The Magic is Cocaine? - February 27, 2026

- Long May He Reign

 

- The next morning The Emissary and her entourage are given free breakfast. 

- Two new ritual spells have appeared in Niniel's Pact Tome and Grim may have "dreamed" them into it.

- The Keepers head to Sir Foxglove where Soliana trades him a instructions for how to cast Legend Lore for an 8" long snake fang (ivory stick).

- They tell Sir Foxglove about the Kraken (the Sea Lord), the anomalies being created by the Kraken for power, Tidal Dominion, and then he teleports them to Arrandale.

- Soliana immediately power walks into Mistress Sharai's office and infodumps.

- While waiting for the carriage to Lamarra, Soliana goes and spends her new 500 GP in the Fireside Quill (3 pieces of ivory, 250 GP of incense, 100 GP of chalks).

- They get to town and Soliana asks the first person who greets her about the missing citizens, and so far Thomas Manly, an old pensioner, went out for firewood and never came back and some traders who were passing through the wood also went missing.

- The manor has experienced a good bit of work in the two months they have been gone to sea. It looks a lot less dilapidated now. 

- While Soliana confers with Emmyth, Niniel goes to check on the tree. The air by the tree is warmer, and when she touches the tree it feels like it hums and it slightly warm to the touch.

- Nym hasn't found evidence of a cult or people associated with Morgion in this area, but she still has some feelers out.

- They turn to gossip and Soliana asks who Emmyth hits with a broom when they are being obstinate and it's Rolamine from the Workshop who got hit with a broom, though Tanelia almost forgot she had dish duty once and Emmyth smacked her but just with a hand that time. Nym also thinks Caleb is cute. 

- Tanelia, the Arcanist, shows up in the library to ask if Soliana and her team can create another one of the magical trees on the south side of town to envelope it. It has created a very mild winter in this area, the garden is going crazy, and they are selling vegetables to the townsfolk at an extremely low cost and the fields in the estate are probably going to produce a harvest midwinter. Tanelia just thinks Caleb is "all right".

- Poetry goes to the garden and meets Ellie who shows her the garden that produces enough to feed a large household every day. A full cart goes into town every day.

- Poetry then proceeds to the magic tree and casts Speak with Plants and the tree is manic. Absolutely on crack cocaine. Poetry gets permission to prune a branch and try planting it in a different part of town. It's leaking magic all over the place and it's making everything grow. The tree don't know nuthin' about no kraken.

- There's some kind of grain growing in the fields, maybe a wheat or a rye. It will be ready for harvest in a week or so.

- They get Ellie to cut a branch the proper way and take it to a spot recommended by Tanelia. On the way back they'll get Poetry to talk to some plants outside the parsonage.

 

- 2,500 XP ea for 50,500 XP total ea. 

Something Fishy This Way Comes - February 13, 2026

 - Plain black hoodie over L3Harris polo

 

- The Keepers reappear near the bottom of the ocean where they had teleported away and there are four large lobster-looking creatures are swimming directly towards them.

- Niniel sees Soliana slap her hands over her nose and mouth to prevent herself from drowning, so Niniel breathes for her for the few seconds it takes Poetry to cast Water Breathing

- The four lobster have been sent to help escort them back to the surface and the boat, and there is a little confusion that they are meant to be mounts.

- Niniel asks about her bar, but the lobsters are not familiar with it.

- The sailors are panicking because of the lobsters, so Soliana casts a few Message cantrips to the sailors telling them to calm down and lower the ladder.

- The sailors do calm down and help the Keepers get back aboard the Storm Caller

- Soliana casts Prestidigitation to dry herself everyone who wants it. 

- The Keepers were gone for a few hours this time. 

- Captain Gringamore confirms that they are headed back to Port Carling.

- Niniel realizes that her Patron Pouch has something in it and calls Soliana to come with her to their quarters instead of going to the warm kitchen with Zemma, so Poetry summons a toddler-sized version of Ember to go with them.

- Niniel pulls a piece of fabric that just keeps coming out of her bag, and it's a flag. The flag is a black kraken on a purple field with bright red eyes. It's the kind you would fly from your mast. 

- Soliana ritually casts Detect Magic and Niniel also pulls out the ice demon amulet. The flag gives off mild divination magic, and the amulet gives off strong evocation magic.

- Soliana casts Identify on each object.

- The flag is a flag, but it has just enough magical tingle that allows other creatures to identify it. A sort of friend or foe signal.

- The amulet is a good news bad news kind of situation. 

 

The Amulet of the Bound Rime Fiend

- Requires attunement.

- Resist to cold dmg

- Advantage on ST against grappled, restrained, or paralyzed.

- Immunity to the effects of extremely cold environments

- Vulnerability to fire dmg

- The Amulet has three charges. You can spend a Reaction and 1 charge to use Winter's Rebuke. 3d8 cold dmg and with a failed Con ST, speed halved for 1 turn. If you use Winter's Rebuke, you take one level of exhaustion. Recharges daily at dawn.

- Break at your own risk. 

 

- Niniel write a note to the Kraken through her book asking if she can wear it.

