"Var-esh: Ashes to Ashes" is a narrative retelling of a single-player Dungeons & Dragons campaign run by ChatGPT. The images included in this post were created by ChatGPT's image generator, Sora, based on descriptions provided throughout the campaign, and the story was driven by AI and shaped by decisions made by a human and his dice rolls along the way.
Previously:
After a restless night at the Resting Roost Inn, haunted by dark
thoughts of missing children and the unsettling tomb encounter, Var-esh rose
with renewed purpose. Determined to get answers about Thomas Darrin, Celia
Markham, and the growing undead presence outside the charming-yet-troubled town of Gavinsboro, he prepared to continue the investigation.
That morning, Var-esh reunited with Jasper and Sheriff Renlow at a quiet table in the local tavern, where they hoped to formulate a plan. Their meeting was cut short, however, when a shadowy figure burst through the front door—an elven monster tracker named Kaelin, who was equipped with various knives and blades, as well as leather armor bearing the sigil of a group called The Circle of Ash.
Kaelin claimed to be following a pattern of unnatural animal attacks, which seemed to align suspiciously with the time frame of Thomas Darrin's disappearance. Var-esh questioned her thoroughly, especially about her outfit and weapons and the meaning behind strange events around Gavinsboro. Though guarded, Kaelin proved sharp and capable, and agreed to join the investigation.
Before leaving town, Var-esh bought two vials of Monster Repellent Powder from a local merchant named Old Rusk and retrieved the eerie wind chime from the Tomb of Vellin, handing it to Kaelin for examination. Though she sensed no magic, the object somehow seemed tied to the strange energies afflicting the land. Pocketing the creepy chime, Var-esh and company headed down the dirt road out of town.
With Kaelin leading the way, the group ventured into the forest. The deeper they went, the more unnatural the wilderness became—quiet, still, almost watching them. That silence broke when two monstrous, malformed beasts leapt from the underbrush. With fur patching over scaled skin and warped bone ridges, they were clearly once natural creatures, now twisted.
Var-esh launched the first strike, wounding one of the beasts with a powerful swing. Kaelin and Renlow engaged the second, but it wasn’t long before a hooded figure appeared, watching from the trees. As Kaelin fired an arrow at it, the figure turned and tried to flee.
After dispatching the first beast, Var-esh calmed the second with a masterful show of control and compassion. Realizing the creature had been manipulated rather than evil, he left it unharmed and turned his focus to the true threat. Grabbing the Dragon’s Heart, he invoked his Channel Divinity: Abjure Enemy, targeting the hooded figure. The divine energy surged outward, slowing the figure’s escape and filling it with dread.
Seizing the opportunity, Var-esh gave chase. He hurled two javelins with deadly accuracy, injuring the figure as it ran. When he caught up, he demanded its surrender, warning it not to test him again. When it tried to flee once more, Var-esh unleashed a Thunderous Smite, striking it down with a booming blow and knocking it to the ground.
Pulling back the hood, Var-esh was stunned to discover the face beneath it was… or appeared to be… Sheriff Renlow!
At that moment, the real Renlow stepped out of the woods behind him. But his physical appearance had changed from a few moments ago; his clothes were covered in dirt, his skin had grown pale, his eyes looked bloodshot. It almost looked as if he was surrounded by a magical aura. None of this made any sense to Var-esh, whose confused gaze flicked from the hooded figure on the ground to the sheriff who had just walked out of the trees, as if nothing had happened.
Shocked and furious, Var-esh confronted the so-called Sheriff. Reluctantly, Kaelin joined him as he demanded answers. Who was this man? What had he done? What was happening here? Var-esh demanded that Kaelin tie up the traitor for interrogation.
It all started to click for Var-esh, who thought of his strange experiences over the past day. And as he recalled his memories, he laid out the pieces—the Sheriff's odd fascination as he entered the Tomb of Vellin for the first time, his eagerness to bring Var-esh to Thomas’s family, the hints dropped about Jasper’s role in translating the runes that he didn’t know how to read himself—all of it pointed to Renlow’s involvement. It was infuriating. With burning intensity, Var-esh directly accused the Sheriff of being involved in the disappearance of Thomas Darrin, and perhaps Celia Markham as well.
