Session 33: High Society, Low Expectations


 * The Ghost Sharks discuss the plan: listen in on Jana, find the orb. Mogen gives messenger apps to: Mogen-Sarienne & Tork to put in Jana's pocket.  Vikrit also has one paired w/Mogen.
 * Everyone goes in dressed as kitchen staff.
 * We roll ~social initiative~!
 * Dan: "What's the difference between gnomes and halflings?" Carlos: "It's just a matter of gnomenclature."
 * Everyone but Vikrit uses Disguise Kits on themselves. Mogen rolls a natural 20.

Round 1

 * Vanesse changes into her fancy dress and wanders into the manor. She happens upon Casimir, Alain, and Maximilian whispering about politics and war. She goes and talks to a guard standing in front of the stairs up to the private quarters, unsuccessfully trying to convince him to let her go up.
 * Tork is dressed as a server and grabs a tray of hors d'oevres. He goes around offering them to the guards. Then he goes over to the group above--one of the 3 says something about the queen not being happy to offer them some, and stop talking to shoo him away. He then goes over to the guard Vanesse was talking to. He surveys the rounds inside:
 * Those 3 guys are talking politics. Iago is telling a story to Mogen's aunt. Sitting room = Malcolm telling a war story to Jinnah, Marie, Johanna. Nitya and Ilyra whispering to e/o. Hazel telling a story to lady wearing fancy watch dress.
 * Cornerio changes into his fancy clothes (without his hat! A top hat instead). He makes himself a virgin cocktail. He goes to where Iago is. He's talking about various pre-war pieces and their authenticity; Corn introduces himself as Brother Xonak. "Oh, you're Roland the adventurer!" Imogen is very excited and tries to get him to tell her of his adventures not yet published. Iago is annoyed and walks away. Corn bullshits her and it seems to work, she offers to introduce him to people.
 * Sarienne is dressed as a server, grabs a tray of drinks and goes into the room where most people are. She goes to listen in on Malcolm. Marie is very interested; the other two aren't. Ilyra is saying things have been crazy lately with Daask & "a new group". She reassures Nitya Boromars have been ally of Sharn for centuries. They notice her and go outside.
 * Vesun goes into the garden past the back door, wearing server clothes. He finds Jana and her sister, who said she's going to get married; Jana is being awkward. Philippa waves him off when he offers. Finds Adnan and Merrix talking about whether something is really going to happen, involving Johanna? "Is House Cannith really concerned about this?" (Talking about war between Aundair and Thrane.) Adnan gets a drink.
 * Vikrit gets nude and hides under the triceratops topiary to listen in to Jana. Philippa wants her sister not to leave again; she says she knows she left Arcanix months ago. She wants Jana to tell her what she's doing; she says 'this bullshit' isn't all that's there; they go inside before they get yelled at by their mom.

Round 2

 * It is now dinner time. We rendezvous in the kitchen. "There's some good adventurer out there named Roland. Maybe we should kill him." We ask Vanesse to cause a distraction to allow Sarienne to plant the messenger app on Jana.
 * Jana's seat is next to her father & sister but she keeps getting up to go somewhere else. Everyone seems to think Cornerio is Roland. Vanesse wants to be near the drunkest person at the table; she rolls a 4 and thinks Iago is. She chats with him and Marie.
 * Tork and Sarienne look for Jana. She's talking to Jinnah - bringing her to the restroom. Jana snaps at Sarienne and they go upstairs. Sarienne follows.
 * Vesun goes in front of Vikrit upstairs up the other way. Jana leads her into the room we saw the orb in.
 * Vikrit listens - hear banging, Jinnah says "no!" and her voice stops. Heredin and Jana talk about the ritual they're going to do.
 * Vesun casts Summon Monster - Celestial Giant Fire Beetle. "Beetle!" "Fire!" "Fire Beetle!" Sarienne and Vikrit hide in the bedroom across the hall. Vesun disguises himself as a different server and goes to "get help". Jana pops her head out. She sees Vesun running down the hall and casts Hold Person on him, but he makes the save and pretends to have been hit. She magic missiles the beetle until it explodes and makes Heredin drag Vesun into the room, thinking he's paralyzed. Sarienne calls to Mogen and Tork for help.
 * Back downstairs: Jana hasn't come back. Cornerio is talking on and on, eventually Malcolm gets pissed and slams his tankard down, yelling "Bullshit!" Vanesse "helps" to back him up and rolls a 3. They end up storming off. Johanna starts heading toward the kitchens.
 * The non-Vesun Ghost Sharks gear up. "I literally put on my robe and wizard hat."
 * Vesun: Jinnah is facing a device that looks like a magic hair dryer. They throw Vesun down; he's pretending to be unconscious. Heredin does something, casting on the machine.
 * Jana asks "What happened?" "I can't! House Sivis used memory magic!" Some sort of essence is being pulled out of her by the machine.
 * While they're focused on her, Tork causes a ghost sound in the room. Heredin & Jana turn to look in the corner. Vesun dashes over to Jinnah and tries to Dimension Door Jinnah out of there, but it doesn't work. Jana yells at Heredin and starts casting something.

