Centrum Glacies Session 98: Midnight
Week 98 Dungeons and Dragons Campaign in Centrum Glacies continues as the party gets attacked by Midnight. They were warned not to fight Archfey.
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, and 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!!!
Ambushed and with no clear option of escape, the group faced down an Archfey and Midnight didn’t seem concerned. She had a small army surrounding the three and they had been warned that fighting an Archfey was akin to suicide. Still, they saw no other option as their enemies drew weapons.
Midnight commanded soldiers clad in black armor. Not only did they turn out to be agile warriors, darting in and out of range of attacks or reprisal, but they had another dirty trick. They were capable of blinding the party, which they used to devastating effect when they struck next with powerful spears.
Unfortunately, Midnight commanded more than black armored soldiers. She also had those centipede like creatures and they possessed a few tricks of their own. Notably the ability to shoot masses of web from afar. This webbing didn’t trap. In fact it was a projectile that was capable of tearing limbs apart.
Midnight herself wasn’t defenseless either. As an Archfey of dreams, she was capable of using terrifying illusion magic. Trent was quickly overcome by a horrific nightmare that distracted him from the battle raging around him. Teztcal for all his bluster was knocked down and started bleeding out.
Striking a Deal
Obrom however refused to lose. Even if he couldn’t harm the Fey and was outnumbered, he kept shaking off the blindness and refused to get sucked into Midnight’s nightmares. Whether it was due to knowing that these were Jyona’s companions, or the fact that she was impressed with his tenacity, the Archfey told her troops to hold back for a moment.
Once she had his attention, she informed him that she was willing to make a deal with him. And she urged him to take it since he was in no position to negotiate. She was willing to let the group go. But with a condition. As she was the victor of this fight, and because she was upset with the party, she intended to take away Trent and Teztcal’s ability to sleep. Obrom however would be unaffected as compliment to his fortitude.
Knowing that refusing this deal would put him in a much worse situation, Obrom accepted her terms. Midnight smiled, pleased with herself. The Dream faded away and despite how the odds were heavily stacked against them, the three escaped the Archfey. Though clearly not unscathed.
Cursed
The party woke up. And they were back on the path away from the sleeping plants that had sent them into a nightmare.
Their Fey Guide was waiting for them. He still hadn’t given them his name. The Archfey was happy to see them again and deduced what had happened. They had run into Midnight a powerful Unseelie Archfey who had power of dreams and nightmares.
When the Archfey asked how they had escaped, Obrom told the others about the deal he had made with Midnight. He was the only one of the three that could sleep now. As for Obrom and Trent, Midnight had stolen that away from them.
Teztcal was furious about this. “Don’t you know that’s why you don’t take deals from strangers?” And for a change, Trent agreed with him. The Druid was not pleased about this deal at all.
Teztcal, worried given what had happened, stated that they needed to kill the caster that put this spell on them. The unnamed Fae laughed. He mentioned that despite his many tricks he had never said something so ridiculous in his life.
He informed them that Midnight is the daughter of Queen of the Unseelie. She wasn’t just any Archfey and even among their race she was extremely powerful. They wouldn’t be defeating her much less killing her.
To Find Jyona
Trent urged them onward to find Jyona. He was growing increasingly worried given that they hadn’t been here even one day and already they had been attacked by an Archfey and cursed.
The party asked the unnamed Archfey how to get to the Unseelie Court and he pointed out that they would have to get permission from the Seelie Queen to leave their territory. And then assuming they could enter the Unseelie Court, they would likely be attacked every step of the way given how Midnight had been hostile.
Instead, he remarked that their best bet would be to make a deal with the Unseelie to regain their ability to sleep. There were no quick ways out of this. And before any of them could take issue, the Archfey remarked that they needed to follow directions better moving forward. Not listening had led to their current predicament.
The Desert of Summer
Hopefully learning their lesson, the group listened carefully as the unnamed Archfey led them beyond the Fields of Spring. Soon after they arrived in a massive badlands desert. He called this place the Desert of Summer.
