5. Betrayal

NARRATIVE

As the blue light from the teleport faded, the team recognized that they were back at the Great Hall in the Kingdom of Bramble. They had successfully obtained the Multi-Dimensional Staff and defeated the evil Helgo. After the startled guards of Bramble recognized the team they promptly left to find King Zane. The King appeared shortly in the Great Hall, congratulating his guest on their safe return. He ordered the servants to bring drinks for the heroes. When the servants returned with the wine, King Zane gestured to the heroes to follow him. Wine in hand, they all walked to the Strategy Room. A large table with a map of Bramble filled the majority of the room. King Zane asked the team about the Dark World and how they were able to obtain the Multi-Dimensional Staff. The team explained how they were able to defeat Helgo and acquire the Staff. King Zane listened to every word. Then he raised his glass and said, “To a successful mission and your safe return.” The team drank to King Zane’s toast. After a long pause, King Zane said, “I need to tell you all something. Helgo was my brother. We never saw eye-to-eye, and it’s probably for the best that fell to his doom. Helgo would have used the Multi-Dimensional Staff to bring destruction to our world. He would have wanted to end life. Not me. I want people to worship me. With this staff, I will expand my Kingdom to the far corners of the world. I will be a god. And I will rid anyone who oppresses me. That’s why I have to rid of you. Your little team has proven to be more powerful than I thought. I knew you would be able to obtain the staff, but I never thought you would be able to kill my brother!” The room started to spin for the team. They were seeing double and were unable to stand on their feet. The drink wasn’t some cheap poison, but a spell. “With you all out of the way, I will call upon dark, evil, powers from other worlds to help me with my quest. I have you all to thank. You will receive honorable deaths.” One-by-one the team started to black out. When the team awoke, they found themselves deep under Bramble, locked in a cell.

MISSION

Escape from Bramble.

GAMEPLAY/PLAYERS DECISIONS

• The Team started out in separate cells. One guard was patrolling the prison. Karnura, a Dragonborn, roared as the guard walked passed him. Bunko attempted to grapple the guard through the bars as he stumbled backward. The guard managed to free himself but accidentally moved too close to Karnura who choked him out. Karnura freed himself and the others from their cells.
• The team moved to the next room which was a torture chamber and met two prisoners. One of the prisoners was crazy and screamed, attracting the attention of a guard stationed in the other room. The team surprised attacked the guard when he came to investigate. Bunko changed into the guard’s clothes. The other prisoner was named Marshell, a spy from the Kingdom of Belmont. The team decided to free him and let him join them on their escape.
• The team escapes the jail and proceed to the main floor of Bramble castle. They found a guard and ask him where they stored their weapons. The threatened guard told them their gear would be in the armory.
  The team worked their way to the armory, killing guards along the way.
• Bunko dressed in a guards outfit put Karnura in a choke hold and approached two guards. Bunko then convinced the two guards to attack Karnura. Bunko forgot to release Karnura and let each guard take a swing at Karnura.
• At the armory, the team found their gear but notice their magical items were missing. Marshell suggested searching the library. He said, “The Kings Elders might be inspecting them in the library for research purposes.”
• The team discovered the stables while looking for the library.
• The team found their magical items in the library. They killed two guards to retrieve their items. The team then went back to stables and escaped on horses.

MAP DETAILS

I used the Dungeon Painter to design this map.

PLAYERS