The Dusk Queen

Arnor comes to everyone with news from Queen Sarastra. He has been tasked with dealing with a threat to the Darkwood -- the Dusk Queen, it seems, has some dark plans. Their task is threefold: capture or eliminate the Dusk Queen (and, likely, her paramour, a dread dark paladin), locate the shards of a magic mirror, and (he confides to Nathia), find the shadow grimoire. 

Coincidentally, and luckily, Gruffyd, the mighty dwarf, had stopped by for a visit and he and Jane Poole decided to travel with the group. Arnor leads the way and their passage into the shadowy realm of the Dusk Queen is quick. But they soon encounter their first obstacle. A large, tree-like creature blocks the path. Bravely, Blurb approaches it. 

"The Dusk Queen has returned," it says, in a scratchy voice. Somehow, Nathia keeping her mouth shut as she had no talent for mistruths, they manage to convince the creature that they are servants of the Dusk Queen and will collect the mirror shards for her. The creature tells them where the shards were last seen -- at the bottom of a dark pool, in the trunk of a hanging tree, in a mound of stones, a deep pit of shadow, a putrid bog. It seems a laundry list of despair. He also tells them not to stray from the path, which seemed wise advice for such a place.

They soon find a pool with two bathing nymphs. Gorlock tries to use the same tactic on them, but the nymphs are not on the Dusk Queen's side and they dive to the bottom of the pool. With Jane and Eamon's help, they are pulled back up, blinding Nathia as they fight back. But the monk's silver tongue manages to convince them that the party is on the side of good and to unblind the goliath. Nathia promises to mention their bravery to Queen Sarastra. 

With some further negotiation, they retreat not only with the first mirror shard but 3 potions of greater healing and a scroll of lesser restoration. 

A group of bugbears is their next objective; Eamon's knowledge of goblin and his intimidating air allows them to bargain for the next shard for a mere 600 gold pieces (which he plans to charge back to Queen Sarastra anyway). As Blurb and Eamon each carry a shard, they begin to hear strange whispers in their heads urging them to take the shards to the Dusk Queen.

Even so, they manage to find a deep dark pit. Gruffyd bravely descends along a narrow ledge, followed by Gorlock and Arnor. They reach an area with a pool in the middle of some standing stones -- but they are not alone. Arnor is the first to spot the Umbral Dragon lurking in the darkness. 

They fight bravely against both the dragon and some cowardly shadows that serve it--perhaps surprising the beast, so that it flees upwards, flying out of the pit. Eamon manages to stun it and the creature falls into the pit...falling and falling. They never hear it land. Gruffyd lands a killing blow on one of the shadows as it tries to flee as well. Gorlock wades into the pool and retrieves the next shard. Gruffyd digs around in the lair as well and discovers a rusty mace with the name Nancroc engraved upon it and a pouch with 120 gold. A mace of disruption! 

They take a short rest and it is Gorlock's turn to hear the whisperings of the shard he carries. He stuffs it into his bag of holding and the whisperings cease. 

But the relief is short -- the Dusk Queen herself, an unmatched beauty, appears. In a cloying voice full or promise or menace, it was hard to say which, the tells them to find all five shards and bring them to her. "I am not the monster you seem to believe I am," she says. Gorlock persuades her that they will do just that and she leaves. They find the tower nearby, but already knowing what is in it, they skirt around to continue their search for the shards. 

Florent Blanchard on ArtStation

The hanging tree is where they find themselves next, complete with bodies. Greeba scales the tree and pulls the shard out -- it was just sitting there. Unguarded? No. Two wraiths and a spectre appear and attack. A short but vicious battle later, they succeed in subduing the evil spirits. Nathia cuts down some of the skeletons and finds a silver ring of the ram. Joell helps Greeba recover from her contact with the wraiths.

They continue on to the swamp, the stench preceding it. They see an island or sorts in the distance, but it is hard to tell how far away it is or what is on it. Blurb reads from a protect from poison scroll and transforms himself into a snake and swims out to check things out. Gorlock sends Tiffany after him, but the poor sprite retches violently from the smell. 

Blurb finds the shard on a dark altar on the small island, but also detects an evil presence. A naga! But it doesn't see him. He returns to tell everyone what he found. They debate on the best plan -- how to get across the bog of poisonous stench? Blurb conjures two eagles, hoping to draw the naga out. They fly over but disappear in a blinding flash of light.

Nathia suggests they use the Ent tree creature to their advantage. He believes them friends, so why not capitalise on that? They talk the Ent into carrying them over to the island to retrieve the last shard. Even so, four of their number feel ill from the effects and spill their guts, more figuratively than literally. Joell lays on hands to still their stomachs and Nathia hands out mints.

Gorlock readies himself to cast sickening radiance, a new spell he had but recently learned, but before he could do so, the naga attacked with lightning. That forces their hand and they all attack, the warlock even managing to cast the spell right before the naga fell to their combined fury. 

Eamon goes to get the shard and is stunned, but luckily Blurb was able to pull him away and find some treasure to boot: a ruby with 100 gp, 2 diamonds worth 150 gp each, and a jade pyramid worth 260 gp. Gorlock, using his jeweller's eye, appraised them immediately. 

They make their way out of the swamp and all eyes turn to the tower in the distance. It was time to meet the Dusk Queen in her lair.