(S076) Wilder Dreams of a Bard

Navigating Vecna's psychological dream tests, the party learns chilling secrets and suffers a devastating physical theft when the ship's Professor Orb vanishes overnight.

📝 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

S076: Wilder Dreams of a Bard

Date: 2024-09-27

Short

The session began with the party awakening from disturbing dreams where a mysterious voice, revealed to be connected to Vecna, offered each character secrets in exchange for unknown prices while attempting to manipulate them into surrendering a powerful orb in Sas's possession. During their downtime activities, Barlo acquired a telepathy tattoo, Bastion studied extra-dimensional magic, and other party members pursued personal projects before experiencing vivid nightmares that revealed troubling secrets about their pasts - including revelations about Calliope's mother's true allegiances, Barlo's connection to a "purple dragon" and the manipulative role of Meklen in orchestrating their circumstances, and hints about Sas's family history involving a mysterious abbot.

Upon awakening and sharing their experiences, the party discovered that Captain Johnas Scott's Professor Orb had mysteriously vanished from their ship overnight, suggesting Vecna's agents possessed the ability to steal magical items even from secure locations. The group's investigation into Barlo's draconic manifestations revealed striking similarities to Bastion's condition, indicating their shared connection to Meklen might be part of a larger conspiracy involving draconic powers. The session concluded with the party facing multiple interconnected threats: Vecna's dream manipulation, the missing orb that powered their ship, and the growing realization that their individual backgrounds and current circumstances were far from coincidental, suggesting they were all pieces in a complex plot orchestrated by forces from their past.

Summary

The session began with the party awakening from disturbing dreams, each having encountered a mysterious voice offering secrets in exchange for unknown prices. The Dungeon Master explained that these dream sequences were part of Vecna's attempts to manipulate the party through their subconscious, seeking to obtain a powerful orb in Sas's possession. Each character could earn mental fortitude and inner strength points by successfully navigating these dream encounters, potentially breaking free from Vecna's influence entirely.

During their downtime, the party engaged in various personal activities. Shadow attempted to copy Sas's magical tattoo into her sketchbook but failed after four hours of careful work. Barlo visited a local tattoo artist to acquire a mark of telepathy tattoo, choosing a Celtic-inspired design split across both sides of his head near his ears, featuring an eye motif that would grant him the ability to cast the message cantrip. Despite several tense moments during the application process, the tattoo was eventually completed successfully. Meanwhile, Bastion spent time reading a complex book about extra-dimensional spaces and the Astral plane, learning valuable information about how magic functions differently in various planes of existence. Calliope worked on bedazzling her overalls and creating costume accessories, while Sas studied an herbalism book that provided detailed information about elf leaf and its various applications.

As night fell, the party members experienced vivid and unsettling dreams. Calliope found herself in an idealized version of her childhood, sitting at a table with her notebook filled with adventures she had yet to experience, surrounded by the comforting presence of her parents. However, the mysterious voice appeared, offering to reveal a disturbing secret about her mother's involvement in what it claimed was not truly a battle between light and dark, but rather the Blood War between different factions of order and chaos. Despite her wariness of making deals, Calliope learned that her mother's allegiance might not be as straightforward as she believed.

Bastion's dream transported him to a vast library filled with books about blade songs and magical combat techniques. Various versions of his mentor Grognard appeared, initially criticizing his focus on blade song rather than traditional magic, even causing his sword to crumble to dust. However, the encounter ultimately revealed Grognard's true supportive nature, as the mentor explained that his harsh criticism had been intended to push Bastion to excel beyond what easy encouragement could achieve. The dream concluded with multiple ghostly versions of Grognard at different ages walking away, leaving Bastion with a sense of understanding and accomplishment.

Barlo's dream began peacefully, with memories of his childhood listening to Meklen's stories alongside Tika in the forest. However, the dream quickly turned nightmarish as his bones began breaking and shattering from within when he tried to pick up dice. Using his inner strength, he managed to heal himself and restore the familiar faces of his companions. The mysterious voice revealed a troubling secret, claiming that Meklen had set all of Barlo's current circumstances in motion, and that a "purple dragon" was somehow connected to his ability to manifest claws and other draconic features during combat. The dream concluded with shadowy cultists emerging from the darkness, one of whom Barlo fought and defeated before the figure disappeared with ominous words about Taristan claiming his soul.

