Session 25: Contest Winners - Brunches & Dragons II: The Brunchening

General Summary

As they stood receiving accolades from the rest of their tour group the Shore’s Light were approached by the Rogues Regent Resplendent's stage manager and ushered into a tent to meet with the leader of the RRR, Indre Mithune.   The elven ringmaster was taller than Faelyn but anyone could plainly see that this was Faelyn’s father. An awkward conversation ensued, as Indre offered an apology for his absence by way of lauding Faelyn’s strength, courage, and charisma. This did little to assuage Aatavi's temper, who felt as if his friends had been abused and forced to partake in a charlatan’s game.   The normally graceful elf was put on the back foot, appealing to Faelyn and asking what he might be able to do to help his son now that they had finally connected. Faelyn asked his father to release Short Hops from his indenture contract, and Indre agreed.   The tense reunion was interrupted by the arrival of Lt. Shammatam and a retinue of Goldfeathers. The Lieutenant explained that he had been introduced to new information and subsequently alerted to the greater danger imposed by the Blightstone Orbs. In light of these new facts, it was imperative that the Shore’s Light relinquish their orb into Goldfeather custody immediately.   The party bristled at the idea and took a moment to confer about the possibilities. Violence seemed like a terrible option, but neither did they want to immediately hand over the orb. In the end, a well phrased request from Faelyn, aided by some of Indre’s hypnotic tricks allowed them to keep the orb, promising to meet the Lieutenant at the Golden Garrison tomorrow morning.   With the Goldfeathers gone, Indre made one more request of his son, asking that he pass on his condolences to Faelyn's mother for the recent loss of her her father. With a solemn nod they said an awkward goodbye and the Shore’s Light headed back to the party.   The Masquerade was in full swing with revelers, dancers, musicians, and amusements of all sorts. Heading over to the hedge maze, the party met another of the indentured tabaxi, Yowl in the Trees, a wound-up chatterbox who was all too pleased to see Shadow and give all the details about their time in Damarask.   The magical hedge maze proved tricky but through a collective effort they managed to make swift progress through it. Near the center they discovered a fountain whose depth defied expectation. Seizing the moment Aatavi jumped in the pool, sinking to the depths where he discovered a hidden prize, a medallion for the Parade Heights District.   Continuing on they soon found their way to the end of the labyrinth, where a number of doors marked the exit. Each posted a cryptic phrase on its face. Acting as a group once more they all picked different doors hoping to find the exit. It was Keokan who chose correctly, coupling a phrase that signaled a return to the beginning. For these efforts he would later win a magical ring of protection from Master Penumber, which he in turn gave to Aaura.   After conquering the Hedge maze Aaura and Aatavi hit the dance floor. Despite a quick lesson beforehand Aatavi proved a bit clumsy on the dance floor while Aaura showed grace and poise. As the Spectrossian Quadrille spun around the dance floor they found themselves paired with a multitude of partners. Aatavi briefly paddled palms with Ilya of the Jasper Covenant, while Aaura found herself dancing with a tall slender woman in a white cobra masquerade gown. Standing toe to toe with her Aaura immediately recognized her former classmate and member of the Circle of Aquorra, Ivanka Slothevel.   As they spiraled past other partners Ivanka revealed that she was on the track of an aasimar child who had been kidnapped by slavers. The trail had led her to Damarask before running cold. In the brief moments of the dance Ivanka promised to talk more with Aaura, and would leave details at the Commorancy when the time was right.   As the dance ended the crowd gathered to see who would win its prize, a trip on one of the hot air balloons that floated above the party. Aaura’s skills did not go unnoticed and when she was declared the winner she brought Aatavi up in the balloon with her. The city lights below were impressive and the fireworks bursting all around shed flashes of bright color on everything below.   The party ended soon thereafter, and our heroes made their way back to the Ambassador’s Commorancy for a much needed rest.   There was no note from Ivanka on the next morning, so the heroes headed to the Golden Garrison to relinquish their orb to the Goldfeathers. Shadow attempted to make sure that their intentions were noble as she cast a truth compelling spell within the Garrison. The answers she received were not fully satisfactory, but they revealed no overtly ill intent from the Goldfeathers.   Within the Garrison halls the Shore’s Light also reconnected with the mages from the Matrix Arcanum. Gavain reintroduced Adockus, the pale skinned, blue eyed wizard they had briefly talked with in the shack at the harbor’s edge. Together the group reaffirmed their plan. Adockus would accompany the Shore’s Light as they searched for the orb below the city, while Gavain would keep his eyes on the orbs above and make sure they stayed secure.   The company knew of the route Decroux and the Melody had taken into the city’s depths but they decided to touch base with Tiresius at the Widow’s Walk to enquire about other possible entrances. For a bit of coin Tiresius was able to tell them about a small brewery with a secret entrance to the undercity. A lengthy password was needed but they should be able to enter unaccosted. Tiresius also told them of a place in the ruins below called Shanty’s Market. It served as a central hub for all sorts of activities (many of them illegal) in the undercity. If they could locate this black market, they would surely get clues to the orb’s whereabouts.   Wasting no more time, the heroes entered the brewery and gave the password to the wiry attendant behind the bar. Taking them into a back room, he pulled at a torch sconce on the wall and one of the large cask heads swung open to reveal a passage and descending stairway beyond. He ushered them down the stairs and into a long, dank hallway. The clattering and clanging of pumps and mechanical devices made conversation difficult as they passed by t-junctions and passageways slick with algae.   The hall opened into a large chamber where canals of brackish water passed between squat stone structures. Their guide directed them to a plank walkway spanning a canal at the end of the passage and as the heroes approached the torches around the room suddenly snuffed themselves out. In the darkness the Shore’s Light heard a voice echo throughout the chamber, with each word it grew harsher and more monstrous sounding.   “Did you... think…. We wouldn’t… be waiting. FOR YOUUUU!”   As the echoes died out they were replaced by the squeaks, squeals, and snarls of hundreds of rats in the dark.