The tranquil halls of Strixhaven College were anything but serene when a group of students discovered that several magical mascots had escaped from their habitats. The mascots, integral to the upcoming Mage Tower tournament known as the Battle of Strixhaven, had somehow slipped past their confines, setting off a campus-wide search. The task of retrieving these elusive creatures fell upon Luna, Bob, Krenn Smith, and Ophelia—students known for their resourcefulness and bravery.
The team began their quest at Wiltroot Hall, a towering, ancient stump repurposed into a grand educational facility. The hall stood like a sentinel over the swampy marshlands, its wooden walkways and boardwalks extending like veins into the surrounding wetlands. Sparse foot traffic hinted that most students were attending classes, but whispers among those present pointed the team toward the distant huts scattered across the swamp.
Venturing eastward, they arrived at one such hut—a modest structure perched above the murky waters. As they entered, a pungent scent of algae greeted them, emanating from a bubbling fountain on the lower level. There, they spotted an Owlin student engaged in a peculiar conversation with the water itself. It took a moment before they realized he was speaking to a Water Weird—a serpentine elemental composed entirely of fluid.
“Have you seen any unusual creatures around here?” Luna inquired, her wings fluttering with a mix of excitement and concern.
The Water Weird swiveled its translucent head toward them. “A small, angular being passed through not long ago,” it hissed. “It skittered off while I was discussing soup ingredients with this one.” It gestured vaguely toward the Owlin, who seemed more perplexed than ever.
Sensing a lead, the team split up to search the hut. Krenn Smith, ever the cunning half-elf wizard, hatched a plan. “I’ll distract it with a bit of magic,” he whispered, pulling an imaginary rabbit from an ethereal hat. The creature, a Condrix mascot with a sleek form and curious eyes, emerged from hiding, entranced by Krenn’s illusion.
Seizing the moment, Bob, the sturdy dwarf fighter, approached silently from behind. With practiced ease, he slipped a magical band around the mascot’s neck. The effect was immediate; the creature paused, its eyes glazing over momentarily before it darted out the door, presumably returning to its rightful place.
“One down, five to go,” Ophelia noted, her human sorcerer’s robes rustling as she moved.
Their next destination was northward, following a tip from the Owlin student about sightings in the swamp. The journey along the winding boardwalks was fraught with the sounds of unseen creatures and the ever-present humidity of the marshlands. As they approached another hut—a simple gazebo-like structure without walls—Luna’s keen eyes caught sight of two large mounds protruding from the water.
“Wait,” she cautioned, holding up a delicate hand. “Those aren’t just mounds of fungus. They’re Brackish Trudges.”
The group halted, observing the creatures. Massive plant-like beings, the trudges lay partially submerged, their bodies camouflaged amidst the swamp’s vegetation. They were known to be non-aggressive unless provoked, but their sheer size made them formidable obstacles.
“We need to get into that hut,” Bob asserted. “There might be another mascot.”
“I’ll go,” Krenn volunteered. “Perhaps if I’m careful, I won’t disturb them.”
Ignoring the potential peril, Krenn stepped lightly onto the creaking floorboards of the hut. Inside, shafts of sunlight pierced through the thatched roof, casting dappled patterns on the wooden floor. His gaze drifted upward, and there, hanging from a rafter, was a Pest mascot—a creature associated with the Witherbloom College, known for its resilience and vitality.
A sudden movement outside shattered the momentary calm. The Brackish Trudges were stirring, rising from the swamp with a guttural groan that echoed through the marsh. Standing taller than the hut itself, they began to move toward it, their intentions unclear but their approach undeniably menacing.
“Guys, we’ve got company!” Ophelia shouted, her hands already glowing with arcane energy.
Krenn glanced back, weighing his options. The mascot was within reach, but the trudges were closing in fast. “We need a plan, and we need it now!”
Luna fluttered upward, her fairy wings catching a stray beam of light. “I’ll try to distract them!” she exclaimed, pulling out a small vial of shimmering dust. “Maybe this will buy us some time.”
Bob readied his weapon, the steel glinting ominously. “Whether they mean harm or not, we can’t let them stop us.”
The air grew thick with tension as the Brackish Trudges advanced, their massive forms displacing water and vegetation alike. The team stood at the crossroads of action and consequence, each second ticking by with the weight of impending danger.
Would they retrieve the Pest mascot and escape unscathed? Or would the swamp claim them as it had countless others before? As the shadows of the trudges enveloped the hut, the students of Strixhaven prepared to face yet another test of their courage and unity.
Session Notes