WMD's D&D Campaign: Strixhaven University

[WMD]

Session 51

The duel will occur at midnight so each person spends the day occupying themselves beforehand. Py listens in to the Network (the spyware he's tricked Newton into installing into the Cogwork Archivist). At this point it seems around 20% of the University's cogworks have been upgraded and joined to the Network. CAS is holding up well as the central server, he's not overheating and is able to process the data. Newton seems to beeee going around the campus showing off "his work" and boasting how it's better than anything Py could come up with. Py sends a secret note to Grayson to update him about the Network being activated.

Timmy heads to the Biblioplex do to research on Kleensdune. He learns that 3 armies fought their way to the Keep of Kleensdune and besieged it. The Tryant then launched his army to start the great war. At first the 3 armies worked well together to fend if the hoardes or summoned monsters and undead. The staff of Kleensdune is a relic of the Tyrant. Did something happen to the staff to allow the armies to close in? Was it supposed to be a trap by the Tyrant? No one quite knows the truth of what occurred but at some point the Tyrantvwas defeated and the staff was lost. Timmy also finds some maps showing how the area looked back in its glory days.

Elleva goes to the Horticultural Society yo speak with Uzmaktok ad she wants to learn how to make better healing potions. Uzmaktok is tending to his Dragon Lillys which have a mold attacking them! Uzmaktok hopes to produce a fire resistant balm from the lillys. Elleva then explains how she wants to produce better healing potions. Uzmaktok agrees that would be a good idea with all the crazy that's been going on recently. She lends him the Herbology book she has and he promises to study it and come up with a plan.

Kaylah goes out and about to get the latest gossip on campus. She takes Cadoras with her on a spy date. Which we will pick up with next time.

 

[WMD]

Session 52

We pick up with Kaylah on her spy date. She overhears one student complaining about the price of Expanse going up. And later overhears 2 students pondering the validity of the Dragonchess tournament result and how could someone like Ophelia win it?! Kaylah ends up following the girls who were badmouthing Ophelia to the Biblioplex. She grabs a random book and sits a table over from them to listen in.

They spend a fair bit of time chatting about how hard the work is but eventually one brings up that Tilana should've won the Dragonchess tournament ad she's a much better player snd much better person. Ophelia is too violent and mean and has weird friends! At this point Kaylah realises that the other girls are fully aware she is sat there listening. Kaylah decides to cause a scene and confront them telling them leave Ophelia alone. They run off telling Kaylah to stop following them. Kaylah goes and tells Ophelia what happened but Ophelia is fairly apathetic dismissing them as jelous.

Ophelia spends her day going to the Biblioplex to find the book that Dean Kianne had recommended. She also tries to find a book about socialising and integrating with people.she tries to sneaky as she looks but can't find anything so gets a Cogwork to help her f8nd one. She asks about discrete ways to check out books but is told to go to the main desk. She dismisses the Cogwork in annoyance. She decides to go to another part of the library to read the book and hides it inside another book as she reads it like its a porn mag or something. She feels incredulous that any of it could apply to her and finds the Cogwork to berate it amd complain that there were no maths equations in it.

Archemedes meets up with Erky and Metsutha to kick off another year of Posions Club. He shows them the Assassins Solvent he got from meeting Witherbloom. They want to work out if there is a way to procure more of it so head to the Horticulture Club to speak with Uzmaktok.

After Uzmaktok finishing talking with Elleva they head over and Aechemedes tells him about the plant he got from Witherbloom and showsnhim the sample. Upon inspecting it Uzmaktok finds 4 seeds hidden in the plant but he is unsure of what would be the best conditions to grow it. Archemedes thinks hard about the moment he found it - it was dark and sheltered with not much sunlight, it was growing up out of rotting foliage and there were curious orange ants scurrying around.

Eventually it is evening time and although most of the group couldn't care less they head off to see what this duel is about....

 

[WMD]

Session 53

The Sassy Sally Squad assemble and head to Furygale to find Nora, Aurora, Tilana and few other girls including the 2 Kaylah had spied on waiting for them. After some initial banter and insults are traded it is time for duels to begin. Ophelia goes first and faces Tilana. Ophelia sets off a stink bomb saying the competition stinks. Tilana with her nose scrunched up tells Ophelia she has no honour and doesn't know how to play and win fairly.

Ophelia wins the duel with remarkable ease and finishes with an acid splash attack that ruins Tilanas uniform for good measure. Ophelia repeatedly exclaims that Tilana got Cubed which rouses pantomime booing from the other girls.

Next up is Elleva and Aurora who don't trade words but get right to it. Aurora's briar whip is a potent weapon and Elleva is no match for it. Aurora is remarkably smug in her victory!

Nora turns to Kaylah and says shall we settle this then? A firey battle ensues with Kaylah using fangs of the fire snake and she emerges victorious leaving Norasnclothes burnt and ruined.

As they are getting ready to leave suddenly all but one of the girls collapses unconscious! The one remaining screams at the gang that they're cheating and taking things too far and tries to cast a spell at them which backfires and summons a raging oni!

Due to large amount of wild magicnin Furygale the battle is a tense affair with Timmy accidentally casting grease on himself and Py ends up rolling a 1 on the wild magic table so has 10 rounds of wild magic effects to look forward to!

 

[WMD]

Session 54


The oni unleashes a huge breath weapon attack which leaves the gang reeling and Timmy down for the count! The girl who accidentally summoned the oni joins the fight and helps by casting mage armour on Elleva who's been taking the majority of attacks from the beast.
Py starts his 60s of trauma by casting confusion on himself! Archemedes is ablento stabilise Timmy and Kaylah administers a healing potion.

Ophelia manages to accidentally summon a little modron which starts attacking her. Py casts fly on the girl who is now aiding them in the fight and his confusion causes him to otherwise do nothing. And Timmy back in the fight is able to claim the finishing blow with a well placed magic missile.

Pys minute of madness continues as he gains some temporary HP, can see invisibility, summons a unicorn he starts riding, increases in size, gains a third eye and poisons Elleva!

The unconscious girls start to rouse and the gang help get them up and to the infirmary. Kaylah asks if they ate any eel rolls recently and upon inspecting them it does seem similar to the ill guy at the party the night before. The girlndoesnt kninwhy she was unaffected and everyone is sad when the unicorn vanishes.

