d4 Adventures

Last week on Darkness & Dragons, the Shady Bunch arrived back in Lunaris after claiming the sword that slain Vecna before. It’s evident that it’s almost the time to face the Undead Deity Vecna on his home turf. That means the task at hand was then to prepare. Olmen, the court-mage of Lunaris, had managed to manipulate the artifact that threw our heroes into the Astral Sea. The temporal towel, the cloth that can be the bridge between two planes, now can function much faster!

The next point of action was to dreamwalk yet again. Brillia casted Dream to reach Bartlyre, with Taabi in tow. The two appear behind a focused, frantically writing tiefling. Bartlyre’s unexpected guests came with the gift of compassion, as they walked him further down the stages of grief. When Brillia and Taabi awoke, so did a new ally.

Following this, Verity and Brillia got together with the goal to reach Nikolas within his dream. To the two’s surprise, they appeared near Nikolas who’s basking in a field of Poppies. Getting Nikolas’s assistance required an impractical trade-off: the sword. Verity proposed that in return, he cannot have any ’relations’ with any of her relations.

With a moment to spare to lure him back to Lunaris within the day, the two wake up. Before Taabi and Arsen came back to the room to join the others, Brillia had but one more special conversation with Verity.

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Welcome to Darkness & Dragons; the actual play livestream for the narrative roleplayer. Lost in the Astral Seas, our party struggles with separation from their friends and allies. But even with Vecna’s plans (temporarily) foiled and Cade put to death, nothing comes easy.

Will Verity come to terms with who she has become and reclaim her throne? Will Taabi find hope for his people, after everything has been taken from them? Will Brilia find the love of her life, or is Kos lost forever?

All these questions and more will be answered in this THE FINAL SEASON of Darkness and Dragons.

Twitch Stream: Wednesdays, 6:30-9pm EST YouTube/Podcast: Saturdays, 12pm EST Join our community: linktr.ee/darknessanddragons

Last week on Darkness & Dragons, the Shady Bunch arrived in Lunaris to kickstart the transition of power. Taabi got in touch with Sapphire to scout out the strange, pillowcase map’s destination.

Once again, the dream walking duo (Brillia and Verity) sought out Nikolas’ knowledge on the dead. Dreams don’t provide the best image of a person, however, as they found him in a “gentlemen’s club” (but quickly changed the scene for comfort).

Now, with more knowledge on liches, the sword’s location, and the means to be teleported nearby, the gang can retrieve the sword that first slayed Vecna. Surprisingly, the three were displaced into a lush, green forest after hearing that the sword was in a hot, lava-filled cavern.

Hidden in the lush green was a magic, illusory bubble holding the heat within while remaining completely obscured. Along with the sword in a stone was a fractured tabaxi waiting below. Opal stood with the sword, barring the trio access.

Vecna promised that he would get her son back in exchange for guarding the sword from our heroes. No words, no matter how poorly conveyed by Taabi, could keep her from fighting, and subsequently transforming into a dragon.

Both sides fought with heart, but ultimately Opal fell, deep into the surrounding lava. This hard loss for Taabi, doubled with the task to tell Sapphire the news about her sister, left his heart too heavy to stand as everyone was brought back to Lunaris.

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Welcome to Darkness & Dragons; the actual play livestream for the narrative roleplayer. Lost in the Astral Seas, our party struggles with separation from their friends and allies. But even with Vecna’s plans (temporarily) foiled and Cade put to death, nothing comes easy.

Will Verity come to terms with who she has become and reclaim her throne? Will Taabi find hope for his people, after everything has been taken from them? Will Brilia find the love of her life, or is Kos lost forever?

All these questions and more will be answered in this THE FINAL SEASON of Darkness and Dragons.

Twitch Stream: Wednesdays, 6:30-9pm EST YouTube/Podcast: Saturdays, 12pm EST Join our community: linktr.ee/darknessanddragons

Last week on Darkness & Dragons, a decision was to be made to determine Ondrea's fate. Was she to be kept alive (or rather, become a revenant) and brought into Lunaris, or should she be executed to ensure she remains out of the picture? Not only this, but will she really die if the attempt were to be made? While determining what to do with the fallen ruler of Lunaris, the Shady Bunch also had another conundrum to consider: how can Vecna be defeated? Brillia, in speaking with Kos, recalled her old sword, originally used to slay, or rather betray Vecna.

Once regrouped, the gang figured the best way to get answers and maybe even a bit of assistance, would be to ask a higher power directly. The dreamwalking duo Brillia and Verity made their way into a sandy, salty seaside shack where they met the one and only Pelor, living his divine life a bit more casually than comfortable. When asked about the sword, they receive direction. When asked to help end Ondrea, he gave a path.

