One Shot: Beneath the Skin

General Summary

On a cool autumn morning in the Mawlands, the two rival houses Mayne and Serasan prepared themselves for three days of revelry. Two young lovers from the feudal nobility were to be wed the next day. The groomsman, two members of the bachelorette party, and the officiator toured the pre-wedding festival enjoying games of knucklebones, cheese-filled pastries, and wagon-lifting. As the day concluded, the bridal party enjoyed their rehearsal dinner with the groom giving a loving toast to his future family. But the night was young, and the two parties separated as it was their last chance to enjoy being unhitched.
The morning after was foggy and full of distress. The princess was missing, as was the king and queen of Serasan house and a number of the princesses' suitors. Calling fowl play, the monarchs of Mayne house summoned the party forward tortuously grilling the two remainders from the bachelorette party. Their recollection was more than hazy. Hemlock, one of these bridesmaids, asked her companion fruit bat what she remembered. In a coquettish accent, the bat recalled a number of suitors at the bar, a bar fight, and a silver haired man.
After spending a few hours interrogating drunks and investigating the local inn, the party convened on the seedy bar from last night, the Spending Lute. Dragonborn barmaid Eldra explained that the King and Queen of Serasan appeared later in the night disguised to check on their daughter but could not find her. She was seemingly courted by a silver-haired half-elf into to watching the sunrise on Briar Point, a notorious make-out spot overlooking the township.
Our party hiked the rarely traveled trail up to Briar Point, scaring off a small group of chattering ratling ruffians. On the ground of Briar Point, evidence of a struggle was written deep in the dirt. Fresh footprints led up a overgrown trail further up the mountain. Following the secondary trail a few hours into night, our heroes discovered cave's mouth and traversed its narrowing passage.
It's now strangely carved hall led to a massive cavern lit by torchlight and a huge skylight. Seated nonchalantly at a table enjoying an evening ale were the princess and a silver haired half-elf unaware of they were being looked for. The princess seemed to be charmed by Waite, her silver-haired old friend, who revealed himself as a large lavender dragon with fairy wings.Tersely, the dragon explain that he takes the "final night" or droit de jambage from all the brides in the kingdom so he may "ensure his lineage." Confused and appalled, the party attacked the large Faerie dragon. A few minutes into the fray, Barb skinned the dragon's veneer revealing a shadowy, ebony dragon underneath. This draconic shadow dealt massive damage to the party, was ultimately held by the groom, Gerald, and permanently banished by Issac, the officiator.
The Princess pleaded that she thought Waite was her friend and simply was trying to ensure her heart was true in this union of houses and kingdoms. She had asked her parents to drop by to a quick family wedding ritual but she was convinced to leave before they showed up. Concerned, the party was determined to rest and then search for her parents. The soon-to-be-married couple lamented this is now how they imagined they would spend their wedding night. In the cave, the party uncovered many treasures... including an enchanted deck of cards. The two bridesmaids decided to pull two cards each (Hemlock: Throne, Void) (Barb: Ruin, Chariot). Coming to terms that Hemlock's soul will fade by the end of the adventure, the team sped up and searched the cave system expeditiously.
After a short trek, the party stumbled upon a small chamber where a silver dragon lay broken by boulders and chained to the floor. Floating in the corner, a horrid brain-like demon emanated putrid corruption. After a brief dialogue about the sibriex's plan to puppet the royalty of both kingdom, it conjured forth shadowy visages of the Serasan King and Queen who attacked. Barb quickly tried to relieve the silver wyrm as the groom cast hallucinatory terrain sealing the Serasan monarchs in a prison of illusion. Issac directly confronted the sibriex taking near fatal damage from its caustic emissions. Soon, the dragon was freed by a shatter and vengefully damaged the cerebral fiend with a freezing breath. The sibriex, hoping control through corruption, attempted to fully corrupt each of the Serasans. The princess deftly resists but her umbral silhouetted parents grew ever more demonic. With the help of her soon-to-be-spouse, they polymorphed the queen into a small house cat and inspired the King with a "You Got Dis!" This growing corruption within their forms begin to recede as a wall of fire from the princess and a fatal quarry from Hemlock felled the cranial demon.
This silver drake revealed himself as Coreg, Waite's true identity, begging forgiveness assuming he missed the wedding. Coreg rewarded the wedding party with any of the riches from his ancient horde for both their secrecy and as a wedding present. The King and Queen slowly recovered over the coming days and the two kingdoms reaffirm their alliance through a happy marriage.

Character(s) interacted with

Waite (Coreg the Silver Dragon)
Monarchs of Mayne
Monarchs of Serasan
Urewrot the Sibriex†

Report Date

22 Mar 2019

Primary Location

Oren

Shadow Dragon by WOTC

Sibriex by WOTC