Sophomore Year, Fall Semester
Freshman Fourteen: Freshman orientation for the new class introduces us to a whole crop of new PCs, a handful of new NPCs, and some new layers to the Drow rivalry. PCs: Amizath, Araignee, Cado Lost Mountain, Ozzie Dark, Qualmegoth, Rook, Samwrothe, Unit0001, Xaralynn NPCs: Anastacia (as the Crimson Lotus), Flintlocke, Grunk, Kazarobet, Kree, Maddie Weber, Nwad, Ralche, Regdar, S'kkip, Storm Silverhand, Zathan. Other: various Drow members of Students for Lolth, other students, warforged religious zealots
Meeting with a Mind Flayer: Xizlqk has a floor meeting, in his new role as RA of Azer Dorm, floor 5. He's slightly more successful at it than Neil was, but no hard feelings. Then Creig attacks, disguised as Nwad, and they beat him up. PCs: Araignee, Cado Lost Mountain, Osdel Dark, Rook, Samwrothe, Unit0001, Xaralynn, Xizlqk NPCs: Burvik, Creig, Mierra, Neil, Nwad, Zathran Others: chairdogs
Of Apples and the Sealing of Hermes' Temple: Pembe discovers there's no longer fresh fruit coming into Sigil, and seeks to discover why. The Goblinettis have taken over Hermes' Temple, where the portal to Arborea is. PCs: Daveon, Hallister, Korwan (and Blue), Moralulani (and Prissy Kitty), Penembre Erasilmus NPCs: Dionysus (voice), Mr. Geck, Hermes (voice), Don Ki'yotee (the Gobfather), Norman, Saaleha others: the Goblinettis, various disappointed fruit buyers, celestial berry pickers, goats, eladrin, priests of Hermes, and Hermes' Answering Service
Boring Adventures of Biklik the Boring: Biklik is hired by Ralche to discover why Maddie's last name is Weber, rather than du'Corren (her family name), or Summerbreeze (adopted name). The answer was pretty anticlimactic (something about losing the right to use her family name, but unwilling to take her wishy-washy adopted family's name). Meh. PC: Biklik. NPCs: Dirkk', Ralche, Lord Soth, Storm Silverhand Others: various students, a tarrasque, a monstrous spider, and Maddie's drider receptionist
The Party to Begin All Parties: Roxy throws a start-of-the-semester party. Everyone who is anyone is there. Mostly. Lots of plot threads are introduced. PCs: Amizath, Araignee, Cado Lost Mountain, Daveon, Iltinger, Moralulani (and Prissy Kitty), Ozzie Dark, Penembre Erasilmus, Qualmegoth, Rook, Roxanne d'Cannith (and Flit), Unit0001, Vander, Xaralynn, Xizlqk NPCs: Acme G. Noll, Anastacia (impersonating Anissa), Animal, Drake, Finn, Fluffles, Hennet, Jack Solan, Jim, Kara, Kel, Krusk, Lidda, lil' Roper, Maddie, Mialee, Mierra, Nell, Nigel, Number 16, Nwad, Quinn, Rainbow, Regdar, [Rips Off Your Head Then Violates Your Trachea], Scream, Serina, Spin, Tinya, Trivia, T'sing-a'tsong, Vadania, Yffub. Others: various partiers, chaos kittens, Pembe's band, and a moray eel
Where Were You When We Were Getting High?: Ozzie and Vadnaia go out on the town looking for trouble. PCs: Ozzie Dark. NPCs: Tomoko, Vadania (and Dessan) Others: a male orog cop, a gelationous cube
What Are Whisper Gnomes Whispering About, Anyway?: Hespero follows some whisper gnomes, and discovers they are working for the Blinknoks. The Blinknoks try to convince him to attack Mith'gla'ka'nar'rith'shanniar on their behalf. Hespero performs a number of bizarre double crosses, and ends up saving the beasts while mollifying the dogs. PC: Hespero. NPCs: the Blinknoks (including Yip, Yip, Yipyipyipyip), Flarak-Nishar, Jayla (also as Alice), Mith'gla'ka'nar'rith'shanniar, Wendell, Xalk. Others: unnamed whisper gnomes.
