Trick or Treat? Definitely Trick!

The members of the Trollskull Syndicate—Honkess, the female aarakocra ranger; Blueterion, the female blue dragonborn barbarian; Arace, the human male paladin; Morthos, the male tiefling bard; Bob, the male human ranger; and Norbert, the male human wizard—were heading back to Bob's airship, the Airshob, when they were approached by a tall, thin human male named Mr. Iams Hady. Mr. Hady urgently needed to get to Ebonfall and hoped the group would agree to take him. He offered them 2000 gold pieces for their trouble. Already planning to go to Ebonfall, the group agreed.

They boarded the Airshob and enjoyed a nice dinner, savoring the hearty meal and relishing in the camaraderie. As night fell, the group retired to their cabins for some well-deserved rest.

Later that night, a soft knock echoed through the wooden door to Morthos's cabin. Morthos, fatigued from the day's events, decided to ignore it and turned over in his bunk. Moments later, Norbert heard a knock at his door. Curious, he opened it to find three small children wearing elaborate costumes, cheerfully chanting "trick or treat." Before Norbert could react, more children appeared in the hallway, knocking on other doors. When the group members didn’t produce any candy, the children’s demeanor shifted menacingly. Suddenly, their true forms were revealed as demons, and they attacked.

The demons weren't tough, but for each one killed, another seemed to take its place. The group was seemingly winning but accumulating numerous minor wounds as the relentless fight dragged on.

Blueterion, the blue dragonborn barbarian, roared in fury, her scales glinting in the dim light. She swung her massive greataxe with brutal strength, cleaving through a demon that tried to leap at her. The axe cut through the creature like butter, and it fell in two pieces at her feet. Blueterion grinned fiercely as she prepared to face the next challenger.

Morthos, the tiefling bard, used his quick wit and magical prowess to keep the demons at bay. Strumming his lute, he cast a spell that sent waves of psychic energy through the air. A nearby demon clutched its head in agony before collapsing, unable to withstand the bard's magical assault. Morthos's music filled the air, inspiring his allies to fight harder.

Bob, the human ranger, was a blur of motion as he nocked arrow after arrow, each one finding its mark. With precision and speed, he took down a demon that was lunging towards Norbert. Norbert, was occupied by another demon and cast Polymorph on one of the small demons, transforming it into a harmless fish. Bob’s arrow struck the demon attacking Norbert from behind in the eye, and it vanished in a puff of smoke. Bob's eyes remained sharp, always scanning for the next threat.

Honkess, the aarakocra ranger, soared above the fray with her keen eyes scanning for the most strategic targets. Spotting a demon attempting to sneak up on Blueterion, she notched an arrow and let it fly. The arrow struck true, piercing the demon's heart and causing it to disintegrate into ash. Honkess let out a triumphant cry as she readied another arrow.

Suddenly, Mr. Hady entered the fray. He healed Honkess, whose strength began to wane as the healing seemed to sap her energy. Simultaneously, the demons he attacked appeared to grow stronger. Bob quickly realized that Mr. Hady was aiding the demons. In fact, Mr. Hady himself was a demon. His next attack landed a devastating blow on Honkess, sending her crashing to the ground, gravely wounded and on the brink of death.

Norbert, the human wizard, called upon his vast knowledge of spells to deal with the demonic threat. Chanting an incantation, he conjured a bolt of lightning that arced through the air, striking Mr. Hady and then three other demons and reducing the smaller demons to a smoldering heap. Norbert's face was set with determination as he continued to weave his spells, protecting his friends with his arcane might.

Desperation set in as the group tried to bring down Mr. Hady, but he was formidable, and the smaller demons swarmed them. But before he could savor this small victory, Mr. Hady struck Norbert down with a powerful blow, leaving Norbert lying on the floor, dying.

With their friends teetering on the edge of death, the group rallied. They unleashed a barrage of deadly attacks, fighting with renewed ferocity. Blueterion's great axe cleaved through demon flesh with brutal efficiency, Arace’s divine smites blazed with holy fury, and Morthos's bardic magic inspired his companions to greater heights of heroism. Bob’s arrows flew true, while Shadow’s martial prowess turned the tide.

Mr. Hady, now badly injured, offered to aid the group and provide valuable information if they spared him. His pleas fell on deaf ears, as Bob, fueled by righteous anger, struck the final blow with his flame tongue sword. The blade ignited with fire as it pierced Mr. Hady, reducing him and his demonic minions to ash. With a final screech, Mr. Hady and all his demons vanished, presumably sent back to the Nine Hells from whence they came.

Together, the Trollskull Syndicate fought valiantly, each member displaying their unique strengths and skills. Though the fight was grueling, their teamwork and bravery saw them through. As the last of the small demons fell, the group stood victorious, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.