BUFD Wars

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Campaigns: Slaadi Invasion | Northern Strife | Heroes & Traitors | Hollows | Black as Pitch | Air Islands of Nack | BUFD Wars

Blessed United Front Duo Wars: Blessed United Front Duo Wars Campaign (DMed by Danice V.) Beginning in April of 2016, this campaign follows a group of adventurers who use a specialized tactic known as the Blessed United Front Duo (BUFD) to defend against extra-planar invaders called Rifters.

For character information, go here.

Episode 1: “Blessed Graduation”
Date: SH 1997, March 15 - 16

Played by Lumynae, Trance, and Xamarin Vox

For more information on this campaign, please read Trance's Chronicle.

(summary notes below) See Rift Board -- magical map that details the locations of every current rift. Currently shows Beorishtel (we went here), Caldora, and Stemdibor areas as currently rifted areas.

today is March 15th, left Boar Herpes at 6pm, fought in Beorishtel for hours, short rest, ended the session at 3am.

Beorishtel: 6 miles, 6 hrs away from Boar Herpes. Rugged human village with dwarf traders. Commerce town with a mining quarry worked by both humans and dwarves.

Caldora -- village to the east, inhabited by forest elves

Stemdibor -- underground town next to underground lake Mhmboar, accessible by several cenotes. Inhabited by humans.

Trance has a vendetta against Major Beech because of her lack of tactical ability -- left them stranded without backup.

Rebor - dwarf ore merchant travelling with his young companion Tarn. Trance asked to put money his locker after charming them both. Won't likely work.

Major Madyla Beech -- half-elf, dark hair, slender. In command at the rift battle site in Beorishtel.

Lieutenant Yukipine -- gnome who can become a mask regalia which can detect Rifters. Also was a backup healer for the several squads attacking the rifters.

Xamarin, allergic to cats.

Create dwarf god of light.

Rifters = invaders. Right now it's impossible for us greenswords to tell the difference between rifters (torn) and non-rifters (untorn).

Notes: (notes)

Episode 2: “Infiltrate the Abyss”
Date: SH 1997, March 16 - 17

Played by Aria, Ellywick Carawhip, Incendio Snarloth, Lumynae, Thorian, Trance, and Xamarin Vox

For more information on this campaign, please read Trance's Chronicle.

The squad had defended the front lines of Beorishtel and saw in the distance a bright flash, and knew the rift they had failed to closed had been sealed by Beta squad. Major Madyla Beech debriefed them and scoffed at their choice to join House Wolverine Fluff, stating to make a name for themselves they should have joined her own house Unicorn's Gate. Major Beech further hounded the squad saying, “Good luck making the next rank, the Wuffs are notorious for being losers in the Rank Wars”.

The squad decides to rest for the remainder of the night and to head out in the morning when they are greeted by Lieutenant Yukipine. He offers them gratitude for the help defending the town, and give the squad a gift of healing potions for the trip back to Boar Herpes.

On the trek back, Thorian spied a hiding gang of bandits awaiting the jump on the squad. With brashness fit for a Unicorn Gate, he dashed ahead, grabbed a hiding bandit, and pulled her out and asked what she was doing! The squad quickly dispatched the bandits of ‘friends’ and curious to know who had attacked them, Thorian decided to pull the mask off of one. Upon her face was a lone teardrop tattoo below her left eye. Trance remembered that this was the mark of the Raining Sorrows, a group that was reportedly formed from the orphaned children from the first invasion.

They made it safely back to Boar Herpes and reported to squad captain Momo. Trance brought up the run-in with the Raining Sorrows, but his request for support for rifted orphans was brushed aside. Captain Momo said she understood their plight, but the immediate threat and need was to close the rifts. Flustrated, Trance stormed out of the barracks and left the team to decide what to do next.

After given a choice of helping the beleaguered forest elf city of Caldora, or the cut off subterranean city of Stemdiboar; the squad decides to assist Stemdiboar on an infiltration mission to discover what happened to the city. Momo briefs the squad about the mission and give them potions of water breathing, saying they will have to traverse an underwater cenote to reach the city and will need help from an infiltration expert, which are usually found in House Hissing Out.

Momo accompanied the squad to the ‘Hisser’ barracks, where she stood on the wayside while the squad figured out how to get in. After a rude interaction with some Hisser cadets, Aria was able to get some cadets to divulge the password to get through the enchanted glass gate. The glass peeled back as if it were made of tissue paper and exposed the green great room of Hissing Out, with jade columns and leather couches. Lumynae, the artisan glass blower, took particular interest in the glass and made meticulous observations of the enchanted craftsmanship.

