yourplayersaidwhat:

(Context: Players got shipwrecked on an island with a mansion and a large tower in the fantasy bremuda triangle while searching for an NPC named stephan they traveled with until he got kidnapped as well as a relic of power.)

Me setting the scene:You pull the rope and the doorbell chimes (hums classic doorbell tune) and after a while you hear the pitter patter of someone frantically running. its getting louder and it stops just behind the door and you hear someone taking deep breaths.

NPC behind door breathing heavily: Hold on a moment. Oof. I just need to catch… My breath… WHEW. (whispers) This place is way too big

Me: As the door opens, you hear him say

NPC: Sorry, Its not every day I get visitors

Me: and standing before you is Stephan

Monk OOC: WHAT!?

Me: And I think thats where we’ll leave the session

 Monk OOC: NO! WHAT NO! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM I’LL PUNCH YOUR FACE IF THIS IS WHERE WE END

What happened was stephan was one of two copies of the same person that a powerful wizard with a very very powerful illusion relic spawned out of guilt for causing the death of his apprentice. one was the wizards ideal version and one was the resentful guilt based version. the original stephan died long before the campaign started and evil stephan was trying to become a real boy with forbidden magics like good stephan accidentally did (hence the kidnapping)