul. Once he told Apsu he loved Clarah, the God demanded the monkey prove it. Apsu killed him several times before he ran out of ideas, then sent him to Tiamat to finish out the 17 deaths. Being willing to die 17 more times for Clarah would prove his love to Apsu. 

       He became engaged to Clarah and was told that they would marry on the next full moon.

***** Nyolcadik Honap 8, Sigil

       In the morning Sypha contacted me to let me know that we had to perform the ritual to find this Dark Priest. We needed the full moon, and we needed the time to make everything perfect for it.

       Sachi asked us where the best silversmith was, so Aggie sent him to some hags in Barovia. He came back seething, and after bitching Aggie out, she banished him. This time when he returned he just grumbled at Aggie and went looking for a silversmith in Sigil.

       Tilea had me take her to Mount Ghakis, as close to Bruenar's vault as I could. I didn't ask, she didn't offer any info. I checked on Belmont before heading back to Sigil, he was still out cold.

       The full moon began rising in Barovia, Sachi and Clarah would be wed tonight. Apsu was not giving him the opportunity to weasel out of this betrothal. He rushed back to Sigil to see if he could get the statue he wanted for the wedding done tonight; he couldn't. The full moon followed him to Sigil and left when he went back to Barovia.

       Even though there was a full moon tonight, my sestras and I couldn't perform our ritual. There were things we needed to gather and it would take us the full month to prepare. I set up an area in the Temple for the ritual that only my sestras and I could access.

The Ravenloft Chronicles- Shit Storm: Book One, Chapter Sixteen

The Sun and Moon

Dramatis Personae:
Tilea Aervavil'A'Sum, the Wild Elf Circle of the Moon Druid Barbarian
Scritch, the Weremonkey Squirrel Thief and Tilea's Animal Companion
Sachi Kno, the Vistani Weremonkey Thief
Tabitha Marie Lennox, the Human White Witch of Mystra, youngest of the Lennox triplets
Spot, Tabitha's Homunculus
Nikko, Tabitha's Flying Monkey familiar and Warlock of the White Witch
Azure, Nikko's Witch Light Familiar
Dot, the Tabaxi Cheetah Therinthrope Homunculus  and White Witch
Pip, Dot's Flying Monkey Familiar
Bruenar Shieldwall, the Shield Dwarf Shield Fighter the party hired
Isabella Catalina Hazelgrove, the Human Assassin and Scritch's Knight
Isabeth Katherine Hazelgrove, the Human Assassin and Catalina's sister and Knight
Sypha Alohrea Lennox, the Human Sorceress, eldest of the Lennox triplets
Agatha Leah Lennox, the Human Black Witch, middle of the Lennox triplets

Comrades we have lost:
Pineck, Anvil's Horse- turned into soup by a cursed crate
Kithri "Quickshadow" Tealeaf, the Lightfoot Halfling Werebat Order of the Lycan Blood Hunter and Ruin Raider- left to become Archivist
Forgrotken Anvilrocker, the Blugrim Forge Cleric of Moradin- killed by the Talmot Wives
Lythana, the Human Werewolf Order of the Ghost Slayer Blood Hunter- captured by the Talmot Wives, then turned evil mauled to death by Tilea
Syndal Al'Vherin, the Human girl who Tilea released from an amulet- kidnapped by Strahd, now working with Talmot

NOTE: Things will be mostly from Tabitha's perspective, anything in italics is from a third party view since the Witch can't be everywhere at once. 

***** Hetedik Honap 28, CY 745, Castle Ravenloft, Strahd's Throne Room

       A shockwave rocked the castle and we were suddenly in pure darkness. Somehow my sestras and I managed to keep the ritual going, it would take more than a shockwave to shake the three of us together.

       Most of the people in the room were knocked prone, and some were filled with a blank void, as if they were suddenly completely empty. All the plants in the area died. Tilea's dragon soul was gone, as was the haze in Syn's eyes- which were now the same color as Tilea's. Syn was confused, she didn't know what was happening or where she was. Then she said something was burning.

