(A1:S7) "...Of Mice and Men..." (Part 2)

General Summary

At around noon on the day before the heist, Theresa and Rolsus went outside the Despath Manor. Theresa stopped at a merchant stand to buy an instrument, disguised as a Drow guard. Rolsus, disguised himself as a merchant before changing his disguise to a DoW guard when he hit their territory. Rolsus was looking for the grate that led to the sewers, and once he found it he broke the lock off in order for the party to get in easier. He almost got caught by some guards on the way back, but with some quick words Rolsus managed to escape. Once back at the manor, he let the party know what he did and they went over the plan one more time.     The party retired to their rooms for the night, but Aeos wanted to play a bit of a prank on the party's wizard. Aeos was going to steal Zinjor's staff and hide it, making him freak out in the morning while they prepare to start the heist. Aeos snuck into zinjor's room while he was asleep and reached for the staff when...     Zinjor's unconsciousness was interrupted by a piercing scream in his head. He bolted up in bed, grabbing ahold of his staff and grappling it from Aeos' grasp. As they struggle, the staff phases and drops its disguise, letting Aeos know the crystal was still in Zinjor's posession. With one final tug, Aeos pushes Zinjor onto the bed and finally has control of the staff. Zinjor drops into a non-sleep unconsciousness while the crystal disappears from the staff (and back in Zinjor's pocket). Aeos stands over the wizard and casts his special ability: Parley. Aeos is transported to the meeting room in the Astral sea where he is met with Zinjor. Only, he's facing the window and his color is black and white, even his clothes. As Aeos starts to speak, the being turns and grins menacingly, causing Aeos to feel an overwhelming sense of fear and dread. More scared than he has ever felt in his entire life, Aeos drops Parley and finds himself back in the Despath Manor.     As Zinjor slowly regains control, Aeos calls in the rest of the party, who aren't too happy that they were awoken before the heist. Aeos reveals that Zinjor is under the indoctrination of something very evil, and it stemmed from the crystal. The party, not buying it seeing as Zinjor is unconscious and his staff is in Aeos' possession, demand to know what happened. With all the noise, Zinjor wakes up and grabs the staff from Aeos's hands. Zinjor yells at Aeos and the party telling them how with Aeos came into his room and assaulted him to the point of knocking him out. This, not being a lie in anyway put the eyes on Aeos who staunchly tried to defend himself. After arguments going on back and forth, the party decided that maybe it would be best if Zinjor slept without his staff for the night. The wizard was about to give up his staff when he opened a window and jumped down from two stories and started booking it down the street.     Rolsus and Morthrag jumped down to give chase, but unfortunately both were too slow and tricked by Zinjor casting Mirror image himself. Theresa went to go wake Izzar, who was very angry that his clear instructions were not followed. He placed the manor in lockdown, placing guards outside the party's rooms as he sent his personal guards to go out and search for the wizard. Stonewatch was awoken early as Despath guards smashed doors in and searched houses, sometimes killing residents. Zinjor, getting ahead of the commotion slowly made his way towards The Spring Manor, hoping to acquire the mace and leverage it for immunity for him and his friends. As he dodged and weaved under the rising sun, The Spring Manor had already begun to prepare for the nights festivities.     Casting Disguise Self to make himself look like a House Spring guard, Zinjor walked through the mansion, stopping in every room to observe. Fortunately for him, the mansion was a flurry of activity and rarely did anyone stop to question him. Zinjor, remembering the floor plan decides to go down a spiral staircase that leads to the wine cellar. Here, he meets a old dwarf who assumes Zinjor is there to "bring the lady her morning wine". Zinjor goes along with it, giving him a fake name to add to the Dwarf's ledger. Even less inconspicuous now, Zinjor is led into the office of Sister Cohana, head of House Spring. He sets the wine bottle down on her desk, and moves to the display case where the mace is laid on a purple pillow. As soon as Zinjor picks up the mace, a low register sound echoes throughout the mansion, and he hears shouts behind the door. Acting fast, the wizard jumps out the window for a second time as the guards give chase. Luckily, he makes it to a tavern and convinces the owner to let him stay the night. The tavern owner was also told not to tell anybody who asks that he was here.     Back at House Despath, the rest of the party is getting restless. Theresa manages to sneak out, and into Izzar Despath's office to witness him writing a letter. She got trapped when Izzar shut the door and finished up the letter. Rolsus on the other hand, tried to talk his way out and when that didn't work he snuck out his rooms window and entered Morthrag's room. Morthrag, not wanting to cause trouble, let alone attract attention to him call the guards into the room to arrest Rolsus. As Rolsus enters into combat with the guards, Aeos and Sav'll enter the room along with more guards. Combat ensues, and Izzar hears the commotion and enters into the small room only to be cut down by Sav'll, who deals the final blow. Now that the snake's head has been severed, the Despath guards are in a panic as they scramble to quell the riotous population of Stonewatch.     And to make matters worse, as the party is licking their wounds, The tavern Zinjor is holed up in is besieged by House Spring guards who surround his room and pull him into the chaotic streets. Sister Cohana and her regiment of House Spring guards fight through the streets, dragging Zinjor behind her and enter the Despath Manor foyer. She tells them that she doesn't care about the mace; that now it is just a symbol. She needs the party's help, whether they like it or not to takeover Stonewatch for her. As a parting gift, Zinjor is thrown to the ground infront of them as her and her regiment of guards parade out of the foyer.     As the peasants revolt against the skeleton-crew Despath guard and The Dogs of War, our party must fight their way to the final mansion to confront the Goliath gladiator who threw them in the arena to die: The Bull.

Rewards Granted

Sav'll recieves the Scimitar of The Fang from Izzar Despath's body.

Character(s) interacted with

Party met with Sister Cohana, the leader of House Spring.

Notes

The city of Stonewatch descends into chaos as the head of one of the leading houses is cut off.