Centrum Glacies Session 86: Trent Restored
Week 86 Dungeons and Dragons Campaign in Centrum Glacies continues with the party trapped in a dangerous jungle. Their trial comes to a long end with Trent restored and his Druid powers back.
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, psychological warfare, child abuse, slavery.
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 was incinerated in lava. But rather than die, they were transformed into Demons. They might be free from these transformations for now, but only time will tell what this means for them.
!!!Final Trigger Warning!!!
Deep in the cursed woods, inside the Druid base that had once protected this now desecrated place, the Circle of Cleansing continued their ritual. Unfortunately, the Lich, realizing that its phylactery was in danger, had take to the field itself. And the entire Jungle was not only it’s lair, but the house of its soul.
Knowing that all it had to do was defeat the Druids and break the ritual, the Lich cast Cloudkill on the entire circle. It didn’t care about the little gnats that poked at it. Obrom was also caught in the spell. And it risked killing him alongside the Druids
But Jyona’s Golem moved to save them all. It rushed the Lich, also risking getting attacked by its minions. It had one desire in its programming: To end that spell. And against all odds and faced with a creature adept at Magic, it managed to swing with enough force to do just that.
With the Cloudkill spell nullified, the Druids managed to complete their ritual. The entire forest burned away and the Blight Lich’s power along with it. Against all odds and reason, the party completed their first Platinum Commission. This was a frightening prelude of things to come.
The Curse Fades
Thanks to the ritual, Trent regained his Druid powers. He had no intention of doing what Zinbella wanted and instead joined the Circle of Cleansing. Extremism aside he shared most of their beliefs. However, he was still a Platinum Adventurer and that meant that he couldn’t have the Druids having him at their beck and call.
As the forest completely burned away, the group took a moment to rest. It had been a long time since they had gained a true victory of this magnitude. And they legitimately felt like Platinum Adventurers now that they had taken on and successfully completed a mission of that rank.
Recuperating
The party then returned to Zrin to report their victory to the Adventurer’s Guild. There was an extra spring in their steps as they worked through everything that happened in the cursed woods. Especially Trent had a lot to think about now that he had finally regained the right to be a Druid.
Jyona hung back at the Guild to focus on crafting. Now that they had a few days to rest, she wanted to focus as much as she could on her projects. And she had joined the Adventurer’s Guild for the access to all these resources and knowledge.
Trouble at the Orphanage
Without Jyona, the rest of the party headed back to Anethren’s Orphanage to check on the kids and the matron. It ended up being a good thing that they visited. Some problematic events had transpired while they had been in the cursed woods.
The matron of the orphanage is scared that Simon was on to them. She dropped frightening hints at what the Guard Captain had been up to. And that she had been a recent meal of his. This confirmed he was a Vampire, but how had he gone out into the sun? Was he really connected to that dangerous group of Vampires that secretly controlled Zrin?
Trent decided to flex his returned powers. Besides, the kids needed something to occupy their minds. Orpahns in general had tougher lives than most other kids. So Trent produced flame a couple times to mystify the kids. Though he was capable of so much more given his connection to the Druids of Cleansing.
Watchful Eyes
Trent and Obrom walked away and let their Dragon companion distract the children. Very reluctantly, and only with Anaethren’s express permission. They took that time away from their deluded friend to discuss Teztcal and the danger he could potentially be.
Despite their best efforts to be secretive, Trent detected movement nearby. This building was not exactly secure. Not when the soldier’s had a barracks connected to and right above them.
He realized that there was a good chance that they were being spied on. But he needed to warn his companion discretely and silently. Trent silently shushed the Bard and pointed towards the wall that separated
The two returned to Teztcal who for a change had not caused a problem or any disturbances at all for that matter. Perhaps now having a child of his own had given the Dragon a soft spot for kids?
Regardless, Anithren suggested that the party leave. It would draw too much attention if several Platinum Adventurers and a Gold kept around an orphanage too often. They left and realized that they should stay away for at least a good amount of time.
Tense Conversations
Back at the Guild Hall Jyona requested the assistance of fellow craftsmen at the guild hall. Unfortunately, they only know of one person in the area. And they noted that it would be unlikely that she would want to work with him.