      There was a flare in the ritual's circle and the soul of a golden dragon appeared in it. She lunged at me, but couldn't cross my circle, thankfully, so she screamed in rage and pain. As she vanished, the ritual shattered. Corvane and the three people with her in similar wraps glared at my Sestras and I; they were pissed at what we'd done.

       Syn screamed in pain, so Tilea threw the satchel at her and expended all of her own magical energy, to try to bind Tatyana to Syn. She wasn't sure where the spirit was, but she had to try. As soon as the satchel hit Syn, she stopped screaming and a beautiful golden light beamed down over her. She had fully merged with Tatyana. Burned into the area they'd been fighting was now a powerful circle and a dragon in humanoid form was standing in it. As the golden light stopped, Syn dropped to one knee and for just a moment, Tilea saw a faint outline of angelic wings on her back. Then Syn got up and ran toward the castle. 

       One of the monks hit me hard, but I was able to maintain our circle. Sachi yelled for Bruenar, but he didn't come. Then he put Aggie in a bead of force and told her "sorry baby, this is for your protection," kicking the ball and sending Aggie flying out of the window. Sypha and I were furious that damned monkey had just fucked up our beautiful circle. Since the circle was broken anyway, I misty stepped away from the monk and unleashed a small bolt of lightning at them before getting in my bubble.

       Nikko healed Sachi and Dot sent out a buff for everyone. One of the monks went for Dot and Pip, thankfully missing both of them. Sypha said "to Hells with circles" and pulled out a rod that was glowing with the elements and cast something on herself. The ball with Aggie flew into the window again, and Sachi caught it and flung it back out. My poor sestra. She does kind of deserve it though after everything she's done. The monk that tried to hit me before came up to me and swung... the fucker was able to get through my bubble- this isn't good.

      Sachi flanked the monk on me, and it managed to negate his damage, so he shoved an entire bag of dust of dryness in its mouth- the monk was not pleased. I somehow managed to maintain my bolt on the monk and set up a candle that would let us all speak telepathically so we could better coordinate. Dot hit the monk on her with a cone of cold and it didn't seem to do as much as she'd hoped it would. Sypha went for the one on Dot, but it evaded her strike. Scritch managed to score a couple of decent hits on it though, before Corvane popped up right behind him and landed a couple blows. Syn ran into the room and stabbed the monk on Dot right in the heart, and it turned to ash.

       The monk I was fighting cut itself and a sigil appeared on its forehead and chest. Sachi shoved something poisonous into its self-inflicted wound, then threw something at him- they ended up ping-ponging it back and forth for a moment. I continued my witch bolt and lit a blinking candle, but they all resisted the effect. Kit and Cat hit the two remaining monks- aside from Corvane. The one near Dot healed himself, but Sypha managed to kill it anyway. Aggie was finally back and she killed the one I'd been fighting. There was only Corvane left.

       Scritch wished Corvane "had the arms and legs she was born with," making her spectral hand vanish. Tilea hit Corvane once, then Syn went at her with the sun sword. There was a bright glo coming from every spot Syn hit Corvane, then she screamed and vanished. Syn said Corvane had been sent home, to the deepest reaches of the outside.

       Faint applause came from behind us, and Bruenar- but not Bruenar- was there. He said he was now the Harbinger of Apsu, and that it was a spectacular day. The Harbinger thanked us for our help, saying we'd done more than we could possibly imagine, and while he couldn't truly thank us for what we'd done, he knew what we liked, and a fuckload of money appeared in the room. Sachi's eyes pretty much bugged out of the sockets and the monkey froze, so stunned he couldn't move. The Harbinger gave us all the Blessing of Apsu and vanished.

       Strahd came out of wherever he'd been hiding during this shit and demanded to know what the Hells was going on. I quickly launched an explanation of what we had just done. When I was finished he blinked at me a couple of times, said "I guess you can stay," and walked away.

       Syn said she felt something angry in the back of her mind, possibly Vecna or Belmont. My sestras and I couldn't determine what specifically it was.

