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The heroes search Bakrosh and find he was carrying two Cards – there are now only 4 remaining to complete the Deck of Many Things.
“It is urgent that the Princess Verlune be brought back safely.”, says the captain of Berrian’s guards.
The Urgent Escort
Once they reenter the Feygrove, Florynsael’s escort once again begins the chorus…
The Princess confronts the captain of the guard – “Why are we headed back to Berrian?”.
She replies “Something important is happening. We struck camp immediately after you left to confront the Orc Chieftain. We’re on the move.”
Charlie’s Call
“Bong! Bong! Bong!” – the Irregular’s sending stone rings out loudly. “Yes, Charlie?” they reply.
For the first time ever they hear Charlie raise his voice -
“AGENTS! What in the Ninth Bastion of Chaos is going on out there?
I’m getting word that there is a mass exodus of elves and eladrin to the fey crossings scattered across the known world and that the call went out from Xandrian Velfarren from Gardmore Abbey. What are you doing? Have you found Xandrian?”
The conversation is stilted, since they are running back through the forest, but our heroes glean several things:
- Apparently, the Summer Queen has endorsed the immediate return of all her people to the defense of the Feywild.
- Only a handful of are staying behind: A few outcasts, those attached to others in this world, and those who are unable to respond or haven’t heard the call in time.
- Whatever is going to happen, it is going to happen today!
Charlie closes with “Whatever this is, get to the bottom of it! Now!” – his voice masking great fear and trepidation.
“We should head back to the crossing first – the Nymphs will probably know what’s happening.” suggests Nostalgio.
The captain initially resists any delay, but Florynsael insists…
“What’s this?” Shute barks. "What’s this sending stone doing in my backpack? This is the second one I’ve found there. I’ve really got to get organized. It looks like it’s on. ‘Hello? Hello? Who’s been listening to us?’ " >Click< was the only reply. “Damn. Someone knows everything we’ve said for at least the last few days…”
The Fey Crossing
The escort stops singing as they see the condition of the fey crossing…
The standing stones have fallen and the nymphs are gone. And the fey magic is gone completely. “This is no longer a fey crossing!” grumps Nostalgio.
He continues, “The ley lines are all wrong! One of them has been yanked out of place and dragged in the direction of the (former) elf camp.”
The guard are speaking in low tones:
“How will we get home?” … “Trust Berrian! He has never left us behind!” … “Besides, we have the Princess with us! Surely they won’t leave without her!”
The captain is unable to fully mask her distress and speaks a bit too loudly: “M’lady – we must hurry! Time is short!”
A Congested Glade
As they approach the clearing, they pick up the strengthening traces of the missing ley line ahead as the grove once again gains its fey-infused beauty, and the escort resumes their song.
The music masks some other sounds briefly, but there are many tracks of nymphs, elves and animals heading urgently in this direction. Over the singing they eventually hear the sounds of many people talking and shouting.
The Font
The clearing is FULL of elves, eladrin, and their animal companions. Berrian, his sister, and father are all standing on the Font and there is a mist floating up over the rim.
The crowd becomes silent as they approach, and the crowd parts to them pass. They bow at Florynsael and Nostalgio, but ignore or even make faces at the rest of the group. The song gets louder as the crowd joins…
Berrian is placing something small down on the lip of the font. “It’s a card!” spies Shute. “He’s the secret collector!”
“And the ley lines now cross at the Font -” Edryd continues, “it’s a dimensional doorway now, presumably to the Fey realm. This is messed up.”
The guards move from the party to instead protect the 4 Cards lain on the font edge.
Aguero notes, “I don’t think we’re going to fight our way out of this, there are a LOT of elves with bows here…” and then he notices that Delphina Moongem is standing close in the crowd..
“What are you doing here? You aren’t leaving, are you?”
Dephina responds – “Why? Do I have a reason to stay?”
Aguero does not hesitate. “Yes. Yes, you do. Because I’m asking you to stay.”
The Call for a Princess to Lead!
Before Aguero can await her reply, Berrian holds up a hand to halt the singing as Florynsael and Nostalgio climb the stairs on the Font:
“Silence! We are in the presence of royalty! She is the reason we are all here! Princess Verlune has shown us the way! Come, princess, approach. I have something you’ve been looking for!”
The rest of the party work their way around the fountain to see if they can’t get better position for access to the remaining cards.
Berrian resumes, but speaks only to the direct area surrounding the font…
“I know you’ve recovered the rest of the Deck of Many things. These are the remaining 4 cards. It is the agent of chaos that had ruined not only our lives, but those of so many others over the ages.
