This is it! The first half of a two-part breakdown of the fifth and final session of the Smurfs TRPG five session mini-campaign, The Smurfs and The Palace of The Silver Princess.
Based on/Inspired by the Dungeons and Dragons module B3 Palace of the Silver Princess and using the upcoming The Smurfs Roleplaying Game from Maestro Media, the sessions were run over Discord with five players (Andrew, Brandon, Heather, René, and myself) and a Gamemaster/Storyteller Smurf (Stephen).
While the first three sessions were roughly 4 1/2 hours each, Session Four was about 5 1/2-6 hours, and Session Five was about 5 hours.
To catch up check out this post on the Player Character Smurfs and for the recaps of the previous sessions, you'll want to read:
Something Burrowed, Something Blue - Session One, Part 1
Singing The Blues - Session One, Part 2
Blue Green Red - Session Two, Part 1Cry Blue Murder - Session Two, Part 2
Tangled Up in Blue - Session Three
OK, here go...
Session Five, Part 1
With the Court Magician Mirabillis freed from the influence of The Eye of Arik's dark magic, the next logical step was to obtain Arik's Sword. When the two items - the Eye and the Sword - touch each other, both will be destroyed.
The problem of course was that the Sword was being kept in the Royal Armory protected by a mighty Ogre. Then there was something about a Dragon...
"YES, the Dragon! I should have mentioned the Dragon right away" said Mirabillis in a somewhat embarrased tone.
"Yes, you should have", said Apathy Smurf flatly.
"I mean really, it is just proper etiquette you know", added Suave Smurf.
Mirabillis cleared his throat, "The Princess' betrothed is Sir Ellis, a Knight of the Order of the White Drakes. This isn't just some fanciful title. Sir Ellis landed in the castle's courtyard astride a pale dragon the length of the four horses nose to tail. It had red-pink eyes and a look of cunning intellect. It breathed a burst of bright flame in display, to the excitement and terror of the crowd."
This started a short discussion about how or why a White Dragon might be able to breath fire. We quickly came to the conclusion that this may be A) an important element to the mystery of the adventure, B) evidence this isn't really a White Dragon, or C) it doesn't really matter and here White Dragons breath fire. All good.
"When the crimson light of the Eye of Arik flashed its awful brilliance, the White Dragon - called Fellbane - took off into the castle. Strangely, during my time walking the Palace's halls as both a sane man and my corrupted self, I never again saw the Dragon. It may have been corrupted by the Eye's evil, it may have fled, or it may be hiding somewhere within the these walls", Mirabillis finshed, concern etched on his face.
"OK...", Apathy began, "So who else is really excited to keep going?", finishing with a mocking 'hurrah!'.
The gang decided there was nothing to be done regarding the Dragon for the time being (other than being on alert for its potential presence). Instead, the Smurfs would proceed to the Royal Armory to face the Ogre and obtain the Red Sword of Arik...somehow. We suggested to Mirabillis that he use the cure to the Petrification Curse to free Rowena the Minstrel, as we recalled the information from an earlier clue that 'merry music' irrated Arik and might weaken his power. There was agreement, the wishing of luck, and off we went.
It took us a fairly short time (roughly a random encounter with rat skeletons and a scene transition) to locate the Royal Armory. Readying ourselves for battle - or possibly talking our way through this - the team smurfed themselves up mentally and went to unlock the door.
"Who goes there!?", he bellowed. "I smell not beast, nor man, nor fairy. A scent I do not know? Be wary! Whomever you are come forth but be warned! You face the might of Suffertooth's scorn!"
"Suffertooth?", whispered Smurfcornflower, a look of both anxiousness and skepticism on her face. Apathy shrugged in response.
The door had a normal keyhole but the Smurfs took a chance and used the Magic Key with the Blue Crystal to try and open the door. It worked! Brash, Honeysuckle, and Apathy slowly pushed the door open, largely because it was big and heavy, as Suave and Cornflower readied themselves for whatever would be revealed.
