Post Bastion Battle Cleanup on Aisle 5!

With the majority of Acquisitions Incorporated’s Tresendar Manor Dungeon Crawl prep nearly behind us, DM Ben has the unenviable task of transitioning to the 5e module’s next chapter while still balancing all the self-injected homebrew content. Let’s see where the story is taking us next!

First, though, let’s set the scene after the players emerge victorious from their latest dungeon crawl and find daylight once again. They’re about to meet a very unexpected cleanup crew and get some new plot details. There could even be a second Bastion in it for them!

Omin Dran is certainly no fool…quite the contrary, he is a brilliant businessman. Dran Enterprises keeps a close watch over its Acquisitions Incorporated franchises throughout the Realm. As soon as one fails, he has a Sweeper Team at the ready to pounce in and perform a hostile takeover of its assets (while expanding its operations).

And that’s just how our completed crawl picks up as his microefficient cleanup crew descends on Tresendar Manor. We needed a group of workers to represent these unexpected guests, and good ol’ Fat Dragon Games came to the rescue.

DM Ben went with three NPCs here (vs the pre-written original two encounter characters) because he wants one of them to stay back and offer to serve as the party’s Estate Executor for this second Bastion opportunity.

The module also originally went with Hobgoblins, but we had some cool 3D prints that fit the bill and went the human route. Fat Dragon Games has numerous townsfolk sets, and for these mini picks, Villagers 3 had just what we needed for two of our three choices.

So, then for that third miniature, we tapped our EC3D Designs library and pulled this marvelous lamp lighter mini from their Everyday Folk I Kickstarter. We like the vibe this DnD 3D Print is putting down, and he seems like a worker dude sent to clear the rubble and mop up the carnage.

Resident Painter Kimmy Utah was our lead colorist here (cause, ya know – tiny eyeballs), and we adore her work on these commoners. Great details in all these STLs really come to light, and some of those NPC personalities are already shining through in the final paint schemes.

Here’s how we’re going to assign these out. These first two TTRPG minis are perfect encounter bit players in that they’ll serve a brief purpose here and then pop away until the next time Omin Dran calls upon their hazmat skills.

Now, the module suggests recently rescued Gildha Duhn as the Bastion’s majordomo, but DM Ben doesn’t think his game group will trust her. Nevertheless, they might still take her on as a new employee, which is more than fine. Either way, we also like her coming back in future story arcs.

Now, this remaining mini is very memorable to us, and we like it as a recurring check-in throughout the campaign. This guy is oozing with personality. He’ll approach the group and identify himself as “Rucksack Ron” (an homage to Trading Places) and explain Omin sent him to mop up the now fallen Fellowship of the Golden Mongoose franchise.

Much to the group’s surprise, Rucksack Ron will explain that they have new documents to sign inside their Documancy Satchel. If the group prefers, Omin will offer them a second Bastion, but this time, it will be a prove-yourself-lease as opposed to the original home deed and inaugural Bastion they already own free and clear. He’ll spin as their own safe house and a try-before-you-buy opportunity for both sides.

He will explain that his services are provided free of charge by Acquisitions Incorporated and that if accepted, he will be the temporary executor of this estate. He will follow their orders to the letter as long as they’re all above board. He will periodically report back to Omin and inform them of your latest events and business doings.

Until next time!