Session 45 - The Candy Cane Conundrum

General Summary

Waterday - 12 Sunsebb - Morning

Yesterday, the Try-hard Misfits were able to track Councillor Primewater to a hidden subterranean compound where they witnessed his dark ritual before turning into this massive abbysal creature. The newly formed creature killed Karia with a single gaze of necrotic energy and was quickly overwelming Jane and Kyra when a mysterious man apparated into the vaulted chamber. He dismissed the creature back to its plane and told the party to come see him, the great wizard Mordenkainen, as soon as possible, before winking out of existance. The party then returned to Saltmarsh bearing the lifeless Karia and across Sharkfin Bridge as crowds gathered in solemn remembrance.

The procession continues through the heart of town and then up the slope toward the Temple of Procan where Wellgar Brinehand awaits the party. "Sorrowful day my friends, but please bring her inside. I've already prepared the altar and stand ready to raise Karia back from death. You all have contributed greatly to Procan and I'm sure He will grace us with His presence to return our friend."

The zombies move forward into the sanctuary and gingerly place the lifeless form of Karia onto the altar. As they back away and exit the building, Wellgar steps forward and pulls a large diamond from his vestments. Holding it forth in his open palm, he recites a liturgy before a specialized prayer of resurrection. As he speaks, the diamond starts to disintegrate into tiny particles that flow down and around Karia's body. Finally, he completes the recitation and bows his head for a moment in silence.

"As we have a moment," states Wellgar, "let me remind you that this is not a normal service. This is something that you have earned by following quests of Procan. You do not owe anything because of your service, but this was a rather rare diamond, so if you find time to replace it or at least refund its monetary value, then that would allow me to continue to serve the people of Saltmarsh. I do hate asking, but that diamond had a value of 500 gp which..."

Sitting bold upright, Karia exclaims "That's IT!?"

Wellgar steps back in startlement, then replies, "Glad to have your back, young Karia. We are not trying to profit here. Normally, I would not ask, but your group has received many riches since arriving here and repayment would be very beneficial to our community without detriment to you."

"I had the weirdest dream," says Karia. "I could hear you calling me back, but what I saw was this guy picking up and setting down bottles. Reagents I think. Almost as if he was preparing to cast a spell, but here's the weird thing, his left eye and hand seemed to be constructed from magic and were slightly incorporeal. Also his body looked like it was just bones instead of actual flesh."

Wellgar looks thoughtful for a moment, then responds, "My dear, I have no idea why you would see such a disturbing image. It means nothing to me. Regardless, be careful for a few days, you will be quite exhausted until your body recovers from the trauma within the coming week."

Stepping back out into the street, a wave of relief washes across Fireborn's face as Karia steps out into the street and wave of cheers rises as the news spreads. Karia looks thankful, but exhausted, so the party makes their way toward what was Primewater's mansion. As they approach, Nar skips over to the Town Hall before darting inside. A few minutes pass, then she skips back out.

As she returns, Karia asks, "Ummm should I ask?"

Nar cackles as she opens her limitless bag filled with claw. Karia looks inside as she hears gagging and retching. Inside the bag amongst hundreds of bottles of claw, the painting of King Skotti continues to share his disgust of being stuck in the bag. Kari looks up alarmed as Nar explains, "I felt we needed to bring our friend with us, so I took the painting and slid it into my bag. I'm not sure he's a fan of claw wine though."

Kyra then says, "I need to ask some questions. I'll be back in a bit." She whispers a word and wings sprout from her boots as she lifts off the ground and flies across the bay. Kyra strides toward The Faithful Quartermasters of Iuz and the door opens as she nears with the assistant greeting Kyra, "Welcome. Captain Xendros is expecting you." Kyra enters the captains office. The two verbally fence with Kyra seeking guidance on the figure in Karia's dream while Captain Xendros continues to pressure Kyra to join Iuz. Neither lady gets their wish and Kyra leaves for Primewater Mansion.

Waterday - 12 Sunsebb - Night

The party heads to the second floor to find beds and sleep. Each of the party enters a deep sleep with pleasant dreams when a bald man shows up in Kyra's dream and says, "Ah!! Good finally. Just a moment as I get the rest of your group." He then disappears leaving Kyra standing in thick fog then Nar stumbles in followed by Adlia, Karia, and Jane. They look at each as the man returns and explains, "There is something or someone tearing at the fabric of reality. If this person succeeds, then what you are about to see could come to pass. I want you to understand how serious this is before you find me in Greyhawk, so that you hurry on your way."

The fog disappates and the party is standing on a mountain trail covered with snow. Heading up the slope, the path leads to a stone bridge spanning a deep crevice

and then up to a castle that appears to be made out of crisp gingerbread and icing with six statues of guards made from gingebread. Stepping carefully, the party slowl crosses the icy stone bridge to approach the keep. As they get close, three of the gingerbread statues attack the party. Bewildered, the party still immediately responds to the attack and with a nifty move by Adlia sending one of the Gingerbreadmen flying off the gorge, the battle quickly ends.

They force their way past the porticullis and straight into a sticky gooey sugary foyer that immobilizes Nar and Jane. Suddenly huge candy cane poles with sharpened ends start extending from the walls as the party quickly yanks the ensnared members back outside.

Using her winged boots, Kyra flits across the room to land in the hallway beyond. Nar cackles as she climbs the wall with her spider shoes and the strolls across the ceiling to join Kyra. Slowly, the rest of the party crosses the foyer without stepping on it. Once everyone is reunited in the hallway, a gingerbread man steps out from the next room mumbling, "gluttonous mouth? no .. gluttonous heart? no that's not quite right either", to itself before noticing the party and brightens as he says, "Oh good! Exactly what I needed. Alright, we're at a critical junction in the story and the audience is getting restless. I need you to go in there and denouce Count Kobuzev and extoll the glories of the arch-wizard himself, Konstantin."

Kyra and Jane resist, but the gingerbreadman presses the party inward, "C'mon we need you up there. I know you'll be fine! Oh! Of course, where are my manners, I'm known as the Bonbon Bard and I'm the author of this historical play dedicated to the great wizard Konstantin. Now let's get you up there and I'm sure you'll do great. And if you don't well the audience will just rip you to shreds."

Nar volunteers and quickly heads up to the stage, but as she looks over the crowd of gingerbreadmen and fudgeshamblers, she trips over her dialogue and the crowd starts to boo. Karia glances back and forth before leaping up on the stage while reciting insults about the Count. The crowd roars with laughter and approval as Karia and Nar verbally spar insults regarding the Count. After a few minutes, the BonBon Bard escorts them from the stage while telling Karia, "That was inspired! I knew you were the perfect actors for our little production." As they return to the hallway, Kyra questions the BonBon Bard about the layout of the keep and its recent history, learning that the Count and Countess always host a Needfest celebration and their wizard Konstantin has always infused the food with his special flair of magic. This year, however, he created this culinary creation and the imprisoned the Count, the Countess, and their daughter. She presses the BonBon Bard who then reveals that the wizard is in the audience hall just beyond the stage.

The party discusses their next move, Jane proposes to free the prisoners and clear the keep, but Kyra remains adamant that the next step should be confronting the wizard. If the wizard can be defeated, then maybe the rest of his creation will be pulled into line. Several minutes of discussion pass before the party decides to move forward with confronting Konstantin and they set portable saw traps at the other doorways into the hall. They then pass through the stage hall and into the audience hall where they see a tall noble throne made from icing with a robed man lounging across a plush cushion. As the party enters, he mutters, "Have you come to humilate me? I've no need for a second helping of that."

The party spends several minutes discussing the situation with Konstantin paying particular weight to how he has already shown the count and countess his greatness with this magnificent Keep. However, he stays locked on that no one appreciates him and that he'll make everyone pay for that insult. Finally, the party switches to reminding Konstantin that Needfest is really about sharing and helping others. It is that one time of year where we can all come together and live in peace and tranquility. Something in Konstantin breaks and he bends over holding his face as he repents. He immediately dispenses with his spell as the townfolk help push all the candy creations into the gorge.

After the clean-up, the entire group of wizard, royals, townsfolk, and the party sit down to a glorious meal. However, during that meal, the earth trembles and a loud roar is heard outside. The party looks toward the wizard, Konstantin, who has blanched with fear as he responds, "I have no idea what that is, but it sounds enormous." Leaving the food, the party rushes out of the keep to see a colossus figure climb out of the gorge. This figure is compounded melted elements of all the other candy creatures and the wizard immediately exclaims, "What! How can this be? Here, I can help. Candy Cane swords for those that want them."

The party then heads toward the bridge where they confront this Candy Colossus that spews melted chocolate at them.

The battle is fierce, but the party prevails and as they start to rejoice, the landscape fades to thick shrouded fog as the bald man steps forward again. He intones, "Remember this is just a possible future for someone that tampers with reality. You need to find me in Greyhawk."

Rewards Granted

Experience Points:

Monsters:
8,340 xp/player
Roleplay:
0 xp/player
Quests:
0 xp/player

Total xp/player = 8,340

Characters should be at 51,439 Experience Points. Level 9 achieved!
Next Level - Level 10 at 64,000 xp

Treasure:

Created Content

Related Reports

Sesion 44 - A Councillor Transformed

Incomplete Quests

An Legendary Invite

You've been asking the right questions on topics that are best forgotten. It is time that we had a chat. Come see me!

— Mordenkainen

Notes

Experience Points Calculation:

Monster	Qty	XP Per	Total XP
Gingerbread Minion	3	1,800	5,400
Gingerbread Minion	3	1,800	5,400
Fudge Shambler	2	1,800	3,600
Fudge Shambler	2	1,800	3,600
Slendercane	1	1,800	1,800
Candy Cane Foyer	1	1,000	1,000
Konstantin	1	8,400	3,500
Candy Colossus	1	12,500	12,500

Experience points 41,700 total / 5 players = 8,340 xp/player

Campaign

Secrets of the Saltmarsh

Protagonists

Report Date

07 Dec 2025