The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 41 - Into the Dream: The Shard, the Spider, and the Hag

In the morning after their grim discoveries, Audrey Rose gathered the team to share what she had uncovered from the Paginarum Lethargica. They spoke at length about the ritual that would allow them to enter the dream realm, the importance of the Dream Shard, and what would be required to defeat the growing threat. The conversation was thick with tension and debate—the path ahead was perilous, and time was quickly running out.

Key pieces of the puzzle were coming into focus. The Brotherhood of the Spider, led by a man named Nahum, currently held the Dream Shard. The house on Hook Street, now a crumbling ruin, had once belonged to Nahum and was originally a temple to the Sovereign Host before the family had built a manor house atop it. The group also learned of a place called Mogul Tar, located in the Baesch Mountains, which might prove significant later.

While Audrey Rose was urging Zita and Sabrina to speak with the magistrate and secure official backing, Bosley quietly slipped away with London. Zita, catching on, followed discreetly. Together they negotiated terms with the magistrate: the group would be paid 1,500 gold per person upon delivery of the Dream Shard and proof of Nahum’s death.

Meanwhile, Audrey Rose continued analyzing the grim mathematics of the dream corruption. At the current rate, the entire city would fall under its influence in just thirteen days. Learning the ritual to counter it would take six. The odds were grim.

The group began attempting the ritual, but their first attempt failed. On the following night, however, they succeeded. It was now Day Eight.

With the ritual complete, the group stepped into the dreamscape. A dense fog surrounded them, and an eerie, oppressive silence hung in the air. The twisted landscape mirrored the Fallen District, distorted and uncanny. Shards of corrupted dreamstuff began to swirl, slowly forming into a towering spire.

A faceless, winged gargoyle flew silently overhead as the party suddenly found themselves standing before Lady Kerrington’s house. A crashing noise tore through the dream as metal groaned somewhere nearby. Movement flickered in the corners of their vision—shadows and half-seen horrors.

Audrey Rose gave a warning, moments before a bloated, dog-sized flea with a drill-bit proboscis lunged from the shadows and slashed into them. As the group rallied to fight, the creature vanished into the mist—only to be replaced by six grey-skinned humanoids: cultists of the Spider, closing in with blades drawn.

A chaotic battle erupted. Blades clashed and spells flashed through the dream-fog. Eventually, the cultists and their monstrous companion were vanquished, their forms crumbling into fragments of nightmare.

Then came the cackling.

From the mists emerged an old woman with curling ram’s horns—Sally Scrabblebones. She held Lady Kerrington by the hair, her form limp and unconscious. With a crooked smile and a mocking tone, the hag sneered, “Do you want to make more money? Sure, we all do.” And with that, she vanished into the sky, taking Lady Kerrington with her.

The group stood in the dream-fog, bloodied but alive, realizing they had only just begun to uncover the true horror of the dream realm—and that Sally Scrabblebones now held one of their few allies captive.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 40 - Whispers in Waking: The Dream Key and the Book of Secrets

After a restless night, Zita gathers the group to share a vivid and troubling dream. Audrey Rose suggests that the benevolent rainbow-horned creature in Zita’s dream might be a baku—a rare fae that feeds on nightmares and offers peaceful sleep in return. She also identifies the dream’s sinister orange-horned presence as a night hag, extraplanar entities from the Astral Plane that trade in mortal souls and wield powerful magic.

Later, after their morning practice, the party visits Madam Kerrington’s estate in the Fallen District. The area is now crowded with tents and lean-tos. Dahl observes that most of these makeshift homes appeared within the past two months. When Zita asks one of the squatters why they’re camped there, he explains that it's the safest place to sleep—elsewhere, people’s dreams are under attack.

Audrey Rose recalls something from a previous meeting with Madam Kerrington: a name—Sally Scrabblebones, a night hag active in the area. When Manored, Kerrington’s butler, lets them in, Audrey Rose whispers to Zita that Kerrington herself might be Sally in disguise.

Inside, Kerrington waits for them in the drawing room. She admits to attempting to summon Zita through dreams, seeking to instill urgency. As Zita recounts her dream, the group discusses the baku again, especially its role in shielding against natural and drug-induced nightmares.

Zita confronts Kerrington, asking why she appeared as a night hag in her vision and whether there is a connection to Sally Scrabblebones. Kerrington acknowledges that Sally is real and known in the region but denies any personal dealings with her.

When the conversation shifts to the Clavis Somnus—the mysterious dream key—Kerrington expresses interest in performing a psychometric reading on it. Zita agrees and takes her hand, triggering a vivid psychic vision:

• Scene 1: Zita finds herself back in the submerged dome temple, but it’s dry. Mira, the woman who gave them the key, is at the altar. Forrest Greevely approaches her, apologizes, and hands over the Clavis Somnus in hopes of resolving a misunderstanding.

• Scene 2: In the wreckage of the now-fallen house on Hook Street, Fral Tan—the missing nephew they were hired to find—uncovers the Clavis Somnus and a dark tome bound in silver.

• Scene 3: The house appears intact again. A bald, heavyset man is being pulled by tentacles through a portal. As he escapes, he drops the Clavis Somnus.

• Scene 4: That same man is later seen in a library, gleefully studying the same silver-bound tome.

Zita recalls that Fral Tan had indeed stolen a book along with the key. Audrey Rose connects this to a previous lead: a religious book taken by Josef Barvasi, one of Mira’s associates. Kerrington suggests that Zita may be developing the rare "gift of dreaming" and recommends they find the missing book. Audrey Rose proposes questioning Myra about Josef, while Zita is eager to return to the submerged temple.

During a group huddle, someone remembers the gang they dealt with in earlier shiver dealings—the Barvasi family. Audrey Rose links Josef Barvasi to the stolen tome. They set out, but when they arrive at the old house on Hook Street, guards tell them part of it remains flooded and under investigation. Zita identifies them as members of the Townsend Agency, and after recognition, they’re allowed limited information.

The party splits up to gather intel. Sabrina learns that the Barvasi gang has gone into hiding following a bloody purge of their associates. She arranges a meeting with the remnants of the gang for 100 gold—and a vague threat involving his vocabulary.

At dinner, the group regathers at a bar, where a street urchin, pale with fear, tells them to follow her to Rook’s Roost. Inside, Shroosh—the gang’s contact—sits in a daze, turban in his hands. The place is wrecked. Around ten Barvasi gang members lie dead, killed within the last day.

Sabrina comforts Shroosh, who reveals the gang had come to hide. He left briefly and returned to a massacre. Audrey Rose inspects the bodies, noticing strange puncture wounds the size of small drill holes. Sabrina takes a severed leg and arm, convincing Audrey Rose to store them in the bag of holding for analysis.

Back at Kerrington’s, they ask her to psychically investigate the remains. Zita touches her hand and experiences a sudden vision: A man at a door says he’s heading to a bookshop on Winding Way. Then chaos—flashes of violence and sickles shaped like spider legs. A mangy, flying creature with a metallic growl flits through the carnage.

Following this new lead, the group travels to Winding Way. The bookstore is trashed, its door kicked in. Behind the counter is a freshly killed body with similar wounds. Bosley hears whimpering and finds a 15-year-old girl hiding in a cabinet. She describes how someone burst in and slaughtered Diogorgio with a spider-like blade. She never saw a special book.

Searching the store, Bosley finds a crate of unsorted books, including a suspiciously old ledger that seems unrelated to the shop’s current business. Audrey Rose and Bosley investigate magically. They discover a bookmark of deception—an item that conceals both a book’s content and magical aura. When removed, it reveals the silver-bound tome they've been seeking. Audrey Rose quickly restores the bookmark to hide the book again.

The next morning, after a night of rest, London returns Zita’s constitution. Audrey Rose begins studying the mysterious tome. The group has finally recovered both the Clavis Somnus and the long-lost book—but the mystery only deepens, and dark forces seem to be one step ahead.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 39 - The Maw and the Medani: A Journey Through Shadows and Celebration

After narrowly surviving the events at the tower, the adventurers embarked on a perilous trek back to the train. Their path was plagued with crumbling buildings, treacherous terrain, and relentless hordes of ghouls. Exhausted but determined, they reached the train and delivered the horn to Uncle Jonathan.

Unfortunately, Sabrina, Dahl, London, and Audrey Rose all fell ill with ghoul fever. Thankfully, London was able to cure the entire group. After a debriefing with Uncle Jonathan and Erix, the party prepared to continue their journey.

Audrey Rose requested that London learn Restoration by morning, intending to question the enchanted painting about the mysterious book. She and Uncle Jonathan began cataloging the artwork recovered from the tower. Meanwhile, Zita attempted to bond with the Warforged, hoping it would imprint on her. Sabrina went to sleep, London gnawed on a shoe, Dahl scanned the train with Detect Magic before heading to the weapons cart, and Bosley examined the mysterious titan.

Zita and Sabrina observed the location where they had first acquired the weapons cart. A nearby warehouse glowed with unnaturally bright light. Then came a deafening roar. Alarmed, Audrey Rose urged Uncle Jonathan to accelerate the train. He hurried to the front cart to assess the situation.

