Beginning credits: In This Moment - "In The Air Tonight" [Official Lyric Video]
Title Card: Threshold, Thaumont 3, 1000 AC
Weather: Scattered showers/ice
Background: Medieval Fantasy Tavern | D&D Fantasy Music and Ambience
(The scene opens with an exterior shot of the Juggling Ogre, its weathered sign swaying gently in the morning breeze. The chatter and clinking of dishes can be faintly heard from inside. The camera pans to the warm, rustic interior, where the adventurers are seated around a table covered in crumbs, mugs, and open tomes.)
Felonious adjusts his robe as he leans over one of the large books, pointing out passages to the group. His voice is steady and academic, though a flicker of unease crosses his face as he notices the side glances being exchanged.
Felonious: (Mid-conversation) "So, prior to Gygar's time, conditions in the area were pretty adverse to farming, so when he arrived in the area, he used some sort of magic to make the land fertile. I haven't been able to find any specific references, but it seems like he had some kind of power over the local weather. At least, enough to make a wild forest amenable to farming. We've got some folks that can do that sort of thing in Glantri, but it's not easy. If you're not careful, you can cause all sorts of chaos."
Greegan: (Leaning back with a mischievous grin.) "Imagine all the fun old Bargle could have with something like that, aye?"
Fleetwood: (With a grimace, sipping his morning ale.) "I'd rather not."
(At that moment, Clarion appears at the top of the stairs. Her outfit, more tailored and slightly more revealing than usual, shifts just enough as she moves to catch Fleetwood’s attention. She approaches the table with a warm smile and sits beside him, her presence bringing a faint air of brightness to the conversation. Fleetwood, however, can’t help but glance over, while Greegan mutters something under his breath.)
Greegan: "Do we need to le—"
(His words are abruptly cut off as Silverleaf, seated beside him, elbows him sharply in the ribs. He coughs, glaring at her, while Silverleaf hides her flushed face behind her hand.)
Felonious: (Oblivious, gesturing to the tomes.) "I was just enlightening our companions on what I found in the ruins yesterday."
Silverleaf: (Bluntly, lowering her hand but still avoiding eye contact.) "Bargle wants to control the weather."
Greegan: (Leaning forward.) "If something's going—"
Silverleaf: (Cutting him off with sharp words and holding up fingers as she speaks.) "Greegan, two things. Shut—" (one finger) "—up." (second finger)
Greegan: (Grumbling into his mug, muttering something about "no sense of humor.")
(The scene cuts to the party stepping outside the Juggling Ogre. The morning sun casts long shadows as they make their way toward Mistamere. Clarion sticks conspicuously close to Fleetwood, her attempt at subtlety failing as Silverleaf raises an eyebrow at the awkwardness. Felonious clutches his tomes like treasure, while Greegan walks slightly ahead, muttering something about "women and wizards.")
(The camera lingers as the group arrives at the walls of Mistamere. This time, the once-ruined towers and crumbled stone walls seem eerily still, the air thick with a silence that wasn’t there before. The ruins appear completely abandoned, an almost unnatural emptiness hanging over them as they prepare to step inside.)
Entrance Hall
Background: Dark Dungeon Music
They navigate through the courtyard and enter the hall without any resistance. The hall is covered in ice, making the floor tricky to traverse. Greegan manages to cross, though he slips slightly. Felonious falls but slides towards the western door, much to Greegan's amusement. Even Silverleaf faces some difficulty. Surprisingly, Fleetwood crosses without slipping once. Clarion slips but Fleetwood catches her.
West Hall
The tension in the western hall is palpable as the oppressive darkness seems to leech the courage from the air itself. The whispers echo like faint, malevolent laughter, growing louder with each hesitant step. Felonious’s grip on his staff tightens, and the glimmer of his light spell dims, as though consumed by the encroaching shadows.
Fleetwood, ever stalwart, scans the growing gloom with a sword ready in hand, his shoulders squared but his breathing measured. Beside him, Clarion, startled by the whispers, instinctively moves behind Fleetwood, her fingers hovering near her holy symbol as though its presence alone might shield her. Silverleaf, on the other hand, steps forward as if undeterred by the suffocating darkness, her connection to nature grounding her resolve.
But Greegan, visibly unnerved, begins backing away, his instincts screaming that survival lies in retreat. "Not liking this, not liking this at all," he mutters as his steps hasten toward the exit.
Felonious’s voice cuts through the whispers, steady but tinged with unease as he begins to intone an incantation. His staff glows brighter and brighter, its light blossoming in intensity until it flares with blinding brilliance. The hall fills with searing radiance, every corner illuminated in an instant. The darkness recoils with an unearthly shriek, the shadowy forms dispersing like smoke caught in the wind.