When asked for a greater power to stop Vecna, Brillia received pushback. She was criticized by the god, but eventually managed to get "a level" for the party as a gift. Now, with a map to the sword and a way to properly end Ondrea, the Shady Bunch now just had to go through with the execution. Taabi stayed up all night propping up Verity to the remaining soldiers in hopes they take to her sudden rise to power. Once everyone gathered, it was time for the true heir to the crown take what's rightfully hers. Ondrea was cut down, her body burned, and soul banished.

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Welcome to Darkness & Dragons; the actual play livestream for the narrative roleplayer. Lost in the Astral Seas, our party struggles with separation from their friends and allies. But even with Vecna’s plans (temporarily) foiled and Cade put to death, nothing comes easy. Will Verity come to terms with who she has become and reclaim her throne? Will Taabi find hope for his people, after everything has been taken from them? Will Brilia find the love of her life, or is Kos lost forever?

All these questions and more will be answered in this THE FINAL SEASON of Darkness and Dragons.

Twitch Stream: Wednesdays, 6:30​​​-9pm EST YouTube/Podcast: Saturdays, 12pm EST Join our community: linktr.ee/darknessanddragons

Last week on Darkness & Dragons, the Shady Bunch continued their battle against Ondrea. A quick heal from Brillia brought Taabi back to his feet with just enough time to scurry away before the opposing Aasimar let out a frustrated shriek as a thunderous aura boomed out from within her.

This dangerous battlefield wasn’t enough to keep our heroes from conquering Lunaris’s so-called leader, however. In one final hurrah, the Shady Bunch pushed through the pain of her attacks together. A few wounds caused by Brillia’s blade showed to be more familiar than expected, matching Brillia’s own cursed stomach slash. A fond farewell was bid to Taabi’s father, as he rested his soul within Taabi’s longsword, lending his son the strength to keep on his feet after nearly falling once more.

Finally, Verity stood her ground and managed to land the final blow, knocking out her aunt with the butt of her dagger. Sarita whistled a complex tune, signalling a ceasefire as Ondrea was restrained and shed of any dangerous, potentially magical items. Now, outside of any immediate threats, everyone gathered to unpack what may come next. Waiting for an update from the party, Sarita stays with a fraction of the forces of Lunaris just outside of Caraquette as the gang returns with Ondrea and the rest of the news.

After a bit of deliberation, the next path was charted. Showing the people of Lunaris just how Ondrea got to where she is may be a risky, and dangerous choice, but who better to get results than our risky and dangerous crew! Although, there may be other pressing issues to focus on as well, such as Kos’s apparent revenant status and discovering that both Brillia and Ondrea are facing the same fate. Vecna’s new idea of immortality has been realized.

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Welcome to Darkness & Dragons; the actual play livestream for the narrative roleplayer. Lost in the Astral Seas, our party struggles with separation from their friends and allies. But even with Vecna’s plans (temporarily) foiled and Cade put to death, nothing comes easy. Will Verity come to terms with who she has become and reclaim her throne? Will Taabi find hope for his people, after everything has been taken from them? Will Brilia find the love of her life, or is Kos lost forever?

All these questions and more will be answered in this THE FINAL SEASON of Darkness and Dragons.

Twitch Stream: Wednesdays, 6:30​​​-9pm EST YouTube/Podcast: Saturdays, 12pm EST Join our community: linktr.ee/darknessanddragons

Last week on Darkness & Dragons, to the dismay of our heroes, the negotiations were brief. Verity ticked off Ondrea with diplomatic grace. Brillia ticked off Barlyre by being the bigger person and the typically more sensible sister she is.

Taabi, while not ticking off Sarita, tried to convince her telepathically that the fight with Ondrea will be worthwhile, somewhat unsuccessfully. She did, however, reveal that the other three present Generals were gathered before the meeting. She told how Malik was killed, to send a message to those gathered, except for a missing Nikolas, and that the Shady Bunch were in position to be wiped out at this table by Ondrea and Barlyre.

Communication broke down as Ondrea suggests we all speak inside the castle in Caraquette. With knowledge of the intention of being wiped out, Taabi swiped his longsword at Barlyre when he reached behind Brillia, and pushed him back into Verity. Suddenly, the two vanished, leaving Brillia and Taabi to face Ondrea. Taabi tried to focus on taking her wings, Brillia attempted to constrict her motion with a wall of light. Barlyre was dealt a fiery Verity when bringing them both to the Plane of Ash. The remains of Penny were gathered and a deprived Kos was rescued.

Between his sister’s words at the negotiation table and Verity’s firm beliefs, Barlyre’s more compassionate side may have shone through. He shows the two to a portal back to the material plane and stays behind, by himself. With Verity back and Kos making her way to rest into relatively safe cover to rest, fight was brought back to Ondrea, but not without Taabi taking two massive blows and falling to the ground.

