COD 1: Session 30: Endings and Beginnings

 Pre-scene Notes

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Scene setup/conflict: 

Party was blinded by Aboleth’s psychic attack and the cave dive ends, transporting them back to Cavesmuth.

Interrupted scene: Close a thread: Dispute Failure. This is very interesting! I think this is going to give me a good chance to insert a small scene in for exposition for the ending of Season 1!  

Scene:

The party opened their eyes and they were no longer at the arena. However, all three of them could only see blinding white even if their eyes were wide open. 

“Hmph! Stupid creature, to think an Aboleth can even think it can override my powers over my follower!” A boom like an army of knights charging erupted in their minds.

“Xanthia! Oh great Xanthia!” Yankovic was positive of it. He dropped to his knees and asked, “Please point the path for your loyal follower to do your bidding. My memory is absent, but I feel I have experienced many holy wars in your name. Please guide me and tell me of your challenge.”

“Dear Yankovic, it is still not time.” The faceless voice boomed.

“Wait up Yankovic, this can be a trap.” Zar growled and tried to summon his pact weapon. No ethereal weapon materialised in his hand. In fact, for the first time in a long period, he could hear no murmuring of his patron.

“Ah, this is peculiar. I never would have thought that weapon of mines would resurface, let alone sire a warlock.” Xanthia’s voice sent Zar’s head wheeling. “I have just taken the liberty of ending your ‘cave dive’ as you’d call it, and sending you back to Cavesmuth after that foul smelling Aboleth tried to do a number on your minds. All your worldly possession and attachment will return to you after you return to your bodies.”

“Bodies?” Filli hiccuped in surprised. 

“Ho ho, dear young one, you have what it takes to be my follower, but you really need to overcome this Saviour Complex.”

“I know… I’m trying to think of a way to stop it…”

“Stop it? No, no, embrace it young one. Do what you want to do and try your darndest doing it. Use your action and actually maximise your efforts to save as many as you want. Just because I’d said you can be my follower, maybe your morals will suite better following one of my other compatriots.”

“The God of Justice?”

“Maybe. Maybe.” The lights around them seemed to glow brighter as Xanthia laughed, “It is always nice to see what new generations of mortals get up to, but you each have your paths to follow. Be gone now!”

With that, the world returns to black.

#

The trio next opened their eyes and they were standing at the entrance to the Caves of Dreams. It seemed as if it was the little hours of the morning, and the stalls Osran had set up before they entered were all gone. 

“D-did you guys…” Filli hesitated a question to the other two, Fido now again by his side.

Zar summoned his pact weapon with no obstacles now, seemingly trying to talk to his patron but to no avail. Yankovic was weirdly at peace and just nodded. He said, “Gods work in mysterious ways, as the saying goes. Come on, let’s go to the Cliff’s Edge and see what’s happened since we’d went away. With the lack of Osran’s stalls, who knows if anyone else had figured out Hiba’s memory loss.”

The trio took the short walk to the tavern, which was mostly empty at this time, but Soke the ever diligent barkeep was at her usual post. 

“Mercy, you three are actually alive,” Soke’s raised eyebrow was a lot more expression than usual at how surprised she was at the sight of the trio. “You all look awful.”

“Some things never change.” Zar asked, “We’ve been away for a while, haven’t we?”

“A good few months.” The Trio knew time went differently during cave dives, and was just glad it was not decades. “I mean, Osran is already back to the mainland.”

“Did Hiba’s amnesia get cured already? Did they find out who attacked her?” Yankovic asked.

“No, not at all. An emissary of the Arrington family came to demand their daughter back before any of the other cave divers came up with a cure. Osran could only escort her back himself. Especially with the pressure from the court now to shut down the whole operation on the island due to this attack. After all, Neither the Banquos or the Rose family found out who attacked Hiba’s ship, and the court now is debating if it is too dangerous to sail here with the fog only getting worst. Because of the court’s pressures, even Elodia and the Rose family called a truce with the Banquos and are working this out on the continent together.” 

“Wow, no wonder there seems to be a lot less people here.” Filli scratched his head, “I guess there’s been an exodus back to the mainland?”

“A bit, but adventurers risks their lives for fortune anyway, regardless of where. The mainland doesn’t have any less dangers. However, there are more regular ships sailing back to the mainland than coming.” Soke signed, “Well, it’s late and your basement is still free. You three look like you need a bit of time to absorb this and figure out what’s next. Go ahead”

With that, the three silently retreated to their beds, each thinking about their own futures and their brief meeting with a god and his advice. 