The rude receptionist pointed the way to the commander’s office and Thorian made a bold entrance by absolutely obliterating the double doors to Lieutenant Deafaenia’s office. Quite angered, Deafaenia yelled at the greenswords, asking who they were and why they had destroyed her doors. The squad attempted to dissuade the major from inflicting harm upon them, but Cpt Momo poked her head around them and greeted the red faced commander. Deafeanea shrieked and greeted her friend with a wide smile and hugged her tight. With the mission needing an infiltration specialist, the Major brought in Captain Rustra. The inquisitive Trance immediately asked Rustra what her Regalia form was and where her squad was. The captain replied her weapon form was classified, and that she was her own squad.

The squad left for the southern underground fortress of Stemdiboar, accessible only via cenote, and were quick to follow the paths to the closet entrance. Rustra explained the simple mission as “stealthy infiltration, and that’s IT”. The squad made themselves as stealthy as possible with added magicks from Rustra, consumed their potions of water-breathing, some transformed into Regalia, and made their way into the dark water. Under strict orders to make this a STEALTH mission, Thorian and Incendio engaged a couple of giant crabs. With the thunderous blows as Hammer of the Sky, the duo alerted the patrolling giant octopus of their presence.

The squad decided to run from the octopus and make their way toward the surface, and after and few close tentacle grabs for Thorian and Incendio, the squad got away. The squad entered the underground city and saw the glow of a rift coming from the central fortress of Stemdiboar. Rustra led the team to the secret refuge of Major Petra, where friendly forces were forced to evacuate to.

Petra had a tough love reunion with Rusta for not coming sooner with reinforcements, stating the fate of Rustra's own home was at stake. Petra was nonetheless grateful for help, as she was the only Regalia-capable officer in the city and could not close the rift on her own.

With a plan to infiltrate the city and access the secret tunnel to the fortress the squad accompanied by Rustra and Petra made their way into the city. The city was being patrolled by Rifter enemies that were never-before seen, named Bamsters, large hulking creatures, and Mole Mods, medium sized and spider like creatures. The squad sneakily bypassed the patrols with support from Rustra, their infiltration specialist, and made their way into the base of the fortress.

The squad engaged the Mods defending the rift, with the help of Rustra who was wielding Petra in her Rose Shield form. The blessed united squad dispatched the guards and successfully closed their first rift. As the heroes looked upon the closing rift, they felt something familiar and home-like, before the rift shut and its glowing violet light faded from their surroundings.

Unbeknownst to the squad, they were being watched by two figures; one clad in white and the other clad in black...

Episode 3: “Botany Brawlers”
Date: SH 1997, March 17 - 18

Played by Aria, Ellywick Carawhip, Trance, and Xamarin Vox

For more information on this campaign, please read Trance's Chronicle.

The squad successfully closed the Stemdiboar rift, but were surprised by the sudden appearance of the two mysterious futures, one cloaked in white and the other in black. The white one congratulated them saying, "Nice work closing the rift, we were just on our way to close it!" Before the squad could question them, the duo vanished. The team asked Petra about who they were, and Petra only said they were trouble and to avoid them at all costs. Trance inquired about going into a Rift, and Petra vehemently shut him down saying it was forbidden and to never speak of it again.

With Stemdiboar now secure, the squad made their way back to Boar Herpes and were briefed on their next mission, the relief and rescue of Caldora, the elven city to the east. Their captain, Momo, advised the team to seek some help from the potion master, Black Mamba, to get healing potions to help the city. Black Mamba, with some encouragement and guilt-inducing from Aria, was able to provide the squad with a keg of her potent Black Mamba's Venom. A drop was equivalent to one healing potion, and special caution was advised to not expose the contents to water, fire, and sunlight. Doing so would be enough to level the entirety of Caldora. Also, Trance and Xamarin were able to obtain a bag of holding from the Silk Master, Cotton Mouth. Trance had distracted Black Mamba, while Xamarin skillfully snuck into the potion vault of Black Mamba, and managed to steal a six-pack of potions of inebriation; which was traded to Cotton Mouth for the bag of holding.

While the boys were stealing from Black Mamba, the girls wandered into the quad to mingle and gain some information from the other houses. Ellywick gazed upon the huge quad and saw Unicorns wrestling in the grass, Hissers hanging out by the fountain, Magpies lounging in the couches, and some Wuffs singing bad A Capella versions of pop songs on the bleachers. They approached the Magpies, since they know most everything, and inquired about the black and white figures they saw in Stemdiboar.

