Summary
CW: Child Endangerment, Child Death, Genocide, Violent Political Protest, Civilian Casualties, Illness, Scrying/Spying, Capitalism, Forgery/Counterfeit Merchandise, Alcohol Consumption/Inebriation
The party attends a ball at the Obsidian Palace as part of a Swamp Rat operation to locate the missing changelings. Throughout the night they encounter dangerous enemies, powerful friends, frustrating obstacles, and lots of snobby nobles. It seems liek this could actually turn into an enjoyable night until things devolve quickly and it takes the party everything to escape with their lives.
Synopsis
After a brief hiatus, the Dungeon Masters return to
Acropolis and they’re ready to party! After a stunning campaign recap, the party awakes on the day of Countess Olympia Mallinger’s welcome ball at the Obsidian Palace. Graybone, in an uncharacteristically chipper mood, is making the rounds delivering Sending Stones to each of the different teams for the upcoming operation. He also gives one to Biem, which gives the group pause, but they focus on preparing for the evening. With Vincent having created outfits for himself and Grace, and Otto so happening to have their ‘backup tuxedo dress’ on hand, Tasha needs to come up with an outfit. Grace and her make their way through the city to Cassia’s apartment where Tasha hopes her old clothes may still be stored.
Upon arrival, Cassia is noticeably on edge, but is calmed and encouraged by Grace and by Tasha who leaves with an outfit Cassia had been holding on to for her. Meanwhile, back in the Ratway, Zim is attempting to teach the rest of the group proper dancing for the ball.
Later, the party arrives at the gates of the Obsidian Palace. There remains a crowd of angry protesters. Unlike the day prior, however, instead of being among the protesters, the party is the subject of their ridicule. They hurry to show their invitation and enter the palace.
Once inside, they are led into a large and decadent ballroom. Gold and crystal chandeliers illuminate marble walls and a floor that shines as if stained glass. A gilded dance floor stretches between a grand marble staircase and a dais of four thrones. Three are empty, but in one sits the young Crown Prince Nolan Lavandin. When the party enters, the room is already bustling with nobles; throngs of masked faces draped in silks, feathers, and jewels - not an ounce of practicality exists in this hall. For better or worse, everything is for show.
The party (including the showboating Zim) is announced upon arrival. A full list of the titles and accolades read for the party can be found at the end of this article, but there are two that raise eyebrows. Otto is announced as the ‘King of Rocks’ leading the party to believe that Biem is somewhere and has tampered with the list. Later, Vincent is announced as the ‘Butterfly of Kauvet,’ a nickname once used by Vincent’s still-missing ex-lover and Biem’s father, Jox. The group is also reminded exactly who they are rubbing elbows with when Grace’s announcement as ‘Slayer of Changelings’ garners applause.
The ball lives up to its promise as the social event of the season. The party finds themselves with no shortage of distractions and obstacles. Vincent goes about the ball having each and every guest add their own personal mark on his blank canvas ensemble. Eventually, he finds Knight-Captain Alkite who is there representing his order. Otto is the belle of the ball, expertly schmoozing everyone he comes across and quickly obtaining a following. Tasha and Grace are less comfortable in this environment, and they both get lost in the sea of people. Tasha has the misfortune to stumble upon a table where Chewing Granby is selling counterfeit Dungeon Masters merchandise.
Graybone Brook is announced and the decoy the group had been warned about enters the party. At the same time, a door from behind the dais opens. A beautiful and intimidating satyr walks out of the royal residencies and takes her place on the dais next to an empty chair on the opposite side of the stage from the Prince. She assumes a protective stance and begins surveying the party goers scrutinizingly. Her beauty draws the eyes of many admirers including Vincent and Tasha. Otto sees their infatuation and offers to introduce them, saying that
Quid the Reveler (the satyr) is good friends with him and his wife Aletheia.
The party makes their way to the stage and are eagerly welcomed by Quid who is as charming and endearing as she is baffling and terrifying. Following the interaction, Tasha remarks, “She’s quite mean…I think I like it.”
The group once again separates to mingle and explore. Grace catches a situation where Zim is chasing the Graybone decoy which leads to the dwarf toppling over a servant carrying a tray of many glasses. Grace, realizing the decoy is Biem, scoops up the duck and helps Biem to a private room to calm down. Once Biem is reassured, Grace informs Vincent what’s transpired and also throws herself into a servant to get some of the sting of gossip off of Biem and onto her. Meanwhile, Tasha finds a significantly intoxicated Brandash Alkite and leads him to a private room. Tasha alludes to Brandy that she’s aware he spoke of the Ratway to a bartender in the palace and intimidatingly assures him he ought keep those things to himself, to which he agrees.
Otto receives a lovely surprise when the entrance of his wife, Aletheia, is announced. They enjoy the party together and separately, at one point having a competition to see who can gather the most admirers with a performance until eventually they combine their powers and wow the crowd. Aletheia gives Otto a quick peck on the cheek (yes this a bird joke) and flies off back into the crowd.
