A/N: Hi, all! Sorry about the very delayed chapter. I hope to get a little bit more on track, and I still am very inspired to continue this story, but my schedule does not always permit time to work on writing while also balancing work and other hobbies. Sorry it is short, but the following chapters will definitely have more meat to it once we really get into the game! What do you think of Grog's idea so far? Let me know!
Scanlan Shorthalt was nervous. It wasn't a feeling he had often, and it definitely wasn't one he felt when surrounded by his friends. But for them Scanlan would play along undaunted until it came time to drop the act.
The conversation he imagined he would have with Grog was one he intended on having in due time when the team had some real time to grieve.
Even remembering it now felt like a spike of ice in his heart. So why in the nine hells were they here now when the pain was fresher than Dr. Dranzel's rhymes?
Not even that zinger could placate Scan's anxiety which threatened to bubble over and break his cheerful mask. And here of all places. The gnome remembered sharing drinks with that gods-damned fool, Vax, at the bar only a month ago. In fact he could even remember the conversation. Vax listened for hours that night as Scanlan described what he wrote in his letter to Pike, how he felt about her, how excited and terrified he was. And the whole time Vax just listened.
"Did you get that, Scanlan?" Grog said, turning to the bard at the table with excited puppy dog eyes.
"Sorry, Grog. Something about your inspiration, was it?"
"Ohhohoohhh yes."
The goliath leaned forward, barely obscured by the diminutive bunion master's screen, face alight with excitement.
"This game, really, is to be my magnum opus. My masterpiece for which I will be remembered by for generations!"
Keyleth and Percy giggled, and Pike let out a small sigh. Scanlan found himself fawning at the sight of Pike so proud in her friend.
Gods willing, could she be any more sweet?
Surprisingly, Vex grinned. Hopefully whatever dark cloud that hung over her earlier had passed.
"Well, y'see." Grog continued. "I had the idea for this one on the can. The water closet. You feel me?"
"Grog." Percy moaned.
"Okay but hear me out! I get a lot of ideas, and they're all good, but you always get the best ideas on the John, and the last few weeks I've been working through a batch of bad oysters, so I've had plenty of time to-"
"I think-" Scanlan interjected. "We get the picture, Grog." To which Pike smirked and gave him a nod.
"Roight, so- this is going to be a truly visceral experience. I haven't edited much from my original 'brain-spiration' so everyone prepare yourselves for some no-holds-barred Strongjaw storytellin'." Grog proclaimed sitting back in his chair obviously pleased with himself in that Grog way, like a cat after its just dropped a half-dead rat on your pillow.
Percy gaped. "I don't think I've ever heard you so motivated, Grog."
"Or so verbose." Keyleth added with genuine surprise.
Scanlan set his jaw, eyes dropping to the character sheet in front of him. Something seemed off here. Though the gnome couldn't place what it was, the center of his forehead (where Ioun's mark once shone) tingled. It wasn't the first time it had happened after he received the Knowing Mistress' gift and they sealed away Vecna. It was just…
It usually preceded disaster.
Grog's booming voice filled the room again. "Our journey begins…"
As he talked, the players settled into their seats and glued their eyes on the dungeon master. Scanlan however continued to look at his sheet and the ones next to his. Percival, Keyleth, Vex'ahlia. But he found something odd at the table. Actually Keyleth noticed it first, but Scanlan followed her wide eyes to the set of papers next to her own. A grim realization slowly washed over him, and terrible doubts he hadn't realized he had began to coalesce in his mind.
"Cassandra would you please join us?" Grog said to a round of confused looks before they welcomed the brand new player. "And everyone please take the character sheet in front of you and slide it to your left."
Papers shuffled and the confusion grew, spreading like an infection over the table. Some noticed it first, their eyes widening, sweat beading at their foreheads, while others remained oblivious, smirking, delighted.
In front of Scanlan was a character sheet that, at the top, read 'Vex'ahlia, Mistress of the Grey Hunt.' With his eyebrow raised he gave Grog a look.
Grog simply smiled a full-faced grin.
Why do I have such a bad feeling about this?
"Grog…" The gnome began to ask before he was cut off by his girlfriend.
"So I'm playing Percy?" Pike wondered as she flipped to the second page of her sheet seeming lost.
"And I'm playing you." Vex replied with mirth, but her gaze was suddenly drawn to Keyleth and Cassandra's side of the table.
"What's wrong, dear?" The woman continued, smiling at Keyleth. The poor girl. Vex honestly seemed excited at the idea of playing one of her close friends, impersonating them, embarrassing them. Scanlan would have been too if he hadn't seen what was on Cassandra's sheet. By now everyone was turning to look at them, and as more attention gathered on the two women looking straight down at their papers, the deeper the pit in Scanlan's stomach got.
"I got Scanlan." Keyleth said in a daze. "And Cassandra got-"
"Vax'ildan." Cassandra finished, deadpan.
All eyes turned to her, before turning to Grog.
Grog, what have you done?