“Alright, now that we had the chance to get up and get some snacks, who’s ready to pick up where we left off?” Tina asked, eager to continue their game of Bunkers and Badasses. After having the players rescue an important NPC and learning the plans of the BBEG (big bad evil guy), it was time to have the adventurers put a stop to it and a bullet in their head.
“Oh yeah, I'm rarin to go.” Axton said as he sat down.
“HELL YEAH, ASS KICKIN TIME!”
“Tina, it’s only been five minutes.” Lilith pointed out to the young teen, “Besides, Gaige isn’t back yet.”
“I think she is just making sure we are all ready before we continue.” Roland said.
“Says the guy who's not playing.” Maya snickered.
“Hey, no need to pick on the peanut gallery.” Axton said and Brick chuckled while Roland just rolled his eyes. Only a few minutes after he said that, Gaige returned and sat down back in her spot.
“Already, so who’s ready to reach out and punch face?”
“I’m always ready to punch some face!”
“Heh, ready as ever.”
“Alright, Tina? Let’s keep going,” Lilith then spoke up as she looked back at the Bunker Master. As for Tina, she was rather eager to get started.
“After the dramatic revelation by the Owl, the task of your party became crystal clear. In order to stop the remaining wizard from the Handsome Sorcerer’s court to bring said sorcerer back to life, your party must find a way to stop him. The Owl mentioned that at each ritual site, one of the original heroes who defeated the Handsome Sorcerer remains captive. However, what is still unclear is where these sites are located… and who is at each one. Your party still has a small amount of time before they set off. So, what do you do?”
“Alright bringing back now, should we split up and go to each one separately or each one together?” Axton asked, looking at the group.
“While it might be a timesaver, we don’t know where each one is at,” Maya reminded him, “Do you think we can ask the Owl about that?”
“You know, it can’t hurt to ask.” Axton then got in character and proceeded to ask the Owl. “So miss, can you tell us where the ritual sites are?”
“Do you have a map I can use? It would be easier for me to draw out the locations rather than tell you.”
“Got one right here.” Axton then handed the map over. Tina took the map and then paused, before looking over to Spike once she noticed there were a few crayons over where she was.
“You wouldn’t object if I borrow your waxy plaything, right?”
“Tina!”
“What? It’s an honest question. Besides, I rather not have any ink stain the parchment, huggaboo.”
“Well its one way of marking things.”
“Whatever works for you Tina.” Brick simply said.
With that, Tina began to draw four different circles around the map in a Rhombus like shape. Each one though was located to the North, South, East and West of Flamerock refuge. “They wanted Flamerock to be used as the center for their ritual and have set up these sites. One is in a set of caves by the beach and another is in the forest by the former orc village. I’m still trying to figure out the other two, but if you can stop what’s going on at those two, then stopping them will be much easier.”
“Well, we have some locations to go to at least. Now which ones do we want to tackle?” Axton asked. “I want to go after the one in the former village.”
“The beach one is closer though,” Gaige pointed out, “Plus, wouldn’t it take a bit of time in order to travel to the forest compared to just going to the beach?”
“It would, but considering that it’s used to be a village, it could mean that there won’t be any resistance on top of what we might find there,” Lilith replied now, “After all, the beach is supposed to still have what was left of the skeletal army of the sorcerer, right?”
“I say the beach sounds like a nice time for relaxation and carnage.” Brick said, grinning to himself.
“And you don’t need your tuxedo shirt for it.” Mordecai remarked.
“HAHA, some fun, sun, and blood.”
“Well, I’ve been outvoted it seems, or is that the group going to the beach?” Axton commented.
“Guess so. Huggaboo.” Tina smirked
“Well, it happens I guess.” Axton just shrugged.
“Thats the spirit Slab!” Brick then slapped Axton on the back.
“Yeah, thanks.” Axton wheezed.
“Alright, let’s get going!”