Looking for a Draegloth: Cado looks for Araignee. Instead, he finds some of Creig's minions and mistakes them for ninjas. PCs: Cado Lost Mountain, Unit (sort of). NPCs: Tomoko, t'Toth, Zack (sort of Jack, Trish). Others: an unnamed shadowswift assassin
In Which an Unknown Freshman Tries to Become... Well... Known: Qualmegoth tries to cut a deal with Scream to help overthrow Cannith Tower in exchange for a favor. PCs: Qualmegoth. NPCs: Scream, Telteca, Thunder, Warp. Others: guests and staff of Necrophilia.
Moving In: Korwan and Sera move into their new, off-campus house. They discover 300 square miles of Lost World in the basement, where Nigel has been kidnapped and left as a sacrifice for a blood ape. After freeing him, Jarna moves in as a border. PC: Korwan (and Blue) NPCs: Jarna the Jungle Girl, Mario, Nigel, Serailye Others: a pair of spinosauruses, neanderthals, an unnamed lizardfolk game hunter, some blood apes
Looking for Adventure (Probably Going to End Up Being Another Misadventure): Iltinger interrupts a civil war between the Justice Guild of Sigil, and ends up taking on one of their enemies for them, since they can't be bothered. PC: Iltinger. NPCs: Agent (ridiculously long equatin), Brain in a Jar, the Burst, Captain Cormyr, the Dark Cave Defender, Death Knight, Iron Warforged, Pahrkahr Other: various passersby
Students for Xara: Gods on Catalogue: Xara goes looking for a religious club to join and/or annoy. He tries out several, then Xizlqk, Vander, and Ila Truesteel show up. The Students for the Silver Flame mistake Ila for Jaela Daran, and she takes advantage of it. PCs: Vander, Xaralynn (and Rainbow), Xizlqk NPCs: Burvik, Hennet, Ila Truesteel, Nocima, Thomas the Doubter, Vicola Others: Various members of various religious clubs
Rory and the Chocolate Factory: The obligatory Willie Wonka parody. Pembe takes Rory on a tour of Lord Hershey's chocolate factory. Xiz takes Spshak, Mora disguises as a child and has Drake take her, Ila crashes the party, and Inego takes Roxy Jr. Standard Willie Wonka stuff happens. PCs: Moralulani, Penembre, Xizlqk NPCs: Blurble, Drake, Geller, Lord Hershey, Ila Truesteel, Inego, Rory, Roxy Jr., Spin, Spshak, Uri, "Waldo", Yffub Others: various reporters and onlookers, factory workers, singing ghouls, chocolate elementals, and a chocolate pudding
Random Homework Generator: Daveon goes on an adventure based on a random hook generator, which results in he and Biklik chasing down the criminal Tarot. PCs: Biklik, Daveon. NPCs: Jayla (as Tarot/Alice), Officer ol'Eerie, Snoopy, Trivia, Wendell Others: Harmonium officers, patrons and a bartender of Scum & Villainy
One Earring to Sell Them...: Araignee tries to sell an earring he found to the Unit. He ends up uncovering a lot of inter-Fast Food chain rivalry and betrayal. PC: Araignee (with Fluffles) NPCs: Mr. Barkley, the Colonel, Fae the Fairy Princess, the Hamcriminal, Larry, the Unit Others: staff of the Colonel's and of Faerie Queen
Young Lords of Darkness: Who's Bad?: Xara decides to start his own adventuring club, for evil students, in answer to Young Knights of Myth Drannor. PCs: Vander, Xaralynn (and Rainbow). NPCs: Dora do'Urden, Maddie Weber, Morthos, Regdar, Sharilla. Others: the Young Lords of Darkness.