Round 3: FIGHT

 * ROLL INITIATIVE!
 * Vanesse busts in and tackles Jana, but she manages to resist. Vikrit sneaks in, grabs the orb on the table, and sneaks out. Vesun casts Dispel Magic and gets rid of the dimensional anchor, and some abjuration spell. Sarienne goes in and helps Vanesse.
 * Heredin comes behind Sarienne and touches her - she fails her Fort save and she is paralyzed for the next 5 rounds; the smell of death starts emanating from her and people around her have to make a Fort save. Jana casts something on Vanesse - she hears someone tell her what to do in Orcish (The Shadow???): "restrain your friends"
 * Tork runs in and tries to turn off the device. The magic that was pinning Jinnah fades away. Cornerio breaks the window with his hammer and falls in a nice arc. Vanesse picks up Sarienne and dumps her in the corner. Vikrit casts Longstrider on Mogen and runs to the window. Vesun casts Fly on Jinnah and Vikrit gently pushes her out the window. Mogen and Tork jump out; Mogen lands in a tangle in the bushes. Vanesse charges Vikrit, knocking them both out the window.
 * Heredin and Jana look at each other and swear. Jana Dimension Doors away, Heredin finally notices the orb is gone and swears, looking for it--ignoring Vesun; Sarienne comes out of her paralysis.
 * Vesun grabs the crystal from the machine - a diamond (10,000 g). He goes to help Sarienne and they jump up the window. Heredin yells "Wait, you!" "Smell ya later, asshole!"
 * We are all outside. The guards come over to see wtf happened, Vesun says Lady Jana's up there and needs help. Jana reappears close to us.
 * She starts casting a heck of a spell and everyone (including the guards) makes Will saves… everyone but Vanesse and Cornerio fails.
 * Vanesse power attacks Jana and slams the axe into her. Corn smacks her with the gnome hooked hammer. Vesun has Travel Devotion; he is able to summon a celestial giant eagle near him and Vikrit. Jana touches the amulet on her neck and Dimension Doors away behind the triceratops, doing something there.
 * Tork Scorching Rays at Jana but misses. Vanesse charges at Jana but gets tripped up in the paralyzed guard and Sarienne. Cornerio runs and leaps on top of the topiary. Mogen and Vikrit fail their saves to be unparalyzed. Vesun casts Protection from Evil on Sarienne and gives Vikrit to him.
 * Jana steps back from the topiary, touches her amulet, and teleports somewhere else outside. Cornerio is barely able to hold on as the triceratops comes to life and turns toward us. The other topiary statues come to life and attack the guards because they're closer.
 * Sarienne moves up and attacks one of the boars (hedge hogs). Tork Scorching Rays the triceratops. Vanesse attacks the lion, Cornerio attacks his mount. Vesun gets on the eagle with Mogen and puts Vikrit on and they start flying away. Vanesse and Cornerio start running toward the Tower of Boldrei.
 * Suddenly the eagle is hit by scorching rays from the ground. Jana has followed us.
 * Jana: "Why are you here?! What's wrong with you people!" Vesun: "How long do you have?!"
 * "Trying to stop you from devouring the world." "Is that what you think is happening? What enemy of Brazen could you possibly be working for?" She says she's out to save the world. Vikrit starts sneaking around behind the tower. Jana fireballs the group when we don't surrender.
 * Vesun buys time and says we're willing to listen if she's actually trying to save the world. Vesun tells her what we know; he mentions Mavatorop and her lip curls. "You're working for the fish?" Vikrit sneaks up behind. She says this info may be useful in exchange for our lives. She goes to the front of the tower and says "you first." She doesn't see Vikrit, who hides in the bushes.
 * While they go up, Vesun asks what our misunderstanding. She says the daelkyr are the true lords of this world - all are dead except 1. She says Brazen has been trapped underground for millenia and she found him.
 * Cornerio rushes ahead of them. He sees ghostly figures with floating heads on the first floor. They're listening to a lecture from another ghost; a ghost dog in the corner (weren't there last time). He goes to the 2nd floor; gems, rubies, etc. 3rd floor: ghostly old man - druidy? trying to leaf through a book.
 * He makes it to the room he's seen before. There is a wheel here - in his dreams, had to turn that wheel. Jana says the gates were poisoned 10,000 years ago, they're there to finish the job. She asks if we know how to open the gates - she is very frustrated - "I let you people follow me and you don't even know how to do this?!".
 * They realize Cornerio isn't there. He feels his body lift up, surrounded by blue energy. Mavadtorop gives him the choice: he knows what to do, does he want to do it? (Of course.) The chain snaps; there's a horrible grinding noise, the tower shakes, and a contraption is revealed. Jana realizes what's happening and yells, "No!" and runs to the door.
 * Cornerio uses Mavadtorop's knowledge to activate the machine, and a huge bolt of light shoots up from the basement all the way through the tower. It explodes, and the giant chute of blue light materializes into the form of a huge 30-ft storm giant who looks a little familiar for some reason: the guardian of the seal to Syrania.