Mostly Mortals

A D&D 5e campaign of questionable decisions and memorable quotes.

The Party

Caelum "CJBN"

Bladesinger Wizard

played by Dom

Orion

Vengeance Paladin

played by David

Kimber

Bard

played by Tara

Idril

Ranger / Rogue

played by Cary

Cartman Sandiego

Redemption Paladin

played by Jose

Oggtok

Ranger / Rogue / Wizard

played by Jesse

Wrathgar

Ranger

played by Charles

Quest Log

Rescue Mano

On hold 0/2

Mano drew the Void card from the Deck of Many Things. He is trapped in an object, protected by powerful people, at the Fortress of Lord Greywolf far to the west.

The party knows the location but has not yet pursued this quest due to distance and other pressing matters (amnesia, lich encounters, bounty jobs).

Objectives

○ Travel to the Fortress of Lord Greywolf
○ Find and free Mano from the Void card's trap

Last: Location identified but not yet pursued

Cure Kimber's Zombie Disease

Current Critical 0/7

THE BITE (May 21): During the cemetery infiltration, Kimber engaged a perimeter zombie. She took 35 damage (19 piercing + 16) from the bite and failed her CON save. DM rolled d100 = 13 for the cure window.

Timer: 13 days from May 21 → final day is approximately mid-campaign-time-June 3.

Body Horror Element: Kimber’s Disguise Self magic (zombie costume) is now described as “perfect”, her body is genuinely transforming. If untreated, she turns undead at the end of the 13-day window.

Possible Cures (in order of difficulty/availability):

Lesser Restoration (2nd level cleric/paladin/druid/ranger spell), cures most diseases. Unknown if this counts as a magical/necromantic disease that bypasses it.
Remove Curse (3rd level), if the disease is curse-based
Greater Restoration (5th level), broad-spectrum cure
Mexoz Tome research: Caelum could comb the Part 1 tome for Pilgrimage-corruption antidotes. The grandmother’s transformation pattern may be related.
A high-tier cleric: Sister Helwin might know someone, or a higher church figure in town

Stakes:

Failure = Kimber turns undead, party loses their bard
Success = potentially learn how to cure Pilgrimage-corruption broadly (lore implications)

Party Resources Available:

Orion (Paladin) can cast Lesser Restoration once per long rest at level 9
Caelum has access to spell scrolls if any are recovered
Town has a temple (Dawn Chapel), Sister Helwin’s domain

Objectives

○ Identify what kind of zombie disease this is (necromantic curse vs. mundane infection)
○ Find a cure within the 13-day window
○ Possible cure: Lesser Restoration (low confidence, depends on disease type)
○ Possible cure: Remove Curse / Greater Restoration
○ Possible cure: research in the Mexoz tome for Pilgrimage-corruption antidote
○ Possible cure: visit a high-tier cleric (Sister Helwin? Higher church authority?)
○ Research a cure in Caelum's spellbooks during the next long rest (DM-approved avenue, June 18)

Last: June 18: Kimber's transformation is visibly worsening (the bite on her arm). Plan set, Caelum will research a cure in his spellbooks over a long rest, and the party will consult Sister Helwin at the Dawn Chapel in Beadale. Clock still running.

Find Torvaris

On hold 0/3

Torvaris is Caelum’s brother, a paladin of great renown. He was cast 5 years into the future during a raid that separated the brothers. He is NOT on the material plane and is possibly on the Astral Plane or in Shogoth (a hell-like plane).

A demon is hunting him (result of the Flames card from the Deck of Many Things). He also drew the Donjon card, meaning he is imprisoned somewhere.

Leads:

Talisman of Anatok tracks the demon hunting Torvaris. Caelum has it but doesn’t know what it is (amnesia).
Chug Dignugget (Wish caster, north of Tabryag) could help both restore memory AND locate/free Torvaris.
Torvaris once traveled with the Mostly Mortals group before Caelum joined.

Seeking Chug Dignugget serves both this quest and restoring Caelum’s memory. One Wish could restore memories, a second could help find Torvaris.

Objectives

○ Restore Caelum's memory so he can resume the search
○ Use the Talisman of Anatok to track the demon hunting Torvaris
○ Locate Torvaris on the Astral Plane or in Shogoth

Last: Quest on hold due to Caelum's amnesia

The Enraged Legion

Active 0/3

Approximately 400 undead, led by a Lich, raised in the ruins of Fadun Keep. The legion is heading East with the goal of pure destruction. Connected to Zildar Lafreche.