- The response is, "Use the power. Dominate all those who oppose you."

- Niniel puts it on. She gets double resistance to cold dmg.

- Soliana at some point conjures a new Healing Elixir.

- By and bye about two weeks pass. 

- Niniel does some Sendings to Gin who says the bar says that there is all kinds of stuff coming into the bar. New booze from all over the place and foods she's never even seen before.

- Niniel Sends to Emmyth asking about the tree which is the same as ever, but there are 3 or 4 people who have gone missing in the forest. 

- One of the days, one of the sailors comes and gets the Keepers because the captain wants to see them on deck.

- Up ahead the ocean looks like a field of black. It looks like a swarm of tentacles.

- Niniel runs and gets her flag and holds it over edge of the boat, but nothing changes. She hands off the flag to Caleb to give to the captain to try to fly it and see if they can sail through the tentacles, but Niniel dives over to go talk to the tentacle beasts if possible.

- The creatures are not sapient, they just say hey a bunch.

- Niniel Sends to Soliana, "These tentacles just say hey. But they're only about 5' deep, so I'm gonna swim under." 

- "Captain Gringamore is going to hoist your flag, and then we're just going to try to boat through."

- Niniel attempts to swim through them, but they twist around her and grab onto her, and it's very difficult going.

- Niniel doesn't see any boats on the bottom, so that's something.

- Back on the ship, as the ship moves forward, the tentacles part and let it through.

- While on the way into port, Soliana Sends to Mistress Sharai, "Um, Mistress Sharai, did you ever have a chance to get in contact with that cleric we spoke about before?" The response is, "Yes, I have information for you when you get back into town."

- The Storm Caller pulls into port and Niniel gets her flag back. 

- The port seems dead. Very few people around.

- The tentacles showed up about two weeks ago. 

- Only one ship has come into port in that time, and it (The Black Curl) is also flying a Kraken flag. Someone from that ship went to the governor's mansion, and the ship is still here.

- Niniel goes and walks aboard the Black Curl and talks to the tritons who are on board.

- Niniel introduces herself and they kind of recognize her. She finds out that the port is being blockaded to coerce them to join the Dominion. The Negotiator, Marcelle, is the one who went up to the governor's mansion.

- After a little inter-group discussion, the Keepers decide to head to Sir Foxglove. 

- Insert exposition here.

- Everyone gets 500 GP each for their troubles, and he can send them to Arrandale tomorrow. 

- As the Keepers are finalizing this transaction, there is shouting from outside. There are children shouting for everyone to come outside.

- The Keepers follow the crowd to the town square area, and there's a triton standing with the govern, a tired and worn looking older man, who announces that an agreement has been reached with the Tidal Dominion. They will be working in concert with the Sea Lord, and they will have free passage again in the ocean. Mistress Larothe (Marcelle) also promises the encroaching creatures will end. All ships will be getting a new banner.

- Marcelle waves to Niniel from the balcony.

- Niniel waits for the crowd to disperse a bit, and then she and Marcelle meet up. Marcelle confirms that Port Carling will be sending tithes to the Tidal Dominion and Marcelle will be remaining in Port Carling as Viceroy. 

- Marcelle is the 8th viceroy to be installed in the name of the Tidal Dominion.

- The Keepers head to the Captain's Keep to sleep.

 

- 2,500 XP ea for 48,000 total ea. LEVEL 9

I Wizarded All Over Him - February 6, 2026

- Long May He Reign

 

BATTLE AGAINST THE ANTLERED DEMON

- Demon says, "You have destroyed my property and you will submit." then throws a ball of cold dealing 13 cold dmg (6 to Poetry and Niniel).

- Soliana casts Banishment on the Demon and he blinks out of existence. Five people teleport into the space where the demon left. Arvid (lg), Arvid's brother (7), and Arvid's three children, two boys (aged 5 (2) and aged 15 (1)), and a girl (aged 9 (3)).

- Caleb asks Arvid, "Where did y'all come from?" "We were at home." They are unnerved by the city made of bone.

- A minute passes, and the demon comes back from his Banishment.

- Zemma Rages, and then runs up to the Demon and gets right in his knees. She claws him for 19 slashing dmg, then misses.

- Poetry uses her new staff to cast Fireball on the Demon and Zemma. The Demon takes 26 fire dmg and Zemma takes 13 fire dmg. 

- Niniel summons a Water Element to flank with Zemma and it bashes the Demon for 11 and then 13 bludgeoning dmg.

 

- The Demon frost touches Zemma and before he can put an icicle straight through her torso Soliana casts Silvery Barbs. He then inhales some life force from the Vintersons. The littlest boy is already looking rough. Then it rakes its talons one across Zemma 4 (2) piercing and 2 cold dmg to her.

- Soliana casts Summon Aberrant Spirit (Slaad) which then attacks the Demon twice for 11 and then 12 dmg and the Demon cannot regain HP until the start of the Aberration's next turn. At the end of Soliana's turn the Demon teleports himself next to the tentacle that's in front of her. 