Sabrina climbed atop the train to investigate. In the distance, she spotted a fast-approaching light—revealed to be a monstrous train-like creature, crawling on countless centipede legs with a gaping, tooth-filled maw. She hurried to the rear cart and tried to disengage it. Casting Glitterdust, she exposed a massive glowing eye on the front of the creature. It lunged and bit off half the train, pausing to chew.

In a frenzy of chaotic improvisation, the group used black powder, a ballista, and a storage cart in a makeshift trap. The resulting explosion bought them precious time, and the adventurers left the wreckage behind. They took shifts watching from the rear of the train. During London’s watch, the creature reappeared. Zita fired the ballista, striking the creature’s front car.

Sabrina proposed a bold plan: destroy the conductor stones beneath the tracks to slow the pursuing monster. Audrey Rose convinced Uncle Jonathan to stop the train. In ten frantic minutes, they dug up 30 to 40 feet of stones. It worked. The creature never reappeared, and the party finally reached Braelin safely.

The next morning, they debriefed with The Dead Man, Charlie. Dahl recounted their harrowing experience, and Charlie asked whether they had encountered any of the green worms seen in the Mournlands. They had not.

Barnsworth distributed their accumulated messages. London subscribed to the local newspaper. Later, three well-groomed young men—Barnsworth’s nephews Tar (a House Kunderrack bookkeeper), Elain (a sleep-deprived university student), and Jerrain (a muscular House Cannith apprentice)—brought food to the group. Their appearance and behavior suggested Barnsworth was attempting some matchmaking. Sabrina suspected as much.

Audrey Rose chatted with Elain about becoming an alchemist. The group settled into Braelin life, enjoying weeks of celebration, shopping for magical items, and brewing alchemical potions.

One morning, Sabrina arrived at breakfast completely plastered, having spent the last three days in Velvet—the dragon-themed red-light district. She brought extravagant gifts: a gem-encrusted collar for London (100 gp), a fine perfume for Zita (300 gp), and a bottle of luxury wine for Audrey Rose (300 gp).

Audrey Rose raised the topic of the Medani offer. Initially hesitant, Zita was swayed by the revelation that the Medani seal would grant them access to noble circles. The group agreed to meet the Baron to negotiate the price, hoping their recent fame would give them leverage.

Shortly after, Audrey Rose and Dahl received an invitation from Jamey Rook, a mystery writer, for lunch at Beef Hooked, a restaurant in the Grayflood shipyard district. Audrey Rose asked Zita to tail them in disguise, just in case. London, meanwhile, was distracted by the sound of sweeping. Curious, he followed it to two ratfolk: Purchase and Daz. After a brief exchange, London purchased their lunch—an artisanal pastrami sandwich—and took a glorious nap.

Elsewhere, Bosley discovered Vlatex, a bustling café and tea shop in Goblin Town. Its sign read (in Goblin), “You want coffee, maybe you get coffee, maybe you get punched in face.” The seven-foot-tall bugbear Vlatex, impressed by the agency’s exploits, offered to buy rare cultural artifacts from Darguun. Bosley gained a new contact.

Back at the agency, Zita prepared for her undercover assignment with lipstick and disguise help from Dahl. Audrey Rose consulted Sabrina about Beef Hooked. At the restaurant, Jamey—modestly dressed but stylish—invited Audrey Rose and Dahl to lunch, hoping to base characters in her next novel on them. She saw through Zita’s disguise, but the meeting ended peacefully, albeit strangely: they neither asked many questions nor paid any fee. Zita remained suspicious. Audrey Rose explained that Dahl simply wanted to talk.

A few nights later, as Zita left the agency, she began to float—an experience she found oddly unimportant. She drifted above the Fallen district and spotted Madam Kerrington’s house, surrounded by tents and shanties. A rainbow-colored wooly mammoth flew circles above it. Inside, the house was in ruins. In the sitting room, the autowriter sat idle, and a couch had been overturned. Zita inserted paper into the autowriter. It began to scribble: Help, help, help—and drew a familiar key.

Beneath the couch, she found a disturbing figure: Lady Kerrington’s body, but with a hideous hag’s face adorned with orange horns.

Trouble was stirring once again.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 38 - Echoes of the Horn: Siege of the Ghoul Tower

The adventurers pressed onward, following the eerie sound of a horn through the thickening fog until they reached a towering ten-story structure. Outside, the air reeked of decay, and the ground swarmed with enthralled ghasts and ghouls. These horrifying undead were known for their paralytic, flesh-eating bites that could turn victims into ghouls, and the ghasts emitted a nauseating stench that made the party uneasy.

Zita slipped forward stealthily to the building’s entrance, with Audrey Rose close behind, moving quietly to avoid disturbing the undead sentinels. The rest of the group followed cautiously. Audrey Rose took her mutagen as they entered the tower, where no doors or traps barred their way. Inside, the structure was a chaotic patchwork of narrow, twisting passages and cramped rooms, seemingly constructed by merging dozens of different buildings. The ghoul infestation was everywhere, filling the corridors with their sickening stench and eerie presence. Even Tweetie Bear’s fur stood on end, his discomfort palpable.

They paused to decide who would play the horn once they retrieved it. Audrey Rose suggested Sabrina, but Sabrina was hesitant. On reaching the ninth floor, Audrey Rose fortified herself with a shield spell. The floor was an expansive, open area with many doors and windows that looked out into the void. There, in the distance, stood a strange woman surrounded by a crimson aura. She wore a professor’s uniform and was undead—but unlike the others, she wasn’t enthralled. She smiled at the adventurers, revealing an unsettling surplus of teeth.

Sabrina boldly announced their intent to ascend to the horn’s resting place. The woman introduced herself as Belleth Zenden, petting Barry the Barrel, a mysterious companion she trusted to watch the others. Audrey Rose speculated whether Belleth was a victim of the horn’s power or already dead before its call. Belleth explained she had tended to this undead flock for months, having learned the horn’s location in Calisart’s vault from the hag Iron in exchange for two university students. The horn had been sounding for weeks, drawing the undead flock to her. Belleth, a native of the region, revealed her dark ambition to take over the world.

Spotting a staircase, Audrey Rose and Zita moved upward, with the rest following except Sabrina, who remained behind to distract Belleth. Sabrina attempted to bluff her way into favor by performing a fake fire bolt spell, which was actually a cleverly disguised dispel magic. The unexpected magic caused some spells to fade, startling Belleth who vanished with a scolding “Naughty girl,” and then commanded the undead to attack.

A horde of undead surged forth, inflicting damage on the group. Zita was paralyzed; Audrey Rose retaliated with a flesh-eating bomb, while Bosley unleashed burning hands and Dahl cast haste. London channeled healing energy as the undead continued their assault. Zita grew nauseated and Audrey Rose was also paralyzed under the onslaught.

Sabrina cast glitterdust, revealing the swarm and blinding many. She called for the group to gather the paralyzed and retreat upstairs. Bosley carried Audrey Rose to safety, and Tweetie Bear rescued Zita, enlarged by Dahl’s magic to aid the escape. London healed the party as Barry watched Sabrina, smiling ominously. Sabrina cast glitterdust again, this time including Barry, drawing the creatures’ attention toward her.

Bosley and Audrey Rose reached the tenth floor, finding an empty room except for a plinth holding a green and gold horn that played on its own. Sabrina hung off the side of the building, blinding the undead below. Audrey Rose checked the plinth for traps before grabbing the horn. Zita attempted to play it, producing a terrible sound. Dahl tried next, but nothing happened. London hurried downstairs where Barry was eyeing him; the undead swarmed him. Audrey Rose tried to play the horn but failed, while Sabrina climbed a window to join the others.

Zita, wearing slippers, descended the building’s side as angry growls followed her. Belith cast a spell at London, which failed, while Dahl rushed to Audrey Rose to retrieve the horn. London retreated upstairs as the undead stormed upward, with Bosley attacking first with fiery breath, igniting several foes but quickly overwhelmed.

Audrey Rose identified the artifact as the Horn of Quintus—an ancient magical item requiring a high skill check to activate. It could enthrall certain undead through performance or device use but risked turning its wielder undead if exposed too long. The horn also carried specific instructions for its destruction.

After deliberation, Dahl and Tweetie Bear took the horn, flying under the cover of fog toward the train station. Meanwhile, Zita used a ghoul’s voice to command the undead inside the tower, signaling it was safe to descend. London healed the weary group and moved to protect Bosley, preparing for whatever awaited next.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 37 - Echoes in the Ash: The Lung Creatures and the Haunted Horn

 The adventurers’ journey aboard the lightning rail continued under an eerie, pink-tinged mist that grew colder with each passing hour. London was found quietly chewing on a shoe, a small sign of the tension mounting among the group. When the train halted for repairs, the adventurers disembarked to protect the engineers and mechanics at work.

