Centrum Glacies Session 63: Curses, Mermaids, and Hags
Week 63 Dungeons and Dragons Campaign in Centrum Glacies continues as the party deals with Curses, Mermaids, and Hags.
Like my other campaign, I’m turning this one into a book series. You can check out the first one here.
Anyway, just like my other campaign, there is a whole lot going on and I don’t want to elaborate on every moving piece in the story. You can see the whole thing in the book series.
!!!Trigger Warning!!!
This story deals with a cruel world with some horrific twists. So far, this campaign has featured: Animals getting killed, Genocide, lots of body horror, evil cults, brainwashing, torture.
Most recently one of the party members had an eye gouged out and lost an arm. Not exactly the way it happens in Berserk, but that might have been the inspiration for it. The group recently was incinerated in lava. But rather than die, they have been transformed into Demons. And every moment they have to resist a bloodlust that is trying to take hold.
!!!Final Trigger Warning!!!
After surviving their encounter with the ghosts, Obrom told Trent and Jyona about origin of his cursed hand. But he didn’t know what had inflicted the curse or why he had received it. All he knew was a name associated with it. One that the other two knew quite well: Jak-Rath. Neither was surprised that he was connected to this all somehow.
Personal Chaos
Meanwhile, Teztcal tried to cause chaos for reasons only he knew more than once, and under the watchful eye of the Zrin Gaurds he failed to kidnap multiple people. Under threat of arrest, he succeeded. Teztcal kidnaped a Human woman. And once he flew past the city gates, the Zrin Guards no longer had the authority to arrest him.
But that just meant it was the Light of Abyss Soldiers who gave chase. And it was clear they were more competent and less corrupt. The rest of the party gave chase as well. They wanted answers from Teztcal after his newest evil stunt. Trent was still convinced he was an Obsidian Spy.
Consequences
Teztcal was apprehended by the guards. And this allowed party to catch up. At least he hadn’t managed to fly far from Zrin.
Jyona was ready to fight to the death against Teztcal when she realized what he was doing. And the rest of the party didn’t feel much better about him kidnapping an innocent woman.
Teztcal was netted by several magical layers to make sure he wouldn’t be able to cause anymore trouble for a while. Content that he was under the watchful eye of countless soldiers and unable to move, the party split up to rest.
Jyona volunteered to watch Teztcal throughout the night. Meanwhile, Obrom and Trent returned to Zrin to stay at the Lower City Inn.
While there, Trent split off to check in on orphanage. There were no signs that the Vampire child had broken free. But he did hear Anithren crying in her room. Given what he had witnessed on his prior visit, he could think of several reasons for her despair. But since he didn’t want her to know he was there, he didn’t go talk to her.
When he returned to the inn, Obrom was waiting and asked where he went. Trent had nothing to hide and told him the truth. The Bard knew little of the Undercity Orphanage and so listened with interest.
Bandit Attack
Back in the Jungle, Jyona was preparing to meditate as Elves did not sleep. But before she could slip into a dream state, she and Teztcal were attacked by quite possibly the dumbest Bandits on the Abyssal Continent. The soldiers didn’t even need to intervene.
Before they can do much of anything, harm included, the Animated Armor killed them. Jyona had given with no command to do so. Though confused, she didn’t think too much about it. Instead she went back to meditating and was not attacked by any other creatures.
Teztcal used the opportunity to steal the corpses. They didn’t need their bodies anymore. Nor their skin as he flayed them. This task took up a large part of his night. He slept much less than the others.
Tense Talk
Trent and Obrom discussed several events that have happened to them. Topics included the Abyssal Continent, the Druids of Cleansing, and most importantly the three of their Demonic Transformations Obrom asks how recently they recovered from being demons.
Trent answered that question truthfully. And in the middle of this talk, realizing that he had volunteered too much information to a Gold Ranked Adventurer and a Bard at that, Trent regretted doing so.
Obrom for his part was shocked to learn that Demons could transform back to normal. It was clear to Trent that this was a closely guarded secret. One he would not be forthcoming with moving forward.
He stopped the conversation as he reflected on the potential consequences of this information getting out. Or possibly worse, if those with power over him realized that he had been the one to mention it.
Obrom came to a horrible conclusion. Based on what Trent had told him, there was a strong possibility that all the other Platinum Adventurers were secretly Demons. He considered running away and saying his farewells, realizing that he was probably in over his head. Yet, he changed his mind, realizing that having Platinum Adventurers as allies might help him with his cursed hand.
Flesh Suit
The next day arrived and Jyona discovered Teztcal had crafted a “flesh suit”. As she realized what this has all been about she tried to explain the difference between human flesh, dragon flesh, and scales armoring their flesh.
Naturally the deluded Dragon did not listen. Nor did he see a difference between these three types of “skin”.
Instead, Teztcal tried to apply his own logic to how this worked and failed. Naturally he was not as well learned as Jyona and was not capable of talking sciences with her. But their arguing did not go anywhere. As usual when two people are not equally discussing a topic start screaming at one another.