Sas experienced a dream of her hermitage cave, now mysteriously covered with various mushrooms she didn't remember from her actual time there. She saw a younger version of her father on a ship and encountered the abbot who had guided her spiritual journey. The mysterious voice offered her a secret about her family, revealing that the abbot had advised her father to leave before her youngest sibling was born, suggesting a deeper connection between the religious figure and her family's circumstances. The voice also mentioned "doom dreamers" and continued to pressure her about surrendering the orb, though Sas remained defiant.

Shadow's dream took her back to her snowy homeland with Artie, but quickly became a nightmare as the earth began swallowing her family members. Despite her efforts to save them with Artie's help, the ground continued to claim her loved ones, and eventually even Artie disappeared, leaving her alone and angry. The mysterious voice attempted to offer her secrets as well, but Shadow remained resistant to its manipulations, though she was clearly disturbed by the experience.

Upon awakening, the party gathered in Sas's room to discuss their shared experiences with the mysterious voice. They realized that all of them had been offered secrets in exchange for unknown prices, and that the voice seemed particularly interested in obtaining the orb that Sas carried. Shadow mentioned noticing Sas moving and mumbling during her sleep, confirming that the dreams were affecting them physically as well as mentally. The group discussed the potential connection between the "purple dragon" mentioned in Barlo's dream and deep dragons, which Bastion identified as creatures from the Underdark known for dealing in secrets and being curious about distant lands.

The party's investigation into Barlo's potential draconic heritage led to a physical examination of his tail and other features. Bastion used his magical knowledge to determine that whatever was affecting Barlo was not the result of a spell, but rather something that had become an integral part of his being, similar to how Bastion himself had been affected by both a soul inhabiting his body and later by a metallic dragon essence. The examination revealed striking similarities between their conditions, suggesting that their shared connection to Meklen might be more significant than they had previously realized.

Their morning discussion was interrupted by Captain Johnas Scott, who brought disturbing news that the Professor Orb had gone missing from the ship. The captain explained that the orb, which had been used to power their vessel's flight capabilities, had simply vanished without explanation, and none of the crew members had any knowledge of its whereabouts. This revelation was particularly alarming given the mysterious voice's repeated demands for Sas to surrender her orb, suggesting that Vecna or his agents might have the ability to steal magical items even from secure locations.

The party immediately began discussing methods to locate the missing orb, considering various magical approaches including scrying and sending messages to their allies, the Gnome Brothers. They debated whether the orb might be safer in a pocket dimension or other secure location, though they acknowledged that if Vecna could manipulate their dreams and steal items while they slept, traditional security measures might prove inadequate. Calliope suggested creating wanted posters offering a substantial reward for information about the missing orb, while Sas considered learning new spells that might help track their stolen property.

The session concluded with the party facing multiple interconnected threats: Vecna's continued attempts to manipulate them through their dreams, the mysterious disappearance of their magical orb, and the growing realization that their individual connections to draconic powers and their shared history with Meklen might be part of a larger, more complex plot than they had previously understood. The revelation that both Barlo and Bastion were manifesting draconic abilities, combined with the secrets revealed in their dreams, suggested that their past encounters and current circumstances were far from coincidental.

Memorable Moments:

• Barlo's peaceful dream turning into a nightmare where his bones shattered from within as he tried to pick up dice.
• Bastion's emotional encounter with his mentor Grognard, realizing the harsh criticism was meant to push him to excel.
• The shocking morning revelation by Captain Johnas Scott that the Professor Orb had mysteriously vanished from the ship.

Scenes

Discussion of Akashic Records Myth

A conversation about a mythical plane containing books of all knowledge

• Explanation of Akashic Records as a mythical library
• Discussion of the myth being known only to educated individuals

Dream Mechanics Discussion

The Dungeon Master explains the dream sequence mechanics involving mental fortitude, inner strength, and Vecna's attempts to manipulate the party through dreams.