We enter free time and Archemedes goes to visit Valentin and takes Elleva with him. Valentin reveals that upon inspecting the exam result of students certain anomalies became apparent and that Expanse seems to more abundant at the uni than initially assumed. They tell Valentin about the process going up and that they might know where the operation moved to Valentin thanks them for the info and tells them he will use his bat form to scope the place out and see what he can find out. He asks if Aechmemedes will help him when the time comes and whether Archemedes friends would be willing to assist as they will need a strike team. He also offers to get them the blue prints of the house in advance of any move.

 

[WMD]

Session 55


Py goes to a Masquerade Organising Committee meeting with Bhedum and Zanther. Py has brought a gavel along to maintain order during the meeting and bangs it to bring proceedings to order. They decide that Zanther will be in charge of the entertainment who can bring in the Cheer Squad for a routine and Py tells the genasi that he shimmers like a star anyway! Py wants to know what constellations will be visible on the night of the ball so they can set up appropriate decorations for rhe theme of a Starlit Night. Py also wants to produce little trinkets that can be handed out to everyone and make them little lights that look like stars in a person's palm.

They decode Bhedum will be in charge of the food but it has to be better than the other night when people got ill. Bhedum says he had an eel roll but was fine. And he will go and inspect all the cooks/chefs around campus and fund the best dishes Strixhaven has to offer.

They discuss some matters about the venue and its layout and Py finds out there is traditionally a fashion show/auction which is used to raise funds for the event.

Kaylah goes back to Cheer Squad to learn the dance for the Masquerade. Zanther is delighted to see her back and they begin work on choreography with Kaylah making many crazy suggestions. The stage at Kollema Hall will be enchanted so that they can fly whilst they perform and everyone is very excited. By the end of teh session they fell they have a great dance mapped out! As they fill in the paperwork yo be able to do future practices on the magicbstage Kaylah sneakily gets some extra dates put in so she can go and play on the stage by herself.

Elleva heads to the Horticulture Club to speak with Uzmaktok. He thinks he's found something that would help Elleva make better potions: Agua Aurea. It's rain drops taken from the leaves of the Lady's Mantle plant that will increase the potency of potions prepared. Eith the help of some other club members they go searching Witherbloom Campus for it and eventually find a plant in the woods. They also scope out a location where it should grow better and be easier to care for. However they don't have the right tools on hand to get it moved safely amd Uzmaktok promises to look into what they will need.

 

[WMD]

Session 56


Ophelia wants to ask Elleva to make her a potion of mind reading. They head together to Witherbloom's library which Elleva is only just finding out exists saying she's more of a pub person! A staff member helps them find the correct section causing Ophelia to curtsie and they collect some books.

Ophelia then heads to the Strixhaven Star to speak to Mina and debriefs her about her failed summer infiltration. She explains she wants the mind reading potion to help her work people out (and maybe give her an edge in Dragonchess). Mina suggests asking the Horticulture Club if they have any of the ingredients or even looking around Market Square.

She then goes to find Archemedes and they go out looking for ingredients. They find a promising plant but Archemedes basically hacks the thing to pieces when trying to harvest it. Embarrassed Archemedes peaces out leaving Ophelia to struggle on her own for bit as it's getting late she heads back past Market Square but can't find anything and frustrated calls everything tat!

Timmy goes to see Osgir The Reconstructor, a Lorehold professor to ask for advice about visiting Kleensdune for an archeology expedition. Osgir shows off an ancient pot discovered there and tells Timmy he must be well provisioned as the land there is somewhat barren with violent plants and many undead roam the area. Expeditions tend to be small and quick, in and out, rarely going into the fortress ruins. He details the best sort of provisions to take and what tools should be taken. Timmy asks about maps and Osgur lends him his maps showing the route to get there and where the ruins can be found.

Their first exams of the year are coming up: Advanced Arcane History - Relics.

Kaylah persuades her dwarven fan club to help her study.
Py programs CAS to turn him into a night time audiobook.
Timmy relies on his insight to get him through.
Archemedes sneaks into Pys room to listen to CAS.
Ophelia feels relics are often religious objects and studies religions.
Elleva gets Uzmaktok to tutor her.

Py and Ophelia ace the exam! Kaylah managesbto get a passing grade but Archemedes, Elleva and Timmy all fail and as such can't participate in club activities or jobs for the time being.

Dean Tullus explains that students often make their outfits for the Masquerade and getsvthem to research the history of the event so they can design appropriate outfits. Kaylah does a disastrous job making notes which Dean Tullus is not very impressed at but the rest do a decent job and Py discovers a gap in the records from 200 years ago and that many students mysteriously died that year.

They go to ask the Oracle about it but she explains she isnt that old and it predates her time at the University

 

[WMD]

[There's a bit of time jumping back and forth over the next few sessions as we were playing without everyone being able to make it.]

Session 57

The gang get on with designing their dresses.

• Kaylah makes a white dress covered in stars with a starry headpiece and a giant crescent moon attached to the back.
• Timmy makes a dark blue tuxedo with sparkly starry bits, a bow tie and gold trim.
• Py makes gild armour plates that fit over a dark suit with a dark robe over the top.
• Ophelia makes a blue flowing ball gown with frilly shoulders and a starry pattern on the dress with accurate constellations.

And so we get to the fashion show. Everyone decides to showcase their outfits themselves apart from Py who gets Zanther to showcase his outfit on the catwalk. He instructs him to showcase the outfits many pockets and Zanther does a great job. Timmy uses misty step to zip along the catwalk and uses thurmaturgy to make the area around him more sparkly with small flames. Kaylah does an ethereal interpretive dance down the catwalk. Ophelia uses druid craft to make the room floral and sweet smelling and then does the opposite during Tilana's catwalk to make the room stinky.

Once everyone's showcased their outfits we come to the auction. Half the sale will go to the Organising Committee funds and the designer gets the other half.

Timmy's and Ophelia's sell for 240gp, Py's sells for a mighty 1000gp and Kaylah takes top billing at 1200gp. The rivals Tilana and Nora don't fair so we'll. Tilana sells hers for 120gp and Nora a dismal 30gp.

We head into free time and Kaylah goes to cheer Club to continue rehearsals for the Masquerade routine. They meet at Kollema Hall so they can use the stage to full effect. Practice goes well but Kaylah is left exhausted and feels she needs to build up her endurance for the event. They also start to discus what outfits the troupe will wear for the performance.