If you help us with this one last mission I will leave behind these cards to complete your deck – it is only chaos and has no place in the Feywild. Once we are gone, you can do with it what you will."
Edryd moves around to the far side and tries to close enough to see the cards, even though he is at ground level – his approach causes the cards to activate – their shadow images appear floating and rotating, as they had in so many encounters before.
Again addressing the crowd, Berrian shouts:
“Princess. The Feywild is in danger! We are under massive attack from the Shadowfey and must return immediately. But if we go, we must guard our flank!
Help us do what you did in the tower to rescue our father. Help us sunder the connection between the FeyRealm and this world, as you separated the Far Ream from this world!
This world is about to be returned to the great dark age of utter destruction from more than 300 years ago! We cannot let that pass into our beloved Feywild!"
There is dramatic pause the let the audience voice agreement. He raises his hands and resumes, with righteous fire in his voice:
“Even now two of your companions conspire against you as vessels of the evil Titans of old!”
He raises his arms and floats above the font, shouting:
“Will you help us by placing your cards around the Fountain?”
“Scumbag put that sending stone in my backpack – but TWO Titans?” Shute mutters – “Two? …. Who is he talking about?”
Florynsael musters a regal tone: “Berrian – this plan is folly! You cannot sunder the connection between the mirror planes! Surely, that would be the end of us all. Look at the destruction that deck has caused all around you, here at the Abbey. No, we will not help you. If you try, we will prevent you.”
Final Conflict – The Power of the Chaos Deck…
Berrian’s aspect turns from hopeful, to judgmental…
“I was afraid you might resist, being amongst humans too long causes one to ‘go native’. Though these cards are distasteful, these four together allow me to control your bodies. I’m sorry I have to do this Princess. I hope you’ll forgive me, but I’m ready for the sacrifice either way. Now, all of you – do as I asked, take out your cards and place them around the circle.”
{DM’s Note: This encounter was run real-time, tied to the timing of a soundtrack. I told them: “I’m about to start a 10 minute soundtrack for a real-time encounter. Put down your character sheets. We are not using the power cards, initiative or dice for the next 10 minutes. 100% role playing. Everything said at the table is said at the scene. Your characters have lost gross motor control of their bodies. Think of bloodbending from The Last Avatar. You may only speak or do things that only require thought.”}
Berrian forcibly pulls each party member onto the font using the only power of the cards…
“Don’t bother resisting. There is no force in the parallel planes can overcome it. No creature from the Light Feywild or the Dark Shadowfell or this Grey World, that can break free of the power of the Deck of Many Things!”
“Each of you place a card. Now.”
T minus 9:30
“Princess. Have them place the next card.”
Resisting is painful and unfruitful – they may only speak and perform the physical actions Berrian wants… Florynsael – “No. Don’t do this!”. Shute curses. Aguero glances at the crowd, who are cheering as they all cooperate. “They don’t know we’re being forced.”
T minus 9:00
“The time has come to place the next card!”
T minus 8:30
When Shute, Edryd, and Aguero have placed their cards, Berrian snaps: “You are not welcome here, begone!” and with a wave of his arm they are knocked off the font and onto the ground, but still under his control.
T minus 8:00
“It is almost finished! The ritual is ready to begin. Place your final card.”
T minus 7:00
The cards spin faster and faster forming a vortex in the mist, and suddenly a great pillar of chaos and light shoots up into the sky! And Berrian is visible in the center as a bright god-like light!
“Berrian. I am your Princess – and I command you! Stop! They Grey world is our ally against the dark! STOP!”, but her words are drown out by the chaos that bursts forth…
“You are fey, and you are royal. We need you to come with us.” – these words are heard only by Nostalgio and Florynsael
“We will not. This is wrong, as the Court has been wrong about the Grey before. You, of all people, know why I’m here and not on my throne! Have you learned nothing????”
T minus 5:00
From the maelstrom, a booming voice rings out:“COME CLOSER EVERYONE, the window of opportunity to pass through before the sundering is complete will only be for a few moments.”
At this, the crowd surges onto the font and starts leaping into the swirling chaos…
“Princess – this is your last chance to recover the grace of the Summer Queen! I will not force you to return home to follow your destiny: leading our people against the greatest threat of this age. But I fear she will never forgive this second failure of duty.”
T minus 3:00
The final Exodus continues…
Heat gathers in Edryd’s face as his feeling of helplessness builds into a Fury… “Damn him. When I break free, I’ll burn him to a cinder!” He starts to flash back to memories of his oppressive stepfather – and awakening to find that he’d murdered his abuser, with fire.
