Session 11 stories

Oh The Plot Thickens
CHAPTER 1

Parack, the artificer blacksmith, paced back and forth in his workshop, fuming with anger. Nathair, the faerie dragon, perched on a nearby anvil, watching him silently.

"They stole my money, Nathair," Parack seethed. "And they destroyed the carpet in the foyer. That room was finally starting to look like a proper home, and now it's ruined."

Nathair nodded sympathetically. "That's terrible, Parack. What are you going to do about it?"

"I'm going to demand reparations," Parack declared firmly. "Those thieves need to pay for what they've done. They can't just waltz into my home, take my hard-earned money, and destroy my belongings without consequences."

"But how will you get them to pay?" Nathair asked, looking concerned.

"I'll find a way," Parack said determinedly. "I'm an artificer, after all. I can create all sorts of ingenious devices to make them pay for their crimes."

Nathair cocked his head to one side, intrigued. "What kind of devices?"

"Oh, all sorts of things," Parack replied, a wicked glint in his eye. "Traps, snares, mechanical spiders that crawl into their beds at night..."

Nathair shuddered. "That sounds... ominous."

Parack chuckled darkly. "Let them be afraid. They deserve it. And when they come crawling back, begging for mercy, I'll make sure they pay for every last copper they stole, and every inch of carpet they ruined."

Nathair nodded solemnly. "I see. Well, I wish you luck with your plans, Parack. And if there's anything I can do to help, just let me know."

"Thanks, Nathair," Parack said, grinning fiercely. "I'll make sure those thieves regret the day they crossed me."

Parack stopped pacing and turned to Nathair, his expression growing even darker. "And that's not all, Nathair. Before the thieves broke in, there was another incident. Someone came to my foundry, pretending to be on fire, screaming for help. I rushed out to help them, but it turned out to be a changeling criminal named Rex."

Nathair's eyes widened in surprise. "Rex? The wanted criminal who escaped from the guards?"

"That's the one," Parack confirmed, his fists clenching. "He tricked me and then escaped before I could turn him in. I suspect that all of these issues are interconnected. The thieves, Rex... there's something bigger going on here, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it."

Nathair looked thoughtful. "It does seem like quite a coincidence. What do you plan to do?"

"I need to gather more information," Parack replied. "I'll start by questioning the guards about Rex's escape. Maybe I can find out who helped him, and if they're connected to the thieves. And if I find any evidence that ties all of this together, I'll make sure those responsible pay for their crimes."

Nathair nodded. "It sounds like a dangerous task, Parack. Are you sure you're up for it?"

"I have to be," Parack said grimly. "I can't let these criminals get away with what they've done. Not to me, not to anyone else. And if anyone can get to the bottom of this, it's me. I'm an artificer, after all. I'm used to solving difficult problems."

Nathair grinned. "That's true. And if anyone can come up with some truly inventive ways to punish these criminals, it's you."

Parack chuckled. "Thanks, Nathair. I'll keep you updated on my progress. And if I need your help, I'll definitely let you know."

Nathair's smile faded as he listened to Parack's plans. "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into, Parack. These criminals are dangerous.

"And speaking of danger, why did you trust them with the sacred dragonshard in the first place?" Parack said quizzically.

Nathair sighed. "I didn't have much of a choice, Parack. They were the only ones who could retrieve it from the ruins, and time was running out. But you're right, they're not exactly the most trustworthy individuals. They cause destruction wherever they go."

Parack nodded in agreement. "That's what I don't understand. How could anyone believe they were capable of safeguarding something as important as the sacred dragonshard?"

"I don't think they were trusted, Parack," Nathair said thoughtfully. "I think they were just the only ones available. Sometimes we have to make difficult decisions in order to protect what's important. It's not always ideal, but it's necessary."

Parack seemed to consider this for a moment before speaking up again. "Speaking of destruction, what about Rex? You mentioned that he's known to burn down trees in the forest. Do you think Nerine the Dryad, your companion, could accept the destruction of perfectly healthy trees?"

Nathair frowned, a troubled look crossing his face. "I don't know, Parack. That's a good question. But I do know that Rex is a danger to everyone around him. He needs to be stopped before he causes any more harm."

Parack nodded, his expression serious. "I understand. And I'll do what I can to help. But let's be careful, Nathair. We don't want to make things worse by rushing in blindly."

Nathair nodded in agreement. "You're right, Parack. We need to be strategic about this. I'll gather more information before taking any action. And in the meantime, I'll continue to work on ways to protect my realm from those thieves I have inadvertently brought into my domain."

Nathair gave him a secondary grateful nod before flying off into the air, disappearing into the distance. Parack watched him go, his mind racing with ideas and plans for how to bring these criminals to justice.

Nathair flew through the forest, searching for his companion Nerine the Dryad. He knew she would be upset when she found out that the adventurers who had been entrusted with the sacred dragonshard were the same ones who had caused so much destruction in the forest.

