The on again/off again adventures our Candela group goes on when Sophia wants a break. Calfein, Gothta, Malcys, Leland, and Shroomster (occasionally with Shealtiel) explore the lands of Nasza Ziemia.
The party is enlisted by Professor Nythin Dray to retrieve a pre-collapse Dwarven artifact. Escaping pirates, braving storms, they discover the artifact was simply a ruse by Karyn Sandhime, one of the most vicious pirate warlords of the Orazcas. A battle breaks out, but is halted when Calfein challenges Karyn to a Dance Off.
The party successfully beat the dance tormentor at her own game She attempts to kill them anyway, but is dragged away and thrown off the cliff side.
The party assists a young inventor being tormented by bullies. Snorri, a former student of Nythin, has been working on an entry for Kaladesh, better known as the Duermyn Grand Faire for Inventors. Being a Firbolg, Snorri has encountered that darn racism, especially from Lucto, a rival Kobold inventor who stole the prime material component for Snorri's Chronomatic Enhancer.
The party successfully tracked down Lucto's assistants, scared and/or killed them, then confronted Lucto in his workshop, where he unleashed his entry, the Janky Mecha-Koboldzilla, upon them. The party successfully defeated the construct but were unable to recover Snorri's component.
The party ventures into the Wastelands in search of a replacement component for Snorri's invention. Along the way, they must brave desolate conditions and frightening aberrations known as Eldrazi.
After encountering and slaying a lone Eldrazi, the party came upon a pair of Elves afflicted by a strange condition that rapidly dehydrated them when out of water for too long. They were discovered to be enthralled by Broodlings, which were dispatched, freeing them from their control. Using his Artificer magic, Snorri was able to heal their condition, and the elves were recommended to see Nythin about possible work as the group ventured on.
They found the Desicated Lake wherein the Broodmother resided. Sneaking up, they attacked it while housed in its dormant chrysalis form, killing its Broodlings and even an infected Giant Crocodile. Pending a hole in the cocoon, Snorri was able to extract his component, a strange pulsing sac. The party retreated as the Broodmother emerged. Dodging its many tentacle attacks, they successfully blinded the aberration and fled. Snorri's Clockwork Panther was infected with the Broodmother's disease, forcing him to shut it down and leave it behind in the Wastes.
Returning to the city, Snorri got to work on his invention while the rest of the party went on a sextuple-date (Calfein + Malcys, Shroomster + Shealtiel, Gothta + Nythin).
The party meets up after a couple months apart. Joining them is Leland Marcus Lyons, a Tiefling Ranger from the Mortal Lands of Respite.
Gothta spies on and pursues a target who is later discovered to be Head Judge Tezzeret of the Grand Faire. Calfein is contacted by his family to once again marry the matriarch he fled from 80 years ago, or face the Bonemonger. Malcys stumbles onto a lead into his holy symbol being related to the Rose Monarchs at the library. Leland gets a commission for Studded Leather armor from Nythin.
Royal families from the Rose Kingdoms have come to New Buryport and Calfein's boss wants his to earn their patronage at his show. It works, although the details of getting each family on board need ironing out. Calfein confronts his mom in his dressing room with Olivia Voldaren adding tension. His mother leaves him be, after much persuasion.
Gothta is confronted by Judge Tezzeret and barely escapes, going into hiding until the heat cools down. Olivia is extremely interested in the expedition and Malcys' holy symbol, and agrees to fund the project as long as they attend a Ball she's throwing in Respite the following week.
Xander Morningstar accepts the group's help dealing with an escaped Baloth that was attempted to be smuggled into the city. If the party eliminates the Baloth before Xander's fixer, they can accept the reward. After questioning the dock foreman and one of Gothta's contacts, the sunken ship has been located off the coast of the Ailinglesh Woods.
With the aid of the Crabster King and its crew under Captain Havaad Baustin, DND found the Obsidian Cutlass wrecked a few hundred feet offshore from the Woods. Going ashore, they found a gaudy Sunfish and Mishra, the Duergar Weeb Fixer employed by Xander. Tracking the Baloth by its trail of destruction, they encountered Wood Elves who became starstruck by Calfein. They also found Calfein's mother and sister. Then the Baloth found all of them. The battle was short, but also vicious and destructive. Gotta landed the killing blow with his poison breath. Mishra and his two associates talked big and floundered mostly. The Dads visited the wreckage of the Obsidian Cutlass, finding a handful of magical items, spell scrolls, a pile of gold, and Calfein uncovered a mortal nemesis in the form of three crabs.
Returning to Morningstar Manor, they informed Xander that the job was complete, causing him a genuine surprise. Calfein agreed to give Mishra 70% of the haul, taking only 3000 gold for the Dads. They had a long sit-down with Xander, calling him out for his negligence as a parent to Darius. Xander reveals he's being used by a dragonborn named Varga, a member of the Maestros. He agrees to finally return home to Respite with Darius.
The Dads, while traveling through the Ulvenwald, encounter several of its local wildlife, many of which are vicious (especially during the mating season). Leland proved himself remarkably experienced with Respite's signature Hybrids by nearly felling an aquatic Kimaera on his own with two arrows, saving a baby Owlbear cub in the process. During the night, the party waited by their carriages while Olivia and the other Vampires hunted. The Dads were visited by a trio of Cathars who asked their reason for being out so late. Tensions rose as Olivia & co returned, but violence was avoided.
The following morning, the Dads found wicker dolls left on their carriage doors. As they traveled further, they saw more & more of the strange stick figures nailed to trees in the Ulvenwald. Gothta noticed the familiarity of their path, it being the same one his prior adventuring party had traveled during their final mission. Through the trees, Gothta spotted the house where the slaughter took place. The Dads noticed hoofprints, three sets, going down the road towards the house. Likely belonging to the Cathars from earlier.