Greegan continues his retreat even as the light fades slightly. "That’s it for me," he mutters, pushing toward the exit. Before he can escape entirely, Silverleaf strides after him, catching his arm. Her calm yet firm voice halts him. “You’re not leaving us behind, Greegan. We need all of us to see this through.” Her gaze is steady, and for a moment, he hesitates before nodding begrudgingly. Despite her intervention, his hands still twitch nervously, and his eyes dart toward the shadows as they press onward.
The oppressive energy seems to have eased with the retreat of the shadowy forms, but the air retains a faint unease, as if the hall remembers the sinister presence that once lingered there. The group reassembles, moving forward with caution but with determination rekindled by Felonious’s decisive action.
Storage:
(The montage begins as the party cautiously moves through the storage area, their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of dust blanketing the floor. Shelves and crates are stacked haphazardly, creating narrow corridors of clutter that feel more claustrophobic than before. Shadows stretch unnaturally long across the mess, but nothing stirs. The tension in the air hangs unresolved.)
(Quick cuts show the group descending a creaking wooden staircase to the second level, their expressions ranging from wary to determined. The flicker of Felonious’s light spell dances across the damp stone walls as they carefully navigate deeper into the ruin. Silverleaf stays at the front, her elven eyes scanning ahead, while Fleetwood brings up the rear, ensuring no one is left behind.)
(The camera follows them through a series of dim hallways until they arrive at a junction near the former kobold barracks. Rubble marks the space, but a faintly concealed staircase catches Silverleaf’s keen gaze. Without hesitation, they descend further, their boots echoing on the worn stone steps.)
(The montage ends with the party stepping onto the next level. The air here feels heavier, colder, and the silence more oppressive than before, as if the ruin itself is holding its breath. Shadows press closer, and a faint chill runs down their spines as they steel themselves for whatever lies ahead.)
Ruined Study
The room is sparsely furnished, with only a pair of dusty, moldy chairs positioned before a fireplace that has long been cold, filled with nothing but ashes. The flickering torch provides minimal illumination, but Felonious' light spell enhances the brightness, casting an eerie blue glow. Suddenly, the air is pierced by unearthly wails, adding to the room's haunting atmosphere.
Silverleaf resists the terror effect, while Greegan, though rattled, musters his courage. Fleetwood appears nervous but remains functional. Felonious is paralyzed by fear. Clarion, recalling her vow to protect people from the Undead, regains her composure and blasts the wraiths with holy light. Fleetwood attempts to attack the wraiths but struggles to see them in the shifting light, allowing them to swarm over him and drain his life force. Though weakened, he still stands. Greegan uses his magic dagger to drive back the wraiths, but they continue to lurk nearby. Silverleaf fires magic missiles at the wraiths, who use their shadow meld ability to sneak up on her.
Clarion continues to pray - and the light of Chardastes flashes forth again, finally driving away the wraiths. The party waits for a moment to catch their breaths. Fleetwood and Silverleaf recover from the chilling touch of death. Felonious remains rattled.
Felonious: "Cold. Cold." He shudders. "Hopeless. Forgotten."
Fleetwood: "Come on. We need your light." He and Silverleaf pull Felonious along. The party discovers two doors on the north side and decide to go to the east. Greegan examines the door, finds no traps, and unlocks it.
Blade Trap
(The scene unfolds as the party halts at the threshold of the room. The single column at the center looms ominously, its surface smooth and unassuming. Greegan steps forward, his sharp eyes narrowing as he examines it, holding up a hand to stop the others.)
Greegan: (Firmly but quietly.) "There's a trap in the column. There's got to be a way to disarm it… Yeah."
(He crouches, running his fingers along the base of the column until he spots it—a keyhole, partially hidden by dust.)
"There's a keyhole here. Let me see the key we took from that ogre."
(Fleetwood pulls the heavy key from his pouch and hands it over without a word, his gaze shifting nervously between the column and the rest of the room. Greegan takes the key with a confident smirk, his deft fingers fitting it into the lock. A tense moment follows as the mechanism resists for just an instant before the key clicks into place with a faint “shink” sound.)
(The party braces for something to happen, their muscles tensing, but no bolts fly and no explosions erupt. Greegan straightens with a casual ease and strides up to the column, patting it lightly as though greeting an old friend.)
Greegan: (With a smirk and an air of triumph.) "Trap disarmed. You can thank me later."
(Silverleaf exhales softly, relieved but skeptical. Felonious, still jittery from earlier, peers cautiously at the column, muttering something about "overconfidence being the downfall of many a rogue." Clarion stays close to Fleetwood, who watches Greegan with a mix of admiration and incredulity.)
(The party exchanges a glance, knowing that Greegan’s boldness might have saved them, but also that it might not always be so straightforward. As the tension eases, they prepare to investigate the rest of the room, wondering what secrets the column might have been guarding—or if its danger is truly gone.)