Shute hears a familiar voice from her dreams “Let me out. If you truly let go, I will save you.” and again the voice is answered by another “Shute, if you chose her over me, you may never return!”
T minus 2:00
“This is now the final crossing! This is your last chance – go now or be forever trapped in this world!”
Shute makes her dreaded choice and shouts “NEVER! Rainbow Phoenix, I need you NOW!” and she transforms once again !
at the same time Edryd’s fear, frustration, and panic combine to release the Fire Titan!
Berrian has no hold over the Titans – creatures of the planes – their freedom, and Berrian’s surprise, is quickly exploited…
While the fire elemental pounds on the font attempting to disturb the cards, the phoenix flies directly toward Berrian…
…snatching him into her massive claws and flying up and away as fast as possible…
The sundering is dispelled! And the cards reform as a deck and fly into Florynsael’s hands.
And the phoenix drops Berrian into the bottom of the font.
Epilogue
Shute and Edryd return to their mortal bodies, exhausted and emotionally drained. Barely able to move, they each paid a high price to save the crossing.
As Berrian crawls out of the font, Nostalgio remarks. “The ley lines are weak and the dimensional doorway needs a few moments – at least I think it will be a portal again. We saved it.”
Completely dejected and defeated – Berrian whimpers, “All hope is lost! The titans have returned to the material plane at the same time the Shadowfey attacks in force.”
“Princess, I beg your pardon – please grant leave to those who wish to return the Feywild… and let my family return with the rest now. If we can heal father, he can once again be a great leader against our ancient enemies.”
Florynsael: “This I grant. But carry my message: I brand you and those that supported this strategy enemies of justice. I will return one day to balance the scales.”
As the remnant of the elves queue to enter the pool, Delfina speaks: “I will stay here. This human has shown with his mercy and tenderness, that they may yet be of assistance to the Fey.”
A sad tone enters her voice, “Princess, Nostalgio please join us in wishing our kin a successful journey.”
{I’d prepared the Florynsael and Nostalgio’s players in advance for performing this song, so they actually joined me singing the following along with the recording at the session. The other players were given lyrics cards during the performance, and joined for the final verse. I cried.}
Harbinger
“So few remain.” – it is the voice of Sir Oakley, who has entered the glade along with Lord Padraig. “We are truly sorry we did not arrive in time to prevent this calamity.”
Padraig is carrying the sending stone he was given by the Irregulars only a few weeks ago, though it seems like an eternity…
Padraig: “Mr. Charles. I’ve arrived.”
Charlie: “Padraig – are you with them? What happened? Every known Fey Crossing just went dark! Agents! Report!”
Everything was told. Everything. No longer could the fact they carried (two!) titans be kept a secret. Even Padraig and Oakley needed to know the truth.
Charlie: “Catastrophe of Catastrophes! Most of the connections to the Feywild have been severed! It is fortunate you were able to prevent the complete separation from the Feywild – the effects would be beyond comprehension! That crossing must be protected! Is Gardmore secure?”
Oakley speaks up clearly and with a fresh conviction. “The font is secure. The Paladins of Gardmore once again will protect this place. This is a True Good, and our chance to redeem ourselves. We will NOT be tempted, and will never fail again.”
For the first time in days, a smile passes on the face of the heroes, knowing that hope remains.
Charlie continues:
“Agents, beware! Previously stable magic prisons will now be weakened ‘Beware the legendary titans of old’ prophecy says they will ‘..return to destroy the world!’
Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Your distrust has cost us all very dearly. I know what must be done – we must meet, in person.
Our only consolation is that you have the Deck. Whatever you do NOT let a vessel hold it – the deck has a mind of its own and might be able to activate the Titan – even free it!
As soon as you’ve rested, return to Punjar as quickly as possible. We have much to discuss and much damage to repair. Do NOT draw from the deck! The Slicing Breeze will be waiting at Timbervale."
Thus ends Madness at Gardmore Abbey.
Build Notes
- Terrain
- Dungeon Tiles Master Set: The Wilderness by Wizards of the Coast
- Font map:Madness at Gardmore Abbey Encounter Maps by jacktannery FREE
- Trees & Rocks:
- E Z TERRAIN: Forest & Ruins by Fat Dragon Games
- Hinterland Forest by World Works Games
- Spruce Tree by Fiddler’s Green
- Props & Minis
- Arcane Standing Stones: Megalith Circle by Lord Zsezse Works
- Battle Markers
- World Works Games Battlepacks: Basics
{The Forsite Irregulars are now on haitus (due to a job search), follow @OldSchoolDM if you’ld like to know when we resume…}
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