Session 32: The Turning Gala

General Summary

Clocks

Recap

Winter's Third Turning, Sixth to Ninth Moon, 1511

Returning to the estate of Lord Caspian ██████, the Omens were visited by the spirit of Christmas; missing Yuletide, Candle Nights, and Eventide by several weeks. Santa came bearing gifts for everyone, though upon closer inspection it was just Ledge in a Sprit Halloween Santa costume. As he came down the chimney, Caspian told the group that the strange man had attempted this the past three nights, hoping to run into them.

Ledge gave each of them gifts; a potion of Storm Giant Strength for Amara, oil of slipperiness for Andy, a monkey's paw for Augustana, a big bomb for Ilya, and gloves of thievery for Lorelai. Each of them was also in turn offered a draw from the Deck of Many More Things. The cards fell as follows:

Amara

• Vizier
• Staff
• Ship

Andy

• Construct
• Knight
• Campfire

Augustana

• Talons
• Well
• Pit

Dorian

• Staff
• Humanoid

Ilya

• Mage
• Dragon
• Fates

Khorvis

• Celestial
• Elemental - Cold
• Book (5)
• Mine (7, 8)

Lorelai

• Cavern
• Door (2)

Omens 8

Amara, Andy, Augustana, Caspian, Dorian, Ilya, Khorvis, and Lorelai had two days before the gala to prepare for their heist. Given schematics from one of Caspian's contacts in the Spire, they were able to dedicate their energies to planning their outfits and kits. Ilya requested a weapon, and Caspian brought him down to a hidden basement full of artifacts, centered around a colossal dragon skull. Ilya asked for one of the teeth, and Caspian said he would need something in return for it. While in the Spire, they would have to dispel the Conflux, the linchpin which keeps the Winter Witches magics flowing onto the lands of the Rose Protectorate. He figures they're already planning on stealing the Morningstar, what harm could getting into more trouble, and doing a good deed, do?

When pressed about his motives, he said freeing Astronomea is simply the right thing to do.

The Omens, however, did not believe that this Fey creature, known for trickery, ulterior motives, and hidden agendas was asking them to work against Mab simply out of the goodness of his heart.

So, when pressed harder, he revealed that its also because, right now, power in the Winter Court is consolidated within a few families. Currently, those families are stretching to maintain their current holds while also defending the potential claims in the Mortal Realm from rising factions of lesser families.

He'd like things to go back to the quiet politicking of the Winter Court's various circles, rather than an all out war between the Courts over the Mortal Realm, which will inevitably follow any prolonged claim on the Mortal Realm; not just the Queens. The Winter Witch was jus the first one to pull it off.

Hearing that, the Omens agreed. Caspian granted Ilya the greatwyrm fang from Environ the Dread Flame. But, when Ilya touched the skull, it burst alive with sudden light that only Ilya seemed to be able to see or hear, exclaiming, "Do not trust the wizard; he does not tell you everything" before falling silent in death once more.

Elsewhere in the basement, Augustana discovered a piece of sheet music that Called to her in the archive. Finding it on a dusty shelf, she pulled it down to reveal an intricate piano melody on ancient velum. She has yet to play it, but intends to.

Elsewhere in the mansion, later in the night Andy and Caspian channeled the spirit of one of his ancestors, a sage wise in the annals of history, to ask it questions about the metal touched by the energies of the Fracture. It was summoned twice to the following results:

Part I

1. Do you know about the Stars? Yes.
2. Are the skulls not of this world the mortal realm? No.
3. Can you bring back the Stars? Unknown.
4. Will we be successful in our trip to the palace? Irrelevant.
5. Where can I find the Scarlet King? Portico.

When Caspian came back to after channeling the spirit, he asked if Andy learned anything about the metal they found. Andy then realized they hadn't asked any questions about the metals. The two channeled the spirit again to ask it the follow:

Part II

1. What kind of magic is in this stone? Potential.
2. What can I do to harness this potential magic? Ascend.
3. Ascend to what? Singularity.
4. How do I ascend to singularity? Unknown.
5. What should I do with this rock? Refine.

Feeling better about the answers the second time around, the two went to bed. In the morning, the group traveled via teleportation to the gala, taking their place at the end of a long line of guests leading to the Spire.

Ominous Riddles

Waiting in line, the Omens had to solve a riddle to enter: "Most will run but some will seek. Hide or cheat, we’ll always meet. My present, past, and future keep. Who Am I?" After some deliberation, they settled on the answer of "death." Foreboding.

To make matters even more ominous, they received a strange message on the sending stone: "…e… Turning… last minute… Ice Queen… trap?" It must have been a failed sending, but the party was unsure what to make of it as they entered the gala.

Dance Floor of Air and Darkness

Surrounded by royalty of all Courts, and even some of the Mortal Realm, the Omens entered the ballroom. To call it decadent would be the understatement of the Turning. There were representatives from each Court, though they seemed to stick to their respective season. A few key figures appeared throughout the crowd: the Green Knight, Titania's legendary champion, her Summer Knight; Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, ruler the Winter Court; Bergelmir, King of the Frost Giants, looking pissed; and Dorian and Zenyssa Venturis, Amara's parents.

A herald approached and asked how they would like to be introduced to the crowd. After some debate, they decided they would be announced as the Illemnian Phoenix, opting for their chromaball name rather than their adventuring name.