“Time to go save the first of the four.” Axton said as he started heading towards the beach with the rest of the party. Though, when they got there, that was when the party noticed that there really weren't a lot of enemies around. If anything, the beach seemed completely empty.
“I got a bad feeling about this,” Lilith said to herself.
“Yeah, This just screams something is gonna happen.” Axton commented.
“Trap, definitely a trap.” Brick added.
“Maybe, maybe not,” Gaige tried to be optimistic, “Either way, let’s be careful.”
“Well, no point in dwelling on it, we have to go there anyway.” Axton said. With that, the party geared up for what lies ahead as they prepared their weapons, dice… and character sheets for what awaited them along the coast.
“Well, this is definitely not looking good.” Brick commented with how empty it still was as they walked.
“Rather… welcoming I would say,” Gaige let out a sigh, “I mean, seeing that there’s no skeletons yet gives you the impression that things are going to be fine.”
“Don’t jinx it,” Spike told her.
“Well, yet was the key word. So my guess is that the closer we get, that is where the monsters are.” Axton commented.
“Well look what I see up ahead.” Brick said as he noticed a lone skeleton. At first, it seemed like there was nothing to it. Though, as they got closer, the skeleton lifted their head.
‘STOP!’ Immediately, the whole party stopped, unsure of what to expect. That is, until the skeleton started talking again, ‘If you wish to cross the bridge of pain to the destination you seek, then you must answer me these questions three. Get one wrong and there will be consequences.’
“Uh what?” Axton simply said.
“Heh, sounds easy.” Brick announced. “I’ll go first.”
As Brick stepped up, the Skeleton then asked the first question, ‘WHAT… is your name?’
“My name is Brick.”
‘WHAT… is your quest?’
“To rescue the original heroes and stop the revival of the Handsome Sorcerer.”
‘WHAT… is your favorite color?’
“Simple, it’s blue.”
‘… Right then, off you go!’ Politely, the skeleton stepped out of the way and allowed for Brick to pass. Something that was surprising to most of the party.
“Well damn, if it’s that simple, we’ll be over there in a breeze,” Gaige added, “Who wants to go next?”
“You know what, sure, I’ll go next.” Axton said as he went forward.
‘STOP! If you wish to cross the bridge of pain to the destination you seek, then you must answer me these questions three. Get one wrong and-’
“I think he gets it, buddy,” Gaige interjected.
‘ … Very well. WHAT … is your name?’
“Robin.” Axton said the name of his character.
‘WHAT… is your quest?’
“To rescue the heroes and stop the Handsome Sorcerer.”
‘WHAT… is the rate of speed at which a Hyperion Jackhammer class battle cruiser will end up imploding upon itself!?!’
“It’s- wait I don’t know.” Axton was concerned at what would happen next.
Before he had the chance to react, Axton’s character was flinged up into the air before splashing into the waters of the ocean. A sight that caught everyone else, including those who were watching the game by surprise.
“Tina, I… don’t think you can just fling people’s characters like that.”
“Come on, Lily. Axton couldn’t answer the question. The skelly warned that there would be consequences for getting it wrong.”
“Yeah, but for something like that, wouldn’t you have them make a saving throw first?” Maya asked, “It would make a lot more sense that way, right?”
“Okay, fiiine. Axton, make a knowledge saving throw at disadvantage.”
“I don’t think a 9 is gonna cut it will it?” Axton commented.
“Nope.”
SPLASH!!
“So, whos next?” Axton commented with a sigh
“I can go,” Maya replied as she stepped forward.
‘STOP! If you wish to cross the bridge of pain to the destination you seek, then you must answer me these questions three. Get one wrong and there will be consequences.’
“I understand.”
‘WHAT… is your name?’
‘Asha’
“Ooh, sounds familiar. Alright,” Tina remarked, before continuing her narration ‘WHAT… is your quest?’
“To stop the revival of the Handsome Sorcerer.”
‘What… is your favorite color?’
“Blue… No, wait-!”
