The Age of Worms / Flood Season pt. 2 / Galen the 17th through the 22nd, 3592 CE / 3-22-20

It is the 3rd day of the Flood Festival, and though several of the party go out to watch the Street Performance, Lulu is not one of them, hoping to avoid giving Nari more clues that the oracle might be the subject of Kade's prophecies. Milton continues to move forward in the Drink Down the Flood Contest, though Kade must soon bow out, not due to his constitution, but his capacity to hold the amount of alcohol involved. That evening the party finally decides to deal with the basilisk in the temple complex beneath the bathhouse, though not without some questioning from Kade as to why the creature must pay for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. As the Flood Festival continues, Milton continues to beat his drinking opponents, until day six, when he finds himself in a final challenge at the Drunken Morkoth, drinking against Lord Vhalantru, who challenges the winner of the contest each year. Though Milton makes a valiant effort, he cannot match Lord Vhalantru's prodigious capacity for alcohol. However, Lulu notices that an field of anti-magic seems to surround the mysterious Lord Vhalantru. Meanwhile the party has received invitations to the Demonscar Ball, a masquerade ball held by Cauldron's elite on the 8th and final day of the Flood Festival, wherein attendees dress like either wizards or demons to celebrate the victory of Surabar the Spellmason over the hordes of the Abyss lead by the demon Nabthotron. The party is hosted by Zachary Aslaxin I at his upscale tavern and ballroom, the Coy Nixie. In the final dance of the evening, Aslaxin, dressed as Surabar, dances with one honored guest who plays the role of Nabthotron. This year that honor has been extended to Doctor Marrow. The party purchases costume pieces and, after some invitation swapping and subterfuge, Marrow, Lulu, Milton, and Kade make their way to the Coy Nixie, with Nari hiding under Milton's hat in her fox form. At the door to the Coy Nixie, Lulu is recognized by one of the ticket takers, the halfling Sistra, who was once apprenticed to the Foreigner but has since been let go from his service. Inside the party, Milton's pet rat causes some consternation, while Nari finds herself in a confrontation with Anna Taskerhill which ends in the bard admiringly offering Nari the opportunity to join the Stormblades. At the final dance, Marrow attempts to defy expectations and beat Zachary Aslaxin I in the competition, but the elder Aslaxin's years of experience show and he sends the tiefling spinning to the floor. Nonetheless, the noble is impressed with Marrow's "fire," and expresses an interest in getting further acquainted with her in the future. As the party returns the bathhouse from their night of revelry, they find a note waiting for them from Jenya Urikas, urging them to come to the Temple of Jeda right away!