Masquerade in Castle Loic
Exposition
Sir Farbridge of the Knights of Hearth is coordinating with important figures to host a grand masquerade. Many familiar faces come to the evening to party and socialize more for the fun of it all.
Phantom of the Masquerade
Denzel Burklen, a survivor from Johan’s trap, has come here to hopefully gain leads.
Edwin and Ellen Thomter
These two strange characters are from Arturias. They come here out of sheer accident but still play along with the locals.
Adventure at Hand
Castle Loic
Read when entering the castle
Stepping up to the doors and past the guards, you can hear the music already. Though, when the doors for the keep open, you see two strangely dressed figures standing before you. The two of them looking like twins though one a man and the other a woman.
The man holds up a small deck of cards then expands them out in his hands.
“Pick a card,” the woman says.
“Any card,” the man adds in.
Read once they draw the card:
A king of spades.
The two of them look at the card, then to each other. The woman pipes up, “I think it’s working as intended.”
“Well I think it shouldn’t.” The man then takes the cards into his coat pocket, taking a small flip pad notebook. With a pencil in the other hand, he makes a quick mark. When he flips the pad around, you can see there are two tally labels for “King of Spades” and “Anything Else.” The King of Spades is completely full. The man then flips the book closed, tucking it back into his coat.
The woman rolls her eyes, “There’s always next time, Edwin.”
The man sighs, “Maybe it won’t be here.”
The woman then leads the way through the hall, “Instead it will have to be there.”
Encounters
Arnsley Dorian restraining Skrolk. Because this is Skrolk’s first event as part of something grand and official, Skrolk eyes the free food on the table, to which Arnsley uses all he can to restrain the roden. He is not attended by the Vicar due to not feeling well, to which Arnsley suspects he is just being shy about attending a social gathering.
Kalauran Waltz. Named after the avians for a lot of its stretched out moves, as if the dance partners are a set of wings in motion.
Arnsley only dances with Skrolk because the roden seeks out a dance partner.
Evantil’s Sighting. Emoru's eyes widen looking toward the entrance, believing she saw Evantil. She rushes outside, desperate to find him and fling her fantasies onto him. Alas, she finds nothing despite her fellow Strays thinking she's mad.
"But I saw him!" Emoru tearfully pleads.
Two familiar voices pop up from behind, "It could be reality," Ellen pipes up.
"Or he's truly met his finality," Edwin retorts.
"That is the question isn't?"
"Was he a figment of the mind or is he still with us?"
Ellen then holds up a playing card, putting the face to her twin, "If only I knew what card I held."
"If only I told you it was the King of Spades."
"I'm sure you didn't like the answer, Edwin."
"Only because I hate the deck it came from."
"Oh come now. We'll find you a new deck eventually. One with more spontaneity." The twins then head off.
Phantom’s Crasher
The lights dim within the vast room except for the ones by the stairs. Standing there is a macabre yet stout figure in a thick cloak and mask. His eyes dart and glare at all he can see. Many gasp at the sight of him.
"A party are we having? I used to party much like this, though far less extravagantly," he begins to pace around the room, striding about the open space as people back off from his aimless pacing. "Such fun times together are we having? Silris would adore all of this wouldn't she? All of us wearing masks this evening especially. How poetic of you all, hiding away your true selves. For I have seen what you all really are like. Out here, you are generous and gracious until the mask slips. Oh, my Reverie rivals, how hypocritical you Silris types are especially. You all praise and adore beauty but fate forbid a hideous monstrosity approach. How fearful all of you become to chase it off thinking of it as hellspawn."
His lips sneer, "I could hurl my insults all day if I wanted but I offer you purity-obsessed Revered a chance to prove me wrong for once. A crime left unpunished, justice not even sought out. A crime on your very soil that left good Civil Guardsmen dead within Kalgarim. This runaway is still running and could very well poison not just the stout homeland but of your Kingdom if he is not found. Know that my scourge over Kalgrim shall only find its conclusion when I get my revenge.
The Phantom doesn't seek to get into an engagement, only to procure a lead into finding Johan.
Stat Blocks
Denzel Burklen, the Phantom
Florenic Worlds
Denzel Burklen
Small Humanoid (Halfling, Neutral Evil
STR
12
( +1 )
DEX
18
( +4 )
CON
15
( +2 )
INT
14
( +2 )
WIS
16
( +3 )
CHA
18
( +4 )
Cunning Action. The Phantom can take a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.
Devil’s Sight. Magical darkness doesn't impede the imp's darkvision.
Infernal Blessing. The Phantom’s weapon attacks deal an additional 2 ( 1d4 ) fire damage. On a successful weapon or spell attack that deals fire damage, the creature must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or receive an Infernal wound. The Phantom can inflict only one Infernal wound per turn.
Indomitable (3/Day). The Phantom can reroll a saving throw he fails. He must use the new roll.
Spellcasting. The Phantom casts one of the following spells, using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks):
At will: detect magic, disguise self, mage armor, mage hand, silent image
3/day each: dispel magic, invisibility, mislead, misty step
1/day each: teleport
Actions
Multiattack. The Phantom can make two Flame Bolt or two attacks with his rapiers.
Flame Bolt. Ranged Spell Attack: +7 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 9 ( 1d10+4 ) fire damage.
Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 ( 1d8+4 ) piercing damage plus 2 ( 1d4 ) fire damage.
Biting Words. The Phantom utters harsh phrases, targeting one creature it can see within 60 feet of him. The target must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or take 18 ( 4d8 ) psychic damage and have disadvantage on attack rolls until the end of the creature’s next turn. On a success, the creature instead takes half damage and no other effects.
Reactions
Misty Escape (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). In response to taking damage, the Phantom turns invisible and teleports, along with any equipment he is wearing or carrying, up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space he can see. The Phantom remains invisible until the start of his next turn or until he attacks, makes a damage roll, or casts a spell.
Riposte. When a creature that the Phantom can see misses him with a melee attack, he can use his reaction to make a melee weapon attack against that creature.
Legendary Actions
The Phantom can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The Phantom regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Attack. The Phantom makes a Flame Bolt or Rapier attack.
Detect. The Phantom makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.
Whirlwind Strike (Costs 3 Actions). The Phantom strikes with supernatural speed against targets of his choice. Creatures within 15 feet of the Phantom must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 10 ( 1d8+6 ) piercing damage. The Phantom then lands on a space within that 30 feet.
| Attendees | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Emulan | Haven |
| Arnsley Dorian | Inquisition |
| Skrolk | Inquisition |
| Albert Mayhew | Monarchy |
| Amelia Dundragon | Monarchy |
| Headmaster Ridara | Renaki University |
| Professor Akmen | Renaki University |
| Cardinal Atticus | Reverie |
| Edwin and Ellen | Uninvited |
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