A knowledgeable redhead named Cady, divulged that their names are Sheero the White and Kuuro the Black, and are said to be members of the Raining Sorrows. She states they were also former members of Zero Squad, the first group from Boar Herpes to become Blessed Regalia. When asked further about their mysterious origins, Cady let them know that information was classified and only accessible by an Imperator class officer.

With their supplies ready, the team proceeded into the Caldoran Forest. The forest was eerie and quiet and their druid, Aria, found out that there were no animal sounds in the dense forest. The team discovered giant canine prints leading to carcasses and were beset upon by a pack of wolves! Stealthers Ellywick and Xamarin were able to surprise some hidden wolves, but the team were soon greeted by the pack alpha, a dire wolf. Aria transformed into a wolf adorned with Trance in his Sharingan Eyes form. The Alpha accused them of being with the "others", saying the Sharingan Eyes smelled like the "others". Aria deduced that the "others" were Rifters! Aria was able to convince the Alpha that they were here to help by healing the other wolves injured in their initial fight. They avoided a fight and in gratitude, the Alpha led them to the entrance of Caldora.

The entrance was a ring of stones with druidic runes etched upon them, and with a quick translation, Aria was able to read the entry riddle:

"Here lies the symbol of the pool of life,

within is the source of all things.

You must open the way with the well."

"Realize the interconnectedness of nature.

To open the path, blow through

and experience the intertwining of the world."

"Lay both hands on the rock,

say 'we are doomed' and sigh."

"Here lies the blossom of the earth,

without the earth, nothing thrives.

To open the path, you must crumble the path to life."

"The children of the earth and heavens

dance on the plane of everlasting love.

To open the path, thrill the earth with your footsteps.

It doesn't matter if you're black or white."

"Here lies the bosom of fire, for within life is passion.

To open the path is to engulf the flames with courage."

With some elemental magic and mediocre dancing, the Entry Ring was activated and a root of the giant Caldora Tree swallowed them. They were transported to Caldora, a city in the giant tree of the forest. They were taken to the commander of the Wolverine Fluff healing unit, a paladin named Peridosa. The team supplied them with some of the healing potion and were informed the city was under constant siege from Rifter Wolves trying to breach the bark wall that surrounds the city. The rift had not been located, so there was no way to stop the constant flow of enemies at the walls. The Caldorans and other Regalia had searched, but were unable to find the Rift opening.

Trance and Aria figured out a way to use Aria's wolf form to discern the unique smell that Regalia and Rifters both seem to have. They hoped this would lead them to the missing Rift. Instead, the team picked up a scent and found that new enemies were 'blinking' up the outside of the bark wall. Trance dispatched one of the 'blinkers' with a well timed sleep spell, but the teleporting enemies blinked behind the team atop the bark wall. The team quickly dispatched the blink dogs, but were surprised when their corpses merged into a two-headed hell dog that tried to disease the heroes with a gnarly double bite. It was defeated and the heroes had fought off another onslaught on the wall.

With their successful defense, Trance's cat Mesmer noticed two figures standing peculiarly perpendicular on the outside of the bark wall. The team saw the black and white duo, Sheero and Kuuro, below them, with Sheero saying "Thank you for defending the wall, we were just on our way to help, but now we have to close a hard-to-find rift!". The team wanted to question them more, but the duo suddenly vanished...

Who are the mysterious duo, Sheero and Kuuro? What is their connection to Boar Herpes, the classified Zero Squad, and what is their motive to help close the rift? Why do the heroes feel a familiar pull to the Rifts? And why do Regalia and Rifters smell the same?

Episode 4: “Within the Phloem and Xylem”
Date: SH 1997, March 18 - 19

Played by Aria, Ellywick Carawhip, Lumynae, and Xamarin Vox

The squad was on the hunt for a missing rift and had no leads, so they went to the Druid Council of Caldora for help. They met Viviosa, a council member and learned that inside of the great tree, Caldora, had not been searched yet. She granted them access to the inner tree by giving them a seed of the Tree, named Vhana. Upon searching, the squad found a peculiar fountain with an odd lamp radiating strange magicks into the tree's vascular workings. The squad had to fight off Rifter trees and bushes when they approached, but after burning their way through the squad was able to find a small Rift in the lamp and destroy it.