He offered the party a tour of what Teztcal called “just sand” The Archfey smiled, realizing that they knew little about this place. “
Ah, so you need the tour then.” He stated. Soon after the Archfey began talking about all the unique lifeforms living here and several other topics. The party wasn’t paying proper attention though. That was until he stopped speaking out of the blue. Announcing that a problem had come up and he needed to take care of it immediately, the Archfey vanished.
He warned them that they needed to stay put while he was gone. It was not wise to wander around this place and after not listening last time, the party was more willing to do as he asked. They stayed put. And ignored basically everything happening around them.
Centaur
Teztcal heared hoof beats in the sand from both directions of the path. Something was coming their way. And depending on what it was it could force them to go against the Fey’s instructions.
“Oh, a horse. A fee horse!” Teztcal called out as whatever was coming their way was close enough to be seen by all three. Centaurs galloping towards them were the source of the noise and as soon as they spotted the three they surrounded them from all directions with bows trained.
Teztcal began neighing at them. And he continued to call them Fee Horses. Not only did they not know what a horse was, but they found the neighing to be insulting. They were not animals to be ridiculed.
Trent and Obrom remained silent, understanding that they didn’t understand anything about this situation. Teztcal however continued making this situation worse by unwittingly insulting them more.
The Centaur collectively understood that only one of the three was a problem and all switched their bows to face him. Teztcal had their undivided attention and the apparent leader of this group addressed the Dragon directly.
The Centaur asked rapid fire questions of Who, What, and Why the group was. And in the moments of asking these questions, grew flustered and so repeated himself more than once.
Grave Offense
Teztcal of course ever the one to make a bad situation worse, answered exactly how he normally did when asked such a question. He proclaimed he was a God while stating how important he was. And also how grateful the Horse Fee should be to bask in his presence.
Yet the Centaur had no idea what a God was. And when he asked that question, it was Teztcal’s turn to be taken aback. He hadn’t ever explained what a God was before. But for him, he thought of an answer quickly, remembering what the party had discussed with their currently absent guide.
Teztcal explained that a God was an Archfey. Something that they grew more insulted by. The Centaur demanded to know why Teztcal pretended to be an Archfey. Something that was a clear offense not just to them but to the world.
Teztcal grew worried realizing that he was upsetting them. And quickly he explained that he wasn’t actually an Archfey. A God was just something similar to one.
But this explanation only continued upsetting them more. It grew to the point that once more Teztcal called them Fee. And at this final proclamation. The Centaur demanded his allies to attack. The Dragon tried to plead with them, but still called them horsey people.
Escalation
The centaurs told Trent and Obrom they have no qualms with them. Teztcal was the one that had issues with and if the Bard and Druid ignored them they would extend the same courtesy. They had no issue staying out of this fight. After all, Teztcal had brought this upon himself.
Meanwhile, Teztcal tried to make a statement to the Centaur that had been talking to him by shooting a Firebolt at his bow. The Dragon didn’t want to fight surprisingly. He didn’t even understand why he was being attacked at all.
The Centaur though had other ideas. They saw Teztcal as a dangerous specimen, but not one worthy of killing. So instead of shooting to kill, they threw a net around him. which was just the right size to capture him.
The others Centaur tried to throw additional ropes around him and drag him away from the battle. But only some of them successfully landed their throws and Teztcal didn’t get dragged far. But still, they moved him slowly away from the other two of his party. And they made no move to intervene.
Fuck Around and Find Out
In fact, Trent summoned some magical food and passed some to Obrom. To them this was just live entertainment. Especially if they stayed out of it. While they passed the popcorn per say, they watched the Dragon learn about the consequences of his actions.
“Hey, the fee told us not to move” Teztcal shouted. He was completely missing the point of this entire fight and his role in causing it. And his use of the word Fee only angered the Centaur more. “Stop calling us that! Its Fae one of them screamed.
But his insults only warranted him being snatched, and so the Centaur continued throwing ropes and dragging him away from the other two. But they were running out of ropes and feared that Teztcal might get free. So one Centaur did something else.
After Teztcal once again insulted the Centaur by calling them horseys, one of his foes fired a poisoned arrow his way. Likely an attempt to quiet him and make it easier to capture. Unfortunately the arrow flew way wide and didn’t even grace his skin.