• DM explains dream sequence rules
• Characters can earn mental fortitude points
• Characters can potentially break free from Vecna's dream manipulation
• Dream levels progress as characters become more aware

Tattoo and Book Study Time

The party spends time getting tattoos, studying books, and preparing for the day

• Shadow attempts to copy Sas's tattoo but fails
• Barlo gets a mark of telepathy tattoo
• Bastion reads a book about extra-dimensional spaces
• Calliope works on costume design

Barlo Gets a Tattoo

Barlo visits a tattoo artist to get a mark of telepathy tattoo split across both sides of his head in a Celtic-inspired design

• Barlo negotiates a tattoo with a 25% discount
• Multiple failed tattoo application attempts
• Eventually successful tattoo application after tense moments
• Barlo chooses a location near his ears
• Tattoo artist applies the mark of telepathy
• Tattoo is successfully completed after multiple attempts

Character Downtime Activities

Party members engage in various personal activities during their free time

• Calliope works on bedazzling overalls
• Bastion reads a book about magic and the Astral plane
• Barlo gets a tattoo
• Sas reads an herbalism book about elf leaf
• Bastion reads a book about magic and dimensions
• Calliope works on costume design

Calliope's Dream Sequence

Calliope experiences a dream where she sees her parents and encounters a mysterious voice offering secrets about her mother.

• Calliope sees her father and mother in the dream
• A mysterious voice offers her a secret about her mother's involvement in the Blood War
• Calliope reaches dream level one and gains the ability to fly

Bastion's Dream Sequence

Bastion dreams of being in a library with various versions of Grognard, who challenges and then encourages his blade song training.

• Bastion sees books about blade songs
• Grognard appears and initially criticizes Bastion's training
• Grognard's sword turns to dust
• Grognard ultimately reveals he was pushing Bastion to improve
• Bastion reaches dream level one and gains flying ability

Barlo's Dream Sequence

Barlo experiences a dream where his bones break and he encounters a dark, shifting dreamscape with Meklen and Tika

• Barlo dreams of listening to Meklen's stories with Tika
• Barlo experiences his bones breaking in the dream
• A mysterious voice offers to reveal a secret
• Cultists appear in the dream
• Barlo's bones start breaking in the dream
• Barlo uses inner strength to rebuild his bones
• A mysterious voice talks about a 'purple dragon'
• Cultists appear and turn Barlo's friends into mist
• Barlo fights and defeats a cultist

Sas's Dream Sequence

Sas experiences a dream where she learns a secret about her father's departure and her youngest sibling from a mysterious voice

• Sas sees her cave with unexpected mushrooms
• She sees a younger version of her father on a ship
• The abbot appears and praises her
• A mysterious voice (possibly Vecna) offers a secret about her father
• Sas learns her father left before her youngest sibling was born
• The voice suggests the abbot advised her father's departure
• The voice offers to leave them alone if they give up the orb
• The voice mentions 'doom dreamers'

Shadow's Dream Sequence

Shadow dreams of her homeland, experiencing a disturbing vision of her family being swallowed by the earth

• Shadow sees her family sinking into the ground
• Artie appears and then disappears
• A mysterious voice offers to reveal a secret
• Shadow becomes frustrated and angry in the dream

Missing Professor Orb Investigation

The party discovers that the Professor Orb has gone missing from their ship and discusses methods to locate it

• Shadow notices Sas moving and mumbling during sleep
• Party learns the Professor Orb is missing from the ship
• Characters share details about their individual dream encounters
• Barlo learns about potential connection to a purple/deep dragon
• Captain Johnas Scott reports the Meklen orb is missing
• Party discusses potential methods to track or locate the missing orb
• Consideration of using scrying or sending a message to the Gnome Brothers
• Captain Johnas Scott informs the party the Professor Orb is missing
• Party discusses potential tracking methods like scrying
• Calliope suggests creating wanted posters for the orb
• Sas considers learning scrying spell to locate the orb

Investigating Barlo's Dragon Connection

The party gathers in Sas's room to discuss Barlo's potential dragon heritage and examine his tail for any unusual characteristics.

• Bastion examines Barlo's tail for magical or physical signs of a dragon connection
• Discussion about deep dragons and their connection to secrets
• Comparison of Barlo and Bastion's potential dragon-related abilities

Memorable Moments

Barlo's bones shatter from within when he tries to pick up dice

During a nightmarish dream sequence manipulated by Vecna

Bastion's mentor Grognard reveals his harsh criticism was meant to push him to excel

In a vast dream library after Bastion's sword crumbled to dust

Captain Johnas Scott reveals the Professor Orb has mysteriously vanished

Interrupting the party's morning discussion with alarming news

NPCs

Vecna

A mysterious entity attempting to manipulate the party through dream sequences, seeking secrets and trying to steal an orb

Tattoo Artist

A professional tattoo artist who applies magical tattoos with specialized inks

Grognard

A mentor figure who appears in Bastion's dream, initially critical but ultimately supportive of Bastion's blade song training