Sabrina heard something shuffling nearby and warned Zita that undead might be approaching. London instinctively dashed toward the sound, prompting the engineers to retreat behind the party for safety. Suddenly, from the thick mist emerged eight grotesque creatures resembling human lungs with legs and an attached esophagus. One lung-creature aimed its esophagus at London, releasing long, hairy strands that flopped onto the ground behind him. Two creatures ensnared engineers in painful tangles of hair, while others narrowly missed the party members. Tweetie Bear was caught in the tangled mess as well.

Sabrina cast confusion to disorient the attackers. Zita tried sawing through the hair while attempting to tumble past the creatures, only to be kicked as she slipped by. Dol enlarged Tweetie Bear, but he was still unable to break free.

Bosley responded with a fiery blast, setting two of the creatures writhing on the ground. The attackers tried to spit and kick at Audrey Rose, who retaliated with explosive bombs. The kobold, Snacko, added his own fire attacks to the fray. Meanwhile, London, Sabrina, and Zita fought the lung-creatures on another front, while two of the creatures bizarrely battled each other.

Zita was the first to fell one with a precise strike from her double daggers. Audrey Rose’s bombs took out two more, and Zita shredded another before Tweetie Bear finally broke free. The remaining creatures attempted to vomit hair on Audrey Rose, Bosley, and Dol, but an explosive bomb thrown by Audrey Rose decimated one more. Bosley finished off the last lung-creature.

In the aftermath, the injured gathered around London for healing, while Zita examined the remains of the strange creatures but could not identify them. None of the group had ever seen anything like them before.

Back on the train, Dol noticed the pink mist thickening, and when she picked up a piece of ash, she realized it was actually a scab from some unknown wound or affliction. The group ate and traveled for a few more hours before another stop.

London spotted a horse-drawn carriage in the distance. Dol sent Tweetie Bear to investigate. The horses were collapsed on the ground, and the two riders slumped lifeless in their seats. Among the luggage were canvas bags filled with mail, including an unopened package wrapped in brown paper and twine. Tweetie Bear brought the package to Dol, who opened it to reveal an oil painting of a pair of six-sided dice, showing the numbers 4 and 3.

As Dol held the painting, her hands burned painfully, causing two points of Constitution damage. Suddenly, she understood the painting’s magic—it granted her the effect of an augury spell once per day. Testing it, the painting shifted to show a happy crowd reading mail. Confident it was safe to bring the mail aboard, she instructed Tweetie Bear to gather the rest and stow it in the equipment car.

The night passed quietly, and the morning was uneventful. Sabrina inquired if Erix could scribe a teleportation scroll, to which he responded affirmatively. The engineers soon announced their approach to the remains of Kalasar, once a city now swallowed by the Mournland. The ash in the air thickened noticeably.

Dol explored a nearby switching station and found a couple of abandoned lightning rail cars on a sidetrack, separated from their train by dead conductor stones. One car was a flatbed carrying a wrecked mechanical device, which Bosley identified as a war forge titan — a massive, mecha-like war machine. The adjacent cart was open and partially loaded with pristine crates. Sabrina pried one open to reveal paintings, which both she and Bosley recognized as government artworks intended to be moved to safety but abandoned too late.

From the fog, London heard faint music—a horn’s call drifting eerily through the ash-filled air. The engineers and technicians continued their repairs while Erix and Uncle Jonathan stayed behind to protect them. Drawn by the mysterious sound, the adventurers moved toward the source, stepping deeper into the uncertain and haunted heart of the Mournland.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 36 - Into the Mournland - The Lightning Rail Journey

The adventurers boarded the train and headed east, accompanied by Uncle John and Professor Erix Wrighten. Their destination was Vathirond, located on the northeastern edge of Breland. The town had suffered heavily since the Mournland’s emergence, with many residents fleeing as strange and dangerous creatures appeared from the ever-present mist.

At Vathirond, the group was transferred beyond the barricade to a shortened rail line with a single cargo and passenger carriage. They met their engineers, Tabin and Isti, who would operate the train between the barricade and the Mournland’s interior. Their goal was to reach Talastart, a central hub within the mist-shrouded region. The team also encountered three mechanics—Talina (a gnome), Elun (a goblin), and Snacko (a kobold)—who had been maintaining the lightning rail for years. Sabrina learned that these three were seasoned and knowledgeable, invaluable to the expedition’s success.

Zita recommended the party set up four-hour shifts for vigilance and rest, with shifts assigned to Dahl, Zita, Sabrina, Audrey Rose, Bosley, and London.

Before departure, Uncle John gifted Zita two potions of Shield of Faith. Dahl and Bosley joined the technicians at the front of the train to learn how to monitor the tracks and systems.

While on watch, Bosley overheard a chilling tale of a trio of creatures—eight-legged, hyena-like beasts—that had once charged from the mists, emitting thunderous roars that shook the ground and caused widespread destruction.

Uncle John handed Audrey Rose a Type 2 bag of holding, capable of carrying 500 pounds and 70 cubic feet of gear. London cast Consecration on the passenger car, a protective ward that would last fourteen hours. The train was moving steadily at top speed—about 140 feet per minute.

During the first watch, Dahl noticed ghostly faces drifting outside the windows. “Souls of the lost ones,” Tweetie Bear murmured. Zita observed the fog thickening and the temperature dropping. Sabrina passed the time reading a paper.

Suddenly, the train slowed. Isti knocked on their cabin door to report they had reached their first stop for repairs—five conductor stones needed replacement, a task expected to take a few hours.

Audrey Rose, London, Dahl, Bosley, and Uncle John headed outside to guard the engineers during repairs.

Out in the mist, London and Bosley heard metallic clattering. Animated barrels rolled toward them. Uncle John and Audrey Rose threw bombs at the advancing threat. Then, fiery tendrils surged over a nearby hill, engulfing Tweetie Bear and Dahl with electrical damage.

The barrels barreled forward—one struck Bosley, another clipped Uncle John, and a third missed Audrey Rose. Uncle John destroyed a barrel, and Audrey Rose threw a frost bomb at the tendrils-creature, which retaliated by spitting out Dahl and attacking London with an electrocution blast. Dahl quickly cast Haste, while Tweetie Bear attacked the ooze-like entity.

Erix Wrighten fired an acid arrow, but it seemed ineffective against the creature’s magical resistance. The battle continued fiercely until the ooze exploded, scattering the barrels, which then abruptly stopped rolling.

Later, Bosley and London spotted a glowing draconic rune suspended in the air. Bosley recalled stories of creatures capable of manifesting such runes on expeditions in Xen’drik.

That night, Bosley kept watch while others ate. He noticed strange, rune-covered creatures—about the size of great Danes—with large faces like dinner plates, running alongside the train. Fortunately, nothing further happened during London’s watch.

The next morning, Dahl kept watch while London cast Consecrate on the train again. London spotted a massive, menacing structure just off the rail line. Audrey Rose guessed it was a former lightning rail workshop—where carts and carriages were built and added to the line.

Around noon, the train slowed once more. Tabin informed the group that more conductor stones required repair, but a rail car was blocking the track and had to be moved.

Uncle John proposed investigating the contents of the obstructing rail car first. Zita picked the lock, and London pushed open the door. Upon inspection, Uncle John shouted, “Great Scotts!” and summoned Erix. The professors quickly identified the cargo: components for crafting magical staffs and wands—dragon scales, black powder, and other arcane materials. While valuable, it would take significant effort to move and reattach the car to the train.

Taking their time, the group carefully lifted and secured the cart back on the rails. Thankfully, the conductor stones under it remained functional.

While the engineers continued repairs, Sabrina, Zita, and Bosley explored an abandoned station nearby. Inside, they found benches and seats pushed aside, forming a large blood circle in the center of one room. Uneasy, they avoided stepping inside.

Sabrina tossed a clump of dirt into the circle. Suddenly, disembodied voices calling “Mommy! Daddy!” echoed around them. Five small figures emerged from the blood pool, each with an animal skull for a face.

The group backed away cautiously as one figure approached Bosley, asking where his father had gone. Bosley’s bluff failed to convince the spectral child, and the others advanced. Sabrina called for Audrey Rose, who came quickly. Though these were undead children clutching stuffed rabbits, Audrey Rose refused to attack unless provoked and instead withdrew along with the others. The figures did not follow.

London sniffed the air, suddenly sure he had been there before. Memories flooded back of a sunny day on the platform, his master’s presence nearby. Exploring the station further, London found the ticket booth, where a skeleton lay—familiar by scent. He recalled the ticket master telling him he was a good boy and his master praising him as the best boy.

With the cart reattached, the group boarded the train and resumed their journey. London’s somber mood weighed on the team, and they did their best to lift his spirits as the train carried them deeper into the mysterious Mournland.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 35 - Preparations for the Mournland

The adventurers turned their attention toward Vathirond, a city perched at the edge of the Mournland—what was once the nation of Cyre. Ever since the Day of Mourning, strange and terrifying things had emerged from the mist to attack the town: undead, rogue constructs, living spells. Occasionally, the skies even rained blood… or fish. Vathirond lived in the shadow of catastrophe, clinging to the edge of normalcy.