       The six witches from Aggie's coven that had come with us to the castle were given the Blessing of Apsu too, and they were now good. I invited them into my coven, it'd be nice to have a few witches with some experience around, they could help teach my new witches.

       For some reason, we decided to sleep at the castle for the night.

***** Nyolcadik Honap 1, Castle Ravenloft

       In the morning both of my sestras were gone, but Sypha left a note. She was going to retrieve her lab and she had to take care of something, then she'd be back.

       Grant was randomly there in the morning, so I took him back to the Temple with me; I needed to talk to him behind wards. I needed to know what he knew about Sypha, and who put the soul brand on her, I was worried about that person coming for me. He said he'd been researching who put the brand on her, but he hadn't found anything yet.

       Grant sent Sachi and Scritch to do some recon for him. He wasn't sure what was going on with Belmont, but he thought there was another player on the board.

       Much later in the day, Sachi and Scritch decided to smoke a ton of weed in a Tiny Hut in our personal common room. When they got bored with that, Sachi put some in every brazier in the Temple, which I removed and kicked the damned monkey out. They were annoying me, so I eventually gave in and gave them a room they could smoke in... which they turned into a casino.

***** Nyolcadik Honap 2, Temple of Mystra

       Sachi wanted to go shopping in Sigil, but he'd never been there so he couldn't just plane shift there. He decided to go ask Strahd if he could get him the sigils he needed to shift to Sigil. Strahd just sent him there, then Sachi came back to get us.

       We wanted some magical tattoos, and Syn knew a place. We spent the next three days getting inked.

***** Nyolcadik Honap 5, Sigil

       We were finally finished with our tattoos and were ready to go home, but Syn was waiting for an important package and we couldn't leave until Syn received it. We decided to go looking for the courier, leaving Spot at the tattoo shop in case we missed him. Sachi, Dot, and I went one way, Tilea, Syn, Cat, and Kit went the other way. Eventually we found the package and were able to leave.

       At the Temple, there was a note from Sypha with a brass ring, she'd heard of our recent acquisition and the ring would help. I shrugged and went back to my researching.

      Syn was still feeling that anger in the back of her mind, toward the northwest, where Belmont's tower used to be.

***** Nyolcadik Honap 7, Temple of Mystra

       This morning the anger was gone from the back of Syn's mind. While this was good news, it was also worrisome since it had been there for so many days.

       Sachi decided to go conduct some recon to see if he could find Belmont. While he was gone, I talked to Aggie, and she said we wouldn't be able to find Belmont with magic without the Power of Three, and neither of us could reach Sypha.

       When Sachi came back empty handed, Tilea had Syn try to scry for him and the crystal ball exploded. I sent Grant a message to see if he could help us, and he said he was looking at Belmont right now. We scryed for Grant and got static. On a hunch, we bamfed to Strahd's garden, and he was there.

       Sachi began babbling about his soul mate when we got there- referring to Clarah. I thought he was insane, but magic didn't stop him. He was truly in love with the dragon he'd bound to his soul.

       We all hid just before Belmont arrived, and Grant told us he could not see Syn at all, no matter what. Kittie and Cat disguised Syn as Sypha, and it was so well done that I almost thought she was my sestra. Those two are good.

       Syn wanted to go after Belmont, but Tilea said no. To prevent that, Tilea drew her moonblade and stepped out, telling Belmont we needed to have a chat.

Adventures in Oerth- The Bane of Vecna: Book Two, Chapter Eleven

Infiltrating Castle Ravenloft

Dramatis Personae:
Aurora Isilime, the Valley Elf Bard of Valor and Bae'qeshel of Lolth, the Silver Tongued Siren, Knight of Summer
Charlotte, Aurora's violet Faerie Dragon familiar
Eurydice, the Faerie Dragon Feylock, formerly Aurora's familiar
Aiden, Eurydice's Sprite familiar

Dervish, the Kasathe Brass Dragon Fighter and Dragon Blood Sorcerer, Knight of the Erl King