He finally spotted her near a small grove of trees. She was standing with her arms crossed, looking at the ground with a troubled expression on her face.

"Nerine," Nathair called out as he landed on a nearby branch. "We need to talk."

Nerine turned to him, her expression wary. "What is it, Nathair? What's happened?"

Nathair took a deep breath before launching into the story of Parack and the thieves who had stolen his money and destroyed his carpet, and how they had been the ones chosen to retrieve the sacred dragonshard.

Nerine's eyes widened in shock. "But those are the same adventurers who have caused so much destruction in the forest! How could anyone trust them with something as important as the sacred dragonshard?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Nathair said, frustration creeping into his voice. "And that's not even the worst of it. There's a changeling criminal named Rex who's involved, and he's known to burn down trees in the forest."

Nerine's expression grew even more troubled. "That's terrible, Nathair. But what can we do? If these adventurers are the only ones who can retrieve the sacred dragonshard, we have to trust them."

"But how can we trust them?" Nathair demanded, feeling exasperated. "They've caused so much damage in the forest already. How can we be sure they won't cause more?"

Nerine placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression gentle. "Nathair, we have to trust in the guidance of Goldfish of prophecy. He has chosen these adventurers as the ones he will follow, and we must trust his guidance."

Nathair sighed, feeling conflicted. "I suppose you're right. But it's hard to trust people who have caused so much destruction."

"I know," Nerine said softly. "But we must have faith that they will do what's right. And if they don't, then we'll have to deal with the consequences. But for now, we must have hope."

Nathair nodded, feeling slightly better. "You're right, Nerine. I'll try to have faith in Goldfish's guidance. And I'll do what I can to make sure these adventurers don't cause any more harm in the forest."

Nerine smiled at him, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "I knew I could count on you, Nathair. Let's hope that Goldfish's guidance will lead us to a good outcome."

Nathair pondered for a moment, thinking about the wooden maze that led to the sacred dragonshard. He remembered how he and Nerine had worked hard to lay flowers in the maze, hoping that it would help the adventurers find their way. But it seemed that the adventurers were oblivious to all their hints and were completely misguided with their chosen path.

"Nerine," Nathair began, "do you think our help in laying the flowers through the maze will ever be useful to the adventurers? They seem to be completely oblivious to the hint."

Nerine frowned, considering Nathair's question. "It's hard to say, Nathair. But we must continue to have faith that they will find their way. Perhaps they will eventually see the flowers and understand their meaning."

"But what if they don't?" Nathair asked, feeling frustrated. "Should we be more direct? Maybe we should get the pixies involved again. They were able to guide the adventurers before."

Nerine nodded in agreement. "That might be a good idea, Nathair. We should do everything we can to help them find their way. But we must be careful not to reveal too much information. We don't want to give away the location of the sacred dragonshard."

"Right," Nathair said, feeling relieved that Nerine was on board with his plan. "And speaking of finding the sacred dragonshard, do you think your staff of flowers will be useful in unlocking the entrance to the chamber where the dragonshard is held?"

Nerine's expression brightened at the mention of her staff. "Yes, I believe it will. The staff has a special enchantment that allows it to unlock certain magical barriers. I've used it before to access hidden areas in the forest. I'm sure it will be useful in unlocking the entrance to the chamber."

Nathair smiled, feeling encouraged. "That's great news, Nerine. With your staff and the help of the pixies, we should be able to guide the adventurers to the sacred dragonshard and keep them from causing any more harm to the forest."

Nerine nodded, a determined look in her eyes. "We will do everything we can to protect the forest and ensure that the sacred dragonshard is kept safe. We cannot allow it to fall into the wrong hands."

As Nathair and Nerine continued to plan their next move, Nathair had an idea. "Nerine, I think we should give the adventurers a more blatant clue to help them find the sacred dragonshard."

Nerine raised an eyebrow. "A more blatant clue? Won't that reveal the location of the dragonshard?"

"Not necessarily," Nathair replied. "We can give them a hint without revealing the exact location. It's worth a try, at least."

Nerine nodded thoughtfully. "I see your point, Nathair. But how will we deliver this clue to them?"

Nathair thought for a moment before speaking. "I have an idea. I'll write a letter and hand it over to Julliana Trakas, the proprietor of the Obelisk Hotel where the adventurers are staying. She can pass it on to them without arousing any suspicion."

Nerine smiled, impressed with Nathair's plan. "That's a good idea, Nathair. What will the letter say?"

Nathair thought for a moment before starting to write on a piece of parchment. "It will say, 'The answer lies in the forest, but not all paths lead to the same destination. Seek the wooden maze as its starting point stands proudly out in the most unnatural form. Allow the forest speak to you. The forest will guide you to your destiny.'"

Nerine read the letter and nodded in approval. "That's a good hint, Nathair. It's not too obvious, but it should be enough to guide them in the right direction."