Meanwhile, Audrey Rose amused herself with her magical hat. She reached inside—and to everyone’s surprise, 160 gold coins flew out. Then, for reasons known only to her, she pulled eight children from the hat as well. Eventually, the children found their way home. Afterward, Audrey Rose settled in with the Necrotic Manuscript, quietly reading. The others watched closely, wary for any changes in her demeanor. So far… nothing alarming.

In less than two days, the group arrived in the sprawling city of Sharn. After a much-needed night of rest, they headed to the University to update Uncle John on everything that had happened. He listened intently and recommended they speak with Erix Stritland to prepare for future incursions into the Mournland. The goal was to obtain anything that might help the group navigate its twisted landscape safely.

Audrey Rose showed her uncle the mysterious hat. He issued a stern warning about fae artifacts, advising her to lock it away and forget the combination. London, meanwhile, negotiated five minutes of petting in exchange for half a cinnamon roll.

Audrey Rose and Zita spent time researching the Mournland in the university’s vast library. What they found was disturbing: ten years ago, the nation of Cyre—roughly the size of Belgium—was obliterated in a single, inexplicable event. Ever since, the land had been shrouded in a constant, unnatural mist. The vast majority of Cyre’s population vanished that day. No group has claimed responsibility, and to this day, no one knows what really happened.

The land is now haunted by living spells, undead creatures, and the infamous Lord of Blades, a renegade warforged general. Healing magic is unreliable there, and danger lurks in every ruined city. They located a detailed map, and Audrey Rose sketched a copy for the group. They traced the lightning rail line running through towns like Meterol and Eston, and noted its passage near Vathirond.

They reviewed what they knew of warforged: though similar to constructs, they aren’t immune to mind-affecting effects or ability drain. They don’t eat, drink, or sleep, and they may be vulnerable to rusting effects. Zita, however, remained deeply uneasy about the undead. She voiced serious doubts about joining the expedition. Audrey Rose, too, questioned whether their agency was equipped to handle such a perilous mission. Unfortunately, Charlie had no new information to offer.

During downtime, Sabrina spent freely—on good wine, fine food, and the care of war orphans.

Ten days later, during breakfast, Audrey Rose heard her uncle’s voice inside her mind. Come see me at once, he urged. An expedition is afoot.

She hurried to his office, where both Uncle John and Erix awaited her. Together, they outlined a bold proposal: a funded expedition into the Mournland. Both men would be joining the journey—John bringing his expertise in bombs, and Erix as a powerful wizard. They planned to requisition a lightning rail and assemble a repair crew. The team would ride the rail as far as Vathirond, then transfer to a private expedition rail designed to run directly into the Mournland.

The rail would serve as their base of operations as they followed the tracks deeper into the unknown, searching for clues about Professor Zendor. Erix believed she may have followed the rail either to avoid becoming lost, or because the Horn of Quintus lay along its route. If they didn’t find her along the rail… she might be gone for good.

The adventurers were to serve as security for the mission. Uncle John offered to brew potions to protect Zita from the undead. Sabrina, ever practical, asked about payment. The group would be granted first claim on any spoils discovered during the expedition, and the university would supply them with a superior bag of holding. The horn itself, if recovered, would belong to the University.

Most of the party agreed to 10,000 gold as their payment. Zita requested protective magic—either against the undead or to remain invisible to them.

The team was ordered to depart immediately. Bosley secured goblins to staff the expedition train. Audrey Rose made arrangements to ensure that high tea would be honored aboard the rail.

The following morning, the group gathered at the station. With the sun rising behind them and the threat of the Mournland ahead, they boarded the train—and set off toward destiny.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 34 - The Monster Above

The group pressed deeper into the asylum, moving cautiously down a dim corridor. At the end, they discovered another hidden door. Without hesitation, London stepped forward and kicked it open, revealing a secret study.

Inside were two more of the strange, "basket-headed" men—and with them, an older man wearing a worn leather apron. The moment they crossed the threshold, combat erupted.

Audrey Rose acted on instinct. As the old man shifted, she hurled a bomb at him, seizing the moment for an attack of opportunity. The explosion rocked the study. The rest of the group surged into the room, weapons drawn. Sabrina unleashed a Glitterdust spell, coating the enemies in sparkling motes of magic and briefly blinding them.

Then, in an instant—Crowe vanished.

The team fanned out and scoured every inch of the basement, searching frantically. But Crowe was nowhere to be found.

Suddenly, the ground rumbled beneath their feet. A tremor. Then another. Dust shook loose from the ceiling. Sabrina’s eyes widened—she realized with dread that the creature was upstairs, and Crowe was likely with it.

They sprinted back up through the asylum, bursting into a main chamber. There, it waited.

A terrifying monster loomed before them: a twisted amalgamation of nightmares. It had four gnashing heads, six legs that scraped against the ground, and eyes—so many eyes—glistening and malevolent. It radiated chaotic energy.

Acting quickly, Sabrina cast Suggestion on the beast, whispering calming words into the weave of magic. Against all odds, the creature halted, momentarily pacified.

Breathless and on edge, the party debated their next move.

Sabrina urged retreat. The creature was too dangerous, and Crowe was nowhere to be seen. But Audrey Rose stood firm. She argued that they had a moral duty to destroy the thing—a creature of pure chaotic evil that had slipped through the broken seal. If left alive, it might return to ravage Carrion Hill again.

Tension gripped the group. The decision loomed. Fight… or flee?

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 33 - The Asylum of Madness

The interrogation of Hyve began with Sabrina casting Suggestion to loosen his tongue. Under the spell’s influence, the sage admitted he believed another of the ancient seals had been unearthed—this one in the Lazar Principalities. Pirates had found it, though Hyve didn’t know much more.

He also offered some insight into Crove, the asylum’s administrator. Hyve suspected Crove was a spellcaster; he’d once seen him unleash a beam of light at an ogre. The mention of Professor Zenden came up again—Zenden had asked Hyve about the Horn of Quintus weeks ago. Hyve recalled being told it was aboard a rail car traveling through the Mournland.

That name stirred unease. The Mournland had once been Cyre. Bordering Breland to the north, it was transformed five years ago when a magical cataclysm swallowed the entire nation in a thick, unnatural fog, killing nearly everyone. Now, nothing truly lived within its borders.

Audrey Rose collected a few tomes of personal interest while Hyve, visibly shaken, revealed more. The ritual he and the others had performed bound fragments of their souls to the seal. The creature they had awakened believed it could reclaim its full strength by hunting them down and murdering them one by one.

Sabrina gently convinced Hyve to remain under the town’s protection—a sort of sanctuary-prison. He reluctantly agreed.

Back on the streets of Carrion Hill, something felt off. The townspeople were panicked, many hastily packing carts and fleeing. Sabrina stopped one dwarf to ask what had happened. The dwarf, wild-eyed, said that several newly built houses had been crushed, Meyer had been cut in half, and one of the guard towers had been flattened.

Sabrina turned to warn Hyve—only to find he had vanished.

Nearby, a small boy named Ches Mortalbea tugged on the end of her robe. He clutched a stuffed owlbear and explained that his father worked for the mayor. They pushed their way through the crowd and reached the mayor’s office after an hour, but found it abandoned. Ches's father arrived shortly after and led them to the destroyed guard tower.

The tower was utterly leveled. A familiar blood spiral had been painted into the stones. The air stank of burnt electronics, and Myre’s lifeless body lay nearby—coated in slime. He had been killed recently.

The group immediately set out for the asylum, a large, one-story rectangular structure. Its main double doors hung open ominously. Sabrina noted that the building had no windows, and she spotted side entrances at both far ends. A seal from House Jorasco was posted on the door—but it was a counterfeit. Sabrina removed it.

The party approached the left side entrance. A heavy wooden door barred the way, but Zita unlocked it. Inside, they found an empty chamber with several doors. From the shadows, a man in scaled leather armor with a cage on his head roared and charged at Zita, landing a blow.

Sabrina cast Daze to disorient him, Audrey Rose engulfed him in flames, and London knocked him out cold, then tied him up. The party pressed on, passing through a set of wooden doors to the left. They moved through a room and into a long hallway, eventually reaching a door at the far end. There, the corridor branched into a T-intersection, with another door straight ahead.

They chose the forward door and discovered the main office of the asylum. Sabrina knelt and inspected the rug, then searched the desk. Her efforts revealed a hidden compartment containing a twisted wand carved with an eye on one side and an ear on the other. It was a Wand of Suggestion, still holding nine charges. The command phrase was: “Going once, going twice, sold.”

Exploring further, the party moved through another door into a private lounge, then into a small library lined with shelves. The books focused on savage cultures and esoteric faiths—most of them referencing the Cults of the Dragon Below. Audrey Rose discreetly swapped out some of the duller history volumes for the more arcane texts.

Backtracking, they returned to the large double doors from the main office. These opened to a broad hallway with yet another pair of heavy doors ahead. To the left was a wide passage; to the right, a smaller one.

Two men in straightjackets stood before the central doors, chained in place. They shrieked and lunged but were held fast by their restraints. Sabrina quickly dazed one, and the group passed through the door into a stairwell descending into madness. Maniacal laughter and shrieking echoed from below.

At the bottom, two women in straightjackets stared silently. One lunged for Sabrina’s face as the group moved forward.

