Session 7: Christmas Episode

The party was jolted awake in the dead of night on Christmas Eve as alarm bells shattered the winter silence. The town was under attack — a yeti rampaging through the business district. Responding to the call, the group joined the town watch in the defense effort, fighting alongside other members of the watch.

After a fierce battle, the yeti was slain, but victory was short-lived. From its corpse rose a shade, which tore open a portal of shimmering darkness. The shade commanded them to enter the portal, declaring that they were being summoned and that the yeti had been a test. It also stated that refusing to enter would result in another test being sent to the camp. The party stepped through and found themselves in a lavish penthouse, where an impossibly bountiful feast awaited them.

As they ate, they met Bran, an enigmatic figure who offered them a deck of cards — each draw holding uncertain fortune or consequence. After their draws, Bran bestowed upon them a quest: “a boy awaits a salvation, and an evil must be faced."

The party departed through a storm, braving a blizzard as they trekked northward. They reached the frozen lake, where they discovered a boy encased in frost and barely alive. They attempted to save him — placing coal in his lap and wrapping him in a sleeping bag to stave off death.

Continuing across the lake, they explored several structures surrounding a looming tower.

• House 1: Cleared of a hostile creature. Harvested the creature. Discovered a secret treasure room hidden in the cellar, where they chose a wand as their reward. Fully scavenged.
• Diner: Explored but not scavenged.
• Storage Shed: Not scavenged.
• Tower: Entered and fought a creature on the first floor, which was harvested upon defeat. The alchemy table was searched. On the second floor, they discovered a quest book. At the top, they activated the lanterns and obtained an acorn — though the purpose of the bell remains unknown.

The session concluded with the party standing atop the tower, the snow falling around them, and the mystery of the bell and the boy still unresolved.

Events of Note

Bran's Feast

• Gideon got 14 temporary hit points from the food and wine
• Logan got 10 temporary hit points and Dutch courage: if the player enters combat within the next hour, during the first round the player makes attacks with advantage.
• Liam got 10 temporary hit points and Blue Devils: too despondent to operate effectively, if the player enters combat within the next hour, during the first round the player makes attacks with disadvantage.
• Rachel got 10 temporary hit points and Violently happy: you find yourself chuckling at inappropriate moments. Stealth, deception, and persuasion checks are made at disadvantage for the next hour

Note: these effects have since faded other than the temporary hit points which remain.

The Deck of Merry Things

• Gideon drew the Gift. The bearer of this card receives Advantage on Persuasion until the end of the adventure.
• Logan drew the Idiot: The bearer of this card must wear the stupidest Christmas hat you can lay your hands on. If you don’t have one, make a really crappy one out of paper. And write “idiot” on it just so everyone gets it. In addition to wearing the hat, the bearer loses 3 points of intelligence.
• Liam drew the Grinch: The holder of the card loses their most treasured possession - usually a magic item. If they do not own one, then a magic item (or falling that, money, heirlooms, teeth etc) is taken from one of the other members of the party. This one is good for getting your players to hate each other.
• The Nanohealer was put into the box

Lumps of Coal

Liam received 3 lumps of coal for being naughty! He hacked into Bran's computer, broke into the hidden room and stole the clothing in the chest.

A harsh reminder wrapped in soot and ember, the Lump of Coal is the gift no one wants—but everyone deserves at least once. Warm to the touch and faintly glowing from within, it hums with the quiet disappointment of a thousand Santas. Maybe next year, you’ll do better.

— Lump of Coal