Theta Campaign - Return of the Dragon Queen – Session 39

Written by: Flamereptile

Written: 08/19/2026

Theta Campaign - Return of the Dragon Queen – Session 39

This week’s tale begins as our intrepid adventurers begin negotiations for a truce with the vampires Sandria Mortessa. After some deliberation, Prinze stepped forwards to Sandria, asking, “What can you offer to us that would make a truce worthwhile?”

Sandria stood there for a moment in contemplation. Who did Prince think she was? Of all things, asking HER what she has to offer. How absurd, but she pondered the question nonetheless.

These adventurers had proven themselves unusually powerful, defeating all thirteen of her children and the monstrous Lathanon moments ago. All adventurers wanted gold, right? No, not these adventurers, surely not. Power? They already had that. What could she honestly offer them?
“Simple.” She said, “My worth to you is in building an army.”

Taken aback, Prinze replied, “Go on.”

“I can do it quickly, and as you have seen from my children, they will be powerful.”

“But we slew all of your thralls.” Said Alonzo from behind Prinze.

“That is true.” Replied Prinze.

“But of course, you five are outliers. Exceptions to the rules of power. To the coastlands, and the many kingdoms of this plane, mere subservient children would be more than enough for you to take anything you pleased.” She petitioned, “But imagine, not children, but fully grown adult vampires. Their power at your fingertips. At your beck and call.”

Allistair strode forwards to Sandria, staring intently at her then stopped suddenly as a bolt of lightning flashed past his ear and impacted her chest. No, not a bolt of lightning, a bee infused with lightning. It punctured a hole through her chest large enough to fit Allistair’s hand through.

Sandria’s eyes grew wide at the sudden betrayal, and Beezul loaded a new bee into his Bee-Bee Gun. Sandria dodged to the side, putting Prinze between her and the enraged little kobold, and Beezul fired once more. This time his aim was untrue, and the bee whirred straight towards Prinze. Fast as lightning himself, Prinze twisted around and attempted to catch the bee as he had caught many projectiles in the past. He was too slow, however, he managed to slow the bee enough to reduce its sting to a little prick.

“Ow you little shit!” shouted Prinze as Beezul dashed past him.

Procuring his Bee Drills, Beezul stabbed them into both of Sandria’s legs, slowing her retreat.

“What is this, you little wretch?” she shouted in surprise.

Standing, Sandria Mortessa plunged forwards her hand into Beezul’s throat, grasping his trachea. Beezul began to gasp and burble as she peered down at him.

“Steve!” shouted Alonzo as Steve incorporated behind Sandria.

She slowly looked back at the celestial as it raised its mace and brought it down on her head.

Alonzo rushed forth to lay his hands upon Beezul as he collapsed to the ground and began to bleed out. He looked up after Beezul’s wounds were sealed as Steve delivered his sixth and final blow to Sandria Mortess, grinding her bones and ashes into dust.

Prinze, scowling at Beezul, said, “I was willing to see where she was going to go with that.”

“It’s probably for the best.” Replied Allistair, “We wouldn’t want her building an army that we would have to take care of later.”

“Eh, I guess you’re right.” Said Prinze as he kicked over Sandria’s throne of bones. “I wonder what kinds of treasures she’s been hiding here?”

As Alonzo finished tending to Beezul, Allistair, Dolgrak, and Prinze scoured the lair for anything valuable. Prinze, with the bright idea to bring them to Hamblin, Sky’s Reach’s smithy, gathered up all twelve skeletons of Sandria’s children, and her own, and as much of the ashes as he could manage. The thought of Hamblin making a vampiric blade from the lot was tantalizing, although Allistair's Ebonblade, which he scarcely used, was vampiric, and it rarely saw the light of day.

Dolgrak found an old chest, and using his skill with a lockpick, which is to say, in his frustration he jammed a dagger into the lock and shook it until it came loose, he found a nice stash of coinage. Allistair was more selective in his search, instead managing to scrounge up twelve blood-red rubies off of the skeletons of the little vampires, and a silver necklace with thirteen empty settings off of the skeleton of Sandria.