Graver Escalation
“Stupid horse. Unfortunately horses are under the food chain” He was mad now that they had actually shot at him. The Centaur were in for a surprise when he transformed. His massive size tore the net apart in the process. It couldn’t contain a Dragon.
He laughed at their shock and then roared at them as an intimidation tactic. Yet it came out feeble. Not more than a whimper. The Centaurs looked his way and shrugged.
“Sorry, there’s something stuck in my throat. Well, this will clear out my throat.” Throwing all chance at negotiation away, Teztcal used his breath weapon on the closest Centaur. They did not survive and were instantly obliterated.
The remaining Centaur grew afraid. Teztcal no longer needed to intimidate them. His attack had shown his strength. “Neigh neigh neigh” The Dragon mocked them as they fled.
The Retreat
Trent and Obrom continued sharing food while they watched the fight. Though now that Teztcal was transformed, they were a little worried that they might also suffer from his behavior.
Meanwhile, the Centaurs called for a full retreat. They all fled to the east. The same direction that they had tried dragging Teztcal in. The Centaur that originally shot at Teztcal drew close by as his fastest path of escape took him too near the Dragon. Teztcal tried to grab him but failed.
Yet Teztcal did managed to slash at him one time with his claws. His goal was to leave scars to remember the Dragon by. Still the Centaur escaped. And as he did he raised his bow. And it was not some sort of salute.
Hostile Palm Trees
Instead nearby palm trees that had marked the path that Teztcal had been dragged from started to stir. And they were far more than palm trees. Trent as a Druid identified them as Treants immediately.
Teztcal immediately moved over to use his breath attack on them. Yet the seemingly more agile than normal treants somehow managed to dodge it. Not even a scratch on them.
Teztcal complimented this feat. “Very impressive trees. Much better than the stupid horses.” They of course retaliated with attacks of their own. And unlike the Centaur they had no issue attacking Obrom and Trent.
Obrom noticed that he was a target now and finally joined the fight. But halfheartedly given how they had ended up in this fight. He simply screamed an insult at the Treant damaging it in the process.
The trees swung at Teztcal. And the others flung not rocks, but coconuts growing from themselves at the Druid and Bard. This forced Trent to also join the fight. He cast Wrath of Nature to cause infighting amongst the Treants. And used the spells secondary power to throw coconuts back at the Treants.
Improvised Weapons
Teztcal picked up one of the Treants and used it as a weapon against the other next to it. But he overswung and dropped the creature. A clear miss that left him feeling foolish.
The Treant had lost the little luck they had earlier. The ones not engaging Teztcal launched more coconuts at the Druid and Bard. But both missed and instead smacked their other allies. And the strikes hurt. The Pine Trees were shedding all over the place with each hit.
Trent’s spell ensured that through Druid Magic their enemies would continue attacking each other simply by being in close proximity. Unlike their clash with Midnight, these monsters stood no chance against them.
Teztcal flew up after once more grabbing the nearest Treant. This time he had a better use for the monster. Letting gravity do most of the work, he dropped on palm tree down towards the other. This did devastating damage to both.
Deadly Insults
Obrom fought be casting magical insults at the tree. “Must chop wood” It really didn’t like that. “I coconut the other one” and “I’ve been begging the question, Palm Tree. Do you get morning wood?” Vicious Mockery after Vicious Mockery he assaulted the creature’s minds.
The spells quickly drove the monsters back and even towards destruction. One of Obrom’s spells caused the Treant to accidentally destroy itself. Trent finished the last one with a barrage of scorching rays. Their battle was won. Chaotic as it was.
Trent was content with his work. He cracked open one of the remaining coconuts and drank from it. He didn’t care that he was accepting a drink from the Feywild after being explicitly warned about that.
The party then returned to where they had been instructed to wait and rest. The three hoped that it wouldn’t be clear they had moved around a lot.
Wrap Up
Already their adventure in the Feywild is off to a rough start. They have fought against a hostile Archfey with Midnight, a pack of furious Centaur and aggressive Treants in the form of palm trees. Its clear that they will continue to experience hardship as they explore this strange and unusual place.