#

Three days later, at the port where they fought the Locathahs together, the trios all sat with their legs dangling off the pier. A sailing ship was making its final preparations and boarding beside them, but the three of them were staring out towards the continent. 

“You guys remembered that journey here? Let’s hope this one back is a bit better and we won’t get lost in fog, or threatened to be eaten by the crew, or shipwrecked and waking up at sword point,” Yankovic laughed.

“I won’t bet on it with my luck,” Zar shook his head. “I’d just be glad whatever comes our way before getting to your church Yankovic has nothing to do with spiders. I’ve had enough of spiders for a lifetime after our first cave dive with those cultists.”

“Or werewolves. That werewolf at Greenhand Outpost was no joke. And remember, we have to find Osran Banquo first to tell him we think Hiba’s memory loss is to do with an Aboleth. ” Yankovic turned to their smaller friend, who was holding a rare solemn expression, “No need to worry about us Filli, we’ve survived an Aboleth before and will do so again even if it chases us across the sea.”

“I’m just worried that I can’t go with you two,” Filli said. “I know it’s my choice to stay here. Sure, not doing more cave dives, just doing things like eradicating those beach crabs or chasing off pirates like we did before. I’m glad Voldan allowed me into the town guards, but maybe I should make the trip back with you first…”

“Didn’t you hear what Xanthia said? Just go do your saving people thing.” Yankovic exclaimed, “And protecting everyone at Cavesmuth is better than just us two knuckleheads.”

“Oi! You two! We’re casting off!”One of the sailors beckoned Yankovic and Zar.

“It’s been great fighting together Filli. After I find out what my patron has to do with Xanthia, hopefully actually getting rid of this pact, I’ll return for my fortune.” Zar offered a hand out.

“And me too. After Xanthia tells me what his plans for my memory loss is, I’ll certainly want to come back and establish that bridgehead church for him here. Keep this place safe for us until then Filli!” Yankovic put his hand on to of Zar’s.

“Of course,” Filli wiped his wet eyes and put his hand on top of theirs. “Don’t let me hear you two run into any trouble, or I’ll go back to the continent first to save your asses!”

“Till we meet again!" 

Yankovic and Zar then boarded the ship as Filli watched them sail into the fog. He then turned around to Cavesmuth, his new home. With one more look behind his shoulder, he got onto Fido and started his first day on the job protecting the island of adventurers who chased their dreams. 

Scene close-out:

• Chaos factor would re-set if I pick the campaign up again.
• - party thread: Investigate monster that caused Lady Arrington’s memory loss and chased out Locathahs
• - party thread: Find item to cure Hiba Arrington of memory loss.
• + party thread: Tell Osran Banquo Hiba's memory loss may be from an Aboleth 
• - Yankovic thread: Start a church outpost on the island
• - Yankovic thread: Built a rep first so either sides gives him a chance to build a church here on the island.

Post-scene Notes

Just thought I’d be comprehensive and close out the threads that were ongoing. It means basically Yankovic’s character’s threads are all closed now as his motivations are changed and is primarily going to still search for his missing memories. If I were to port the characters to another campaign, he is ready to start just as is. Zar and Filli as well, with the former being able to at least have an initial thread finding Osran on their return to the mainland if I decide to pick it up there. Their core character threads still remain so if I add other characters to a Season 2, ie new PC arriving at Cavesmuth, I can have Filli join with his ongoing motivations, ready to start. I mean, if this was a DND campaign, this would basically be if two players have to leave the game, and we can restart with others joining the campaign with Filli’s player if we want. 

I mean, apart from the characters, there are still many unanswered questions. Was it really an Aboleth who caused Hiba’s amnesia. What actually caused the growing fog around Cavesmuth? Will Cavesmuth be abandoned because of this threat to their shipping? What actually formed the Caves of Dreams to begin with? I may at some point become a DM and have this setting as a template or maybe even a season two with this on another system. After all, even DND has moved onto 5.5e instead of 5e now… Who knows?

Anyway, it’s taken me a lot longer than I’d thought to finish this, but I’m glad I was able to at least round this off, as it was bugging me not having done so. I hope what I have here at least gives a good example of how to solo play through a campaign if nothing else! All the best! As always, thanks for reading.