Searching the area carefully, London used his keen sense of smell to sniff Crove’s chair. Catching a faint scent, he led the team to a hidden door deep below the asylum.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 32 - The Descent Beneath the Chapel

The battle against Myre ended with the necromancer barely able to stand, his strength spent. He revealed what he knew: he and his allies had gained their power through the dalecure, a dark ritual that bound their souls to the Realm of Madness. Their deaths, he explained, would empower the horrific entity they served. Myre claimed he had been led to the necromantic manuscripts by Hyve. As for the hag or the Horn of Quintus, he professed ignorance.

The group examined the spells detailed in the Pnakotic Manuscripts. They found high-level conjuration magic: Teleport, Planar Binding, and Gate. Surprisingly, there seemed to be no ill effects from casting them, at least not immediately.

The investigators catalogued what they knew about the remaining cultists:

• Baskerwell, the hunchbacked hermit who brewed potions, was confirmed dead.

• Crove, the asylum director at the base of Carrion Hill, had been in place for over a decade. He was deeply invested in the Realm of Madness, with extensive research and a reputation for experimenting on the unwilling.

• Meyer was found to have kept detailed ledgers: transactions involving spell components, bags worth 100 gold, and expensive writing tools.

The group turned Meyer over to the town guard for incarceration. They planned to visit Arland Hyve the next morning.

That night, Sabrina dreamed of her childhood home. Her family was moving in again. As she stepped outside, she soared high over the skyline of Sharn, flying above buildings from which dinosaurs inexplicably emerged. As night fell, she continued to drift peacefully through the air. When she awoke, she felt calm and centered—the rest of her night was undisturbed.

In the morning, the group made their way to find Hyve. He lived in a deserted chapel. Though the building was worn, it remained structurally sound. The front door creaked open into a quiet hallway and chapel. Audrey Rose opened the first door: a bedroom, with a bed so cold it felt like ice. The next door revealed a well-stocked larder. Another led to an empty room with a strange puddle of water. At the end of the hall, they found a trapdoor. It wasn’t trapped.

They descended a ladder into an expansive basement. Two side chambers were rigged as alchemy labs—Audrey Rose, impressed, began examining the equipment. As she did, a crossbow bolt whizzed past her ear.

From deeper within, footsteps echoed. Sabrina gave chase but was struck by a thrown vial, suffering sudden weakness in both constitution and strength. Their attacker wore a leather strap across his mouth. Audrey Rose gulped down a mutagen and charged in after Sabrina, coughing as she entered a swirling purple gas cloud.

Tweetie Bear and Dahl maneuvered around the cloud, as did Zita, moving swiftly and carefully. Bosley cast Ray of Frost, while London missed his strike. Sabrina attempted Hold Person, but the enemy resisted, diving through an opening and disappearing down a chute.

Without hesitation, Audrey Rose slid down the chute after him. She ricocheted off a cliff face and landed in water, catching a glimpse of a dimly lit cavern to the side. Dahl flew after her, Tweetie Bear in tow. Zita, using her enchanted slippers, climbed down the wall and helped Audrey Rose into the cavern. Bosley attempted to follow. Meanwhile, London cast Touch of Glory on Sabrina to bolster her efforts.

Suddenly, another crossbow bolt zipped past Dahl. The group, now wading through scum-choked water, pressed toward the fleeing cultist. Dahl and Tweetie took to the air while Zita climbed along the walls, navigating the space with her usual agility.

The party engaged the enemy in a final skirmish. Sabrina cast Hold Person again—and this time, the spell took hold.

With the fugitive paralyzed, they hauled him back upstairs for interrogation.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 31 - Secrets of the Manuscript

The following morning, London used his divine senses to detect evil on the mysterious book recovered from the previous encounter—but found none. The tome’s exterior was a worn brown leather cover, with a musty smell and an inset purple gem. It did not appear to be made of human skin.

Audrey Rose received the will from Sabrina and examined the book herself. Bound shut by three metallic clasps shaped like cricket legs, the book radiated an eerie cold. Using improvised tools from her alchemy kit, she managed to open it, though the process was delicate. Sabrina, uncomfortable with the book’s presence, excused herself and sent Audrey Rose to Zita instead.

Audrey Rose knocked on Zita’s door and showed her the book. The title page read:

The Pnakotic Manuscripts
There may we, the Keepers of the Oldest, prevail over the scourge of simplistic thought and lesser minds.
— Signed by Rutman Meyer, Glen Baskerwell, Walder Crove, Soul Marshon, and Arland Hive.

Audrey examined the table of contents. The manuscript resembled a spellbook, heavily focused on conjuration magic, with numerous esoteric topics beyond her current understanding. The three women—Audrey Rose, Sabrina, and Zita—decided to seek out Bosley for additional insight.

They found Bosley entering the inn alongside London and brought him up to Zita’s room to examine the tome. Despite his scholarly knowledge, Bosley was just as mystified as Audrey Rose. However, he did recognize a key reference: “The Oldest” likely referred to the Eldest, potent fey entities—and potentially beings from the Plane of Madness.

With this troubling connection in mind, the group decided to keep the book’s existence secret. Audrey Rose tucked it safely into her bag.

The party then made their way to Carrion Hill’s Town Hall at its peak. Sabrina bluffed their way past the guards and into Mayor Heggry’s office, where aides bustled in and out with messages and reports. Though unfamiliar with the Townsand Agency, the mayor was open to hearing their findings.

Zita presented a concise report of their investigation. Impressed, the mayor rewarded them with a basket of potions: ten Cure Moderate Wounds and five Lesser Restoration. Each party member received one of each, with the extras added to the group’s shared inventory.

Mayor Heggry also provided information on the signatories of the manuscript:

• Glen Baskerwell: A hunchbacked potion brewer living a day south along the river.

• Walder Crove: Head of the local asylum in the city’s rough quarter.

• Rutman Meyer: Operator of the Mittenstone Mill, known to use undead labor.

• Arland Hive: A sage and historian.

• Soul Marshon: A recent arrival to Carrion Hill.

An older newspaper article mentioned a naturalist, Carsenni Rhun, researching local cattle mutilations, though the mayor hadn’t seen him recently. Unfortunately, the locations of the other magical seals remained unknown.

Intent on following leads, the group visited Meyer’s residence, marked with a sign reading “Rutman Vats.” A foul stench filled the air, and another sign declared the business “Closed Until Further Notice.”

Zita knocked—no response. She cautiously opened the door and entered. To their surprise, the interior was well-lit but reeked of decay. Three rotting ogres stood guard: two by the stairs and one patrolling the main floor.

Bosley immediately cast Raining Stones, initiating combat. Audrey Rose hurled a flesh-eating bomb at an ogre, while London brandished a radiant squeaky toy, bisecting another with a flash of light. Sabrina charged into melee, and Zita flanked and finished off the last of the three ogres with her twin daggers.

A fourth ogre struck London with a heavy blow, and four more undead lumbered in. Audrey Rose lobbed another bomb, hitting two of them. From the rear of the building, a shadowy figure—likely a necromancer—fired a blast of acid at Audrey Rose.

Zita performed an acrobatic maneuver, plunging her blade into one of the ogres. A zombie slammed into her, while another attacked Sabrina and missed. Bosley turned his attention to the advancing ogres. Audrey Rose responded with another explosive bomb, setting the zombies ablaze.

The necromancer briefly emerged to fire a spell that missed. London continued his assault, while Zita eliminated another zombie—mostly stealing London’s kills, to his amusement.

Audrey Rose incinerated two more zombies with a well-placed bomb and shouted at the necromancer, claiming they were investigating on behalf of the mayor’s office.

London surged forward to engage the final ogre. Audrey Rose invoked a bizarre chant—“Zap, zap, candy cane hat!”—and a bolt of lightning surged out, striking the ogre, Zita, and the necromancer. A voice from the enchanted hat erupted:

“Haha! Cheaters never win!” followed by a cacophony of noise.

London charged again. Zita landed a critical strike, doubling the ogre over and finishing it.

As the dust settled, Sabrina cast Suggestion on the retreating necromancer.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 30 - Shadows Beneath Carrion Hill

After a quiet remainder of their train journey, the party disembarked at the Carrion Hill stop and made their way up the winding road into the city. The settlement itself was divided into three districts: the lower hill, home to docks and less savory industries; the midhill, a marginally better area; and the upper reaches, shrouded in mist and mystery.

As they approached the city, the group noticed something troubling—an exodus of townspeople hauling packed belongings. Bosley stopped one of them and asked what was happening. The man replied grimly: “A part of town got smashed last night. Whole buildings, flattened.”

Unsettled but resolute, the adventurers continued on to Nobody’s Inn, a solid two-story building constructed from mitten stone. Inside, a simple system greeted them—money left in a bowl on the counter, keys hanging on the wall. Each member dropped in their coin and selected a room. Zita and Audrey Rose claimed accommodations on the second floor, which were modest but serviceable.