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Welcome to Darkness & Dragons; the actual play livestream for the narrative roleplayer. Lost in the Astral Seas, our party struggles with separation from their friends and allies. But even with Vecna’s plans (temporarily) foiled and Cade put to death, nothing comes easy. Will Verity come to terms with who she has become and reclaim her throne? Will Taabi find hope for his people, after everything has been taken from them? Will Brilia find the love of her life, or is Kos lost forever?

All these questions and more will be answered in this THE FINAL SEASON of Darkness and Dragons.

Twitch Stream: Wednesdays, 6:30​​-9pm EST YouTube/Podcast: Saturdays, 12pm EST Join our community: linktr.ee/darknessanddragons

Last week on Darkness & Dragons, we found our heroes entering Caraquette after cutting down and delaying a large chunk of an approaching undead army. The Shady Bunch, arriving at the stables, were reunited with a long lost friend. Verity broke into tears as she leapt off the cart to greet her dear friend, Horse, last seen in the cold, snowy north.

The gang then made their way into the castle and met up with Raff, looking heartier than ever! After explaining what happened with what turned out to be Caraquette’s undead forces, an alarm bell was rung in the distance. Raff bolted up to meet with Emperor Atlas with the Shady Bunch following suit. The forces of Lunaris were on the horizon, about 12 hours out.

A plan was being devised, and everyone was off to do their thing. Barlyre in Atlas’s skin managed to get Brillia separated and revealed his strategic hand in play and fled as the rest of the gang barged in to squash this bug. Ariana’s trick on Atlas has backfired. Now that Vecna and Ondrea may both now know the plan to speak to the Lunaris commanders, meeting the war counsel to discuss what’s now at stake was the priority.

Taabi found Ganonhorse as the rest of the war party gathered and marched onward without Atlas, who has put himself in precautionary confinement. Instead, the party was led by not just Rafael, but also Arsen and Verity, side by side. The Shady Bunch was met by the even shadier bunch; halfing strategist Sarita, brother to Brillia and right hand to Vecna Barlyre, and leader of Lunaris Ondrea.

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Welcome to Darkness & Dragons; the actual play livestream for the narrative roleplayer. Lost in the Astral Seas, our party struggles with separation from their friends and allies. But even with Vecna’s plans (temporarily) foiled and Cade put to death, nothing comes easy. Will Verity come to terms with who she has become and reclaim her throne? Will Taabi find hope for his people, after everything has been taken from them? Will Brilia find the love of her life, or is Kos lost forever?

All these questions and more will be answered in this THE FINAL SEASON of Darkness and Dragons.

Twitch Stream: Wednesdays, 6:30​​-9pm EST YouTube/Podcast: Saturdays, 12pm EST Join our community: linktr.ee/darknessanddragons

The Shady Bunch decides that their next step should be to go to Caraquette. They hope to catch up with what they’ve missed in the past 11 years and maybe convince Atlas to lend them a small army to take to deal with Veritys aunt Ondrea in Lunaris. But first things first: they need to get a horse and cart. Scoria made a deal with a Farmer for their draft horse promising that he would organize a lunch with the Crown Prince of the Kingdom.

To everyone's dismay the peasant man's intention was to introduce the Crown prince to his young daughters. One of the girls ran off in tears with the realization that her prince was already married to Verity. Brilia and Verity went off to comfort her and give her a makeover, but quickly realized there was no end to the girls tears and escaped the girls attention with an illusory distraction. Taabi and Arsen bought their new horse Nisil (Nehzeel) and also provided the family with a portrait of Arsen.

Cart and horse acquired the party and made their way to Caraquette, meeting a large army of undead marching in the same direction led by a Death Knight. Concerned about the full force making it close to the kingdom the party made a plan to spit them and hopefully reduce their numbers. The party pretty successfully split their ranks but not without catching the Death Knights attention.

The party eventually managed to defeat him, not completely unscathed as Brilia now sports a new necrotic wound on her body, one that they can't get rid of by any magical means at their disposal.

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Welcome to Darkness & Dragons; the actual play livestream for the narrative roleplayer.

Lost in the Astral Seas, our party struggles with separation from their friends and allies. But even with Vecna’s plans (temporarily) foiled and Cade put to death, nothing comes easy. Will Verity come to terms with who she has become and reclaim her throne? Will Taabi find hope for his people, after everything has been taken from them? Will Brilia find the love of her life, or is Kos lost forever?

All these questions and more will be answered in this THE FINAL SEASON of Darkness and Dragons.

