Greg's the Game Master Sam likes story Fran likes fights Paul likes puzzles Carl likes characters Mary likes monsters

Greg starts describing the scene, "You all find yourself at the same inn." He then waits for players to contribute the details. Sam (who tends to be the first to add details) adds, "There's a single job posted on the board. It looks like it's been there a while; it's the one too dangerous for any other adventurers to take." The others nod approval. Mary adds something that sounds interesting to her, "The post says that there's a creature taking out caravans on the northern road. There's only been one survivor. He said mist appears before it attacks, and it attacks with fire." Greg nods approval, flipping through his monster book to pick something out. Carl (who tends to play off of other player's contributions, especially Sam's) invents a character. "An old man by the fire takes the pipe from his mouth and croaks out, 'Ye aren't the first to take on the monster of mist and fire.' And then he cackles at the folly of youth." Paul (in character) asks, "Where do the attacks happen, old man?" Greg responds as the old man (since the players don't know the answer), "By the old mill." (making just a little fun of the voice Carl used) Paul pips up (in character), "Never mind the old man guys. We can use the mill as our base. I saw storm clouds on the horizon, if we wait there for the rain to come, it will keep the mist from obscuring our vision and help with any fires." Greg decides the scene has been fully described, so the players talk amongst themselves. Mary describes what the monster might be like to help the others prepare. Carl tosses out some phrases his character's known for, which elicits a response in kind from several others, including Fran who begins sharpening her blade by the fire. Sam engages Carl, who pretends to be the old man character he invented earlier. With occasional glances at Greg for approval, Sam asks leading questions to Carl about previous adventurers who took the job and never came back. Paul and Fran (and Greg!) listen in and use specific information to plan for the encounter. Since the scene was role-played, no dice were necessary.

Greg decides to start describing the next scene, "The gang saddles up the horses and heads out of town." Sam takes the reigns, "The menacing storm clouds hang on the horizon, but this time, they might just save us. Once out of town, the road becomes narrow and winding." Greg nods approval. Paul interjects, "If the creature's been attacking caravans, we should head into the wilderness to make our way to the mill." Fran (itching for a fight) disagrees, "And wait for it to attack another caravan? We should take the direct route and bring the fight to the monster." Carl (accurately role-playing his character) also disagrees with Paul, "I agree. If we're on the road when the monster eats Franlock (Fran's character), at least I'll know which way to run." The other players offer their opinions, but no clear decision is reached. After a minute of flailing, Greg politely suggests that the group splits up. Not long after, Sam describes, "Franlock and Marylock continue down the road while the rest of us keep hidden in the woods." Paul picks up the description and adds some rational, "They make enough noise for the rest of the party to follow without having to keep sight of the road." Fran adds, "When the monster attacks, we'll spring the trap and flank it." The characters in the woods roll dice for their Move Silently skill checks.

Greg starts describing the old mill, "The gang reaches the mill. A small path leads to it from the road. It's roof can be seen above the trees that litter the area." Paul reminds, "Now we wait for the rain." Greg continues, "The old mill is dilapidated and hasn't been used in some time. Even so, as it starts to rain, you see that the roof has very few leaks." Sam picks it up from here, "But there's a strange smell, like old death." Carl adds, "I have a bad feeling about this." Greg, picking up the cue from his players, describes the monster appear, "Tentacles reach up from the basement to wrap around the millstone before catching on fire. A huge eye emerges and looks at you all angrily. Roll init." Greg runs combat as normal. Afterwards, Mary describes the creature's den and how it was protecting its eggs, which instantly cause the other players to consider what they could do with the eggs.