Revengs of the Wings, Part IV: Niazan comes back. Kara is glad to see him. Quinn is very jealous. PCs: Blue, Niazan. NPCs: Kara, Mierra, Nwad, Quinn, Mr. Roper, Tinya
Busy Day: Unit tries to locate a group of like-minded intelligent constructs. The group he finds doesn't meet his needs. PCs: Cado, Unit. NPCs: Jack Solon, Kailey, Molly, Teal, Trish. Others: bikini clad construct washers, a minotaur jock, a clerk, various shoppers, the Construct Rights Coalition
In Which a Shovel Plays a Pivotal Role: A bunch of stuff happens, not the least of which is an encounter with neogi in wildspace. A shovel plays very little role at all. PCs: Cado Lost Mountain, Korwan (and Blue), Qualmegoth, Unit0001, Vander, Xaralynn, Xizlqk NPCs: Aran Truesteel, Becky, Brotell, Genna, Ila Truesteel, Jack Solon, L'fr'g, Maddie Weber, Number One, Patch, Captain P'cr'd Tana'niri, Lt. Woof Others: the cheer squad, various jammer pilots, neogi
Quest for a Cure: Ozzie has a hangover and wants to be rid of it. This leads to joining a scavenger hunt. PCs: Ozzie, Rook. NPCs: Alecto, Bad Max, Bucky Bucks, Gimble, Griff, Headless Gibber, High Proselytizing Gibber, Jarvin, Lidda, Nebin, New Smart Gibber, Pammy, Rhionna, Soduko, Spring Dawning and Autumn Twilight (and Riff), Vadania (and Dessan), Zack, Zathan Others: 3rd and 4th floor students, other students, gibberlings
Krusk: All-Planar Linebacker: Krusk has been kidnaped, along with star football players from all over the division. Pembe and Daveon go in search of him, finally discovering he's been taken to The Realm, where the Dungeon Master won't let him go. PCs: Daveon, Penembre. NPCs: Atalanta, Dungeon Master, Eric, Hank, Jayla, Krusk, Regdar, Rory, Theseus, Vengeor. Others: patrons at Jayla's, Olympian athletes, the coach at Shadovar Conservatory, orc warriors, kidnapped football players, a remorhaz, and bullywugs
Where the Ninjas At?: Unit wants to be attacked by ninjas, but ends up being bugged by Creig. PC: Unit0001. NPCs: Creig, Kailey.
Murder on 347th Street: Samwrothe goes in search of the killer of several warforged, who leave the pulpy interior and steal the outer armor. It turns out to be gnome looters who sell metal to metal-starved Athas. PC: Samwrothe. NPCs: Dodgeful Artie, Jov, Mordekai, Nark and Mav, Utini. Others: a gum-chewing doppelganger, gnome metal thieves, and ogre thug
After Her!: Qual chases the much higher level Genna, and ends up going out with her. PC: Qualmegoth. NPCs: Genna, Jayla, Kazerobet, Tomoko, Zack. Others: a summoned dretch, various students, a bad poet, Jayla's patrons, and ghouls
To the Abyss We Go!: Xara, Araignee, and Moralulani head to the Abyss to ask Xara's grandmother, Malcanthet, about Araignee's parentage. St. Cuthbert has taken over Malcanthet's layer of the Abyss, but the PCs nobly trick him out. Mora then claims Malcanthet's layer for herself, and trades with Juiblex. So Mora owns Juiblex's layer, Juiblex owns Malcanthet's layer, and Malcanthet has the world's messiest roommate. PCs: Araignee (and Fluffles), Moralulani (and Prissy Kitty), Xaralynn NPCs: Gran, Jacque the Vrock, Juiblex, Malcanthet, Mammon, Pazuzu, St. Cuthbert, Zuggtmoy Others: vrock guards, other demons, followers of St. Cuthbert, a hezrou realtor, and demon and devil partiers
Spoilers: I just gave away a plot thread about Jayla being Tarot, because it seemed unlikely it would be picked up again.