Nathair folded the letter and handed it to Nerine. "Will you take this to Julliana for me, Nerine? I don't want to draw any attention to myself."

Nerine nodded and took the letter from Nathair. "I'll take care of it, Nathair. We'll make sure the adventurers find their way to the sacred dragonshard."

Nathair watched as Nerine disappeared into the forest, feeling confident that their plan would succeed.

Deep within the heart of the Dragonwood, a group of bandits had made their home. They were a motley crew of humans, goblins, and even a few half-orcs. They were skilled at thievery and had made a name for themselves among the people of the nearby town of Woodhelm.

For months, they had been preying on traveling merchants, ambushing them and taking their goods. They would then sell the stolen goods in the black market, making a good living for themselves. But there was one bandit who particularly enjoyed stealing from spice caravans. His name was Keth, and he had a passion for cooking.

Keth had always been fascinated by the different spices and flavors used in cooking. He loved experimenting with different ingredients and techniques, and had become somewhat of a master chef among the bandits. Whenever he stole a spice caravan, he would be giddy with excitement, eager to try out the new flavors in his cooking.

One day, a caravan of spices was passing through the Dragonwood, and the bandits had set their sights on it. They had planned the ambush carefully, and were waiting for the perfect moment to strike. As the caravan approached, they leapt out from their hiding places and surrounded the merchants.

Keth was in his element. He quickly made his way to the back of the caravan and began rifling through the crates of spices. He could barely contain his excitement as he picked out the different herbs and spices, imagining the delicious dishes he could create with them.

Unknown to Keth, a group of adventurers had been hired by the merchants of Woodhelm to put an end to the bandit activity in the area. They had tracked the bandits to one of their sub base camps and were preparing to launch a surprise attack.

Keth was busy working on improving his campfire cooking skills when the adventurers launched their attack. He had been experimenting with a new recipe using some of the spices he had stolen from the last caravan they had raided.

The attack was sudden and fierce. The adventurers had caught the bandits off guard, and they were quickly overwhelmed. Keth, however, refused to abandon his cooking. He continued working on his cauldron, stirring the ingredients with a look of intense concentration on his face.

As the battle raged on around him, Keth seemed oblivious to everything else. He was determined to perfect his dish, even as his fellow bandits fell one by one. The aroma of the cooking food mixed with the scent of blood and smoke, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.

Eventually, the adventurers made their way to Keth's cooking area. They were surprised to see him still working on his cauldron, seemingly oblivious to the danger around him. One of the adventurers approached him cautiously and asked him to surrender.

Keth looked up, his eyes full of determination. He knew he was outnumbered, but he refused to give up his passion for cooking. He lifted a spoonful of his dish to his mouth and savored the flavor before uttering his final words.

"I may be a bandit, but I am also a chef. And I will never surrender my love for cooking."

With that, Keth collapsed to the ground, his spoon still in his hand. The adventurers could only watch in awe as the aroma of his dish filled the air. Despite everything, Keth had remained true to his passion until his dying breath.

The previous owner of the flametongue sword was a powerful wizard named Zoltan who had a reputation for being eccentric and unpredictable. He lived in a secluded tower on the outskirts of Woodhelm, where he spent most of his time experimenting with new magical spells and creating strange concoctions in his laboratory.

One day, Zoltan was experimenting with a new spell that would allow him to summon fire from thin air. He had been working on the spell for weeks and was eager to test it out. He had everything he needed - the incantation, the magical reagents, and the perfect setting. The only thing missing was a powerful tool to focus his energy and direct the flames.

As luck would have it, a traveling merchant had just arrived in town with a unique weapon - a flametongue sword. The merchant claimed that the sword had been forged by a legendary blacksmith and was imbued with magical properties that would allow it to channel flames.

Zoltan was immediately intrigued by the sword and struck a deal with the merchant to acquire it. He paid a hefty sum of gold and took possession of the flametongue sword, eager to put it to the test.

With the sword in hand, Zoltan returned to his tower and began the incantation for his new spell. As he spoke the words, flames began to gather around him, growing hotter and more intense with each passing moment.

Then, he focused his energy through the sword, using its magical properties to direct the flames. The combination of the spell and the sword was incredibly powerful, and soon the entire tower was engulfed in flames.

Zoltan had pushed the limits of his own magical abilities and had created a spell that was far more potent than he had ever imagined. The flametongue sword had proven to be the perfect tool to focus his energy and control the flames.

From that day on, Zoltan kept the sword close by his side, using it to create incredible displays of fire magic and to defend himself against any threats that came his way. However, his eccentricities continued to grow, and he eventually disappeared from Woodhelm, leaving the flametongue sword behind.

The sword changed hands several times over the years, but its legacy as a powerful tool of fire magic continued to grow. Eventually, it found its way into the hands of Maria, who used it to great effect in her own adventures.