London paid for a meal and food appeared promptly. Audrey Rose ordered grilled fish and Barrel Roller ale, both of which were excellent. Sabrina scribbled "Sharn Broil" on the menu board and deposited two gold, only for the name to vanish mysteriously. Zita tried the Peacock Tongue dish—less than impressive.

The group began asking around about two figures of interest: Rupman Myre, a local baron with rumored ties to necromancy, and Arlen Hyve, a sage and historian who worked out of an abandoned church. A local warned them to avoid Hyve, citing his dealings in black-market items like poison.

The townsfolk also spoke of a recent victim: Old Man Marshon, a reclusive newcomer who’d bought a shop in the Slipper Market. No one knew what he’d planned to sell—now they never would.

Minus Sabrina, the group headed to the Slipper Market, now a field of crushed rubble and flattened structures. At the epicenter lay Marshon’s shop, collapsed entirely. London and Bosley cast Detect Magic, revealing faint traces of Illusion magic. Zita asked if this could be from Invisibility, and Audrey Rose confirmed it was possible with a powerful enough spell. London detected a sulfuric, sour stench beneath it all.

Zita investigated the perimeter and discovered a strange circular depression near the wreckage, about the size of a manhole and sunk six or seven inches into the earth.

A guardsman named Smive approached, initially wary, but relaxed upon learning the group was from the Townsend Agency. He confirmed the destruction had occurred the night prior. When Audrey Rose asked about Marshon’s body, Smive replied bluntly: “He’s paste.” Witnesses had heard someone shouting “Father! Father!” during the night.

Meanwhile, shepherds in the region had reported livestock being drained of blood, leaving gaping, dinner-plate-sized wounds—like those from tentacles. Zita and Audrey Rose speculated about the possibility of a loose, artificially-created creature.

Dahl summoned a bloodhound, which—along with London—traced the strongest stench to Marshon’s destroyed home. Inside, they discovered his remains and a blood spiral on the wall, which Audrey Rose recognized as a component of dark rituals. Slimy residue coated the walls—organic, decaying, but attempting to reassemble. Dahl summoned Tweetie Bear, who confirmed the residue wasn’t necromantic in nature.

While investigating, the group found a collapsed doorway leading downward. With Tweetie Bear taking point, they descended into an ancient gallery lined with ten niches, each housing statues of old goblinoid figures. Bosley noted that the current city had been built atop a goblin civilization. More slime coated the floor and statues.

They encountered two doors. Zita checked for traps, but the second door was jammed. Bosley, London, and even Tweetie Bear failed to force it open. Finally, Audrey Rose used three of her bombs to blast it down.

Inside were three small, cloaked figures—Caligni, dark-dwelling humanoids from Khyber, the Underdark. Armed with small knives and shouting in Undercommon, they pleaded to be left alone. Audrey Rose defused the situation with a bribe, and the Caligni scattered into the shadows.

London was sent to retrieve Sabrina, who reluctantly joined the group—after stopping for “rat on a stick.”

Together, the party descended deeper into the ruins, eventually arriving in a vast stone chamber. At the back was a dimly lit cavern, and scattered throughout the room were crates covered in more of the strange slime. Dominating the space was a colossal, leafless stone tree, holding up the wall. No one could identify any religion that would use such a symbol.

Among the crates, Bosley, Zita, and Audrey Rose discovered documents—military logistics and troop movements from the Last War. London cast Detect Magic on the tree and the platform behind it. The dais bore a magical seal featuring a tree with a gate in its trunk.

Audrey Rose and Bosley recognized it. In the age of goblins, extraplanar invaders had attacked. The Gatekeeper druids sealed gates across the region to protect the world. This was one of those seals—perhaps now failing.

Dahl recalled the invaders: the Daelkyr, foul creatures from the madness-infused realm of Xoriat.

Then came eerie laughter. A gaunt figure crept from the shadows, clutching a tattered book. His gray skin marked him as a ghoul. He offered information in exchange for something to fight undead—a weapon with undead bane properties. Sabrina bluffed an agreement, and Audrey Rose took the book. The ghoul warned: “Talk to Myre. He was down here with others.” Then he bolted down a side tunnel.

As the group explored further, they found more sealed passages and crates full of documents. Audrey Rose examined the book in detail, its secrets still waiting to be revealed.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 29 - Trouble on the Tracks and Whispers from Carrion Hill

With their victory over the hag still fresh, the party turned its attention to their home base. Audrey Rose suggested renovating their residence to make it more appealing to visiting clients. Acting on this, Audrey, Sabrina, and Zita visited House Cannith, where Sabrina successfully negotiated a deal to outfit the entire house with enhancements. Each party member paid 250 gold. As a result, dealings within the house now grant a +2 bonus to Diplomacy checks, while the eerie mask obtained earlier provides a +2 bonus to Intimidation when worn.

Sabrina turned her attention to social influence. She hired a bard troupe to sing scathing songs targeting the upper class for neglecting war orphans—especially the alchemists who had profited by selling chemicals during the war but offered no aid in its aftermath. She emphasized the hypocrisy of the university alchemists in particular. Sabrina then purchased an elegant noble’s outfit for 300 gold and spent time at a Skyway spa to mingle with high society. Afterward, she hired street urchins to spread word of the bard troupe’s performances across the city.

The group planned their next move: a journey to the remote town of Carrion Hill, located where the river narrows into a rainforest stream. The town is divided between the wealthy upper slopes and the poorer lowlands and is known primarily for the export of Middon Stone—a material processed from roaches caught by local goblins. The town is steeped in dark history, built atop a long-lost goblin settlement and the site of ancient wars. Legends say entities from the plane of madness once touched this place.

Before departure, the party met with Uncle Jonathan and Professor Erix Writen to share their findings. Among the contents of the hag’s journal was a troubling note: Professor Belleth Zenden had spoken with the hag about the Horn of Quintus, bartering two graduate students in exchange for information. The hag had directed Zenden to seek out Rupman Myre and Arlen Hyve in Carrion Hill. Arlen is a scholar of history who works at a Church of the Sovereign Host—but Audrey has heard rumors of his dealings on the black market, especially in poisons.

Charlie recalled that the Horn of Quintus had ties to Karrnath during the Last War. Professor Writen confirmed it was originally discovered in the ancient giant ruins of Xen’drik, and that it holds power over the undead—making it a highly sought artifact among various nations. Audrey inquired whether the university might want the horn for its museum, while Zita asked how powerful a creature the horn could resurrect.

Professor Writen agreed to provide the rest of the funding for their expedition. When Audrey asked what to do about Professor Zenden, Writen expressed a preference for her safe return, but gave the party permission to defend themselves if necessary—and to retrieve her university badge.

Zita wrote a letter to Cesseli to keep her informed. Meanwhile, Bosley went carousing to gather intel about Carrion Hill. He discovered that goblins in the region catch roaches to make Middon Stone paste and that they value unique trade goods. He also uncovered troubling news: livestock in the area—sheep and cattle—had been found strangled, crushed, and drained of blood, each bearing a circular mark the size of a dinner plate. Carsenni Rhun, a local hunter, believed the mark resembled a tentacle.

The next morning, as the party prepared to board the Lightning Rail, they received a package containing ten potions of moderate healing, four potions of lesser restoration, one application of dust of appearance, and two doses of insect repellent per person. Zita claimed two of the lesser restoration potions.

They secured two cabins with four bunks each and settled in for the daylong journey aboard the train, which rumbled along at a respectable 30 mph. While Audrey, Zita, and Sabrina played poker—Sabrina dominating the table and Audrey learning the rules—Bosley read Gone with the Goblin, London enjoyed the wind out the window, and Dahl wandered the cars.

During her stroll, Dahl encountered two halflings clad in scaly Clawtooth armor—the gear of dinosaur-riders. They were cousins on a walkabout, headed to Rote to visit their uncle’s hostel. Their family had ties to House Ghallanda.

Then came the chaos: shoes—boots, sandals, and slippers—began running up and down the train hallways on their own. Audrey Rose managed to catch a pair of knee-high boots, which Sabrina identified as only faintly magical. Still, more footwear kept appearing, running and prancing down the corridor. While Zita and Sabrina opted out of the madness, Audrey sat down with an alchemical journal, trying to ignore the mayhem.

The halflings joined the fun, each grabbing a rogue shoe. Dahl cast detect magic, but by then, the enchantment had faded. Zita, frustrated by the disturbance, tracked down the train steward, who was struggling under an armload of runaway shoes. She lodged a formal complaint.

Further investigation revealed a crate of brand-new shoes in the cargo car—and something stranger still: a small man in colorful pants and mismatched shoes, with feathers in his cap. A leprechaun.

Audrey Rose recognized him as a mischievous fae creature. Sabrina challenged him to poker, and both she and Zita were swiftly and soundly defeated. When Audrey Rose mentioned saving up for Celestial Armor, the leprechaun perked up. With a grin, he duplicated his flamboyant hat and handed the copy to her, then leapt from the moving train.

The hat radiated chaotic magic. A manufacturer’s tag inside read two nonsense words that struck fear into Audrey: Candy Cane. The hat functioned as a Wand of Wonder, three times per day. When Audrey tested it, beautiful butterflies poured from her mouth. When Sabrina tried it, a mouse with a long tail materialized midair.