Py goes to Biblioplex to carry out some research. He studies star charts to gain an idea of the constellations back when the Masquerade was founded. He also researches how to make and design gizmos and comes up with a great design for a box with a tiny shining star inside.

CAS researches magic and arcana and learns the animal friendship spell.

 

[WMD]

Session 58


We briefly go back in time and Elleva and Archemedes design their outfits. Elleva makes a dress constructed from twigs and moss with a big bushy headpiece. Archemedes makes a gold and black mask with horns, a gold and black suit with a pimp cane.

On the catwalk Archemedes uses disguise self to appear as a small hobbly witch in a tattered outfit and then, in a puff of smoke appears in his outfit. With a tap of his cane flames appear all around him. Elleva casts fog cloud amd makes it disperse at the end of the runway and she stares vehemently at the audience.

Elleva's sells for 360gp and Archemedes a whopping 1000gp. Aurora manages to outshine Elleva with a very respectable 720gp.

We then jump back in time again to between the dress designing and the fashion show as Archemedes gets summoned to Valentin's office. They discus the house the Expanse operation has moved to. There is a guard on a balcony and someone who seems to be posted behind the front door to let visitors in. Archemedes is also able to study the blueprints.



Everyone other than Py agrees to go with Archemedes and they meet at midnight to start the operation. They cast pass without trace so they can sneak upto the house. They try to get the guy on the balcony to fall asleep but the spell fails so Kaylah climbs up under the balcony. Archemedes flys up and blows Hails Revenge poison dust in his face causing him to start sneezing. Kaylah leaps up and stuns him with a well placed stunning fist. They bring him down and tie him up. They lower a rope down but only Timmy is able to climb up.

By carefully listening at the doors they sneak back down towards the front door. They hear some sounds of people coming from the basement but sneak past and head to the front door with the hope of surprising the guard there.

 

[WMD]

Session 59

Kaylah, Timmy and Archemedes rush into the porch area and Kaylah delivers a stunning fist to the guard. After dealing with him they find the key and open the door. Elleva now joins them but Ophelia has gone home in a strop [her player couldn't make it]. They relock the door and head to the basement.

Kaylah puts on her Hi-Vis vest and bursts in declaring a health and safety inspection. There are 3 guys in the main room, 2 are fooled but 1 isn't and orders them to grab the intruders.

Archemedes hangs back to guard the staircase and fires his crossbow at the thugs. One of the Thugs opens the door to the small corner room releasing some viscous looking monsters that join the attack. The gang trade blows with their enemies as a fourth guy comes through the other door by the stairs and takes on Archemedes. Kaylah does a belly dance at one of the Thugs and charms him with her bracelet.

They continue to trade blows and spells and eventually Kaylah is very worn down so she flees back up the stairs. Timmy casts fireball in the room to devastating effect. Soon the monsters are dead and the thugs subdued.

They question the charmed guy who says the Master should be upstairs. They take the guys up and outside where Valentin, with a back up squad, have apprehended the leader. Kaylah gets the guy to spill the beans about the operation

 

[WMD]

Session 60
[This was one of our dnd live sessions. For this one I essentially created a one shot adventure for their quest to Kleendune. In terms of placement in the year it happens during one of the holidays.]

As the gang approach the ruins they see some undead wandering around aimlessly. They decide to inspect the smaller outer ruins first and start with the smallest one.

Inside is a fearsome looking undead Mazzeri with horns and a quaterstaff. He roars bringing the skeletons that had been wandering around to charge the gang and launches physic attacks at them. After dispatching it they head to the ruin on the far right of the map.

A chest lies in the far corner of the room that si full of plants. A figure sits atop it. As the door opens they rise with bleak white, pupilless eyes staring at the gang. The Lieschi attacks with plant based attacks, launching spines and using poisonous spores to weaken them. Once a few are in the room with it roots lauch out from the earth grappling them and holding them down.

Once they deal with it they inspect the chest and find 3 stones imbued with magic. A stone of flames, a stone of water and a stone of storms. They can be attached to a non magical weapon or armour to give it extra magical effects based on the element type.

They loop around the back of the main ruin amd go to the small ruin at the top left. It's an empty space but upon further inspection they find a secret trapdoor leading underground. [This was the 2nd one that gives them a quicker route to the end of the dungeon. The primary way down would've been in the main ruin.] Archemedes flys down and finds a room so the gang decide to first inspect the last small ruin first which has a chest in the corner. As Archemedes steps in he sets off a pit trap but manages to deftly avoid falling in. The chest contains a bag of magic rose petals, a lucky hand and a vial of curare.

They come down in the top left room and manage to find the secret door that leads to the passageway. It comes out in a room with an alter and 4 braziers in the corners. They start lighting the braziers but Kaylah notices that they have small numbers engraved in them. They put them out and light them in the correct order which causesbteh alter to open and reveal a spiral staircase descending further.

In the main room with the pillars they encounter a Tikbalang and a fight ensues. Randomly different quadrants of the room are engulfed in elemental magic and they have to be careful to spot the signs of which quadrant will be next! Skeletons start to rise from the ground and join the fight. Its another big and epic battle but gang emerge victorious! And are able to shut down the element effects when they open the door on the far side of the room. In the final room is a plint with a smallnrod floating above it. As Timmy enters the rod flys to Timmys staff and fuses with it, finally complete! [It now be used as either a rod of alertness, a rod of adsoption or a rod of withering and requires a long rest to switch between functions]

The gang go up and finish exploring the dungeon, fight a few more monsters and find a couple of chests with 500gp, a fancy cloak for Archemedes, a magic ring and gloves of scorching.

They return to Strixhaven and get the Oracle to inform Witherbloom the staff is complete. Witherbloom collects them and they perform a ritual with the staff to permanent banish Lowenwreck. It doesn't quite go to plan and a weakened version of him appears and the gang are able to defeat him once and for all, saving Shuvadri! Witherbloom is most pleased with the students and tells them Shuvadri will stay with her for a while to recuperate before heading back to Strixhaven.

