Interestingly enough, it was awesome.
The Almighty DM has a real treat prepared for us when we arrived. He and some friends had conspired to create a intro to the game that was top notch. The actors painted a picture of intrigue, deception, and betrayal as the game participants contemplated how they came to be in their current predicament. One of the players (Clint) did the sound and editing, creating a seamless and engaging atmosphere. After the rest of the party staggered out the door in the wee hours of the morning, we hit the sack knowing that we have only a few moments of shut-eye before the gaming began.
We started out the day at 8am and finished around 2am. Things started off well on a ship somewhere in the depths that surround Ravenloft. Unfortunately for our DM we made quick work of what should have taken most of the day to process. Instead of sticking together and searching the ship, as was intended, we split up to cover more ground and probably ended up missing the true nature of why we were on the ship in the first place. right from the start most of the players seemed to be very withdrawn and secretive. They have even gone as far as to hide critical information that they gathered on the ship that could prove vital later in the game.
Once we got off the ship, we went our ways to get back home where we found a note instructing us to be at a certain spot at a certain time for further instructions. We met up the the town mayor, picked up a guide, shot up some locals, and found ourselves at the mansion of one of the oldest residents of Ravenloft. On our way to his house, we came across a mansion that appeared deserted with a bleeding statue who vomits flies. He gave us a mission to find several pieces of an artifact and bring them back to him. We set out and soon discovered that many of us were undergoing some changes, both physical and mental.
We stopped in a town and picked up supplies. I bought a horse that was way over priced at $2000 gold and used it for about a day. As we set out to find the first piece of the artifact, we hooked up with a witch that helped direct us to where we needed to go. Strange old coot who sold jewelry. As we headed to the first artifact, we encountered a crumbling tower with a zombie and a willow-wisp in the basement. The zombie was hanging in the middle of the room and pretty quiet until you tried to steal his treasure which was under a stone in the floor. When we pulled the treasure box out, he started to freak out and tried to grab the knife in his belt. I mean come on, since when did zombies start carrying knifes? So I took it away from him and he was pretty harmless after that. We took the treasure upstairs and was fixing to open it when a militia shows up and wants us to surrender. How did they find us? What would they want with us? To the first question, we were betrayed not really sure by who or why, this is where it probably help to have played they type of games before. To the second question, I think they want our autographs. I mean how many people to you know that are actively evolving into some other beings? We said no, so they started trying to bring the place down. Clint and I headed downstairs to get the zombie and send him out as a distraction. I grabbed the feet since I knew that zombies like brains and I did not what it anywhere near mine. Clint on the other hand... So we bring him upstairs and sick him on Adam. Instead of shoving him out the door, Adam goes a couple of rounds with the zombie. I open the treasure box and someone downstairs wants us to search the zombie for the keys. Clint does and I take the keys downstairs where someone has found a trap door that was under the treasure box. Fortunately, I only have 13 keys to try and the trap door is covered in 3 feet of water. It takes me several tries to get the right one and we all start piling through the door. Err, except that is for Adam. Clint graciously booby-traps the stairs and tells everyone upstairs that it is a trap. Probably to that they will know not to come down this way. Too bad Adam is still up there. Somehow we get the treasure box half way down the stairs and Bonnie dumps out her backpack to put all the gold in it. She gives the bag to me and jumps through the trap door. The rest of us follow suit except for Adam who is determined to finish off the zombie and the rest of the militia. Clint covers our tracks be setting off a smoke grenade before going down into the hole. So now the stairs are booby-trapped and the room with the only escape is filled with smoke. Good luck Adam. See you in another life :) The tunnel is pretty cramped. Picture a 3 foot x 2 foot drainage shaft with 6 people swimming down it. This is where we end our game session. I cant wait for the next one!
Fortunately, I was invited back and got the thumbs up from the spouse! We are going to hold it quarterly in an attempt to make it more convenient for all the players to make it.
Darrien Lockwood
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