Twitch Stream: Wednesdays, 6:30-9pm EST YouTube/Podcast: Saturdays, 12pm EST Join our community: linktr.ee/darknessanddragons

The party anxiously waits for the safe return of Taj and Sapphire. In that time Brilia gazes into the dreams of her Brother Barlyre and quickly realizes how he was tempted to join Vecna. When Taj and Sapphire return it's obvious they aren't happy with how the party sabotaged their mission. They set off alone to their next assignment and tell the party to poke around for more information on Vecna's cult. They end up crashing a local hanging of a cultist, Verity using magical fire as a distraction as Brilia whisked the corpse away. Revivify is quickly cast on the dead cultist and the party now sees how necrotic magic has changed across Azera. 

Lenore spens her last week with the party as they move on to a neighboring town in hopes of rustling up more information there. Taabi finally reveals his birth name- Molten Scoria, to the surprise of the party. Once they arrive in town Arsen and Verity surprise everyone with their wedding at a nearby park as Lenore walks verity down the aisle. They drink and feast the night away. Sweet words are said as well as melancholy goodbyes. Lenore departs to serve the raven queen the next day, leaving behind letters for everyone. 

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Welcome to Darkness & Dragons; the actual play livestream for the narrative roleplayer.

Lost in the Astral Seas, our party struggles with separation from their friends and allies. But even with Vecna’s plans (temporarily) foiled and Cade put to death, nothing comes easy. Will Verity come to terms with who she has become and reclaim her throne? Will Taabi find hope for his people, after everything has been taken from them? Will Brilia find the love of her life, or is Kos lost forever?

All these questions and more will be answered in this THE FINAL SEASON of Darkness and Dragons.

Twitch Stream: Wednesdays, 6:30-9pm EST YouTube/Podcast: Saturdays, 12pm EST Join our community: linktr.ee/darknessanddragons

The gang, minus one cleric, had a soggy arrival back to the material plane! Being placed directly into the water, however, was a rough blessing as a magical hidden air bubble directly below was discovered! Within were a couple familiar faces, belonging to Sapphire and a now matured Taj.

The familiar "catch-up" game was played once more as Lenore made her way join her friends. Yet, she was interrupted by the Raven Queen herself, plucking Lenore directly from her interplanar travels. The reason? Her solemn duties must be continued, and after an 11 year absence, souls must be collected. Lenore was awarded one more week with her friends before returning to the Shadowfell on her own. Their discussion ceases and Lenore was placed carefully at the nearby village of Stonebridge, where the Shady Bunch had what might be their final reunion for some time.

Sapphire and Taj clued everyone in on the plan, now that everyone was together, and that was to have the two infiltrate a Vecna cult gathering in a neighboring mine cave to gain much needed intel. An invisible Taabi, Lenore, and Arsen, as well as an altered Verity trailed the tabaxi two as a safety precaution, but ended up being the ones being noticed by the elven man standing guard.

Over their heads, the crew was bailed out by Brillia, who rushed in to make a means of escape for everyone. Taj and Sapphire remained inside, but Brillia's brother Bartlyre, Vecna's "Ariana replacement" walked out. With no other choices, the Shady Bunch fled until the commotion died down, when Brillia decided to tap into the dreams of her little brother.

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Welcome to Darkness & Dragons; the actual play livestream for the narrative roleplayer. Lost in the Astral Seas, our party struggles with separation from their friends and allies. But even with Vecna’s plans (temporarily) foiled and Cade put to death, nothing comes easy.

Will Verity come to terms with who she has become and reclaim her throne? Will Taabi find hope for his people, after everything has been taken from them? Will Brilia find the love of her life, or is Kos lost forever? All these questions and more will be answered in this THE FINAL SEASON of Darkness and Dragons.

Twitch Stream: Wednesdays, 6:30-9pm EST YouTube/Podcast: Saturdays, 12pm EST Join our community: linktr.ee/darknessanddragons

The ever-changing Shady Bunch were all dredged up from the Astral Sea over the course of a year by Astral Sailor, and silvering fox, Arsen. His 10+ year search has finally paid off! Reunions were sweet and yet, sorrowful. Brillia managed to dreamwalk to Kos, where she was informed of Kos's treatment, and also of Ariana's death and her body's current... disposition.

Once the team all heard this, part of the next move was solidified: make right what Vecna made oh-so very wrong. Now, making their way through the abstract, surreal, and seemingly unnatural seaport, our planar perusing pals are making way back to the material plane once more.

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Welcome to Darkness & Dragons; the actual play livestream for the narrative roleplayer. Lost in the Astral Seas, our party struggles with separation from their friends and allies. But even with Vecna’s plans (temporarily) foiled and Cade put to death, nothing comes easy. Will Verity come to terms with who she has become and reclaim her throne? Will Taabi find hope for his people, after everything has been taken from them? Will Brilia find the love of her life, or is Kos lost forever?

All these questions and more will be answered in this THE FINAL SEASON of Darkness and Dragons.

Twitch Stream: Wednesdays, 6:30-9pm EST YouTube/Podcast: Saturdays, 12pm EST Join our community: linktr.ee/darknessanddragons