After some time, it is clear the attending nobles are frustrated by the lack of appearances made by the honored countess and his majesty the king. However, the party’s main concern is Graybone’s sending to Grace notifying them that Cassia has abandoned her post. Tasha secludes herself and casts scrying on Cassia. She sees the minotaur fallen to her knees in front of a large bookshelf, weeping in despair. She casts a Sending to Cassia to find out what’s wrong and all Cassia responds with is “Run.”
While Tasha performs these spells, the king’s fanfare is played to welcome the Countess and…only the Countess. She addresses the crowd, apologizing for the king’s absence as a result of the queen’s condition. A positive and grateful speech is heckled by disgruntled nobles, and the Countess takes the opportunity to decry the hypocrisy of the current political climate of the city, calling for more care and help to be offered to citizens such as the ones protesting outside. The shouts of disapproval are deafening. The party starts prepping for things to escalate when suddenly the door to the royal residencies opens once again, and out of it flies the unconscious body of Aisling, the swamp rat lieutenant who had replaced Cassia in tonight’s operation.
Following closely behind Aisling is Cassia Cosades whose rage is clear as she shoots off a violent blast of necromantic energy toward the countess. But the shot is wild and the prince gets too close to the beam, taking the whole of the dangerous spell and getting blasted off the other end of the dais. Before anyone can get to her, Quid plunges a dagger through the Countess’ torso and tosses her limp body off the dais, jumping down and pilfering something from her corpse. As the noise from the chaos inside reaches the protestors outside they take it as a cue to storm the gates. Civilians and guards fall, but the majority of the protestors make it inside the palace as those inside the palace do their all to flee.
In the enrapturing chaos, the party breaks into action. Vincent does everything he can to rescue Biem and get them outside, successful in blending in with the crowd. Tasha, unable to spend the resources required to save the prince, runs to the countess, but is overcome by the guards targeting Cassia as the minotaur does everything she can to force Tasha out of the palace. Grace provides a distraction, sparing Tasha from the danger while Otto surveys the situation from above, relieved to see Aletheia has made it outside the hall. Multiple party members attempt to incapacitate the murderous satyr and fail, not knowing that they are targeting an illusory duplicate while the real Quid uses invisibility to sneak out of the ballroom.
As Cassia is wounded and brought to ground by more guards than she can handle, Tasha calls out to
Lathander for aid. Meanwhile, Vincent and Biem are outside to see Quid emerge from the crowd chased by Aletheia who sheds her magical disguise and is revealed to be another satyr. At this moment of revelation, Lathander enacts his divine intervention. The party, along with Biem, Cassia, and the real Aletheia (who’s been in
Little City this whole time), are washed from the scene in golden light and transported to Graybone’s residence.
The Party's Announcement
The Dungeon Masters
Masters of the Aari Emerald
Pioneers of The Lost City of Lions
Saviors of Glimmerbrook
Vanquishers of The Foe of Many Faces
Heroes of Kauvet
Honored Vassals of his Majesty the King
Natasha Koroleva:
First Child of Lathanton
Chosen of Lathander
Healer of Kauvet
Alessandro Lorenzo Ottavio de' Lombardi:
Esteemed Son of Little City
Songbird of Kauvet
“King of Rocks”
Grace Strongbones:
Third Generation Strongbones
Daughter of Briar and Prudence Strongbones, Slayers of The Zombie Lynx of Kelrune
Destroyer of Oldingham
Rebuilder of Oldingham
Wielder of Godholder, the Cyclopean Battleaxe
Champion of Pelor
Bounty of the Kingdom
Avenger of the People
Grace of the Crown
Slayer of Changelings
Vincent Van Vermeer:
29th Son of house Van Vermeer
The Unmasked
Vigilante of Vienna
Wandering Paintbrush
Wielder of The Great Brush of Van Vermeer
Butterfly of Kauvet
The Fanged Duck of Zim
The Honorable
The Majestic
The Immortal
Graybone Brook:
Lauded son of Glimmerbrook
Veteran of Vecna's Onslaught
Champion of the Crown
Aletheia de Lombardi
Esteemed Owligarch of Little City
Ambassador to the Feywild
Chewing Granby's Merch Table
Autographed copies of The Foe of Many Faces by Che Langston Strutting | 399gp
Standard PC Action Figures | 75gp each
Limited Edition Grace Strongbones (Oni Slayer) Figure | 155gp
Limited Edition Vincent Van Vermeer (Maskelangelo) Figure | 135gp
Limited Edition Singing Otto Figure | 100gp
Limited Edition Glow in the Dark Tasha | 85gp
Limited Edition Henry (Planar Traveler) - includes backdrops painted to look like different planes | 120gp
Collector’s Edition Action Figure Set | 800gp
PC Mini Set and Paint | 200gp
"Authentic" Maskelangelo Mask signed by Vicent van Vermeer XXIX | 500gp
Paint Brush pencils | 30gp
Crowned Jewels Hourglass | 175gp
Foam Mace of Tasha Koroleva | 90gp
"Authentic" Lute signed by Otto De’Lombardi | 600gp
A free signed portrait of King Amias Lavandin with every purchase. (All proceeds go to the queen’s medical treatment.)
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