The Fall of Nigel Dunstan

Political event

The party run security at a party hosted by Chief Justice Nigel Dunstan. The Baron - who hasn't been seen in public in years - is in attendance with his new lover, who is not what she appears.

Graak & Loodachris   Graak and Loodachris began their day attempting to win some of the money they lost the day previous back. They first visited Vinder to secure a loan. They each borrowed 3000gp and would have to repay 3125 in less than a week.   With their funds secured they went to the Kiss and spoke to Nev about fighting some beasts.   Nev told Graak he could fight a pack of Direwolves. Graak agreed.   The fight was close, with Graak nearly being killed by the wolves, but thanks to some secrete telekinetic fists performed by Loodachris, he was able to kill the wolves and win some of his money back.   Eiyo   Eiyo spent the early party of her day in the Fabulous Frock, having a new outfit made by Cecilia Fae. She purchased a new tabard made from Sengali Silk, a very light and durable fabric.   Party   Around 7.30pm the party arrived at Nigel Dunstan’s residence, a penthouse apartment in the Alabaster District.   By the time they arrived the event had already begun. Reynald Duval was speaking to a masked man who left almost immediately. The group spoke to Nige and then were introduced to the Baron who told them he had decided to finally leave the palace because he was in love with a wonderful woman who would arrive shortly.   While the group spoke to the guests outside, Gregory began sneaking around the property and stealing valuables. One of the rooms he broke into was trapped with pencil lead in the hinge which would notify the occupant someone had broken in. He found a jewled necklace hidden in the mattress.   Outside, Nige challenged Graak to a “wrestling” match. The two stripped down to their undergarments and began to fist fight.   While the area was being prepared the party spoke to the Baron again and discussed the developments with the fledgling rebellion. The Baron told them this wasn’t the place to discuss such sensitive matters and told them to arrange a private meeting with his aide, Fareed.   While this was happening, Greg was looting Nigel’s bedroom when a female voice told him he shouldn’t be in there. He turned to find himself face to face with the vampire, Lady Annalise.   She cast Dominate Person on him, freezing him in place, and proceeded to drink his blood. Greg let out a solitary tear of fear and Annalise licked it from his face.   Outside, Loodchris used the commotion of the fight to cast Detect Magic and get an idea of what magical items the guests were carrying. Doing this revealed an overwhelming magical aura coming from the apartment. Loodachris told Eiyo about this and said he would go to investigate.   Graak won his fight against Nige, who love it.   Loodachris arrived inside and was immediately dominated by Annalise, who knocked Gregory out and began to feed on the wizard.   Outside, the rest of the group were talking to the Baron who mentioned that he wished his beloved had been present to watch the fight. When asked what time she would arrived he said “after dark” and the truth finally dawned on Graak, who asked if the Baron’s new loved had heterochromia. He responded that she did and the party finally realised who they were dealing with.   They called over Gar Jordan to alert him to the situation and told him they needed a distraction. Gar marched forward and challenged Nige to a drinking contest.   The remaining party members rushed inside, kicking down the door to find Loodachris falling unconscious while Annalise fed upon him.   The group surrounded the vampire and began their attack. Badaar was the first into combat and suffered all of Annalise’s wrath. During the fight both Greg and Loodachris awoke and were able to drink healing potions that got them back on their feet.   Eiyo used her new scorching ray power to blast the vampire with sunlight. This caused Annalise to assume gaseous form and attempt to flee. As she did, Loodachris used shocking grasp to flood the cloud of vapour with electricity which cause her to become corporeal again and fall to the ground, where the party descended on her and Greg decapitated her.   With the vampire dead the party now had the issue of how to handle the body of the Baron’s new mistress. They first looted the body and found a magical cloak and ring. They also finished searching the room and found a royal seal.   They went back outside to speak to Gar, but he was already several twilight nectars down and in no real state to aid them.   So the party spoke to Price who recommended they speak to Reynald Duval. With the chief justice in no fit state, he reasoned, Duval was the only person they could speak to if they wanted to avoid being accused of murder.   They spoke to Duval and showed him the body. Duval thanked them for their work and marched outside calling for the Chief Justice’s arrest. He said that the chief justice – who is ultimately responsible for the protection of the city – had allowed a vampire to get close to the baron and while that vampire was causing havoc, the chief justice was wrestling naked and getting drunk.   Gar Jordan tried to defend Nige but was fired by Duval and told to collect his things from the Arvernsoar before morning.   Graak, furious that his friends were being punished, tried to step in but Duval warned him that the only reason they weren’t in chains was the fact they had killed a vampire. Graak threatened Duval and asked who would put him in chains – Duval? Duval said such a thing would be beneath him and walked away.   As the party left the former chief justice’s apartment, Eiyo asked if anyone wanted to go to the Goblet and carry on drinking. Both Cecila Fae and Dana Molyneux agreed and they headed for the bar.   Graak went down to the lower levels and found Gar and Price in the King’s House. Gar was no longer wearing his gold plate and he looked worse for wear. Graak gave him 500gp and told him if he ever needed anything, Graak would be there. Price told him that they had a plan to pool their resources and build another lodge.   Graak spent the night in the Ship and at first light headed back up to the upper levels, looking for revenge.   He attempted to get inside the Court of Justice but was refused, so he climbed the outside of the building into a 3rd floor bathroom.   After a little sleuthing he found Duval’s new office and found the new Chief Justice. Duval was speaking to the same masked man from the party, who Graak overheard promising to dispatch 6 companies as soon as possible. Graak waited outside the room for 3 hours until the masked man left.   Graak climbed into the room on the ceiling while Duval was frantically writing a stack of letters. Graak dropped down and punched Duval in the face.   Duval went rolling backwards and immediately stood up, drew his rapier, and attacked Graak. Graak immediately realised that there was more to Duval than he first thought and the man was a capable warrior.   It was clear that if Graak tried to fight, he would be killed or worse – captured, so he pushed passed Duval and threw himself out of the window, taking almost enough damage to knock him out.   As he fled the court, he heard Duval calling for the guards.