 

[WMD]

Session 61


We go back to the aftermath of the Expanse house raid. They do a full search of the house. In the lounge they find a book on Addictive Additives which Archemedes pockets. The kitchen is dirty and messy but upon closer inspection the mould growing there is deliberate and its being harvested so Archemedes takes some for himself. In the porch Ophelia (having wandered back as she wants to write an article about this for the Strizhaven Star) finds some doses of expanse and some gold in a hung up coat.

Upstairs they find a disgusting bathroom but one of the bedrooms has been turned into an office space and they find ledgers and maps and Timmy is able to work out more specifics of the operation. Ophelia takes many notes! In the next bedroom they find gold and poison ingredients.

When they report back to Valentin they tell him about the maps and ledgers and afterwards Valentin calls Archemedes to his office and explains he was the one giving Archemedes the jobs he had been doing and that the Expanse house raid served as a final test of sorts and he is inducted into The Guild - an organisation that works for the betterment of society even if outside the law. He guves Archemedes a pin yo wear which should be both visible but hidden so only other guild members would notice. Valentin wears his as a discreet cuff link.

OK so now we jump back forward in time to the free time activities after the auction.

Archemedes goes to Poison Club and studies the Addictive Additives book with Erky and Metsutha and metsutha says the adventure sounded fun and she'd love to come along for one sometime.

Timmy meets up with Bhedum at the Firejolt Cafe and they discus Kleensdune. He shows Bhedum the staff and explains about the 3 different pieces fusing together and how they were able to use it to save Shuvadri. Bhedum is very interested in the staff as it's a major historical artefact but raises several questions such as why and how did it break? Is it really safe to use now? They go and find Uzmaktok who agrees to help then run experiments to understand the staff more fully.

Ophelia goes to work on her article of the Expanse raid and tells Mina all about it. She's also been thinking about the magic stones they've found and after discussing with the others they agree to add the Stone of Water to one Crossbow and the Stone of Storms to another. Ophelia will carry one crossbow and Archemedes the other. The water stone will create a weakness to lightning damage which the storms stone can exploit. They find a workshop and pay to have the stones attached.

 

[WMD]

Session 62

Elleva goes to the Biblioplex with Uzmaktok to study the Lady's Mantle plant and find a lot of useful information about caring for it and the sort of tools they'll need to move it successfully. They go and gather up the necessary supplies and decide to move half of the plants to a new better location leaving the other half in their original location. It takes a while but they are successful and they treat to moved plant to some fertilizer Uzmaktok believes will help it settle down and bed in the new earth.

As Chair of the Masquerade Organising Committee, Py sends a summons to everyone requesting their help for some tasks that need doing. Archemedes, Elleva and Kaylah are part of a group sent to Sedgemoor to find phosphorescent marshwicks which Py wants for decorations. Timmy, Ophelia and CAS are sent to the Biblioplex to collect old supplies and reports of previous Masquerades that Py would like to study.

Kaylah is delighted to find that Cadoras is also part of the Sedgemoor group and they head out into the swamps to find the marshwicks. As expected Archemedes is generally better at the task than everyone else but soon a bunch of students get distracted by a rare breed of woodpecker that they want to study. It's going to be a long day!

After a couple of hours a Troll emerges from the swamp startling the group but the Troll is claiming to be a student transformed! Elleva thinking quickly uses dispel magic and the Troll changes back into a student named Larine. She doesn't know what happened to her - she was walking to central campus then suddenly woke in the swamp with her body changed! She also finds out its the next day and though she's shaken she very grateful to Elleva for saving her and agrees to help them collect marshwicks which should save them some time.

A little while later as the group find a decent batch of marshwicks a bunch of Lizardfolk Shamans appear claiming those are their marshwicks and telling the students to go away. They try and reason with them and Kaylah offers them a flower crown she's made but they're not interested. They "agree" to help the shamans find more marshwicks and quickly leave the area.

Soon a slaad appears, giving Archemedes some PTSD flaskbacks, and everyone jumps into action to swifty dispatch it!

As the group carry on harvesting marshwicks the Lizardfolk reappear to hassle the gang. They tell them they're busy collecting marshwicks like they promised and to leave them be.

The rest of the trip passes without incident and they wnd up finding a dense rich patch of marshwicks which allows them to finish up sooner than expected! They hope Py will be pleased with their efforts!

 

[WMD]

Session 63

We pick up with Ophelia, Timmy and CAS on their way to the Biblioplex. They meet with Bhedum and Uzmaktok who have also been sent by Py for the task. They decide to split up to find the requested supplies and documents. Competitive Ophelia secides to trust in CAS as he knows his way around the Biblioplex and knows Py best while Timmy works with Bhedum and Uzmaktok.

Timmy's team speak to a staff member who is able to show them to an area full of old records where they are able to find a bunch of stuff Py would want. Ophelia's team also find another area with stuff CAS knows Py would want to read. Ophelia realises it will take forever to move everything and that they need to source a cart. Ophelia explains to CAS its like a game of Dragonchess, you need to work out how to win in the least number of moves and asks CAS to charm someone to help them which he's happy to do. Without letting the other know they leave to find someone with a cart. They eventually find someone and after a longwinded introduction by Ophelia CAS charms the guy to get him to help them.

While that's happening team Timmy are also pondering how to get everything moved to Kollema Hall on Korehold campus. Timmy and Bhedum leave to find someone with a cart who is already going to head to Lorehold Campus and after a while are able to find someone they can persude to help them

As the Charm spell will only last an hour Ophelia uses magic to be able to move more quickly and she and CAS load their cart quickly and efficiently. She wants to beat Timmy in getting the supplies to Lorehold. On the journey to Lorehold Ophelia asks CAS if he's ever played Dragonchess and starts to regale him with the rules, all the matches she has won and her own Gangam Style of play. CAS is a much better listener than the others and would love to play sometime.

Timmy catches up with Bhedum and Uzmaktok on their journey over and they discus plans for their staff research. Uzmaktok wants to gain some baseline readings for the staff before they try anything too strenuous and Bhedum is finding out what historical data he can.

When the charmed guy comes to he is not happy. Ophelia tries to bribe him with 2gp but he exclaims she's coat him more than that making him late! Ophelia gets angry and tells him he is lucky to be helping her! She scares him enough that he wilts and hurries off. She explains to CAS that not everyone is going to be grateful and sometimes you've got to show them where to go.

