Season 3: Session 9: The Ball Report

General Summary

Date: The Month of Intuition 15th, 997 AC (Thursday).   After setting a trap, Cecil and Thia take shifts watching the window to see if the shadow returns. Cecil wakes to salt water on his brow again and both see the shadow. It quickly leaves the frame. Thia watches it leave and sees the shadow begin heading out of town. The two quickly follow nad walk behind the shadow as it leaves the city walls and enters a tent.   Inside the tent they find the human knight Mart Weaver and his dwarven companion, Burr. Mart explains that the shadow is Watcher, an undead being who was assigned to follow him. While he can ask Watcher for favors from time to time, he doesn't have full control over it.   After trying, and failing, to negotiate a deal to get them into the 1st qaudrant, Thia and Cecil leave to regroup with Grandad and Kobble. They tell the story of the morning, and Kobble asks where to find them. He leaves, and the others follow him, Cecil flying high above.   Kobble meets with Mart to retrieve a book from Watcher. Mart says Kobble can have it, if he gets them into the 1st quadrant.   Cecil's flying wears off and he falls, alerting Mart of his presence. After some back and forth, during which the party reveal they are there and Thia tries to charm Mart multiple times, Kobble leads Mart and his companions into the 1st quadrant.   Watcher than gives the book to Kobble; it is leatherbound, tied shut with twine. Kobble won't open it when asked. He parts from the group (this time not followed) and heads to a library in the West quadrant. He drops off the book on the counter and walks away.   The rest of the party spends little time in the 1st quadrant; Cecil picks up his suit and Grandad has one made for Doby.   Afterwards, Kobble returns to Sandy Blades and speaks with the elven armor again. He finds out that she knew his father. After some more questions, he departs.   The party rests for the evening; all at the inn, except Grandad who stays with the Williams.   Date: The Month of Intuition 16th, 997 AC (Friday).   All dressed up, the party, along with Righteousness, meets with Joffrey Bumblesnoot outside the castle. He has gotten them an invitation and leads them into the ball as his "apprentices".   The ballroom is ovular, two food tables to the sides, seating along the walls, the band against the far side of the room, the ballroom in the center, and the king and queen against the stairs. While entering, the party notices the queen producing magic flowers despite being inside the anti-magic field.   Cecil takes Righteousness to the dance floor while the others circle about the ballroom; Thia finds her spot at near the pies, Grandad with all the attention on Doby, and Kobble...walking around.   While dancing, everyone switches partners and Cecil ends up meeting Sunny. A rather tipsy half elf who is also after the clock in the crypt.   While enjoying some pies, Thia meets Princess Issa and she reveals that anyone wearing a jade bracelet can use magic in the 1st quadrant.   Kobble takes a turn around the room and is stopped by Prince Arch and Princess Lilith. They ask about his home and how it compares to Kilstrom. After arguing they send him away and pull someone else over.   Grandad gets stopped often by people who wish to fawn over Doby. A red tiefling comes over and hugs Grandad saying they are old friends. He introduces himself as Titus Rosemary and apologizes for the ruse. He was trying to get away from his adoptive parents. After explaining the zany backstory of their dog eating their invitation he goes off to socialize with others - his parents close behind him.   After some more dancing, Righteousness tells Cecil she has to go, and disappears from the ballroom.   Joffrey Bumblesnoot comes around and gathers the party, saying it is time to go to the archives.   Traveling down the hall in the guise of a tour, Bumblesnoot takes you down a side stairwell to a gated entryway. He unlocks it and instructs the group that to open the archive door you need the Archivist's blood. She will know they are there, but will ignore them unless they take aggressive action.   In the archive, the party is followed by a floating scrying eye. After exploring a bit, they find the Archivist with another scrying eye. The party attempts to lie to her about their intentions and she tells them to try the truth. Grandad tells her why they want the map and she laughs. She then opens the door and personally finds the map for them.   The map shows where to find the entrance to the crypt and the beginning portion of the crypt itself.   The party decides to head directly to the crypt to try and catch up with whoever else is already in there.   TO BE CONTINUED...