Mysterious Voice

An enigmatic entity that appears in multiple characters' dreams, offering secrets and seemingly connected to Vecna

Abbot Grok

Appears in Sas's dream, praising her and seemingly connected to her father's past

Captain Meklen

Appears in Barlo's dream, shifting between different forms and ages

Captain Johnas Scott

Ship's captain who informs the party about the missing Professor Orb

Locations

Ship

The party's current mode of transportation where they are spending their time and where the missing orb was discovered

Dream Realm

A metaphysical space where Vecna attempts to manipulate and extract information from the party members

Tattoo Parlor

A local tattoo shop where specialized magical tattoos are applied

Dream Library

A mystical library where Bastion encounters various versions of Grognard

Childhood Forest

A dream location where Barlo remembers stories from his childhood with Meklen and Tika

Dream Cave

A cave filled with various mushrooms where Sas remembers her hermitage

Dark Dreamscape

A shifting, shadowy dream environment where Barlo encounters cultists and memories

Sas's Room

A private cabin on the ship where the party gathers to discuss Barlo's potential dragon connection

Items

Torril Orb

A mysterious orb that Vecna is attempting to obtain from the party, specifically from Sas

Tattoo of Striding

A magical tattoo that increases movement speed by 5 feet per tattoo

Mark of Telepathy Tattoo

A small ornate tattoo placed on Barlo's head, split into two parts near his ears in a Celtic-inspired design with an eye motif that grants the message cantrip

Mindflayer Ink

Specialized magical ink with a 100-foot range for detecting Mindflayers

Herbalism Book

A book titled 'The Alchemist Laboratory: A Guide to Brewing Potions for Profit' that Sas reads, containing information about elf leaf

Cultist Scimitar

A blade wielded by a cultist in Barlo's dream, with a red, flaming liquid effect

Professor Orb

A magical orb that has mysteriously gone missing from the ship, causing concern among the party members

Meklen Orb

A magical orb used for powering the ship's flight, which has mysteriously gone missing

Professor Umbercresct Orb

An alternative orb still present on the ship that can be used for flight

Silver Ewer

A potential scrying focus that the party discusses using to locate the missing orb

Spells

Dream Manipulation

A metaphysical ability used by Vecna to enter and control dream sequences, attempting to extract information and items from the party

Message Cantrip

A magical ability granted by the new tattoo that allows communication without verbal components

Rage

Barlo considers using rage in his dream but ultimately chooses not to, instead using his inner strength

Scrying

A potential spell the party is considering using to locate the missing magical orbs

Classic

Last we left off, our intrepid adventurers found themselves caught in the web of Vecna's insidious influence, as the Whispered One reached into their very dreams to manipulate and torment them. Each member of the party experienced vivid, disturbing visions during their rest - Calliope witnessed an idealized childhood tainted by dark revelations about her mother's true allegiances in what the mysterious voice claimed was not a battle of light versus dark, but the Blood War itself. Bastion found himself in a vast library confronting multiple versions of his mentor Grognard, while Barlo's peaceful memories turned nightmarish as his bones shattered from within, only to learn that Meklen may have orchestrated his current circumstances and that a "purple dragon" was somehow connected to his manifesting draconic abilities. Sas encountered her father and the abbot from her past in a mushroom-covered hermitage, learning troubling secrets about her family, while Shadow watched helplessly as the earth swallowed her loved ones in her snowy homeland.

Upon awakening and sharing their experiences, the party realized they had all been visited by the same mysterious voice - one that seemed particularly interested in the powerful orb that Sas carried. Their investigation into Barlo's draconic manifestations revealed striking similarities to Bastion's own condition, suggesting their shared connection to Meklen ran deeper than previously understood. However, their morning discussions were interrupted by Captain Johnas Scott bearing dire news: the Professor Orb that powered their ship had vanished without a trace, stolen in the night by unknown forces.

Now, with Vecna's influence growing stronger through their dreams, one of their most valuable magical artifacts missing, and the disturbing realization that their individual transformations and shared history may be part of a far more complex plot than they ever imagined, our heroes must navigate these interconnected threats while questioning everything they thought they knew about their past and the forces that have shaped their destinies...