And so their 2nd Advanced Arcane History exam is coming up this time on Magic Devices. For her study Kaylah does a yoga routine to link her notes to physical movement. Archemedes steals Py's notes when he's round setting the trap. Timmy enjoys the subject and does some proper studying with Uzmaktok. Elleva goes round seeing how others study to try and pick up tips and copy their methods. Ophelia feels inspired from hanging around with CAS and trusts in her instincts. [Py's player is absent atm due to a busy work schedule but I'll catch up with them seperately.]

On the day of the exam Dean Tullus doesn't show up. One of her teaching assistants has to step in after some confusion and administer the exam!

Due to their previous work on detailing notes about the Masquerade for Dean Tullus everyone apart from Kaylah gets extra credit for the exam. In spite of that Kaylah still aces the exam. The extra credit bumps Archemedes and Elleva into acing the test. Timmy and Ophelia manage to scrape a passing grade due to the extra credit!

Now we go back to free time and Timmy meets up with Uzmaktok and Bhedum at the Campus Labs to begin their staff research. They initially focus on the alertness abilities to gain some baseline readings and when switching forms t9 absorption Uzmaktok notices an instability during the change. Pondering whether this instability was the cause or a result of the staff being broken. Bhedum reveals how reports from teh time seems conflicting and contradictory. Some seem to make the staff sound even more powerful than it seems to be. Some seem to hint it is much like it is now with distinct functions.

Archemedes goes to Poison Club and wants to find out more about the orange ants he saw around the plant he got from Witherbloom. With Erky and Metsutha they head to the bibliolex to do some research. Erky manages to find some useful books but this time it's Metsutha who is able to understand the contents.

They learn the ants are that orange colour due to compound that's high in iron that gets released as a toxin by the ants. The book details how to look after the ants and the conditions needed to get the compound to form in their bodies based on their diet.

However, they wonder if it could be synthesised by other means and get Timmy to take them to the labs. Timmy shows them his sample prep station and they ho find Uzmaktok and show him the book. They ask if there's a way to produce the compound without needing the ants so they could make a fertilizer to grow the few seeds they have. Uzmaktok feels it should be possible but will have to do some research and study first.

[Phew, that's me all caught up again. I'll try and be more regular again posting updates about the campaign]

 

[WMD]

Session 64


Kaylah wishes to investigate why Dean Tullus was absent from the exam and takes the gang with her to investigate. They head towards her office in the Lorehold Dean's Wing and speak to the receptionist who informs them that Dean Tullus is busy and wishes not to be disturbed. Kaylah uses her bracelet and does a little dance to charm the receptionist and asks to go in to "retrieve her textbook" she left there giving the name Sally S. The receptionist says she's been instructed to let no-one in but she will go check herself.

Archemedes tries to follow her but is spotted and sent back to the reception. Soon the receptionist returns saying their books weren't there. They decide to leave but once outside formulate a new plan. Archemedes flys up to the window but the curtains are drawn. So instead Elleva transforms into a spider first casting pass without trace and Archemedes is turned invisible.

Kaylah goes back in with her EHS gear on to distract the receptionist while the other 2 sneak up to the door. Archemedes tries to pick the lock but discovers it has an arcane lock on it so Elleva sneaks under the door.

This sets off an alarm and suddenly Elleva is blasted with force turning her back into her usual self and she finds herself retrained against the door. Hearing the commotion Archemedes flees the scene. Inside Dean Tullus has risen from her desk and stormed over to Elleva demanding to know why she had sneaked in. Elleva tries to use the lost textbook blag but Tullus see right through it and gives Elleva detention. See teleports Elleva out of her office and into the arms of 2 Cogwork Archivists who have appeared outside who drag her out of the building.

Elleva loses her free time as she has detention. It is held down in the Detention Bogs deep in Witherbloom Campus. It is smelly and gross and she's made to collect special herbs which grow there.

Ophelia wants to research past exam papers to prepare for her next exam for Advanced Arcane History. She goes to the Biblioplex but struggles to find anything useful. Eventually she goes to ask one of the Cogworks and after some awkward back and forth is able to explain what course she's studying for. Her study of the books the Cogwork finds goes really well. [She gains an extra reroll during the next exam.]

She then goes to find Mina and ask about Dean Tullus. Mina has heard a rumor that the Dean is rarely seen without a relic from her recent expedition to the Fotress Badlands: a misty green orb. This causes Ophelia to recall a previous lesson with Dean Tullus [see lesson board 55]. She hurries back to the Biblioplex to study the Fortress Badlands and history of mysterious orbs. She gets some books but finds them boring and is disgusted that Timmy would be better with this sort of thing and checks the books out.

In preparation for the Magister's Masquerade a day of professional dance lessons are arranged for the students. Nivall, the greatest dancer to graduate from Stixhaven has come to give them special lessons.

Kaylah partners with Cadoras and they are great. Instantly picking up the moves with grace and fantastic form. Archemedes partners with Metsutha but they're not great and Archemedes tries to play it off with some jokes that make Metsutha feel awkward and a bit down. Ophelia partners with Bhedum again they're not very good, with Bhedum almost trading on Ophelia's toes!

Kaylah and Cadoras are soon instructed to help other students and Kaylah is able to help someone who is claiming its all stupid but is just struggling with the dance. She calms them and gets them finally flowing into the movements.

Ophelia uses mage hand to move a stage prop over and trip up Tilana just to make herself feel better and it works when she sees Tilana, red faced with embarrassment.

Archemedes modifies the dance moves to make them more natural for himself, sneaking in and around Metsutha as they dance and suddenly they are stunning togther!

Archemedes gets another +1 with Metsutha gaining besties status. Kaylah further deepens her relationship with Cadoras another +1. Ophelia gets a potential further -1 with Tilana if she ever finds out what Ophelia did.

The gang and other students are symmoned to Kollema Hall by Py to assist with preparing the hall for the Masquerade. Archmedes helps lay out the tables by flying above to ensure they are in correct constellation formation. Kaylah helps put up the mundane decorations. Elleva and Timmy help put up the magical decorations. And Ophelia helps set up the magical stage which will allow people to float.

Everyone is busy at work when all of a sudden Archemedes spots someone drop a box of decorations off of the balcony. He swoops down and tackles someone out of the way before they could he hit by the heavy box! They loose some time having to clear up the mess and Py gives a big lecture to the student about being careful.