Zita and Sabrina immediately voiced their disapproval. They didn’t want the hat—or its unpredictable magic—anywhere near the party treasure.

As the train thundered toward Carrion Hill, the party prepared themselves for the mysteries ahead—tentacle-marked corpses, a corrupted scholar, and whispers of an artifact that could shake the balance of power across nations.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 28 - The Hag’s Mask and the Shadow of Iron Koriah

After the harrowing battle, the adventurers returned home, weary but victorious. They bathed, rested, and drifted into sleep, allowing themselves a brief moment of peace. The next morning greeted them with the comforting aroma of breakfast—Barnsby had prepared a delicious spread. Over the meal, Charlie requested a summary of their recent exploits. He had questions, particularly about the silver key Myra had given them.

Sabrina took time to investigate the key’s magical properties. After thirty minutes of study, she uncovered its secrets: the key had a permanent aura of dampness and granted a +4 bonus to resist illusions and a +4 bonus on Charisma checks in the Dimension of Dreams. However, it came with drawbacks—it imposed a -2 penalty on saving throws against sleep, caused the bearer to be considered first when determining who falls asleep, and reduced effective hit dice by two for certain effects. It was stored safely in the party's bag of holding, and Bob confirmed it had no effect on Audrey Rose while stored.

Talk turned to Josef Barvasi, a name Myra had mentioned. The Barvasi family had a reputation for criminal activity, and some of the Brotherhood of the Spider thugs the party had encountered were confirmed to be Barvasis. Myra explained that Josef currently possessed a mysterious book they’d been hearing about, though it had originally been stolen by Frair Tan.

Charlie asked if the group had found more worms. They had not.

The party then met with Baron Trelib d’Medani. Pleased with their progress, the Baron offered them two options: merge with his agency or accept his seal of endorsement for a small upfront fee, with only future jobs requiring payment. A tempting offer, indeed.

Next, they spoke with Captain Crandon of the Fallen district. She expressed deep gratitude for their work shutting down the illegal Shiver trade. She directed them to collect their delayed payment from a man named Stainton Drune.

In the meantime, Audrey Rose sold off their salvaged goods. Each party member received 1,671 gold pieces. The party treasury increased slightly to 8 gold, 4 silver, and 5 copper.

The group spent some time shopping and relaxing:

• **Audrey Rose** purchased a *Headband of Intellect*.
• **Zita** acquired a *Belt of Tumbling* and *Slippers of Scampering*.
• **London** bought a *Cloak of Resistance*.
• **Bosley** got a *Cloak of Quick Reflexes*.
• **Dahl** enchanted their silk armor.
• **Sabrina** enjoyed fine wine and fancy cheese, being massaged and fed bonbons by handsome men. She also bought a *Cloak of Resistance +1*.

Audrey Rose also crafted twenty bottles of moderate lightning bombs in preparation for future battles.

The following day, they returned to the Midnight Chapel to meet with Stainton Drune and collect their reward. He lavished them with praise and handed out heavy purses—1,000 gold to each adventurer. But then his demeanor changed. He began reclaiming gold: “This is for my home… this is for my minions…” As he gathered more bags, his true form was revealed.

Before them now stood a towering 10-foot-tall figure in a grey robe, with razor-blade fingers and an iron mask shaped like a feminine face with black, empty eyes—it was **Iron Koriah**, the hag from the forest.

She made a demand: the group must offer two people to replace the students who had vanished. The party refused. In response, she snapped her fingers, summoning two shadowy figures—undead *shadows*. Dol recognized them immediately and cast *haste* to prepare the group for battle.

Audrey Rose quickly drank a mutagen and identified Iron Koriah as an **Annis Hag**. Zita attacked, landing solid blows, but the hag retaliated fiercely. Sabrina unleashed *glitterdust*, blinding the hag. Dol enhanced Tweetie Bear, who charged in but missed.

Audrey Rose threw an explosive bomb, igniting both a shadow and the hag—the shadow was destroyed. She followed up with another alchemical fire. Zita launched a triple attack, combining an *emboldening strike* and a *debilitating injury*. The hag slashed and bit Zita in retaliation.

Sabrina cast *suggestion*, attempting to manipulate the hag into turning on Tweetie Bear. Bosley joined the fray and flanked with Tweetie Bear, stabbing the hag. London provided healing and struck one of the shadows.

Tweetie Bear landed three hits, but the hag resisted most of the damage. Dol enlarged him for more impact. Then, as the hag burned from residual fire, she finally fell—along with the remaining shadow.

The group claimed Iron Koriah’s eerie iron mask as a trophy, deciding to display it in their home. While inside the house, it provides a +2 bonus to *Intimidate* checks.

Among the hag’s remains, Sabrina foun a battered journal revealing the location of the missing professor—**Carrion Hill**.

They also discovered and freed the real **Stainton Drune** and **Anise**, who had been held captive. The real Stainton led them to a bank in another district, where he rewarded them handsomely: 2,450 gold each for their efforts in shutting down the Shiver operation, recovering the missing people, and turning over the evidence. As a bonus for saving his life, he also presented them with a *Cloak of Resistance +2* and a *Headband of Wisdom +2*. The cloak went to Zita, and the headband to London.

The Life and Times of a Dead Man - Episode 27 - The Unraveling of Myra's Cult

Editor's note: A session occurred between 26 and 27, but no notes exist from that session. We'll continue with the one that occurred next.

Following the confrontation with the cultists, Sabrina instructed Zita to search the altar, but she found nothing of interest. The party moved to an adjacent, previously unchecked room. It was free of traps and filled with tables bearing glass vials, metal satchels, and what may have been a strange, spigoted device. Five masked figures were in the corner, packing doses of Shiver. They surrendered peacefully but refused to remove their masks due to the lack of ventilation. Their leader was a woman named *Myra*.

The masked workers informed the party that sacrifices were being held behind a nearby door. Zita approached and, despite starting to cough and hack from whatever was in the air, opened it. Inside, what had once been a billiards room and conservatory had been turned into a grim chamber of death. Five corpses lay on the billiards table, with two more suspended in the rafters. As they surveyed the bodies, one of the victims suddenly opened their eyes.

Bosley uncovered five sickles and five plague doctor masks, along with three magical scrolls—two *cure light wounds* and one *delay poison*—and approximately 1,500 gold pieces worth of Shiver. London examined the survivors, finding them dehydrated, poisoned, and utterly exhausted. He carefully cut down the two suspended victims. Audrey Rose filled her pockets with empty vials.

As London and Zita began carrying the victims to the foyer, they heard music. It grew louder. London resisted the strange effect, but Zita became nauseated. They pressed on.

Meanwhile, Audrey Rose opened a nearby door after checking it for traps. Inside were a dozen more bodies, all showing signs of Shiver overdose and covered in quicklime. As she examined them, eerie writing began to etch itself into the skin of the corpses. Names and final thoughts emerged: “Maddie,” “Baker,” “I dreamt I saw a shadow figure,” along with each victim’s name, profession, and cause of death. All except one—a young half-elf with shock-white hair. The words on his chest read: “Hello, can you hear me? Are you here to help me?”

London and Zita successfully moved all seven living victims to the foyer. Sabrina then commanded the captured cultists to each carry out a corpse. London opened the door to the outside: the city lay ruined, with rubble in the streets and lifeless trees. He sprinted to the Midnight Temple, returning with acolytes, the priestess, and the magistrate.

As Sabrina and Dal worked to clean the quicklime off the bodies, a sudden flapping above signaled danger. A monstrous winged creature swooped down, seized one of the acolytes, and vanished into the attic.

Sabrina rushed outside to see the others pointing to the attic window. She shouted for the party to pursue and questioned the cultists. They revealed the creature was known as *GreenBean*, a guard who lived in the attic.

Audrey Rose dashed for the stairs, boosted by Dal’s *haste* spell. Reaching the attic, she found the creature pinning the acolyte—it was a **Spider Eater**, a terrifying amalgam of bat, wasp, and spider. It had claws, a venomous stinger, and immunity to webs due to its natural oil. Its venom could cause paralysis.

Bosley arrived to find another person crumpled in a corner, their stomach grotesquely swollen and swarming. Dol sprinted up just as the Spider Eater stung the acolyte in the stomach, eliciting a scream.

Zita, London, and Sabrina arrived in rapid succession. Audrey Rose hurled a flesh-eating bomb and an alchemist’s fire, while Bosley attacked. Zita acrobatically entered the fray and drove her daggers into the creature, killing it. But from the corpse erupted another, smaller spider-beast, which paralyzed Bosley. Audrey Rose and Zita quickly destroyed it.

Audrey examined the acolyte—she was paralyzed but would recover in minutes. Dol found no more victims in the room. London gathered everyone and performed a mass healing. A smaller room off to the side held chains linked to a winch in a different room. Audrey managed to extract one dose of Spider Eater venom.

The magistrate asked for a briefing. Sabrina provided one. The villains were tied up and turned over to the authorities.