"Shadewing" Corvis Cairunis Umbrusalarim, the Shadow Elf Hexblade Warlock and Knight of the Raven Queen
Cloak, Shadewing's Empty Cloak familiar
Alfred, Shadewing's Raven familiar 
Alucard, the ancient all-powerful wizard; formerly Oryn Talus, the ancient and mysterious halfling who has employed the party; also know as Cinder, the ancient power that is said to destroy every world

Lan El'Mandragoran, the Human Paladin of Pelor

Aerathema, the Wood Elf Druid

Narg, there's really no way to describe Narg, Narg is just Narg
Elder Vish, Dervish's friend and mentor from his world, Knight of Spring
Sil'ilos'anon Braz'Dracon, the "Drow" Warlock Blood Mage of Lolth, and the new DEATH
Ralliakkan, the Drow Rogue, Knight of Fall
Ceidil Rein, the Human Champion who serves as Eurydice's Knight
Mara Nemestk, the Human Champion who serves as Ceidil's Knight

Comrades we have lost:
Pharin Braz'Dracon, the Brass Dragon-Drow Conjurationist Wizard and Priest of Lolth- returned to Faerun
Andolin Braz'Dracon, the Brass Dragon-Drow Fighter/Beast Master- returned to Faerun
Lothar, the Sovani Smith and semi-Cleric of Moradin, High Priest of Lolth, Cleric of Istus, forced Cleric of Asmodeus; Kas Reincarnated - sacrificed to resurrect Alucard
Oryn Talus, the ancient and mysterious halfling who has employed the party- fractured himself into 4 parts to prevent cult from taking his soul
Willow Liadon, the Eladrin Arcane Trickster- sent to Elysium through a trap and was never heard from again

NOTE: Things will be mostly from Aurora's perspective. Anything in italics is from a third person since the bard can't be everywhere at once.

***** Lacysnows 27, CY 710, City of Brass

       We got bored with Sigil after a while and decided to head to the City of Brass. It was cold, and we didn't see anyone. As we looked around, something skittered across the road... we didn't stick around to find out what it was. 

       I put Nystul's Magic Aura on my Lolth Blade to mask its energies and shifted us to Dis. Things were much more normal in the Nine Hells. There were a few more guards than normal, but otherwise, it looked pretty much normal. We spent the rest of the day shopping. 

***** Lacysnows 28, Potidaea

       In the morning, Dervish opened an iron flask he'd picked up while we shopped, and out came Rikkle- the dude we met briefly right before I put on the corrupted ring. He decided to help our defenses by making explosives, so I helped them find what they needed in Potidaea. Of course, we had a shitload of gunpowder and cannons in one of the long-abandoned rooms in the College.

       Vish was bored, so he went drinking in Dis. Shade and I went to the Shadowfell to go shopping. A shopkeep offered us draws from the Deck of Many Things; Shade and I declined, but Eurydice and Ceidil decided to draw. Eurydice got the Sun and the Rogue; Ceidil drew the Knight, and Mara joined us; Mara decided to draw and got the Gem, Jester, Star, Sun, Balance, and Vizier. Overall, it was a lucky and rather dull set of draws.

***** Needfest 4, CY 711, Free City of Greyhawk

       After our week of preparations, we met Alucard in the City of Greyhawk and learned that he was the one who had been turned into Eurydice's enemy by the Deck. Thankfully, she had wishes, so she was able to wish he didn't hate her, saving her neck. 

      We were going to Castle Ravenloft to find the scroll, and we had a wayfinder that would take us to it. Alucard said there was no way we could sneak around and there'd definitely be a small welcoming party waiting for us. He would keep Vecna occupied while we tracked it down.

       Alucard began chanting and our scenery became star-like for a moment, then the sky darkened and howls of rage echoed around us. With an abrupt lurch, we were in an old, decayed, decrepit, landscape, and there were vultures circling overhead. Standing in front of us were some twisted-looking pit fiends and balors. One of Narg's tattoos flashed, he vanished, and all of them were dusted. 

