Time marches ever onward, as characters make discoveries and exchange information in preparation for what is to come.

In these Campaign Diary posts, I discuss the campaign I play in and what happened in our most recent session!

What’s SBotLL?

That’s the name of the campaign I play in! It’s been running for almost four years now. There are two parties, one on the Surface and one in the Underdark. I play in the surface squad as the elf bard Finnith, and my two friends play the dragonborn rogue Nala and the tiefling ranger Allora.

Recap

Last session, Finnith and Nala couldn’t get in contact with Allora or the members of the Awoken Flame, where she was staying. They learn that she is safe, but that the enemy has attacked the Awoken Flame. The two begin to consider their options for moving forward. While this happens, Finnith discovers that the enemy, the Coven of Eternal Light, has officially declared war on him and the others, and the party makes preparations for the upcoming conflict.

During this session…

In a previous session, the two parties met in a strange dream that all remember. We briefly went back to have our characters discuss those events, concluding that this other party may be helpful allies in the future. Finnith begins attempts at magical communication.

Back in the present, Finnith learns that someone made blod stones for each of the twelve major elven families, including his own (which was a major family centuries ago). Add that to the list of unanswered questions—who made them, and for what purpose? Meanwhile, Nala considers whether they should move forward on their current path or return to the Awoken Flame. When Finnith checks in on her, they discuss their options and their concerns about the approaching fight with the Coven. Nala apologizes for her selfishness. They decide to return to Allora.

The next day, Finnith and Nala cancel their plans and leave Thraden. The power of Vindus, the wind deity, transports them back to the Amastacia manor. They have a four-day journey to the Awoken Flame ahead of them.

RP-heavy sessions

Events are leading to a big conflict with one of our earliest enemies. So, everyone wants to talk things out properly before deciding on what we’ll do. I think that’s part of the reason why our sessions have been so roleplay-heavy recently. Along with that, we’re getting to know our characters better and better the longer we play. I think people are feeling confident roleplaying as characters we’ve played for years now. Those factors combined lead to a lot of talk-heavy sessions, which I’m definitely not complaining about—these are the fun conversations that deepen the bonds between characters! It helps develop a context for our characters’ dynamic as things get more serious.