Suspecting that Myra might attempt escape, Sabrina and Zita recommended immediate pursuit. A nearby door led to a lift and an emergency ladder. London, Zita, and Audrey took the lift; Sabrina, Dol, and Bosley used the spiral staircase. They met at a large cavern with a covered shaft in the floor, then regrouped and descended together.

At the bottom, they stepped into darkness—and danger. London’s hackles rose just as a spider with a **human face** ambushed Zita. Another appeared behind Bosley. Both spiders attacked, but missed. Zita struck back, and Audrey lobbed another bomb. Dol coated the ground behind with *grease*. London’s sword bounced off the creature’s hide, but the group continued the assault. Bosley, having shaken off the spider’s venom, acrobatically leapt through the slick area and struck. Zita leapt onto the spider’s back, plunging her daggers into its eyes.

With one down, the second spider—already wounded—slipped on the grease and was swiftly dispatched.

The corridor led to a submerged glass dome—an old ballroom. Within stood a bloodstained altar, ragged cultists muttering to themselves, and suspended in the air: a seven-legged **stone spider**. At the front, a woman in breastplate, wielding a spider-sickle and bearing an unholy symbol, awaited them.

Dol called out: “Is that you, Myra?”

She replied with bemusement. “Ah, you’re the ones causing all the noise. What shall we do?”

Dol suggested surrender. Myra offered a counter: “Don’t you want to know who’s behind all this?” Producing a silver, magically resonant key, she explained that there had been a schism in their group. The artifact they uncovered had caused it. Myra sealed it—and those who followed it—behind a locked door. She had no qualms with the group seeking it out.

She agreed to go quietly if her people were spared. The key she tossed to Dol was ornately carved and magical.

She identified the thing below as a **Dream Stone**, the true source of the chaos in the Fallen District. Its aura grew gradually, inducing lucid dreams—or worse. Its influence now covered the neighborhood. Only a ritual could destroy it, and Myra didn’t know it. *Nahum*, trapped behind the sealed door, might.

Sabrina searched the room and found fine food, candles, brassieres, and religious items valued at 1,500 gp. She also learned that one of Myra’s associates, *Joseph B.*, had stolen a religious text.

London attempted to convert Myra to worship a good deity, but Sabrina stepped in with more effective persuasion. Myra relented. She dismissed her followers, urging them never to return.

But before they could leave, the glass panes around them began to glow. The stone spider dropped from above—revealing itself as a **Ling Spider**, an undead abomination. Water surged into the dome.

London shouted for the others to flee. Zita acrobatically flanked with Sabrina and landed a devastating strike—but it barely cracked the creature. It retaliated, striking Zita hard. Dol identified it as a fossilized, undead Ling spider and cast *enlarge person* on London.

The water rose to ankle height. London held the line, casting healing spells. Audrey Rose was struck as she tried to escape but still managed to hurl another bomb. The spider trampled members of the group and climbed the ceiling. The party fled as the water continued to rise.

They escaped up the ladder, reaching safety just in time.

Myra was turned over to the magistrate and cleric. The rest of the day was spent recounting events and filling out paperwork. The city guard eventually arrived to assist.

Before they parted, the magistrate requested they return to the Midnight Temple in two days to finalize matters. Myra, now in custody, appeared mentally broken.

Deep beneath the city, **Mog-Lathar**—the Ling spider—waits in the drowned depths, patient for its next victim.

The Life and Times of a Deadman - Episode 26 - The Web of Shadows

The adventurers returned Greely to the Night Watch and then made their way home. Audrey Rose set the bird up in the living room before joining the others for a well-earned rest.

The next morning, London was the first to rise, greeted by the sound of the parrot whistling. Amused, he tried to teach it to bark. After a hearty breakfast, the party set out once more for the mysterious building they had explored the day before.

Upon arrival, they found the portcullis down and locked. Zita swiftly unlocked it, revealing the room just as they had left it. Each member donned one of the threadbare, foul-smelling robes inside. Bosley used his magic to dispel the stench.

Proceeding onward, they sent Tweetie Bear ahead to scout. Zita examined the next door on the left for traps, found none, and picked the lock with ease. Sabrina peeked in and found a ten-foot drop just beyond. The party moved to another door—this one unlocked and untrapped. Beyond it lay a dusty library with a moth-eaten chair and an unlit fireplace. A dark open doorway stood at the far end.

Audrey Rose searched the books for any mention of Mogley or dreams but found nothing of note. Many shelves stood empty. Display cases contained strange items—taxidermied creatures and a pickled pump. Sabrina attempted to examine a book, but it crumbled in her hands.

London investigated a side door and discovered a closet containing a brass necklace, a small brass bell, and a heavily annotated prayer book. Despite the wear, the book held nothing remarkable.

He moved on to the next door, which led outside to the roof, and then approached the dark open doorway. Inside, most of the floor had collapsed, leaving only a narrow walkway. The space was thick with spiderwebs. London lit a copper coin and tossed it in, revealing even more webbing below.

Sabrina wondered why a nearby door was jammed. London looked up and saw four old sofas stuck to the ceiling—likely a spider’s nest, Dol observed.

Sabrina did find something of value: an occult reference book worth 80 gold. Flipping through the bookmarked pages, she couldn’t make sense of them, but Audrey Rose identified them as two scrolls of *Lesser Planar Binding*.

Continuing down the hallway, the party reached another door. London caught the scent of something delicious—roast pig. He opened the door to find decapitated pig carcasses hanging from hooks, clearly left there for over a week. A massive winch stood across the room. Sabrina turned it, triggering a blade trap that slashed across her stomach, burning and making her nauseous. Still, she turned it until she heard a “thunk.” Searching the crates in the room revealed bones, pig trotters, and cow hooves.

Further down the hall, they found a robed woman in green reading beside a crackling fire. She demanded to know who they were. London subtly nudged Sabrina, who confidently bluffed her way through the conversation, convincing the woman they belonged.

As they descended the stairs, two green-robed figures suddenly flanked Sabrina and attacked. She resisted their poison. At the same time, something ghostly touched Audrey Rose, chilling her to the bone, though she resisted the effect. Turning, she saw a spider-like female figure. Another similar creature appeared behind her, attempting to cast *Tasha’s Hideous Laughter*, which Audrey Rose also resisted.

In the chaos, Bosley flanked one of the attackers while Zita tumbled past and viciously killed one of the green-robed figures with twin daggers.

Audrey Rose, unable to identify the spider creatures, hurled a flesh-eating bomb. Dol cast a spell to enhance Tweetie Bear, sending him to fight alongside them. Sabrina defensively cast *Hold Person* on one of the attackers, successfully paralyzing him.

The first spider-woman attacked Audrey Rose again, chilling her with another ghostly hand, but she resisted once more. The second spider-woman again cast *Tasha’s Hideous Laughter*, finally overcoming Audrey Rose, who began laughing uncontrollably.

Bosley tried to intervene but missed. Zita engaged one of the robed figures, who parried with a spider-themed sickle and struck back. Audrey Rose quickly shook off the laughter. Tweetie Bear continued mauling the paralyzed foe, while Sabrina stepped away to get healing from Dol.

The spider-women pressed their attack. One attempted to bite Bosley, but he held his ground. One of them fled. Bosley chased the other and tried to block her escape but missed. Zita dealt a lethal sneak attack to the remaining green-robed figures. Audrey Rose followed up with another bomb, while Sabrina finally succeeded in casting *Tasha’s Hideous Laughter* on the last spider-woman.

Dol attempted to heal Sabrina again but failed to activate the wand. The spider-woman eventually recovered and stood—but not for long. London closed in, and Bosley delivered a brutal critical hit, dropping her to one knee before she collapsed, dead.

Audrey Rose carefully harvested a dose of aranea venom. The group recovered the following:

• Three spider-leg sickles
• Three scrolls of *Cure Moderate Wounds*
• Three vials of antitoxin
• Two vials of vermin repellent
• Three silver holy symbols (25 gp each)
• 60 gold pieces

London tracked the spider-woman that had fled. Audrey Rose threw alchemical fire into the webbing and burning sofas but found no trace of the creature. Dol sent Tweetie Bear to investigate the remains. Audrey used the cure wand to heal Sabrina. Tweetie Bear attempted to untangle the webbed sofas, but suddenly stopped—he wasn’t alone. He was surrounded by dog-sized spiders. From the shadows, the spider-woman emerged.

London bolted from the room. Bosley cast *Ray of Frost*. Zita circled around to flank the spider-woman, just as Audrey Rose struck her down with another flesh-eating bomb. Tweetie Bear knocked out two of the spiders. Dol used his magic to heal the familiar as the spiders bit him—fortunately, Tweetie Bear was immune to their poison.

London attempted to break down a nearby door but failed. Zita charged through and accidentally tumbled over the edge, becoming ensnared in webs. Disoriented, she began to hallucinate and became nauseous.

Audrey Rose incinerated the spiders surrounding Tweetie Bear with a fire bomb. She asked Dol to have him retrieve Zita. Tweetie Bear carefully approached her but was unable to lift her out. Zita, now confused and singing, rolled about as Tweetie Bear tried again.

Meanwhile, London detected lingering necromantic magic in the area.