Soon enough, the other half of the party showed up to witness the horror that was Teztcal’s flesh armor. They liked it just as much as Jyona and also considered his reasoning about the flesh vs dragon scales to be flimsy at best.
One positive thing did arise due to the flesh armor though. Trent used the fact that there were relatively fresh corpses nearby to try out his staff. The armor melted off Teztcal and reformed into Spore Zombies under the former Druid’s command.
Jyona decided that this fight was a waste of energy and time. So she clenched her fists, and then promised Teztcal that she would only use the scales gifted to her by living dragons in the future. With him no longer wishing to kidnap people, she decided to free Teztcal from the nets.
Into the Lake
With all that out of the way, the group returned to the lake where the Mermaids lived. Just like before, they heard a song coming from below the water. And just like before, the party was charmed by the song which compelled them to go under the water into a weird air pocket cave. A good thing they didn’t drown at least.
The cave under the lake wasn’t empty either. It was filled with several Mermaids. And they didn’t seem surprised to find the party in their home.
As they met more Mermaids, Teztcal ranted about his great power. Once more he claimed he was a Dragon God. The Mermaids of course did not believe him, but they seemed to play along. Perhaps they assumed the song had made him go temporarily crazy?
At the center of the cave, the party found several more Mermaids as well as the missing soldiers. They were currently in a large cell and several of them were grabbing at the bars. They screamed about the Mermaid song and how badly they wanted to hear it again.
Teztcal noticed one of the soldiers had been mauled by something. They were horribly scarred and it was if some of their skin had rotted while remaining in place. The deluded Dragon looked away from such ugliness.
The Truth of a Song
Trent noticed that one of the mermaids looked similar to the tattoo of the orphanage owner. And said Mermaid proved that he had been right about the two being lovers. She introduced herself as the leader of this group.
She explained that the party had almost drowned in the lake and that the Mermaids had intervened to save them. Unlike the prisoners nearby, it appeared that they were more resistant to the magical effects. Otherwise, they would have been locked up too.
Yet, there was something she wasn’t telling the party. Obrom and Teztcal realized she was hiding something. And both independently decided to get her to keep talking until she slipped up and revealed whatever topic she was side stepping.
As they kept pressing her, she finally admitted at least one topic she had avoided. The reason the soldiers are so entranced is because they have heard the song multiple times now. She claimed that the reason behind this was that a mysterious man in creepy makeup told them he can return them to normal if they kept singing the song.
Trent asked about the man in the makeup. This individual sounded like one of the people they ran into at the Cult of Obsidian Base. Unfortunately the Mermaid admitted she didn’t know much other than that he calls himself Tummler.
Tyche
Apologizing that she doesn’t know much more than that, she stated her name is Tyche. Then she mentioned another topic that the Mermaid was dancing around. Tyche reveals that they weren’t always mermaids. They were mostly Humans until they ran into the Cult of Obsidian.
Not only did this imply that Tummler was connected to them, but it also implied another more unfortunate truth. These Mermaids were Demons, and they didn’t know the method by which their transformations could be reversed. The group didn’t reveal how to change back to them. It didn’t seem like a good idea to do so.
The party said that they will help them find a way to reverse the transformation. Advising that they shouldn’t trust this Tummler at all, they convince Tyche to make a deal with them. In exchange for their help, the party asked that they not use the song that lures in people anymore. They also need to release the guards once the effects wear off. Trent pointed out that they were Platinum and Gold Ranked Adventurers. Upsetting them wasn’t a good idea.
Signs of Darkness
But he had more questions. The former Druid asked why they choose to stay here rather than return to the surface. Tyche pointed out that in addition to some energy in the water harming them as they got near the surface, they feared running into the Circle of Cleansing Druids. She seemed more aware of her transformation than she initially let on. It was clear she understood what would happen
Trent informed Tyche that the archdruid had been slain. The Circle would not threaten them anymore if they came to the surface.
Initially she was shocked, and even a little relieved. But not for more than a few moments. After all, the Circle of Cleansing had several Arch Druids leading them. Taking out one only made the others more dangerous. Trent didn’t disagree. He understood how this Druid Circle operated.
The Clown
Tyche asked the party to let Maerwynn know that she is safe and shouldn’t worry. And the group was ready to set off to do just that. Except for one issue. Tyche tried to get the party to leave. And not so subtly for that matter. And all of those things that Trent knew she wasn’t saying struck a nerve.
For that reason, the former Druid confronted her about it now rather bluntly. He wanted to know exactly what was going on. And also why she was so eager for them to leave.
She took immediate offense. And grew even more upset when Trent drilled her about the song, how strange this whole situation was, and especially, why they hadn’t stopped singing with the absence of the Clown Like Man.
After more pressure from Trent she gave in a bit and said the song wasn’t affecting us the same as it does the others. This still wasn’t enough though. Tyche was telling them what they wanted to hear, but not why it was happening.
Return of the Curse
Trent pressured her even more and she finally snapped with anger. Fed up, she revealed something that made Jyona groan and gasp. Something horrible she hadn’t seen in a long time: time brands. But that didn’t make sense. Why would these still be around if Persephine had erased them using the law of silence? Nor was there a reason for the Witch Cult to cast this spell at all.