As if it was a divine coincidence, that very person entered the Guild Hall. And it was not someone she had expected to see or to have such a skill. The person in question was Platinum Adventurer Elkor. The Dark Elf who happened to lead the Cult of Obsidian itself.
She knew it was dangerous to approach him, but she had no other options. Feeling good about her success in the jungle, she foolishly if confidently went to him goes as her normal endearing self. It did get a response from the dangerous Elf. But not the one she expected.
They two discussed a rather solemn topic. He asked her how she felt about killing his soldiers, even in self defense. She for her part explained that she did not take pleasure in killing anyone. It was strange. Elkor didn’t get upset. If anything, he seemed sad. Like that there was a bunch of unavoidable tragedy happening all around.
He left, leaving Jyona confused and reflecting on a lot of topics that she had kept out of her thoughts. The Dark Elf understood what she wanted, but as he left, explained that he couldn’t in good conscious create tools that could be used against his allies and friends.
Tim Returns
But as the door shut behind Elkor another unexpected Adventurer walked in. Tim was perhaps the most mysterious Platinum Adventurer of the lot. He had once been Mythril until he gave it to another and stepped back down to Platinum. As it turned out, after a few words with Jyona and confused hellos, he revealed that he had a team of blacksmiths that would be more than happy to assist her.
But he had plenty of words of wisdom of his own. He pointed out to Jyona that these weapons they forged would be used to kill people. And many monsters had once been innocent people. Jyona stood by her beliefs, although after having two conversations back to back that challenged her ideas, she was left with a lot to think about.
With all talk out of the way, Jyona joined Tim in a nearby building and with his blacksmith team, they all got to work. Distracted as she was, Jyona was able to get her mind off things for a bit.
Claiming the Reward
The rest of the party returned to the Guild hall and saw Vitality there. It was if she had never left. But that was doubtful given she was Gold Ranked. Obviously she had done something impressive enough to reach that rank.
Teztcal inquired the Guild about joining so he could turn in the reward and directly benefit from it. The Guild Bartenders told him that if he wanted to join the Guild he would need to head to the Imperial Capital and wait for the next round of tryouts. Naturally Teztcal had no interest in doing this.
Trent turned in the Platinum Commission with proof the deed was done. The partial reward to start was 500 gold a piece. The Bartenders even promised that there was more to the reward. Though Trent and Obrom had no idea who might provide the rest of it.
Trent shot Vitality a curious look as he went to pet his Tigers. She returned the look. The Druid wasn’t quite sure what to make of her. She still had that death smell. Secrets hung all around her.
Obrom approached Vitality as well. As a Bard he quickly tried to get some information out of her. But he was willing to offer some in kind. So he told her about how he had been dragged into a Commission beyond his skill. In fact he wove the tale to make it sound like he had barley survived such a task.
She agreed that is was a miracle that he still lived. Especially given current company. The Ranger made a quick look at Teztcal. She had a bit more experience with his antics than most other Adventurers. The party not withstanding of course.
Elkor and Tim
Vitality moved on to a much more important topic. She told Trent and Obrom where Jyona was. She had also been nearby for both conversations. Vitality had tensed up when Elkor had appeared. Technically he was a wanted criminal, but only the most mighty fighters would dare try to oppose him.
Upon hearing Tim’s name, Obrom turned shock into another tale. He started telling about how Vim-Kios had replaced Tim as Mythril. That was one mystery solved at least. Though Obrom found it odd how the others didn’t know about this common fact.
Vitality eased Trent’s concerns about Jyona’s safety. Elkor had left and it was impossible for even him to cause trouble in this place. And Tim had been nothing but honest with the questions they had asked him. Naturally he was hiding quite a large number of secrets.
Teztcal Matures A Little
Trent hit the bar. He had every intention of relaxing before their next mission. He was certain that this Platinum Quest was to be the easiest one they would face.
Obrom dared offer Teztcal’s child a drink. Dragon years were hard to measure, but the whelp was certainly young for a Dragon. Too young for a drink in fact.
Teztcal did the first responsible thing ever. He did not allow Mini Me to drink booze. Instead he offered the child water. Chilled with ice in fact.
Wrap Up
Things seem to be at peace for now. But there is trouble looming. And monsters that the party fled from in the past are still out there.