Session 020 - Steal the Soul

General Summary

Date 3^rd to 13^th Agrazhar (6) 720TR (Summer)

The story so far

The heroes have been hired, by Jehan Chusselrin, to investigate the strange Earthmaster Artifact he inherited, known as the Heart of the Tondran. They learn that a companion item to this, the Soul of the Trondan, may be located in the townhouse of the rich and powerful Vanthes Clan.

In a week Senator Kelen Vanthes is hosting a Grand Gala in her townhouse, and the heroes decide to join.

Part 1 - The Grand Gala

The party learns all they can about Senator Kelen Vanthes and Clan Vanthes so they can formulate a plan to infiltrate the Vanthes townhouse and hopefully recover the Soul of Trondan. They discover that Senator Kelen Vanthes is holding the Grand Gala, one of the cities premier social events, in a week. The party decides to steal an invitation.

Part 2 - Steal the Invitations.

After identifying couriers who deliver invitations, Yureb "accidentally" bumps into one, scattering his papers, and quickly steals one. The theft was very clumsy, however the courier was distracted and half asleep. Yureb, forges an invitation, using his Cursed Inkwell and returns the invitation to the courier claiming that they had found it in the street.

The group then purchase clothing and masks for the Gala which is also a Masquerade.

Interlude 1 - Feast of Balefire

However a couple of days before the Gala, Athena attends the Feast of Balefire an event carried out on her god's most holy day of the year. No one is murdered.

Part 3 - The Dance

The party arrives at the Gala, fortunately, no curse from the Inkwell was transferred onto the invitation. They are admitted and meet with the hostess Senator Kelen Vanthes and her lover and companion, Senator Ryburn Elernin, son of the Republics greatest living military leader, Marshall Kronas. Kelen, to the heroes surprise, is wearing the Soul of Trondan. The party starts mingling and over the night hear much interesting Gossip.

The first main event of the evening is an elaborate dance. Couples dance and the winners are crowned Emperor and Empress of the Grand Gala. Athena and Yureb pair off and Quazzy has an unexpected dance partner, her warlock patron Desridaen. Desridaen informs her that the last time he danced was over a thousand years ago with a Dryad about 30 miles away, she is a Banshee now. Quazzy is informed that their hostess frequently changes outfit over the night and that she is being watched, even now. Desridaen wants to tell her more, but the rules of the gods prevent it.

The dance is epic with most participants withdrawing and Quazzy and Desridaen contesting with Senators Kalen and Ryburn. Ryburn makes a clumsy stumble, and Quazzy and Desridaen win and are crowned the Empress and Emperor of the Gala. At the end of the Dance, all in the hall take off their masks and revealing their identity.

Kelen goes upstairs and changes her outfit when she returns she is not wearing the Soul.

Part 4 - Those Coins

Yureb breaks away when the servants start to bring in the food. Using his Cameleon Cloak, he sneaks upstairs, eventually finding Kelen's chamber. Distracting the Guard with an illusion he sneaks in. The room is opulent, Yureb notes a secret panel in the Desk. However, some coins attract his attention. He falls immediately under a charm.

Quazzy, not hearing from Yureb for some time, attempts telepathic contact. All she hears is a chaotic babble and muttering "Money, Money, Money, all mine." Thinking quickly Quazzy changes her form to impersonate Kelen, and she and Athena travel to her chamber, tricking the guard to gain entry.

Inside they overcome the magical temptation of the coins and after much slapping rouse Yureb from his charm.

Part 5 - Steal the Soul

Yurb carefully opens the secret compartment in the desk, avoiding the magical trap this time, and find a fortune in gems and gold coins plus the Soul of Trondan. Grabbing the Soul, and the treasure he makes his escape out a window, while Athena and Quazzy return to the party and mingle.

Sometime later several gladiators arrive promoting their next event in the Pamesani Arena, one is Mylucas the Gouger. Mylucas, remembering the battle in the streets last week, spots Athena and challenges her to a demonstration bout with wooden weapons, she declines, and the heroes leave the Gala before the legendary debauchery starts.

Part 6 - Examination

Quazzy examines the Soul of Tondan and determines that it is an Earthmasters artifact and has some kind of magical or psionic linkage to the Heart of the Trondan, already in the possession of Jehan Chusselrin.

Jehan attempts to use both items and briefly passes out. He recalls being overwhelmed with an array of strange images, an enormous balloon bursting into flames, strange metal war crabs and great armies clashing. He has memories of an ancestor leaving an Earthmaster structure surrounded by pillars believing that this man came from another world known as Terra. He thinks given time he will be able to he will learn where the location of that Earthmaster building is. This building appears the same as the one Quazzy fled from some years ago.

Interlude 2 - The Squire

Athena interviews Lucia Kalormar as a potential squire. She proves an eager and promising, so Athena agrees to take her on as a favor for her father Derik Kalormar.

Gossip

During the Gala, the heroes overhear a considerable amount of spicy gossip. These include;

Secret Negotiations are underway between the Thardic Senate and the Kingdom of Rethem regarding the return of Themeson Castle. The Order of the Eight Demons is pressuring the Senate for a deal but there is the question of what will the Order of the Cohorts of Gashang do if they lose control of Themeson Castle.

Athena starts the rumor that the Order of the Cohorts of Gashang are planning to take the contract for the city guard.

Whispers are that General Kronas Elernin is planning to seize power. Some say he is planning to pressure the Senate into declaring him, King or Emperor. Others say the Red Guard is planning to have him assassinated to prevent this eventuality.

Senator Baloth Nemirina and his son are at odds, with this son believing that the Senator has neglected his duties since he has returned from his three years trip to the Azeryan Empire. The families fortune is disappearing.

After Senator Quertena Mariam assassination, his brother has been unable to get the votes to take his brother's Senatorial seat. Some say it is because he is a prominent supporter of the reform fraction.

Sir Arren Lydel, a Melderyani Envoy, is thoroughly acquainted with every courtesan in the city. He wants to sponsor a Grand Tournament, and it is also said he is the Bastard son of the King of Melderyn.

Winneate Asarn, the 62-year-old spinster sister of Senator Melvid Asarn, is said to dislike her brother's lavish lifestyle. She is an active worshiper of Peoni and is considered saintly for all her charity work.