Apparently, Tyche had more to add after flashing her own mark. Tummler was making them sing the song in exchange for removing the curse. Not because of their transformation.
Jyona reflected on the fact that her own curse had contained a much longer timer than any of the others. Even with the Mermaids here, their brands said that in a week’s time they would all perish. Jyona meanwhile had been granted months. What was special about her? Had Engelique had dark motives for her all along?
Mysterious Assailant
Tyche continued by explaining that they didn’t know who had cursed them all. The culprits had been concealed by Magic and their voices altered too. She didn’t know the number of people involved either.
Trent informed her about the leaders of who cursed them. Tyche was impressed that the group knew someone as powerful as either Persephine or Engelique. And it dawned on her that the group had two Platinum Adventurers in their ranks. The former Druid also warned that that the Mermaids were likely being played by obsidian cult. He was certain that this Tummler was connected to them.
Jyona informed Tyche as well as several other Mermaids that were now listening in about how she got rid of her brand. She warned that the price to get rid of theirs might be too steep to pay considering what had happened the last time the group had made a deal with those two.
As they finally left much to Tyche’s relief, Jyona noticed something strange. Despite all of her talk, Tyche was unique compared to the other Mermaids. Notably her brand was fake. An illusion cast either by her or another.
She stewed on the information, not really piecing together that Tyche might have sold out the other merfolk. For that reason, she didn’t tell the rest of the party about her sinister discovery.
Back to Zrin
The Party returned to Zrin to inform Maerwynn that her partner was “safe”. For now at least. They didn’t bring up the tattoo or curse at first, but after a detailed conversation and realizing that both parties were sidestepping information.
Realizing that she is hiding something from them, Trent presses her further. Why did she care about Tyche’s situation. It would be one thing if she had tried going herself. The truth eventually came out.
Maerwynn also had the cursed marked She stated that witches put it on her. But she had slipped up. The party had never mentioned a cursed mark, the the Shadow Demon spoke as if the party was already familiar with the Witch Cult.
Clearly she was lying just like Tyche. There seemed to be a whole lot of secrets spinning around the party. And the more they dug, the less they liked what was unearthed.
Hag Coven
Trent once more confronted her on these lies. And rather than fight against the accusations, she asked the group to follow her to a place where the children would not hear. Quite a suspicious thing to ask.
As soon as they were away from listening ears and prying eyes, Jyona blurted out “wait, why do you have one, but not Tyche?” Not only did the party look her way, but Maerwynn herself jumped. Whatever secret she was hiding was already out.
With her biggest secret out, the Shadow Demon showed them the truth. Not only did she reveal that her tattoo was also fake, but that she and Tyche as well were connected to the curse being cast. She revealed her true form. That of a wicked Hag. Just like the others in Engelique’s and Persophines Witch Cult.
But how could that be? The Cult was no longer casting that curse now that Persephine possessed the law of silence. But now that Maerwynn was cornered, she seemed awfully willing to tell the truth.
Separatists
They were kicked out of the hag coven for being “extreme”. Maerwynn, Tyche, and an unnamed third Hag had formed their own Coven determined to prove that they knew better than a Mythril and Platinum Ranked Adventurer.
But after what had happened, they saw the error of their pride. Or at least that was what Maerwynn claimed. The party would have to deal with this entire problem before they could know for sure if she was being truthful.
For the time being at least, the party accepted her explanation and at least at minimum a feigned apology. She asked them to help her remove the curse from the Mermaids before it was too late. If she was faking things, Maerwynn was an incredible actress.
Obrom asked if the third hag was nearby. Maerwynn admitted she wasn’t sure about her current whereabouts. The group trusted this information less than everything else she had said.
Teztcal claimed that the Hag had a unique scent. He used his allegedly super nose to try sniff her out. He failed naturally. But whether that meant the Hag was elsewhere or he was an idiot could not be determined. Especially when it was possible that both were true simultaneously.
To Seek out a Witch
The Party decided to try and find Engelique. Perhaps they could try and convince her to remove the curse. But the group feared what she might ask for in exchange.
Maerwynn asked if they were finished talking. She reminded them that the Demon Form might be a disguise, but being a Matron of an orphanage was not. She would be missed soon if she didn’t return. Her hag form faded and she returned to appearing as a Shadow Demon.
Once they were away from the Hag, Jyona blurted out “We need to keep Obrom gaining rank at all costs.” Hadron sighed wondering what had prompted her to say something like that in the moment.
Naturally as a Gold Adventurer and on the cusp of said promotion he takes offense. Jyona didn’t realize that he already inferred the fact that Platinum Adventurers are all actual Demons after talking with them before.
Trent for his part, also doesn’t want to inform Obrom of the terrible price one must pay to become a Platinum Adventurer. Notably how the Guild claims their soul upon death.
Wrap Up
Some tension remains among the party and they will have to put that aside as they search for Engelique. They will have to try to convince her to help cure the Mermaids of a curse she helped design. And who knows what she might ask for in exchange for that?