"...and thath when you zhould cazt Planar Banizhment if the cultiztth zummon more demonth," Obsidian explained to the D&D group's newest member as they assembled at her apartment.
Audrey, who was trying to learn what she could about the game, was also struggling to pick up on her cousin's friends' highly affected speech. "But I thought they were devil worshipers, not demons."
"They're both the fiend creature type," Wong explained. "The distinction is mainly for where they fall on the Evil alignments. But you'll want to remember your subclass's Wisdom damage bonus to fiends and undead for your attacks and spells."
"Okay..." Audrey fiddled for her character sheet. "Which is why I want to mark the box here."
"I'll help remind you of your bonuses, Audrey," Ixchel said, as Obsidian shouldered open the door. The group was spread across the exterior steps to the upper floor of the duplex Obsidian rented. The door jam sticking was said to be a frequent occurrence. Once the boob heavy gamer got the door forced open, a warm scent of dough and cinnamon diffused from the interior of the flat.
"Ah geezth, Zkylar," Obsidian said, somewhat disappointed.
"Oh, hey Obie," said a syrupy voice of the lanky brunette at the duplex's kitchen. "Is this a new friend of yours?" Obsidian's roommate was a head taller than her (as was everybody) with a checkered head scarf, ripped jeans, and a tie-dye shirt. Compared to the brash, scruffy haired and freckled lispy gamer, the other woman she lived with seemed far more mellow and outgoing.
"I thought you zaid you had that bake zale today," Obsidian murmured, having expected to have the apartment for herself for game group.
"That got rescheduled to next week. Hi," she waved, "I'm Skylar. Grandma rents out the house to Obie and me. I know I've only met some of you."
"Ixchel, but call me Chel," the Hispanic-Korean began," and this is my cousin Audrey, with Wong and Jenson."
"Did you want to join us?" Audrey offered.
"No thanks," Skylar smiled. "Obie's tried to have me play and it doesn't match my groove." She leaned to squeeze her roommate around the shoulders in a hug from the back, as Obsidian looked away, biting her lip in embarrassment. "Besides, I want to get some recipes ready for the sale next week. Do any of you want a cinnamon roll?"
"Is that what that fantastic smell is?" Ixchel said. "Sure, I'd love to try one!" As did everyone else.
"ANYWAYTH," Obsidian said, "let'th get back to the game and ztart chopping cultiztth already." She dumped herself on one end of the sagging couch next to the coffee table used for gaming. Audrey and Ixchel both had large bites of the cinnamon rolls offered by Skylar.
"This is great, so rich and soft," Ixchel said.
"I would love to get the recipe from her," Audrey said, before adding quietly "I wasn't as sure about meeting at Obsidian's place but her roommate is so nice! They're so different from each other."
Indeed, if Chel and Audrey considered their townhouse to have a odd collective of cohabitants, Obsidian and Skylar contrasted in every conceivable way. The former was squat, top heavy, extremely grouchy, solidly fitting in the grunge counterculture and highly aggressive in D&D, and of course with her incredibly thick lisp from the size of her teeth. Her pale, freckled skin suggested she didn't get out all that much and Chel knew that Obsidian played video games far more than even she did.
As her polar opposite, Skylar was thin and lanky with hardly an ounce of fat on her, bubbly and more feminine than Obsidian while still having a tomboy look. The tan of her skin and shine to her long hair suggested she spent more time outdoors and her cinnamon rolls were fantastic. She seemed like a bundle of positive energy, just younger than most of the crew.
"If you think those were good," Skylar said, offering a tray, "how about you try my gingersnaps? I like to give them a heavily spiced taste."
"Sure!" Most everyone tried a cookie or two as well.
"Milk to drink with that?" Skylar offered.
"Zeriouzthly?!" Obsidian narrowed her eyes at Skylar, eager to let Jenson's session get underway.
"Sorry roomie," Skylar giggled, "just thought your friends might like some treats. I'll leave you to your game time, you won't even know I'm here." She retreated to what she was cooking on the stove, setting her mixer to low. Wong had to stifle his laughter from Obsidian's annoyance at her roommate's antics.
