DM: Whatever was hunting you is still following you. You guide the party faster through the caves and gain more distance on it.
Marijn (playing Godric): Can I use prestidigitation instead of a skill check?
DM: ...?
Marijn: I'd like to cast my mind back to the smell of the red dragon we snuck past during Duke Farlaing's tournament, and recreate the scent and sound of an angry large dragon behind us.
DM: Yeah, I like that. The thing following you is definitely given pause by those effects.
DM: You hear Emperor Cherish announce, "My dear subjects and masters, I bear good news! Travelling Trauma Centre was successful in healing me today, as per their quest. Suda is free; the witch hunters will be disbanded effective immediately, and the temple of Ioun will be rebuilt. We will return to a time of peace. Throw open the gates!" The crowd is stunned for a moment, then goes absolutely nuts.
Tati (playing Seraph): Aw, he's actually a really decent ruler. That makes me happy.
Marijn (playing Godric): Maybe they'll get that festival after all.
Hamish (playing Thaddeus): *happy* Sucks to be a witch hunter right now.
DM: Yeah, the witch hunters gathered around the square suddenly look uncertain and nervous. Cherish continues, "You have all been badly hurt by the witch hunter regime. All those harmed will be compensated for their losses, and the instigators will be punished. Of that you have my sacred word. Now, you must be wondering how Duke Farlaing's tournament ends. TTC A wins! They are not only your champions, but heroes of this city. You have them to thank for your newfound freedom."
Adam (playing Billie): Woooo! That's what I like to hear!
DM: "Since they not only healed me but freed all of Suda from disaster, they have earned a much greater prize than that which they were promised for the tournament."
Adam: *crosses fingers* 1000 platinum.
DM: "TTC will be granted knighthoods, and property in Suda."
Adam: Okay, that's pretty good.
Hamish: Wow. He's a Skyrim jarl.
DM: That's your cue to come out and receive your applause.
DM: You're inside the Bag of Holding with Duke Farlaing. It's completely dark.
Una (genasi artificer): Duke Farlaing? It's Una. Are you okay?
DM: There's a startled noise. "What? Who are you?"
Una: Um... Una? Of the Travelling Trauma Centre?
DM: He says, "I don't know who that is."
Una: *confused* We... we're one of the teams in the tournament you're running? Have you heard of Heron's Fall? What about Servants of the Sun? The Craftsmen?
DM: He says, "Those last two, I have. And, and you say the tournament has started?"
Una: Yes... *narrows eyes* What do you think the date is?
DM: He says uncertainly, "The 27th of New Day?"
Una: Ah... *sighs* Okay, so... you've been mind-controlled, and your tournament is being used to terrorize people.
DM: He sounds distressed. "What? No, no, no, that's all wrong! The tournament is supposed to be a celebration of adventurers. It's not supposed to be terrifying!"
Una: So you were planning the tournament?
DM: "Yes, but not like that!"
Una: *knuckles eyes* Okay. I think we're done here.
DM: You get to the meeting room with the huge desk. Emperor Cherish sits down and moves some papers to the side. He says, "Now, Dorphi..." Dorphi says, "Yes, sir."
Tati (playing Seraph): So domestic. I love how comfortably they fell back into routine with each other.
DM: They've known each other since they were little kids.
M (playing Kjell): Aww!
DM: Cherish says, "First things first, TTC's reward. How much was the tournament prize to be?" Duke Farlaing goes very pale.
Adam (playing Billie): *after a pause* "600 platinum."
DM: Cherish nods. "I see. I think we can do a little better than that. The royal treasury is outfitted to reward adventurers for outstanding acts of service, so I think 1000 platinum sounds like a reasonable number."
Adam: *chokes* I was joking!
DM: "Each."
Hamish + Tati: *jaws drop*
DM: *smiles serenely* Dorphi's reaction is similar.
DM: He's in the corridor outside, unsure what to do. When you bring him in, Emperor Cherish regards him and says, "Duke. I understand you've had a part to play in all this." Farlaing cringes.
Adam (playing Billie): I interject, "Um, just like you had your part to play? You were both mind-controlled!"
DM: Cherish says calmly, "You're right, of course." There's a knock on the door.
Tati (playing Seraph): *flinches* I'm backing into the corner, staff up. "It's him. It's him..."
M (playing Kjell): *grim* I open the door.
DM: There's a palace servant with glassy eyes there who holds out a letter addressed to TTC.
Tati: *low moan* No, what now...
M: *reluctant* I read out the letter... "My dearest Travelling Trauma Centre…"
"I must congratulate you on your recent triumphs. The defeat of the mimic titan, the rescue of The Craftsmen from execution, and of course saving our esteemed Emperor Cherish; these deeds are sure to secure you a place in the songs of bards and the annals of history for generations to come. You even secured Galwyn’s resurrection, which I had not anticipated. I knew that you were heroes, but the way you rose to the challenge time and again far surpassed my expectations.
"And so the second phase of our game draws to a close. I suspect that this is not what you were expecting or hoping for. I can only imagine the depths of your hatred toward me, and for my new ally Destrian, who has grown so much in our short time together. Please trust in the following truths: first, that we both hate you so much more. And second, that you are not in a position yet to take us on. So we will be waiting off the board, still playing the game, but not engaging in person. When you are ready, we will tell you where to find us. After all, the dragon falls further and harder than the fairy. And we want you to fall so very far, and so very hard.
"So, for now, enjoy your success, your fame, and your rewards. I should think your emperor will give you plenty of all. Soon I will be sending you more challenges, as the tournament was only the beginning. After all, it would not do to have us get bored. But rest first. Prepare yourselves for what is coming. Gather your allies, gather your resources. You will need them. For I have mine, and they are terrible.
"On that note, I will make you a promise. I will not go after your friends. You have no reason to take me at my word, but they will be left alone. As I said, you will need your allies. Your eventual defeat and my revenge will be that much more satisfying if you had every possible asset and I still kill you all.
"And if you think me wrong, and you want to settle this now, face to face, leave a message in your dead drop. But I beg you, do not make me kill you before you are ready. I want to savour this.
"Yours, in life and death, sanity and madness, this world and the next,
DM: There's not a banquet for dinner today, just a refined affair with Duke Farlaing and whichever of the adventuring parties attend. After you've eaten everyone adjourns to the ballroom where the nobles return for the announcement of Round Two. Farlaing explains that each party will be teleported to a dangerous location and must escape without killing anything. Since you won the first round, you get to choose which location you will travel to, while the other parties will be randomized. Your choices are: a necromancer temple, a gnoll war camp, a royal bedchamber, a dragon's lair, a lich's tomb, or a wizard's tower. You can assume none of these locations are friendly.
Kjell (half-elf barbarian): *excited* Let's go to the dragon's lair.
Godric (fairy warlock): No way, that's the most dangerous!
Thaddeus (khajiit paladin): I reckon the palace.
Billie (gnome ardent): How would we explain that?
Seraph (siren sorcerer): What about the necromancer temple?