For a while the most significant event is Py reminding Kaylah to follow his design plans and not free-form decorate the room! But all of a sudden there's a yell of surprise followed by a "What are you doing?" And a "Get me down!" The stage has malfunctioned stranding a student up in mid-air unable to move. It's takes some time for Ophelia to gather her senses but she goes up onto the balcony and uses mage hand to get an end of rope to the student. Others including archemedes go over to help her pull him in, which us good as when he is no longer over the stage he suddenly drops but everything manages to hold onto the rope so he doesn't fall 50ft to the floor. Ophelia wants everyone to know that none of this was her fault!

As the day is winding down several students, including Py, come down with bad headaches and head upstairs to the halls infirmary. All of a sudden there's a big commotion as the students come barging back in setting of spells and yelling cries of "Monsters!" And "They're trying to kill me!"

Kaylah manages to rugby tackle Py on the stairs and tries to slap him out of it! Elleva is able to cast hold person on one of them. Archemedes casts a minor illusion of a monster with no effect. Timmy gets into position between the doors outside and the crazed students.

Kaylah is able to persuade Py to calm down and he becomes docile and non responsive. Archemedes goes over to the one Elleva is holding and ties him up! Which allows Elleva to use hold person on a different one running down the stairs. Timmy uses Shatter to cause a couple if them to trip and stumble.

We'll continue with the crazed students next time!

 

[WMD]

Session 65

We continue with the gang battling the crazed students. Kaylah tackles another of the guys coming down the stairs and manages tobcalm him down. Archemedes goes up to the guy who is held and tells him to calm down hoping it
works. Ophelia uses druid craft to surprisingly good effect, creating a calming space for one of them to calm down amd Timmy is able to calm down one of the guys who had made it half way across the room. All become docile and unresponsive.

Archemedes somehow manages to convince the tied up guy he us on a nice calming beach. Ophelia realises the crazed students are hallucinating and that the headaches they earlier are reminiscent of other students have fallen ill throughout the year. Timmy checks on one of the unresponsive guys and gets him into the recovery position.

Kaylah goes over to the guy held by Elleva, tells her to drop the spell, and tries to calm him down. Archemedes prepares himself to grab the guy if he goes crazy again. While this is happening Timmy manages to forget the recover and pretzel one of the other docile guys!

Elleva drops hold person and the guy, still crazed, blasts Archemedes in the face! Kaylah tackles him and yells at him to calm down which somehow works!

Cadoras and Ophelia stay to keep an eye on the unresponsive students while the others go up to the infirmary. Inside they find Proffessor Zertha de Santos unconscious. Archemedes uses cure wounds to revive her and Timmy uses detect poisons and diseases but it only highlights Archemedes who shines like a beacon to him!

Proffessor de Santos tells them that she put the ill students to bed and then all of a sudden got blasted by all of them at once which knocked her out! She says that mass hallucinations are already unusual enough but the way they all got ill with headaches first is very strange and not something she's encountered before.

As they are wondering what might connect these 6 students they decide to head back down and check on them. Timmy still can't sense any poison or disease on them and soon they start waking up. All but Py that is! Who remains in the same unresponsive and docile state. Proffessor de Santos arranges to have Py taken to the main University Infirmary and allows the gang speak with those who have woken up before their lift to the infirmary arrives.

The students say they felt fine this morning before getting really and headaches and remember getting into beds in the Infirmary upstairs. Then they just remember waking up in the main hall. They do also recall glimpses of a nightmare and feeling terrified in it. They explain that they had met with Py that morning for breakfast at the Bow's End Tavern and that they'd all eaten the waffles drizzled in Sedgemoor mushroom syrup.

Kaylah immediately leads everyone to the Tavern and go find Chef Curtie to question her. They explain that some students who ate the meal potentially had some weird side effects. This makes Chef Curtie start to panic that her cooking might have made someone ill. They manage to calm her down and after telling her it was Py who got ill she recalls that Dean Tullus showed up and spoke briefly to Py.

They confirm the story with Aurora who is typically wary of the gang and labels Py "the little pompous one" who was lecturing a bunch of other students. She says it was odd for Dean Tullus to show up at the Tavern.

They head to the main infirmary and ask the students what Dean Tullus was speaking to them about. They explain the Dean was asking about preparations for the ball and that she did seem more friendly than usual. They realise everyone who got ill shook hands with Dean Tullus. They check the students hands but don't find anything untoward.

Kaylah finds a dwarven nurse who is in her fan club and discreetly asks about the various students who have been getting ill this year. The nurse explains that everyone has soon recovered and that their friend Py is the first to remain unconscious for this long. Some have reported nightmares before but this is the first time students have gone on a rampage vecause of those nightmares. She also manages to get the name of the first ill student they met back at the start of the year.

And with that they level up to level 7! And next time we will go into a round of free time.

 

[WMD]

Session 66

We pick with Kaylah who decides that Dean Tullus will have to appear at the Masquerade, likely along with other Lorehold staff so would make her office more available. For now she decides to go to the final dress rehearsal for the Masquerade dance with the Cheer Club. The club are in full themed costume and everyone is in high spirits.

Practice goes very well. Kaylah has learnt all the moves and can do them with flourish. She has mastered the stage which makes you levitate. She feels really in synch with the whole club and everyone is super amped up. Especially Zabther who shares a high five with Kaylah. Kaylah’s endurance is still a little concerning but she feels she'll make it through as she only has to do it once on the night. Kaylah gains advantage for the performance on the night.

Elleva decides to do some recon on Professor Tullus. Over the course of a week she spends some time each day - changing the time of day each time - to tail her and trace her activities. She casts pass without trace and transforms into a cat so she can move around hidden and unnoticed.

The Dean spends most of her time in her office. However, on the occasion she leaves she seems to always have the mysterious green orb on her person. When she's out and about she doesn't do anything suspicious. She attends a lecture or a staff meeting. At one point she bumps into Bhedum and asks him about preparations for the Masquerade, double checking everything is going to plan.

Ophelia goes to visit Py at the infirmary. She finds a nurse to speak to and is told he is still unconscious. She tries to see patient charts/notes but is told that is confidential. She then heads to his room to see him and finds CAS patiently waiting by his side, keeping a watchful eye over him. CAS is grateful Ophelia came to visit and the room is adorned with items Kaylah finds pretty to liven up the room for Py. Flowers, a nice blanket, a painting she made and a jumper for Py are all there, brightly coloured. In the midst of it lies Py. Ophelia asks CAS if there's been any improvements in his condition. He tells her at least he hasn't gone crazy again. He seems to be sleeping soundly but he also looks weak and frail.

