Tales from Etheraz: Res Camp 2025 recap pt. 1
Greetings, jokers, japers, and judges!
I, ATLAS the Bard, have returned to update the good people of Arancis about the exploits of the group of adventurers known at the PC Party. Folks, there’s no way to say it: We are IN IT. We are GOING THROUGH IT. Currently, both myself and the party are trapped inside an ancient magical vault full of evil elves and wayward magic, and I am NOT having a fun time. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me recount how the party got to this point. (It’s been a rather busy time, so forgive me if I am scant on some details!)
It all started around when the party was approached by the Coalition about liberating the Bowers from a group of mercenaries who had taken over. Reportedly, the mercenaries were working for the Cuprous Lodge, a nefarious underground group known for distributing a substance called “fear elixir” and currently ruled the South Bowers with an iron fist. In the past, the party had briefly come to an agreement with this group, but were subsequently betrayed (which you can read about here) so the blood between the two groups was bad. The party quickly and easily mercilessly slaughtered many of these mercenaries, getting closer to the Cuprous Lodge’s center of operations.
The next day, the party prepared a full-on attack on the Cuprous Lodge. They began by trying to poison the mercenary’s supply of… child-appropriate drinking liquid… so they would have more ease sneaking by them later. Unfortunately, these children were caught swiftly by the mercenaries after poisoning only one barrel, and managed to get out of the situation by claiming that they were lost orphans camping in the woods. How are these soldiers still alive? Unclear. Meanwhile, another group met with a defector from the Cuprous Lodge who supplied them with a facility map, and another group went to find the key to the facility. It turned out the key to the facility was in a DEAD BODY’S STOMACH?! YUCK, and some poor soul had to go on a scavenger hunt inside some old organs to find it.
That night, the party descended upon the Cuprous Lodge facilities. However, unknown to most members of the party, one brave/stupid member of their group — Harper, an alchemist — snuck out to meet with the Cuprous Lodge to request to join them. Whether this was an attempt at infiltration or a genuine plea I do not know. What I do know is that the meeting went rather poorly: after being granted an audience, Harper was swiftly detained and hooked up to a fear battery which forced her to relive all her worst memories. Oops?
When the party arrived, they found the facilities riddled with guards on alert and stuffed to the gills with traps. Piece of cake for the incredibly sneaky and agile party full of bloodthirsty children! Just kidding. They got torn to pieces by the traps a million times and I bet it was quite funny. They did manage to find their way to the fear harvesting room, where they found and rescued Harper, who I’m sure was quite relieved.
Finally, they made their way to the final room, where the Merchant — head of fear elixir distribution for the Cuprous Lodge — waited. With him was a small army of lackeys and underlings ready to attack and feral for blood. After a brief monologue (the party would never succeed, they should be ready to die, the South Bowers will be reborn), they attacked.
It was a bloody battle, to say the least. The Cuprous Lodge made it quite clear they were not going down without a fight, and the party wasn’t willing to roll over and die either. Each thought they knew how the night would end, but only skill, luck, and blood would decide which group would reign victorious. The Merchant fought mercilessly, slinging potions that drove their targets to maddening hallucinations and opened grievous injuries. The guards were highly trained and viciously relentless, headed by a (rather handsome) young man who had a specific vendetta for a particular member of the party who appeared to be his brother.
BUT! Just when the battle was seeming hopeless, the party had a breakthrough. With all the guards slaughtered, and the guard captain preoccupied with some sort of quest for redemption via reconciliation with his brother, the Merchant seemed to be flagging. With one final push, the Merchant was slain and the Cuprous Lodge FELL!!!
Phew. That was a tough battle. But WAIT?! What was that on the Merchant’s desk?! It seemed to be an invitation to a party? When the PCs opened it, it was addressed to them? How strange… It invited the party to the Lodge’s Ebony Masquerade which took place deeper in the Bowers. What was this strange event? And why was the party invited?
Readers, I fear this is where I must leave off! If you are receiving this correspondence, it must mean that either I or my writings made it out of this place somehow. I’d prefer if both happened, but I guess if my writings outlive me, then my work will have not been for nothing. May the Gods watch over me and my lute! Remember: fight together, or die alone.
Signed,
Atlas the Bard