The latter were under no delusion that the two of them could handle the Ogre themselves. Quite the opposite. The team decided it was best for the tougher Smurfs to enter the room first, placing them closer to the Ogre sooner. It was the group's hope that Smurfcornflower and Suave Smurf might be the best to assess the situation and think of a plan...from a slighter safer distance.
What they saw was...
A collective 'Gulp' was made by all [the Smurfs].
Suffertooth was massive. He stood two heads taller than the tallest knight they'd ever seen and nearly three times as wide. His hands could hold two or three Smurfs within them and crush them easily by making a fist. He carried a long handled club with a heavy head studded in spikes.
For his part, Suffertooth the Ogre took a ready stance but his face twisted into an expression of confusion. He definitely wasn't expecting five tiny, blue people and yet he didn't immediately laugh nor did he ignore them. He was clearly wise enough to not take any chances.
Suave and Cornflower each had an idea which came to them at the same time. Their eyes widened, they looked at each other, smiled, and turned back to the Ogre at hand. Suave stepped forward with his characteristic charismatic charm as he gave a deep bow. Smurfcornflower on the other hand stepped backward, allowing the focus to be placed squarely on Suave so she could slip a Potion out of her bag.
"What manner of invader enters this room? What creatures are these that come to their doom?", Suffertooth called out, ending with a droll chuckle.
"Greetings mighty Suffertooth! My name is Suave Smurf and on behalf of my colleagues and I, may I say what an honor and a privilege it is to be in the presence of such a magnificent warrior as yourself!"
Suffertooth starred hard at Suave, a grimace etched into his rough and leathery face. He then smiled what could only be called a polite smile and said, "You may! You may I say! Tell me now small blue one, what brings you here? Why don't you run? I am mighty that is true and could easily smash the lot of you." Once again the Ogre chuckled.
All the while he failed to notice Cornflower handing a Potion to Brash, making sure Honeysuckle was right beside him, and gave the two of them quick instructions. Apathy looked around for the Sword of Arik, though the room was surprisingly big and full of weapons of all sorts, he was certain a blade of such terrifying power wouldn't be too difficult to notice.
"Why we came to marvel at your might and majesty m'lord. We have heard that you guard the great Sword of Arik the Vile. Certainly only the strongest of wills and most battle-hardened men-at-arms would be charged with such a task.We have come to pay homage and congratulate you on a task well executed." Suave spoke with air of admiration, doing his best to hide his building fear of Ogre.
"I see, I see but you can't fool me. You have come to try and steal the blade. Perhaps so the Eye may be unmade? Well then, well met my brave foolish friends. Sadly you have come to meet your end. My strength is real, my prowess true. The time has come to smash each of you." Looking almost disappointed, Suffertooth raised his mace above his head such that it scrapped the ceiling of the Armory. As he swung it down, sparks flew where weapon met stone.
It hit the ground with a thunderous sound but missed each and every Smurf. Apathy, Cornflower, and Suave were knocked back a bit by the sheer force of the blow but were otherwise unharmed.
"NOW!" shouted Cornflower.
Brash Smurf drank half of the contents of the Potion bottle she'd given him. He than handed it off to Smurfhoneysuckle who downed the other half. At first, nothing happened. Everyone started to get very, very nervous.
Suddenly the two Smurfs shook in place, vibrating and trembling, before they grew and grew...six apples tall, then twelve, then twenty-four! Within seconds Honeysuckle was the height of the Ogre and Brash (proportionally) just a bit less so. "Cornflower!", Suave practically squealed her name, "You clever, clever girl! A Growth Potion! Genius!" For her part Smurfcornflower blushed and did a slight curtsy-bow.
"Now then...", Brash said with a serious look and just the faintest of grins, "let's see who smashes who, huh?"
AD
Barking Alien
I was originally going to try and right up with session in a single post but between some of the fun dialogue I wanted to include and my giving more description in the retelling then was present in the actual game, I ended up with a lot more material then I intended.
That is also why this post has taken so long to come out.
My apologies. See you soon!
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