       With them out of the way, Alucard ran forward, right into a pillar, and vanished. We found ourselves looking at a pair of big stone doors. Shade began reading some of the runes on it, and of course, they were fucking exploding runes. Eurydice, Ceidil, and Mara went down instantly, but I revived them quickly. The pillars began to rumble and change. Shade attacked one of the pillars and it attempted to steal his sword. Some undead creatures began to appear around us, and Shade dusted a few of them. But there were more pillars and more undead rising. This didn't look good. 

       Dervish said it was time for one of our bombs, and dimension doored up. I grabbed Mara and stuck her on my broom, and Ceidil and Eurydice grouped together. We dimension doored up too, and Shadewing shadow stepped up. Because Dervish loves being a pain in my ass, he began arguing over who should drop the bomb. Then some of the creatures below us began to fly. Shadewing said "drop it," and Dervish and I both dropped bombs... 

       Had Eurydice not used a wish, I would have dropped mine right on her head. Everything in the courtyard area we were in was demolished instantly. Oops? Ceidil and Mara were hit by falling debris and died again. Those two were fucking useless. 

       Vish said an earthquake was coming, and a couple seconds later we felt it as Alucard and Vecna burst out of the rubble. As they engaged in a fucking insane battle, Dervish figured out the general area of the fucking scroll. He took Vish and Shade to sneak around to find it. Before leaving, Shade tossed a spell at Vecna to prevent him from healing; hopefully, it would do Alucard some good. 

       Alucard grabbed Vecna and began flying; the sky started shifting and twisting violently, growing darker as it moved. Suddenly, the sky seemed to expand, then collapsed in on itself, before exploding in a flash of light. I could just make out two figures falling in opposite directions. 

       Shade and Dervish found the scroll, and I grabbed Ceidil and Mara's bodies. Dervish attempted to use a word of recall, but it didn't work; then Eurydice and I both tried to plane shift to no avail; Dervish finally managed to punch through whatever was blocking our magic. 

***** Needfest 5, Free City of Greyhawk

      The sun was rising as we arrived back where we'd met Alucard in Greyhawk. Three minutes went by before a portal opened up and Alucard fell out. We could see Vecna for a brief second before it closed. Things hadn't gone expected, but we'd gotten the scroll, so I guess mission accomplished. 

       Alucard explained to us part of how the Outsiders were turning the Beacons red. They'd created Mantles for their mortal followers- Knights and Emissaries, just like the fae had. This gave them something of a foothold in our realm and let them fuck with things. 

       By this point, only a single Beacon remained that wasn't red- the one in Blackmoor. We were in no shape to deal with the Beacon today, so we decided to rest for the night before heading to Blackmoor. 

***** Needfest 6, Eru Tovar

        We were going back to where it all began. The place we needed to go for the Beacon was the same place where the gala Oryn held that brought us all together had been. Of course, the spell to get us there didn't fucking work. We ended up 240 miles away, in the smoldering ruins of Eru Tovar. Shade found a shadow road, but it went about 100 miles in the wrong direction, so that was fucking helpful.

       I did a legend lore to see if I could find the exact location of the Beacon, and to see if maybe it was a key to stop the cults; the results were fucking weird. "The Gate lies beyond the mountains, where you're unable to see. The door is locked and has been for an eternity. The key is gone far from its homeland."

       We decided to use the Ethereal Plane to get to the Beacon, and discovered that the Beacon's light ran all the way to the very core of the world. Suddenly, Eurydice hissed and a cloaked figure appeared. He babbled as he spoke, not completely making sense: he didn't expect us to come here... we just got our Mantles we don't even know the power we have... why would we come here... we're barely a feast... it'll give us to its god. Then he began floating toward us. I told Shade to get us the fuck out of here.

       I told Shade to get us the fuck out of here. Dervish began launching arrows at him and only hit him once. Black ichor oozed from the wound instead of blood. As the ichor ran down his arm, he began looking more twisted, and we were suddenly shunted out of the Ethereal Plane. 

       "If I kill you here, I can eat your souls," he said, cackling madly. 