Allistair pondered the assortment for a time, wondering if there was a thirteenth ruby on the final little vampire that escaped. He relayed his findings to the rest of his party and stored away the items in the meantime.

The five would make their way out of the vampiress’ lair and into the newly constructed tower. Allistair and Prinze stopped for a moment, as the others exited the dark tower, and peered around. Both contemplated repurposing the tower, but were shocked to find that it was empty. While constructing it, Wiglof had neglected to give the tower intermediate floors, simply making an empty shell. 

“Did you notice that…” began Allistair.

“I did.” Replied Prinze, “I think he followed your instructions though.”
“He didn’t give it any intermediate fl…” continued Allsitair.

“I know, but I saw your plans. You just gave him a drawing with a footprint and height.” Said Prinze. “By all means, I think he followed your plans. I approve.”

Disgruntled, Allistair left the tower, but Prinze stood there for a moment longer.

After he had emerged, he was immediately greeted by WIglof and Hulda.

“My lord.” Called WIglof, “Are you okay my lord?”

“Yeah, I got kidnapped and married off for political reasons.” Replied Prinze.

“That is unfortunate my lord.” Replied Hulda, “Is there a new mistress we must report to?”

“No, she’s dead.” He said, “And I didn’t even have time to take out a life insurance policy on her.”

“That is tragic, my lord.” Said Wiglof, “Hulda and I have sizable policies taken on one another.”

Prinze pondered for a moment, “Maybe we can exploit those sometime? Speaking of exploitation, did you manage to find a little kid running around here?”
“Aside from the kobolds, my lord?” asked Hulda.

“Yeah. She’s probably close to dying, missing an arm, and probably hunting one of the kobolds or Frank right now.” Said Prinze.

Wiglof reached down and opened his hand, revealing an ashy skeleton and a single blood-red ruby.

“I think that’s the one.” Said Prinze as he took the skeleton, ashes, and ruby, “Well done.”

“Thank you, my lord.” Both said in unison.

Prinze left the pair and joined his party as they laid out their loot. He gave the final ruby to Allistair, and the five set about dividing up the coins. After much deliberation, and ignoring the whims of Dolgrak, they would ultimately decide to give a portion to Alonzo to purchase more chalices for their heroic magical feasts. The rest would be placed in Sky’s Reach’s treasury until it was needed at a later date. Prinze then took the delegated coinage to the treasury and reconvened with the party to discuss their next move.

They would decide to visit Funda’s Enchanting and Hamblin’s Smithy, shops taken from the surface, upon approval of the owners, and placed upon Sky’s Reach to allow the two to work closer with the party. Both dwarves were hard at work within their spaces, as they tended to be.

“Good morning to you. It’s particularly early for you five, isn’t it?” asked Funda as Hamblin gave a greeting grunt and nod.

“We’ve been a little busy lately.” Said Allistair, “Our regular resting schedules have been turned inside out a bit.”

“Can you do anything with these?” asked Prinze as he began to produce the recently acquired vampire bones and ashes from his bag.

“Well, it depends on what kinds of bones and dust those are.” Said Funda.

“Vampires.” Replied Prinze and Beezul simultaneously.

“Oh.” Said Funda, surprised.

Hamblin ceased banging on the red hot sword he had been working and walked a few dozen feet to join Funda. 

He peered down at the bones and ashes and said, in his gravelly voice, “I reckon I could turn them ashes into a glass blade of sorts. I’ve heard of blades made of vampire’s ashes before. Blood Drinkers they call ‘em. Or the bones an’ ashes could be used in tandem to make fine blades.”

“Hmmm.” Said Allistair, “Perhaps we need to take some time to think about our options?”

The rest of the party, haggard, agreed.

“We’ll leave these here with you for the time being and come back with a decision after we’ve had some time to rest.”

“Sounds fine to me.” Said Hamblin.
“That’s fine.” Said Funda in unison.

The five went their own ways for the morning, collectively deciding to rest and reflect on the battle won.

That is where this week’s tale ends, and next week’s tale will begin.