“Sorry Maya-papaya, can’t change your answer! Roll that knowledge save for me!”
“Um… I got a 13. Is that better than a nine?”
“Slightly, but no. You land in the water like Axton, but land closer to shore.”
SPLASH
“So, who’s next?”
That was when Spike raised a hand, “I’ll go.”
“Really Spikey boy? Alright then.”
Immediately, the skeleton did his same pending routine, but then proceeded to ask the same questions. In turn, Spike answered the first two correctly. Though, the third question was the one that threw everyone by surprise.
“What… are the different colors of species for dragons!?”
“Any particular kind of dragons? Elemental? Crystalline? Ancient?”
‘ … I don’t know that!!’
Next thing they knew, the group watched as a D20 die crashed into the ground and the skeleton was flinged into the ocean, where it drowned in the deep waters.
“Spike, how… did you do that?” the mechromancer asked.
“What? I’m a dragon and I’m a game master in my spare time. I should know these things.”
“That… makes sense, now that I think about it.” Starlight added.
“Well, it at least prevents us from having any of our party members drowning,” a now soaked Maya commented, “Speaking of which, has anyone seen Axton come to shore yet?”
“I’m getting there, It’s just taking a bit of time.” Axton commented as he just got back.
“Need some help drying off?”
“That would be appreciated.” Of course, this was followed by using a fire weapon to light a torch as the heat from it was the closest thing that they could get to drying him off without burning him alive.
“A little done around the edges but much better.”
“Hey, it’s either this or I’m setting you on fire,” Maya told him, “And I doubt that you would like the latter.”
“Just saying it as it is. But it is better than being soaked.” Axton shot back. “But other than that however, I believe it’s now a straight shot to the first location.”
Gaige didn’t know why, but she had a bad feeling that the commando spoke a bit too soon.
One boring walk later
“One word from any of you, and I will punch you… except Brick.” Axton said
“I mean..” Roland started then stopped and smirked when he saw the look from Axton.
“You shot yourself in the foot there slab haha.” Brick commented.
“Do I even want to know what happened?” Spike now asked, which had Maya and Gaige look back at him with a confused glare, “No seriously, I just got back from grabbing a snack. What happened?”
“Axton forgot to check for traps and stepped on a knife.” Starlight replied.
“One time and I hate it.” Axton just said as his character had to lean on Brick to walk for a while.
“Well, it was your fault nonetheless.” Brick grinned.
“It only takes one time for people to remind him about it.” the mechromancer snickered, while keeping her distance from Axton.
“Ha ha, but anyway Tina how much longer we got until we reach the first location.”
“Funny you mention that,” the bunker master told them, “I want all of you to roll them dice!”
“Uh, why?” Spike asked.
“Perception checks. There is something nearby, but I want to see who notices it first.”
That was when Starlight rolled first and had a look at her stats, “Uh, 23?”
“Lets see… 21.” Axton said.
“24!” Brick announced.
Once the other players rolled their dice and gave off their numbers, Tina picked up where she left off, “Starlight, Axton, Brickety Brack. You three notice that there is a pillar of smoke rising in the distance, while also hearing what seems to be ominous chanting.”
“Well, I think that answers that.” Brick said
“Time to go and check it out.”
“Keep your weapons ready, just in case.”
“Alright now imma gonna go on ahead and scout it out for all of you.”
“If that’s the case, I need ya to roll a Stealth check for me.”
“Coming right up…. Got a 18.”
“Passed,” Tina told him with glee, “Carefully, you’re able to sneak through the passage ahead and in the distance, you can somewhat make out something. It appears to be a few figures in dark robes gathered around a huge bonfire.”
“Do you think it’s their ritual? Are we too late?” Starlight asked.
“Make a perception check and find out.”
“...... five.”
“From your position girl, you can’t see SHIT.”
“I’ll try again.” Axton said in her defense. “Uh, a 12 for me.”
“You try your best to discern anything, but aside from what sounds like a song in a language you don’t understand, you can’t understand SHIT.”