       Eurydice sent Ceidil and Mara to Potidaea so they wouldn't die again. Shade, Dervish, and Vish all managed to hit him- and thankfully he missed them in his attempt to return fire. I attempted to feeblemind him, but it didn't fucking work. A bright purple flame began to surround him, and suddenly there were four of him- fucking mirror image. Time slowed as the other three of him appeared; he hit Shadewing once and Shade looked bewildered; he grabbed at Vish; then he hit me hard. 

       Aurora went insane from the blow and keeled over, a gibbering mess. Shadewing exchanged blows with him briefly, before Shade was hit with madness, and keeled over, in just as bad of shape as Aurora. As Shade crumpled, the man vanished. 

All maps by Anna B. Meyer

Adventures in Oerth- The Bane of Vecna: Book Two, Chapter Ten

The Locks Start Crumbling

Dramatis Personae:
Aurora Isilime, the Valley Elf Bard of Valor and Bae'qeshel of Lolth, the Silver Tongued Siren
Charlotte, Aurora's violet Faerie Dragon familiar
Eurydice, the Faerie Dragon Feylock, formerly Aurora's familiar
Aiden, Eurydice's Sprite familiar

Dervish, the Kasathe Brass Dragon Fighter and Dragon Blood Sorcerer

"Shadewing" Corvis Cairunis Umbrusalarim, the Shadow Elf Hexblade Warlock of the Raven Queen
Cloak, Shadewing's Empty Cloak familiar
Alfred, Shadewing's Raven familiar
Alucard, the ancient all-powerful wizard; formerly Oryn Talus, the ancient and mysterious halfling who has employed the party; also know as Cinder, the ancient power that is said to destroy every world

Lan El'Mandragoran, the Human Paladin of Pelor

Aerathema, the Wood Elf Druid

Narg, there's really no way to describe Narg, Narg is just Narg
Elder Vish, Dervish's friend and mentor from his world
Sil'ilos'anon Braz'Dracon, the "Drow" Warlock Blood Mage of Lolth, and the new DEATH
Ralliakkan, the Drow Rogue

Comrades we have lost:
Pharin Braz'Dracon, the Brass Dragon-Drow Conjurationist Wizard and Priest of Lolth- returned to Faerun
Andolin Braz'Dracon, the Brass Dragon-Drow Fighter/Beast Master- returned to Faerun
Lothar, the Sovani Smith and semi-Cleric of Moradin, High Priest of Lolth, Cleric of Istus, forced Cleric of Asmodeus; Kas Reincarnated - sacrificed to resurrect Alucard
Oryn Talus, the ancient and mysterious halfling who has employed the party- fractured himself into 4 parts to prevent cult from taking his soul
Willow Liadon, the Eladrin Arcane Trickster- sent to Elysium through a trap and was never heard from again

NOTE: Things will be mostly from Aurora's perspective. Anything in italics is from a third person since the bard can't be everywhere at once.

***** Lacysnows 25, CY 710, Potidaea Bard College

       While I was organizing my bards to get the college fixed, Alucard came back with an odd man in a raven mask, with a raven perched on his shoulder. He was introduced to us as Shadewing- by the bird, Alfred- who apparently speaks for him. Alucard had gone to the Raven Queen to get us aid, and this was who she'd sent to us. He told us he had to get a couple more people, before vanishing again. 

       Dervish, apparently missing Douchebag, offered him a draw from the Deck of Many Things. Alfred drew first and got the Void... a few seconds later, Alucard reappeared with Narg and the gem Alfred had gotten sucked into. Shadewing himself drew something that made a Yochlol appear and hand his the Tome of the Stilled Tongue. He wanted nothing to do with it, so I picked it up, out of curiosity. 

       A pulse of energy suddenly hit everyone in and around Potidaea. Cause we totally need more shit to go wrong today. I found Briisa, and she said it came from one of the sub-basements that we haven't touched in decades. Fucking wonderful. There was probably some horrible thing lurking in it that would attack. At the moment we got there, the 15-foot adamantine door that had sealed this room crashed to the ground, revealing two golems. Behind them was a human who introduced himself as Tsorig. Apparently, he'd been sent here by his God, Kelemvor, to investigate the mass deaths that just occurred. We quickly explained to him that somehow Pharin had managed to set the world on fire. He readily joined up with us, especially after we told him about Vecna. Probably should have led with that, but really, Pharin may actually be worse for the world than the lich god.

