Season 5, Episode 7: "The Culinarium" Report
General Summary
The Dream Team woke after a troubling vision surrounding Alexander Marcus, Valentina Terris, and Nicholas Carter (see Light XOR Shadow - Chapter 19), which brought several disturbing questions to mind... Discussing as they prepared for the Pact Summit, the group eventually decided to summon Nicholas for answers, which resulted in a very senile, 130-year-old version of the detective arriving at their table.
Nicholas seemed extremely disoriented, rambling away facts that came dangerously close to alerting the Monad, claiming he was sorry for lying to Tesin, and that Mist's stupidity is what ultimately got him killed. When asked for advice, he told Chamas to stay close to the captain, and continued to utter the word "Flushbuster!". While speaking, a tooth rolled from his mouth and onto the table -- which was swiftly pocketed by Lockette, and later identified to be a woman's bicuspid... Nicholas then vanished of his own accord, which was previously thought impossible without dismissing him.
With arguably everyone at the table left confused, they quickly stashed some weapons and equipment into Cornelius, which passed the scans by the Solarions of Idari, who arrived to drive them to the Culinarium.
At breakfast, the group identified Ricardo Dominguez disguised among the waiters, who continued to feed them relevant information throughout the day. In addition, the party caught rumors of Shalema's arrival with Dezanik, and an upcoming announcement about the fate of Kumara Melacruz. As they left the hotel, everyone felt strange, and then were hit with the revelation that likely all of the food at the event had been mystically poisoned by the Horseman of Famine. But with no way to prove it, they shared the information only with trusted individuals, and left their stomachs relatively empty for the remainder of the day...
Then began the Pact Summit, opened and closed by speeches from Alexander Marcus, who spoke of dire times, unity in the Pact Worlds, and a strong defense against their "violent" neighbors. The highlights of the event are described briefly below:
- The group met Hades, who offered them a VIP invitation to Hades Paradise. The undead lord of Debauchery seemed particularly interested in Mist and Isra.
- Roger Glipglorp pressed the Dream Team for an exclusive interview, commercial spot for Aballonian Mooncakes Inc. included, as reparations for Isra's false accusations against his involvement with slavery in the Forge.
- Idryll and Uma Pencile met with Tesin and Isra, and revealed that Chamas was a throwaway of Project 9, although through a different program than what Tesin endured. Chamas was not made aware of this piece of the conversation.
- The Azlanti Star Empire and the Shadari Confederacy met in tense negotiations, which ultimately fell through. The latter representative, Sizzghar, asked the Dream Team if they were interested in coming to Shadari, and employing some of the same tactics they used against General Khaim... The group promised him an answer by the end of the day.
- The Pact Council convened for their annual membership voting, electing Gevalarsk Nor as the newest member of the Directorate, replacing Valentina Terris.
- Imryll Novaheart and Hamat announced the Dawnflame Treaty, a peace agreement between the City of Brass and the Pact Worlds. As part of the agreement, Ezorod was granted membership status, and thus a representative on the Council, registered under a monarchy led by "Queen Movahesh". In addition, Chamas and Nikkost were fully pardoned, and the Sunrise Collective were conditionally-pardoned, granted their participation in a five-year mercenary contract protecting trade barges from the Burning Archipelago to the Crucible (now a Stewards outpost).
- Lin Camulan revealed the cause of several Councilors' deaths in the past year -- including Directors Emen and Choi, Councilwoman Kumara Melacruz, and the disappearance of Director Terris -- now known as the Threefold Conspiracy. As told to the public, these political figures were replaced by Reptoid agents, later uncovered by a heroic group of Starfinders, who declined to be named. In a shocking twist, Lin claimed that Valentina was the last Reptoid found to be infiltrating the Pact Worlds government, and had fled into the Vast. She was now considered deceased, with all assets donated to the Shepherds of the Matriarch.
- The group briefly met Neiva, hiding in plain sight at a lunch break, listening in to the proceeds.
- Isra overheard a group of mystics talking about a strange vision one of them had, of a blonde woman holding a shard of ice, which he believed to be Cathadh's Feather.
- Mist met Seshal, a nervous chef who believed something was off with the food -- which the captain identified as a supernatural gift for detecting Outsiders. He gave the chef his card, in case he was ever looking for new employment.
- Tesin ran into Eppel, a Ysoki diplomat running close to the wire after all of the preparations, complaining at length about her crazy life, and let slip that Carsai the King had brought two guests -- the cultist Trinity, and an unknown person by the name of Lucy.
- Lockette took a technical approach, and discovered Confluence would be arriving in a Confluence Agent right before the gala, and that the executive kitchens on the 8th floor of the hotel were to be off-limits during the party. For the "privacy of those in the suites"...
- Catching up with the modern version of Nicholas, they found him listening in on a conversation with Lin Camulan and Alexander Marcus. The former didn't seem to believe that Valentina was a Reptoid, and questioned the mysterious inclusion of Kumara's death in the report. However, the Lashunta ultimately decided not to press the issue, likely fearing Marcus' wrath. When questioned about their earlier meeting with old Nicholas, the detective revealed he was actually holding a Flushbuster, which he gladly turned over to the party.
- Mist met with Klendalikh, and informed her that her source of (private) worship, Langdon, was being manipulated by Jun Zhao. While she seemed skeptical, she promised to look into it, and hinted that the House of Sinners was perhaps more prolific than it might appear...
Rewards Granted
Tarot Deck
- The party (as a whole) gained a single Card of Ill Fate, for eating food corrupted by Famine.
- Flushbuster!
Created Content
New and updated articles for:
- Light XOR Shadow - Chapter 19
- Postulation
- Phasecaster
- Black Owl
- Infinite Line
- Klendalikh
- Chess
- Knights of Mystic Fire
- Mirror of Azlant
- The Arrow
- The Clock
- The Sword
Notes
Flushbuster!
Flame in the Night
Tesin Movahesh
Thunder in the Mist
Lockette Endrinmaster 12 2.0
Isra
Report Date
04 Oct 2021
Primary Location
Secondary Location
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