## `=this.Storyline` **`=this.Short`** > Date: **`=this.SessionDate`** | Players: **`=this.Players`** > Location: **`=this.Location`** | Game: **`=this.Game`** ##### Summary Two brothers and their simple errand boy try to cast a ritual that could end the world. Luckily they don't succeed. > [!NOTE]- Full Story > #### **Prologue** > > [[Whispering Tree]] is a small town located in a strangely verdant oasis in the [[Klatchfield Wastes]]. The residents attribute this to [[The Whispering Tree]], which provides life and abundance in a radius of a few miles. > > [[Virgil]] is an incredibly intelligent magician who has a plan to suck the magic from [[The Whispering Tree]] using a [[The Grand Ritual]] found in the [[Tome of Dark Magic]]. > > [[Wilbur]] is [[Virgil]]'s twin brother. The two are nearly identical and easily confused. [[Wilbur]] is perhaps equally as smart as his brother , though he has only really applied himself as a thief and con artist. He has gotten wind of his brother's plan and wants to steal the Tome for himself to sell for a great profit. > > [[Arturo]] is [[Virgil]]'s impressionable minion who does his bidding. He is strong but dumb as rocks and serves as an altar boy at the church. He is unable to distinguish the twins from each other. > > --- > ### **Act 1** > > **Act 1, Scene 1** > [[Arturo]] is lurking in the bushes by the church when he is surprised by the appearance of [[Virgil]] (It's actually [[Wilbur]]). [[Wilbur]] tells [[Arturo]] that he decided to accompany him on this mission to make sure it goes right. > > [[Arturo]] proceeds to sneak into the basement below the church through a cellar door, while [[Wilbur]] (who he thinks is [[Virgil]]). He sees the [[Tome of Dark Magic|tome]] under a glass cloch. Unfortunately, he drops the cloch, alerting the members of the congregation who were holding a silent vigil. When they come out to investigate, they find [[Wilbur]] and arrest him. [[Arturo]] gets away with the book. > > **Act 1, Scene 2** > [[Wilbur]] is slumped in his jail cell when he is visited by [[Virgil]] and [[Arturo]]. [[Arturo]] is very perplexed, still unable to distinguish the two. [[Virgil]] tells [[Wilbur]] that he wants to use him for an alibi while the ritual at the tree is performed. He gives [[Wilbur]] a baked good with a hidden file in it in order to make an escape. > > **Act 1, Scene 3** > [[Arturo]] and [[Virgil]] are in a wagon full of watermelons, under a tarp. Unsure how long it will take [[Wilber]] to bust out, they patiently wait. Before they are able to get the wagon going, an alarm is raised and some guards begin pursuit on foot. The wagon easily outpaces them but in its haste it tips, spilling out its passengers. [[Virgil]]'s shoulder is dislocated. > > **Act 1, Scene 4** > The trio are hiding out in a cave. [[Virgil]] complains about the pain in his shoulder and Arturo decides to be helpful. He leaves the cave, looking for material to make a sling. Unintentionally, he traces his steps back to the wagon, where he is confronted by some guards and taken into custody. > > **Act 1, Scene 5** > The brothers are walking towards [[Virgil's cabin]], in a hidden glade in the forest. While walking they discuss their plans to rescue [[Arturo]]. [[Virgil]] also recounts how he found [[Arturo]]. It seems that when he was a baby, [[Arturo]]'s parents thought that he was a changeling. They left him out in the woods where [[Virgil]] fond and raised him. > > **Act 1, Scene 6** > [[Virgil]] goes to town in a clever disguise as a merchant named Vladimir Birch. He sees wanted signs for [[Wilbur]] plastered all over. He meets with the town guard, He talks with [[Sheriff Slump]] and [[Deputy Bart]] and tells them that he saw the escaped man further down the road. [[Deputy Bart]], who knows [[Wilbur]] well, comments that the merchant look an awful lot like [[Wilbur]], only with a full beard. Ultimately, the pair of law officers leave to investigate the tip leaving the jail empty. > > --- > > ### **Act 2** > > **Act 2, Scene 1** > [[Virgil]] and [[Arturo]] are walking back towards the forest on their way to the cabin. [[Arturo]] asks if they could have a code word so that [[Virgil]] can confirm his identity should it be needed. They settle on "watermelon". > > They run into [[Missus Squally]], a neighbor of [[Arturo]]'s and a longtime crush. Arturo enthusiastically convinces [[Missus Squally]] to come back with them to the cabin to help heal [[Virgil]]'s shoulder. > > **Act 2, Scene 2** > [[Wilbur]] is alone at the cabin, searching everywhere for where the [[Tome of Dark Magic]] might be hidden. He finds it under a straw bed- just as [[Virgil]] and the others walk in. > > **Act 2, Scene 3** > The group are all in the cabin with [[Missus Squally]] setting to work on [[Virgil]]'s arm. She says she needs some supplies that are out back and [[Arturo]] takes her to find what she needs. With them gone, the brothers talk of their plot and of how to get rid of the newcomer. > > [[Missus Squally]] and [[Arturo]] re-enter, having overheard some of the plot. [[Arturo]] tries to talk quick to remove suspicion, but only makes things much worse. [[Missus Squally]] leaves. > > **Act 2, Scene 4** > [[Virgil]] and [[Arturo]] are at [[The Whispering Tree]] preparing for their [[The Grand Ritual]]. [[Deputy Bart]] emerges from the trees and starts to interrogate [[Virgil]] on what he is doing. [[Arturo]] sneak up behind him and conks him on the head with a log, intending to knock him out. Unfortunately, he doesn't know his own strength and the deputy is dead. > > **Act 2, Scene 5** > [[Wilbur]] is in a tavern, loudly declaring that he is [[Virgil]]. Most don't care, but a man at the end of the bar buys him a drink and comes to talk to him. The friend quickly sees through the disguise. > > **Act 2, Scene 6** > Back at the tree, the ritual is under way. [[Deputy Bart]]'s blood has contaminated the ritual, but [[Virgil]] cavalierly disregards any danger. [[Arturo]] is spooked by the dark energy culminating around the tree. He shrieks and runs off, leaving [[Virgil]] to try and finish the ritual with his bum shoulder. > > [[Arturo]] runs into [[Wilbur]], who was making his escape after being outed in the bar. Still wearing his [[Virgil]] disguise, [[Arturo]] easily believes him to be his master. [[Wilbur]] even gets the code word correct ([[Arturo]] unwittingly revealed it). The pair hurry back to the ritual site. > > When they arrive at the tree, [[Virgil]] is floating three feet off the ground with his eyes glowing white. He seems lost in some kind of trance and muttering in an other worldly voice, "I am the whisper in the tree." It seems that there was a [[demon]] residing in the tree and it had now been yanked out by the ritual. > > [[Wilbur]] tears the book from [[Virgil]]'s hands, disrupting the ritual. [[Virgil]] lets out a horrifying scream as the demon starts to take control of him. The demon consumes [[Virgil]]'s soul and turns him into a supernatural horror. [[Virgil]] will go on to live for thousands of years, trapped in a demonic body, completely self-aware but unable to control anything. > > [[Arturo]] tries to run off but is stopped before he can get far. His limbs starting to painfully stretch and break as his body contorts and metamorphizes into the new [[The Whispering Tree|Whispering Tree]]. > > [[Wilbur]] made it off with the [[Tome of Dark Magic]]. He could not find anyone to buy it and carried it with him for all his remaining days. He lived in a virtual nightmare of guilt and pain for his actions. > > After his death, the book was lost for a time only to be discovered and the [[The Grand Ritual]] successfully performed. But that is a story for another time.