She instructs CAS to give him his Sending Stone the moment he wakes up as she'll be leaving a message for him. "Be careful before the Masquerade, Dean Tullus is dangerous. Watch the orb, its caused harm to many." As a final act before leaving she gives Py guidance.

 

[WMD]

[Due to a couple of my players having a baby due soon we're going to try and finish third year before then. As such I finished Timmy and Archemedes free time over WhatsApp.]

Archimedes wants to continue investigating the poison additive plant and goes to see Uzmaktok about synthesising the fertiliser with the compound that the ants make. Some of what's needed is available in the campus labs already but there's one particular ingredient Archemedes has to go out and look for.

He spends some time in the woods of Witherbloom and eventually comes across the plant. He is able to gather some but not enough and ends up butchering the rest. So he continues looking and soon finds another patch. Having practiced on the previous plant he now has his eye in and is able to expertly harvest more than enough for Uzmaktok to use.

He goes back to the campus labs and delivers the ingredient to Uzmaktok who is setting up equipment. He's having to specially prepare some kit that's a bit fiddly for his large orcish hands and asks Archemedes to use his small delicate feathered fingies to hold some parts togther while he joins them up. Archemedes isnt used to this sort of finesse and it slips at the wrong moment but after Uzmaktok inspects it he's relieved it's not broken and tells him to focus! Having another go Aechemedes manages to hold it in just the right spot and Uzmaktok is able to get the equipment set up to start synthesising!

Timmy goes to see Uzmaktok and spend some time running more tests with the staff. Initial tests show that regardless of which forms the staff changes from/to the instability previously observed is always present. Uzmaktok sets up some dummies to use as target practice amd theyvperform some more focused tests.

The training/experiments go well. While it's usually a long rest to switch the staff forms they discover it can be forced.

[If you change its form on a short rest roll a d20. On a 1 the staff becomes stuck in the new form.

If you change its form as an action roll a d20. On a 1 the staff breaks. On a 2 or 3 the staff is stuck in its new form.]

Uzmaktok posits that the Tyrant may have been forcing the staff to change forms routinely in the great battle at Kleensdune to maximise its abilities and tried his luck once to often breaking the staff!

Timmy goes to see Bhedum who finds it all very interesting and comments that this tallies much more with what he's found. Forced changes go some way to explaining the reports of great feats by the tyrant. But there's still some instances where he seemed to go beyond what the staff should be capable of.

 

[WMD]

Session 67

We start with their final exams of 3rd year approaching. Advanced Arcane History: Unearthed Arcana.

Ophelia studies by going outside to be at one with nature. She casts druidcraft to have some soothing flower blossoms surround her as she studies. Kaylah sneaks around trying to get Answers from Dean Tullus or her teaching assistants! Timmy sneaks into a restricted area of the Biblioplex to find advanced aids for his work. Elleva decides to do normal study of history in the Biblioplex. [Will update with Archemedes later as they missed the session]

The exam is in 2 parts and Kaylah, Timmy, Elleva and Ophelia all manage to do well enough in part 1 to pass the exam overall! Though none of them ace it.

Finally the day is here! The event all year has been building up towards: the Magister's Masquerade! They all dress up and those with dates meet their partners (Kaylah and Cadoras, Elleva and Javenesh) or go with friends (Ophelia and Mina). The grand Hall is resplendent and everyone is is high spirits. Ophelia tries spotting Dean Tullus in the crowds but can't find her and it's tough with everyone wearing masks!

Kaylah goes backstage but also can't find her. She is found herself however as a Cheer Club member rushes up telling her to get ready as their performance is almost upon them! Soon the lights dim leaving only the stage well lit and as the band starts up Kaylah and the Cheer Club emerge from all angles and put on a wondrous exhibition of dance and spectacle. The crowd love it and respond with thunderous applause!

As the crowd simmers down a new spotlight appear on the balcony and Dean Tullus appear in a magnificent dress made of golden scrolls. She gives a grand welcome speech and then the festivities begin in earnest. Ophelia is able to work out who Tilana is and keeps an eye on her ready to cause some mischief if the opportunity presents itself. Kaylah is having fun up on the floating dance stage but also keeps an eye out on Tullus. At one point she spots Tullus over by a bookcase checking something in her robe and spots a green light briefly shine out before being tucked away. She let's everyone know that Dean Tullus has the orb on her.

Tilana having noticed Ophelia as well comes up and challenges her to a dance off! Ophelia couldn't stand to be seen as a chicken so readily accepts and asks herself "what would Kaylah do?" Deciding Kaylah would just go nuts she puts on her circlet to look fabulous and fully throws herself into the impromptu competition. The dance off is closely fought and attracts a crowd of cheering and jeering onlookers. The 2 continually try to match and outdo each others moves and eventually Ophelia's perseverance pays off as Tilana takes an embarrassing tumble!

There's a student doing fast portraits of guests! He spots Kaylah and fawns over her dress and her spectacular performance in the opening dance and asks if she wants a portrait done. Kaylah absolute wants her portrait done! She gets Cadoras and produces a grand pose of artistic flair, with Kaylah's typical crazy as she wraps herself around Cadoras. Kaylah is delighted with the results!

Timmy and Elleva both seperately notice a few occasions over the course of the evening when Dean Tullus seems to be watching them intently! Elleva just stares back whenever it happens! Timmy is a bit more thoughtful however and senses she seems preoccupied and wary. He snakes his way across towards her being careful not to just beeline straight at her, and comments as he gets near her that it's a really nice event and asks if she's having a good time. The Dean is polite but brief saying she is pleased but must keep watch to ensure the night is a success and that no one parties too hard! Timmy let's the others know she is being vigilant and didn't want to engage in conversation.

