Shadowdark #15: 'It's a TWAP!'

 The characters resolve to return to the caves, though of course they now have new found information regarding Dagmara, the half orc wizard's parentage...stunning revelations; so much so that in fury, she returns the group to the caves in search of the apparently kidnapped babies...which of course is a ruse of devious nature.

'I hope this thing can fly?'

 They find tracks left by the kidnappers into a green mist filled cave...and discover that finding the clues is waaaay too easy.

'Wait...this seems far easier than...AHHHHHH!'

Entering a second entrance into the bandit lair instead, the bandits are reluctant to engage (after losing most of their number during the last encounter), but...they have a cunning plan (my lord). As the characters pursue the fleeing bandits, bags of 'anti-magical moonstone' cascade from the sides of the high chamber, stunning them and exploding amongst the magic users. Though they fight their way through, Dagmara is kidnapped and taken to the entrance, where harpies take her to the green mist cave, evading the descent of the party's 'Attack Griffin'.

 

Dagmara kidnapped by level 2 Bandit NPC morons! I mean...the embarrassment of it all...

With little choice now, the party rush inside the mist cave, discovering quickly that it is a maze and (DC15) checks must be made to stay together, which they invariably fail, except for Lyall the cleric, who dutifully finds the kidnapped Dagmara in the Harpy's lair (finding an ancient corpse on the floor, and a captured Dagmara in the nest above).

 His frantic Elven cries of 'HELP' reach the other characters, but they simply can not find him...though Fighter Bjorn finds a magical crossbow bolt of some nature in one of the rooms. The Harpies descend on the sole cleric, killing him in a few rounds., despite Leeta finding him, but being unable to save him.....when Bjorn and Jeralt reach the chamber and start to wreak vengeance on the winged hags.

Arriving home to discover that no one has emptied the dishwasher...AGAIN!

 In her vain attempt to escape, the bound Dagmara does find a secret entrance...apparently to the larger 'boss' cavern which has not been explored yet...and notes it for future reference.

Sadly, the characters regroup, and carry their once proud Spinal Tap drummer...I mean cleric, from the field of battle (cue music).

Death in the Harpy maze...

 Returning to the castle...there are things to discuss with Lady Maureen when they return her wand, whose big reveal as Dagmara's mother, makes many of the previous situations clear:

'I mean there is a chance, that I uhh, might not have exactly, precisely, told you everything?'

 

• 20 years previously, Dagmara, Trum, Byden the cleric and a fighter called Devlin (whose remains the party found in the Harpy nest), explored the caverns at various times. 
• Maureen found herself captured by White-Eye, escaping months later, and giving birth to her daughter in Boderfell (Borderfell...the Stroke City).
• She then headed north, leaving her daughter in the hands of the Boderfell/Borderfell rebels (who are really nice, honest)
• She returned here years later, in disguise, to wreak vengeance, find her daughter, or to determine exactly what was going on... 
• Trum had disappeared at one stage during the exploration - when returning to the party, he seemed 'different'.
• Clearly he, or his minion White-Eye, want Dagmara...Maureen believes that she is some sort of 'blood key', perhaps a blood sacrifice...that enables whoever is running the whole thing to escape somewhere...
• Maureen has also been passed 'moonstone' as a medicine but she realises now, that it is to dampen her magic. It came from Byden, who is clearly in the thrall of Trum too.
• When the characters tell of their 'eye of true seeing' magic item, and having seen Trum as some sort of Tabaxi/Cat person, behind his illusory human facade..Maureen gasps, grabs her ancient (1st ed no less) Monster Manual...and hisses 'Rakshasha...he is a Rakshasa! The real Trum is long dead then!' She shakes her head and sighs. 'This won't be easy.' 

Lord Trum...chillin'...with cheap fez that he bought from e bay, and pipe...

 

But what, gentle reader, is his devious plan...tune in next time...