Under pressure—and beneath a piercing glare—Renlow finally cracked. He admitted that Vellin’s ideology had swayed him and justified his actions as a desperate bid to keep Gavinsboro safe, even at the cost of his own integrity. He even confessed that his dealings were in league with The Circle of Ash—that same Circle of Ash whose insignia Kaelin had been wearing all along. He explained that he had lost someone—someone dear—and now clung to the brittle hope that The Circle of Ash could somehow make his life whole again through their insidious rituals and beliefs.
Infuriated, Var-esh tightly bound Renlow and his evil doppelganger and kept them as hostages—perhaps even as bargaining chips. Surely, they could provide some insight, even if it took a little... coaxing.
Kaelin, caught in the middle of this storm, denied knowing of Renlow’s involvement and swearing that she was unaware of her faction's dark and dastardly deeds. In spite of it all, she agreed to continue onward with Var-esh, even helping by attempting to decipher the map drawn by Thomas Darrin; she recognized parts of the terrain but could not yet understand its full meaning.
Despite the revulsion curdling in his chest, Var-esh could not fully extinguish his hope—hope that, against all odds, Sheriff Renlow might still find redemption, and that justice might yet prevail over mere retribution. But the sheriff, with his hands and feet tied, only laced his words with contempt and vitriol. He mocked the dragonborn hero, insisting that the vanished children and the shambling dead were merely gears in a far greater machine, their suffering only a small piece of a looming design.
In a moment of righteous anger, Var-esh rose in anger, grabbing the sheriff by the lapels, searching his soul for guidance from the Dragon’s Heart, and then—with divine fury simmering just beneath the surface—headbutted Renlow, knocking him unconscious.
Kaelin, caught in the middle of this storm, denied knowing of Renlow’s involvement and swearing that she was unaware of her faction's dark and dastardly deeds. In spite of it all, she agreed to continue onward with Var-esh, even helping by attempting to decipher the map drawn by Thomas Darrin; she recognized parts of the terrain but could not yet understand its full meaning.
Despite the revulsion curdling in his chest, Var-esh could not fully extinguish his hope—hope that, against all odds, Sheriff Renlow might still find redemption, and that justice might yet prevail over mere retribution. But the sheriff, with his hands and feet tied, only laced his words with contempt and vitriol. He mocked the dragonborn hero, insisting that the vanished children and the shambling dead were merely gears in a far greater machine, their suffering only a small piece of a looming design.
In a moment of righteous anger, Var-esh rose in anger, grabbing the sheriff by the lapels, searching his soul for guidance from the Dragon’s Heart, and then—with divine fury simmering just beneath the surface—headbutted Renlow, knocking him unconscious.
The pieces were beginning to fit together. But the truth was still tangled in shadows, and the fate of the children—and the town—still hung in the balance.
Var-esh and Kaelin took a moment to catch their breath after that tense encounter, sitting on a pair of large rocks scattered across the clearing. They scoured Thomas Darrin's map for additional hints and debated how best to proceed with the sheriff and his ghastly double still held prisoner. They ultimately decided to continue their investigation into The Circle of Ash, hoping to uncover the truth behind the missing children and the dark forces fueling the undead threat that plagued the area.
Before departing, Var-esh and Kaelin roused the sheriff’s magical doppelganger that they had previously captured and learned more about his former identity. This undead figure was known in his mortal life as Thalen, but The Circle of Ash corrupted his memories and tortured him to the breaking point of his mental capacities, then used their sick rituals to morph his physical appearance into a grotesque version of Sheriff Renlow. Weak but willing to help, Thalen agreed to join Var-esh on his quest to infiltrate and bring down the Circle from within.
As the group ventured deeper through the woods, they sensed something (or someone) stalking through the trees. Var-esh had Kaelin hang that disturbing wind chime in a nearby tree to draw in the figure. After a tense stakeout, another hooded figure appeared; its initial appearance sparked a brief but intense combat encounter. The figure proved to be a second undead member of The Circle, and after a tense battle, Var-esh and the party pressed it for answers.
The cultist revealed his identity as a man who was once known as Algren. Though initially defiant and hesitant, Algren was convinced to join the party. His knowledge of The Circle’s inner workings and his personal history with the organization made him a valuable asset, giving Var-esh some much-needed intel on the Circle’s operations.