This is a large-scale threat that may eventually intersect with the party’s path. The party has gathered intel but has not directly engaged.

[CANON] June 4: confirmed this lich is not Mexoz Valaryn. With Mexoz dead and the Moonstone Crown destroyed, the Enraged Legion remains a separate, still-active threat.

Objectives

○ Monitor the legion's movements
○ Determine if the legion will cross the party's path
○ Find a way to stop or divert ~400 undead

Last: Confirmed NOT led by Mexoz (separate threat). Still active after the cemetery lich's death.

Restore Caelum's Memory

Active 0/2

Caelum drew a card from a Deck of Many Fates (held by a ship crew member while traveling to a teleportation station) and lost every memory he has. He does not remember Torvaris, the Order of Twilight Song, his companions, or any events from his past. He is effectively a blank slate with Bladesinger muscle memory.

Recovery Options (only two known):

Wish spell from Chug Dignugget, last located north of Tabryag
Divine Intervention from a high-level cleric or willing deity

What Caelum Retained: His identity (name), all skills, all abilities. He is a fully functional Bladesinger.

What Caelum Lost: All episodic memory. He does not remember any events, people, relationships, or his quest.

Complications:

The Talisman of Anatok is in Caelum’s possession but he has no idea what it is or does
Every piece of intel Caelum gathered over years of searching is locked away in a mind he can’t access
As of Feb 26, Caelum trusts Kimber and believes what she told him about Torvaris

Objectives

○ Find Chug Dignugget north of Tabryag
○ Convince Chug to cast Wish to restore Caelum's memories

Last: Caelum drew from the Deck of Many Fates and lost all episodic memory

Zombie Bounties

Active 6/8 Updated

JULY 2, The Cemetery Isn’t Clear: Instead of heading to Beadale, the party stayed to search the rest of the graveyard, and found fresh zombies still rising even though Mexoz has been dead since June 4 (when the whole horde collapsed with the lich). The source appears to be an underground catacomb with an altar beneath one of the mausoleums. The party (Oggy, Cartman, Wrathgar) descended to investigate as the session ended. A second animator, the altar itself, or the Damnatio Memoriae actor?

JUNE 18, Loot Recovered: After Shirley’s funeral, the party searched the mausoleum (Idril rolled 29). They recovered 248 gold, 186 silver, 3 fist-sized garnets (one contains the living miniature ship Widow’s Covenant, transmutation magic), and 1 sealed letter in an unknown “divine” language. The gold cylinder (probable phylactery) is confirmed in party inventory but has a combination code they have not cracked, so the lich bounty is still pending. Next stop: Beadale to collect bounty gold from Sister Helwin.

JUNE 4, Cemetery Cleared: The siege ended. Lich Mexoz was killed (Idril’s double nat-20) and the entire undead horde, including the frost giant zombie and the ogre zombies, collapsed with him. The frost giant’s 200g bounty is now claimable. The lich dropped a gold cylinder (probable phylactery), which would satisfy the phylactery requirement for the lich bounty. Bounty gold still to be collected from Sister Helwin.

What started as a simple bounty job escalated into a lich encounter that changed the campaign. The party killed 22 zombies total across two sessions, but the lich Mexoz Valaryn escaped with the Moonstone Crown.

May 7 Resolution (the bounty office):

Party brought 11 zombie fingers + 1 ogre finger to Sister Helwin of the Dawn Chapel
650g collected (550g for 11 zombies + 100g for ogre finger)
Helwin offered 200g for a future frost giant zombie kill
Established the lich bounty rule: must produce the phylactery as proof

April 9 Recap:

Idril’s Wildfire Arrow killed 11 zombies (gold for these still pending claim, possibly)
Lich Mexoz Dimension Doored out with the Moonstone Crown
Frost giant zombie + ogre zombie + more zombies emerged. Party fled.

Outstanding:

Frost giant zombie still at cemetery (200g)
Ogre zombie + additional zombies still at cemetery
Lich phylactery (location unknown) needed for that bounty

Open Questions:

Is Sister Helwin connected to Mexoz? She had the Mexoz tome ready immediately.
Will she pay for the April 9 Wildfire Arrow kills if the party brings proof?

