A Little Bit of Thievery Never Hurt Anyone Report

General Summary

In the kingdom of Adura, in the early months of spring, a ball is being held! Not just any ball, but Melora Hathfael's annual Sunflower Ball charity. A fabulously wealthy Ducercle  elf with red hair, she had made her fortune over the last 75 years in trading in Adura for various materials produced in her home country. And every year, she attempts to give back to the community that had made her fortune.
Amongst her guests, however, are four attendees - some who were expected and some who were not - that must now meet, as they never intended to.

^{The Hathfael Estate}

The first to arrive is Rahvin Ashdust, the husband and cleric of Anwyn the first flame. Brought here by a friend in the faith, Newler Dreyfuss, Rahvin has been asked to bless the food. Dressed in a pinstriped black-and-orange suit, and with a "pseudo-fancy" air about him, Rahvin arrived in the kitchens. He found inside a staff that seemed almost... frightened to have such an authority on stewardship enter into their midst. But with time and food, Rahvin managed to win them over. Especially after hearing that they would not be taking part in the food they prepared, which prompted the half-elf to roll up his sleeves and prepare a meal of perfectly roasted ham for the staff.
Meanwhile, in the palace proper, a shy student from Eilene's Schol arrived with his class. Kashmeel Mazigh, dressed in polished chain mail with a white cloak with red trim and a pin shaped like a sun holding it in place (shaped to match the school's sigil), found himself rather at a loss as to what to do amongst such fancy company. Grabbing a champagne flute (shaped as if it were an iron wrought pole with vines creeping up it - all made of glass and costing at least 20 gold a piece), he resigned himself to being nothing but a wallflower. However, a fellow student and one year below him, Allie, struck up a conversation. She was on scholarship at the school, and much like Kash came from a poorer family. They danced together for sometime, though they both lacked the skills to avoid falling over themselves, let alone impress other guests. Still, Allie and Kash enjoyed themselves, laughing as they tripped on each other's feet and talking about their future plans. Kash admitted he didn't know what he wished to do; though he supposed he would go back home to Vespmar and join the Scaled Guard, as his parents had. Allie asked him if that was what he was sure he wanted, since most students in their school aspire to become adventurers or generals, not captains of guards, but Kash could not give her an honest answer.
The next member of this would-be party was odd, even for the eccentricities of the uber-rich: Bruxin Calloway Deadremen Limpton III, a yuan-ti fashion designer from Vespmar, commanded the attention of the room simply by stepping into it. This is not always a good thing, however, especially for one of such a rare race as the yuan-ti in a ball packed with the brightest (or believed-brightest) minds in Paramenthia. A human 'student of the arcane' cornered the poor designer, peppering him not only with inane, but offensive questions about his biology. Everything from the time of Bruxin's first molt to whether Bruxin's mother ate her other young were covered - thankfully, Bruxin commands quite a sharp tongue of his own, and with a few well placed barbs was able to turn the scholar away in offense. At this moment, a white dragonborn woman dressed elegantly in purple commended him on his success, holding a wine glass with wine as dark as her dress that she swirled continuously as she spoke. She intimated to him that the scholar had also asked her quite inappropriate questions about her lineage and that she admired Bruxin's wit. He graciously accepted her thanks and admired her dress, and she did the same. Truly, Bruxin dressed like no one else: an outer coat, jacket, doublets, and what could only be described as a Stetson hat-esque cobra's hood created a visual that was seldom seen in Vespmar and never seen at all in Adura! However, their conversation was cut short as they noticed another white dragonborn, identical to the noble in every way but for a dress of sparkling crystalline white. The dragonborn in the purple dress immediately became angry that someone would dare steal her appearance, and stormed over to confront this individual.