Episode 5: “Corruption Within the Canopy”
Date: SH 1997, March 19

Played by Aria, Ellywick Carawhip, Lumynae, and Trance

The heroes just defeated the Rifter lamp writhing the Caldora tree, but the tree spirit revealed that danger was still present. Aria found out that many seedlings were corrupted and were guided by the Vhana the seedling to its corrupted brethren. In the canopy, the heroes found Rifter Druids guarding a cache of seeds and were dispatched, but there were many seeds unaccounted for. The heroes contacted Boar Herpes headquarters and got a hold of the Imperator of Wolverine Fluffs, Inone Drenzheit. She issued an emergency protocol and dispatched other Blessed Regalia to Caldora. The team organized the whole city, with the help of the Druid council to gather the remaining corrupted seedlings. The heroes also learned that Vhana was the last remaining uncorrupted seedling, with Vhana constantly crying from the news. The heroes gathered the remaining seeds to be burned outside the city, the the citizens periodically transporting the seeds to the conflagration site. A suspicious envoy approached the heroes claiming to bear corrupted seedlings, but they were revealed to be agents of the Rifter Cult, seeking revenge for the burning to the seedlings. The Rifter Cult believes the Rift invaders are supposed to be here by divine influence and should be welcomed, for the Rifters have come with a purpose. If the Rifters were allowed to do their duty, they would leave. The heroes subdued them and when they were witnesses to a controversial exchange between Trance and Momo, they were killed brutally by Momo's bare hands. The heroes were ordered to return to Boar Herpes to debrief.

Episode 6: “Canyon Pathways of Doom”
Date: SH 1997, March 19 - 20

Played by Aria, Ellywick Carawhip, Incendio Snarloth, Thorian, Trance, Charnella, and Quarreth

With orders to return to Boar Herpes with Vhana to ensure the safety of the last seedling, the team was introduced to new reinforcements to their squad. A deathly looking, black dragonborn named Charnella, and a monk of ethnic origin named Quarreth, introduced themselves. Feeling the new team need a shake-down cruise, Momo had the squad engage in a team building battle with her trusty Owlbear! The team learned how the new Regalia fit within the team, with Charnella using her Reaper's Scythe form to drain the Owlbear's life force, and using Quarreth's Mantra Mala Beads to meditate the Owlbear into submission. One member, Aria, was reluctant to take Vhana to Boar Herpes due to concern about the Great Tree's future. But after getting some very vague advice after communing with the great Caldora and pressure from the squad, the team decided to set off toward Boar Herpes. Momo advised them to take a different route, and decided to take the canyon route to the south. Since Aria was taking charge of carrying Vhana, Momo granted her the field rank of Lieutenant to lead the party. With a fork in the road, the team split up after Thorian went against Aria's orders. Thorian came upon a man relieving himself in the small canyon stream and decided to make chase after the man bolted and started calling for help. Thorian and company dispatched the canyon ground forces who revealed themselves to be members of the Rifter Cult. Aria and company scaled the canyon walls to help the others, and found themselves sneaking up behind a man overseeing the battle on the cliff side. Ellywick, who was with Aria, pushed the poor man off the cliff, but he was able to hold on to the edge. Trance, who was also with them, charmed the man, and found out that he was the leader of the Rifter Cult party and was sent to destroy Vhana. They finally punched him off the cliff and as he was falling he revealed he had a corrupted seedling and tried to do something, but he impacted into the canyon floor before he could do anything. The squad finished off the cult members and burned the seedling. Alas, poor Thorian was felled by a cult archer and his last words were, "Come at me, bowman!" Aria was keen enough to search for a certain duo, but was not sure if she saw them in a reflection of the water or not. What she did find was Momo standing before her with a somber look...

Episode 7: “Halo Invasion”
Date: SH 1997, March 20

Played by Aria, Ellywick Carawhip, Karnor Jax, Trance, Charnella, and Quarreth

The squad is escorted through the Capilliari Canyon by Momo who happened to know the best way. They came across an envoy of the goliath body guard, Karnor Jax, who was sent with a holo-jewel message from Major Lucindas'da Meelaba, professor of Minerology and Planar Herbology. She requests that Vhana be quickly taken to Boar Herpes so she could do some research on how to help with the missing corrupted seedlings. Karnor was also escorted by two Halo guards named Canday Labra and Lampa Lambra. Along the way, Momo also took the time to get to know her squad more personally. Karnor Mugatu also brought with him three jewels as gifts from Lucindas'da. Trance was brave enough to follow a spell recipe and placed the jewels in Black Mamba's Venom, and they were transformed into Ruby Healix Gems, Blessed jewels that enable Regalia to heal their Wielder. When they were almost to the exit of canyon via the Butt Butte Cave, Momo scouted ahead. When she deemed it safe, both Canday and Lampa moved ahead, but with a sudden explosion, they were caught in a cave in and died. The squad heard another explosion behind them and witnessed another cave in. They were trapped and heard a sinister voice in front of them. A Rifter Cult member stood before them and demanded they handover Vhana, but the squad refused! The cultist took out a corrupted seedling and opened a rift and out came a Rifter Beast, which attacked by teleporting its enemies into the air and dropping them. The squad dispatched the beast, much to Momo's surprise after she had pounded her way through the the cave in to rescue her squad.