"Not bad," Jenson said about the gingersnap he finished. "Where we last left off, you had opened the door to the ritual chamber. Purple fire crackles from within a ritual circle, as robed figures turn your direction with ornate daggers. Roll for initiative please."
With the fight underway, there were no interruptions from Skylar for some time, although the players could easily see her at work at the kitchen. For having her bake sale delayed she must have been getting some wares ready for the next week, as she continued to bake.
"Nat 20, heck yeth!" Obsidian cheered, some time later as her barbarian finished off the last cultist. "We've come and kicked their azzeth!"
"Gosh, we've all lost a lot of hit points," Audrey said, selecting a healing spell from her player sheet. "I roll d8s for this?"
"Yeah," Wong said. "We need to get this case open and analyze the cult's infernal artifacts. I'll take the Arcane test and you can roll Religion, Audrey."
"First, let me check for traps," Ixchel said, her tabaxi rogue readying her lockpicks.
"Victory at last?" Skylar asked, poking her head in above the seated gamers. "How about a victory muffin?"
"Sure," Ixchel turned to Audrey. "How about we split one?"
"I've got plenty for each of you," Skylar handed out muffins and paper plates. "Blueberry lemon based on grandma's recipe, only I add poppyseed too."
"Mmmm!" pleasant sounds were had from the pair of Fordham 8422 residents, thanks from the gentlemen, and a "tch" from Obsidian, who was placated with a plate of churros, which soon had to be shared with Ixchel as well.
"Gosh, these are almost better than my aunt's" Ixchel replied.
"Glad you like them!" Skylar said.
More time passed and the adventuring party was tracking down the source of the infernal artifacts used by the demon worshiping cult. As the investigation would take some time in game, Jenson decided to have the group dedicate their characters to downtime activities, also letting them level their characters early so Audrey could see how it was done. Wong's warlock was tasked by his patron to do some illicit works, something the rest of the group wasn't suppose to know in character. Ixchel's rogue did some side work for the thieves guild and improved her Dexterity, while Audrey supposed her dwarf cleric would keep to a devoted life of prayer and sacraments for her diety, as the group collectively helped her improve her spells. Obsidian's barbarian increased her strength and combat prowess with a bonus feat along with her class feature for frenzied attacks at her level.
"You know, if you're friends are staying for dinner," Skylar chimed in again, noticing a lull in the group's activity "I could make you all some sandwiches maybe? Or soup, I make a killer stew. Bread and bread bowls are homemade too!"
"Itz only in-game downtime!" Obsidian complained, "we're going right back to zlaying the undead, zoupth too mezthy of a food!"
"Actually, I could use the restroom, do you mind?" Audrey asked.
"No problem," Skylar said, pointing. "Around the corner, second door."
"Thanks."
"I'll go right after you," Ixchel added. The two were used to cramped quarters given the narrow townhouse, so when they were washing up after it gave them a chance to talk candidly.
"Gosh, Skylar is so nice and Obsidian is just rude to her!" Audrey exclaimed.
"Yeah," Ixchel said. "I never knew she was such a good baker. Odd Obie's never brought anything of hers to a game night before. She mainly eats junk food."
"And you never met her before?"
"Only once or twice," Ixchel said. "We usually tried to plan Obie's share of hosting on the nights we wouldn't bother her. Rather, in hindsight I guess is was to avoid Obie getting cranky about interruptions to the game."
"She's only trying to be a good host," Audrey said, defending Skylar. "I wonder how she puts up with Obsidian day in and out, I wouldn't be able to handle that girl."
Ixchel nodded. "I've known Obsidian the longest of anyone in game group. I think her abrasiveness mainly stems from how her speech impediment makes it difficult for others to understand her."
"Why does she call herself 'Obsidian' anyways?" Audrey asked. "That can't be here real name, right?"
Ixchel's explanation was cut short by a shout. "Hurry up you guyth, we gotta a new lead on a necromanzer!"
"Okay, we're back!" Ixchel said as the pair returned to the living room. "Wow, marbled brownies?" Skylar had left them with another treat as the gaming session resumed. The two heartily dug into another scrumptious confection.
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