April 2025 – Heroes of the Table

🎭 Tone:

Heartfelt, nostalgic, chaotic good vibes. Think Guardians of the Galaxy meets The Legend of Vox Machina, with emotional depth buried beneath years of sarcasm, old inside jokes, and chaotic combat.

🧭 Campaign Premise:

Years ago, the four of you were legendary adventurers—a party known across the realm as The Dawn’s Leftovers (don’t ask who came up with the name—there was mead involved). You saved kingdoms, slayed beasts, and even rode a wyvern once. Then, one by one, you drifted apart.

Now, ten years later, an ancient evil has stirred once more… and your old party leader is dead.

A mysterious letter arrives for each of you, bearing the seal of your fallen friend. It reads:

“If you’re reading this, I’m dead. Which is rude of me, I know. But I need you four together again. There’s something coming—something I couldn’t stop. You might be the only ones who can. One last adventure for the old crew?”

So, naturally… you show up late, hungover, underprepared—and ready for chaos.

🧙‍♂️ The Party (suggested archetypes, customizable):

The Washed-Up Paladin – Now runs a vineyard. Hasn’t lifted a sword in 7 years. Still believes in justice. Sort of.
The Reformed Rogue – Owns a bakery. Accidentally married into nobility. Absolutely does not want to be here.
The Wild Sorcerer – Went full hermit and now talks to rocks. May or may not be possessed by something.
The Bard-Turned-Parent – Settled down, had kids, and writes children’s books. Their lute has been repurposed as a wall decoration.

🗺️ Act I – The Reunion

The group reunites in a ruined tavern (their old haunt, “The Split Wand”) that’s been boarded up for years.
A magically trapped message from the dead friend plays in ghostly form, warning them of a dark power returning: The Maelthrix, an entity sealed long ago beneath the ruins of their very first dungeon.
Optional: A ridiculous tavern brawl breaks out with a rival adventuring party who thinks they’re the new hotness.
Cue reluctant team-up, clunky reconnections, passive-aggressive banter, and rediscovery of abilities (“Wait… did you forget how to rage?”).

🧩 Act II – The Old Dungeon, Revisited

The dungeon they once cleared has been repurposed as a luxury wine cellar/spa.
Unfortunately, the Maelthrix’s prison is cracking beneath it.
Infiltrating the spa involves a ridiculous disguise montage, awkward run-ins with old flames, and at least one fight in a mud bath.
Dungeon mechanics reflect the group’s history—puzzles themed around their old exploits, traps they once disabled (now rearmed), and jokes only they understand.
The ghost of their dead friend shows up to offer sarcastic help and/or throw shade.

🧨 Act III – The Final Battle

The Maelthrix has begun to merge with the spa’s very expensive magical infrastructure, leading to a glorious boss fight in a collapsing, cursed wellness resort.
Combat features chaotic magic effects caused by spa-themed enchantments: aromatherapy healing clouds, enchanted hot stones dealing fire damage, and sauna-induced hallucinations.
Optional: Mid-fight, one PC’s kid (now secretly an adventurer) shows up and helps, leading to a classic “I learned it by watching you!” moment.

💌 Epilogue – After the Dust Settles

Do the friends stay together? Open a tavern? Ride into the sunset? Or go back to being awkwardly estranged again?
The final scenes give room for closure, redemption, forgiveness… and probably one last food fight at the friend’s wake.

🧰 Themes You Can Explore:

Found family & reconciliation
Regret and aging
The weirdness of returning to who you used to be
How the world moves on… but the bond remains

🃏 Hijinks Table (Roll 1d6):

d6	Hijink
1	Someone accidentally drinks a Potion of Truth in the middle of an argument. Chaos.
2	Two party members get magically handcuffed together. For 24 hours.
3	The rogue’s noble spouse shows up unannounced. They brought the in-laws.
4	An NPC from the past appears… and they have very different memories of an old adventure.
5	A rival adventuring party tries to sabotage you with glitter bombs and bad poetry.
6	A cursed object causes one of you to swap personalities with another. You must roleplay accordingly.