Centrum Glacies 2022 Session 26: Blood Lust
Week 26 in 2022 of this Dungeons and Dragons Campaign in Centrum Glacies continues as the party now diminished has to contend with Vampiric blood lust.
Like my other campaign, I’m turning this one into a book series. However I’m still working on that project. Give it some time.
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 once the book series starts hitting virtual and real shelves.
!!!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 at large is currently succumbing to magical wounds that appear to be turning them into Demons.
!!!Final Trigger Warning!!!
Jyona had left the group leaving them with one less member. All of them save Faustus were worried about her well being. But they trusted that she could take care of herself. They had to deal with the Cult initiates and whatever monsters were nearby.
The remaining members of the group fought through the Cult of Obsidian initiates and some dragons that seemed to be higher ranked than the young Dark Elf teens. And the party couldn’t save all of them. Did it matter? This issue tore at the group. Even if they let them live, these Dark Elves might eventually become just as bad as full fledged members given time.
Adrenne even warned them several times over that to join the Cult of Obsidian, one had to kill someone. But how did the Vampire know this? Was it credible?
As the group continued to explore the base, they encountered a locked door. Normally this wasn’t anything special, but Adrenne told them to wait. She warned them that something horrible was on the other side of the door. If the Vampire was afraid to enter, the rest of the party was too.
To Feed:
Another complication arose as they found another group of Cultists. And these ones didn’t have a Dragon with them. Malcolm noticed that Adrenne was trembling and that her eyes had taken on a red hue. Remembering that as a Vampire, she needed to feed, it was clear what was happening. She was succumbing to her blood lust.
Trent and Malcolm almost stopped her from feeding. Their morality was tested. Meanwhile the Vampire begged them to let her feed before it was too late. She also between fits and rage pointed out that these ones were older and looked more dangerous. So if anyone had to die, why not be this less innocent group?
Malcolm fell into panic realizing the choices he had made. Even if he walked away before the Vampire feasted he had condemned those children to a horrible death. A Paladin let a Vampire feed. One of the four mithril adventurers who essentially was above the law did nothing.
While Adrenne completed her blood feast, the party searched the nearby rooms. They found some treasure in one of the dead ends. At least this place was worth pillaging. If not that everything standing between them being relatively innocent.
Faustus once more fell numb to everything. He didn’t care about the tragedies they were continuing through the halls. The Cult of Obsidian was evil. But teens being forced to join a doomsday group or remain slaves in horrible places seemed like a life with no happy ending.
Cannon Fodder:
Adrenne told him to yell and attract the enemies to them to end this quicker. Now that her haze had lifted she was one of the more rational people in their group. The Vampire realized that Faustus growing bored would be problematic. Not to mention they needed to clear this place out and find Jyona.
Naturally, the yelling drew attention. One group of trainees appeared and ran towards the party. This group was with another Dragon. These Cultists did not have the collars. What did that mean? Was this group more dangerous?
The party still vowed to keep as many of these teens alive as they could. But their efforts were in vain. Much like several of their most recent goals. They killed one by accident. A casualty of being in the middle of a fight.
But the Dragon couldn’t be ignored. It mocked the group for trying to keep what it perceived as cannon fodder alive. To make a statement, the creature killed one intentionally. Is there even a point to saving them?
Wrap Up:
The party continues to weaken. What happens when another succumbs to blood lust. Worse, what if another Platinum Adventurer appears when they are at their weakest?