Date with a Druid: Ozzie goes on a date with Vadania. They end up having a run-in with Sam the scammer, and the Blinknoks. PC: Osdel Dark. NPCs: the Blinknoks, Sam, Vadania (and Dassan), Zhoous Others: They Might Be Doppelgangers, patrons of Lliira's Lounge, an ooze, a small panda
Captures for Bad Max: Iltinger goes hunting for terlen (flying sharks), because some fool wants one for a pet. PC: Iltinger (and Kenku) NPCs: Bad Max, Hades Harry, Juiblex, Mammon. Others: a bored nycaloth at the Hades welcome center, warforged ninja, a swarm of terlen, a goose, the Shinobi-for-Hire Clan
Young Lords of Darkness II: the Fey'ri Strikes Back: Xara holds the organizational meeting for the Young Lords. PCs: Qualmegoth, Rook, Xaralynn NPCs: Dora do'Urden, Genna, Kailey, Lil' Roper, Neil, Tana'niri, Tinya Others: members of the Young Lords of Darkness
What Happens There?: Pembe and Ozzie discover Arkhad up to no good with a crooked circus. They thwart it, then go on a quest to return a hippo to the wild. Pembe ends up keeping it. PCs: Osdel Dark, Penembre NPCs: Arkhad, Frazier, Mr. Geck, Karlott, Rory, Rouscher, Stefanie, Talteca, Thouven Others: Tai-chi practitioners, various students, various ducks, acrobats, bears, tigers, elephants, lions, clowns and thieves
A Date with Danger: Vander goes on a date with Maddie. They take a trip to Hell to prank Fierna, then go to McRonald's. PC: Vander NPCs: Aitch, Fierna, Jayla, Kailey, Kevin, Maddie, Rory Others: ninja warforged, 300 Spartans having dinner in Hell
Young Knights of Myth Drannor Vs. Young Champions of Ruin: Extracurriculars Gone Wild: Xizlqk forms the Young Champions of Ruin, partly to counterpoint the Young Knights of Myth Drannor (which he still presidents), and partly to compete with Xaralynn's Young Lords of Darkness. He pits his new organization against the Young Knights, for no real reason. PCs: Araignee, Biklik, Daveon, Korwan (and Blue), Moralulani, Niazan, Xizlqk NPCs: Angela Dispater, Billen, Drillv, Kel, Kiki, Kree, Lance Ah'ramad, Spin, Tinya, Trivia, Vicola, Yffub Others: members of the Young Champions of Ruin and Young Knights of Myth Drannor
In Search of Chaos and Amusement: Cado and Trish go get tattoos, then join in on amateur's night at the gladiator pits. PC: Cado Lost Mountain. NPCs: Elmer the Even-Tempered, Fell, Frost Giant Carl, Lidda, Trish Others: an unnamed girl who does piercings, various bettors at the gladiator pits, umber hulk bouncers, a hobgoblin booking agent, a dire boar, a behir, a dwarf gladiator, some giant bees, an abeil, and an unnamed healer
Checking Out: Daveon, Niazan, and Biklik investigate the Arbco Corporation, which has been fraudulently dealing with Daveon's dad. Turns out, it's a front for Manshoon Jr. PCs: Biklik, Daveon, Niazan. NPCs: Annex and Xenna, Baram Salieri, Billen, Draco, Manshoon Jr, Natasha Bodd, Shemeska
Of Chaos and Mischievous Freshmen: Xara investigates some religious groups. PC: Xaralynn. NPCs: Kree, Zathan. Others: members of the Students for St. Cuthbert and Students for Lolth.