The squad arrived to Halo and when passing through the town they came upon another Cultist, Frama Labra. Trance charmed her and with interrogation from Ellywick, they deduced that their was a nefarious Cult plan in play, with agents all around Halo with corrupted seedlings, even at the beloved Catsmith. As the team, and Zahenra, was on the way to the Southeast bridge to Boar Herpes, they were accosted by the same Cultist Leader that trapped them in the canyon cave. Karnor tried to jump over him, but was pushed back. The Cultist Leader unleashed another corrupted seedling and a Rift formed in the middle of the town center. As if on cue, the entire town of Halo was engulfed in chaos as hundreds of Rifts were opened with flashes of violet. As Rifters poured into Halo, explosions filled the cityscape and screams of horror echoed all around. The Omega Alert sounded from Boar Herpes and the squad mobilized into action. Drawing from their training they knew they had to help the civilians evacuate and head to Boar Herpes for safety. They defended the bridge from a Barbed Whipper and its Slaves that exited from the closet Rift. When they were finally able to make contact with Boar Herpes, they received instruction to take Vhana to the Professor Lucindas'da.

After a harrowing journey across the bridge and into the main hallway, they made their way into the Rift Board Room, where efforts were being coordinated by Headmistress Igma. They found Lucindas'da and brought Vhana into her laboratory. The professor, Lohengra, learned that Vhana still had a connection to the other seedlings and could be sacrificed to close the rifts as the quickest, fastest way to end the invasion. There was another more difficult way, which required the squad to enter the Emerald Dream, the dimension that connects all the magical energy of Caldora, and somehow purify the Dream. With healing blessings from Igma, the squad was thrust into the dimension gate into a lush, green dreamscape...

Episode 8: “The Emerald Dream”
Upon exiting the dimension gate, the squad found themselves in a dream like realm; verdant in majesty, and pulsing with the life force of the great tree, Caldora. It is here where the nascent energy Caldora’s seedlings intersect and nourish the great tree. They encountered a young being, plant-like and familiar with a cry no one could forget. It was Vhana in his true form. He led them to a clearing where rogue druids hijacked the Emerald Dream, using its potent portal energies to create more Rifts. The squad attacked and fought a fierce battle with the leader of the rogue druids, Farbles Toobly, once a leader on the Druid Council. The squad learned that he had infiltrated the tree and corrupted the seedlings so he could bring an end to Boar Herpes. At the precipice fo defeat, Farbles was able to transform into a bird and escaped through another portal. With the Emerald Dream cleansed and restored, the squad found that the surviving seedlings were purified and saved. They were pulled out by Headmistress Igma, and were recruited to help clear the city of Halo of any remaining Rifters. The squad was able to save the Catsmith, but found the city in ruins, the citizens scattered, and their sense of safety shattered.

Episode 9: “A New Mission”
[Date is set 3 months after Invasion]

In the aftermath of the invasion, Boar Herpes was forced to draw its forces back to the school for protection. Boar Herpes had lost more than half their forces in the successful invasion and attack. Halo became a shell of its former glory, once thought safe in the shadow of the academy. Few citizens returned fearing another invasion. As the squad attended another funeral to honor their lost comrades, they received a secret mission from the Headmasters: To find out more about the Rifter Cult and how they accomplished the invasion. Their cover story was to travel and recruit soldiers bolster their forces. Capt. Momo gifted the squad with Kipine, a flying-owlbear that could transform from a small figurine to help in their journey. The squad decided to travel to the derelict dragon-born city of Durath. Durath is dilapidated and gross. The squad eventually run into a notorious member of the Rifter Cult, Frama Labra. Using their clever cult disguises, the squad convinces her to take her to secret base, where upon infiltration they are discovered. They win the skirmish and force Frama to divulge the location of the cultist headquarters, hidden beneath the Hot Springs of Eternia.

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Campaigns: Slaadi Invasion | Northern Strife | Heroes & Traitors | Hollows | Black as Pitch | Air Islands of Nack | BUFD Wars

Blessed United Front Duo Wars: