Present Party: Aria (Avery), Claudia (Alex), Emori (Amelia), and Steve (Hugo). Recall that all characters have been renamed by their new parents, Ike and Jin, (to the names in the parentheses) but I will still be referring to them by their real names. Aria's player was late to the session. We did the Snowball Fight of the Century at the end of the session, but for chronology's sake, it's first in the summary.
Setting: Typical medieval fantasy world with various Greek elements, seen mostly in temples. The gods in this world are part of the Greek pantheon. They are at their home in Blackpool.
Second Bracket, pt. 3: Ages 7 to 10
We left last session off on the verge of The Snowball Fight of the Century.
Claudia was the first team captain, and had 5 NPCs on her team: Alaion, Aryllan, Myev, Hadrion, and Hekate.
Steve was the other team captain. Aria and Emori were also on his team, in addition to 3 NPCs: Silev, Quest, and Nyx.
Each player had access to spells Level 2 and lower. They also had the ability to throw two snowballs and Distract another NPC or player. They roll a Deception check against the target's Insight. Of course, they also had the option to be stealthy and hide.
In the end, Steve's team won. The party went inside to warm up with smores and hot cocoa from Ike and Jin.
The party also took the time during this age bracket (around age 9) to sneak out at night and try to con drunks out of their money using Claudia's proficiency in playing cards, and Steve's loaded dice. They also invited their siblings Aryllan, Alaion, and Quest. With Emori's assistance, Steve managed to get 5 gold pieces. He'd actually collected a bit more, but spent it to feed the people he'd lost to. Claudia, however, seemed to have found a rather grumpy drunk who called the guards after he realized she was cheating. Luckily, she managed to steal an additional 5 gold, cast Darkness, and run away.
They didn't get back home until about 11 o'clock at night, and so, of course, they were met with Ike and Jin in the foyer. The parents were told what happened, and Ike confiscated all of Steve's money. Steve tried to use the defense that he gave everyone he lost against food afterwards, but Ike wasn't completely convinced.
He told him, "If you're going to con people out of their money... do it to the rich and corrupt bastards of the world who really deserve it. Use that money to feed people."
Ike only took most of Claudia's gold (on account of a successful Persuasion roll in regards to her cleverness in using Darkness.)
Emori and Steve thought more on Ike's advice for conning rich, corrupt people, and schemed to try and find out where all the rich and corrupt people were. Their older brother Soren was the king of Sinner's Den - the island to the south of the continent. With a name like "Sinner's Den," there had to be corrupt nobles there. Soren, at a family party, told them that there was some, but that things had gotten a lot better since their Uncle Conah - one of Ike's former party members - did what he did. The kids were confused. They hadn't heard the story.
Soren explained that Conah had been sold into slavery in the Nine Hells along with his two younger siblings by their mother. They'd been slaves for five years before they escaped. Just after that was when the Darkening happened, and Conah, Ike, and the others saved the world. After that, Conah spent the rest of his mortal life freeing slaves and abolishing slavery on the material plane. One of the first places he did abolish slavery in was Sinner's Den. Ever since, things had gotten better, but Sinner's Den was an elven kingdom and elves (being so long-lived) were typically slow to change. There were still some pretty bad people there. Conah, despite being a god now, still did his best to free slaves where he could.
At age ten, the party gained new siblings:
Snowflake
- Winter Eladrin
- Younger sister (6 years younger)
Calarel
- Triton
- Younger sister (7 years younger)
Additionally, their older tabaxi brother, Soaring Blue Jay, (goes by "Blue") was accepted into law school in the city of Westray. As a result, he moved out of the house after a teary goodbye.
~~~~~
One day, Steve and Claudia were walking down the hallway in the house, when they heard their now 14-year-old brother yell, "Oh my gods, you've gotta be kidding me!" in a frustrated, angry voice.
A door closed, and the two of them walked over to it. They knew where this door led; it was a study. Inside, they heard two voices talking. Claudia knocked, and Ike opened the door.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
"Yes," he told her. "Your brother Alaion just got some news. He'll be alright, it's okay. We just need a few minutes."
Ike shut the door, but Claudia used her spectral mind to spy on the conversation. Luckily, Ike was too distracted to notice.
Alaion was crying. "What am I supposed to do? I... Am I just supposed to go about my day and my life and just... pretend like I don't know?! You told me they left!"
Ike sighed, "To be honest, Alaion... I didn't know if you'd remember. You were only four years old."
"Why?" Alaion asked. "They were good people! If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here! I'd probably be dead!"
"I know... but... they went into the Family Room, and Alaion, you know how important the Family Room is to me. You know what they could have done. They... broke the rules and they could have destroyed everything. Besides, Alaion, it doesn't mean that they love you any less. In fact, I'd say they love you more."
Ike wrapped Alaion in his arms, and they stayed there for several seconds.
Claudia and Steve found Emori and informed her as well. Over the next few days, Alaion grew a little distant from their group specifically. The kids broke off to try and find other adults to gather information from. Claudia went to Phoebe. Emori went to Achaeus. Steve went to Jin.
Claudia asked why they hadn't been to the Family Room yet. They knew where it was, but it was in their House Rules that they weren't allowed to go unless they had permission.
Phoebe explained, "Everyone goes to the Family Room eventually. But it's not your turn yet. You're not ready."
"So when?" Claudia asked.
"A couple years," Phoebe assured. "Soon."
Emori and Steve asked Achaeus and Jin about Alaion. Both of them were assured that everything would be okay. Achaeus said that Alaion was getting older, and probably just processing some things. It was normal for him to want to hang out less; he was learning to become his own person. Steve asked Jin about Alaion's past, specifically - where did he come from before he was adopted?
Jin told Steve, "That's not my story to tell. That's invasive of Alaion's privacy. I will say that he did receive some news lately that has... shocked him... but he's working through it. He'll be okay."
After that, Emori asked Alaion that - if he's okay. He assured her that yes, he was. Emori let him know that, even though they were younger, they'd do what they could to help him. He smiled, and he thanked her before going on with his day.
The players will be moving to the third age bracket - 11 to 14 - next week.
~~~~~
Out of Game Note:
It's been a while since Alaion has really been brought up. The players, when they were adults, brought Alaion to Ike when he was four years old.
Now that the players are getting older, Alaion remembers who they are. He knows that the people who essentially rescued him are now his younger sisters and brother. The players are aware of this too, but the characters remain completely oblivious for the time being.
Let's just say, the dramatic irony is excellent.
~~~~~
Credit to @ijaymendell inspiring this awesome campaign!
Additionally, thank you to my friend @bandcat5313 - the original homebrewer and DM for the world of Eushora. This setting and some NPCs were inspired by hers.
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