After this encounter, Var-esh turned his attention to Sheriff Renlow, who was still bound and under suspicion. The sheriff had previously tried to manipulate Var-esh, but now, with Renlow at a crossroads, Var-esh confronted him. He called out Renlow’s role in the abduction of Thomas Darrin and the disappearance of Celia Markham. Var-esh pushed the sheriff to reckon with his guilt and seek redemption, not just for himself but for the town of Gavinsboro that had suffered because of his actions. Although the sheriff’s trustworthiness remained in question, he agreed to assist the group in some capacity, a decision that was likely influenced by Var-esh’s firm yet empathetic approach.
Meanwhile, the group continued to engage with Thalen, who continued to question the path he had been forced to walk. Despite his painful existence, Thalen chose to support the party’s mission and agreed to help infiltrate The Circle of Ash. His knowledge and unique position became invaluable assets in this fight—he knew where their headquarters were, and he could lead the group straight there.
The group discussed their approach to infiltrating The Circle’s stronghold. Var-esh volunteered to pose as a fake prisoner, allowing the party to blend in and gain access to The Circle’s inner sanctum. Sheriff Renlow, now reluctantly taking the lead in this deception, would play the role of the captor, with Kaelin, Thalen, and Algren—all members of The Circle, in some capacity—acting as accomplices to lend credibility to the ruse. The stakes were high, and the plan had its risks, but the group agreed to move forward with it.
With the party's numbers bolstered and the plan in place, the group prepared to move forward. Sheriff Renlow, now determined to atone for his past mistakes, led the charge into The Circle’s territory. The fate of the missing children, Sheriff Renlow’s redemption, and the defeat of The Circle of Ash now hung in the balance.
As the adventurers moved toward the Circle of Ash’s stronghold, tension filled the air, and while uncertainty loomed, the party was united in their mission: to rescue the missing children, uncover the truth, and bring an end to the Circle’s malevolent influence.
As the group ventured deeper through the woods, they sensed something (or someone) stalking through the trees. Var-esh had Kaelin hang that disturbing wind chime in a nearby tree to draw in the figure. After a tense stakeout, another hooded figure appeared; its initial appearance sparked a brief but intense combat encounter. The figure proved to be a second undead member of The Circle, and after a tense battle, Var-esh and the party pressed it for answers.
The cultist revealed his identity as a man who was once known as Algren. Though initially defiant and hesitant, Algren was convinced to join the party. His knowledge of The Circle’s inner workings and his personal history with the organization made him a valuable asset, giving Var-esh some much-needed intel on the Circle’s operations.
After this encounter, Var-esh turned his attention to Sheriff Renlow, who was still bound and under suspicion. The sheriff had previously tried to manipulate Var-esh, but now, with Renlow at a crossroads, Var-esh confronted him. He called out Renlow’s role in the abduction of Thomas Darrin and the disappearance of Celia Markham. Var-esh pushed the sheriff to reckon with his guilt and seek redemption, not just for himself but for the town of Gavinsboro that had suffered because of his actions. Although the sheriff’s trustworthiness remained in question, he agreed to assist the group in some capacity, a decision that was likely influenced by Var-esh’s firm yet empathetic approach.
Meanwhile, the group continued to engage with Thalen, who continued to question the path he had been forced to walk. Despite his painful existence, Thalen chose to support the party’s mission and agreed to help infiltrate The Circle of Ash. His knowledge and unique position became invaluable assets in this fight—he knew where their headquarters were, and he could lead the group straight there.
The group discussed their approach to infiltrating The Circle’s stronghold. Var-esh volunteered to pose as a fake prisoner, allowing the party to blend in and gain access to The Circle’s inner sanctum. Sheriff Renlow, now reluctantly taking the lead in this deception, would play the role of the captor, with Kaelin, Thalen, and Algren—all members of The Circle, in some capacity—acting as accomplices to lend credibility to the ruse. The stakes were high, and the plan had its risks, but the group agreed to move forward with it.
With the party's numbers bolstered and the plan in place, the group prepared to move forward. Sheriff Renlow, now determined to atone for his past mistakes, led the charge into The Circle’s territory. The fate of the missing children, Sheriff Renlow’s redemption, and the defeat of The Circle of Ash now hung in the balance.
As the adventurers moved toward the Circle of Ash’s stronghold, tension filled the air, and while uncertainty loomed, the party was united in their mission: to rescue the missing children, uncover the truth, and bring an end to the Circle’s malevolent influence.
To be concluded.
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