Session 138

General Summary

• Ten arrived at The Party's Estate at night while "Queen" was hiding out with Li'l Joker — who, we found out, is actually his child.
• In a language that only Marvin could Comprehend, Ten agreed that he couldn't take Li'l Joker back, but also pointed out that he couldn't leave empty-handed.
• After sending the child out of the room, Ten aggressively severed "Queen"'s ring finger to take with him. He warned that Seven of Diamonds would come next, though he would try to divert the cleric by pulling rank.
• The party roughed up Ten a bit, and it got a bit tense when he saw Li'l Joker's unconscious body getting thrown around, but Marvin took Command of the situation and got him to leave.
• Dazki started to lecture Dwardazik and Theran — the two who were supposed to be keeping an eye on Li'l Joker in the other room — but he was cut short by his father, who had started heading upstairs upon hearing the fight. They agreed that it would be best for Dav'id to stay somewhere else.
• The rest of the night passed, uneventfully.

Full Recap

An In-TEN-se Situation

Dazki has Theran and Jersey fix up a room for "Queen" so she can sleep over at their house for the night. She warns him that Jack will probably try to get her tonight — either himself or by sending other Family members — because "nobody's going to take very kindly to [her] breaking a deal and kidnapping a child".

Dazki: All right, well, in your opinion, should we wake everyone else up and get them on alert?   "Queen": In my opinion? Hm. Whatever Jack has can't handle all of you. He can't hurt any of you within the chamber. He will definitely send somebody else. So, more eyes?

They wake up everybody else so they can go out on the balcony and watch for anyone coming.

Marvin: I'm all for helping, but you do have to admit, "Queen", that you put us in a pretty dangerous just by coming here...   "Queen": I put you in a dangerous situation? Me?   Marvin: You chose to come here, right?   "Queen": It's me who caused all this problem?   Marvin: I'm not saying you caused the original problem, I'm saying you came here. That was your choice, right?   Dwardazik: What's done is done. We're kind of embedded in this together at this point.   "Queen": And, frankly, you shouldn't have given me the advice if you didn't think of all the potential consequences. This safe house is the closest one with the strongest fellas, all right?   Marvin: I do appreciate the compliment. That makes me feel a little bit better.   Dwardazik: I do wish Jack would've seen some reason... this is only going to turn out poorly for everyone involved.   "Queen": Oh, he'll be fine. He's always fine.

They discuss having her leave Ashport for a while, but she refuses, since the rest of her Family is in Ashport.   During this discussion, Dazki (Perception 32) and Theran (Perception 29) notice Ten of Hearts sneaking up the balcony, invisible, and raps on the door.

Dazki: Ten, what is it?   Ten: I'm not foolish enough to start anything. I wish to speak to the former Queen.   Dazki, looking back to her: Ten is here. He wants to talk. Are you OK with letting him in?   "Queen": Why Ten? Why not Seven?   Dazki: I think he's probably coming of his own accord.   Ten: I can defend myself if I have to. In fact, it would be the only proper way to injure any members of this estate. I just wish to meet.   "Queen": He's probably worried about the kid. It is, technically, his.

Dazki opens the door to let him in and steps out of the way. Ten drops his invisibility upon entering. He's wielding a sword, defensively.

Ten: Everything that has happened here thus far is regretful. Tiresome.   Theran: That's a sanitized way of putting it.

Ten sighs heavily to calm his nerves. Dwardazik reassures him that there won't be any trouble if he doesn't bring any himself, but wants to know why he's come in the middle of the night.

Ten: It is tradition to follow the rulings of those ranked above you.   Kesmet: Fuck that.   Ten: Having such a contradiction between the two above me has been stressful. Impossible to navigate. I'm tired. I'm tired of it. And I am looking forward to this whole thing being over. But unlike you two, I still respect those below me as well, and I won't see anyone else be corrupted by these vengeance games you two seem to play. (He steps forward and addresses Dazki.) Remove the child from the room.

Theran (Persuasion 24) convinces Li'l Joker to follow him to (at Dazki's suggestion) the library that shares a wall with the room. Dwardazik ("I'm great with kids!") goes with him to help keep an eye on the kid. Theran (Perception 18) has none of his things stolen by the child.   Ten begins to say something in Infernal, which causes Marvin to quickly decide to cast Comprehend Languages to understand.   As he says this, he draws his dagger into his off-hand, and Dazki draws his gun.