Snarky

When last we left our intrepid adventurers, they had just discovered that getting a good night's sleep is apparently impossible when an ancient lich lord is sliding into your DMs—er, dreams. Our heroes found themselves on the receiving end of Vecna's late-night therapy sessions, complete with mysterious voices offering family secrets like some kind of twisted infomercial. "But wait, there's more! Give me your orb and I'll throw in disturbing revelations about your parents absolutely free!" Meanwhile, Barlo got some sweet new telepathy ink (because nothing says "subtle communication" like Celtic eye tattoos on your head), and the gang spent their downtime doing very normal adventurer things like failing to copy magical tattoos and bedazzling overalls.

But the real fun started when everyone's subconscious decided to throw a nightmare block party. Calliope got some uncomfortable truths about mom's involvement in cosmic warfare, Bastion had a heart-to-heart with multiple versions of his mentor (talk about commitment to the bit), and Barlo discovered that his draconic features might not be as random as everyone thought—thanks, Meklen, you mysterious puppet master. Shadow watched her family get swallowed by the earth because apparently her dreams come with a side of existential dread, while Sas got the hard sell on orb surrender from voices that clearly don't understand the meaning of "no."

As if waking up from prophetic nightmares wasn't bad enough, Captain Johnas Scott dropped by with the delightful news that their Professor Orb had decided to take an unscheduled vacation—you know, the one that keeps their ship flying and definitely wasn't supposed to vanish into thin air. Now our heroes are facing the classic adventurer's dilemma: how do you fight an enemy who can apparently steal your stuff while you sleep and knows more about your family drama than you do? Time to dust off those wanted posters and hope the Gnome Brothers are still taking calls, because things are about to get very interesting indeed.

Middle English

Harken well, ye gentle folke,
To tales of dreames most darke and fell,
Where Vecna's voice through slumber spoke,
And secrets dire did seeke to tell.

In visions wrought of shadowed night,
Each hero faced their deepest feares,
While whispers promised hidden sight,
For prices paid with bitter teares.

Fair Calliope, in childhood's bower,
Did sit with quill and parchment bright,
But learned her mother's truest power
Lay not 'tween darknesse and the light.

Brave Bastion, in libraries vast,
Met Grognard's ghoste in many forme,
Who taught that criticism's blast
Can forge a blade through wisdom's storme.

Good Barlo, midst the forest greene,
Heard Meklen's tales of days of yore,
But bones did breake and cultists scene
Proclaimed a dragon's ancient lore.

Sweet Sas, within her hermit's cave,
Saw mushrooms strange and father's shippe,
While voices sought the orb to have,
And doom dreamers' fateful grippe.

Bold Shadow, in her homeland's snowe,
Watched earth devour kith and kinne,
As Artie faded, leaving woe,
And anger burning deep within.

When morning's light did breake their reste,
They gathered round to share their plight,
And found that each had been addressed
By Vecna's voice throughout the night.

But lo! A greater ill befell—
The Professor's Orb had vanished quite!
No mortal tongue could truly tell
Where fled this source of magick's might.

Now face they perils manifold:
The dream-lord's grasp, the orb now gone,
And draconic secrets yet untold
That bind them to a fateful dawn.

Limerick

The party awoke from dreams most strange,
Where Vecna's voice sought to arrange
A deal for their souls,
With secrets as goals,
And Sas's bright orb in exchange.

In downtime they each found their way,
Shadow sketched tattoos through the day,
Barlo got inked with care,
Celtic eyes everywhere,
While Bastion read books of the Fey.

When nightfall brought visions so deep,
Calliope's past made her weep,
Her mother's true side
The voice did confide,
Was darker than dreams she could keep.

Poor Bastion met Grognard's ghost,
Who criticized what mattered most,
But love lay beneath
The harsh words and grief,
A mentor's care he could boast.

Young Barlo's bones cracked and broke,
As purple dragons awoke,
Meklen's grand scheme
Revealed in the dream,
With cultists emerging like smoke.

Sweet Sas saw her cave full of spores,
Her father on distant shores,
The abbot's advice
Had come with a price,
As family secrets she explores.

Poor Shadow watched loved ones fall,
The earth swallowed up one and all,
Even Artie disappeared,
As her worst nightmare appeared,
Leaving her angry and small.

They gathered at dawn to compare,
These dreams that had filled them with care,
The voice wanted trade,
But no deals were made,
Though secrets hung thick in the air.

The Professor Orb vanished away,
From their ship in the light of day,
No crew member knew
How it slipped from view,
As Vecna continued his play.

With dragons in Barlo's blood,
And Bastion's essence like mud,
Their connection runs deep,
Through Meklen's long sleep,
As mysteries rise like a flood.

Exported from GMAssistant on 2026-08-16