Mysterious whispers followed the party throughout the day, but no source could be found. As the ventured closer to the now-abandoned house, the whispers got closer and louder, but still no one could be found to be making them. The Cathars' horses were found outside the house, as well as a bloody handprint on the door and several crossbow bolts buried in it. Inside, the party discovered one of the Cathars bodies, sitting in a fresh pool of blood. However, their face had been aged all the way to a skeleton.
Leland was the one who picked up on their hidden observers, spotting one standing right over the Cathar body. A fight broke out, with Cultists wearing animal masks hiding in the darkness. Both Gothta and Shroomster were hit with Doom Magic which suddenly aged them (albeit only an illusion in the case of Shroomster). The lesser Cultists landed terrifying blows that dropped Gothta, but victory seemed all but achieved once Calfein cast Daylight, filling the cabin with light and exposing all the Cultists.
With only Owl Mask the leader remaining, the Dads made haste and followed the mysterious figure into the basement. There they discovered blood from the fighting had seeped through the floorboards and was being drawn towards a mysterious idol. The blood appeared to bring the idol to life, causing it to attack the Dads. They triumphed, and returned to Olivia's caravan.
Olivia Voldaren invites members from every Rose Clan to a prestigious ball at Voldaren Manor. She hires Calfein to provide entertainment and the rest of the Dads to gather intel on all the Rose Heirs who will be in attendance. During the carriage ride to the town of Craiova, Shroomster has a one night stand with Olivia in her carriage, leaving her with cuts and buffs from the experience. While exploring Craiova, the party notices a truly staggering amount of Missing Posters on the job board. Even Leland and Malcys who have lived in Respite can see it's more than usual. People are looking for partners, relatives, friends, and children. Reports and posters vary; some are blamed on Lycan attacks, others a mysterious owl-like creature called the Kipine, and others have no known culprit. Malcys is found by a small child (6) named Micah who hires him to find her brother Anca who was kidnapped by the Kinderketch a week ago. She gives them a drawing she made of what she saw when the Kinderketch came. It spoke Common and didn't break any windows, but was covered in white fur with glowing yellow eyes. While practicing at the Silver Nail Tavern, Calfein notices some clerics from the Church of Ohm, and inadvertantly flirts with a Rose Heir, Danitha Capashen. Who runs away with all the grace of a socially awkward teen meeting her first crush when she learns Calfein is gay. At Voldaren Manor, Olivia is moving out furniture and art pieces to make room for the dance floor. A statue of Bella out front seems to respond to Malcys. As the hour of the ball draws near, a storm approaches. After getting dressed up fancy, the guests begin to arrive. Calfein and the band feel out the crowd. Olivia has barred Calfein from playing "80 Soldiers", deeming the crowd unworthy of it. The White Rose Aasimar react strongly to classical instrumentals, daring to show off their ankles. The Voldaren Bachelorettes hit the dance floor and the group splits up. Gothta walks in on one of Olivia's boy fucking a maid, and flees, running into the other twin in the Trophy Room. Leland is already there, listening in on Falkenraths, Dagan Morningstar, a pair of White Roses, Olivia's other boy, and Danitha Capashen, who awkwardly flees again when asked about her Clan's heir. Later, he misreads some signals from the Vampires and flees, running into the other twin sans shirt, then into another bedroom where he stumbles upon a member from each Rose Kingdom scheming in secret. Gothta walks in as well and the conspirators attempt to silence them, but are rebuffed and flee down a secret passage. Ulric and Raphael, the chaperone and heir of Clan Ivanova respectively, overhear the commotion and investigate. Raphael fails to find the secret passage, and Leland falls for the Aasimar himbo who is pure of heart and dumb of ass, but Ulric is suspicious of his hasty claims to be part of Clan Morningstar. Malcys listens in as Wolcroft Faustus spouts anti-necromancer opinions that make people uncomfortable. Shroomster stirs the pot and speaks defiantly against Wolcroft, who tries to murder him all the way to the dance floor. With a spotlight shined on him, he begins doing the Running Man. Malcys is approached by Heir Vivien Falkenrath, who aggressively (and magically) charms Malcys for information. Her concentration is distracted by his staff and Malcys flees, ironically hiding behind Wolcroft and dancing with him. Calfein's set is crashed by The Artist Natasha, the apparent Voldaren Heir, and his ex Rydel Featherwhistle, who left him for dead decades ago. Barbs & spells are exchanged, a Duel of the Dance is had, Calfein & Malcys defeat the diva and ex. Shroomster goes searching for Olivia's orgy room, finds it, and takes more scratching love damage with buffs. She ventures further upstairs, where she is surprised by Lavinia Tepes, Rose Widow and Heir of Clan Tepes. She has been hiding out due to nerves, anxiety, and a long life of trauma. Shroomster is drawn to her, comforting and welcoming her. They spot Gothta and Ulric going into a private bedroom with Raphael keeping watch outside the door. Lavinia offers Shroomster her skeletal hand, flying out the window while casting a spell to keep the wind and rain off them while they listen in. Ulric probes Gothta for information regarding the Immortal Lands, specifically the Elves of Llanowar. A plot is in motion to set up operations near the border of Llanowar and Duermyn, then orchestrate attacks by the Elves. The Dwarves are bound by oaths not to invade Elvish lands, but Rosaens have made no such pacts. They see Llanowar as an abundance of forest to be processed into lumber that would not involve the dangers of the Ulvenwald. Gothta mentions his connections with the Fiendish Five and is invited to take part, but when he insists on speaking with his handler first, Ulric modifies his memory to prevent him giving anything away, leaving him with a Sending Stone designated for Gothta's handler. Hearing this, Lavinia is appalled.
