Campaign 3 Session 3

Arcana Unleashed: Red Wizard Gambit

Mote Makes Right & The Depths of Despair

The legend of the Pupils of Susan continues to grow across Rashemen, though whether that legend is one of heroism, reckless opportunism, or extremely expensive magical shopping remains a matter of heated academic debate.

Their latest exploit began upon the earth motes, where the forces of the Red Wizards had imprisoned the famed Rashemi artificer Ezzik. What should have been a difficult assault rapidly transformed into a demonstration of overwhelming violence. Living thunder crashed across the battlefield, blades flashed, eldritch energies detonated, and Agaratha’s career prospects ended abruptly. The battle was so one-sided that local historians will likely spend generations attempting to determine whether the encounter was heroic, tactical, or simply bullying.

Amid the chaos, Loctar once again proved why the party prefers having an eight-foot psychic battering ram on retainer. Wherever resistance appeared strongest, Loctar appeared moments later, forcibly correcting the situation. His growing mastery over strange horizon-weaving powers continues to raise uncomfortable questions about exactly what happens when an orc fighter begins tampering with reality itself.

With Ezzik rescued, the heroes finally gained an opportunity to gather intelligence. Captured guards revealed that the operation was being directed by the Red Wizard Delia D’Caryn, another servant of the sinister Thayan agenda. Yet as important as that revelation was, an even more troubling mystery remained unresolved.

Where was Alyss?

For Whisper, the question carried far more weight than simple curiosity. Alyss remains responsible for the destruction of his family and settlement. Each fragment of information feels less like an investigation and more like another step on a long road toward vengeance. Unfortunately, every clue uncovered seems only to prove how much larger the conspiracy truly is.

Returning to civilization brought a rare opportunity to recover.

Ezzik’s reunion with Zorri, leader of the local Rashemi community, was among the campaign’s few genuinely heartwarming moments. The celebration was immediately followed by a visit to what scholars have identified as “Fantasy Costco,” where the heroes converted dangerous amounts of treasure into dangerous amounts of equipment. As always, Bryan’s Malefort remained steward of the party treasury. The noble warlock continues to manage finances with surprising competence, which somehow remains one of the most suspicious things about him.

While the group celebrated, a spy arrived with fresh intelligence.

Another captive wizard had been located.

Another rescue mission awaited.

The trail led deep into one of the darkest locations yet encountered during the Red Wizard Gambit: the Stream of Tortured Souls.

The place felt wrong from the moment the party arrived. Disturbing biological growths covered once-human guards. Eyes appeared beneath the water’s surface. Strange symbols suggested rituals that blended necromancy, transformation, and magic far older than any of the adventurers cared to understand. The atmosphere felt less like a dungeon and more like evidence that reality itself had become infected.

The horrors only escalated from there.

When giant wolverines attacked, the battle initially appeared straightforward. Yet after subduing one creature, the party learned a devastating truth. The beast had once been a human guard.

Someone had transformed him.

Someone had decided that a loyal servant was worth more as a monster than a person.

For Ploeim, devoted servant of Oghma and relentless seeker of knowledge, discoveries like these continue to reinforce a grim reality. The Red Wizards are not merely abducting spellcasters. They are experimenting. Testing. Building something larger. Every rescued prisoner reveals another fragment of a design that remains frustratingly incomplete.

That design may revolve around magic item creation.

Deep within the corrupted region, the party located another prisoner: Ivorge, a renowned Rashemi vremyonni. Unlike Ezzik, Ivorge emerged from captivity exhausted, drained, and visibly broken by what had been done to him. His survival was a victory, but his condition raised alarming questions.

This now makes two rescued magical artisans.

Both possessed unique crafting knowledge.

Both had been specifically targeted.

And someone is still collecting them.

Throughout the expedition, Ms Susan remained what she has increasingly become: the intellectual center of the party. Granddaughter of Death, scholar, thief, sorcerer, and manipulator of circumstances, she continued connecting clues that others missed. The pattern emerging around Alyss, Delia D’Caryn, Ezzik, and Ivorge is becoming impossible to ignore.

Meanwhile, Maldurson continued carving out his own destiny beneath the shadow of his predecessor’s legacy. Each successful mission strengthens his place among the heroes while adding another chapter to a family story already deeply intertwined with death, sacrifice, and unfinished business.

As the session closed, the Pupils of Susan stood victorious.

Ezzik had been rescued.

Ivorge had been rescued.

The transformed guards had exposed horrific magical experiments.

The involvement of Delia D’Caryn had been confirmed.

Yet the greatest questions remain unanswered.

Why are the Red Wizards targeting master artisans?

What are they building?

Where is Alyss?

And most importantly, who is ultimately pulling the strings behind these kidnappings?

The heroes have now won two successive victories against the forces of Thay.

Unfortunately, every answer suggests the Red Wizards expected these losses.

Somewhere ahead lies the true objective.

And if the Pupils of Susan are correct, they are still several moves behind the enemy’s gambit.

Characters

Party

Pupils of Susan

Active

Brett – Loctar – Neutral Good – Orc – Fighter – Psi Warrior – Horizon Weaver – portal master
Brian – Ploeim – Human – Cleric – Criminal – Oghma – Mule named Quixote (may be Agar — the women from Dark Crystal)
Bryan – Malefort – Neutral Evil – Human – Warlock – Vestige – member of the Bejewelled Conclave – nobleman – foppish
Cody – Maldurson –
David – Ms Susan – Neutral – Human – Rouge / Sorcerer / Fighter – Custom Sage – Grand daughter of Death
Ivan – Whisper – Chaotic Good – Drow (Disguise Self as High Elf) – Ranger – Gloom Stalker – Settlers & Family killed by Alyis

Retired

Brett –Elias Runebow – Neutral Good – Human – Fighter – Arcane Archer – Archivist – Hunted artefacts for Thay – worked for Alyis

Dead

Cody – Maldur – Lawful Good – Cleric of Kelemvor – collect the Crown of Thorns from Szass Tam

Party Treasure

Bryan is managing (very well)

Non-player Characters

Alyss – Red Wizard – Killed party members family
Delia D’caryn – Red Wizard – kidnapping wizards building magic items
Ezzik – Rashemi vremyonni – maker of powerful magic items, captured by Red Wizards – made dagger of poison on the earth motes
Ivorge – Rashemi vremyonni – made ring of Mind Shielding in the
Zorri – Rashemi Wycherley Leader of community Immultar

Locations

Notes

I taped in images from the map pack — the list of tokens & images of the maps for reference. The WotC event code only works during the event.

Rules Questions

Q – Bloodied – is this a mechanic in 2024 edition?
Q – Forced Damage – pushed into a wall
Q – Pushed off ledge – dexterity save for falling

Table Snacks

• Brian – Doritos Spicy Nacho
• David – Homemade walnut cookies

Summary

Mote Makes Right

Living thunder waves did ok
Party killed Agaratha quickly
Rescued Ezzik
Questioned one of the guards
Learned Delia D’caryn was running the show — where is Alyss (sp)

Return to town

Fantasy Costco
Zorri & Ezzik reunite
Spy brings news of location of another captive

The Depth of Despair

Stream of Tortured Souls

Guards weird non bio growth
Eyes open in the water

Spooky Symbol

Kill the wolverines
Capture one giant wolverine who was a transformed guard.
Free Ivorge — very drained