Episode 1:
An Assembly is called to gather and sing with the King and Queen of Muse. The party did follow the people to the great theater in joyous fashion. Melodramy was the first to accompany the King in song, singing his jolly tune of his role in the Kingdom and his praises for the King and Queen. The while, Candy Cain, Thornbush and Daisy played along.
Then the King called for Thornbush to sing his tale, which was
a catchy tune and well liked by the King. The King added his own
verses to "I could've been anything". As others performed the King
invited members of the party to sit with him for the rest of the show.
Melodramy, mesmerized with interest in a weapons prowess act, remained near the stage, while Thornbush and Daisy took the Kings invitation. Melodramy noticed a suspicious fellow beyond the curtain, backstage. He signaled to his comrades to investigate.
Meanwhile, the show went
on with a 20 girl chorus line, a favorite of the King. Seeing the King
distracted, Thornbush slipped away and backstage. There he wished the
Queen glad tidings, so as not to upset her and made his way between
the man in the darkness and the Queen. Candy Cane attempted to
intervene while Melodramy pointed out a visible weapon and warned the
theater guests to get down.
A panic ensued and the assassin attempted to shoot a poisonous dart at the Queen. The dart hit Thornbush who dodged into the path of the poisonous projectile. He was hit and injured, and passed out on the stage. Candy Cane then struck the assassin who dropped his weapon and ran.
Daisy began to quell the
crowd with her fantastic tambourine playing. Melodramy then
neutralized the poison Thornbush had taken, and Thornbush rose and
threw his throwing axe at the fleeing assassin, knocking him from the
wall and falling to his death.
The Queen then went on to perform her best soprano solo of her life. The party found two more darts, a vile of poison, keys, and 17 gp, as well as a "cloak of Silence" on the assassin. The King invited the members of the party to feast with him that night, where the party did sing and toast into the wee hours. The King resolves to exact his revenge for this attempt.
The King awakens from a dream and sings the tale of it to the party:
His late father (King Eforus) appears as a ghost in his dream.
Revealed to him is a vision of a powerful evil force and a great red
lizard, all to the North. The only word his father spoke was "Death".
The King is clearly shaken by this perceived impending doom and the
Queen interprets this as a sign of imminent attack.
The Queen
serenaded for the party's assistance in the matter and finally, after
a little cajoling from the party, the King quests the party and
rewards them gifts from his personal treasure of magic items. The
Artist formerly known as Melodramy, forthwith called Mello or Mel,
accepts power stones, a resurrection scroll, and a strong shield.
Thornbush's eye is caught by a sword and he graciously recieves it.
Kandicane tries on a ring and discovers it enables her to be
invisible, she also collects some very accurate and powerful arrows.
Daisy is delighted with joy to discover a crystal ball and power
stones that she imagined would able her to greatness.
Additionally,
the King awarded riding horses and five days rations. The Queen then
bestowed a blessing upon the party, and they did part unto the North.
Before the end of thier first days journey they were ambushed by
robbers who seriously wounded some of the party upon thier assault but
the party vigorously defended themselves and all survived. Upon
further examination of the attackers, there were signs that thier
motivation may have been of the most basic needs. The only item of
value found was a chime of opening, which the party stowed for later use.
After traveling further north, one night the party is attacked. During
the Appointed watch Mello heard movement in the brush across the road.
As Mel took a couple of paces towards the sound to assess the danger,
he was struck by an assassins poison dart. He rallied the party to
assist. Kandycane went invisible and Daisy awoke to see Thornbush dash
forth from his tent wielding his new sword and charging.
Swoosh-Swoosh. Poison darts whiz past the invisible Kandycane and
Thornbush ducks the darts.
Daisy had a brilliant idea and used her
power crystals to create light! The subdued attackers were revealed.
Bearing arms and closing for melee the falcon tatoos were evident.
Mello howled his harmonious hymn of healing to neutralize the poison,
making along the way good use of his shield as the villains took thier
hits. Kandycane arrived and struck well and fiercely defended herself
against the attackers and did remain invisible, although critically
executed moves her agility and invisibility kept her unharmed. Daisy
came forward and whacked with her staff and Thornbush finished two and
warned another that his sword is a soul stealer, yielding a prisoner.
A few of the party proceed to tie up the prisoner to a nearby tree.
They learn that he is a scout and that they had come from the
northeast. The prisoner is healed by Mel and the party leaves the
guard to Kandycane who questions more of the prisoner. He whispers
trying to be discrete and bidding the fair Kandycane closer, plunged
forward his hand to grapple Kandycane revealing his partial escape.
Mello snoozed, and the rest of the party was aroused to defend.
The next morning, the party rode northeast and discovered after a
days travel an army in the stepped terrains. A possible way in: there
were ladders the army soldiers erected to the ridge whereupon the
party pranced upon an unsuspecting guard. Some members were rendered
invisible with Daisy's spell. Kandycande used her ring and Thornbush
disguised himself in the guards uniform and they all went into the
army camp. Thornbush was stopped and severely questioned by a soldier
who quickly called for guards. Before a guard force arrived the
soldier was rendered unconscious. Thornbush turned the soldier over to
the guards, fast-talking his way past that close call.
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