Guard Room
The party carefully surveys the room, the faint scent of dust and old battle lingering in the air. The rubble from the destroyed stairway looms like a monument to their previous confrontation, now silent and undisturbed. The absence of the ogres creates an eerie stillness, as though the space itself is holding its breath.
Greegan, crouched by the western door, runs his fingers along its edges, his expression a mix of concentration and skepticism. His instincts, honed from years of survival, tell him there's likely no trap, but the faintest shadow of doubt clouds his confidence.
Greegan: (Glancing back at the group with a shrug.) "I don’t think there’s a trap… but I’m not making any promises."
Fleetwood, standing nearby, rests his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready for whatever may lie beyond.
Clarion, her nerves still steady from her earlier resolve against the wraiths, mutters a quiet prayer for safety, clutching her holy symbol tightly. Silverleaf watches Greegan, her sharp eyes flickering between the rogue and the door, ready to act if needed. Felonious, still pale and rattled, clings to his staff, his light spell casting faint blue glimmers on the walls.
The tension builds as Greegan steps back, gesturing toward the others. "Well, it’s your call," he says, smirking faintly despite his unease. Fleetwood steps forward, his movements deliberate as he reaches for the door handle. The party braces themselves, weapons and spells at the ready, uncertain of what awaits them on the other side.
Statue Gallery
This long hallway is flanked by six crystalline statues of Bargle, his hands raised as if casting a spell. The gallery is also occupied by an enormous patrolling ogre, who has come to investigate the noise Greegan made while checking the door.
Fleetwood, shaken by the wraiths' deadly touch, faces the ogre's challenge with newfound aggression. Greegan, still prone to flight, tries to retreat to the safety of their previous area. Felonious, too rattled to cast a spell, and Silverleaf, though shaken, chooses to fight. Fleetwood wounds the ogre but inadvertently activates the crystal Bargle statues by stepping into the middle of the room. Greegan, blocked by two statues, shatters them with a lucky blow from his magic dagger. Silverleaf instinctively fires an arrow at a statue, but it bounces off harmlessly. Felonious strikes the ogre with his staff, only to be swatted aside. Clarion attacks a statue with her mace but fails to damage it and receives a glancing blow in return.
Angered, the ogre tries to crush Fleetwood. He can't dodge away from the blow. His armor holds fast, but now the ogre has hold of him and is squeezing him in its tree-trunk-like arms. A Bargle statue punches Silverleaf directly in the face - there is a loud crack and her nose starts gushing blood. Clarion also takes a beating by a statue, her armor barely holding out against it. Greegan attacks the ogre, but it swats him aside, leaving him bruised and wincing. The remaining Bargle statues ignore him. Clarion begins ringing her Chime of Fortune. Fleetwood manages to free his sword arm and ram the blade into the ogre's gut. Felonious shatters the remaining statues with his staff in a surprising burst of strength.
Felonious: "And that's for Silverleaf" Whacks a statue, "That's for Clarion," Whacks a statue "And that's for the time you turned me into a chicken and those stupid goblins rolled me in flour!" He takes a punch from a Bargle statue, but it too shatters. "I guess you had to be there." He stops and rubs his arm.
Greegan gets unsteadily to his feet. The party waits for a time for the members to catch their breath. Felonious gives a potion to Greegan, but the rogue spits it out after tasting it.
Greegan: "You didn't bloody cook it long enough, mate. Blech."
But Felonious has already moved on, giving a similar potion to Silverleaf. She looks at it dubiously and then drinks it. A glow suffuses her, and her wounds are healed.
Felonious: "Sorry, Greegan. I guess you got a bad batch."
Greegan: "Yeah, right. Give the good stuff to the pretty girl."
Silverleaf: "Girl? I have pointy shoes older than you."
Fleetwood: "Everyone all right?"
Clarion: (Hand on Fleetwood's shoulder): "What about you?"
Fleetwood: "Head's ringing. Still feeling the touch of those undead beasties." She whispers something in Celestial, and his mood seems to brighten.
Greegan: "Don't suppose I could get a touch of that mojo?"
Clearion: "Of course." She whispers a spell in Celestial and Greegan's wounds close.
The party elects to continue heading west - where Silverleaf finds a secret door to the north that even Greegan did not notice. Inside is a jingling sack full of gold royals. Beyond it, Greegan finds another secret door. Opening it, he finds himself in a closet containing all sorts of provisions. The party decides to continue northward.
