Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
| Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) | |
|---|---|
| Date | 2024-05-27 |
| Storyteller | Jolyne |
| Tier | Trainee/Expert |
| Player Characters | Boophis, Calamity, Mantella, Taru, Vara |
| Rewards | 250xp, Wand of Teeming Ghosts, Ghost Inkx5, Missive Mintx5 & formula, Sprite Apple (Teal), 141 gold, 9 silver (+21gp from selling the Sprite Apple & the Missive Mint Formula) |
| Result | Success |
| Author | Unseelie |
| Downtime | 0 days |
Associates separate real and false ghosts and collect the remains of the latter.
Log
Rather than Taru's flowery handwriting, this log is written in a neat, precise script, just barely large enough to be legible.
Ah, quite an audience today. Did they give out free ale or something?
Heh, I joke of course, I know you're here for the conclusion of the events at the Cat Village. Don't you worry, we'll get to that.
Later though. I still see more people coming in, and I wouldn't want them to miss it. Perhaps something light-hearted to tide us over? A recent adventure I've been on, short and sweet, just like a certain elf we met there.
You already know my companions for this mission, plenty of tales have been written and told about all of them:
The brothers Boophis and Mantella, one a master of the arcane, the other conjuring his mighty companion Life Giver.
Calamity, bringing destruction worthy of her name, luckily mostly to our enemies.
And last but certainly not least, the Lotus Prince himself, Vara!
Together we first made our way to Samara Slitherslime. You remember her as well, I hope? The masterful inventor and purveyor of slimes of all kinds, tragically barred from taking residence in our fair city? Good news on that front, after the events I'm about to regale you with she came to an agreement with the owners of the Haunted House not far from here and is now allowed to live and do business there!
The Haunted House is also where most of our tale is set. Samara bade us to acquire ectoplasm for a project of hers, the remains of ghosts! A place widely known for its haunting surely was the best source for this?
Well, that is not how it appeared at first. It sure looked the part, just like most other buildings here and in the Sacks, but what awaited us inside were not pained souls yearning to be released from their earthly bonds. Not at all. Instead we found actors intent on giving us a fright! Quite talented ones even, I have returned there after our mission was concluded and I can only recommend a visit to those not faint of heart.
However, as expertly designed and entertaining their performance was and is, it wasn't helpful in our mission. We may even have given up at this point, found some other place rumoured to be a refuge for the lingering dead, were it not for my magic assuring us that ectoplasm was to be found here.
And indeed, it was. Amidst the ghosts and monsters lovingly brought to life with artistry an skill, true spectres made their home as well! They fit in so perfectly, no one even realised they weren't part of the troupe until revealed by a close inspection.
Sadly, twisted and cruel as many of these spirits chained to the world become, their discovery drove many of them to attack us. Two we could save. Having been together for all this time must have kept them sane, and us providing music and an audience for a last dance finally let them move on.
The others gave us no such chance. Room after room we searched, each featuring the delightful decorations and acting by the resident troupe, and some also possessed by an older presence.
Were it not for their aggressive nature now brought to the foreground, they would have made for an wonderful addition to the experience, but alas we were forced to slay them.
And slay them we did. They stood little chance against the might of our magic and enchanted blades brought to bear.
Only once did they pose a threat: In a kitchen, of all places, several ghosts remained and attacked us in tandem.
We would have prevailed regardless, if perhaps a bit wounded, but there was no need. Timely reinforcements arrived in the form of Melfyra here, and with her addition they were fully outmatched.
Why was she there you ask? We were all surprised to see her as well, but she was part of the troupe, hired to play the role of a vampire!
I'm sure those who have spoken with her here will have a hard time imagining her as something so menacing, but I assure you, she plays the role flawlessly.
And so we come to the end of this tale. The haunts were all freed or slain, their residues collected for Samara's project, and the Haunted House was returned to function purely as a place of playful scares rather than true danger.
Or who knows, perhaps if you visit there, you will find new ghosts have moved in to take part in the act.
Transcript of the tale "Of Ghosts True and False", as told by the bard Tarina "Taru" Autio in the Ashenforge Guild Hall. Committed to writing by Taso Autio.
Below the transcript are another line, this one in Taru's handwriting.
I hereby verify these to be my words and an accurate description of the events at the Haunted House.
- Tarina Autio, Associate of the Round Table.