Centrum Glacies Session 131: Graveyard
Week 131 of the Dungeons and Dragons Campaign in Centrum Glacies continues as the party escapes the labyrinth and discovered they were in a Graveyard all along.
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.
Most recently, the party helped cause a complete planetary genocide. Save a few survivors, no one remains from that world. They are still grappling with this unfathomable loss of life and their role in making it happen. It is clear that their suffering is far from over. They can only hope they don’t cause untold pain to an even more untold more.
!!!Final Trigger Warning!!!
After several confrontations with Olanna and countless undead, the party deliberated whether to continue fighting through the dungeon or escape. Teztcal was the one who ultimately made the decision. It would have surprised everyone else if he hadn’t run ahead first, but he decided to do the responsible thing for his “daughter”. He chose to forgo fighting further and left with Kisara who was still recovering from her injuries.
Jyona decided she wanted to protect the Dragons, so she chased after them. And when she didn’t see them ahead making noise, she correctly deduced that they had exited the cave. She went after them while ordering her Golem to stay with Obrom and Trent.
While Trent wanted to explore the cave and kill every Cultist that remained, he and Obrom came to the conclusion that they would be putting their lives at risk if they fought through their enemies without the rest of the party. And so with a little regret, they followed the others out of the dungeon.
Reunited after exiting the crypt, they noticed magic around them. An illusion faded from the surrounding forest. And the party came to a horrific realization. They were not in a forest at all. Those trees were grave markers. The ground was soft and filthy too. This place was a massive graveyard. And it stretched all the way back towards the way they had come.
Zinbella Worried
As the group came to terms with the situation they were in, they were forced to make plans quickly. Zinbella showed up and was in a rush. She asked the party for their assistance and she wasn’t using her usual tactics to force the group to do her bidding. Zinbella feared that the Druid Circle was in danger given the powerful illusion that had just faded away for her too.
She even willingly healed Jyona and Kisara as a sign of good will. Something very unlike the Psychic Vampire to do so willingly. Without much else to say, she begged the party to help her investigate and vanished. But not before she told them that the Circle was to the south of where they stood.
This chain of events made the party nervous. Worried enough that they decided they would risk time passing so that they could have a chance to rest and recover. But none of them wanted to rest in a Graveyard. Not when their enemy had shown she was a Necromancer. So they headed back towards town.
Resting in a Graveyard
A barrier prevented them from leaving the Graveyard. Magic that the party knew was Olanna’s doing. They wouldn’t be leaving this place without dealing with her first. And so against their better judgement, and with no other choices left, they chose to rest in the graveyard.
Still, they were not going to rest without watching for danger. Olanna had demonstrated that she was a Necromancer in some form and this was Cult of Obsidian Territory. Jyona volunteered to watch that night. She argued that since she didn’t sleep like the others, it wasn’t a big deal for her. Trent is a little apprehensive about her not getting any rest, but gives her some goodberries and goes to sleep.
Zombies in the Dark
The party was awoken by Jyona who shouted as loud as she could. Her Golem had noticed monsters moving in the dark. Jyona herself used her Magical Eye to check what was out and about. She spotted Necromancy Magic about which made it clear that the group was about to be attacked.
Obrom woke up on his own. His brand burned as Undead drew closer from every direction. And like the others, save Jyona, he couldn’t see in the dark. Fog had filled the darkness outside the campfire, and now that he was awake, he could hear monsters shambling towards them.
Given that it was the middle of the night, it was a good thing that it was only Zombies. And not something worse. The party easily dispatched these enemies. Even when one of the creatures attacked the campfire to try and blind them. Not that it did any good since the group had plenty of means of creating light on their own.
With the Zombies destroyed, the party returned to bed. However, Jyona was adamant about keeping watch. Midnight was not having it. She had continued hiding in a pocket dimension due to the danger of the Demon Transformations. And she convinced the Half Elf to rest.
The Fey’s presence put Jyona at ease. Thanks to Midnight, she like the others managed to get a proper rest. Though she rested in reverie unlike the others.
On the Way to the Druid Circle
The next day arrived without any other monster attacks. And the group now refreshed and eager to leave this place, decided to head towards the Druid Enclave. It was their best option if they wanted answers.
Along the way, Jyona gave Teztcal a runestone with a powerful spell on it. She stressed that he should only use it on someone he hates and is a direct danger to himself or Kisara. The Half-Elf regretted those directions because it was clear what the Dragon was thinking. She corrected her mistake soon after by pointing out that Obrom was not an enemy or a danger to himself or his daughter.
All Teztcal heard of course was “someone you hate” and he tuned out the rest. He let out a happy laugh and pocketed the stone for later. Trent was not pleased with Jyona’s decision making abilities. He voiced this and decided to watch the Dragons carefully in case of foul play.
Enclave Attack
As they entered the enclave, it was immediately clear that several things were wrong. For one, it was just as dark as the middle of the night here. And second, there were sounds of fighting nearby and all around them.
The party created a few sources of light and carefully moved forward. It didn’t take long until they ran into Cultists.
The Cultists used Druid Magic as they fought the party. This enraged Trent who summoned an insect swarm. He then used his own powers to pull these enemies that he saw as heretics into his take on nature’s wrath. And speaking of wrath, another joined the battle.
From farther back in the dark, an arrow flew into one of the Cultists’ necks. A voice cried out that the party recognized. Vitality had found her way here. And she shared with the party a common enemy.
Together with Vitality, the party slayed the Cultists in short order. Even using Druid Magic, these were foes the party had fought, defeated, and killed many times over. Trent especially was furious that a sacred grove was being desecrated by their presence.
Even though fighting continued nearby and just out of view, Vitality saw it was safe and headed towards the party. It was clear that she had a lot to say, and the party had questions for her in turn.
Wrap Up
The party has not found Zinbella yet. And the Druid Circle has been overrun. What might they find in this place? And how will they escape the Graveyard that surrounds it?