Ogre Lair
In the center of the room stands a massive table, adorned with the poorly cooked carcass of a boar. Dice and cards are scattered across its surface. Three ogres, seated on tree-trunk chairs, are engrossed in a heated argument over their game of chance, speaking in Ogrish. They remain oblivious to the party's presence until the adventurers are upon them. The party launches a coordinated attack, wounding one ogre and putting the others on the defensive. Fleetwood, Greegan, and Clarion engage with their melee weapons, while Felonious unleashes magic missiles and Silverleaf fires arrows. As the battle rages, two more ogres burst in from adjacent rooms, one incongruously wearing a nightcap and clutching a teddy bear. The ogres retaliate, injuring Greegan, Fleetwood, and Silverleaf. Greegan manages to kill an ogre with a clever backstab, but the remaining brute charges at the party, swinging a massive club. It knocks Greegan off his feet, but Felonious' mage armor spell deflects the blow. Clarion feels the impact through her armor. Finally, the last ogre is defeated. Silverleaf dons the ogre's nightcap and stows the teddy bear in her bag. The group continues westward, discovering the ogres' barracks.
Ogre Barracks
The atmosphere thickens as the party progresses through the ominous halls. After their fruitless search of the ogre barracks, the discovery of the stairway leading back to the previous level offers little comfort—it only serves as a reminder of how deep and labyrinthine the ruins have become. The return to the tapestry room brings a flicker of unease as the worn image of Bargle looms above the ruins, as though silently mocking their progress.
Back in the altar room, the sight of new, yet worthless, offerings adds to the unsettling ambiance. The items—a few rusted coins, broken pottery, and scraps of fabric—seem hastily placed, their insignificance making a mockery of whatever reverence might still linger here.
Greegan (nudges at one of the offerings with his dagger) "Well, at least Bargle's fans are consistent."
The party’s decision to venture south from the gallery of statues brings them deeper into the heart of Mistamere. The flickering light from Felonious’s staff casts long, ominous shadows along the walls as they proceed with caution. Every step feels heavy, the anticipation building as the unknown looms ahead. Whatever lies in the southern passage promises new challenges and perhaps more pieces of the puzzle they seek to unravel.
Pit Trap
As Greegan enters the chamber, the dim light of Felonious's spell casts eerie shadows on the walls, giving the seemingly ordinary room an unsettling atmosphere. The large rug at the center draws his attention immediately, but as he investigates, his instincts prove true—a trap lies hidden beneath the surface. His reflexes are razor-sharp as he leaps back, just in time to avoid the snapping pit mechanism. The sound echoes ominously before the trap seals shut, leaving the rug displaced and the tension in the room thick.
Unfazed, Greegan presses on, his determination overcoming the scare. He approaches the door on the west side of the chamber, inspecting its frame and lock. Despite his deft skill, the door refuses to yield. Frustration flickers across his face as he tries every trick he knows, but the barrier remains stubbornly closed.
The party regroups, briefly examining the chamber before deciding to investigate the southern door. Passing through it, they find themselves back in the ruined study, its familiarity somewhat reassuring after the unsettling encounter in the trapped chamber. From here, the path forward remains uncertain, but the party presses on, determined to uncover Mistamere’s secrets.
Chamber of Doors
The hallway turns to the south, and ends at a door. Greegan doesn't find any traps on the door, and it doesn't appear locked. It opens on a rectangular room with a door in the east, two in the south, and one in the west. A loud, booming voice, seeming to come from everywhere around, speaks when they open the door.
Bargle's Voice: (Big and Echoey) "Fools! You have invaded my inner sanctum. Guess correctly and you may live to face my wrath."
The party moves into the room, alert for danger. Greegan examines the situation.
Greegan: "Well, the door to the east doesn't have any traps. I can't tell anything about the southeast. The southwest doesn't have a trap that I can find. Not entirely sure I can tell anything about the west either."
The party sneaks toward the southeast door. It does not appear to be locked, and when they throw it open the small alcove behind it appears to be empty. Greegan starts to examine this alcove when the door swings shut, almost catching him inside of it. Turning to the north, they examine the eastern door that Greegan didn’t' think had any traps. It reveals a similar alcove. Greegan starts to examine this, and is caught by surprise when the door closes - and he can't open it. A sliding door opens, and a light dawns on Greegan, shifting but enough to see by.
Greegan: "Aye, Fleety! Open the door." No sooner has he said this than shadowy arms reach out from the sliding door and grab him. He manages to fight them off, but when Fleetwood opens the door, the secret door shuts, trapping Greegan with his assailants. Fleetwood starts pounding at the secret door to open it.
Meanwhile, Greegan finds himself facing two identical men, both of whom appear to be Bargle. Greegan holds his own against the Bargle clones, while Fleetwood and the rest of the party barge through the door, hindered slightly as it is stouter than they thought. When the party gets through the door, they are confronted with the spectacle of three identical Greegans, who all seem to be fighting each other.
Greegans: (All together) "Oh, bollocks!"
(Fade to black)