- Caleb runs over to the Demon and stabs him with his rapier for 19 piercing dmg and then bonus actions the F away.

- Zemma runs over to the Demon and claws it for 11 slashing then slashes again for 18 slashing, then slashes again for 9 slashing dmg. The demons stabs her with an icicle for 9 cold dmg.

- Poetry moves forward casts Healing Spirit (level 4) and Zemma regains 14 HP.

- Niniel casts Eldritch Blast on the Demon for 22 force dmg then misses with the second bolt, then the tentacle smacks the Demon for 2 (0) cold dmg and his speed is reduced by 10ft. The Water Elemental then moves up and bashes the Demon twice for 32 bludgeoning dmg.

 

- The Demon slashes Soliana with its claws for 4 (-1 from the tentacle) and 3 cold dmg. 

- Soliana runs a bit to the side and casts Thunder Wave at the Demon, but it resists taking only 4 thunder dmg. She then Starlight Steps as far toward the temple as she can and then runs 20ft up the street. The Aberrant Spirit moves up to flank with the water elemental. The Demon sucks more life force out of the Vintersons. Soliana yells at Arvid again for them to run seeing this.

- Caleb darts in to flank with the Ab Spirit and stabs the Demon for 22 piercing dmg. Then he Disengages and backs off. The Demon teleports out of the melee again.

- Zemma gets 6 HP from the Healing Spirit. She chases the Demon and slashes him for 8 slashing dmg, then misses, then she slashes one last time for 13 slashing dmg.

- Poetry summons Ember and then then Healing Spirit moves to follow Zemma and gives her 7 more HP. 

- Niniel steps a few feet forward and casts Eldritch Blast for 13 force dmg and then misses with the second bolt. She moves her tentacle next to Zemma and smacks it for 0 cold dmg and its speed is reduced by 10ft for one round. The Water Elemental moves to flank with Zemma and bashes for 16 bludgeoning dmg and then it misses. The Demon sucks more life force from the Vintersons.

 

- The Vintersons finally start running down the street to get away from the Demon. 

- The Demon casts Coldball (fireball, but cold dmg) on Soliana, the Ab Spirit, Zemma, and Caleb for 11 (or 5) and 12 (or 6) cold dmg depending on success or failure.

- Soliana casts Wither and Bloom (level 3) on the Demon and Zemma for 5 necrotic dmg to the Demon and 21 HP to Zemma, then she moves back 15ft. Then the Ab Spirit moves up and claws the Demon once for 9 slashing dmg and the Demon cannot heal until the start of the Ab Spirit's next turn.

- Caleb throws a psychic dagger at the Demon for 17 psychcic dmg. His second dagger does not hit. Caleb backs toward Soliana to interpose himself. The Demon stabs an icicle into Zemma for 14 cold dmg.

- Zemma regains 6 HP from the Healing Spirit. She then claws the Demon for 10 slashing, then slashes again for 8 slashing, then slashes again for 9 slashing dmg.

- Poetry casts Firebolt on the Demon, missing. Ember moves forward 30' and throws a Flameseed at the Demon for 15 fire dmg.

- Niniel casts Eldritch Blast at the Demon hitting once for 8 force dmg. The tentacle hits the Demon reducing its speed by 10ft. The Water Element bashes the Demon for 11 and then misses.

 

- The Demon stabs Zemma with an icicle for 16 cold dmg. 

- Soliana runs past Caleb and casts Tasha's Caustic Brew (Wizarding all over him) so that it only hits the Demon and it gets covered in acid. The Ab Spirit then slices the Demon into ribbons filled with acid. The Demon disintegrates. 

END OF BATTLE 

- Soliana hands off her Healing Elixir to Niniel to bring to the littlest boy, and he gets 12 HP from it. 

- Soliana is too busy muttering to Grim as she flips his pages fervently. The amulet is brought to her. She mutters things about Vault of Amber and Magic Circle not even noticing the amulet being put into her hand.

SKILL CHALLENGE to bind the demon into the Vinterson amulet.

- Soliana uses Arcana to figure out the magical solution faster than she has ever figured out anything in her life. (Arcana - 18 - Success) The statues on the rooftop blink a little bit closer to the square in front of the temple.

- Zemma sees a statue on the roof almost directly above the wizard. She jumps and climbs right up to the roof and knocks the statue over. (Athletics - 16 - Success)

- Niniel calls over the Vinterson teenager and uses a sharpened seashell to slice his arm and leak blood onto the amulet to call the demon into it. (Intimidation - 21 - Success). She starts feeding one of the antlers left behind by the Demon into the amulet. Another statue appears right next to Soliana. 

- Caleb interposes himself quickly and destroys the statue. (Acrobatics - 15 - Success).

- Poetry uses a Thorn Whip to destroy another statue. (Arcana - 18 - Success). 

- All the statues stop where they are and start to crumble. Zemma easily destroys the one closes to her.

- Niniel heals the teenager she cut for 8 HP. 

- Arvid refuses to take the amulet back. So Soliana puts it in the bag of holding and the world swirls.

 

- 5,000 XP ea for 45,500 XP total ea.