There I was, DMing Call of the Netherdeep. The party was traveling on the road from Jigow to Bazzoxan. The players happily roleplaying among themselves. The Artificer picks up a stone, enchants it to say "Hello there!" and hands it to the Bard. Who is a Fairy from the Feywild. The Bard immediately acknowledges the stone as his new best friend. He names the stone Russell. More roleplaying and the Artificer convinces the Bard to throw the stone away. It's just a stone. The Bard is sad.
The group finally arrives at Bazzoxan. I lay out all the areas of the military camp village, chock full of plot hooks and quests available. I ask what they wanted to do. The Bard says he wants to find a hat. A fancy hat. Ok, sure... roll an investigation but this is going to be a high DC because they really only have things they need for their defense. And as a fairy you're smaller than most of... Natural 20. For a total of 27. WTF.. I mean, Sure...you find a fancy hat that was sent by mistake. It is a royal blue bowler with peacock feathers rising up on either side. The Bard is no longer sad. He is once again a happy bard. Although Russell will be remembered fondly throughout this campaign.
Now they are in the Betrayer's Rise. And they meet some fire elementals dancing in a room. Most of the group is cautious... but not the Bard. The Bard confidently strides forward. The Bard dances with the fire elementals. Ok, roll a performance check and.... Natural 20... with expertise... that's 31... The fire elementals appear to be completely enthralled with your performance. And it was then that I an idea formed....
I gave hints. Whenever the Bard would roll a 19 on his performance check I would describe unknown to him, but visible to all onlookers, the peacock feathers began to glow as if they were embers. And the desert sands do not seem to cling to your hat. Nor going underwater. It always seems to be pristine. I also make sure that random NPCs will regularly compliment The Hat. I am now waiting for the Bard to roll another performance Natural 20. If he doesn't then this will come into play if he makes a performance in the final encounter.
He doesn't roll another Natural 20 on performance. Fine... I have confidence.
Sure enough, it is the final encounter. The Bard begins his performance. He rolls well, a total of 25. The peacock feathers begin to glow. Dust begins to appear on top of the hat.
Next round... roll another performance check. You can have advantage due to a mechanic if you so choose. The Bard's player is confident. He. does. not. need. advantage. Natural 1. The glow begins to flicker... the dust begins to settle. The Bard is choking under the pressure.
Next round... need another performance check. Not so confident this time, the Bard's player decides to use advantage. Nat 1 and then a 17. The glow and dust have returned.
This next one is going to make or break the surprise. If it is not a high roll the idea will simply be a part of the Bard's afterstory. It wasn't a Nat 20, but it was still above a 25. The fires erupts from both peacock feathers and take the forms of dancing fire elementals providing backup dancing and vocals. The dust coalesces into a. very. specific. stone. A stone that then stretches and grows, forming an earth elemental who is playing the drums.... and on the bass drum is a single word... Russell. The earth elemental winks at the Artificer and mouths "Thanks, Dad!" All but one player cheers the return of the beloved Russell. Not the Artificer, who adamantly states he will not be paying child support.
The next round, another good roll: Not to be left out, the planes of Water and Air also send a pianist and violinist. Thus begins the first performance of the Bard and the Elemental Divas.
They will be with the Bard forever more, only joining in on his best (or most important) performances.
Good story! That's one you and your friends will remember forever.
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Compromise where you can. Where you can't, don't. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye, and say, "No. You move."
There I was, DMing Call of the Netherdeep. The party was traveling on the road from Jigow to Bazzoxan. The players happily roleplaying among themselves. The Artificer picks up a stone, enchants it to say "Hello there!" and hands it to the Bard. Who is a Fairy from the Feywild. The Bard immediately acknowledges the stone as his new best friend. He names the stone Russell. More roleplaying and the Artificer convinces the Bard to throw the stone away. It's just a stone. The Bard is sad.
The group finally arrives at Bazzoxan. I lay out all the areas of the military camp village, chock full of plot hooks and quests available. I ask what they wanted to do. The Bard says he wants to find a hat. A fancy hat. Ok, sure... roll an investigation but this is going to be a high DC because they really only have things they need for their defense. And as a fairy you're smaller than most of... Natural 20. For a total of 27. WTF.. I mean, Sure... you find a fancy hat that was sent by mistake. It is a royal blue bowler with peacock feathers rising up on either side. The Bard is no longer sad. He is once again a happy bard. Although Russell will be remembered fondly throughout this campaign.
Now they are in the Betrayer's Rise. And they meet some fire elementals dancing in a room. Most of the group is cautious... but not the Bard. The Bard confidently strides forward. The Bard dances with the fire elementals. Ok, roll a performance check and.... Natural 20... with expertise... that's 31... The fire elementals appear to be completely enthralled with your performance. And it was then that I an idea formed....
I gave hints. Whenever the Bard would roll a 19 on his performance check I would describe unknown to him, but visible to all onlookers, the peacock feathers began to glow as if they were embers. And the desert sands do not seem to cling to your hat. Nor going underwater. It always seems to be pristine. I also make sure that random NPCs will regularly compliment The Hat. I am now waiting for the Bard to roll another performance Natural 20. If he doesn't then this will come into play if he makes a performance in the final encounter.
He doesn't roll another Natural 20 on performance. Fine... I have confidence.
Sure enough, it is the final encounter. The Bard begins his performance. He rolls well, a total of 25. The peacock feathers begin to glow. Dust begins to appear on top of the hat.
Next round... roll another performance check. You can have advantage due to a mechanic if you so choose. The Bard's player is confident. He. does. not. need. advantage. Natural 1. The glow begins to flicker... the dust begins to settle. The Bard is choking under the pressure.
Next round... need another performance check. Not so confident this time, the Bard's player decides to use advantage. Nat 1 and then a 17. The glow and dust have returned.
This next one is going to make or break the surprise. If it is not a high roll the idea will simply be a part of the Bard's afterstory. It wasn't a Nat 20, but it was still above a 25. The fires erupts from both peacock feathers and take the forms of dancing fire elementals providing backup dancing and vocals. The dust coalesces into a. very. specific. stone. A stone that then stretches and grows, forming an earth elemental who is playing the drums.... and on the bass drum is a single word... Russell. The earth elemental winks at the Artificer and mouths "Thanks, Dad!" All but one player cheers the return of the beloved Russell. Not the Artificer, who adamantly states he will not be paying child support.
The next round, another good roll: Not to be left out, the planes of Water and Air also send a pianist and violinist. Thus begins the first performance of the Bard and the Elemental Divas.
They will be with the Bard forever more, only joining in on his best (or most important) performances.
Awesome!
Kasrik Argentum Stellaris Fiddlesticks the Wizard, Lord of Stars, Master Trickster, and Creator of both the Mosh of Stardust Hornets and Mimiczilla.
"You're never fully dressed without a smile!" >:3
"Honk."
great idea! lucky with the rolls!
Good story! That's one you and your friends will remember forever.
Compromise where you can. Where you can't, don't. Even if everyone is telling you that something wrong is something right. Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye, and say, "No. You move."
That inspires me for so many ideas I have already brewing.
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