(S008) Off to see the Dragon

The Mighty Menagerie explores the crystal-filled caves at the base of Widow's Peak alongside Lars Heyton, successfully fending off an ambush by five unusual Ice Mephits that failed to explode upon death.

📝 Session Summary

The Wild Cards were called The Menagerie by some until they came up with the name The Wild Cards.

• Barlo: A grizzled tabaxi barbarian who has been doing some work for a network that one should be wary of.
• Bastion: An orphan human who spent his life studying magic and blades, even though his elder pushed him away from the sword. He replaced Reginald.
• Calliope: This bardic faun joined the party late when she needed to find help to save her homeland.
• Reginald: A leonin cleric who was off to show his family's royal background and would later find out there were secrets leading to him becoming a king.
• Sas: A tortle hermit was given an item of power and a quest.
• Shadow in the Snow: This tabaxi got a coin, and her curiosity set her on a path.

🎬 Scenes

• Scene 1: Barlo's Backstory — From The Bronze Canyon in Kampos. Gave up Tabaxi name, "Smiles". Help move people. On way to Eushia to help Black Road with a client. Currently on ship near Carrune.
• Scene 2: Bastion's Backstory — When Bastion Bladesinger was very young he lost both of his parents to a plague. He took care of himself as he taught himself how to use the rapier his father once wore. He lived in Dyrt and watched all of the great knights. He also had an interest in the ways of magic and he wished he could do both – use swords and excel in magic – like many elves he had heard about.
• Scene 3: Calliope's Backstory — Calliope was born into the nestled highlands of the Oraniad Mountains. The Skola Vale, wild and free, blessed by the gods and inhabited by whimsical Satyr and Faun. Deep within it among the lush valley, reside the Dawngreets, a long generational line of storytellers and lore keepers.
• Scene 4: Reginald's Backstory — He was born at home, a modest-sized mansion where his family lived a modest means – even though his father could never stop talking about how they were royalty and yet this was the only lands they currently possess. His childhood was generally a happy one full of several friends. He was an only child.
• Scene 5: Sas' Backstory — Sas was born on the continent of Oth'Mar – a content mostly inhabited by Tortles and is far to the south of the Carrune Isles.
• Scene 6: Shadow's Backstory — Deep in the snowy mountains high in the north, there lived a large group of Tabaxi, The Blinding Wild Clan.

📜 Missions & Quests

• Completed:
  • Established individual party origins and initial connections to the world of Dierde.
• Active / Discovered Threads:
  • Barlo's ties to the smuggling rings and the Black Road.
  • Bastion's mysterious past and fallout with Grognard.
  • Calliope's quest to save the Skola Vale.
  • Reginald's pursuit of his family's royal mint commission and claim in Neyer.
  • Sas's vision of the Cat Goddess Bast and journey to find her lost lands.
  • Shadow's golden coin and mystical calling from her clan shaman.

NPCs

S008: Off to see the Dragon

Date: 2021-03-06

Summary

The Mighty Menagerie, after experiencing strange dreams, embarks on a journey to Widow's Peak to confront the dragon. They learn more about the Arcane Forge's connection to the Far Realms and encounter a new magical threat inside the mountain caves.

Scenes

Strange Dreams & New Information

The party awakens in the town square after experiencing a series of vivid dreams with similar elements. They consult Lars Heyton, who explains that the Arcane Forge's link to the Far Realms is likely the cause of these dreams. He reassures them they should be harmless and temporary.

• Ursa's Rewards: Ursa gives the party the rewards she promised: two Healing Potions and a Cloak of the Manta Ray.
• Lars's Insights: Lars tells the party that someone has been manipulating the dragon and the crystals. He reiterates that the dragon should be hibernating and is meant to be a protector of the area. He also shares that the smaller crystals were forged in the Arcane Forge, and the larger one they dest
• The party convinces Lars to accompany them as they journey to Widow's Peak.

Journey to Widow's Peak

Following a frozen river, the party arrives at the base of the mountain, where the air is noticeably colder and the ground is permafrost. Lars leads them into a cave system.

• Cave Exploration: The caves are filled with exposed crystal fragments. The party follows a path that feels less cold, going south and collecting some of the fragments.
• Ice Mephit Attack: As they move, the party is surrounded by mist and fog. They are ambushed by five Ice Mephits. The party, despite the low visibility, successfully fends them off.
• A New Mystery: After the fight, Lars notes that these Ice Mephits usually explode upon death, but these did not—a strange deviation that hints at an external influence.

Session Conclusion

The party has successfully entered the caves at the base of Widow's Peak and survived their first encounter with a new type of creature. They are now deeper inside the mountain, with a mission to find the crystals and clues related to the manipulation of the dragon.

• Experience & Leveling Total: 2140 (Goal: 2700)
• Current Location The party is in the caves at the base of Widow's Peak.

NPCs

Helga

The shop owner of Helga's Herbs & Oddities. She seems very old, but spry.

Lars Heyton

Lars Heyton is the ruler of Outding Refuge and is deeply committed to the prosperity and progress of his island kingdom. He has dedicated his life to mastering the arcane forge and building a floating city and magic research center, which has become very successful and wealthy. He is driven by a desire to improve the lives of those around him and make the world a better place.

Ursa

Lars' assistant that would later, get complicated.

Locations

Outding Refuge

This tiny island has a little village and is a port that used to be used as a brief stop for travelers, but recently has had an issue with a White Dragon.

Heyton's Thorpe

The village on Outding Refuge.

Heyton Manor

This home is the house for the prominent family.

Helga's Herbs & Oddities

The pawn shop of the island and the source of a unique healing balm.

Widow's Peak

The mountain on Outding Refuge.

Far Realms

The Far Realm is a plane of madness situated very far from the planes of the standard cosmology. This maddening realm was feared for its power to twist unfortunate visitors into gruesome monsters, and it was from here that aberrations came. According to Malyanna, a servant of the Abolethic Sovereignty, all cosmologies are threatened by the same Far Realm.

Items

Cloak of the Manta Ray

While wearing this cloak with its hood up, you can breathe Underwater, and you have a Swimming speed of 60 feet. Pulling the hood up or down requires an Action.

Healing Balms

While wearing this cloak with its hood up, you can breathe Underwater, and you have a Swimming speed of 60 feet. Pulling the hood up or down requires an Action.

Arcane Forge

Throughout the world of Dierde there are many spots where the weave or other planes can cause disruptions or portals on the material plane. Some masters of the arcane have learned ways to build "Arcane Forges" on these sites to allow them access to all types of crafting possibilities.

Also known as: Forge of Spells Mystical Forges

Notes

Factions.

Heyton Family

(+Positive, meet Lars and met his dead ancestor.)

Exported from GMAssistant on 2026-08-16