For an explanation as to whom this last figure was, we must go back to when Rahvin blessed the food. In the store room, as he worked, a barrel of pickled figs slowly began to unscrew it's own lid, until a small white, lizard like face could peer out. With the coast clear, the little creature wriggled out of the barrel and peeked out from a crack in the door. It spotted the face of the white dragonborn noble, and another woman dressed in a white dress that sparkled and caught the light. The circlet upon their head shimmered, and the little creature took on the appearance of the noble, wearing the dress she had so admired. Then, stepping out into the crowd, the little creature attempted to blend into the crowd. She surprised even herself, dancing in such an awe-inspiring fashion that Melora, host of the Sunflower Ball, took notice. When the opportunity to dance presented itself, Melora couldn't find a good reason to say no, and so took the imposter's hand. As they began to talk, the imposter introduced herself as Amela, and told her a fanciful tale: of a body guard, a former executioner, who had become lost and who Amela desperately need to find, before the people who sought to harm her found her. Melora, while sympathetic, did not appear to be invested much in Amela's wellbeing. She paid lipservice to the 'dragonborn's' plight, but not much more than that. A pity, but to be expected from someone with as much wealth and business savvy as Melora.
After sometime, Melora stood to make a speech, clinking her fork against her glass to get everyone's attention. After they look towards her, she begins to espouse on the good Adura had done for her and how she wished to give back to it. Especially the students of the Schol, the "minds of the future." And so she would be donating over 10,000 gold to each school, for scholarships, renovations, and new buildings and equipment. The crowd, swayed to generosity and emotion by the wine and food, clapped thunderously for her. However, not all is well amongst the guests, for four of these guests noticed an elven man in dark leathers shoving his way through the crowd - away from Melora as her waitstaff and guards gave chase. Unfortunately for the guards and staff, however, they could not yell, raise their voices, or cause a commotion for fear of interrupting their mistress's speech. This gave the elf a massive lead, and as he neared the doors to the courtyard where the main fountain sits, he turned to look at the crowd and noticed the four pairs of eyes looking back. As their gaze met, each saw his eyes flash white, and three (Amela, Bruxin, and Kash) noticed a weight in their pockets suddenly appear. As they checked their bags and pockets, each withdrew a fine chain - a necklace, meant to hide beneath clothes and be an invisible weight to both wearer and observer. Each was of a different metal, and had a different gemstone encrusted on it, but each necklace had a charm on the end of it, unique to each person: ruby-studded dragon claw made of gold (Amela an emerald-studded dragon claw made of silver (Rahvin a sapphire-studded dragon claw made of silver (Kashmeel and an obsidian-studded dragon claw made of gold (Bruxin). The chains immediately began to hum with power, and each felt an instant connection to their chain, as the attunement snapped into place. Rahvin only noticed his own when he made to reveal his rosary from his pocket and pulled the chain as well. Zela notes that her necklace makes her feel quite cold, and finds it unpleasant, but nevertheless is determined to keep it. Each also found themselves to instantly know what their necklace did, which are listed below:

• Ruby - resistance from fire damage. You can cast burning hands at 2nd level once per long rest
• Emerald - resistance from psychic damage. You can cast dissonant whispers at 2nd level once per long rest
• Sapphire - resistance from thunder damage. You can cast thunderwave at 2nd level once per long rest
• Obsidian - resistance from fire damage. You can cast flame blade at 2nd level once per long rest

The party guests selected to receive this strange gift from the strange guest began to give chase, which ultimately failed. Amela changed her form to that of a passing waitstaff, and drew close enough to grasp at the man's cape, but he turned and sucker punched her hard enough that she fell to the ground, stunned. But that did not completely deter her, and she put out her hand to him, and vines began to crack the ground, attempting to entangle him in their grasp. But with a quick mind and foot - and a sharp blade - the elf wriggled and cut his way free, darting away into the further aspects of the palace and out of sight.
With their quarry escaped, the others catch up to Amela. Amela revealed herself to actually be Zela the Liar, a small white kobold looking for a "friend who (she) can do magic through." Realizing this is potentially a warlock he is speaking to, Rahvin immediately councils Zela to not speak of her "friend," but to claim instead a god to be her benefactor, even offering to teach her how to masquerade better. Zela, though not seeming to understand, does take the goodberry offered by the half-elf (though only after he eats some himself to show that it is not poison). A few she stores away for future use. Still, despite their caution, all of the party guests agree to help Zela find her friend, whom she says was captured by someone in a carriage pulled by "big brown dogs." 
This does not give them much to go on, but thankfully there is an inkling of hope as Zela suddenly hears her friend squawking from the east wing of the palace, and darts off with the others in hot pursuit.
As they walk, Rhavin notices Kash's book about a friendly little octopus, and asks to see it. Upon reading the children's book, he asks the kalashtar if he wrote and illustrated the book, which Kash admits he did. Rhavin commends him, saying it's quite good. Kash, obviously embarrassed, speeds up to try and overtake Zela. This isn't hard, and soon Zela digs her hands into his cloak and the unprotected small of his back, tearing the cloak, in an attempt to slow him down and/or use him to speed herself up. Thankfully, Bruxin is able to whip up some quick mends to the cloak, and all is well.
Entering into the east wing, they find a guest room where they can hear the squawking from. Rhavin opens the door, only to jump back when Zela suddenly lets out a gout of fire from her mouth. It's a close call, but thankfully no one is hurt.
In a cage by the window, there's a cage with a green pseudodragon (or, as Zela calls him, a pseusodragon). With some help from Kash, the cage is opened and the irate psuedodragon flits around the room like a trapped bat before settling on Zela's head to berate her for not only taking so long to free him, but for allowing him to be capturing to begin with. Chastised, Zela allows him to get out his anger. This is Ommi the Swift, and Zela's familiar.
As they continue to converse back and forth, Kash suggests they leave before they get caught breaking and entering into a foreign dignitary's room, pointedly stepping back out into the hall.
The others agree, and exit the east wing as the ball is beginning to wind down. They exit back into the main city, across the bridge, following the crowds back into Paramenthia proper. As they exit, the discussion turns to where Zela and Ommi will stay for the night. Kash refuses to take them, saying his uncle would be mad. Bruxin says nothing one way or the other, and Rahvin finally offers to let them stay with him at Dreyfuss's home. Zela agrees, and they all go their separate ways.

Character(s) interacted with

• Allie (a fellow student in the Bellatorus to Kash, one year younger than him)
• Melora Hathfael

Allie

^{Image ID: A portrait of a young woman with dark, curling hair that sits just past her shoulder blades. Half of her hair is pulled up away from her face, and she wears a simple black or perhaps dark green gown that exposes her shoulders. She wears large gold necklace that looks as if it's made of lace dipped in gold, and one hand is poised as if ready to grasp it. She looks at once warm, but guarded.} 

Melora Hathfael

^{Image ID: A portrait of an androgynous woman with pointed ears and cool-toned red hair that falls past her shoulders. Her eyes are brown and elongated, giving her a very calculating look.} 

Ommi, the Swift

^{Image ID: An image of a small green pseudodragon, perched on an undefined object. It looks similar to a bearded dragon, but with limbs positioned more like a small cat than a lizard. It has large, bat-like wings about the same size as it's body, and a long tail with a flat, scaled end to it like a paddle. It has a curious, alert expression and posture, as if listening to a small child lecturing it on the wonders of tea time.}

Campaign

The Conspiracy of the Burning One

Protagonists

Mola Aubert

Variant Tiefling (Variant Tiefling)
Sorcerer 1

9 / 9 HP

STR
9

DEX
11

CON
16

INT
10

WIS
10

CHA
17

Kashmeel Mazigh

Neutral Good Kalashtar (Cloistered Scholar)
Fighter 6

58 / 58 HP

STR
20

DEX
14

CON
16

INT
19

WIS
12

CHA
13

Rahvin Ashdust

LG Half Elf (Guild Artisan)
Cleric 4

31 / 31 HP

STR
8

DEX
14

CON
14

INT
11

WIS
18

CHA
14

Zela the Liar

N/A Kobold (Quandrix student (Draconic Learner))
Warlock 5

45 / 45 HP

STR
10

DEX
11

CON
14

INT
9

WIS
14

CHA
18

Report Date

08 Jul 2022

Primary Location

Paramenthia

Related Characters

• Bruxin Calloway Deadremen Limpton III
• Kashmeel Mazigh
• Rahvin Ashdust
• Zela the Liar