The herald turned to the crowd, and in a crystal clear, thaumaturgically enhanced voice, said, "Introducing the Illemnian Phoenix, esteemed guests of Lord Caspian Seuris!"

Amara stiffened. Her parents toasted the party. Caspian is Amara's betrothed.

The awkward tension was broken by the Thunderbirds, who burst through the crowd to greet them, dragging them back to their table, Caspian in tow. They filled them in on the full sending that failed, they meant to say, "We’ve been invited to the Turning Gala, a last minute invite. Can’t say no to Ice Queen. Will you be there? Is it a trap?"

The Omens told them it might indeed be a trap and they might be here as collateral to keep them in line. But, the Thunderbirds did agree to help on their mission.

Amara's parents approached, acting haughty, a mood that was cut short by Caspian turning to Augustana and asking her to dance, if only for the theatrics of the moment, and she agreed, and the two danced away. Lorelai and Athena left as well, having a moment to dance together and pretend that this is all there is, the two of them and a dance at a ball. And Cabrina Sarpenter.

Ilya and Sapphire also got up to dance. Andy and Fyn stayed to glare daggers at Amara's parents. On the dancefloor, Sapphire asked Ilya if it would be alright if the Thunderbirds came back to Millich with the Omens when they get back to the Mortal Realm, maybe help rebuild the Carthelian estate. Ilya said that would be very nice. Daniel said between that romance and these plans for the future, someone is gonna die.

After some dancing, Ilya and Sapphire moved to the rumor mill, asking around to find out tea on Caspian and the Venturis and Seuris families, running a ploy that Ilya was new to the Court and wanted in on the gossip while Sapphire disguised themselves as an eladrin noble encouraging their "fellow courtmembers" to let the new guy in on it. They learned that Amara and Caspian were destined to wed unbeknownst to seemingly either of them at a very young age. This was supposed to be an incredibly powerful deal because of the Seuris family's influence and arcane power, and because of Amara's training to become one of the "Named Slayers." Amara didn't seem to know what that meant. When Caspian discovered this, he fled to the Summer Court, allegedly spending some time as the Summer Knight. In retribution, Amara's parents cursed the Seuris family, known for their prized winter wolves, turning them into winter beasts until Caspian marries Amara.

That's actually a mistranslation; "named" is nearly a homonym for "noble" or "honored" in Sylvan. Ilya probably actually heard them mentioning the Honored Slayers or the Noble Slayers, or something.

— Ledge

Back at the table, King Bergelmir charged up to Amara, challenging the Omens to a duel for slighting the frost giants by slaying them and then having the gall to show up here to party. Amara, smarting from her conversation with her parents, gladly accepted. But Mab herself interfered. She did not want more frost giant blood spilled in this quarrel. Bergelmir must choose a champion. He chose Dorian Venturis. Mab smiled.

As Amara dueled her father, the Omens split up to search for clues, guards distracted by 7

To summarize the duel, Amara's father seemed to be attempting to kill through the way of a thousand cuts, but Amara managed to land a few heavy blows to seal the bout in her favor. Throughout the fight and right before he died, Amara's father was encouraging her to either become what she was created to be: a soldier, a weapon, a killer. To strike him down, and barring that, concede the duel and come home to allow him to complete her training. She will become the family's Slayer one way or another. And she struck him down. And Mab smiled.

And Amara shared a drink with Bergelmir.

Mission Morningstar

During the duel, Augustana and Andy went to the treasure hall, where they indeed found the Morningstar. Unfortunately, it was just an illusion. They also found a aarakocra talking to the floor. Andy approached him, noting that under a more modest robe, he wore incredibly fine armor. They could also see the mouth on the floor that was talking back. Together, they fed it some rations. Then Andy turned into a centipede and crawled through a hole in the floor, where arcane runes traveled between floors.

Lorelai, passing through the Hall of Heroes with Athena, invisible, noted that the most recent Winter Knight died a little less than a year ago, and there is a pedestal open and awaiting a new bust. She went downstairs to the vault, losing Athena to some bad dice rolls along the way, killing the guard there. Andy went to grab the Morningstar, flipping down from the ceiling and landing poised above it in their natural form. However, the Morningstar was superglued to it's stand. So Andy used mold earth to release it from the stone pedestal, leaving a suspiciously Morningstar-shaped coil imprint on the surface

Then the team quickly doubled back when Ilya found the next door to crack; a tightly sealed passage to what could only be the Confluence. Andy, in bee form, buzzed up out of the vault, but was caught on the dance floor. The Green Knight knows there are no bees in the Winter Court. Lucky, he speaks fluent bee, and is in for mischief; at the end of the day, he's here for a good time, not a long time. He walked his new bee friend over to Augustana and Lorelai and told the pair to watch over them.

Catching up with Ilya, who had just slain a guard with the aid of Willow, his new dragon, and the Aspen Tongue, the group huddled around while Lorelai picked the lock. However, a group began to approach, muttering amongst themselves about wondering if they're going the right way. Tensing, they prepared for a fight, as another group of adventurers turned the corner, also tensing. But Andy recognized Pharos, the floor aarakocra, and the two parties exchanged words before swords.

And so the Omens met the Flamebringers.

Missions/Quests Completed

Find the Morningstar (again): Taken from the vault of the Queen of Air and Darkness, you have secured the Morningstar once more; though there remain bits of stone attached to it by Sovereign Glue.

Notes