Objectives

✓ Clear zombies from the cemetery (50g per zombie)
✓ Collect bounty from Sister Helwin (11 fingers + 1 ogre = 650g)
✓ Survive the Mexoz Valaryn lich encounter
✓ Extract Caelum from the sealed mausoleum
✓ Defeat the frost giant zombie (200g bounty available)
✓ Clear remaining ogre zombie + additional zombies at cemetery
○ Produce phylactery to claim lich bounty
○ Find why fresh undead are still rising (underground catacomb/altar)

Last: July 2: Instead of leaving for Beadale, the party stayed to clear more of the cemetery, and discovered the graveyard is NOT clear: fresh zombies are still rising even though Mexoz is dead, apparently from an underground catacomb/altar beneath a mausoleum. The party descended to investigate. Bounty gold still uncollected at Sister Helwin's.

Completed

The Moonstone Crown

Critical 8/11

RESOLVED (June 4): Lich Mexoz Valaryn is dead and the Moonstone Crown is destroyed. Orion softened the lich with Destone + two Divine Smites (~120 damage); Idril landed two natural 20s for the kill; every zombie collapsed with him. Orion then shattered the crown with Destone, spending the hammer. The lich dropped a gold cylinder (probable phylactery), left unclaimed. Kimber, the crown’s former wearer, felt a spark in her head when it broke. The lore threads below (Damnatio Memoriae, the Ebon Gospel’s missing pages, Tome Part 2) outlive the lich.

MAJOR ESCALATION (April 9): The lich Mexoz Valaryn physically ripped the Moonstone Crown from Kimber’s skull and vanished with it.

MAY 7, Lore Breakthrough: Sister Helwin of the Dawn Chapel produced a tome on Mexoz Valaryn. Key reveals:

Born under a blood-red comet in the empire of Serath-Kul (700+ years ago)
Expelled from Serath-Kul’s archmages after apprentices vanished from the royal academy catacombs
Spent 40 years on the Black Pilgrimage seeking necromantic knowledge
Discovered fragments of The Ebon Gospel: and the final pages are missing

MAY 21, Cemetery Sighting + Damnatio Memoriae:

Sister Helwin does NOT have Tome Part 2. Holder unknown.
The Black Pilgrimage is a real walkable path that corrupts power-seekers (Helwin’s grandmother walked it trying to stop it, became a “jibbering moth, massive flesh teeth and arms”)
The Pilgrimage path looks similar to the Enraged Legion’s marching route, possible convergence
Party identified Damnatio Memoriae as the pattern: someone is actively erasing Mexoz from history (mausoleum chiseled, tome pages ripped)
Lich visually located at the cemetery for the first time since April 9, then vanished again during combat
1 perimeter zombie killed. Kimber bitten and infected (see Cure Kimber quest)

The Ebon Gospel Hook: If Mexoz never found the final pages, he may still be hunting them. The Damnatio Memoriae perpetrator may be the one who tore them out.

Current Situation:

Lich Mexoz teleports away the moment combat begins
Orion + 8 foot soldiers en route to the cemetery as reinforcements
Inner cemetery horde still oblivious; perimeter sweep ongoing
Caelum has new Raven familiar (Lirdi) for scouting

Party Speculation: Whoever’s practicing Damnatio Memoriae may be Mexoz’s old enemy, or his old ally.

Objectives

✓ Complete the Trials to rebuild Destone
✓ Convince Kimber to remove the crown
✓ Research Mexoz Valaryn's history (Part 1)
✓ Confirm Sister Helwin does not have Tome Part 2
✓ Confirm the Black Pilgrimage is a real path
○ Locate Part 2 of the Mexoz tome
○ Locate the missing final pages of The Ebon Gospel
○ Identify who is practicing Damnatio Memoriae on Mexoz
✓ Pin down the lich Mexoz Valaryn (he keeps teleporting away)
✓ Kill Lich Mexoz Valaryn
✓ Destroy the Moonstone Crown with Destone

Last: Lich Mexoz killed (Orion's Destone + two smites, Idril's double nat-20). Moonstone Crown destroyed with Destone. The campaign's longest-running thread, resolved.

The Trials

Completed 6/6

The party underwent a series of trials, possibly connected to Lorenia, Goddess of Torment, or themed around the seven deadly sins. Each trial tested different aspects of the party’s abilities and resolve.

The ultimate reward was rebuilding Destone, the hammer capable of destroying the Moonstone Crown. The trials are now complete and the weapon is in Orion’s hands.

