A mysterious box arrived at the Dragon's Eye Detectives' Agency. When opened, a Voice said, "The Game commences. Players take their seats." Resistance was futile, and every detective was drawn tot he table for a game of unknown origin and design.
The game's objective: "Survive." And "impress the GM." The GM was the Game Master, whose identity was hidden for most of the game.
Cards were drawn, introducing characters and events into the game. The Nightmare Box from "The Dreameater" returned with Ballerina Kitty, a deceptively sweet, dancing and twirling kitty who turned into a Yokai, a demon. The Grey Lady from "Rag and Bone Man" arrived, along with her pestilent pennies.
A Gentleman Caller came knocking. He seemed helpful most of the game, sitting on the nightmare box so it wouldn't explode. When he won one of the games, he asked to become a Hero of the Dragon's Eye, so an official ID was procured from Rebecca.
We had a riot with the week's adventuring, as we faced challenges from skeleton knights, a dragon slayer and Rakshasas. Each team constructed a board game which came into play the last few days of the week -- and the winner of each game was able to request a boon from the loser.
This worked well for the detectives when they won. They were able to ask the Gentleman Caller to ask the game to banish some of the worst enemies they were facing. They started with Ballerina Kitty. They also asked the Grey Woman to gather her pennies and leave the game. She did, although a few pennies were left in the Nightmare Box, since removing them involved opening the box.
Some of the helper cards they received were very timely, too. The Jatayu swooped down to rescue people in the sewers of London game. The Treasure Keeper of the gods offered special dice for the games.
The Hindu goddess Sita arrived, recently trained as a Hero of the Dragon's Eye. She had her dice and her jewels, but her Third Eye of Inner Wisdom was missing. The detectives discovered that her help comes like a monsoon in summer -- rushing in great waves of overblown magic and causing as much trouble as help. Fortunately, they eventually drew Sita's Moon Rabbit card, and her Third Eye of Inner Wisdom was restored.
I'm happy to report that the detectives learned who the GM was and how he came to learn about the Heroes of the Dragon's Eye. First he was disguised as a cicada the group admired on a tree. He watched the team and decided to stay, turning from one insect or creature into another.
He was a June bug that the girls found in the bathroom. They rescued him by taking him outside where he could fly free. Another week, he was a wasp that found its way into the Dragon's Eye room. The detectives captured the wasp in a cup and sent him out the window to his freedom (and their great relief).
Each week he changed, and each week the detectives showed their kindness and courage. They befriended him as a squirrel, nodded to him as a crow and admired him as a huge, black beetle.
Our friend was a skeptic, so he couldn't believe his eyes and ears. He devised the game to test the reality of this team's honor -- and sure enough, they passed. He may have to amend his ancient report to the gods about the shortcomings of humans.
The best part of the adventure came at the end. The game was done. The party over. Rebecca was left at the Dragon's Eye Detectives' Agency. She went to turn off the lights and realized that someone was still there. Who was it?
The Gentleman Caller.
He's still there, turning the detectives into his own little demons.
A sequel is in the works for next February.
Pictures of the adventure and the board games are on the Facebook page. I've combined the art and adventure into a single album, since they were so integrated this week.