“Well i did my thing, who wants the next one?”
“I will roll.” Brick brought up and rolled his dice. “16 for me.”
“Doesn’t your character have a -2 to knowledge though?” Lilith asked, “I can see your character sheet from over here.”
“.... fine 14.”
“Passes, but barely…” Tina then replied, “Though, Brickety brack, I must ask. What are your language proficiencies? Because they’re not speaking normally by any means.”
“.... uh, save for common none.”
“So what do you plan on doing, Brick-?”
“Hey, I got an idea,” Gaige soon smirked as he looked back at Brick, “Since these guys look to be some of the Sorcerer’s former goons, why don’t we make this a contest?”
Almost everyone in the room looked at Gaige with a look of shock and horror on their face. However, to the slab king, he seemed rather intrigued by this proposal. “Go on.”
“We can have the rest of the party sneak around the sides of the camp while we go in from the front and cause a distraction. You and I can also keep track of how many we kill and see who gets the highest at the end of this,” the mechromancer told her, “If I win, you give me something in return. However… if you win, I can get you something you want. And if I remember correctly, you’ve been looking for some new ‘fancy clothes’.”
“You can’t be serious,” Starlight replied, only to look at Tina and see a rather eager and intrigued look on her face. “Oh dear…”
“YOU’RE ON, SLAB!!”
“Well shorties, seems like Bricky and Gaige are giving you a chance to go in while they cause a ruckus,” Tina told them, “Whatcha gonna do?”
“I'm content with watching this play out.” Axton then looked to the rest of the group. “How about the rest of you?”
"If this is the only way it's going to work," Maya sighed, before looking at Brick and Gaige, "You two better not be dead when we get back here."
“Hehe, oh don't worry, we won't be. Can’t say the same for the others.”
Before they could say anything else, the rest of the party heard the battle cries of both of their party members and the sounds of screams shortly afterwards.
“Yeah, how about we go and check on the hero while they have a blast?” Axton asked.
Spike and Starlight were quick to nod their heads as they had the rest of their group hurry over to where they believed the hero was being held. Yet, much to their surprise, they came across a rather different sight from what they were expecting.
“In the central tent at the back of the encampment, you hear what sounds like joyful chatter among colleagues. Something that seemed off considering everything that you encountered so far. Given how suspicious this sounds, what’s your next course of action?”
“I would say… go in with weapons at the ready?” Axton asked as he looked towards the rest of the group.
“I’ll make a perception check first,” Maya said before rolling the dice as she looked back at Tina, “Twelve?”
“You… can’t really seem to find anything out of the ordinary, despite being in hostile territory.”
“Then I go with Axton’s idea,” She replied.
“Everyone else on board with the plan?” When she heard no objections, that was when Tina replied back, “As you two go in, you soon find yourself inside the tent where there are two figures sitting in the middle drinking what appears to be herbal tea. There is a woman you do not recognize, but the other figure is an individual you clearly remember. It is Brick, the prettiest siren across the land and one of the four heroes who helped slain the Handsome Sorcerer. Of course, her first reaction to you isn’t quite so… welcoming.”
At that point, the teenaged alicorn began to do her best impression of Maya… almost, “Who are you and what the hell are you doing, shorty?”
Which left the actual Maya to sigh, “Oh god, why do I feel like we made a bad choice?”
“Are… you one of the heroes?” Spike now spoke up, “W-we thought you were-”
“What? That I got captured and I need a strong and heroic savior to rescue me? No, no, everything’s cool here girl,” Tina replied back, “In fact, these people saved my ass. They’re part of the Oracles, the rebellion group against those dumbass wizards that want to bring back the Handsome Sorcerer.”
“At this point, the woman next to Brick (the siren) turns back to you,” she replied, “Where are my people responsible for putting up the protection enchantments for our encampment? They should’ve informed me of your arrival.”
At the same time, both Gaige and Brick said exactly the same thing, “Oh shit.”