Combat Summary

• Ten opened by pinning "Queen"'s arm against the wall, severing her ring finger, and letting her go. "The Seven of Diamonds will be here shortly. Having failed my mission to secure the child, I took what I could of the situation and escaped. I can try to divert Seven, being of higher rank."
• Marvin used Otto's Irresistible Dance to keep Ten in place while he let the others know what Ten had said in Infernal: "He knows he can't take the child back to Jack, but he wants something else... I assume it's that finger, but we... "Queen" needs to be OK with that? It might actually be better than taking the child?"
• Kesmet Fire Bolted Ten in the face before he could try to leave.
• Li'l Joker tried to run to check on "Queen" after hearing her scream, but Dwardazik tackled her before she could get past him, knocking her unconscious, and then rushed to see what had happened.
• "Queen" retorted: "If he wants to sell this asinine story of his, we need to make sure he's wounded when he leaves.", and tended to her wound by ripping off a small portion of her dress to wrap it.
• Theran transformed into a bear and carried the unconscious child out into the hallway.
• Marvin left him with a Vicious Mockery and released the Irresistible Dance to let him leave... but Theran, confused about what was going on and left out of the loop by all combatants, carried the child into his line of sight and riled him back up... especially after Theran threw the unconscious child to Dwardazik.
• Ten immediately went for Dwardazik, (Insight 30) throwing caution to the wind at the sight of his child, unconscious, being thrown around like a football. Marvin mitigated this with a Command to "Leave", before he had the chance to make a really bad decision.
• Dazki gave Li'l Joker a healing potion (Marvin: "We were getting to that..." Dazki: "No, nobody was getting to that!!!" Li'l Joker: "Red flavor's not my favorite...").
• Dwardazik took a few steps back with the child, criticizing Ten for almost hitting her with his attack and criticizing Theran for coming out with her.
• Ten finally booked it off the balcony, as he was commanded to do.

Guest of Honor, Hosts of Squalor

Dav'id, coming up the stairs: Is EVERY night going to be one of such... ... such... ... well, what would YOU call it?

Dazki, equally furious, piles onto Dwardazik and Theran a little — but not missing the opportunity to rub in his father's face how poorly his advice for how to deal with Jack had gone. Dwardazik and Theran bicker among themselves, but both Dazki and Dav'id simultaneously shut them up.   Dazki recommends that his father stay at the Horseshoe Road Inn, as it's become clear that this house is too chaotic ("As mildly convenient as staying here has been, I think I will take you up on that secondary offer"). Dav'id raises an eyebrow at "Queen", sighs, simply says "of course it is", and takes his leave.   Dazki again offers "Queen" and Joker to stay the night, which they will do. "Queen" wants to know who was responsible for knocking Joker out ("it was the furry guy!"). She seems to think that she'll be able to get by even without fully authorized direct access to the Family funds, "with my cleverness and resolve". Dazki muses further that Jack had suggested that she'd take more than half the Family with her if she left, so he agrees that she's probably going to be OK on her own.

"Queen": Ten's plan is probably hinging on me remaining here. And, I could either say that I trust his intentions... or that I have a rather large collateral.   Li'l Joker, leaning over to Dazki to whisper: I'm the collateral!   Dazki: You bet you are, Joker. You bet you are. (He ruffles her hair.)   "Queen": So I will stay right here. No rifling, no tricks. And — if you are insistent — no stabbing the backs of those who, understandably, deserve it. Though I do not think this deal is very fair overall. I could probably get more. After all, I'm no longer beholden to any deals that Jack has made.   Dazki: And any deals you made with us were as friends. They won't be held as sacrosanct as Jack would.   "Queen": If that's the case, I could easily reinstate the ones Jack made me erase.   Dazki: You could.   "Queen": But I won't.   Dazki: I appreciate that. That's what at least attempting to be friends is. We'll try not to wake you when we get ready to leave in the morning.   "Queen": I doubt I'll rest.   Dazki: Fair. I will be walking the halls if you'd like company.   Li'l Joker, whispering: I want to play cards, though!   "Queen": All right.

"Queen": Did I ever tell you why he called you "Joker"?   Li'l Joker: No?   "Queen", pulling a card from the deck: What's this one?   Li'l Joker: Three!   "Queen": That's right. And what about this one? (She pulls the next one.)   Li'l Joker: Seven, I know that one!   "Queen": Which one is bigger? It's seven, isn't it? Seven is always bigger than three. But do you know what's cool about the Joker? (She uses a sleight-of-hand trick to replace the seven with a Joker) The Joker can be whichever one it wants to be! A three, a seven, maybe even a Queen — or an Ace! (She hands the card to Li'l Joker.)   Li'l Joker takes the card, folds it in half unceremoniously, and starts to make it hop around on the floor.   Li'l Joker: I want it to be a dinosaur!

Li'l Joker proceeds to make the card stomp around on the floor and making roaring noises.   The rest of the night passes without incident.