#	Trial	Theme	Result
1	Lorenia’s Test	Feast/Indulgence	PASS
2	Gluttony	Consume and be heftier	PASS
3	Water Trial	Survive currents and snake	WIN
4	Magma Trial	Door selection (door #1)	PASS
5	Ship Rats	Vermin, ooze, giant rat	PASS

Objectives

✓ Pass Lorenia's Test (Feast/Indulgence)
✓ Pass the Gluttony Trial
✓ Survive the Water Trial
✓ Complete the Magma Trial
✓ Complete the Ship Rats Trial
✓ Rebuild the Destone hammer

Last: Final trial completed, Destone hammer rebuilt

Hooks & Leads

The Underground Catacomb / Altar (July 2): Fresh zombies are still rising in the cemetery even though Mexoz died June 4 (when the whole horde collapsed with him). The source appears to be an underground catacomb with an altar beneath a mausoleum. A second animator, the altar itself, or the Damnatio Memoriae actor? Oggy, Cartman, and Wrathgar descended to find out.
Damnatio Memoriae Perpetrator: Someone is actively erasing Mexoz from history (chiseled mausoleum + ripped Ebon Gospel pages). Ally suppressing his legacy, or rival cult claiming his rituals?
The Phylactery Cylinder (June 4, recovered June 18): The gold cylinder Lich Mexoz dropped is now in party inventory, but it is code-locked with an uncracked combination. Cracking it may prove the phylactery for the lich bounty and confirm Mexoz cannot reform.
The Cylinder's Combination Code (June 18): The gold cylinder has a rotating combination lock. The party wonders if the code characters match the script on the sealed letter. Needs decoding.
The Sealed Letter (June 18): Found in the mausoleum, written in an unknown language 'said to be written by the gods.' Comprehend Languages failed on it. Plan: bring it to Sister Helwin / the Order of Twilight Song to translate.
The Widow's Covenant Gem (June 18): One of three fist-sized garnets holds a living miniature of the ship Widow's Covenant (transmutation magic, tiny screaming inside). It was Cartman's old vessel. The other two garnets read as nothing, but the table suspects Captain Velrah 'the Black Tide' may be trapped in one.
Cartman's Origin (June 18): The party's new dragonborn paladin was found unconscious inside the lich's own sarcophagus, with amnesia like Caelum's. Why was a sea privateer in Mexoz's coffin? Is it connected to the phylactery?
Report to the Undead Dragon (June 18): The undead dragon who originally directed the party to destroy the Moonstone Crown with Destone is owed a report that the deed is done. 'Go see the dragon' is on the itinerary after Beadale.
Pilgrimage / Legion Convergence: The Black Pilgrimage path appears similar to the Enraged Legion's marching route. Where do they meet?
Mexoz Tome Part 2: Confirmed NOT at Dawn Chapel. Most likely held by the Damnatio Memoriae perpetrator.
The Ebon Gospel's Missing Final Pages: Mexoz used Ebon Gospel fragments to become a lich. Final pages missing, possible he's still hunting them.
Cure Kimber's Zombie Disease: 13-day timer to find a cure or she turns undead (see dedicated quest).
Kimber's Spark (June 4): When the Moonstone Crown shattered, Kimber, its former wearer, felt a spark in her head. A lingering tie to the crown's demon, or just a scar?
Sister Helwin's Connection: She had the Mexoz tome ready immediately when asked. Coincidence or compromised? Her grandmother walked the Pilgrimage.
Kimber's Maeve Vendetta: Kimber has arson supplies (gas, flare, lighter, Roman candles) gifted by Maeve's competitor. Will she torch the Adventurers Emporium?
The Children's Tears: William and siblings traumatized. Their dad works city night shift as a supervisor. Possible follow-up complication.
The Jubilee Crossbow: Kimber wants the pink Scamcorn Deluxe Glitter Burst version. 650g. Her personal quest.
Frost Giant Zombie Bounty: cemetery cleared June 4, the frost giant is dead. 200g claimable from Sister Helwin with proof.
Save Mano: Mano is trapped at the Fortress of Lord Greywolf. (Shirley, who pushed this hardest, died June 4.)
Idril's Doppelganger: A Neutral Evil version of Idril is somewhere in the world
Lorcan: Seen flying with an unknown being
Hanor's Soul: Sacrificed his soul. The in-game consequence may still matter
Shirley's Send-Off (resolved June 18): Shirley was given a Viking funeral, cremated on the bay by fire arrows. Jose's replacement is Cartman Sandiego (white dragonborn paladin). A second new player, Charles, also joined with a human ranger named Wrathgar.