       Lan was the next person Alucard brought to us, and he quickly befriended Tsorig. They decided that they should work together on conscripting some clerics for us. With that taken care of, Briisa and I were able to get back to work. 

       Our archives were in the section of the tower that Pharin blew up. Some of our smaller colleges throughout the world would be able to get us new copies of some of the books, but I knew some of our oldest tomes were kept only here and were now likely gone forever. When this nonsense with Vecna is sorted out, I'll be making backup archives in triplicate. No clue where I'll put them, but I'll think of something. 

       Another fucking wonderful problem was true resurrection wasn't working on any of our fallen. We had a bunch of our bards trying but to no avail. I'm pretty sure the stupid Beacons are the problem. 

       An emptiness suddenly washed over us all for a brief moment as red, crackling energy went from a Beacon into the clouds. Eurydice saw five locks in the sky, and one of them had just crumbled. If all five locks fell, the Outsiders would be able to get in. This was the best time for Pharin to blow up our archives. I just needed a fucking Fate card to fix my tower- just make the explosion be like three feet to the left of the tower or something, so everything we needed wasn't fucking destroyed. Ralliakkan said a Fates card wouldn't cut it for something like this- cataclysmic event and whatnot- but I didn't want to undo the event, just the damage to my tower. I thought maybe I could wish for the knowledge to fix the locks at the very least, so I yelled at a couple of my bards to get me a wish, but none of them had any... and guess where the fucking scrolls were.

       Since we were lacking in options, we decided to head to the second Beacon, in hopes we could stop the cults from doing anything there. I didn't know if I'd actually be able to teleport us all the way there since the fucking Beacons were still messing with that magic. Before leaving, Tsorig summoned a planetar to help us. 

       As I predicted, we did not end up in Asperdi like we were supposed to. Instead, we ended up about thirty miles away... and thirty miles above the fucking Solnor Ocean. Dervish, Vish, Scottie, and I got on our brooms instantly, Shadewing could apparently fly, and Tsorig turned into a griffin. Lan, on the other hand... He was falling too quickly, so I opened a dimension door under him, and dropped a Hand to catch him. The Hand grabbed him, and popped... the paladin continued his plummet into the icy waters below.

       Tsorig sent his planetar after Lan, and it came back up looking bloody. A fucking lightning bolt followed it, aimed for Vish, Scottie, and Shadewing... there was a fucking kraken down there. Then a flash of brilliant light went off and an angel appeared, diving into the water. It managed to retrieve him, and with that, we were all able to head to shore. 

       We weren't entirely sure how to get to the damn Beacon, but thankfully Dervish found a trail pretty quickly. As he rose on his broom, a lightning bolt slammed into him. We were going to have to walk. 

***** Lacysnows 26, Asperdi

       We traveled through the night and into the morning, hoping to get there quickly; but we were definitely in for a ridiculously long journey. Around midday, I set up my mansion for us to rest in.

       When we exited the mansion Tsorig called his planetar back, and it began screaming in agony as red energy ripped through it. The Beacon turned red at the exact same moment. Tsorig set up a wall of blades between us and his planetar. Dervish and Vish flanked it and completely destroyed it. The planetar exploded, covering them in a blackish ichor; Vish began screaming in pain as the ichor sprayed him. Lan began trying to help Vish with the corruption, but there was nothing he could do. We had to knock him out. 

       Since the Beacon we were here for was red now, we decided to head for the third Beacon; and if we couldn't hit that one, we'd just go to Calbut. We ended up on a mountain, in the middle of a blizzard. I took us to Calbut next. 