I'm Too Sexy for Pants: Mora, Araignee, Xaralynn (as "Susie"), and Unit0001, with some favorite NPCs, go on a shopping trip to by Ara nice things for his arranged date with Kree. PCs: Araignee, Moralulani, Unit0001, Xaralynn NPCs: Dora, Genna, Kailey, Kazerobet, Regdar, Tana'niri, Zathan Others: the sardonic Elven salesman who's appeared before, a Hot Topic clerk
Frustration in Action!: Qual's class fights the show choir as a class project. PC: Qualmegoth. NPCs: Fizban, Professor Harcourt, Nigel, S'kkip, Lord Soth, Trivia Others: various students, and the show choir
Letters to Dead People, Pt. III: Hespero promises to attempt the murder of a pair of well-to-do displacer beasts on behalf of a blink dog street gang, using the aid of a goblin Mafia hit man. This is a pretty standard story arc around here. PC" Hespero (Osdel in cameo) NPCs: the Blinknoks (Barker, Biter, Growler, Piddler), Flarak-nishar, Jayla (as "Alice") Mith'gla'ka'nar'rith'shanniar, Meego, Sam Others: some displacer beast guards, guests of Mith'gla'ka'nar'rith'shanniar, some bats, a rhino, wolf, panda, patrons of Jayla's, an unnamed goblin assassin, and goblin bar patrons
Totally the Best Motivation: Trying to help find the missing Anissa, Amizath and Xizlqk contact Tao and enter the dreamscape, where she finds her father, thought dead for years. Is he part of the dream, or is he real? Much soap opera. PCs: Amizath, Xizlqk. NPCs: Alexi, Anastacia (by telepathy), Angela, Jim, Tao Others: dream constructs of Amizath's other selves, Anissa, Nevrosh, and some zombies.
Hippo Beach: Basking with Crocs: Pembe and Ozzie go to Heliopolis to find a home for a wayward hippo. They are captured by bad stand-up comedian and deceased pharoah Nutninkhamen, but luckily get away. PCs: Osdel Dark, Penembre. NPCs: Arkhad, Frazier, Karlott, Nutninkhamen, Quetzelcoatl, Rory, Stefanie Others: tooth-cleaning birds, crocodiles, various Heliopolitan citizens, including slaves, a bartender and an Anubian priest.
As If Nothing Were Amiss: Amizath and friends go on an adventure to try and figure out what happened to the missing Anastacia (actually Anissa... long story), and end up foiling a plot by Dr. Bodog Bodoggeus Bodog (short story). PCs: Amizath, Blue, Niazan (only in a note), Roxanne, Xizlqk NPCs: Angela, Anissa (actually Anastacia), Anissa (in flashback), Ben d'Jorasco, Dr. Bodog Bodoggeus Bodog, Breven d'Deneith, the Daelkyr who's been tormenting Amizath (in flashback), Estaban, Jim, Mighty Thunk, Nevrosh (only in a dream), Serina, Tao, Thunder, Warp, Zelda Others: Deneith guards, a ship's captain, an aquatic human realtor, a lava ooze
Fine Arts (or, An Impromptu Lesson in Uncanny Dodging): Rook goes to the Battle Opera with someone who turns out to be Kara. The play is Grendel. Kara doesn't approve. PCs: Amizath, Rook. NPCs: Anissa, Bash, Flarak-nishar, Kara, Mith'gla'ka'nar'rith'shanniar, Tanaleer Kessel, Tinya Other: various opera goers (including an ogre and a dwarf), actors (including a gibbering mouther playing Grendel's Mother), and ushers
Kill Them All and Take Their Stuff: Looking for some extra credit, Ozzie is given Silvershine, and sent to rid the Paladin building of a horror from the Far Realms. PC: Osdel Dark. NPCs: Alhandra, Silvershine. Others: various paladin students, things from the Far Realm, and a Cthulic insurance salesman from the realm of madness
Planar Picnic Party: Krusk takes Pembe on a picnic and proposes. Tyriphus crashes and reveals some hidden secrets (i.e., he and Pembe did the horizontal mambo over summer break). PC: Penembre. NPCs: Aganippe, Krusk, Podalirius, Tyriphus Other: unicorns and other such peaceful background critters