Ophelia tries to find Dean Kianne but struggles to find her in the throng of masked party goers and ends up going over to the buffet instead. Kaylah tries to sneak up behind Dean Tullus in the hope she can pick pocket the orb but is spotted as she approaches and decides to simply walk past. Kaylah then decides on a more direct approach and heads atriaght up to Dean Tullus appologising for being weird and saying she loves her dress. Kaylah starts to bombard her with questions about the dress whilst also touching and feeling it. She tries to sneak her hand into the picket where the orb is to lift it but Dean Tullus grabs Kaylah by the wrist and warns her to behave herself! She spins Kkaylah round and pushes her off into the crowd!

Later in the evening the event is visited by the spirit of Kollema himself, as is tradition. The grand statue seems to come to life and speaks with a booming voice to all in attendance. He speaks of unity, tradition and moving towards the future and how the students are the link between past and future. However at the end of his speech he delivers a grim and ominous warning about the fate of Strixhaven and how past has been forgotten!

The gang ask Bhedum about it who tells them that Kollema has given warnings and advice in the past but never as ominous as this! Kaylah tells the gang to be wary and maintain constant vigilance! They soon spot Dean Tullus leaving the Masquerade and seemingly heading towards Archeo Memorial Hall (where the Dean's Wing is located.)

The gang begin to follow her and after coming round a corner come across 3 students with crazed, bewildered expressions! One cries Monster! And attacks Ophelia. They try to calm the students down but struggle to get through to them. Elleva is able to use hold person on 2 of them. Kaylah is eventually able to calm the remaining guy down but one of the guys being held is able to break free and start rampaging at the gang again!

Next time we will continue with the gang in battle against their fellow students!

 

[WMD]

Session 68

We jump right back into the action with Kaylah grappling one of the crazed students! Timmy tries resoning with one of them while Ophelia looses her rag anddd shouts at another. Neither tactic is working. Archemedes however, sidles up to the one Kaylah has grappled and whispers that it's all a dream and the only way to wake up is to calm down. His deception is super effective and the guy goes limp and docile. The last one continues to attack Timmy but Kaylah rushes over, grabs him and is able to calm him down!

The gang don't hang around, instead rushing to Archeo Memorial Hall with haste. As they arrive Archemedes is able to successfully pick the lock with a bit of effort and they head inside. They find themselves in a long corridor, lined with portraits and with several doorways leading from it. Timmy feels he can hear noises behind 2 of them. As they sneak down the corridor the portraits start muttering and whispering to one another about interlopers and intruders. Kaylah is able to convince them that they are on an EHS Fire Safety Risk Inspection. As the portraits don't want to get burned up in fire they allow the gang to pass. Kaylah asks where the Dean is as she is supposed to show them around for the inspection and the portraits point them towards her office.

They go past reception and sneak into the Dean's office which is full of paperwork and items of study. They root around and Kaylah finds a notebook detailing the Dean's trip to the Fortress Badlands where she found the orb. Her notes mention headaches and her struggles to uncover more about the orb. The notes end after pages of "Home Again" scrawled over and over in handwriting that seems notably different from the Dean's usual neat handwriting. The gang feel she is being possessed by the orb in some way.

While Kaylah is studying the notebook Timmy notices that another door leading from the Dean's office seems to have been opened recently so the gang head through into a room with a large ornate bookcase. They soon realise the bookcase conceals a secret door behind which is a wooden frame contains swirling grey fog. Kaylah pokes her head though to find a room with bookcases, artefacts and several dragon statues. At the far end is a fireplace and someone appears to be sat in one of the chairs.

The gang go through the portal and approach the person. It is Dean Tullus, staring into the green orb. She warns them that they can't stop what is coming. 4 of the dragon statues come t9 life and attack, commanded by the Dean.

A tense battle ensues. Kaylah gets straight into the mix and engages one of the statues. Ophelia and Tullus trade blows. Soon the statue Kaylah is fighting is destroyed and as the spirit within is freed a ghostly flash of light sweeps over Kaylah but she steels herself!

With one statue down Kaylah and Archemedes focus on the Dean while the other continue to focus on the statues. Timmy unleashes a storm in the room to deal repeated lightning damage at the statues.

Ophelia destroys a statue that had faced off against Timmy and he gets burned by the ghostly light. Soon all the staties are destroyed and they fell Tullus. Archemedes casts soare the dying on the Dean and as they start to debate what to do about the orb which is now lying on the ground it brightly flashes and a noxious wind forces the back. A creepy frog like figure appears as an image in the air above the orb a croaking laugh rings out saying it is too late and that his plans are well on track!

 

[WMD]

Session 69


The gang have some banter with the figure who reveals himself as Murgaxor Grenshell. A vindictive sort with a high opinion of himself and with a grudge against Strixhaven. He spouts about those without vision being able to comprehend his greatness and ambition. Timmy manages to offend him and with a snarl the image disappears.

A crack appears in the orb and a noxious cloud cracking with light is released. A Timmy edges away the cloud rushes him and slams him dropping him to the ground. Elleva rushes over to administer a healing potion and Kaylah rushing in to fight the cloud and takes some serious damage herself which prompts Elleva to give some healing out to her too.

At this point in the fight Archemedes comes in clutch landing a devastating sneak attack with his new magic crossbow that causes the gas cloud to retreat into the orb which starts to glow brightly. Elleva tries to cast dispel magic on the orb but it has no effect. As they start to debate what to do with it Kaylah realises that the cloud will soon reappear replenished unless they destroy the orb. Archemedes fires an arrow at it. Kaylah misses with a firebolt but Tummy steps up with magic missile to finally shatter the orb.

The gang wake up Dean Tullus who is both grateful for their assistance and also relieved tobsee the students are alright. She explains how she found the orb in the Fortress Badlands and how it took over her mind. She gleaned from her connection to Murgaxor that he was expelled from Strixhaven 200 years ago after performing left draining magic on other students which left several people dead. He seems to be attempting to achieve immortality but drawing the life from others amd also enact revenge against the university. It seems his plan is quite advanced as the orb controlling Tullus has spread the seeds of chaos and many people and students around Strixhaven are now a ticking timebomb for his plan!

[So this essentially marks the end of third year. My plan had been to tie up any last free time activities for the year, go into their summer vacation activities then proceed into 4th and final year. However with the pair of players leaving to have a baby the other have decided they don't want to play anymore. Honestly I'm devastated. I've left it open to everyone that if in a year or so people want to get back together every now and then to complete the campaign then im happy to run it as I want to finish the campaign. But for the foreseeable (lets face it probably ever) this is it.]