       Upon our arrival, we realized that Calbut was just where the keystone was, the actual Beacon was eighty fucking miles away. Shadewing found a shadow road we could take to get there, but as soon as he opened it, screams erupted from it. I was out of teleportation magic, so Dervish took us to his paradise so we could gate to the Beacon. Lan decided to go get a weapon, and he'd be back in a while.

       I prepared the plane shift, but then Dervish insisted I scry first... that was fucking stupid. The evil coated me instantly, greeting me like an old friend; after all, it was. My Shadow Twin appeared at my side, and together we turned to face the idiots before us. We charmed most of the idiots, but Scottie was able to resist us. He dropped a circle on me and paralyzed me. Then pain wracked my very soul as Tsorig called upon Kelemvor to remove the corruption from both Vish and I. The corruption keeps coming for me, and I always manage to break free. 

       After a couple hours, I checked on Lan, and he said he was just outside the paradise- he couldn't get back in. We left it to go meet him and headed into town. 

       Dervish apparently missed Pharin. He offered the innkeeper some draws from the Deck of Many Things. The innkeeper drew the fucking Void... His daughter then took her father's Deck and drew the Fates card. Dervish's Deck vanished, as she made it so he'd never gotten his in the first place. The innkeeper was back, since he'd never drawn the Void, and insisted Dumbass take a draw for himself. Dervish drew the Idiot, which was beyond the perfect card for the Dumbass to draw. Shadewing drew Donjon, and something else that made him vanish. Vish drew a Fates card; Scottie drew the Void. Then Vish, sick of it all, used his Fates card to undo the entire thing. I never drew, I couldn't risk losing Luna or the Lolth blade. 

***** Lacysnows 27, Calbut

       In the morning Briisa told me that Vecna had the knowledge to stop the Outsider's cult from unlocking the gates. But there was no way we could get it from that asshat. Over breakfast, the others decided to play with the Deck of Many Things again. Lan drew the star, the knight, and the key- giving him a luck blade. Tsorig drew the vizier and the gem; the vizier could be a huge aid to us. Lan's new knight drew the fool and the moon. Then Eurydice decided to draw, getting the moon and the knight- a little human girl; that was kind of disappointing, I'd hoped she'd get a little faerie dragon knight.

       We needed some divine aid in this, so Shadewing went to the Feywild to seek an audience with Mab. I headed to the Abyss to talk to Lolth; Lan and Tsorig decided to follow me... I just hoped they wouldn't fuck up my chances of getting help from her.

       I was greeted by Ralliakkan when we got to the Demonweb Pits. She told me Lolth wasn't seeing people at the moment, so I explained to her what we were looking for. About two hours later she came back and told us that there were only three things that could hurt the Outsiders. One was Lan's sword, another was Tsorig's sword, and Ralliakkan was apparently the third thing. With that, a yochlol sent us back to where we'd been, and only five minutes had passed since we initially left.

       Shadewing sent Alfred back to get us, told us we were all going to the Feywild, we were meeting them at the oak in the very center. There were tons of fey sitting around the Stone Table, discussing the situation. Apparently there was only one lock left. Shade told them we were here to offer aid, and gain aid.

       To gain this aid from them, we'd have to join them with a treaty, and serve them to gain protections. They were all willing to contract with us. None of the fey knew what was on the other side of the gate, or how long it would take to get through. We then were each taken by a different fey lord to work with. The Erl King took Dervish as his Knight; Mab took Tsorig; Titania took me; Celeste, the Queen of Spring, took Vish; Syndall, the Queen of Fall, took Ralliakkan; and the Raven Queen took Shadewing. We were all given familiars by our fey patrons, who would instantly remove our Mantles the moment we died, to prevent the cults from getting them.

       After the rituals to gain the mantles, Alucard showed up, and had some dire news for us. The Outsider cults were trying to rip a hole in time and take Vecna's soul; they wanted to put his soul in a gem to superpower their god, or something. It was odd and worrisome, though I didn't pay attention to the whole thing; I just didn't care that much.

       We headed to Sigil after that to get supplies. People were leaving it because of the locks breaking, but there were still enough shops open to burn some money.

All maps by Anna B. Meyer